The Somerset estate was one of the largest in the region.

The estate in Goldpool Valley was one of the largest in the southern region.

It was large enough for Rupert to complain about its high maintenance costs.

While it was usually quiet with just family members and servants living there, today it was bustling with activity.

News had spread that the Somerset family, which had rapidly declined after the Elf Mountain Fertilizer Incident, was hosting a banquet for the first time in years. This drew not only the neighboring lords but also guests from far away.

Some guests had come to see the Somerset’s second son, who had become the talk of high society by creating and selling fairy tales and even received a commendation from the Imperial Family.

On the other hand, nearby nobles who worried about losing their interests if Somerset revived had come to spy and observe.

“Welcome. Thank you for coming such a long way.”

At the entrance to the family’s banquet hall stood a young man with blond hair and glasses, greeting the guests personally. It was clearly Rupert Somerset, the second son of the Somerset family.

Normally, the head of the family would welcome the guests, but here the son was representing the family.

“So the rumors were true.”

One noble thought to himself as Rupert welcomed him.

There had been rumors that Bradley, the head of Somerset and the lord of the estate, had become a figurehead, stripped of his powers by his son.

Initially, he dismissed them as mere rumors, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, it seemed to be true.

Welcoming guests was usually the duty of the head of the family. But Count Bradley stood alone, far from the entrance.

“How terrifying. Even if he covets power, to overthrow his father and seize the family is rare indeed.”

Although the world of nobles was known for its ruthlessness, it was rare for one to displace a direct blood relative, especially a father.

The noble etched Rupert’s cold demeanor into his mind.

Having assumed that Rupert, who made fairy tales for children, would be a gentle person, the noble realized how wrong he had been.

“Father! What is this decoration you’ve put up?”

“Are you saying I should let the nobles visiting our mansion see us living in squalor?”

“I’ve heard the price from the guild leader! There’s hardly any difference between that and a 50-silver statue, yet you chose the expensive decorations.”

“Ah, that guild leader sure has a loose tongue.”

I was going crazy. I was working hard to save every penny, but my father had decorated the banquet hall with expensive items, insisting that we couldn’t let the visiting nobles look down on us.

“Not that I don’t understand…”

I understood my father’s point. Hosting a banquet for the first time in years, he wanted to show that the family hadn’t fallen.

But as he left the guest reception to me and leisurely mingled with the other nobles in the hall, I couldn’t help but find him annoying.

“Isn’t welcoming guests supposed to be the head of the family’s job?”

He must have been sulking about losing the estate’s financial management.

Memorizing the guest list to greet invited nobles and make small talk exhausted me.

Not being naturally gifted at socializing, engaging in superficial conversations with unfamiliar nobles was tiring.

“Strangely, no one’s talking to me?”

Both my father and the guild leader had warned me that people would likely try to get information about the fairy tales and I should be cautious.

But no one approached me. If anything, they seemed to keep their distance.

“Hello, Sir Rupert.”

While greeting guests, I turned toward the familiar voice.

There stood the woman with blue hair and sky-blue eyes, an unforgettable presence.

“Hello, Lady Amelia.”

Unlike the last time I saw her, she was dressed in a lavender dress for the banquet. I found myself staring at her without realizing it.

I quickly composed myself and greeted her politely, aware that it was rude to gaze too long at a noble lady.

Her appearance was truly beautiful. I felt compelled to apologize to Rupert for calling him a fool; there was every reason to pursue her.

“No, I apologize for visiting so suddenly.”

Rude? I hadn’t even thought of sending an invitation, so I was surprised when the Bluewell family requested to attend.

I originally had no desire to get involved with Amelia, the heroine of the original story.

But now…

“Not at all. I sincerely wanted to meet you again. Truly.”

Only after my entanglement with the Imperial Family did I realize that the Bluewell family was like a blessing.

“The payment they sent me was no joke. I barely resisted the urge to sell books to them repeatedly.”

Unlike the royal family, who tried to pay me off with a mere commendation, the generous compensation from the duke made him a formidable presence.

Unlike before, a natural smile formed on my face, and my voice was bright.

“…I see.”

Oh no. Was I too enthusiastic? Amelia Bluewell’s expression seemed off.

Her cheeks and ears were slightly flushed. Maybe I was too overwhelming.

“I must be careful; I was too informal.”

I noticed that the middle-aged man behind Amelia was glaring at me disapprovingly, perhaps because he didn’t like my behavior.

“Are you the second son of Somerset?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Thank you for coming, Duke Bluewell.”

“Hmm… Indeed, it was worth traveling to these remote parts… ouch! Amelia!”

Duke Bluewell’s expression was full of discontent as he spoke, but he suddenly let out a childish yelp and looked at his daughter.

After clearing his throat a few times, the duke hurriedly entered the banquet hall with Amelia.

I wanted to thank him for his kindness, but I didn’t get the chance.

Amelia was furious, with her father’s interruption cutting short her reunion with him.

“I sincerely wanted to meet you again.”

Recalling his genuine voice, saying he wanted to see her again, made her face feel like it was about to explode.

Gone was the cold demeanor from their first meeting, replaced with an eager voice and a bright expression.

She was sure he shared the same feelings as hers, but her father had ruined it.

“Amelia, no matter how upset you are, how can you pinch your father in front of people?”

“Be quiet. I asked you not to intervene.”

Her father fell silent, realizing he couldn’t make any excuses.

She had wanted to come alone, but her father insisted on accompanying her.

“I’ll make sure that rascal doesn’t try anything again!”

Worried he might cause a scene, Amelia warned him before they left, but her father couldn’t help himself, forcing her to pinch his side to stop him.

He seemed hurt, but she had no choice. Today, she didn’t want any interruptions while talking with him.

The Somerset family banquet was well-prepared, much to her surprise.

She had been worried because they hadn’t held a banquet in several years.

It seemed someone had helped them understand recent trends, as it was on par with the many banquets she had attended in the capital.

Her father grumbled but was engrossed by the performance of the entertainers, currently in vogue.

Unlike a social dance party, the banquet had tables for invited nobles, and the host circulated among them.

Amelia could only wait patiently for his turn to come to her table.

Finally.

“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Yes, I’m having a wonderful time.”

“Enjoying? You’ve been staring the whole time…”

Her father muttered softly, prompting her to kick him in the shin.

After coughing and excusing himself to smoke, Amelia finally resumed her conversation with him.

They exchanged the usual pleasantries, thanking each other for the invitation, and then the conversation turned to the fairy tales.

“My sister loved the fairy tale you created, Sir Rupert. She holds onto it every night, much to my dismay.”

“I appreciate the kind words. Embarrassingly, my sister is the same.”

“I’d like to meet your sister sometime. She sounds adorable.”

Having sisters gave them a surprising amount of common ground. The man, usually so aloof, lit up when talking about his sister.

He was, indeed, a writer of children's books.

“But this latest work, The Little Mermaid, is a bit different from your previous ones.”

As the moment ripened, Amelia wanted to verify his feelings and the real reason she came.

Was this story about the two of them?

Rupert seemed caught off guard by the question and paused before responding.

“I wanted to depict that there are things in life that can’t be attained. That’s how we grow.”

Were his eyes slightly moist as he said those words, or was it just her imagination?

She couldn’t bring herself to continue on that topic.

“Oh, are you planning to enroll in the Imperial Academy, Sir Rupert?”

She shifted the conversation to the academy.

The academy, known as the cradle of the Empire, was a hot topic among the nobles' children as the enrollment period approached.

However, he seemed lost in thought, answering absentmindedly.

“Yes, I think I’ll enroll. I received the acceptance letter not long ago.”

His response reassured her. Knowing he would attend the academy meant they still had time to see each other.

“But this latest work, The Little Mermaid, is a bit different from your previous ones.”

Amelia Bluewell suddenly brought up The Little Mermaid. It brought back memories of a nightmare.

“I have something to discuss about The Little Mermaid. Make haste to the palace.”

The mysterious letter I received through the guild leader not long ago. The emblem on the letter made my heart sink.

Why was the princess looking for me again?

I was preparing to leave for the palace as soon as the banquet ended, and talking about The Little Mermaid made me want to cry.

“I wanted to depict that there are things in life that can’t be attained. That’s how we grow.”

I barely managed to hold back tears as I answered Amelia, thinking about being dragged to the palace.

Afterward, she asked if I would attend the academy. But my mind was consumed with thoughts of meeting the princess, and I hardly remembered what I said in response.