“Wow! Phina, I always thought you took after your Father the most, what with you being so quiet. But we sounded perfectly alike just then!”

That was not the compliment Elvira seemed to think it was. But that did explain the overreaction from the others just then. So Delphina opted to politely smile and add yet another sugar cube to her Absinthe.

“Do we have any fresh cold water? I think it would be best to dilute it, Delphina.”

Medinador had picked up on her movements once again and knew what needed to be done.

As one of the tall automata passed over a large glass jug, he picked up a fresh glass, placed a small silver sieve over the top, and slowly poured Delphina’s portion into the new glass through the sieve.

As the remaining sugar clumps stayed on the sieve, Medinador waited until all the Absinthe was poured out before slowly dripping the cold water over the sugar cubes. As he did so, the dark green drink in the glass slowly became milky white.

“Woah, that’s so weird!”

This comment from Delphina made him smile and elicited a chuckle from Elvira as well.

“This is also how your Mother likes to drink it. Give it a try once the sugar finishes dissolving.”

“Now Pietro, don’t you think you should explain?”

Medinador’s tone had changed slightly to be more authoritative as they moved on. It seems like Pietro wouldn’t be able to get out of this one without some explanation.

“Ah, Delphina isn’t wrong. I’ve definitely picked up some bad habits whilst being with the Knights.”

Silence settled over the table as everyone waited for him to add to his explanation. Unfortunately, he didn’t, and as a result, the silence started to stretch out uncomfortably. While this was happening, Delphina continued to sip at the lightened Absinthe drink. “Delicious.”

Whilst she was decidedly unhappy that her own tastes seemed to align with Elvira’s, she definitely couldn’t drink this stuff straight. And she wasn’t going to force herself to do so any time soon, either.

Seeing how the silence still didn’t seem to be broken. Delphina relented and decided to interact with Pietro, instead of keeping him at arm’s length.

“Was it the Burgess’ Knights?”

Pietro jolted at the sound of her voice. He flicked his eyes over to her as if to check she was speaking to him.

“Uh, yes. I know you probably didn’t want me to interact with them after last time, but…”

Delphina immediately interrupted him.

“What do you mean? Since when do I tell you what to do? Even if I did, would you have listened wholeheartedly?”

Pietro seemed to wince. As did Delphina internally, she wasn’t sure where this attitude was coming from; she couldn’t be drunk on Absinthe due to her constitution. Was this the original Delphina’s feelings coming forward?

Wasn’t Delphina supposed to be a total bro-con? Or was something that happened in-game yet to happen here, causing an eventual change in her attitude? Maybe this joint excursion with the Burgesses would reveal something. The timing was truly suspicious.

The Imperial National Ball was three months away, which meant she needed to find out exactly when the excursion was. They wouldn’t overlap at the very least, but now she had to plan.

“Look, I’m not the head of the Knights. I’m not ordering you around outside of work hours either, as the next Head of the Family.”

“You’re my brother. So I don’t appreciate how you just said that… Or was what they said true?”

Pietro’s face became deathly pale at this question from Delphina. She was taking a blind stab in the dark, but she needed to know what had happened. It wasn’t in the memory download from No.69 this time around, not that she’d even had any time to focus on that. But her body wasn’t even giving her automatic clues, like it had done so far.

Pietro dryly wiped his face with his hands and then pulled off his gloves. After doing so, he promptly got up and knelt just in front of Delphina. Taking the glass out of her hand and gently placing her now freed fingers against his forehead. He heartily apologised.

“Sister, I am so sorry that their thoughtless comments undermined your feelings and minimised what ultimately was the best decision for the Family by having you as the next Head. I know you would never order me around. I know you have worked incredibly hard to get to where you are. I know you are entirely worthy of the Ducal title, and I truly never ever wanted to be the next Duke. I swear I am not palming that place off on you. You deserve it.”

“You lead the Hunters, which is far more complex work than the Knights. The Knights get to enjoy their exploits reaching the light of day. If your work ever comes to light, it will be because the situation has reached a dangerous phase—something no one wants to happen.

“As such, I will always, always support you, my sister. You get no thanks when you deserve far more.”

Medinador and Elvira exchanged tender looks with each other as they realised the twins were finally properly making up. It had been around two months of cold war between them after a few thoughtless comments made by some of the upper Knights who worked with de Velasques’ Knight branch were heard by Delphina as she had happened to pass by.

It had occurred after it was announced that Delphina had become the youngest Sword Master of the Family post-The Darkening, as such, she was to be the next Head of the Family.

People who didn’t know better speculated that Pietro should have had the option to run for Head as well, despite not being a Sword Master just yet. As he had worked directly with the Knights from a young age.

Some even speculated that he had ‘let it go’ to his twin sister after secretly becoming a Sword Master even before her, because his relaxed and laid-back nature was well known.

Delphina too, had been making strenuous efforts for the Family and had already built herself up to lead The Hunters alongside her Father, after working her way through the Information Network.

She had yet to establish her own Guild, as she hadn’t even come of age yet. Doing so would be illegal and could be framed as supporting factionalism within the Empire. So, as her parents. They had stopped her before things got to that.

Unfortunately, none of Delphina’s efforts were yet visible due to her age.

Glancing at each other once again, Medinador and Elvira had already decided it was truly best for them to debut at the Imperial National Ball after all.

 [Quest Chain; ‘Who’s the Prettiest Princess of Them All’. 20% complete.]

“Okay, I get it. I appreciate the sincere apology, so I hope neither of us has to bring this up again.”

Delphina was thoroughly embarrassed by Pietro’s actions, but at the same time. She felt deeply satisfied that he had put forward a thoughtful apology like this. The original Delphina probably would have been just as happy, too. Or at least she hoped.

But at this point, it was now her life, and she had to live with these people. She wasn’t going to drag it out when she didn’t even really care. She had just wanted to know what had happened.

“But the excursion with the Burgess’, I want to be a part of that. It’ll be good to show myself to a few people before we head to the Capital for our coming of age. When will it be again?”

Delphina tilted her head at Pietro, who was still holding onto her hand. With this, he let it go and went back to his seat at the table. Furrowing his brows slightly, he seemed to be thinking about the timing.