The Duke rose from his seat.

“Elodie looks very tired. It would be better to continue our conversation after putting her to bed.”

“……”

I stared at him. A familiar expression appeared on Duke Baniche’s face. Bitterness. A hint of regret. And…

‘I need to figure out what it is.’

I nodded and gently woke Elodie, who had already dozed off.

“Elodie, it’s time to go to bed.”

“Hnnng……”

After wiping away the drool that had trickled down as soon as I woke her, Elodie made an unintelligible sound.

“Uuuuuh.”

“You need to get up.”

“You said go to bed…”

Judging by her slurred pronunciation, she was truly sleepy.

“Yes, but first you need to get up to go to bed.”

Elodie shook her head vigorously as she rose. I smiled and took her hand. It was troubling how cute she looked in her half-asleep state, drooling. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

‘…He can’t take his eyes off Elodie. Well, how could he not adore her?’

I lifted Elodie into my arms and casually asked the Duke.

“Where should we go?”

“I’ll come with you.”

“What? To the bedroom?”

His answer came somewhat slowly.

“…I-I’ll wait outside the door.”

Seeing him stammer, he must have been flustered. I smiled and said:

“I understand. As if Your Grace would enter a lady’s bedroom?”

“…I was only thinking of it as Elodie’s bedroom, and I’ve committed a discourtesy. If I’ve made Miss Bertin uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize.”

I opened my eyes wide.

‘Why go this far?’

But thinking about it again, Duke Baniche was a high-ranking nobleman. He must have been taught that entering an adult woman’s bedroom carelessly would invite scandal.

“I accept your apology.”

I answered seriously.

“But my arms are starting to hurt… shall we go now?”

I started walking, but the Duke didn’t move. Looking back, he seemed to want to say something, so I tilted my head and spoke.

“Is something the matter?”

Tension was evident on the Duke’s face. I wanted to wait patiently, but given that I needed to put Elodie to bed right away, I couldn’t help feeling slightly annoyed.

“Your Grace, if there’s something you want to say…”

Finally, the Duke spoke.

“May I… carry Elodie?”

Oh. So that was it. Come to think of it, I was the one who had prompted him to think that way.

‘Because I said my arms hurt.’

In truth, my arms really were hurting. Personally, I had no objection to handing Elodie over to Duke Baniche. It was clear he wouldn’t harm a single strand of Elodie’s hair. But what mattered most was Elodie’s wishes. Would Elodie be comfortable being carried by Duke Baniche against her will?

‘I can’t wake her up to ask…’

In the end, I reluctantly made a decision.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate right now.”

“…Indeed, you’re right.”

The Duke’s face darkened.

“It’s fine. I asked unnecessarily. Elodie is still wary of me…”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I shook my head.

“It’s just that this isn’t something we should decide between ourselves while Elodie is sleeping like this. That’s all, so please don’t think too deeply about it.”

The Duke quietly nodded. Shortly after, I tucked Elodie’s blanket up to her chin and quietly left the bedroom.

“Let’s go to the playroom.”

I whispered to avoid waking Elodie, and the Duke quickened his pace. Elodie’s playroom was filled with traces of children playing. The most popular toys were visibly worn, even at first glance. The Duke muttered impassively.

“I should order more of these.”

“That would be appreciated.”

But now wasn’t the time to discuss toy orders. I looked directly up at the Duke. An inscrutable gaze lingered on my face for a moment before returning to Elodie’s toys.

“Earlier… I’d like to know what you meant by ‘opportunity.'”

The Duke’s face instantly hardened. Or rather, it was already stiff but became even more rigid.

I waited patiently for the Duke’s answer.

“…Marquis Carbodin’s plan goes beyond simply approaching you or Elodie. The only way to know what the Marquis is plotting is to get close to him.”

It took me some time to understand what he meant. So, is this person saying… what I think he’s saying?

“Are you asking me to act as a spy?”

“……”

A silence that could be called cowardly ensued. I slowly took a deep breath, interpreting the Duke’s silence as a “yes.”

‘Don’t get excited.’

It was natural, if you thought about it. To the Duke, I was merely someone who served as a bridge connecting him to Elodie. It wasn’t surprising that he would use me as a spy and discard me when necessary.

“…I wasn’t necessarily telling you to do it.”

“Your Grace.”

“I simply thought that Miss Bertin needn’t give up a good business opportunity on account of me or Elodie.”

“And while growing my business, I’d also serve as a spy on the side?”

A strange expression flashed across the Duke’s face.

“Yes, I suppose you could see it that way.”

“I refuse.”

I said firmly. I didn’t care if I incurred Theodore Baniche’s wrath over this. If I were to take Marquis Carbodin’s hand and walk down a path of no return, who would look after Elodie?

Of course, Duke Baniche would lavish money, time, and devotion on her, but what Elodie wanted was me. Strangely, the Duke seemed relieved by my words.

“I see.”

He even smiled.

“I apologize for saying something unnecessary.”

This time, I didn’t even feel like offering a polite response.

“…Indeed. You really did say something unnecessary.”

I shook my head.

“Can we consider this conversation over?”

“Of course.”

The Duke quickly agreed with me.

“If Marquis Carbodin repeatedly proposes a business partnership, let me know. I’ll deal with him.”

***

A week passed quickly. The first customer to arrive exactly at the café’s opening time was none other than Marquis Carbodin.

“…Welcome.”

I greeted him with a glum face. I had expected him to come, but I thought he would arrive after closing time, like yesterday. But to come in the morning? It was quite concerning as other customers were steadily coming in.

“Have you given it much thought?”

“…No.”

After a brief pause, I continued.

“There was nothing to think about. I decline, Marquis.”

“Why?”

The Marquis sounded genuinely perplexed.

“Do you think such an opportunity will come to Miss Bertin again? Not at all. If you miss my offer now, you’ll have to be content with just one café for the rest of your life.”

“I’m confident I can be content with just one café for the rest of my life.”

I answered stiffly.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change, so would you please leave now?”

“…Ha.”

An incredulous sigh escaped the Marquis’s lips.

“So, it’s not even worth reconsidering, is that right?”

“You understand perfectly.”

He carelessly brushed back his disheveled bangs and looked straight down at me.

“Actually, I wasn’t going to reveal this… but I have no choice.”

“…?”

At least ten question marks floated in my head. Fortunate or unfortunate, my questions were instantly shattered by the Marquis’s bombshell declaration.

“Miss Aria Bertin, would you date me?”

To be honest, at that moment, I felt like my face was exploding. Due to the confession received at a completely unexpected moment, my mind went blank, and only my heart responded instinctively. So… just now, this rare handsome man confessed to me.

“It’s not an unpleasant face.”

Marquis Carbodin smiled confidently.

“Actually, the business partnership was just bait, and this was the real point. Do you understand my actions a bit better now?”

“Uh…”

I could only move my lips. I tried to calm my thoughts, but perhaps because I had no immunity to confessions from the opposite s*x, my flushed face wouldn’t subside at all.