"What will you do if the prince will demand to see you instead? Being tutored at home isn't a problem, but our territory and mansion aren't hidden nor exempt from the royal's rights. The crown prince showing up at our door would be inconvenient, but it would be outrageously rude if we refused him entry. I believe you going to the Brylant Academy is the better option after all. If you do just the minimum of courtesy while greeting him but do not interact with him in any other way, the effects you seek might be on a lesser scale, but that would certainly be better than the rumors that would arise from the prince coming to our mansion time after time while you refuse to attend the Academy with the rest of the young nobles."
The duke countered the idea, attempting to gently but sternly lead the girl away from her plan.
Every word that he said was true and originated from his parental worry, but a path so clear that it could as well be a dialogue window with only a single option ended up appearing in front of the gold-haired villainess.
"It is as you say, my duke."
"I'm happy we came to an understanding, my dear. Now, if you could please tell me about your choice of clothes? Are you dissatisfied with your dresses? I've heard that the greatest designer in the kingdom has just released their newest collection, and if you want…"
The girl nodded, and the gold-haired man breathed out in relief, smiling jovially and trying his best to appeal to his daughter the same way he would usually did.
"The crown prince would be able to do all of that. Therefore, want I want is to be admitted to Emeraldios Empire's Jade Academy as an exchange student in a show of good faith between our nations."
"..."
Melinda then spoke over the relieved duke, making him freeze up with his eyes glued to her serious expression.
"In this case, the bigger the distance, the better. Daimondium kingdom and Emeraldios Empire have a history of mutual hostility, but at the same time, peace and cooperation between the two nations are lifelong dreams of his majesty, our King. Making me an exchange student would work in his favor while also aligning with my plans. His majesty wouldn't order me to return just because of his son's whims, and similarly, the reckless crown prince wouldn't be allowed to visit me all the time, if at all, in fear of him offending Emeraldios's people. I, on the other hand, had already been selected as the crown prince's bride after completing a rigorous course in manners followed by a test under the watchful eye of Her Majesty, the Queen herself. Even as heartbroken as I was during yesterday's ball, my tantrum wasn't directed at nor did it directly offend a single guest, and I even said my farewell, curtsying and smiling at them through tears. Which, I dare say, makes me more than qualified and fit to become an additional representative of Diamondium in Emeraldios."
The old-haired girl went on to a lengthy explanation, making it seem as if all of the details had been prepared in advance after being perfected for a long time, and not as if her brain churned them out on the spot, making use of all of the game's obscure lore she devoured during her borderline maniacal search for anything related to Zane…
Duke Brynhild Fenrioette straightened his back but lowered his head while putting both hands on the desk.
"...there were no complaints about your behavior... yet… The party was yesterday. We need to wait at least a week or two to be sure of whether you offended someone or not…"
"...~"
The duke said in a grim voice, but the young lady smiled.
If that was the only counter the duke could come up with, she won.
"...?"
In the silence that befell the office, Melinda lowered her gaze and peeked at the slightly crumpled documents placed on the desk between the duke's hands.
Even upside down, she could read some of its content.
"My duke, you already have the application for the exchange program with the Emeraldios Empire? Did His Majesty send them out to all aristocratic houses already~?"
"!!!"
Melinda let out a pleasantly surprised voice and snatched the document right from under the duke's nose, causing him to flinch and stare up at her, too late stop her without risking causing her harm.
"I'm confident that no one will complain about me, so I'll fill out the form and have it ready to send. I will take my leave now, so have a nice day, my duke~!"
The girl nodded at the wide-eyed man before turning her back and playfully fanning her face with the sheets of paper as she walked out of the room.
After she left, the other two stayed in the same spots in complete silence.
Slowly but surely, Brynhild lowered his head again and moved his hands until he grasped both sides of the desk.
Neither the father nor son realized how much time could have passed, but finally, the door opened again, and the gray-haired butler, Sevas, returned.
"Master, I have completed you or…"
*CRASH*
As the servant lowered his head and reported, the duke's anger spilled out, and he broke the desk in half, then crushing it into splinters with his bare hands, startling the silver-haired man.
"M-master?! Young master, what happ…?!"
*RIIIIIP* *WHOOSH*
The butler gasped in shock, hurriedly turning towards Lazurii for context, only to witness how the young man clenched his fist, causing his bulging muscles to tear his shirt apart, right as the normally invisible mana began manifesting as a torrent of blue wind spiraling around him.
"I am going kill that bastard crown prince…!"
"!!!"
Lazurii raised his head, revealing a face distorted by wrath, making the butler stumble back plate as a ghost.
The young master of the house was speaking about treason! Even as a joke, that would be disastrous!
"Don't be stupid, Lazurii."
"...whew…!"
The butler breathed out in relief as the duke spoke up. Thankfully, at least one of them wasn't completely consumed by rage… but what was the reason for such anger in the first place?!
"Melinda clearly cares about him. That's why she changed like that… Instead of killing him, make sure to be the one chosen as his partner for mock duels and beat the living shit out of him. The healers in the Brylant Academy are competent enough to bring him back even from the brink of death."
Brynhild growled, standing up from his seat and furiously shaking off the splinters of his hands.
"..."
As for the gray-haired butler, his hair actually seemed to become slightly lighter, as he blanked out from the pressure.