Jhed, the head guard, turned around and saw the young master and mistress of the household approaching them. Apien stood quite tall with his staff in hand, walking towards them with Fleur behind him.

“Young master! There is an intruder here that doesn’t want to leave. My companion and I will take care of it so-”

“We rushed here because one of the maids informed us. You mean to tell me, knight, that you can’t get rid of a simple intruder?” Apien narrowed his eyes.

The head guard, or rather, knight, inwardly sighed and wanted to tear up. This young master always liked to butt heads with the knights, not out of dislike but akin to tough love that parents showed their children.

Jhed knew that his master was strong and so was their children but… more often than not they tended to act domineering.

“Forgive me, young master.”

“If you understand then step aside. I’d like to see the rumored intruder who’s strong enough to overpower even a retired Imperial Knight.”

Both guards had heavy builds and easily covered even the tall intruder. The intruder hadn’t spoken up since she heard Apien’s voice and had to sigh when she realized the trouble she caused.

“Understood.” They backed away and Apien opened the gate with magic.

When the two siblings saw the intruder, both of them were dumbfounded. Dressed in a shabby cape and men’s clothes was Ethel, who had returned her disguise back to her usual appearance in the Institute.

“Wait a minute, so this is the intruder you talked about?” Apien rubbed his temples.

It was no wonder that the guards couldn’t handle the intruder. A distinguished Imperial Knight can’t even touch the hem of her clothes, much less a normal one.

“Yes, sir. Is there something wrong?”

Jhed and his companion didn’t miss the way their young master and mistress looked at them like they were idiots and were profusely sweating.

Fleur laughed. “You knights don’t need to be so nervous. We understand why you weren’t able to get rid of this pesky intruder.”

“I’m not a pesky intruder.” Ethel frowned.

“What brings you to the capital? I heard from my sister that you weren’t chosen by the baron to join Mars. And as I recall, it’s a hundred thousand miles from the North. How on earth could you be here?”

Ethel didn’t want to go too into detail and just told them that the baron insisted on making her a substitute participant in secret and so after investigating their competitors, decided to bring her along after they’ve arrived in the capital.

“You must be tired from the journey then, come in.” Apien dismissed the guards and led the three of them to the mansion. In the parlor, Ethel sat down and still found it a little hard to believe she was acquainted with such a noble family.

She, who couldn’t even be considered a commoner, had ties with a powerful family in the strongest empire of the Karin Continent.

“You rascal didn’t tell me about it at all,” Fleur chastised and smacked her on the head.

“That’s because the baron said it was a secret.”

Apien excused himself for random reasons, though Fleur knew it was to alert the other members of the household.

Fleur smiled as she rang a bell and maids brought in tea and snacks. Each and every one was so exquisite that Ethel took the most delectable piece and bit into it. She hadn’t had a decent meal since the inns were quite bad and she wanted to save as much as she could.

“What about the others?”

“The headmaster made up a believable excuse for me since I left so suddenly. Besides, everyone is here in the capital, aren’t they? No one’s close enough to me to investigate my whereabouts.”

“What about Porte?”

Porte and her haven’t talked after the recent disaster that is his disappointment in her having failed to join as one of the participants. Ethel could sense that he was avoiding her whenever the both of them took the same paths to classes like they used to.

Ethel shook her head. “He wouldn’t. He’s been avoiding me since I left.”

“Oh? How come?”

“I wouldn’t know. Puberty?”

Fleur giggled. “It’s so like you to say that.”

Ethel then had a realization. Since she was here then maybe she could acquire information about the Duchess of Vandenberg, right? Recent news in the capital did say that tensions were arising with the Crown Prince joining the competition and the nobles were being divided into factions.

If all of this started with the death of the Duchess, then that would mean she played a bigger role than she thought.

She gulped and looked at Fleur. “So... How have you guys been?”

Fleur looked surprised, but nonetheless she answered, “We’re okay. Grandfather’s been busy with tightening security around the palace and father’s been battling in court. I heard there were nobles forming a faction but for what reason I didn’t know. And as for mother… well we were talking about the upcoming ball a few days ago and lamented about how you weren’t able to come. Oh! Speaking of the ball, are you coming?”

“I see…” Ethel fell into deep thought.

So the rumors were right about the faction… She might have to go back to that informant if she wanted news about it. Prying for more information from Fleur’s family would just warrant unwanted suspicion. Not to mention she wasn’t even a noble, much less a dame.

“Hello, Eos to Ethel? Are you okay?” Fleur waved a hand in front of her face.

“Ah yeah, what is it again?”

“The ball! Are you coming or not?”

Ethel frowned. She sighed and said, “Yes I am. The baron convinced me to go.”

“That’s surprising! You, of all people, can be convinced to go to an event where you need to dress up and mind your manners?” Fleur exclaimed while holding her shoulders.

“I have my own reasons for going and can you stop shaking me?” Ethel complained and Fleur let her go. “You have a strong grip I can’t believe you’re high society’s most noble flower.”

“It’s all in my beauty, I suppose.” Fleur shrugged.

Just then, Apien arrived with his mother in tow. She looked even more elegant the last time Ethel saw her. She smiled but inwardly she and Apien glared at each other. He knew how bad his mother fussed over Ethel.

He was taking revenge for causing a ruckus at their gates!

“Ethel, my darling!”