We arrived at the Berzel ducal residence and were guided to the reception room by a servant.

Despite the trial of Duke Franz resulting in the desired outcome, the atmosphere was tense. It was because of Count and Countess Maynard.

Alex didn’t need to be so nervous in front of the Count, but due to Miss Veronica getting hurt in this incident and matters related to me, he had no choice but to be humble before Count Maynard.

In the continuing heavy silence, Count Maynard was the first to speak.

“First of all, I’m glad that Duke Franz, who was the root cause of the incident, seems to have received proper punishment. By the way, to think he committed so many crimes… I couldn’t have imagined it.”

“Everyone seemed surprised.”

“The Duke Franz known to the public wasn’t that kind of person, was he?”

“……”

“You must have gone through a lot.”

“Not at all. Rather, I feel sorry that Lady Veronica was attacked because of me.”

“About that…”

Count Maynard, who had started speaking with a displeased expression, soon shook his head with a long sigh.

“Well, it’s fine. It’s not your fault, so what’s the point in dwelling on it further? As revealed in the trial, it was all Duke Franz’s doing, wasn’t it?”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Rather than that, it seems better to continue the conversation from earlier.”

“By earlier, you mean about Claire, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

After a brief pause, Count Maynard spoke with difficulty.

“I understand how you feel about Claire. You want to discuss adopting Claire into the Maynard family, right?”

“…Yes.”

It was the first time I had seen Alex so tense.

Of course, I too felt my heart was about to jump out of my mouth due to nervousness and tension.

“Adopting Claire isn’t such a difficult matter for us. My wife Helena won’t oppose it either. Rather, she would be delighted.”

Count Maynard turned his gaze to the Countess. The Countess smiled gently in agreement. Then, realizing that I was looking at her, she directed that smile at me. I felt as if she was telling me not to worry.

“Registering Claire into our family and becoming in-laws with Duke Berzel is not a disadvantageous matter at all. Who would dare refuse to form a connection with the Duke who holds wealth and power, everything?”

“Then–”

“But I do want to make sure of one thing.”

It was Count Maynard who interrupted Alex, who had just opened his mouth at the positive sign.

“What is that?”

“Do you truly love Claire, Duke Alex?”

Count Maynard asked Alex in a low voice.

Alex, who seemed to hesitate for a moment at the unexpected question, nodded and affirmed.

“Yes, I love her.”

His tone was resolute and full of conviction.

Hearing those words, I felt my heart racing again and heat rising to my face.

“Are you certain that your feelings won’t change?”

Count Maynard asked him again, seemingly unable to readily trust his words despite his confident statement.

Alex maintained silence for a moment. However, his gaze remained steady and calm.

After a short while, he spoke.

“I think I understand your concerns. There’s nothing harder to believe than a promise of unchanging feelings. But I can promise that I will consider Claire as my own body and mind from now on.”

Count Maynard raised his eyes and stared intently at his eyes at the words that seemed to have been deeply considered.

Although that gaze might have been burdensome, Alex didn’t avoid it and stared back into Count Maynard’s eyes.

Even though it was just that, I felt sweat forming on my palms.

“Very well. I understand how you feel about Claire now.”

Count Maynard, who had stopped speaking, turned his gaze to me.

Count Maynard asked me in a kind tone completely different from when he was speaking to Alex.

“Claire, would you tell us what you think?”

“Me?”

“Yes. It’s alright, so please speak truthfully. Isn’t your and Duke Berzel’s thoughts the most important in making this decision?”

That was true. Alex wasn’t the only protagonist of this conversation.

I was included too.

I swallowed dry saliva at the gazes converging on me. Then I gave the answer to the question that had been constantly asked of me.

“…I like Alex too.”

I liked Alex to the extent that I had to admit it to myself.

At first, I couldn’t be sure.

Whenever I saw him, my heart raced – wasn’t it because of fear towards him? If not, wasn’t it just a reflexive attraction to his handsome appearance?

But it was when I was kidnapped by Duke Franz’s household that I realized…

In that dark and scary situation, the first person that came to mind was Alex. Nothing else came to mind in that fear.

I even strongly wished that if someone were to save me, I hoped it would be him.

Yet, I was most anxious and distressed because I wasn’t sure if he would come to save me.

Realistically, there was no reason for Alex to antagonize Duke Franz to save me, a mere maid.

However, Alex, making my thoughts seem foolish, led soldiers and stormed into Duke Franz’s residence to save me.

Even though it could have led to war, he didn’t hesitate.

Alex’s voice that I heard in that desperate situation was still clear.

It was then that I could realize that I had been harboring feelings for him in my heart.

“Won’t you regret it? Even if you’re being adopted into our family, it might be a harsh path for you.”

I smiled faintly at the Countess’s voice that was full of concern.

“I might regret it. But I think regretting not making this choice would weigh more heavily on my mind than regretting making it.”

Expressing my feelings outright made me feel completely relieved.

Count and Countess Maynard looked at each other as they listened to my words. Then both of them laughed softly.

“I see. We had guessed from what Veronica told us, but hearing it from your own mouth puts us a bit at ease too.”

Belatedly, I turned to look at Miss Veronica. She shrugged as if nothing had happened and quietly sipped her tea.

“Very well. Now that we’ve heard the intentions of Duke Berzel and Claire, there’s no need to hesitate. Then I will prepare the procedures for adopting Claire into our family.”

“Is that all?”

Alex asked Count Maynard, who said he would prepare.

The Count tilted his head, seemingly wondering what more was needed.

“What else should be done?”

At the following question, Alex’s lips trembled, apparently more confused, but then he firmly closed them.

Count Maynard nodded belatedly in understanding.

“Did you expect me to ask what our family could gain from becoming in-laws with Duke Berzel?”

“……”

Alex didn’t answer. But Count Maynard couldn’t have missed that his silence meant affirmation.

“It’s fine if you don’t provide anything. Rather, I’d prefer it if you didn’t prepare such things.”

Alex frowned. He seemed utterly unable to understand Count Maynard’s intentions.

Count Maynard smiled slightly at Alex.

“Our Maynard family has enough money too. We’re running our businesses quite well. The same goes for our territory. So there’s no need to provide anything. However, there is one thing I’d like to request.”

“Please speak.”

Alex looked at Count Maynard with a confused expression.

“Claire is a special existence in our mansion too. She’s the daughter of Margaret, who was my wife Helena’s maid. Helena and Margaret were very close. They were like friends, beyond just a master and servant relationship.”

“Like Lady Veronica and Claire?”

“Yes. If you put it that way. That’s why Helena cared for Claire even more. If Veronica considered Claire like a sister, Helena considered Claire like a daughter.”

I knew this well too. The reason I considered the people of the Maynard family as my family was because they also considered me as family.

That’s why I didn’t have time to feel the absence of my deceased father and mother. Everyone was giving me more love than I deserved.

“So all we want is Claire’s happiness. We have no intention of seeking personal gain using Claire.”

“……”

Alex, seeming at a loss for words, stared blankly at Count Maynard for a while before finally smiling faintly.

“I understand your words well. And thank you for accepting my proposal.”

The atmosphere in the reception room, which felt heavy, finally became convivial.

Even I, who had been stiff with tension, felt my heart easing.