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nThe next day, Dalia was surprised to find Hikan reading the newspaper leisurely instead of preparing for work during her late breakfast.

n“Brother, aren’t you going to work?”

n“I took a vacation.”

nDalia was even more surprised by his nonchalant answer. Hikan folded the newspaper, put it on the table, and looked at Dalia.

n“Why all of a sudden……?”

n“Come to think of it, we have never traveled together before.”

n“……What?”

nDespite Dalia’s confused voice, Hikan spoke without hesitation.

n“Adrisha decided to go with us. She wants me to tell her wherever you decide you want to go.”

n“…….”

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n“Our estates are all over the Empire. If you want to see the sea, let’s go to the sea, and if you want to see the mountains, let’s go to a place with a beautiful view. There are places where your favorite seafood is a specialty.”

nHikan brought a map of the Empire and spread it out in front of Dalia.

nThere were round marks all over the map, he probably didn’t even sleep when he made the plan, and organized all the attractions.

n‘B, brother…….’

nIt was touching. And.

n‘You really didn’t like it when Cedric and I met…….’

nA belated realization came. It would have been better to omit half of yesterday’s story. However…….

n“It will be just the three of us for a while. It’s going to be fun.”

nHikan looked up at Dalia with a rather desperate expression. She felt weak when she saw that face.

nIt’s not that she didn’t think of Cedric at the moment. Still, let’s think about the beach, delicious specialties, and a good time for the three of us to go around all day…….

n‘That sounds fun…….’

nStill, Dalia’s priorities were far ahead of Cedric’s, Hikan’s and even Adrisha’s.

n“All right!”

nDalia said with a big smile.

nHikan then smiled vaguely. He seemed to have worried a lot.

n7. First Trip

nDalia fell into a happy contemplation with a large map in front of her.

n‘So where should we go?’

nThe trip was decided, and now all that remained was Dalia’s choice.

nDalia picked up a pen and began circling it again, one at a time, at each mark indicated on the map.

nHikan was sitting next to Dalia while resting on his chin, watching her while she chose a place.

n‘As expected, the sea would be great.’

nWinter was over and spring was coming. It’s not the best time to see the sea, but Dalia originally liked to feel the cold wind while walking on the beach during winter.

nThere were about three places left when she selected the places for the beach. I think I heard the nanny recommend which one of the three is the best last time.

nDalia stared at the three remaining names.

n‘Vesta’, ‘Alstein’, ‘Cannon’.

nFor some reason, all three names were familiar. In particular, the name Cannon stood out the most.

n‘Was that where the nanny recommended it?’

nDalia, who had been staring at the name, after pondering for a long time, finally remembered where she had seen it.

n‘That’s Adrisha’s hometown!’

nTo be precise, it’s the place where Adrisha was raised as a spy and assassin. If she went there, she would only trigger Adrisha’s trauma.

nDalia removed it from the candidate list. Somehow she had an ominous feeling about that place.

n‘The two remaining places are somehow…… I think there’s something there.’

nOn second thought, it was strange.

nDalia roughly learned the geography of this Empire in class with the tutor. All the important names remain in her memory.

nHowever these names are simply tourist attractions and not particularly important lands, so why are they so familiar when she hasn’t even studied hard?

nIt must be in the original.

nIn particular, the name ‘Vesta’ felt the worst. I think I will remember it if I look at it more…….

n“If it doesn’t matter which one, let’s go here.”

nThen, all of a sudden, Hikan pointed his finger at one place. Dalia followed his fingertips in surprise.

nHe pointed to…… ‘Vesta’.

n“D, does it have to be here?”

nDalia asked unconsciously.

n“His Majesty gave me a vacation, but I need to do something in exchange.”

nHikan replied with an annoyed voice.

nHowever, as for Dalia, who still has a modern perspective, was convinced by the task the Emperor entrusted.

n‘Well…… he can’t just give brother a vacation when it’s been less than a month since he started working…….’

n“It doesn’t matter if you like somewhere else. But we will have to be separated quite far during the trip.”

n‘I don’t want that.’

nDalia stared at the name absent mindedly.

nBut she does not remember anything even when she’s staring at it.

nShe would rather not go if she could remember what happened, but she couldn’t just say no because she doesn’t know what happened there.

nBesides, the Emperor told brother to do something.

n“What did the Emperor entrust you with?”

n“That’s top secret.”

nHikan just cut it off and said that.

nThere was no use in asking more when he said that.

nDalia once again confirmed Vesta’s position on the map. It is a coastal city that borders the vast sea, but has few other characteristics.

nIt was also the territory that was the farthest from the Holy Empire.

nIf it’s close to the Holy Empire…….

n‘Isn’t it also related to the Holy Empire?’

nIf you think it like this. A Commander of the Imperial Knights is a position where you can be a soldier in case of an emergency.

nThe Empire and the Holy Empire were in a relationship that was on the verge of war seven years ago. Their relationship has been restored. But they were still on guard against each other.

nSince Aceras was appointed to the Holy Empire, it was natural to strengthen their vigilance.

nBut this was in the opposite direction of the Holy Empire.

nDalia tilted her head.

nFurthermore, it still does not explain why the name ‘Vesta’ felt so familiar to her.

nAfter much thought, Dalia eventually shook her head.

nShortly after realizing she was reincarnated in the game, Dalia worked hard to recreate most of the main events of the original route.

nAnd yet, looking at the fact that she doesn’t remember the name, it meant that at least it wasn’t related to such an event.

n‘Do we need to discuss this and that when we’re on a trip?’

nDalia decided to think only about the journey ahead. She smiled happily at Hikan.

n* * *

nOf course, Cedric, who caused the incident, was also belatedly informed that Dalia was going on a trip.

nHe immediately became aware of Hikan’s obvious intention.

nHe heard that Hikan took a month off. What could be the reason he took a year worth of vacation and used it all up this month?

nAt first Cedric laughed to himself.

n‘What a fool. Even if you leave, I will find you.’

nBut Hikan’s plan didn’t end there.

n“I’m glad, my son! I didn’t expect that you would come to my office for a month.”

nCedric was bewildered at first when the smiling Emperor came to him with an armful of anthropology.

n“……What?”

n“I heard you even took the author’s lecture. Adrisha told me everything.”

n“…….”

nSeeing that bright smile, it was obvious that even if he told him the truth, the Emperor wouldn’t listen anyway.

nWhether Adrisha’s words are lies or truth, somehow the Emperor will take this opportunity to firmly educate him.

nHe knew that the two of them usually surrounded Dalia, but he didn’t know that humans who had never danced together and spoke respectfully to each other would have colluded to stop him.

nIt was already too late when he heard that the three of them were going on a trip together.

nThanks to this, he was able to enjoy a friendly office date with his father.

nBut he didn’t give up.

nHe was the one who managed to escape from the Imperial Palace several times after avoiding his father’s surveillance. It will be no different this time.

nHe was well aware that Dalia was still uncomfortable with him. They might think that it was rather good for the both of them to be apart.

nIt’s not enough to keep up appearances and whisper sweet words every day, and if they are separated for a month, Dalia will completely forget him.

nAlthough his ability resembles his father’s, he is not capable of reading all human emotions. Sometimes intense emotions just penetrate into his mind.

nSo he couldn’t figure out Dalia’s mind. It made him feel nervous for the first time.

nHe devised a formula to create a warp portal that could move within a kilometer outside the Imperial Palace in his spare time, taking advantage of the Emperor’s time while he was concentrating on his work. While skillfully dodging the power to keep his spell in check.

nBy the way, when the formula was almost complete, Cedric received a letter.

nIn the sender’s column of the envelope, the name of the letter was clearly written.

nDalia Pesteros

nIn the recipient column, more powerful letters were written.

nTo His Highness the Second Prince Cedric Vercelona Michelio

nHe could see that she would have written it nervously. Cedric opened the letter and read it.

nDear Second Prince Cedric

nHello, Prince.

nWe were supposed to take class together but I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you earlier that I’m going on a trip for a month.

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nInstead, when I came back last time, I took a lot of books to study hard. This time, I didn’t pick randomly like before. I picked after getting advice from many people.

nI’ll write down the title below. I think it’d be nice if the Prince could read it with me.

nI’m going to write a book report with Prince this time. I think it’ll be good to read and compare it together after I come back.

nIt is not necessary for Prince to understand human beings, but I hope you do. I guess I’m thinking about becoming a real teacher now.

nSo don’t laugh at me (this sentence was painted black several times as if she were trying to erase it. But Cedric could see everything because of the crumpling of the paper.) Will you be a great student?

n-Sincerely, Dalia Pesteros

nCedric stared at the letter silently. The inside of his chest tickled enough that he wanted to take it and throw it away.

n“Haaa.”

nWith a long sigh, he cancelled all the formulas he was making. Instead, he called in the Grand Chamberlain to bring the books listed by Dalia, papers and fountain pens.

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