# Chapter 34
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The distance grew even further again.
Although the sound of the fireworks explosion was still there, his voice sounded much louder than before.
It was a strange thing.
"If you're a family member, it's a good idea to check in on them regularly and give them the items you think they need most.
"There's no need to show your affection."
"Do you like this too?"
It was pure curiosity and Pansion responded nonchalantly.
"If it's a romantic relationship, yes."
"It must have been unpleasant because the Duke and I do not have a romantic relationship."
His lips, slightly open to respond, slowly close.
Pan Shion looked at me with an expression of tepidity that I had never seen before.
If I hadn't recognized him as Pansion Entera, I would have definitely confused him with someone else.
The muscles all over his face were badly torn, as if he was looking at his last fortress crumbling.
"It wasn't unpleasant."
The words that came out of his mouth and the words that came out of his face seemed very different.
Maybe he's just lying to me.
Did I offend you by asking something unnecessary?
I smiled, but it probably wasn't a very nice smile due to my complicated feelings.
"The Little Duke is the sweetest man I know.
"The women who talk to you can't help but fall in love with you."
"I can't believe it."
"Indeed.
"You can trust me because these words come from the heart."
They let me hold hands, they let me smoke, and they even showed me undesirable behaviors to answer my questions.
No matter what you think about it, it was a kindness unbecoming of his status as a minor duke.
"I already see an exception."
A kindness that may seem excessive.
I couldn't answer.
It was because I suddenly felt like a bright red string that I didn't even know existed between Pansion and me was being pulled taut.
Fortunately, this silence didn't last long.
Soon Pan Shion stood up and gently raised the corners of her mouth in a casual tone.
"It's late, so I'd better go back now.
"I really need to take you there, just in case, so please don't refuse."
Thanks to Pansion's kindness, I managed to get to the hotel without any problems.
There was no more after that.
As soon as I finished showering, I mindlessly buried my nose in the pillow and fell asleep.
***
"The Little Duke has returned."
It was a small voice that could be carried far away by the wind, but it was heard very clearly in Charon's ears.
As she slowly opened her closed eyes, Marie, the dedicated maid, turned on the light in the second room that had been turned off.
Soon, Charon stood up silently in the dark room, walked past Marie and went out into the corridor.
"What time is it?"
"It's almost midnight."
"It seems your brother is very late today."
Marie quickly took her coat and gently covered Charonte's shoulders, who was wearing a nightgown.
After Duke Pansion returned home to Entera, his rooms, which were close to each other, were divided into the second and third floors to respect the privacy of Charon, who had become an adult.
The person who moved it was Pansion, not Charon.
The room that was Turner Entera's room until five years ago was now Pansion's, and no one disagreed with the change.
"Brother."
Pansion's room was wide open, as if to prove that the owner had just returned.
With a light gesture, Charon sent Marie out, entered the room and sat down on a chair.
Pan Shion, who was pulling his tie, turned his head to check the situation.
"It's past midnight and you still haven't slept."
"I have something to tell you.
"You're much later than usual today."
As Pan Shion sighed softly, the servant who approached him took off his tie.
“It turns out it happened like this.
"What do you have to say that you're not asleep yet?"
"Yesterday afternoon a telegram arrived informing me that Count Jean-Actor So had died due to the overturning of a carriage."
Jean actor.
Although not comparable to the Entera, Amasra, and Ezelot families, the Aktor family is one of the oldest bloodlines in the Kabal Empire.
In particular, Actor's successor, Jean Actor, was well known and had people who could be called close friends throughout the empire.
I heard that the count's health was failing and that he was preparing to inherit the title, but unfortunately the heir died in an accident.
Pan Shion briefly clicked her tongue at the sad story.
"Madame Ator subtly mentioned your brother's name in the telegram.
"It seemed like he wanted me to go to Aktor with my brother."
Pansion pondered the meaning of Charon's words.
Of course, it didn't take long to understand the implied meaning.
"Does Count Ator have any women?"
"Koline Akhtor turns 21 this year."
For families in the eastern region of the empire, including Aktor, only sons can generally be recognized as successors.
In order for a family without a son to continue the succession, it was necessary to adopt the closest male relative or, if they had a direct female son, marry him.
However, the story is a little different when a direct female daughter marries a man from another family.
All assets, including the territory and people of the family in question, belong to the male side of the family.
So I generally chose the former over the latter, which was natural.
It would be difficult for any member of the family to tolerate family honor fading into history.
"I think Lady Actor wants Caroline to be called Duchess."
Pan Shion sent the servant out of the room with a wink.
After changing into light indoor clothes, he clasped his hands and sat down opposite Charon.
"Do you want me to marry you?"
"Of course.
"My brother must produce an heir for the Entera family to survive."
“You know I have absolutely nothing to do with the irrational culture of the Eastern Empire.
"If I do not marry, Entera's next successor will be you, Charon."
Charon blinked slowly at those words.
Pan Shion, who was lighting a cigarette, looked at his skin and handed him the last one.
Charon did not refuse, but took a deep breath and exhaled the smoke.
And he opened his mouth a little late.
"I know my subject well.
So far I have received enough grace from my brother.
"I do not think anything beyond this is necessary or significant."
"If you start to get greedy, everything will look a little different."
"Don't say that.
Anyway, what I want to say is...
"If you're thinking about getting married, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take this opportunity to visit Aktor."
Pansion finished smoking a cigarette without giving an adequate response to Charon's words.
Charon, who was looking at the line next to him in the gloomy darkness, also turned his head without opening his mouth any further.
That was more than she could say.
Pan Shion, who had been smoking for a while with a tired expression on her face, rubbed the remaining end on the ashtray, the size of a little finger.
It was then that luck returned to the silent room.
"I heard Elise came to visit me while I was away."
Élysée Romande.
Charon had difficulty correcting his almost distorted expression at the unwanted name.
"yes that's right."
"Is there a problem?"
There were many.
Firstly, I almost lost my patience dealing with her.
However, Charon lowered his head because he didn't want to further provoke Pansion, who was already busy.
"...
...Yes, I'm fine, no problems."
"Thank you Sir."
Pan Shion got up, went to the table and poured water into the prepared cup.
"How are you with the Marquis?"
The topic of conversation turned to her fiancé.
As soon as Philfronts was mentioned, Charon furrowed his eyebrows for the first time.
"It's no different.
It's just that, although they often invite me...
...
."
"It seems like you are refusing."
"Of course."
Charon threw the ashes into the ashtray with an expression calmer than ever.
After gulping down a large glass of water, Pan Shion opened her mouth with a voice full of laughter.
"You know what?
When you're with that guy, you seem like a little different person than usual.
"I feel more alive and emotionally alive."
"You are mistaken."
It was a response that came immediately, without hesitation, and Pansion slightly raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"You're frighteningly determined."
"But beyond that, I have nothing more to say."
"I thought you had a romantic relationship with him because he brought out a different side of you."
"That's true, but in my case it's wrong.
"This person stimulates me in a negative way."
A cunning and dark-hearted man can easily be seen in the political world, where intrigues and intrigues are rampant.
However, Philfronts Audrine was a particularly cunning man among snake-like people, and was the type of person who had a lot of difficulty understanding what he was thinking.
I never forget to contact him about these matters.
widely.
Pan Shion placed the empty cup on the table.
He held his forehead with his opposite hand, as if he had a headache.
"If it makes you behave differently than normal...
...
."
Charon closed his lips silently.
Unlike before, his voice was scratched here and there, like shards of mirror scratched by basalt.
Although the face could not be seen because it was covered by the back of the hand, the expression would not have been much different.
"I don't think that necessarily means a good thing."
Pan Shion, who said this, looked very tired and exhausted.
Charon cautiously opened his mouth in an atmosphere completely opposite to his usual one.
"Did something happen outside?"
Not only did she come home much later than expected, but it seemed like there was something going on in the system that she didn't know about.
However, there was no response from Pansion.
He smiled softly, as always, and after a few more short conversations, he sent Charon a message of congratulations.
What happened?
Charon was unable to erase his doubts until just before he fell asleep.
***
The second sun rose on the islands.
As the weather was in full swing, the sunlight coming through the blackout curtains was strong and bright.
But why is this spot on my eyelids?
Thanks to this, I had to wake up much earlier than I expected.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I swallowed the tea and salad and ran away.
Perhaps because it was right after the festival ended, the streets were so quiet that it was completely different from the night before.
However, as I didn't want to cause any misfortune, I chose to travel by carriage from beginning to end.
In short, even after running around the islands for two hours, I couldn't find a gift worth giving to Nezar.
Without giving up hope, I wandered around looking for reputable jewelers, fountain pen dealers and watch dealers on the islands...
...
.
The results were disastrous.
There wasn't a single thing I liked.
Thinking that Nezar wore the imposing and stylish brooch, considered the most expensive in the country, it looked as old as an item worn on the street.
The same went for watches, fountain pens, and at least one bouquet of flowers.
After all, there is only one way.
Whether you meet Nezar personally and ask him questions or secretly observe him, you will find the appropriate answer.
Without leaving again, I entered the castle to find Nezar.
"Oh, aren't you Lady Katrina?
I never thought I would meet the young lady in the imperial castle.
"How lucky are you today?"
Of course, I had no plans to meet Philfronts Audrine in the process.
"What business do you have in the imperial palace?
...
...
Ah, I asked something very obvious.
"I take it you came to see His Highness Nezar?"