“It’s gotten worse since he lost his job recently. Fortunately, we have an inherited estate so we don’t need to work right away, but now he’s at home all day…”

Mrs. Devaka shuddered. She buried her face in her hands, but even that couldn’t stop the tears seeping through the gaps between her fingers.

“Please. Let Paul stay here at least. If you do… I will never forget this kindness. Paul knows his place and will never be a burden to the young lady or Miss Bertin.”

I was frozen, unable to say anything. Mrs. Devaka had much deeper circumstances than I had guessed.

“…I’ll do my best.”

The words I barely managed to squeeze out sounded strange.

“I’ll do my best, so please… please wait a little.”

***

“So that was the situation.”

Duke Baniche once again listened willingly to my sudden visit.

“Yes. It doesn’t seem to be a lie. If you’re worried, you could send someone to check separately…”

“No, I believe it.”

“How?”

I opened my eyes wide. How could he be so certain without hearing their words directly? I didn’t think there was any part about the Duke’s black magic being able to distinguish truth from lies… As I tilted my head, the Duke explained in a stiff voice.

“I saw the children playing together with Elodie briefly through the window earlier. That boy Paul… he’s clearly being beaten by someone. The culprit is probably the father, as Mrs. Devaka said.”

I muttered blankly.

“I had no idea. He’s such a bright child… I didn’t even suspect.”

“Everyone has their own way of coping.”

The Duke answered briefly.

“Just because a child is habitually abused doesn’t mean they always show… the withdrawn appearance you might expect, Miss Bertin.”

There was a somewhat bitter resonance in the Duke’s voice. I quietly nodded. The Duke was right. You can never know the inner circumstances just by looking at the surface.

“Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you could tell them not to worry about their stay. There should be about three empty rooms if we look.”

“How long can the lady and children stay?”

The answer came immediately.

“As long as they want.”

“As long as… they want?”

I opened my eyes wide. Even if they were Elodie’s friends and their mother, allowing them to stay indefinitely as guests of the ducal family was no ordinary matter. The Duke sighed.

“Do you think I’m heartless enough to throw out a lady and young children with nowhere to go, Miss Bertin?”

I swallowed dryly. I had made a mistake. Even if it wasn’t my intention, the Duke was undoubtedly already upset.

“That was absolutely not my meaning.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t.”

The Duke sneered.

“You just thought I wouldn’t let them stay for long.”

“…Yes.”

I nodded.

“But it’s not because I think Your Grace is a heartless person. It’s because deciding to protect someone for life isn’t a decision that can be made easily. Whether you’re a duke or not. And…”

I hesitated for a moment. Would it be okay to say this?

Would he think I was being presumptuous? But seeing the Duke’s bitter tone and somewhat lonely look in his eyes, I couldn’t help but let those words slip out.

“I think Your Grace is a good person.”

For a brief moment, the Duke’s eyes darkened. A mistake. Just as I was about to apologize without realizing it, the Duke snorted and turned his gaze away.

“Do you really think so? It seems Miss Bertin has been wary of me all along.”

“Your Grace tried to kill me as soon as we met. Shouldn’t I naturally be cautious? Of course, things are different now.”

I answered lightly, but my heart was pounding as if I had just downed three cups of strong coffee.

“Is that so.”

The Duke didn’t seem to believe me at all, so I hurriedly added:

“I won’t say Your Grace is a warm person. Cold, cool…”

“Seems like not a drop of blood would come out even if stabbed. Yes, that’s what everyone says.”

“But you can be a good person at the same time.”

“How?”

The Duke stared at me intently.

“What aspect of me did you think was good, Miss Bertin?”

My face flushed. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

‘I can’t answer Elodie. Elodie is his daughter… of course, he should treat her well.’

Then there’s only one thing left. Me. Aria Bertin. An ordinary commoner woman from whom Duke Baniche could have forcibly taken Elodie if he had wanted to.

“You treat me well.”

It seemed to be completely unexpected. Judging by the Duke’s clearly surprised face as he looked at me.

“You graciously acknowledged me as Elodie’s guardian, and you set up a perfect new café for me… It’s too thoughtful to be just persuasion.”

“It was persuasion, actually.”

The Duke muttered in a disgruntled voice.

“Anyway, I’m glad it pleased Miss Bertin.”

“Of course, it pleased me.”

I smiled brightly.

“And letting Mrs. Devaka and the children stay is also a decision that couldn’t be made by someone who isn’t a good person. Shall I say more? In my opinion, the inspection…”

There was something I learned while flipping through various newspapers to see what other trashy articles there might be. No one disputed that Duke Baniche’s inspection was effective and successful.

There were many evaluations saying that the Duke had checked and reorganized the territories that had been rapidly corrupting over the past few years, straightening out the discipline in a short period of time.

“There’s no need to assign meaning to each of my trivial actions.”

The Duke cut off my words in a tone that seemed a bit hurried. I had to try hard not to laugh. This was another new discovery. To think that Theodore Baniche was weak to praise!

***

Of course, Mrs. Devaka was overjoyed at the Duke’s words that she could stay as long as she wanted. But it wasn’t difficult to find anxiety in her gaze as she grasped my hands with tears in her eyes.

“Is it really okay for me to stay here without doing anything? I’m worried I might be a burden to you, Miss Bertin…”

“His Grace said it’s fine.”

I answered calmly.

“Besides, Elodie is playing so well, isn’t she? If you’re really worried, think of yourself as being here as Elodie’s playmate.”

Mrs. Devaka’s face didn’t brighten at all.

“The young lady’s playmates are the children, not me.”

“Then, you’re the guardian of the young lady’s playmates.”

“Still…”

I cut off Mrs. Devaka’s words as she was about to put herself down again. I didn’t want to see someone who had helped me several times and who would be staying at the Duke’s residence and getting along with me suffering unnecessarily.

“Madam, shall I tell you something?”

Mrs. Devaka nodded cautiously.

“Actually, Duke Baniche strongly insisted that you should stay comfortably at the Duke’s residence.”

“Really… is that true?”

The lady stammered.

“Yes. He even asked if he seemed like such a heartless person as to throw out a lady and children with nowhere to go.”

Mrs. Devaka was silent for a moment, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion.

“…Miss Bertin.”

Then she called me in a voice that sounded choked up.

“Thank you.”

I blinked. Clearly, I didn’t remember doing anything worthy of thanks. It was all Theodore Baniche’s decision.

“You should thank His Grace.”

“Of course, I should. But…”

Mrs. Devaka’s gaze slid across my face.

“If it weren’t for you, Miss Bertin, His Grace wouldn’t have known about our situation. No, the young lady and my children wouldn’t have even been able to play together in the first place. So, Miss Bertin.”

Her hands, which had been lightly holding mine until then, tightened.

“Please remember. Someday, if there’s anything I can help you with… I’ll definitely help you.”

At that moment, I couldn’t say anything. Of course, there was a lot I wanted to say. There’s no need to be so grateful, I didn’t do anything, it’s because Theodore Baniche was unexpectedly generous that you’re able to stay…

But knowing that none of these words would comfort Mrs. Devaka’s anxious heart, I just quietly nodded. Hoping this small gesture would be enough.