CH 78

“Well, it certainly is boring.”

“I agree, so tomorrow I’ll have the hat made again here. And let’s call the tailor too. It will probably take a few days, so it’s a good way to kill time… fufu, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Haha, yes, that’s true.”

As I answered, I glanced at Lucia and saw her sending me a pleading look with a face that seemed annoyed.

I’m sorry Lucia. I have no way to stop this beautiful goddess.

So instead of answering, I shook my head with a resigned expression. Lucia then looked despairing and stabbed her fork into the meat with resentment before eating it with great force. She was binge eating. I hoped she wouldn’t need stomach medicine later, but I continued to nod vaguely in response to Paula’s cheerful conversation.

Eventually, it was time for dessert and the meal was over.

After waiting for the right moment, Jeremiah and I talked a little and then decided to retire to our rooms for the day.

Jeremiah said it was better that way.

It felt like the day had gone by too quickly, but in reality, there had been too much going on today. When I returned to my room and had Dora help me change clothes, I finally felt the exhaustion hit me.

In my heart, I thanked Jeremiah as I crawled into bed and quickly fell asleep.

◇

After breakfast, I thought that I wouldn’t be caught by Paula so soon, so I was in the library of the Duke’s mansion with Jeremiah.

As we talked about the contents of the books we had bought and the ones we wanted to read but didn’t have at hand, Dennis, who was waiting near the entrance, said something.

“Jeremiah-sama, Lady Lorraine, someone has arrived.”

“Hmm, I wonder who it could be?”

As I muttered that and looked around where Dennis was, I heard a voice.

“Oh, there you are, Lorraine-oneesama.”

“Lucia? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Well, actually, Mrs. Morena has finally arrived!”

Lucia, who seemed to have run over, said happily with her cheeks flushed. Her eyes were shining, and I let out a sigh of admiration in my heart. It was like a pale-colored flower that had just bloomed and was still dewy. She still had an innocent look about her and wasn’t overly dressed up, which made her overflowing with neatness.

However, I didn’t understand why Lucia was so happy. Did she miss Mrs. Morena that badly? It’s possible that she has a good relationship with her chaperone, but I thought her way of expressing joy was strange…and then I realized.

Jeremiah is also here.

Without a doubt, I became scared of what Lucia might be thinking after seeing his current state.

However, I still wanted to know, so I quietly looked at his face.

Then, he looked over at me. He looked a little happy, and my heart started beating faster even though I had been calm until then.

“That’s good to hear. Now you can finally be free.

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

He gave me a smile with some hidden meaning, and I couldn’t give a proper response. I didn’t want him to make that kind of face. It was true that the shackles were now gone, and if the situation in the capital was resolved, we could go out together anytime. But just imagining it made my heart race even more.

In a way, it might have been better to have been decided as Paula’s toy. At least I should be able to prevent being made a fool of just by my appearance.

“Fufu, now Lorraine-oneesama is finally free too. Well then, that’s all I wanted to say. Oh, but I’ll greet you later, so take care.”

“Y-Yes, okay.”

I nodded in agreement to Lucia’s excited words, and she skipped away with a spring in her step.

As I watched her go, I suddenly thought.

“I understand that I’m going to be released, but it looks like Lucia is going to be released too.

Yes, Lucia said, “Lorraine-oneesama too.”

I had a bad feeling about those words. However, now that an official attendant had come, it was Mrs. Morena’s job to take care of Lucia. There was nothing I could say about it.

“Lorraine, I understand that you are worried about her, but I want you to focus a little more on yourself. And don’t forget that I also want to monopolize you.”

“…Y-Yes, I understand.”

Once again, I couldn’t find the words to respond to his sudden declaration of monopoly. His beautiful face across the table had a pleading look. Those eyes were definitely directed only at me.

Even though I had remained completely unfazed by Lucia’s explosive smile, this was something else entirely.

——I came to the capital to match up with this person. I have to get it together!

With determination, I picked up the book and said, “Shall we return to the topic at hand?”

Then Jeremiah nodded happily.

◇

In the afternoon, Miss Marisa Sabino, the hat maker from yesterday, visited the Duke’s mansion. Additionally, the dressmaker Madam and her seamstresses that Paula had mentioned also arrived at around the same time.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Miss Marisa.”

“I apologize, Lady Astorga. It took me a little longer to gather the materials, but I promise to make something exceptional.”

Miss Marisa was escorted by the butler and first said that. Then she quickly glanced at me, Paula, and Lucia’s faces.

Then she stopped her gaze on me, who she missed seeing yesterday, and said:

“Well then, let me decide on Lady Lorraine’s hat first. Is that okay?”

“Yes, leave it to me. She doesn’t have any decent hats at all. Look at this dusty thing. Not only that, she even has something that looks like a nun’s habit. I can’t believe she wore this in public,” Paula said with a sigh while showing Miss Marisa my hat that she had taken out from somewhere.