After Paul finished scanning the notes that Anna had transcribed from the recording device's, he looked up and asked, "Are you sure about this?" His brows furrowed slightly as he handed the parchment back to her.
Anna gave a firm nod. "Yes, Prince. They said those exact words... in the archive room," she replied confidently, her gaze steady.
Paul leaned back slightly, processing the information. "Okay, if that's so—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a familiar voice called from behind.
"Prince…"
He turned around to see Renya standing at the doorway, her expression slightly awkward.
"What's wrong?" Paul asked, his tone tinged with confusion.
Renya hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Countess has arrived. She came to visit you…"
Paul blinked. "Why is she here?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Renya glanced away and scratched her cheek with one finger, her voice unsure. "I… don't know."
Paul let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Call her into the living room," he said in a resigned tone.
Renya nodded and turned to leave. But just as Paul was about to speak to Alice, who was patiently waiting near the second Illusion Magic Device, Renya paused and turned her head.
"And, Prince…" she added, her voice now more serious, "the Countess also brought her daughter."
Paul froze, then immediately slapped his forehead with his palm. "Alright… both of them can come in."
Without another word, Renya nodded and stepped out to fulfill the request.
Paul rubbed his temples for a moment, then looked at Alice. "Call the others. Prepare a meal for our unexpected guests," he said, his voice now steady and composed.
Alice bowed gracefully. "Understood, Prince." She turned on her heel and disappeared into the back of the estate to gather the maids.
After Alice left the room, Paul turned to Anna and said firmly, "Anna, you keep monitoring the radio."
Anna gave a quick nod, slipping her headset back on. "Understood, Prince," she replied, her eyes already scanning the dials and frequencies as the quiet hum of voices returned to her ears.
Satisfied that everything was in order, Paul left the room and made his way back to his private quarters. Once inside, he stepped into the center of the room and disengaged his exo-armor. The suit hissed softly as it opened, and Paul climbed out with practiced ease. He reached into his spatial bag and pulled out a neatly folded set of clothes.
A few minutes later, he stood before the mirror, now dressed in a dark imperial-style suit—complete with a high-collared waistcoat, gilded buttons, and a ceremonial sash draped neatly across his chest. He adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves, then turned slightly left and right, brushing an invisible speck from the front of his jacket.
"This suits me well," he muttered with a small grin, inspecting his reflection one last time.
After ensuring everything was in place, he stored the exo-armor back into the spatial bag and stepped out of his room, heading toward the living room.
As he descended the stairs, soft conversation could be heard below. Upon reaching the hallway, Paul spotted Countess Isolde seated gracefully in the living room, her posture refined and her expression politely reserved.
Walking forward, Paul raised his hand slightly in greeting. "Welcome to…" he trailed off, tapping his chin as if trying to recall something. Then, with a chuckle, he said, "Ah—my forest house."
He smiled warmly as he stepped into the room. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
Hearing that, Isolde and her daughter giggled softly. "Oh… you're quite humorous, Prince," Isolde said with a warm smile. Then she stepped forward with practiced grace and added, "Prince… welcome to my territory." She gave a noble salute, elegantly mirrored by her daughter. "Forgive the late welcome. I wasn't informed that you had arrived alone."
She then turned to the young woman at her side and gently patted her shoulder. "Allow me to introduce my daughter. Liora, dear…"
Liora stepped forward with poise, her voice calm and composed. "Greetings, Prince. I am Liora," she said, offering a refined curtsy in the noble fashion.
Paul nodded, offering a polite smile in return. "Yes… you're very well-mannered."
With a relaxed tone, he turned slightly toward Renya and said, "Call Alice and the others to bring the meal."
Then, shifting his gaze back to the countess and her daughter, he gestured courteously. "Countess, Miss Liora, please… have a seat."
He took his place on the velvet-upholstered couch, and the two ladies seated themselves across from him, moving with elegant restraint.
A few minutes later, Alice and several other maids entered in quiet succession, placing covered trays and platters on the table with smooth precision before quietly retreating. Paul's eyes scanned the dishes now revealed—foods rare in this world, yet unmistakably familiar to him.
When Isolde and Liora looked upon the spread, their expressions brightened with genuine curiosity.
"Oh, what is this…?" Isolde asked softly.
"It's beautiful…" Liora murmured, her eyes reflecting both delight and surprise.
Paul glanced briefly at the last maid who had just exited, then turned to see Renya by the window, looking away—her face slightly flushed, her expression trying to remain composed.
Seeing her like that, Paul let out a small sigh and said with a smile, "Come on, don't be shy…" as he picked up one of the dishes and took a bite. Encouraged by his ease, the others followed suit, and the room soon filled with the gentle clinks of cutlery and soft conversation.
After everyone had eaten their fill, the table was cleared and replaced with a delicate assortment of pastries and sweets.
Wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin, Paul leaned back slightly and said, "Now, let's begin the conversation, shall we?" His tone remained relaxed, almost playful.
Isolde gave a graceful nod, her posture poised yet comfortable.
As Paul reached for one of the delicately arranged cakes, he asked, "So, Countess… to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He bit into the cake, savoring it as he watched her reaction.
Isolde let out a soft giggle as she selected a slice of cake from the tray, followed closely by Liora who picked a smaller piece with quiet elegance.
"Oh, Prince… don't be so formal," Isolde said with a light laugh, taking a bite of her cake, one small piece at a time. "I merely wished to pay my respects."
She took another bite and continued, "This is still your kingdom in the future, and you're the highest decision-maker here, for now." Her smile widened as she ate another piece. "So, don't hesitate to tell me if there's a problem."
Paul leaned back, resting his chin in his hand. "Problem, huh…" he murmured, his expression turning thoughtful. The light mood shifted slightly, the conversation taking on a more serious tone.
While the two conversed, Liora remained quietly seated, elegantly nibbling on whichever cake caught her eye. She seemed content to enjoy the moment, leaving the matters of politics and leadership to her mother.
A few seconds passed before Paul finally spoke again, his voice now more hesitant. "Actually… there is something."
Isolde's expression sharpened with polite interest. "Oh? Is that so? Then please, you may—"
But before she could finish, Paul raised a hand and gently cut her off. "Wait a minute."
He turned toward Renya, who had remained quietly observant by the window. "Renya, exchange Anna's recorder and notes," Paul instructed, simultaneously pulling a fresh voice recorder and a blank notepad from his spatial bag.
Without a word, Renya moved swiftly, retrieving the previous materials and handing over the updated documents. Once the items were in his hands, Paul straightened his posture and looked back at the Countess, his expression now calm but serious.
"You see… there are a few issues I believe could become significant within your city."
As he spoke, Paul carefully placed the note and the small recorder on the table in front of Isolde, letting their presence speak for themselves.
Two Hours Later
As their discussion finally drew to a close, Countess Isolde rose from her seat with grace. "Alright then, thank you, Prince, for the time you've given me. I will see to it as soon as possible," she said with a formal nod, then turned to her daughter. "Liora, let's—"
She stopped mid-sentence, noticing Liora still nibbling contentedly on a slice of cake.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Oh… Liora, do you want to stay and play a little longer?" she teased, eyes glinting with amusement.
Still chewing, Liora nodded absentmindedly. Only after a second did she realize what she'd just agreed to, and her eyes widened. Flustered, she quickly shook her head and stood up, stammering, "N-No… let's go home," though her tone betrayed her reluctance, and her expression had dimmed.
Seeing her daughter's gloomy face, Isolde giggled with a mischievous smirk. "Prince, it seems Liora would love to spend more time with you. Is that alright?" she asked, her voice laced with playful menace.
Paul looked momentarily cornered, his smile stiffening. "Y-Yes… it's fine," he said with a hint of awkwardness in his voice.
Isolde, ignoring his hesitation, gave a satisfied nod. "Then it's settled. Prince, I'll take my leave," she said with a noble salute. Before walking out, she cast a meaningful glance toward her daughter. "Don't be naughty, alright?"
Liora, clearly embarrassed, gave a quick nod.
Paul stood as well and replied politely, "Yes… please take care, Countess." With a final smile, Isolde exited gracefully, her carriage already waiting to return her to the castle.
Just as Paul turned toward Liora to say something, Liselotte stepped in, leaning in to whisper discreetly into his ear.
His expression sharpened slightly at her words. He looked to Renya and said, "Renya, would you mind keeping Liora company for a while? It seems… they've arrived."
Without waiting for more explanation, Paul turned and headed out the door with calm urgency.
Liora blinked, confused. "They?" she muttered.
Renya sighed and slapped her forehead lightly. "Miss, it seems the Prince has urgent business to attend to," she said, her tone caught between resignation and amusement.
Liora gave a small nod, trying to mask her disappointment as she quietly returned to her seat… and to the cake.