/
A splendid dinner was served.
It had been a long time since various dishes were served on the table like this because Orion, I, and His Highness prefered to eat simply.
“It looks like you’ve all been well. The house has turned bright.”
The gaze of Lord Duke who spoke gently while looking around landed on Jeremy.
“Please make yourself at home, Your Highness.”
Hearing kind words said by Lord Duke, the prince awkwardly nodded his head.
Mom looked busy with the dishes.
“Take good care so His Highness won’t get uncomfortable while he stays.”
Orion nodded toward Lord Duke.
“However.”
Lord Duke slightly tilted his head and asked as if he was in wonder.
“Where is the musical band? All of them that were with us during the meal time?”
“Ah, for the welfare of employees, I omitted not to play during mealtime.”
The hand reaching out to the food stopped.
I finally remembered that the play time was altered because I said I will eat in my room since I was uncomfortable hearing someone playing music at the meal times.
“Erm, I think the dishes taste a bit strong.”
“This is more delicious.”
It was due to my taste that prefered the street foods.
“I also checked that the hallway was changed on my way.”
“My taste has changed a bit.”
I only said once that I was uncomfortable walking the hallway aligned with sculptures made of glittering gold, and after the maid who heard that ran hurriedly, the whole mansion changed.
Lord Duke, who was silent, flinched when he was about to raise the glass.
Bright yellow orange juice filled his glass instead of wine.
“This . . .”
“You’re at an age where you have to think about your health. It’s orange juice season nowadays.”
Where does the season for juice come from?
It was impossible for him to not know the main culprit for all of this at this point.
Lord Duke’s strange gaze landed on me.
“Honey, is there any problem?”
Lord Duke, who was looking at Mom smiling with a hand on his arm, shook his head immediately.
“No, I don’t think there’s any problem.”
“Right?”
Jeremy’s gaze stayed on me for a long time then left.
Was it only my feelings that my whole face was hot?
The reason why I was very uneasy about my mom’s return might be because I had already expected my face would be full of embarrassment.
As my gaze met with Jeremy’s who had been staring intently at me, he thanked me.
“Thanks to you, I had a great meal again today, Marianne.”
“. . .”
Once again, here was the duchy, and technically, the one who provided the daily meals for Jeremy was Lord Duke.
Lord Duke sent me a gaze as if he was confused.
Pretending to not notice his gaze, I responded to Jeremy who was waiting for my reply.
“Have a good night, Jeremy.”
Next to me, I could see Orion, who wasn’t wrong to be said as the main culprit of all this problem, straightened himself.
Look. This is the greatness of our Marianne.
The eyes that were expressing that really, really made me feel sorry.
On the way to my room as I quickly left out of embarrassment, Jeremy comforted me.
“Because he has found out everything he has to know, nothing will surprise him anymore.”
“I hope so.”
I didn’t know what he had to find out, but anyway, I hoped he wouldn’t get surprised anymore.
While I weakly agree with Jeremy, I saw a stiff book in his hand.
“Isn’t that catalog from Rocke Merchant Guild?”
“You are right. This is catalog newly made for the products released this time, and this is still not distributed. Benji gave me this for reference.”
It was only a few months ago they released new products.
I didn’t think this was the time to reorganize the new catalog.
“Can I take a look for a moment?”
I was in wonder when I saw the catalog he gave me.
The lists of products they handled had become wider, and there had been more new styles than expected.
Until now, the products sold by Rocke Merchant Guild focused on luxury items for females.
Although most of the promotional effects were thanks to items worn by Mom, the decisive reason for the guild’s growth was thanks to mining rights.
Of course, they also sold daily necessities and magic artifacts from time to time, but those were not their focus but supplementary.
“It would take a lot of effort to expand by this much.”
There was no problem that shook Rocke Merchant Guild for now, but was there a need to expand their business aggressively like this?
This was no doubt weird.
“Marianne?”
“Ah, sorry. Here.”
I handed back the catalog to Jeremy who carefully called me when I was deep in thought.
Then, when I returned to my room, Mom welcomed me.
“You look quite close to that baby prince?”
“There was a lot we went through together.”
We stood together in the life-or-death situation, and weren’t we also sharing unspeakable secrets?
“I already know that you’re a kid with a lot of love, but you truly changed a bit.”
“Me?”
“Who else besides you?”
She played with my hair, which had grown past my shoulders.
“The color is gradually getting darker.”
“Is that so?”
As I heard that, I did feel it turned a bit red.
Before, the red color couldn’t be noticed unless under the bright sun.
“You also look taller.”
“Only in a few months? That is a bit exaggerated.”
She shrugged and refuted me.
“This is the time to grow the most. It’s the time for both your body and heart to mature.”
She, who was caressing my head, pinched my cheek strongly.
“But still, don’t grow too much.”
Perhaps because we met each other after a long time, she excessively treated me as a baby.
She looked at me with an amazed look.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just amazed with your change.”
But I didn’t think a lot had changed in me.
I felt strange hearing that I changed to the point she was amazed.
She, who smirked, told me something I didn’t expect.
“It seems like this kid has changed positively. The kid that always stayed low because she worried she would affect others.”
“Really?”
Staring at me, Mom pouted.
“Should have I raised you like that? Just like Orion, like a precious angel coming down from heaven whenever we meet?”
No, if you did that, I would have left home earlier.