# Chapter 12
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Episode 12
It was a request that was no different from an order, but I was in no position to hate it.
I thought I should send him back alone, at least for Lancelot's sake.
But...
.
'I was ignoring the point he made.'
In the Kingdom of Montebbio, the influence of the Duke of Edenbahir is as strong as that of the royal family.
Furthermore, Edenbahir's roots are in the imperial family of the Atlantean Empire, so the nobility of her lineage cannot go unmentioned.
'It was said that the Duke's generation had a lot to say about this and that.'
There is only one reason.
Because she accepted her father as a close friend and business partner.
My father spoke out of habit.
If you have a benefactor, it is not your relatives, but the Duke of Edenbahir.
But in this situation, if Anita refuses Lancelot's favor until the end...
.
"ah."
As Lancelot said, the Edenbahir family's reputation could be tarnished.
Edenbahir is a family that has as many enemies as allies, so it was right to avoid the risk of damaging the Duke's reputation as much as possible.
This means it is morally right to accept his favor.
'It won't change Lancelo's damage.'
However, when I thought about her determined yet determined expression, I started to think a little differently.
'Lancelo is extremely reluctant to lose money.
Did he really come for me without any preparation?'
Just as Lancelot seemed to know her well, Anita was also confident that she knew Lancelot very well.
Lancelot Edenbahir only moves based on thorough planning.
His temperament, at once sensitive and prickly, could be seen just by looking at his schizophrenia, which was getting worse every day.
A heartless person who considers sympathy and favor a waste of time.
Carefully calculated consideration.
Human relationships are divided into those that are necessary and those that are unnecessary.
There are no exceptions to this pattern.
Anitta is no different.
It was a fact that I realized naturally after we had known each other for a long time.
This is why Lancelot declared that he would help Anita in any way possible.
'That probably means I'm still needed.'
Thinking that this would only cause harm was a simplistic judgment.
I felt much more at ease.
Yes, Lancelot could not have come here without thinking.
I can't believe I forgot such an important point just because I hadn't seen it in two years.
Then there is no longer any reason to hesitate.
Anita waved slightly to Jill, who was waiting for her.
"Jill, please do me a favor."
"yes.
"Don't worry."
Soon after, the servants entered the room and began carrying his luggage.
Even so, there were only three or four suitcases, so an attendant had to come down empty-handed.
After all, all pretense of popularity is over.
Anita stood at the window once again.
A large square window that lets in summer sunlight.
An old room where I used to read books quietly in the sunlight.
'I can never go back again.'
It's a space filled with too many memories to make that happen.
Anita, who was walking non-stop, left the room after a while.
As pitiful as it was, he couldn't make Lancelo wait any longer.
It was a lonely and moving ending.
***
Duke of Edenbahir.
Edenbahir, a descendant of the Atlantean Empire and related to the Montebbio royal family, was an Orthodox nobleman who owned an enormous amount of land and property.
They maintained the pinnacle of upper-class aristocratic society for a long time and were also a notable family that gave birth to two kings during their nearly 200-year history.
To put it bluntly, Edenbahir was a different class family than Anita's Wöröni.
Given that the current Duke of Edenbahir is one of the first five in line to the throne, no further explanation will be necessary.
Yet the Edenbahir that Anita remembers in later years was like a dark cemetery consumed by a dank silence.
'When will you feel better?'
Three years have passed since the Duke of Edenbahir was lying in bed.
It was around this time that my face-to-face time with Lancelot rapidly diminished.
Everyone said that Lancelot was busy preparing to succeed him.
This would be even more true if he were the successor of the Edenbahir family.
"Whatever the reason, he came to see me in person in the middle of all this."
My intention was to remain quiet so as not to cause as much trouble as possible.
The carriage left Böröni's residence and drove for a full four hours before arriving at the Duke of Edenbahir's residence.
Edenbahir, which I visited for the first time in two years, was as peaceful as the year before and 10 years ago.
As soon as I grabbed Lancelo's hand and went downstairs, his butler approached me from afar.
Lancelot, who was exchanging a few words without pause, clicked his tongue with a slightly nervous expression on his face.
"I'll go first, so take a break."
After all, you are busy.
Anita nodded louder than ever.
"huh.
I'll be as still as if I'm dead.
"Don't worry about anything and just work comfortably."
"There's no need to be so quiet.
Because no one would want that to happen to you.
After leaving a brief word, Lancelot disappeared like the wind.
Soon Leonard, the butler she had known for as long as Lancelot, welcomed Anita's visit with a calm smile.
"I heard you'll be spending the summer here this year.
"We'll do our best to accommodate you."
"thank you."
Lancelot said so.
It was his kind of consideration.
It was Anita who visited the Duke of Edenbahir's residence almost every year.
As far as she knows, the rooms where foreigners live are on the third floor.
However, Leonard led Anita to the second floor.
"The lady's room is further back.
"The third floor is usually where we serve outside guests."
In that case, wouldn't it be even more necessary to stay on the 3rd floor?
'Is the guest room full?'
Ignoring the questions that followed, I followed Leonard.
The room she was guided to was spacious and bright, with an elegant interior.
"It's very spacious."
"It's the second largest among the rooms on the second floor."
The largest room on the second floor is Lancelot's bedroom.
The room given to him was reserved for the duke's family.
'I don't deserve to be treated like this.'
After Leonard left.
Anita, alone, opened the closet and drawers to check the few belongings she had left.
The attendant had organized her things in advance, but if she was only staying for a season, it seemed best to rearrange them into a family arrangement.
smart.
At that moment, a knock was heard behind the tightly closed door.
The visitor was Lancelot.
"Have you finished your business yet?"
Leaning against the door in his now more comfortable vest, he asked Anita.
"Is it the right time?"
Anita looked back at her bed.
Luggage that had not yet been packed was spread across the bed.
Anyone could see that they were busy organizing things.
Asking a question knowing this fact probably means that it is an urgent matter in your own way.
She lowered her head without hesitation.
"so. what's the matter?"
"Follow me.
"I have something important to tell you."
Lancelot turned and left the room.
Anita followed behind him without even having time to clean herself.
There was no need to go far.
My footsteps stopped at the reception room right next to me.
Before she arrived, it was a space that Lancelot would have used alone.
"I'll tell you in advance."
As soon as he sat down on the sofa, he opened his mouth.
The atmosphere was somewhat serious, so Anita focused all her attention on Lancelot's voice.
"The offer I have for you is not a joke.
"This is a conclusion we reached after careful consideration, so don't think about laughing about it."
"I will."
It's almost like he's threatening me not to laugh about it.
I wondered how important this proposal was.
'Are you presenting me with a job that I got with the help of an acquaintance?
Or identity washing?
Or maybe even marry an old nobleman to help her situation...
.
"Marry me."
"...what?"
"If possible, don't refuse.
"Because marrying me is the only way to guarantee your status."