Harriet had two reasons for hesitating to tell me about the conversation she had with the Duchess. 0

One was that, regardless of the outcome, it would ultimately lead to criticism of a friend’s parents. The second was that she was worried it might hurt me. 0

After returning to the Temple, Harriet and I retreated to an empty laboratory at the Magic Research Club’s mansion to talk.0

According to Harriet, she had been invited to breakfast with Duke Granz and the duchess. Harriet said that Duke Granz seemed surprised to see her at the breakfast table, as if he hadn’t expected her presence. Of course, Harriet, who had been invited there alone, had to have been even more flustered.0

“Well, they just started by asking how the grand duke was doing… and if the grand duchess had any plans to come to the capital. You know, things like that.”0

The duchess seemed more interested in Harriet de Saint-Ouen, the Grand Duke’s daughter, rather than Harriet, the Temple student. Harriet hesitated, unsure if she should share this story or not.0

“Suddenly, she said she wasn’t sure if life at the Temple was really a good thing…”0

“What do you mean…?”0

“The Temple is an institution where commoners are given an education alongside nobles. So… when those nobles or royals get married later, the things that happened within the Temple could become scandals… It’s an unspoken rule not to talk about it, but rumors spread behind the scenes… like who did what with whom, you know…”0

I understood what she meant. “So, her point was that, since anyone with money can enter the Temple, if noble kids fooled around with just anyone, it might cause problems for their marriage prospects later,” I said blunt...0