A thought suddenly jolted through my mind like a thunderbolt.

“Sand. Could you please come here for a moment?”

I stealthily whispered.

He must have noticed how serious I was being as the priest received the envelope, blinked his innocent eyes, and nodded his head.

Laurence was holding the cake now. Once she started to explain the ingredients, little Bacary, who had been quiet the whole time, focused and his eyes sparkled.

We warily walked around and moved toward the furnace.

I didn’t want to mess up the happy mood of Ganael’s birthday with this serious conversation.

The young boy had not been relaxed lately because of our current situation.

I wanted to let him laugh without any worries today.

The red pandas, who were by the cradle looking after Tithé, stared at me.

Percy and Gerrit tilted their heads as well.

“……”

“……”

“Haha. It’s so nice by the fire.”

Of course, I couldn’t get away from the focused gazes of my partners either.

I smiled and waved off the blue-gray and orange gazes following me.

‘It’s nothing big so just pretend you don’t see anything. Such good kids.’

“Umm, I’m really sorry. I happened to read what was written on the envelope.”

“Ah. I see, your highness. That’s okay.”

I quietly apologized, making Sand shake his head with a smile.

He seemed to be saying it was not a big deal. I gulped and opened my mouth again.

“Then…… Are you heading to the neutral region? I saw it talking about a pilgrimage to the Temple of Boundaries.”

Nobody could leave right now without having thorough evidence of their identity, so it was highly likely that Sand was facing issues as well.

However, I was willing to grasp at the straws if something may be possible.

‘If it ends up a golden lifeline, that’s even better!’

“Ah.”

His pine tree-like russet-colored eyes opened a bit wider.

The priest could not answer right away and awkwardly opened and closed his mouth.

Despite being in a rush, I felt apologetic that I was so rudely asking about his personal life.

I quickly added on.

“You don’t have to answer if it is uncomfortable.”

“No, not at all. I trust you, your highness. There’s no discomfort at all.”

The young man warmly answered.

While he smiled and scratched his cheek, Ganael noticed my absence and looked around.

I quickly grabbed a fiadone from a plate on the table by the window and took a bite.

The soft and fragrant cheese spread inside my mouth while my nose could spell the scent of the lemon peels and lemon pulp.

The honey that was spread like snow added sweetness.

I quickly handed two slices to Sand as well and smiled as soon as I made eye contact with Ganael.

Instead of moving my mouth, I did not forget to point at the cheesecake.

‘I was hungry so I came over for a snack. Keep playing.’

“Hehe.”

The young boy smiled brightly and nodded. He then proceeded to open the presents from his friends.

‘Phew!’ Gulp.

“It’s okay now. It’s delicious so please eat a lot.”

“Yes, your highness.”

Sand tilted his head in confusion but still happily accepted a cup of coffee from me.

For reference, the Americano that Christelle drinks like water has been dubbed the café Chris.

According to Marquis François, a term like this being used in the Imperial Palace would quickly lead to it being used in the Beau Monde a we.

The young priest ate about half of the cake, drank some of his café Chris, and slowly started to speak.

“That…… My family did not like it very much that I became a naturalized citizen of the Empire. To be honest with you, they still do not like it.”

“I see.”

I sipped on some warm rooibos as I focused on what he had to say.

Last fall, Sand followed the Johann father and son duo to become a citizen of Riester.

I didn’t hear the details and all I knew was that the Imperial family proceeded things so quickly.

I remember being surprised, wondering if normal foreigners could become naturalized so easily.

Sand had also said something to us at his housewarming.

It was hard at home because nobody accepted him as he was, so he ran away to the Vatican despite his parents’ opposition.

He was happy to see that in the Empire, which he coincidentally ended up in, even his ‘lacking’ areas became ‘normal.’

There had been a time when the Holy Knights basically abused him here, but……

‘Nobody here expects amazing things from me, asks about my future hopes and dreams, or pesters me with burdensome questions…… That makes me extremely happy. My heart feels at ease and it is easy for me to breathe now.’

Sand had smiled while saying that.

The biweekly publication of < Reason, Sensibility, and Holiness > was also one of his reasons for getting naturalized, but the most important thing was that his heart felt at ease here.

We did not dig deeper after hearing that.

The details were obviously a family issue and we thought it was only appropriate to wait until he chose to tell us about it himself.

We didn’t want to break the peace he was feeling.

‘I’m disappointed that Priest Sand can’t go with us. I heard it was because the issue of his naturalization has not been fully resolved.’

‘Sir Johann, will he be okay?’

‘Please don’t worry, your highness. His family is famous for being strange. But they will soon give up.’

I remembered the conversation at the end of last year before we headed to the now Bellang Duchy.

It meant that his ‘strange family’ led to his naturalization not being resolved completely.

Sir Johann had said that Sand’s family would give up soon, but……

“Will they make you cancel the naturalization?”

“Ahh, it’s nothing like that, your highness!”

Sand raised his voice. I became shocked and looked around.

Demy raised his tail up.

Ganael, who had been opening Joanne’s present, had his eyes open wide as he looked at us.

I quickly grabbed three pieces of sablés.

Then I placed all three of those gear-shaped biscuits into my mouth.

The way it crunched and the sweetness spread throughout my mouth automatically made me smile.

I silently used my fingers again to explain the situation.

Sand doesn’t want to dip the sablé in his coffee. That’s why he raised his voice.

‘Okay, your highness.’

The young boy moved his mouth and smiled.

Everybody other than the Holy Knights returned to focus on the presents.

François winked toward us. ‘Thank you, I’ll leave it to you.’

“Young master Callamard, have you decided on a destination for your honeymoon?”

“T, that’s such an unexpected question!”

“Hey mister!”

I wondered if I really should trust him but I had no other choice right now.

I glanced at the couple who had turned as red as strawberries and looked at Sand with a serious gaze.

The priest finished his fiadone and continued.

“It’s not like that, your highness…… My father wishes to see me. I haven’t seen him since I ran away from home and went to the Vatican.”

“May I ask when you ran away from home?”

“I ran away as soon as I turned sixteen.”

Sand answered embarrassedly.

He looked mature but he was still only nineteen, so he had not seen his family for over three years.

I sighed and he nodded his head.

“Exactly, your highness. I’m not close with my parents but I thought it would be good to let them know that I am doing well. But my father said that he would verify my identity…… Sniff. The Grand Celebration for the Advent of the Almighty God is the largest festival on the continent. He wondered if it would be easy to go to the neutral region around that time.”

His chubby hands fidgeted on the envelope.

Honestly, I could not tell how big of a festival the ‘Grand Celebration for the Advent of the Almighty God’ would be.

This world did not have Christmas and we had been in such chaotic states during the week of the new year because of the Simon de Sarnez incident.

There were also not many decorations inside the Imperial Palace because of all the snow we had received.

Similar to how the Bible did not have a verse stating that December 25th was Christmas… The Holy Text of the Church of the Almighty God also did not say February 22nd is the day of the Grand Celebration, so go and make it big. It didn’t state anything like that.

‘Maybe I skimmed the commentary too much?’

“It would be great for you to be able to go see your parents after such a long time. Then how did you……”

I pointed toward the envelope.

I was asking how he received a letter from his father when the entire Empire was basically sealed.

Sand smiled.

“Lady Isabelle handed it to me. To be more specific, Lady Isabelle’s parents run a famous caravan that travels to the neutral, region…… My father, who happened to be there from the Vatican, commissioned them to deliver it. Apparently this item made it past her Majesty’s inspections, your highness.”

My eyes opened wide.

“Isabelle?”

“Shall I escort her over, your highness?”

‘Eek!’ I covered my mouth so that I did not scream.

My shoulders jerked and I turned around to see the familiar set of toothpaste-colored eyes. ‘Aigoo, Gerrit’s dad!’

“I’m sorry, your highness. I was wondering what kind of fun conversation you were having.”

Sir Johann’s eyebrows lowered. He looked extremely apologetic.

“When……”

“I think I heard from when you said, ‘could you please come here for a moment?’”

‘You followed us from the beginning!’

I must have given off a glare as he gently smiled and walked away.

He then asked Isabelle for her understanding and escorted her over.

He didn’t walk stealthily or anything but nobody other than his two students noticed his movements.

We were standing in a carpeted room, but his footsteps were silent. ‘He’s so amazing.’

“Prince Jesse?”

“I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation, Isabelle. May I ask you a question?”

I first politely apologized. She looked back at her daughter before blinking.

She seemed to be wondering why I looked for her and not Christelle.

I sent Sir Johann back to my friends while saying, ‘Please control François a bit. I think he’s stimulating the group too much even with some kids among them.’ “Please leave it to me, your highness.” I then immediately said what was on my mind.

“I heard that Viscount Rambouillet received a letter from Sand’s father in the neutral region. Are they able to come and go as they please?”

“Is it true that going in and out becomes easier during the period of the Grand Celebration?” “What exactly is a pilgrimage to the Temple of Boundaries?” Also……

“You are overflowing with curiosity, your highness.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m asking too many questions.”

“That’s okay, your highness. It is so nice to see you always giving your best.

That is probably one of the reasons my daughter adores you so much.” Isabelle smiled beautifully.

She then answered all of my questions in a gentle tone.

As for the parts she wasn’t too sure about, Sand was nice enough to help answer with his knowledge of the Vatican.

Basically……

“So normally, the borders facing the neutral region are completely open during the period of the Grand Celebration. The same thing happens in Venetiaan as well.”

“Yes, your highness.”

The priest nodded. Everybody just accepted the fact that I didn’t know much about the Holy Kingdom these days.

The position of the ‘persecuted illegitimate child and expert scoundrel’ was quite useful in such situations.

The Grand Celebration for the Advent of the Almighty God lasted for two weeks.

However, it never went into March.

“The pilgrimage to the Temple of Boundaries that takes place during this time is something that anybody, regardless of status, is able to take. The entire temple building is open for people to enter. The Vicarius Generalis of the Diocese governing the neutral region gives baptisms and sermons in celebration. But this year, it will be difficult to start from Riester due to the situation. But the Viscount and his wife are people who run the largest caravan in the Empire and have received her Majesty’s blessing to frequent that place.”

“That is correct.”

Isabelle elegantly answered. I quietly fell deep into thought.

For a large religious celebration where the borders of both countries are opened, I may be able to convince Empress Frédérique.

‘Maybe I’ll ask my teacher about it first?’

Go with Viscount Rambouillet’s caravan with Sand, who has someone to vouch for his identity, as well as the Holy Knights… That may be something she allows.

‘I’ll also promise her that I’ll come back immediately if I go and see that Elise is not there……’

“Your highness, it will be difficult for his Royal Highness to clear his calendar.”

I suddenly heard David’s voice. I gasped again and snapped out of my thoughts!

“……You truly are at a Holy Knight’s level when it comes to erasing your presence. I had the same thought last time as well.”

“It is a habit I have developed in order to not bother his Royal Highness’s precious sleeping time.”

The middle-aged man gently smiled, cleared the empty plates, and filled our teacups again.

Even the act I was putting on to not ruin Ganael’s party was perfect.

While Isabelle and Sand happily shared a brezel, I just sipped on the warm cup of tea and looked at David.

I stealthily observed the crown prince punk past David’s shoulder as well.

I quickly lowered my gaze before we made eye contact. ‘Difficult for him to clear his calendar……’

“I guess he does have a large pile of work as the crown prince.”

It would probably put him in a difficult position if I suddenly asked him to go somewhere. He may have to do a bunch of work in advance before he left.

“Hohoho. I guess you could say that.”

The attendant looked entertained for some reason.

He must have seen the confused look on my face as he let out a few fake coughs before cautiously approaching me.

“David?”

“As you are well aware, your highness, his Royal Highness is young. He is in the flower of his youth at the age of twenty five. He is healthy and flowing with strength both day and night and the beauty of his face is one that nobody else in the Empire can match.”

“Oh my.”

“Yes, well……”

Isabelle seemed to have already noticed something but I just agreed with a baffled look on my face.

‘What is he trying to say?’

“Isn’t it about time for him to sire an heir?”

‘Already?’ My jaws dropped like a broken doll.

My eyes instinctively searched for Christelle.

Her pink hair that resembled the fluffy chest hair of a long-tailed tit was fluttering.

Her loud laugh was as clear and sharp as usual.

‘Even if her soul is that of a company worker, Christelle is too young to have a child!’

But I was the only one who was looking at her. Even Isabelle was not pointing to her daughter.

I heard David’s nonchalant voice.

“As a result, I was told that this Saturday’s feast will be attended by the young lady of the Duke’s House of Mendy.

Please make sure you keep this part a secret, your highness.” He stealthily added on.

I suddenly felt as if all of the blood inside of me was evaporating.

My hands and feet instantly turned cold and my back felt stiff.

‘Say whaaaaat……?’

—
Translator’s Comments

Some blind dates for our male lead? Hmm…

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