A few days have pa.s.sed since Lidi did her best.

Although little by little, Father and Mother appear to be warming up to each other.

Yesterday, I saw Father talking to Mother, and she didn't have the cold look like before. Speaking of Father, he was very straightforward, although not in the way Lidi said.

He was smiling the whole time, unable to conceal his happiness.

When Mother left, he followed in a hurry… Somehow it reminded me of how I chase after Lidi.

Wilhelm family has strong obsession with their mates. Mother finally opened her heart, this time Father won't give up until he completely obtains her.

As the relations.h.i.+p between Father and Mother improved somewhat, the atmosphere in the Royal Castle too became better.

This is all thanks to Lidi.

I wouldn't think of touching this issue alone, and I would still have unpleasant feelings for Mother.

Thanks to Lidi talking about Mother, I also slightly changed my view of her.

I only found Mother irritating, but now I've come to think that this was the only way she could live.

But if I had been told that by anybody but Lidi, surely I wouldn't have believed it.

The wound I received when I was young was that deep. However, because those were the words of my only mate, who accepted everything about me, I could obediently accept them.

What Lidi changed was the relations.h.i.+p between Father, Mother, and me. And one more thing――.

Their story, that I was convinced couldn't go well, was about to enter a new phase.

"Glenn."

I called the man walking through a corridor to a halt.

Glenn turned back and showed an amiable smile.

"Aah, Freed. What is the matter? Is you work fine?"

"I've nearly finished today's share, so there's no problem. More importantly, I need to talk with you."

"With me?"

It was written on Glenn's face than nothing came to his mind.

I faced him and beckoned him to come closer.

When Glenn obediently came, I got straight to the point.

"As of today, Mistress Helene is dismissed as a concubine."

"Eh…?"

Glenn looked at me like he heard something unexpected.

After all, he hadn't know yet.

"I heard she is now packing her luggage and then returning to her parents' marquis house. Glenn. You can only stop her now."

"No, that… But…"

Seeing Glenn only blink his eyes, I patted his back.

"You love mistress Helene, right? Is it okay to part without saying anything?"

"Ah! Freed!"

"There's no particular problem, right? She isn't Esteemed Father's concubine now. What reason do you have to hold back?"

"H, however…"

As Glenn couldn't keep up with the situation, I told him.

"Actually, I asked my father. If he could hand Mistress Helene to you, since he would dismiss her as a concubine. You distinguished yourself in the war with Sahaja two years ago. There's also no problem with your social status. You meet the conditions. The problem would be Duke Pellegrini, but Mistress Helene comes from a marquis house, and although she is slightly older, she was my father's concubine. He won't complain."

"…"

"Glenn?"

Worried over wide-eyed Glenn who wouldn't move an inch, I called out to him.

He was frozen for a while, then he quietly asked me.

"Freed… Is what you just said true?"

"Yeah, there's no reason for me to lie, right? Aren't you happy?"

Glenn has loved Mistress Helene for over a decade knowing it wouldn't be rewarded.

Even though he can finally obtain her, why can't he be honestly happy?

"… Of course I am happy. But…!"

"Glenn?"

"What about Lady Helene's feelings? She was His Majesty's concubine. She adored His Majesty. And suddenly she was dismissed as a concubine. To receive her when she is hurt… There is no way I can be delighted when I think about her situation."

"… I thought you would be like this."

I listened to Glenn's reply and slightly nodded.

I had the same concern as he does.

But, Lidi said.

"Glenn's beloved is Lady Helene, right? Then, it's alright. Because, Lady Helene's beloved is probably Glenn."

When I questioned Lidi about her unimaginable story, prefacing "This is a secret", she told me what she'd heard from Mistress Helene.

"Lady Helene seems to have had loved a person other than His Majesty for a long time. At first, I didn't know who it was either… But, listen. There are white lilies arranged in Lady Helene's room. Moreover, they are there all the time."

"Yup. And?"

When I tilted my head, having no idea why Lidi mentioned that, she impatiently said.

"I am saying, Lady Helene loves white lilies. Enough to want to always watch them, regardless of the season. What reason do you think she has? White lily is His Majesty's symbolic flower, right? So at first I also thought it was because she loves His Majesty, but Lady Helene herself denied that. In that case, white lilies only point at two things… no, at two people."

"Two people?"

"Yup. First of all, Mother-in-law's Royal Flower is white lily. However, that's definitely wrong. Then, there's one more person. Hey, the crest of Wilhelm's Royal Guard Chivalric Order changes each time the King changes, right? And their crest is the successive Kings' symbolic flower and a dragon joined together, right?

"Ah, yeah."

"I'm not mistaken that the current crest of the Royal Guard Chivalric Order is a white lily and dragon, right? And… can't only the commander, Glenn, bear it on his back?"

"Ah!"

Listening to Lidi's story, I understood what she wanted to say.

Certainly, only the commander can bear their troops crest. And, currently, only the Royal Guard Chivalric Order uses a white lily.

"Moreover, the soldiers I talked with said that Lady Helene started having white lilies delivered to her three years ago. It might be a coincidence… but didn't Glenn take the post of the chivalric order commander at that time?"

Glenn took the post of the Royal Guard Chivalric Order Commander on his eighteenth birthday. That was - certainly, around three years ago.

"And then I took into consideration that Lady Helene appears on the Royal Guard Chivalric Order practice ground… I think that makes it certain that Lady Helene's beloved is Glenn…"

"I… see."

I recalled that Mistress Helene has been visiting the chivalric order for over a decade every day.

There was a time I found it uncomfortable, since I didn't understand her purpose… But I see, I wouldn't notice that she was there to see Glenn.

However, wanting to at least have a glimpse on the person she loves, she's been visiting every day.

"How about it? Do you think my guess is wrong?"

As Lidi looked up at me with an anxious face, I returned a no.

"Lidi, your intuition is probably right on the mark."

"I see. I'm glad. Then, there's no problem progressing with it."

"Yeah. Lidi, let's do as you said. I'll talk to my father."

I hugged her as she smiled with relief.

The matter of Mistress Helene and Glenn is unrelated to her.

And yet, she didn't only think of Father and Mother, but also the future of Mistress Helene who'd be dismissed.

Not wanting to leave Mistress Helene, she thought a lot alone and drew the current conclusion.

If Father and Mother make up, there won't be a need for a concubine in name only. Then, wouldn't it be good if she got together with Glenn who she loves? Glenn too loves Mistress Helene, and he is currently not engaged to anyone.

If I bring it up to my father together with Mother's matter, Father, who has been troubled by the matter of my mother and his mate, will gladly grant that request. That was her second request.

Because she moved, Father, Mother, Glenn, Mistress Helene, everyone was saved.

Thanks to Lidi, even my close friend's love can be saved.

She was unbearably lovely as she merrily laughed that it was nothing and she only moved because there was something she could do.

Really, Lidi never stops fascinating me.

She's so lovely I don't want to part from her even for a moment.

"Freed…?"

While I was recalling what Lidi told me, Glenn called out to me.

I came to and calmly said.

"It's alright, Glenn. Your worries are unwarranted. Mistress Helene loves you. So go. Propose to her yourself, before your father orders you to."

I told Glenn Lidi's conjecture. I have a feeling that if I hadn't, Glenn wouldn't believe it or take action.

Upon hearing my words Glenn froze and opened his eyes wide.

"L, Lady Helene loves me?"

"It's Lidi's conjecture, but she's most likely right."

"B, but, His Majesty…"

"This is between you and me, but there was no relations.h.i.+p between Esteemed Father and Mistress Helene. They had no feelings for each other. I can't talk about the details, but it's the truth. She was married for fifteen years, but… she's most likely still a virgin. That's what I meant by them not having a relations.h.i.+p."

"Ah."

Since Mother is Father's mate, there's no doubt. There's no way Father would embrace Mistress Helene. When I said that with conviction, Glenn looked like he was about to cry.

"The rest is up to you. It's alright, Glenn. It's as I said. I'm sure you're anxious about various things, but don't worry. Leave everything else to me. Don't miss the opportunity that has finally appeared."

I vigorously struck Glenn's back. He staggered a few steps, then he broke into a run in a hurry.

I called out towards his back.

"Mistress Helene plans to depart from the south gate. Hurry."

"Yes! Thank you, Freed. You have my grat.i.tude!"

He returned a shout like he was laughing through tears. Good grief, is he going there with such a face. Although I thought so, I realized everybody is like that when facing the partner they truly love.

I feel like even I only show Lidi my shameful sides.

"… Good for you."

I muttered towards his back that was no longer visible.

I know he's had feelings for Mistress Helene for a long time.

And that those feelings wouldn't come true.

I felt sorry for him, since it couldn't be helped.

That's why.

As he went to grasp the chance that had finally appeared, I wished him good luck from the bottom of my heart.

Editor: Valeria