Haha, it seems I made a pretty good suggestion without realizing it.
I rubbed my neck sheepishly, smiling awkwardly.
They say if you’re unlucky, you’ll break your nose even if you fall backward, but this was like scoring a hole-in-one no matter how I hit it.
I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about the situation.
‘I shouldn’t be pleased. I need to fall out of the duke’s favor, but here I am, liking it!’
While I was thinking this, Zerlak spoke up.
“I wonder why.”
He tilted his head to one side and smiled faintly.
“The more I see you, the stranger you seem.”
“Pardon?”
“You appear indifferent, yet you’re not careless, and it seems like you see through everything.”
Not knowing how to react, I just smiled awkwardly.
“No, it’s not that. I just said what came to mind.”
“Does that mean you’re a genius?”
“No, not at all. Not in the slightest.”
“I need someone as clever as you by my side.”
I was frantically waving my hands when I caught the aide’s sullen expression.
He had worked hard, yet here I was receiving the praise.
I couldn’t be pleased with the situation.
“No, it’s not like that.”
Phew, I’ve helped you this time too, aide.
“I pondered over what the aide said. He organizes things so clearly that I just listened and slightly altered his words.”
“Really?”
“Yes, of course!”
As I nodded vigorously, Zerlak glanced in the direction where the aide was sitting and then instructed, “Handle it as Libe suggested.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Phew, it seems I’ve managed to get by this time too.
I discreetly avoided Zerlak’s gaze and looked out the window.
The rain had weakened since we started, and we were nearing the mansion.
“Thank you for the ride.”
“When will you visit the bookstore again?”
“What do you mean, ‘when’?”
“The book you were holding, you haven’t finished it yet, have you?”
Haha, you always notice everything.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Yes, next time. It’s not urgent or important.”
“I see.”
As the carriage stopped in front of the mansion, Zerlak opened the door and got out first.
Then he held an umbrella and opened the carriage door for me.
“Thank you.”
I got out of the carriage, smiling awkwardly.
It was then that I had to share the umbrella with him.
The scent of Zerlak that lingered in my memory flooded in.
Thump, thump.
I swallowed dryly and moved a little away from Zerlak.
The umbrella wasn’t small, but his shoulders were too broad, making it cramped for two.
I walked awkwardly to the side when suddenly he grabbed my shoulder.
“!”
I had to hold my breath when I felt the warmth of Zerlak on my shoulder.
‘What do I do now?’
There was no choice.
Given the situation, I had to walk quickly!
I hastened my steps towards the entrance of the mansion.
“Oh, Libe!”
My mother didn’t even look at my face but straightened her posture and greeted Zerlak with an elegant smile.
“Your Grace.”
Zerlak returned the greeting lightly and then turned to me.
“Farewell, Your Grace.”
I answered casually and was about to turn away when my mother subtly called out to Zerlak.
“Your Grace, since you’ve come all this way, why not join us for a meal?”
“Mother, His Grace is incredibly busy. He’s swamped with preparations for St. Oberli’s Day next week. So there’s no time for a meal.”
What’s this sudden invitation to a meal?
I started to ramble in confusion.
“You’ve escorted our Libe here; please come in, even if just for a moment.”
Oh, mother. Unfortunately, His Grace is really very busy right now.
I naturally assumed Zerlak would decline.
“Let’s do that. I was planning to visit tomorrow anyway.”
“What?”
Oh, my goodness.
* * *
My mother apologized about ten times during the meal for the lack of preparation.
I sent her several glances, but she rambled on, unfazed.
Ha, if father were here, he would have stopped her.
That’s when I realized something.
No, I need to distance myself from Zerlak, so my mother’s chatter could be a minus.
It could be a means to discourage him!
With that thought, I could ignore whether my mother continued to apologize or not.
However, when she said about five times that she would have prepared a more sincere dinner if she had known we would be hosting like this, “It’s already excellent.”
Zerlak put down his fork and spoke gently.
It seemed he was a bit fed up with my mother.
I silently rejoiced and then stabbed a salad with my fork.
“Libe, may I ask what book you were looking at in Clem’s bookstore?”
Zerlak asked me.
“Just a popular novel.”
“A popular novel?”
He seemed curious about the book I was reading.
Yes, I shouldn’t be seen well, and having a bad image of me is a priority.
“It’s a novel called ‘The Turbulent Renata.’ It’s about a woman who steals the man her friend loves, I suppose?”
When I said that, Zerlak raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not a common story at all.”
“Is that so? I find such stories quite interesting. Stealing from others, doing wicked deeds. Stories like that.”
You’re misunderstanding me right now.
I’m not an ambitious warrior or a person full of principles; I just want to survive here!
“A story about stealing from others? Interesting.”
Zerlak narrowed his eyes and looked at me intently.
That harmful gaze, the very one I desperately wanted to avoid.
“It’s a story about a wicked villainess. I like that kind of thing.”
“Same here. We seem to have similar tastes.”
No, this wasn’t the conversation I wanted.
Feeling I shouldn’t say anything more, I stuffed my mouth full of salad with my fork.
Then my mother joined in, clasping her hands together.
“Oh my, it seems our Libe and His Grace have a lot in common.”
No, mother. That’s not it.
We don’t have anything in common at all.
I smiled awkwardly and shook my head at my mother, but she seemed not to notice my expression.
After the awkward meal, Zerlak stood up. My mother offered to have tea together, but this time he declined.
“Thank you, but I have a lot of work to do, so I must be going.”
“Yes, you must be overwhelmed with preparations for St. Oberli’s Day. It would be nice if our Oliver could help.”
“Mother.”
I poked my mother’s waist, and she blinked awkwardly.
Zerlak smiled appropriately and then said to me, “See you next time.”
“Thank you for escorting me today.”
I bowed to him, and as Zerlak was about to turn away, the door that should have been opened from our side suddenly opened, and someone walked in with my brother.
Ah, I’ve seen this scene somewhere before.
But the difference from last time was…
Adrian was a new face, but the man who came in now was familiar to me.
‘My goodness, it’s Nathan!’
The person who came home with my brother was none other than Nathan Palamedes. The character who becomes engaged to me in the original story.
He hadn’t shown up until now, but finally, he appeared!
I silently cheered but pressed my lips together to stop them from curling up.
“Ah, Your Grace is here.”
As my brother greeted him, Zerlak nodded once and looked at Nathan with a dry expression.
I hurriedly spoke up to my brother before Zerlak could open his mouth.
“Brother, you’ve come with a guest.”
“Yes, Sir Palamedes has something to ask of you, Libe.”
“A request?”
I opened my eyes wide and looked at Nathan.
A request? What does he want to ask me?
I was about to continue the conversation after Zerlak left, but he suddenly turned around.
“Madam, on second thought, I think I should have tea before I go.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t have time?”
I asked hastily, but Zerlak was already walking into the parlor.
“I have time for a cup of tea with you.”
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