Chapter 38
That night,
I was invited to dinner for the second time.
Honestly, it’s fine now that I can talk a little with Gilbert and Liam,
but it’s still awkward facing the Duke.
Still, the food served in the annex and the dishes prepared by the main mansion’s chef taste completely different,
so I no longer feel reluctant to go.
Being surrounded by so many servants makes me a bit nervous—
though they seem even more tense than I am.
Seeing that only makes me more nervous.
Ah, the food’s delicious.
The meat is so good—it melts in my mouth.
Everything tastes amazing.
“Isn’t that the ribbon Tianna gave you?”
Gilbert suddenly spoke up.
“Yes! It’s really cute, isn’t it?”
I hadn’t been paying attention before, but my sister is wearing the ribbon I gave her.
Still, saying it out loud like that is kind of embarrassing, big sister…
I lowered my head.
My face turned red with a mix of joy and embarrassment.
“Ah, it suits you very well,”
the Duke added, complimenting my sister’s ribbon too.
“Thank you very much,”
my sister replied sincerely.
“Actually, there’s going to be a tea party at the Count’s mansion soon, and I’m planning to wear this red ribbon Tianna gave me!”
“Now that you mention it, there was an invitation from the Count’s family,”
the Duke said.
“Invitations from lower nobles aren’t mandatory to attend.”
“Well, I’d like to go with Tianna.
And also, I think it would be nice to make friends with people I can talk to—regardless of social rank.”
My sister is so wonderful, being able to say something like that so easily.
Still… was the Duke’s tone implying he didn’t like the idea of me going?
That I might tarnish the Astaire name again?
No, there won’t be any more bad rumors.
That would endanger my very life.
“I see. Then you two should go and have a good time.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
“Tianna, I heard you went to town the other day. Did you enjoy it?”
the Duke asked me.
“Oh—yes. It was my first time, and it was really fun to see all sorts of places.”
I was a little startled when he suddenly spoke to me.
“I see.”
Was he… worried about me?
Even if he was, did he have to look that scary while saying it?
Even a short conversation with him feels terrifying.
“As you grow older, you’ll likely have more occasions to go out,”
the Duke continued.
“To ensure your safety, I’ve decided to assign you a knight escort.
We’re currently selecting one, so I can’t introduce them yet,
but they should be chosen by the time you go to the Count’s mansion.”
“Thank you very much.”
I’m going to have my own personal escort knight…
Now that feels like something a noble lady would have.
“I’ve also heard that you and Ellie have grown close recently,”
the Duke went on.
“There have been various issues, but now that things have settled,
I think it’s time to move Tianna back from the annex to the main mansion.”
The Duke suggested it so casually.
Eh?!
Now, of all times?
I’d been expecting this ever since the rumors started to die down,
but still—
It’s so much easier to avoid the Duke when I’m in the annex…
Though lately, I’ve been visiting the main mansion on my own anyway.
And if I live there again, it’ll save time.
More time for reading, maybe.
But I don’t like the way he said it.
Still, I guess it’s fine. There’s no reason to complain.
“Thank you very much.”
When dinner ended, I returned straight to my room in the annex.
They said that while we’re at the tea party, my belongings will be moved to the main mansion.
Speaking of the tea party—
I wonder what kind of girls will be there.
“Do you know anything about the person hosting the tea party?”
I asked my three maids.
A bit of prior research is always important.
“Let’s see,” said Mariana. “The young lady hosting it is Lady Ivy Quinchel.
She’s known for her beautiful purple hair.”
“She’s a very lovely person,” another maid added,
“but… her personality can be a bit difficult, so please be careful.”
Oh great—one of those types.
I just know I’ll end up being her target.
As expected, the servants’ information network is sharp—
rumors spread among them fast.
At that tea party, she’ll probably be looking for my flaws.
I’ll have to stay alert and not let my guard down.
