Superion Castle.
Inner conference room within the Duke's office.
Around the round table, typically used for meetings with high-ranking vassals, sat the three children of the Superion family.
And at the head seat sat the Duke, his brow deeply furrowed.
Though a man approaching sixty, his presence was even more formidable than in his youth. It was the dignity befitting a family head who had shouldered the Superion family for nearly forty years.
The faces of the three siblings seated at the round table all shared one thing in common—dissatisfaction.
The eldest, Zenon, was thirty-five years old and Elizabeth's older brother. He was a knight who oversaw the Superion family's knight order, and a father to two sons.
Beside him sat Carius, twenty-eight, who had been closest to Elizabeth before she died.
Among them, he wore the most aggrieved and indignant expression.
Finally, Artias was Elizabeth's younger sister, at twenty-seven.
Having spent her childhood in the capital and returned to the territory when Elizabeth became Crown Princess, she wasn't particularly close to Elizabeth.
However, traces of sorrow and longing for her deceased sister remained.
Even she wore an expression full of dissatisfaction.
"Father, do you believe that child's words at face value?"
The reason for the siblings' dissatisfied faces was what their father had said moments ago.
That girl brought from the capital was Elizabeth's daughter.
They had heard the entire story, but the siblings couldn't easily believe it. However, Zenon seemed to think it might be possible.
"Well, she certainly did resemble Elizabeth's childhood appearance somewhat."
"Resemble? What resembles her! Besides her eye color, what else looks similar!"
Carius retorted to his older brother Zenon's words.
"I remember Elizabeth's childhood better than anyone. We should keep the possibility open. If it's really true...."
"...."
If that fact were really true...?
Carius's vision went dark. If that little brat was really his deceased sister's daughter...
"If it's real, Carius, you're in big trouble. Why don't you just die?"
"...Shut up, Artias."
Carius and Artias began bickering, exchanging hostile glares. Whether such sibling squabbles were familiar, Zenon sighed as he watched them.
"Enough."
The Duke, who had been silent all along, spoke.
"I have no intention of seeking your permission anyway. There will be even less chance of sending that child to the capital."
Those words meant they should keep silent about Lerea's existence, which the Imperial Castle was searching for.
The Superion territory was already quite far from the capital. And the Emperor wouldn't suspect Superion either.
Officially, Princess Iris, Lerea's mother, was practically an enemy to the Superion family.
He would think they killed her, not that they were protecting her.
The Emperor didn't seem to be searching for the child out of concern for her safety either.
"But Father, shouldn't we at least verify whether she's really Elizabeth's daughter?"
"I will handle it."
At Zenon's words, the Duke answered firmly. Hearing the answer, Zenon pondered for a moment before asking again.
"What will you do about the vassals?"
"For now, we will announce that we brought a child resembling Elizabeth for the madam's illness."
"I understand."
"This matter must be kept strictly secret."
At the Duke's words, the three siblings nodded in understanding.
The Duke, hearing his children's confirmation, left the conference room as if he had no further business with them.
The three remaining siblings exchanged glances.
It was a silent question—did they believe their father's words?
"For now, I believe it. Do you know what Mother did as soon as she saw that child?"
"What did she do?"
At Artias's words, Zenon asked. Artias spoke as if she had been itching to say it.
"She ran to her calling 'Elizabeth!' You have no idea how surprised she was. I don't know what older sister looked like as a child, but she must really resemble her. Even though her hair color is different, for her to react that much."
"...She doesn't resemble her at all."
Carius, who had been listening to Artias's words, muttered. At that, Zenon chuckled.
"Elizabeth was certainly different when she was young versus when she grew up. Her gaze, her expression—everything. She was a huge troublemaker when she was young."
"We're only a few years apart... I remember older sister's childhood too. But...."
"You were close to Elizabeth, so her adult appearance must be more memorable to you."
"...."
At Zenon's words, Carius fell into deep thought. Childhood memories sometimes contained errors.
Carius found it difficult to fully accept the fact that the child resembled his sister.
Even after Zenon and Artias left, Carius remained seated in that spot, deep in thought.
Then at some point, he suddenly stood up and headed somewhere.
It was Elizabeth's room where Lerea was.