Leonhart and I moved to his study.

The room was in disarray.

Papers were scattered all over the desk, and several reference books lay stacked nearby, looking as though they’d been consulted only moments ago.

Leonhart walked over to the desk and sifted through the documents.

“Please, have a seat. I’ll show you the construction guild applications.”

[Level 3: (With a scoff.) Surely you aren’t planning to review every single application?]

“Surely you aren’t planning to review every single application?”

He’d already postponed the announcement because of me.

If someone said that to me now, I’d be annoyed too.

Sure enough, Leonhart squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, as though suppressing his irritation, before opening them again.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“I only meant that it would be more efficient to focus on the guilds Your Highness had already shortlisted. We don’t have much time.”

“…Had you said that from the beginning, this conversation would’ve been far less unpleasant for both of us.”

‘You think I want to talk like this?’

When I fell silent, Leonhart let out a sigh.

“There were five finalists. The list is as follows…”

[Level 3: (As though you have no interest in listening.) I’d like to see the applications first.]

“I’d like to see the applications first.”

“…”

“Oh, and please black out the guild names before handing them to me.”

“Is that because you think I’d suspect you?”

[Level 3: (With a scoff.) Isn’t that only natural? You suspect every single thing I do.]

‘…There seem to be more Level 3 commands lately. Or is it just my imagination?’

“Isn’t that only natural? You suspect every single thing I do.”

Bracing both hands against the desk, Leonhart looked straight at me.

“Do you dislike helping me that much? If so, you can stop right now.”

He looked genuinely baffled.

I’d agreed to help, yet all I’d done since was pick fights with him.

‘It’s not like I have a choice. The only commands I’m getting are Level 3 ones.’

As I sat down on the sofa, I offered an explanation.

“I don’t mind helping, so please don’t misunderstand. Think of hiding the guild names as a measure to ensure a fair selection.”

“…”

Taking the seat opposite me, Leonhart handed over the applications with the guild names redacted.

“You have a rather peculiar habit, Your Grace.”

“What habit would that be?”

“The way you speak.”

“…”

“At first, you speak as though you’re trying to offend the other person, but if you keep listening, it’s obvious you mean something entirely different. Why do you always put things that way?”

I had no answer.

I couldn’t exactly tell him the lousy author was making me do it.

“Simply changing the order of your words would spare you a great deal of misunderstanding.”

[Level 3: (Glare at Leonhart.) You should worry about yourself first.]

So it wasn’t my imagination.

There really were more Level 3 commands now.

‘Is it because I haven’t been doing what the lousy author wants? Surely not every directive has become Step 3…?’

Suppressing my unease, I obeyed.

“You should worry about yourself first.”

Leonhart’s expression stiffened as he fell silent.

Lowering my gaze to the applications, I added quietly,

“I know my way of speaking is strange.”

“…”

Neither of us spoke another word as we reviewed the applications.

The only sound in the study was the rustle of turning pages.

A little while later, the head butler entered, pushing a trolley with a tea service.

‘It’s been a while, Grandpa Robert.’

Robert had always been rather fond of me.

He’d even kept beer stocked at the palace just because he knew I liked it.

I’d grown attached to him as well, since he reminded me of my father.

The memories made me smile without thinking.

Just then, Leonhart abruptly asked the head butler,

“What happened to Della?”

“W-Well…”

The head butler hesitated awkwardly.

Leonhart frowned ever so slightly.

“You still haven’t found her?”

‘What’s he talking about all of a sudden…? Wait… he was looking for me?’

Doing my best not to show my surprise, I listened closely.

We searched every corner of the palace, but we couldn’t even find a single feather. Perhaps it already flew back to her nest?””

“You’re telling me Della escaped the cage on its own? And you expect me to believe that?”

“…That does seem rather unlikely.”

“Not unlikely. Impossible. Did you even conduct a proper search?”

The head butler’s white eyebrows drooped in wounded protest.

“It was Your Highness’s command, of course we did. We mobilized every servant in the palace.”

“And yet this is the result?”

“…My deepest apologies.”

“Search again. Find it and bring it before me.”

“Yes…”

With his shoulders slumped, the head butler quietly withdrew.

I took a sip of tea while watching Leonhart.

Leonhart had always been the type who devoted himself completely once he cared about someone.

And if anything…

He liked animals even more than people.

So I’d expected he wouldn’t simply give up on a crow that had vanished overnight.

That was precisely why I’d waited until after he’d fallen asleep before escaping.

‘Still… he’s been looking for me this whole time? I thought he’d make a half-hearted search and then give up.’

“Hm… It seems you keep birds?”

“Yes. One in particular is very dear to me.”

Anyone overhearing him would think he’d been raising it for years.

“Has it gone missing?”

“Yes.”

“Is that all?”

“It disappeared, so I said it disappeared. What more is there to explain?”

“…Weren’t you just criticizing the way I speak a moment ago?”

Coming from someone even ruder than I am?

Leonhart looked faintly sheepish before adding,

“I just… woke up, and it was gone.”

“Then it must have flown away. I’ve heard it’s a fairly common occurrence when keeping birds.”

“It was inside a cage. That’s impossible.”

“You might have left the cage unlocked by mistake.”

“I personally fastened the latch and checked it myself. Do you think I’d fail to notice something like that? The cage was definitely locked.”

“…Then how did it get out?”

“Someone must have opened the cage and stolen Della.”

“Do you really think there’s anyone bold enough to steal someone else’s pet bird?”

Leonhart set his teacup down with a quiet tap.

A trace of displeasure darkened his black eyes.

“If you’d seen Della even once, you wouldn’t be saying that.”

“I’m only saying that because most people consider crows to be bad omens.”

“That’s nothing but superstition.”

“Even if it is, crows aren’t exactly birds people keep for display. Their feathers are pitch-black, and their cawing is unbearably loud.”

“Della is different. Its voice is pleasant to listen to, and its feathers have a mysterious color. It’s very beautiful.”

Heat instantly rushed to my face.

I fanned myself with the application papers, trying to cool it down.

“You… seem to like animals very much.”

“No. If I had to choose, I’d say I dislike them.”

Liar.

Back when we were hunting the Demon King, we’d once come across a puppy that was about to be devoured by a demonic beast.

Leonhart had been the very first person to rush in and save it.

‘Still pretending you don’t care whenever animals are involved.’

There was a reason Leonhart could never be honest about it.

The imperial princes hadn’t tormented only Leonhart.

Anything he cared about, they destroyed.

Anything he treasured, they trampled.

That was why he’d learned not to grow attached to anything.

He’d never even dared keep an animal.

The other princes would’ve hurt it without hesitation.

If anyone asked, he’d even claim he disliked animals.

“No matter how much someone wanted it, do you really think they’d have the nerve to steal a crow from Your Highness’s own bedchamber?”

“…”

“I think the crow escaped on its own. I’ve heard crows are remarkably intelligent.”

Leonhart replied in a distinctly dissatisfied tone.

“Della is intelligent.”

“There you have it. Then the crow must have escaped the cage by itself.”

“…”

Leonhart was silent for a moment before tilting his head slightly.

“That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“How did you know Della was a crow?”

“…!”

I quickly looked away before answering.

“Y-You mentioned it earlier. While you were speaking with the head butler. Just in passing.”

“…Did I?”

Before Leonhart’s suspicion could deepen any further, I swiftly changed the subject.

“Still, it’s fortunate that it’s summer. So many animals die during the winter because they can’t find anything to eat.”

“Food isn’t what makes winter so harsh on animals. It’s the fact that the water freezes. Once they can’t drink, they become dehydrated, and eventually they no longer have the strength to search for food.”

“Then what if we built watering stations so animals could drink even during the winter?”

“Watering stations…?”

I flipped one of the applications over and began sketching.

It resembled a small fountain—a basin with a tiny opening at the top where water trickled out in a steady stream.

“It might be easier to think of it as a miniature fountain. The idea is to take advantage of the fact that running water doesn’t freeze as easily.”

Leonhart studied the sketch carefully.

“How would the water be replenished?”

“By using a spell that absorbs moisture from the air. Winters in the Empire are damp and snowy, so keeping it supplied with water shouldn’t be difficult.”

“It’s a good idea… though I’m not sure we’ll find a mage willing to make something like this. They’ll probably think there’s no profit in it.”

“Give it an elegant design and sell it to nobles who keep pets. You could also adapt the mechanism into a humidifier.”

“A humidifier?”

“A device that raises the humidity so the air doesn’t become too dry. It’s especially beneficial for people in poor health—particularly those with asthma.”

Having experienced the benefits of a humidifier firsthand because of me, Leonhart stared at me intently.

“You’re showing me a rather different side of yourself today.”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean that, for an idea coming from the Duchess, it isn’t bad. I think it’s worth pursuing.”

[Level 3: (With an arrogant expression.) I’ll cover the development costs.]

It was far too suspicious a thing for Adrianne to say.

Someone who cared neither for animals nor even for people.

Naturally, Leonhart would question my motives.

And that was exactly what the lousy author wanted.

I calmly read out the command.

“I’ll cover the development costs.”

“…Do you actually like animals?”

“Your Highness claims not to like animals either, yet you’re still willing to build the watering stations.”

“If animals die, insects and rats will gather to feed on the carcasses. And if disease spreads as a result, it’ll be people who bear the consequences.”

For someone like Leonhart, that was an unusually long explanation.

The tips of his ears had turned a faint shade of pink with embarrassment.

“Exactly. In the end, it’ll affect people as well.”

“…That’s right.”

“I feel the same way, Your Highness.”

“…To think there would be something we actually agree on. That’s unexpected.”

“I find it surprising too.”

Our eyes met.

It was the first time we’d ever looked at each other without hostility.

‘…B-But when am I supposed to look away?’

Leonhart’s gaze was beginning to make me self-conscious.

I wanted to stop staring, but I was afraid I’d ruin the atmosphere we’d finally managed to build.

Just as the awkwardness became almost unbearable and I felt my eyes beginning to waver…

…Leonhart looked away first.

“Let’s… get back to work.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

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