Veronica’s Father
The Nympée region is famous for being a cool town, regardless of the season.
That’s why it’s called the Town of Spirits (Nympée). The idea is that spirits protect and dwell in the town, and that’s what keeps it constantly cool.
(Though spirits, like dragons, only exist in stories—and I think the constant coolness comes from things like climate and environment.)
After parting ways with Lord Runken, I headed toward the meeting point to join up with Lilia, Sarasa, and Mary.
Once at the inn, I told them—while they were sorting our luggage—that I had met with Lord Runken.
It was Lilia who responded in surprise. She spoke with a hint of excitement in her tone.
“Lord Runken... You mean that Duke Runken? The one who’s broken off two engagements!?”
She must’ve realized she got too excited.
Indeed, after receiving warning glances from Mary and Sarasa, Lilia shrank back and continued.
“I heard this long vacation was to heal his broken heart after his latest broken engagement...”
Hearing that, I almost clapped my hands.
(Oh, that’s right... that really was the case, wasn’t it!!!!)
I had completely forgotten.
That’s because, to me, Luca Runken had such a strong image as a stiff, uptight bureaucrat.
I had completely and totally forgotten that he’d been caught up in romantic drama.
Lord Runken is also the older brother of my friend Lucia.
Four years ago, the previous duke passed away young, and at the age of twenty, he inherited the title and became the head of the Runken ducal family.
And—he’s the son of the late King Andrea’s younger brother.
In other words, he’s a cousin of the current king, Brian.
(Though, they don’t resemble each other much.)
In fact, they seem like total opposites.
They’re not particularly close, and you almost never see them talking together.
I imagine they both have their own thoughts about each other.
I nodded along to Lilia’s words.
“Now that you mention it… a broken-heart vacation—”
… Didn’t look like one at all!!
Far from it, really.
In fact, it clearly wasn’t.
I recalled the image of Lord Runken I had just seen.
Luca Runken.
He has broken off two engagements in the past.
(... Two, you know?)
That’s practically unheard of.
Even breaking off one engagement is considered a huge scandal.
To end two of them is about as unthinkable as a noblewoman (me) chopping off all her hair.
That’s when it hit me.
I pressed my fingers to my lips, thinking.
(That’s right, that’s it. That’s what it was!!)
If I recall correctly, Luca Runken is—
Isn’t he known as a “mental-breakdown machine”!?
In terms of my previous life’s language, a “bad trip giver.”
He earned that nickname purely because all of his fiancées ended up mentally unstable.
His first fiancée had a mental breakdown to the point of attempting suicide, which led to the engagement being called off.
As for the second, she tried to force a double suicide, so he broke it off again.
(I honestly can’t picture it at all…)
Well, putting that aside.
I answered Lilia.
“Apparently, it’s a trip that combines both inspection and personal interests. But more importantly… if what Lord Runken says is true, we can’t leave this be.”
I switched gears and recalled the topic we had discussed earlier.
This had gotten troublesome.
Because the land in the Nympée region is owned by Count Belnett.
In other words—Veronica’s father.
Even though I’ve left the royal castle, I still can’t seem to get away from her.
I let out a weary sigh.
—All the while unaware that, back at the royal castle, an enormous commotion was underway.
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