Published: August 15, 2025
Richarda hurriedly left the room. Seeing even her pale complexion, I understood that Lord Wilfried had done something terrible.
A heavy silence filled the room, and everyone furrowed their brows and looked down. It was Wilfried, restrained by Angelica, who broke the silence.
"Lamprecht, you’re my Guard Knight, aren't you!? What on earth are you doing!? Help me!"
Lamprecht, who had been addressed, clenched his teeth in frustration and slowly shook his head.
"Lord Wilfried, since last autumn, you haven’t sneaked away unnoticed by us. You’ve been diligently studying and training with the sword. I was genuinely proud of your efforts to befit your role as the next lord. So why did you do something like this...?"
Lamprecht’s words seemed to represent those who served Wilfried. Everyone had the same frustrated, regretful, and helpless expressions.
"When exactly, and why, did you do such a thing? Until we know that, we cannot release Lord Wilfried from restraint."
"What!?"
Wilfried’s eyes opened wide in disbelief. Although his attendants and Guard Knights were still holding him firmly, his gaze darted around.
"...Is it really that serious that I met with Grandmother?"
"Yes."
Richarda returned first, followed by foster father, father, the high priest, and Brother Eckhardt. All wore expressionless faces, showing no emotion.
Foster Father looked from Wilfried, still held by Angelica, to his pale attendants and knights, then glanced at Charlotte and me before lowering his eyes once.
"I want a full account of what happened. Rosemine, I’m sorry, but we’ll have to use this room as it is."
"Yes."
"Oswald, call all of Wilfried’s attendants and Guard Knights. And, Eckhardt, make sure Rosemine’s and Charlotte’s attendants here don’t leave Wilfried’s room. Ah, leave Richarda here."
"Understood!"
The attendants left solemnly with Brother Eckhardt, while only my Guard Knights remained to guard the room. Outside were Darmel and Brigitte, inside were Brother Cornelius and Angelica still restraining Wilfried.
Charlotte, left alone, looked extremely anxious, glancing around. I gestured lightly for her to come over, and she nodded slightly, moving closer.
Richarda busily prepared the room alone, setting up a place for the guardians and us to talk. Watching the once joyful tea party transform into a serious discussion, I sighed softly. It was such a pity for the tea gathering to end like this.
"Excuse me."
Just as Richarda finished preparations, likely having been occupied elsewhere, Foster Mother arrived. Seeing Wilfried still held by Angelica, she gave Foster Father an unreadable smile.
"Princess Rosemine, please sit here; Princess Charlotte, please sit here."
Richarda guided us to a round table. The high priest, foster father, and foster mother sat in that order. I was seated next to the high priest, and Charlotte was placed beside foster mother.
There was one empty chair a little away from us—it was presumably Wilfried’s seat, but no one sat there yet.
"I have come at the urgent summons."
"Oswald called us here—is this the right place?"
Apparently, everyone, including those off duty, had been summoned. Wilfried’s attendants and Guard Knights gathered in the room. Everyone widened their eyes in shock at the sight of Wilfried held on the floor, then, seeing the lord and lady present, swallowed hard, lined up a short distance from the table, and knelt.
"Everyone is here."
Hearing Oswald’s voice, Foster Father, who had been intently watching Wilfried, turned to me.
"Rosemine, may we release Wilfried? I want to speak with him."
"Understood. Angelica."
I called, and Angelica nodded slightly, releasing Wilfried immediately. She then moved to guard the door.
"Wilfried, sit down."
"…Yes, Father."
Wilfried nodded faintly and sat on the chair pulled out by Richarda.
For a few tense seconds, a heavy silence prevailed. When I clenched the hands on my lap tightly, the high priest seated next to me spoke.
"Every matter has its own perspective. We must clarify all details before making a judgment."