“Ah. I get it.”

While office worker Han Su-a had never received letters except for tax bills, ‘Callia’ was different.

A one-line letter with no sender. Blood-red ink.

The abrupt informal tone, along with content that seemed far from friendly.

“This is a threatening letter.”

Callia had gone around behaving and speaking in ways that earned people’s resentment.

Because of that, she occasionally received threatening letters that the servants hadn’t managed to filter out.

Of course, most of them were anonymous.

Looking at this letter based on those memories…

“How cute.”

Whoever it is, they must be quite timid, don’t you think?

No curses or threats, not even a demand to break up.

“They tried hard not to get caught.”

I suspect they deliberately used their non-dominant hand to disguise their handwriting.

The use of rough paper that would make it difficult to trace its source was also telling.

[Are you really Richard’s lover?]

Perhaps they safely shortened ‘How dare someone like you be Admiral Richard Aquilus’s lover, I can’t accept this!’

“Hmm…”

I tapped my fingertips on the desk.

Whether becoming Callia had made me bolder too, I found it more interesting than scary.

“Should I tell them there’s no need to be too sad since it’s just a 100-day contract position?”

Of course, I don’t know who sent it, and I can’t reveal confidential information, so I couldn’t actually respond that way.

Knock knock knock-

“My lady, may I come in?”

“Mikhail? Come in!”

Behind Mikhail who opened the door, Hans, the kitchen boy, wheeled in a cart with food and drinks.

“Is it dinner time already?”

The summer sun was still bright outside in this world too, making the days long.

However, glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner, it was indeed around dinner time.

“Yes, it’s already dinner time. I had it prepared simply as usual, but if you prefer a formal dinner in the dining room, we can move there.”

“No, I prefer it here.”

Whether at the Rabius ducal residence or this villa, the dining room table that could easily seat twenty was too large to use alone.

It might be different if there were others to dine with, but if not, eating in the room was much more comfortable.

“Very well. At least you’re out of bed this time, so that’s somewhat fortunate.”

“Aren’t I impressive? Aren’t I amazing? Aren’t I the best?”

“…Just come and eat.”

I set down the letter where the ink seemed to have smeared slightly.

I should work while eating.

When I went to the round dining table where the two were waiting, everything was already perfectly set up.

Though they said it was simple, with onion soup, prosciutto salad, grilled sea bass, warm bread, and even dessert, it was quite a generous spread.

Ah, my mouth is watering. Maybe because Basium is along the coast, but the seafood here is especially delicious.

“Thank you, Hans!”

“N-no, not at all!”

“Have you eaten? Would you like to join me?”

“No, I couldn’t! How could I possibly!”

Ouch, my eardrums.

While it’s natural to decline when a notorious superior invites you to eat together, there was no need to shout so forcefully.

Still, whether it was intentional or not, seeing his face turn from bright red to pale, even his freckles becoming white as he desperately tried to read the atmosphere, was quite pitiful.

“Alright then. Please thank the kitchen staff for me too.”

When I smiled and waved my hand lightly, Hans deeply bowed his head and rushed out of the room.

“…I will personally train that servant.”

“Hm? It’s fine. Seventeen or eighteen, was he? He’s still young.”

Mikhail looked at me as if I’d said something strange.

“Is there something wrong with what I said?”

“No. I was just surprised to hear such lenient words from you, my lady.”

“Making a scene takes energy too, you know. Why would I do that at home when no one’s paying me?”

“Are you perhaps feeling unwell?”

That pale face asking the question looked quite serious.

At this rate, I might be mistaken for having a terminal illness just because I’m not causing trouble.

“No. I’m perfectly healthy.”

“…Then why did you act that way before?”

Huh? Don’t suddenly ask such a sharp question. It’s difficult to answer.

“Well? Past events are kind of hazy… Ah- writing letters has made me hungry.”

I sat in the chair Mikhail pulled out for me while subtly changing the subject.

As I said, I didn’t have perfect encyclopedic access to Callia’s memories.

I could only recall the etiquette ingrained in her body and some particularly memorable events.

But I couldn’t exactly tell Mikhail about possessing her body, could I?

Mikhail’s expression seemed to grow even colder than before… or was that my imagination?

“I see. Since you’re not a child, you won’t need assistance with your meal? I’ll take my leave-“

It seems it wasn’t my imagination after all.

While Mikhail’s coldness toward me wasn’t anything new…

This time, somehow, it felt wrong to just let him go.

“No, actually Callia is still young. Especially mentally, so she can’t eat alone.”

I brazenly spoke in third person, but after living alone for so many years, how could I possibly be unable to eat alone?

The original Callia wasn’t the type who couldn’t eat without company either.

So it was obviously a lie to make him stay.

“…Very well.”

Though he could have snapped back, Mikhail simply lowered his eyes and agreed.

And like the professional butler he was, he began attending to the meal.

His posture remained perfectly straight as he poured cold-brewed tea into the teacup and stepped back.

But I didn’t ask him to stay just to serve me.

You’re making me more anxious by being so compliant.

“Don’t just stand there, sit down. There’s plenty of food, let’s eat together.”

“I will eat on my own time, so please don’t concern yourself.”

Seeing Mikhail firmly shake his head as if it was an absurd suggestion…

It’s rising up.

My unnecessary competitive spirit.

I put on an invisible steel plate over my face.

“Eat with me. I’m lonely.”

“I’ll stay behind you without leaving.”

“I might get indigestion if you watch from behind.”

“Then I’ll watch from the front.”

“Are you joking? Sit down right now.”

Finally, after throwing a tantrum, I succeeded in getting Mikhail to sit across from me.

Seeing him immediately talk back made me smile, as it seemed he was returning to his usual self.

Savoring my satisfaction, I dipped my hands in the water bowl prepared on the side.

While I was thoroughly washing my hands in the sanitizing water, Mikhail asked with a stiff expression from across the table.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because eating good food with a good person makes me feel better?”

And because you seem upset for some reason.

I swallowed the latter part and just smiled brightly, which was met with a faint sigh.

“Even if there’s no one watching, being this informal with a servant isn’t good for your reputation, my lady.”

“Reputation? Is that today’s menu item?”

My reputation is already ruined, what’s the point in trying to salvage it? I might as well continue living carefreely.

“Stop nagging and eat with me. There must be spare tableware, and this looks like enough for three people. How could I eat all this alone?”

“If it’s too much, leave it.”

“Perhaps you don’t like the menu? If that’s the case, I believe even adults can be picky eaters, so you can honestly tell me-“

“To be honest, I don’t understand why I should be dining while facing you, my lady.”

At his voice, colder than usual, I momentarily lost my words.

‘…Right. He might not like it. It could be unpleasant when your superior insists on eating together.’

Perhaps I was the only one who thought we had gotten closer.

“I’m sorry. You don’t need to eat with me if you don’t want to. I didn’t consider your feelings.”

I apologized quickly, but was it too late?

Rather, Mikhail seemed to flare up for a moment before composing his expression again.

“No. I was presumptuous from the start.”

His calm voice revealed no particular emotion.

With his eyes lowered like that, it was even harder to read him.

Mikhail stood up from his seat.

Even as I watched him push in his chair, I couldn’t think of what to say.

‘Should I tell him to go rest?’

If I had known it would be like this, I should have spent more time meeting people.

Going only between work and home, I couldn’t think of how to resolve this kind of situation.

“…The food will get cold. Please eat.”

“You don’t need to serve me. I was just being stubborn, so go if you want to.”

When I spoke timidly, Mikhail was silent again for a moment.

“…No. The kitchen staff was worried that you’ve been eating too little.”

His voice came out similar to usual.

Professional, but with a faint trace of kindness in his tone.

Mikhail served some of the distant dishes onto my plate.

I was about to say it was really fine but decided to just eat quietly.

It seemed like doing something would make it less awkward for Mikhail too.

‘Come to think of it, the kitchen was worried? Are they afraid I’ll become violent when hungry?’

While earnestly chewing on the salad and having such thoughts…

By the time I was finishing the sea bass, I really reached my limit.

Unable to bear the awkwardness, I desperately wracked my brain for something appropriate to say to Mikhail.

‘Right now, saying something frivolous like usual might backfire… Ah, that’s right!’

I remembered what I was doing before eating.

Not nonsense, but a topic that might be quite interesting.

“Mikhail, I received a threatening letter?”