Chapter 26

On the first floor, those who shared the first lunch in the communal dining room were Leon’s teachers, the Head Maid, and Roden the butler.

After the first meal ended, the regular maids, gardeners, footmen, and stable boys had their meal.

Roden usually ate with them unless he had a special task, in which case he’d skip the first meal.

And whenever Roden was absent, the atmosphere in the communal dining room changed significantly.

When Roden was present, meals were generally quiet and only businesslike words were exchanged. But when Roden was gone, private conversations flourished.

The teachers excitedly discussed various matters about the ducal residence and news from Rettrang, and Diane also blended into the lively mood, happily joining the conversation.

Today, Roden happened to be away again.

The Head Maid informed everyone that he had gone out for an errand in Rettrang city.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve gone out to Rettrang city.” 

Diane remarked absentmindedly.

She had gone to the bookstore last time, but since she only bought books with Leon and returned immediately, it hardly counted as going out.

“Miss Lina, since coming to the Wale mansion, have you never gone out?” 

Asked the riding instructor, who usually sat across from Diane.

“No, it’s hard to go anywhere because of the transportation.” 

“On weekends, a carriage goes to the city for the staff in the morning and afternoon. You didn’t know?”

“Oh, really?”

Diane’s eyes sparkled at the new information.

With Center Shire’s old town about to be demolished, she thought maybe this weekend she could meet some old friends.

Once demolition started, everyone would scatter and it would be hard to meet again.

Going out to the city at least once before that didn’t sound bad.

The riding instructor observed Diane’s expression and asked, 

“Are you planning to go out this weekend?”

“Yes! I think I will.” 

Diane replied cheerfully, prompting an unexpected suggestion from the riding instructor.

“I’m planning to go out too. Would you like to go together?”

“What?”

“I heard there’s a new restaurant in Center Shire’s new town.”

Diane hesitated at the unexpected offer.

She sometimes chatted with the riding instructor at lunch, but didn’t consider them close enough to go out together.

“Oh, I was thinking of meeting some old friends in the old town…”

Diane trailed off.

The Head Maid, who had been listening to Diane and the riding instructor’s conversation, suddenly jumped in.

“Mr. Reiner, if Miss Lina can’t go, go with me! It’s almost payday and I want to try that restaurant too. I’ve wanted to go for a while.”

“Ah!”

The riding instructor’s face stiffened at the Head Maid’s interruption.

He was interested in Diane Lina, so he was annoyed by the Head Maid’s intrusion.

“Ah… Head Maid, actually, I also have errands in Center Shire’s old town. I need to check out the shops before demolition.”

Reiner quickly lied and turned back to Diane.

“You’re meeting your friends in the old town, right? So we can still go together.”

Diane glanced at the Head Maid’s sulky face.

‘The Head Maid wants to go with him, so why is he insisting we go together?’

Sure enough, the Head Maid’s face was flushed.

She was a spinster who had missed her chance for marriage, but having grown up working at the ducal residence alongside her mother, she’d become Head Maid at a young age.

Regardless, she was influential among the staff.

Since Diane had already said she’d go out, it was awkward to suddenly refuse, and she didn’t want to upset the Head Maid.

“Oh, I’ve changed my mind. It might be nice to try the new restaurant. Why don’t we all go together?”

At Diane’s words, the Head Maid brightened and, though Reiner looked flustered, he nodded.

Diane sighed inwardly.

She couldn’t meet her friends, and now she was going out with the not-so-close riding instructor and the Head Maid.

‘If the two of them hit it off, or at least if the food’s good, I’ll be satisfied.’

She was realizing anew that workplaces came with colleagues and group outings.

* * *

After working late the previous day, Edward returned to the ducal residence on a weekend afternoon and wandered aimlessly around the house.

Leon, reading in the study, asked as Edward opened the door for the second time,

“Uncle, why do you keep opening the door if you’re not coming in?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Edward replied and immediately left again.

But a few seconds later, he returned to the study and asked Leon,

“Leon, do you know where your reading teacher is?”

“Why are you looking for her?”

Leon asked, his eyes sharp.

“I have something to say, so I’m looking for her. Where is she?”

“Hmph!”

“Hey, answer when an adult asks. Where is she?”

“If you answer me, you have to play horse with me. Then I’ll tell you.”

Edward rarely played horse with Leon.

When he visited the ducal residence, he had nothing to do, so he spent time with his only nephew, which was unusual for him.

Recently, Leon insisting Diane Lina was his mother had made Leon quite a thorn in Edward’s side, but he was generally generous toward Leon.

“All right. Now tell me.”

Leon smiled, satisfied with Edward’s answer.

“She went out.”

“Went out?”

“She said she was going somewhere today.”

“So where?”

“She said she was going to eat at some restaurant.”

“Restaurant?”

“Yeah, she mentioned a new restaurant yesterday.”

“Okay, got it.”

Edward felt annoyed and was about to leave the study.

“Uncle!”

“What!”

“You promised to play horse with me. Where are you going?”

He was generous to his nephew, but only when he felt like it.

Right now, he was irritated by the fact that Diane had gone out somewhere.

So much so that he ignored his promise to Leon.

“I suddenly got busy. Ride with the riding instructor.”

“Mr. Reiner doesn’t teach on weekends. Teacher Lina said she’s out today. She’s not home.”

“Hmph! So everyone’s out.”

“Let’s go ride, Uncle. Dad bought a new pony.”

“I’m busy.”

“Geez! Uncle, you’re a liar, a liar!”

Edward ignored Leon’s complaints and headed for the door.

“I’m bored…”

Leon muttered in a dispirited voice behind him.

“Sigh!”

Edward let out a deep breath.

“Fine, let’s go!”

At Edward’s words, Leon perked up and jumped off his chair, as if he’d never been gloomy. Edward, still sulky, left the study with his nephew.

* * *

Diane was mentally exhausted as she returned in the carriage from an unexpected outing.

During the weekend trip, she clearly realized that the riding instructor was interested in her, and the Head Maid was interested in the riding instructor.

‘Ah, so tiring.’

The riding instructor often struck up conversation at lunch, but Diane hadn’t realized it was because of interest, and now found it uncomfortable.

She wasn’t particularly interested in men.

Life had been too busy for romance, so she’d never really thought about it.

Of course, since becoming a reading tutor at the dukedom, she’d had more free time, but that didn’t mean she’d suddenly become interested in men.

Besides, even if she did, the riding instructor didn’t stir any feelings in her.

And he was liked by the Head Maid.

She wanted nothing to do with such awkward relationships.

All she wanted was to get back to the ducal residence and rest.

When the carriage finally stopped in front of the mansion, the Head Maid spoke to the riding instructor in a sweet voice.

“Mr. Reiner, it’s past dinner time, but if you go to the kitchen, there should be something. Shall I make you a little something later?”

She knew they’d miss dinner, so everyone had brought bread, but the Head Maid was openly showing her feelings.

“No, please rest.”

Reiner replied stiffly as always, then got out of the carriage and offered his hand to Diane.

But the Head Maid quickly stepped in front of Diane and took his hand first.

After helping the Head Maid down, Reiner quickly offered his hand to Diane, who was still in the carriage.

“I’m fine.”

Diane, feeling awkward about both the Head Maid and Reiner, grabbed the handle and got out on her own.

At that moment,

Behind the carriage they’d arrived in, another carriage stopped.

The Head Maid, Reiner, and Diane all turned their gaze to the newly arrived carriage.

It was the Duke’s carriage, finished in glossy black wood and engraved with the ducal crest.

The three lined up automatically, waiting for the Duke to step out.

Adrian got out and, with a faint smile, nodded toward the staff before heading for the building.

“……!”

After two steps, Adrian suddenly stopped.