He rarely chose the considerate path of holing himself up in the study. Looking over research he had no mory of was quite interesting in its own way, and he also occasionally examined the drawing notebook Esperanza had brought out. Two notebooks' worth of paper were filled entirely with one person.
As he turned the pages, he stopped at one page.
A page with grass stains in the corner. A small drawing pressed down firmly caught his eye. It seed to be a drawing of him. Below it were traces of scribbled notes written line by line while bickering. Though his mory was still hazy, emotions rippled as if familiar.
At this rate, he might end up loving that strange lady by following the path well-paved over three years. It didn't seem like it would take long to reach that point. It was already bewilderingly fast.
In fact, he had no major problems with his current state. There would be the annoyance of having to review research he'd already done, but it was tolerable. The demonstration would work out sohow, and except for Esperanza, there didn't seem to be any important people among those he'd forgotten.
But it seed Esperanza had no need for him without his mory...
Well, fine. He was more curious about how far Esperanza could go for him than about being in a "mory-lost state."
The grandfather clock announcing midnight chid low. Cider headed to the bedroom. He slowly stroked Esperanza's cheek with his knuckles as she slept with the desk lamp still on. He knew from the faint trembling of her eyelids that Esperanza was awake, but he said nothing. Esperanza didn't open her eyes either.
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Since it was a demonstration attended by the Queen herself, the venue was naturally Augustus Palace. Esperanza, who had gotten into the carriage, was trembling more than ever before. Cider clicked his tongue softly and placed Esperanza's hand on his sleeve.
"Are you that worried?"
"Do I look like I wouldn't be worried? It's still not too late, so I'll kidnap Galliston. And if I just send one anonymous tip to cancel the demonstration..."
"They'd know it was you. Then wouldn't my problems naturally be revealed too?"
Esperanza, who had been gripping his sleeve tightly with her fisted hand, exhaled deeply and said:
"I don't care if the Queen knows."
"Your friends would find out too."
"Ah, shut up. Then do you have a better thod?"
"There's no need to worry. You know
too. I don't like playing the fool, but I'm quite good at such things."
"Ah, yes."
Esperanza, who had responded half-heartedly, glared at Cider then sighed and asked:
"Do you know what invention you're presenting today? Did you find it? Did you contact that professor?"
Cider postponed his answer with an inscrutable smile.
anwhile, the carriage arrived at the palace's main gate. The coachman and palace guards exchanged words, then moved a bit more slowly than before. Esperanza glanced anxiously at the approaching palace building.
"Were you looking forward to this demonstration too?"
"...You could say that."
When the carriage stopped again, Cider smiled broadly.
"Then don't worry. I won't ruin it."
With those words, he got out of the carriage, confird that Esperanza had safely disembarked, and disappeared ahead.
"Esperanza! You ca early? Where's Lord Avondale?"
Cordelia, who had been standing at the door, spotted Esperanza and ca running.
"...He left."
"Ah, he went to prepare? But what technology is it really?"
"I still don't know either. It's a secret."
Walking along following Cordelia, who was grumbling that it was really too much, Esperanza suddenly realized sothing was different from yesterday.
"Ah."
"What's wrong?"
"The sleeve..."
She had been holding his sleeve. Quite naturally.
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Most of the people attending the demonstration were familiar faces. Esperanza rarely felt secure in this small social venue.
The Queen's ladies-in-waiting and forr ladies-in-waiting, the Pri Minister and several cabinet ministers, businessn who owned hundreds of factories. And there were a few people who didn't fall into these categories.
"It's been a while, Lord Sterling."
Alastair made a gesture of kissing above Esperanza's glove and stood up matter-of-factly.
"I ca as my father's substitute."
"What?"
"You seed curious."
"Ah. Right. Then is Duke Dunbarton here because of the magic stone mine?"
"The mine is the nominal reason, but more likely he wanted an opportunity to show his face at such a small social venue."
Alastair said with a bitter smile. Having entered Nine Holder society for several years as Cordelia's suitor, he was realizing that this society was far more closed than he'd thought. So much so that even Duke Dunbarton couldn't easily approach without marital connections.
"Ah, I think I know what you an."
The small gatherings with selective invitations were the real thing. Places that only gave seats through introductions and were strictly judged by society matrons with deep experience.
The fact that those places, which even the Duke of Dunbarton's son entered with difficulty, had easily opened to the 'Countess of Avondale' of dubious origins was 80% due to the Queen's backing.
"You'll have so hardships."
"Compared to 'that day,' sothing like this is perfectly manageable. But you'll be alone today."
"Cordelia was with
until earlier... Did you two fight?"
At those words, Alastair shook his head with a strange expression.
"We're officially on uncomfortable terms."
"Ah, that."
"In that sense, if there are occasions like last ti, please invite
as much as possible."
Esperanza recalled inviting several friends including these two to Glailly House and nodded.
"That's not difficult. Though you should practice chess more."
Alastair's face turned as red as his hair. He had recorded the lowest score in a chess match among the n.
"Esperanza. Co this way. You should sit in the front."
Duchess of Schodny, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, called Esperanza in a stiff voice.
"Well then, good luck."
Esperanza, who had encouragingly patted Alastair's shoulder, sat in the seat guided by Duchess of Schodny.
"Where is Her Majesty?"
"Elizabeth is attending to her. But what's that on your wrist?"
"Ah, it's a watch."
When she opened the lid to show it, Duchess of Schodny clicked her tongue with a displeased expression.
"It doesn't look like a watch."
Considering the bracelet-like wristwatches of this era, it was understandable. Esperanza silently nodded and turned her gaze to the stage. Seeing the worry in her eyes as she looked at the low stage, Duchess of Schodny didn't speak to her further.
Eventually, the Queen and Grand Duke, Duke Galliston and Duchess of Sherbury arrived. Duchess of Sherbury brightened upon seeing Esperanza, but when Duke Galliston gave her a look, she couldn't co over and glanced this way like a scolded puppy.
"A few days ago, Duchess of Sherbury petitioned Her Majesty to be called Princess instead of Duchess and was refused."
"Directly to Her Majesty?"
"It's not a common occurrence. Duke Galliston seed to think it wasn't bad either, but Her Majesty was firm."
Because the Queen disliked Duchess of Sherbury. Compared to the Queen, Duke Galliston's attitude toward Duchess of Sherbury was almost protective. So there was no way the Queen would do anything good for the Duchess.
"Since she was originally a princess, wouldn't it be fine to be called that? Duke Sherbury has passed away anyway, and there are no children."
"There's nothing that wouldn't work, but... if Her Majesty won't make exceptions, that's how it is."
If even Duchess of Schodny thought "there's nothing that wouldn't work," that said it all.
"Ah."
"In any case, since Her Majesty is displeased, I'm telling you not to talk about Duchess of Sherbury."
Though no matter how displeased she was, she couldn't show it to Esperanza. Not knowing such inner thoughts, Duchess of Schodny simply said that much.
When the Queen took her seat, the demonstration began shortly after.
Esperanza, as well as others, expected Cider and the unknown professor to co out with a large automaton. However, unexpectedly, what they presented were two magic stones and communication devices connected to them.
'Though I've never announced it, isn't this sothing like my communication device?'
Is that really the technology that was supposed to be presented today? Cider smiled as if he had noticed that unease.
"Your most faithful Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Grand Duke, and distinguished guests. Greetings."
Applause poured out. Esperanza slowly clapped along while observing Cider's complexion. He seed perfectly fine, but she continued to worry.
"There may be so who hoped I'd bring a grand world conquest scenario, but such technology is less interesting than you might think."
The Pri Minister, sitting with military officials, burst into hearty laughter. The man next to him who appeared to be a soldier forced his mouth corners upward.
"What you'll see today is much more complex, revolutionary, and peaceful technology. Though if you wanted to use it for world conquest, it's not impossible."
"...Avondale. Osdern desires peace."
The Queen, who had been watching, said this then hurriedly looked back at Esperanza. Her eyes fixed on the stage seed to have no interest in the Queen at all.
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