To be precise, it was correct to say that it was because of Raphael, but I realized that he wasn’t talking about that reason. He was implying that he was busy making love to her every night now.

“It’s nice to be here like this; it’s almost like family.”

Leaving her sitting silently, he quickly returned to his office. But before going back, he whispered something to her ear, saying that it’s nice to feel like family.

“Ah…”

Amelia sat there dumbfounded, feeling like a storm had passed. When she turned her head, May was clenching her hands tightly and glaring at her with a distorted expression. Was she targeting her? No, there were many strange things about it. Even if he didn’t do this, May would still resent her.

To think that that human called Raphael Lloyd Siegfried would use her for something like this? And even lies about spending the night with a woman he despises?

“Mother?”

If Leonel hadn’t called her in time, she may not have been able to come to her senses.

“What’s wrong with Father?”

“Oh, nothing like that happened.”

It’s a good thing Leonel’s still young because I can’t believe he’d talk freely like that in front of a child. They don’t even talk to each other affectionately, so why whisper?

“Leonel, are you okay? Did your father say anything before I arrived?”

“Father?”

“Yeah.”

Leonel calls him father like this, but Raphael refers to him by his first name.

“He didn’t say anything.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t think His Grace will show up from now on.”

That was something she said because she still didn’t know Raphael Lloyd Siegfried.

“Your Grace?”

“You woke up a bit earlier today?”

Raphael appeared the next day as well, seemingly intending to ruin their peaceful mealtime. Amelia thought would be over in a day or two, but this has already been the fifth day in a row. Amelia eventually exploded.

“Why do you keep appearing?”

“Perhaps you don’t like having meals with me?”

If he intended to make her uncomfortable or annoy her, she wanted to tell him to stop. But with Leonel beside her, she couldn’t say it out loud. After all, he was only ostensibly doing it to bond with Leonel. She had no right to stop him from getting close to his son.

“You don’t usually eat meals like this.”

Ignoring the tense atmosphere, Amelia continued speaking. In reality, Leonel’s attitude had gotten much better compared to the first day. His hunched shoulders straightened, and he could speak without stuttering.

“I’m human too. I can’t do anything if I starve.”

Lies. He could go hungry for several days without any problem.

“If it’s because you want to get closer to your son, then I’ll only meet Leonel for lunch and dinner.”

“It would be good for the child’s emotions to have both parents on his side.”

“Your Grace.”

He doesn’t mince his words. Everything he said was correct. How could he be so cunning?

“Starting tomorrow, I will not attend breakfast.”

Raphael couldn’t attend lunch and dinner due to his busy schedule. She had thought of this.

“….”

“Mother….”

After she said she wouldn’t attend breakfast, but when she came back, he was also present for both lunch and dinner. It was as if he was glued to her. Meeting him once in the morning would’ve been fine.

“The Grand Duchess doesn’t seem to eat well.”

“Because I have no appetite.”

Thanks to someone.

Amelia gave up trying to outdo him. Yeah, after all, it was just about one meal. She just had to ignore him and not look at him.

“I hope this meal suits the Grand Duchess’s taste.”

“……”

“I asked you to pay special attention.”

Even if she tried not to care, she couldn’t help it. Raphael seemed determined to torment her openly. Recently, it had also been difficult to ignore May’s increasingly intense gaze.

“I lost. I’ll attend the breakfast. So, Your Grace, you don’t have to force yourself to attend the rest of the meals.”

So please stop bothering people.

“Did I seem like I was forcing myself?”

“Even if you’re not, it’s fine.”

“If that’s what the Grand Duchess wants.”

From the next day onwards, Amelia breathed a sigh of relief as their mealtimes returned to normal. Raphael’s skill in making people miserable was truly top-notch.

***

Except for the changed morning routine, their relationship remained the same as before. They slept with their backs turned to each other and didn’t face each other unless it was day or night.

“Mother!”

Amelia smiled brightly when she saw Leonel come running with his hands full of books. These days, reading with Leonel in the garden has become her new hobby.

“What book will you read today?”

“Economics.”

Leonel’s reading materials were so advanced that it was hard to believe he was only five years old. It seemed like he had been receiving the successor’s education since he was young.

“The sun is shining brightly today.”

“I think so too.”

When I recalled the time she first mentioned going to the garden, a smile escaped my lips as I thought of Leonel’s face. He was so happy and excited that his cheeks tingled as he tried to control his expression.

“Should I bring some dessert too?”

“No, I…”

“Jane. Can you bring some tea and dessert?”

One new thing I learned is that Leonel loves sweet desserts a lot. But it’s cute how he tries to maintain his dignity even though it’s obvious.

“Your Highness, there’s a message from Chester Merchantry.”

“From Chester?”

A week has passed since I visited the merchantry. I thought it would take at least a month, but to contact so soon? When Aaron bought the mine, Marquis Cloud was drowning in debt, but that wasn’t the case anymore.

“Yes, there was an important item among the broken utensils last time…”

“Oh, really?”

“They said it seems like you should visit again… Should I tell Sir Edward?”

Even though I don’t say anything to Edward, I’m sure he and Raphael are already aware of the report.

“It’s fine. I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

Amelia pretended to be fine and calculated the remaining money in her mind. No matter how skilled the Master is, how much money would be needed if he bought several mines?

“Are you going out again?”

“I think so.”

Amelia smiled reassuringly at Leonel, who nervously asked if she was going out.

“I’ll be back and bring you something delicious.”

During her second outing, people still couldn’t help but be suspicious. For the past few days, May had not appeared in front of Amelia at all. It was unsettling to think he hadn’t seen her even during mealtime.

Instead, Ann and Jane were assigned to watch over her. Familiar surveillance officers were better than constantly changing ones.

“Pick out the things you want this time.”

“What? Again this time?”

Perhaps they had been waiting for Amelia to bring up this topic, as everyone’s faces lit up. They couldn’t hide their excitement since she mentioned going to the merchantry.

“We are really fine.”

“That’s right, Your Highness. You don’t have to give us anything.”

At their feigned response, Amelia shifted her gaze outside the window. She wondered if the Master had managed to save the mine. Marquis Cloud might not have wanted to sell the mine, no matter how useless it was.

“…I guess I have to believe him.”

Even if he didn’t have what she wanted, he would make it, that’s what the boss had said.

“Please come in, Grand Duchess.”

As soon as she got off the carriage, Howard welcomed her. Amelia nodded her head at his behavior, which seemed more courteous than when she had last seen him.

“The maids are not allowed to enter the guest room.”

“Guide the maids.”

Perhaps because they were excited at the thought of going shopping, neither of them resisted despite the news that they couldn’t go in. Sometimes, a carrot is better than a whip.

“I’ve been waiting.”

Amelia flinched at the sight of her Master as soon as she opened the door to the guest room.

“Master…?”

“Sometimes the master personally comes to the merchantry.”

Howard left the tea on the table and left the guest room. But in the book, it’s said that no one met him anywhere other than the master’s office?

“That request, wasn’t it urgent.”

Amelia regained her composure and sat down as she saw the master shaking the sealed envelope of documents.

“Marquis Cloud sold the mine?”

“It was a bit difficult. Even though it was a useless mine, he didn’t want to sell it.”

“As expected…”

Marquis Cloud was a person who held onto the mine until he was buried in debt.

“Now that the request is finished, is it my turn to ask questions?”

Contrary to his vague impression, the Master’s voice was powerful. His confident tone of voice played a role as well.

“Just how much do you know, exactly?”