Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Maria, oblivious to my predicament, smiled brightly.

“What a coincidence! Isn’t this great, Dori?”

No! This feels like running into an awkward coworker on a weekend!

I forced a smile.

“Indeed. If I’d known we’d meet today, I would’ve dressed up a bit more.”

“That’s alright. A fiancée is always the most beautiful person in the world!”

If Tristan had heard that, his expression would’ve gone through every shade of discomfort imaginable. Imagining that helped me keep my forced smile in place.

Regardless, we followed the baron’s polite suggestion and headed to the tearoom. Unlike Maria’s dim room, this south-facing one was bathed in gentle sunlight. Tristan, standing inside, nodded lightly as Maria entered first.

“It’s been a while, Lady Maria. Have you been well?”

“Under the royal family’s governance, my days have been peaceful. As a member of the Meyer family, I am honored to welcome Your Highness.”

Maria’s demeanor no longer held the awkward tension it used to when addressing Tristan. She seemed at ease now. Tristan, for his part, matched her nonchalance. Their interaction ended with the formality of a brief greeting, with no trace of interest lingering on either side.

Maria was right—he really didn’t seem to care about her anymore.

The problem was me.

Our relationship had become so ambiguous—neither the dutiful formality of a political engagement nor the sweetness of a blossoming romance.@@novelbin@@

I hadn’t expected him to be thrilled to see me here, but…

Of course. Tristan’s eyes flickered with visible surprise when he saw me.

“Doris Redfield? What are you doing here…?”

“A chance encounter, Your Highness. I dropped by to discuss the play script with Lady Maria.”

“And why today of all days…? Quite an unexpected coincidence.”

Because Maria intentionally picked a day when her uncle would be out, to avoid raising suspicions.

So technically, you’re the uninvited guest here, not me!

While I grumbled inwardly, the baron, apparently delighted to have another excuse to stall for time, smiled broadly and said,

“They say true connections turn even coincidences into their allies. Lady Doris, would you care to sit beside His Highness?”

Though phrased as an offer, it was essentially a directive. I seated myself next to Tristan and gave a slight nod.

“Maria, Rick, take a seat as well. The more company we have for tea, the merrier. Especially you, Rick—you might find plenty to discuss with His Highness about swordsmanship.”

Rick sat down with a look that suggested he wanted to snap every flower in the garden. The expression grew even more complicated—somewhere between a smile and a grimace—when Maria took the seat next to him.

The baron laughed heartily.

“It feels like it’s been over a decade since so many young people gathered at this estate. My wife and I usually keep to ourselves unless meeting old friends.”

Ah, the classic nobleman’s passive-aggressive rhetoric: “Young people are a bother.”

Tristan responded smoothly.

“Then it seems I’ve come to the right place. Those who speak first on pressing matters are rarely the true experts. Wouldn’t you agree, Baron Meyer?”

“Well… yes. Life teaches us that, doesn’t it? The ones who truly understand an issue are usually humble, while those with their eyes on personal gain are the first to reach out.”

“Exactly. Though I lack much political experience, my father taught me to seek out those who sit quietly like sages, rather than those who make the loudest noise.”

“Haha, indeed. His Majesty…”

Tristan expertly flattered the baron, praising his gravity and discretion without overtly naming him. It was subtle enough to avoid sounding insincere. He’s good with words, I’ll give him that.

The baron shrugged, seemingly pleased.

“You won’t regret coming here! Our training grounds still hold the wisdom of my grandfather, who made excellent use of limited space. I’m sure it’ll provide valuable insights for renovating the royal training grounds.”

“I look forward to it. Shall we begin the tour—”

“Ahem! Let me just check if everything is ready to receive Your Highness. Please enjoy your tea in the meantime.”

“Is such preparation necessary? I only need to see the layout.”

“Ah, but I’d like to be as accommodating as possible! Besides, Rick here knows quite a bit about swordsmanship. Perhaps he can keep you company with some conversation. I’ll return shortly!”

With that, Baron Meyer swiftly excused himself.

Silence fell over the tearoom.

No one spoke.

‘It’s the host’s job to guide the conversation…’

Now the responsibility fell to Rick Ray. Sitting among three nobles with whom he shared varying degrees of complicated relationships, Rick looked like he was developing an ulcer in real time. After some visible discomfort, he finally spoke.

“Ahem. Your Highness, you mentioned inspecting the training grounds?”

“Yes. The royal training grounds are being renovated, but space is limited, so I’m considering how best to restructure it.”

“To be frank, the Meyer family has never been known for its martial prowess, and the training grounds have been used as storage for years. Was there a particular reason for choosing this estate?”

Wow. For someone who was trembling a moment ago, Rick sure knows how to speak his mind.

If the baron had been here, he might have fainted from the bluntness. Even Maria’s eyes widened in surprise.

Tristan looked momentarily caught off guard too.

Strangely, though, it didn’t seem like he was angry at Rick’s boldness.

The flicker of unease in his eyes vanished quickly, but it had felt as if Rick had touched on a sore spot.

“Ahem. What do you think is the primary purpose of the royal training grounds?”

“I assume it’s mainly for training the royal guards. And, of course, for use by the princes.”

“Wrong. The main visitors to the royal training grounds are young nobles freshly arrived in the capital. The grounds function more as a social venue where provincial nobles and foreign dignitaries gather under the guise of light martial practice. It’s hardly a professional training facility.”

“Ah, I see now.”

“Since many of its visitors haven’t held a sword since childhood, we must design a facility that can accommodate all sorts of guests. That’s why I need a variety of examples to draw from.”

Rick nodded, indicating he understood. But the spark of suspicion in my mind refused to die out.

‘That sounds like an excuse.’

Tristan, despite appearances, is quick-witted. This felt like something he came up with on the spot.

Even if he genuinely wanted to inspect a mediocre training ground, why choose Baron Meyer’s estate out of all the noble households?

…One thought lingered in my mind.

‘Did he come to see Maria?’

Ah, Tristan. That would be so typical of you.

Maria might think you’ve lost interest in her, but people don’t change that easily. If you’re going to wander around, might as well stop by the home of a beautiful lady, right?

I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s the same as in the original story.

So why does this feel…

No. Why would it feel like anything?

‘Of course it feels awful!’

Even if I don’t particularly like him, being blatantly overlooked is irritating. And if I’ve developed even a sliver of attachment, that just makes it worse!

Fueled by that frustration, I shook off the creeping melancholy. I’ll deal with him properly when the time comes for his proposal!

Just then, Tristan shifted the topic.

“Doris. You came here for the play?”

“Oh, right. I finished the script.”

“You’ve been working hard. Do you enjoy theater?”

“To be completely honest, no. It’s not really my thing. I’m just doing my best because it’s a task given to me by Prince Percival.”

It’s your brother’s fault! I didn’t ask for this, alright?!

Perhaps I’d been too blunt. Tristan pressed his lips together, looking momentarily at a loss, before speaking in a slightly subdued tone.

“…I see.”

The conversation teetered on the edge of collapse.

Three agonizing seconds of silence loomed—enough to render the situation irreparable—until Maria saved it.

By taking it in a direction I absolutely did not want.

“Dori’s planning to perform part of the play today. Of course, we’d need her permission, but would any of you be interested in a preview?”

The two men answered immediately—and in perfect unison.

“No. The wait is part of the enjoyment. I’ll see the full performance on the day.”

“Yes. If you need an audience, I’d be more than happy to oblige!”