Chapter 96: To Hear Latte’s True Intentions

Olivia ate hastily in her disheveled state. Noble etiquette had no influence in the face of hunger. Having already revealed her condition to Latte sitting across from her, there was nothing more to hide.

Using only one fork, she cleared all the food within reach. Without servants attending, she could grab whatever she wanted, but the seasonings on her fork often mixed with other dishes.

Despite the chaotic dining, Latte maintained a peaceful expression while drinking tea.

“You…”

When her hunger had somewhat subsided, Olivia began. Though her mouth was still full of food, it wasn’t so much that she couldn’t talk.

“You seem to have feelings for Bliss.”

At Olivia’s presumptuous words, Latte blinked briefly before smiling.

“That’s right.”

Olivia nodded as though she were unsurprised and drank her wine. Then after wiping the food off her hands with a napkin, she straightened her posture.

It was a perfect noble’s posture, different from before. Back straight and gaze dignified. As if she hadn’t just been eating hurriedly, she took small bites without opening her mouth wide. Even those movements were controlled, making Latte watch curiously.

“Bliss is Count Bonita’s only daughter. I remember her as someone who acted selfishly and tormented others when things didn’t go her way. Someone who looked down on others and behaved badly.”

Hearing Olivia’s words, Latte made a troubled expression and waved her hand.

“She’s not like that anymore.”

“Not like that?”

When Olivia asked dubiously, Latte’s eyes narrowed. Looking at Olivia as if lost in thought, Latte put on a kind smile and began speaking.

“You must have been somewhere else all this time if you didn’t know.”

Latte poured fresh tea and stood up. She walked along the table to serve it to Olivia and sat nearby, clearing her throat as if considering where to begin.

“She’s become very kind. She knows how to care for and consider others. She has a beautiful heart that thinks of her husband and has become gentle.”

Though Olivia couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Latte’s expression didn’t change. Because it was true. The current Bliss had changed so much that anyone would think so.

“I can’t believe it. Can a person change that much?”

“Hmm… it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”

Latte shrugged her shoulders.

“At least the Bliss that appears on the outside has changed.”

At her additional words, Olivia, who was about to say she still couldn’t believe it, realized something and raised her head.

‘On the outside.’

She understood what Latte was trying to say. While Olivia was lost in thought, Latte looked at her face.

Though she had aged incomparably and become shabby compared to before, she was definitely Olivia. Caelan’s stepmother and the former Marchioness Adrian.

Latte was filled with anticipation just thinking about what opportunity picking her up from the street might bring.

***

Bliss was looking at the sky with her elbows on the windowsill, and Echo was beside her.

“It’s very quiet.”

Echo opened his small mouth to yawn at the peaceful daily life.

“That must be thanks to Caelan’s ability.”

The mansion’s atmosphere that had been unsettled due to intruders had calmed down, and as soon as he was well enough to get up, he went straight to the imperial palace.

Perhaps because of that, it had been a very long time since only Bliss and Echo were left. They both fully enjoyed that leisure.

“When will he receive the duke title?”

“Now that he’s gone to the palace, he’ll probably watch for the right time? Once the Blast duchy matter is settled.”

“Did he go to the palace completely healed?”

“Hmm… maybe yes, maybe no.”

“Why? Didn’t they let the doctor in after you burst it?”

Bliss avoided Echo’s question by burying her face in her arms. The kiss she shared with Caelan had heated up the atmosphere and couldn’t be ignored. She hadn’t known his wound would open from bearing her weight.

The doctor seemed to know what happened without asking and warned that heavy things shouldn’t be placed on a patient’s body. Thanks to that, Caelan almost reopened his wound from laughing, and Bliss couldn’t calm her reddened face.

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

Though Bliss asked to stop since it was still an embarrassing memory, Echo wasn’t a fox who would listen.

“Mind the time and situation from now on. How could you pounce on a patient like that?”

At his clearly teasing words, Bliss mentioned something as if for revenge.

“Where were you that day?”

It was the day she was almost taken by Leonard. Echo, who was always by her side, wasn’t there that day.

This time Echo leaned his face between his silver paws and admired the sky outside the window. Seeing this, Bliss clicked her tongue. How dare he try to tease others when he had his own secrets.

“So it would have been better not to start from the beginning.”

How nice it would be if they could just admire the sky on this perfect weather for studying and keep each other’s secrets hidden.

As they looked at the sky like that, Echo opened his small mouth to yawn.

“It’s nice that nothing’s happening, but it’s also boring.”

“Shh.”

Bliss covered Echo’s mouth.

“Don’t say things like that.”

Bliss hurriedly covered his mouth because whenever such things were said, something always happened, but…

“Marchioness. A messenger came with this to deliver.”

The butler appeared and held out a pink letter. Bliss took it and examined the front and back of the paper envelope. It looked like an invitation at first glance, but there was no sender written.

“Should I call a knight to open it?”

At the butler’s question wondering if there might be something dangerous inside, Echo who had been at the windowsill jumped down. Walking over leisurely, Echo looked at the paper envelope and wagged his tail gently. Reading that response, Bliss shook her head indicating it was fine.

“I’ll open and look at it myself.”

After the butler bowed and left, Bliss continued examining the envelope. Though she knew there were no dangerous objects inside, she still felt uneasy.

“You won’t know unless you read it.”

“I suppose you’re right?”

Since she wouldn’t know without opening it, Bliss took a small breath and opened the envelope to take out what was inside. The paper folded in half had just one short line written.

“What is it?”

“It’s from Latte. She wants to meet.”

“When?”

“Right now.”

At Bliss’s words with a sigh, Echo looked away. They had said it was boring, and something really happened.

“You could just not go.”

“Hmm… she wrote it so I can’t do that.”

Bliss fluttered the paper.

“She says to come if I want to know the truth about the necklace.”

When Bliss saw Latte before, she had lied to her. She had answered as if she hadn’t come to the party the day the necklace was received, so Bliss had thought to figure out at some point which of the two, Marchioness Azel or Latte, was lying.

Though she was leaning toward Latte being the liar, just as she was about to confirm it, a letter came from her first.

This was an offer she had to accept.

“Let’s go.”

Once decided, the deliberation was brief. As Bliss put the paper on the side table and picked up Echo, he squirmed in her hands.

“Why are you taking me?”

“We don’t know what Latte might do.”

“Then shouldn’t you take Caelan instead of me?”

“Caelan is at the palace. And…”

Bliss looked at the bed where Caelan had been lying.

“He’s not fully healed yet.”

She hesitated to go with him in case he might get hurt again. While Bliss was packing various things just in case, Echo waited quietly for her.

“I guess I’ve really become a pet fox.”

To think she would so easily consider taking me along.

As if hearing Echo’s words, Bliss turned around.

“How about guardian fox instead? Since you’ll protect me.”

“How bold.”

“I can’t handle a sword and I’m weak to poison. So you must protect me.”

“Now you’re just being shameless.”

Despite Echo’s exasperated voice, Bliss, who had been busily moving her hands, returned.

“I’m all prepared. Shall we go now?”

Though outwardly nothing had changed except for putting on a coat, there was determination in Bliss’s eyes.

“It’s fortunate you’re not discouraged.”

It was admirable that she could step forward bravely despite what happened with Leonard.

However, it could seem reckless to willingly go somewhere without knowing what preparations the other party might have made.

“We’ll only know if we go.”

The necklace matter was something that needed to be addressed at some point. And Bliss thought now was actually a good time while Caelan was away. Because she didn’t want him to get hurt.

Bliss tucked Echo firmly against her side.

“You said you become huge in your original form, right? Make sure to protect me with that strength.”

“…You could just take knights along.”

Echo’s words didn’t reach Bliss’s ears as she left the room.