CH 174

Breakfast time was overly quiet.

Except for Jeremy, who was sad at the growth yet not growth of Adel, Orion, Lord Duke, and Mom didn’t speak much as they were focusing on their meals.

Orion’s eyes were full of concern as he saw me, who stirred the soup as I had no appetite.

“I heard you wanted to rest because you were so shocked yesterday, but it seems like your condition isn’t good yet.”

At that, the Duke turned his head and looked at me closely.

I shook my head and flashed an awkward smile.

“I’m fine. The shock went away long ago.”

Everyone looked like they didn’t believe me because it was obvious that I didn’t have much sleep.

“I think it’s okay to take a rest for a few days if it’s uncomfortable for you to go to the academy.”

I shook my head to the suggestion given by Lord Duke.

I thought it would be more uncomfortable for me to stay in the mansion.

The band, who was waiting to play the serenade of love in time for the mother and the Duke’s exit, caught my eyes.

Thanks to the ongoing ‘Show Love’ project, I’m not the only one who feels uncomfortable.

“Marianne, how about stopping those now?”

The Duke was calm, but he spoke very carefully.

There was desperation in his face, which didn’t change much.

As I thought about it, it was rather incredible that he didn’t say anything despite suffering to this day.

When I was about to nod, Orion swiftly cut in.

“How can you ask to stop when you still haven’t given faith yet, Father?”

Lord Duke’s head turned stiffly.

He had a look of regret, questioning why this kind of person was his child.

“I heard yesterday that Marianne said directly to the maid, ‘I want to know if my parents are different outside the mansion.’”

I  . . . didn’t think I ever said that.

As I went through my memory, I remembered that I said I was curious what they were doing outside to Dana.

Why was it interpreted this way?

First of all, how did he know about the words I said subconsciously?

Before I could tell him that the meaning of those words was different, Lord Duke pushed his plate and said seriously.

“Marianne, I really love my wife. I try my best to show it, but if you can’t feel it, tell me what I should do so that I can be a good father to you. I’ll do my best.”

The Duke was saying through his sad eyes.

Please stop that.

He was already tired enough.

At this point, apologizing to him wouldn’t be enough.

I eventually couldn’t hold back.

“Orion, let’s talk.”

* * *

As the lighting in the mansion was teared down, the butler’s face turned bright.

Numerous sculptures that filled the mansion under the pretext of family’s peace were also sold.

The face of the band also brightened as they could stop playing the love serenade.

Everyone didn’t say it, but they were having it hard, huh.

The head chef, who wracked his brain in order to research dishes that were good for stamina, even offered a prayer of gratitude to the god.

He must have been tormented by that even though it was only for a few days.

I felt sorry for taking action late while paying attention to other things.

If I knew this earlier, I would solve this by talking to Orion from the start.

“I think it’ll be okay for you to take a bit of rest from the academy.”

“No. I have to be diligent to quickly catch up. Also . . .”

I’m worried about Rany.

I had to see the public sentiment about me in the academy.

Of course, we prevented the Rocke Merchant Guild from being framed, but it was not easy to prove that they were perfectly irrelevant.

Trust and reputation among students were not related to the guild either.

On top of that, Zen . . .

My mind grew even more restless because I had such a dream.

Even though I wanted to treat it as a silly dream and erase it from my mind, my heart kept feeling uneasy.

I saw Mom, who finished her meal calmly today, walking in the garden.

I was looking at her with an indescribable feeling, but then I flinched at the touch on my forehead.

It was followed with a soft voice.

“You really have a fever, Marianne. Will you really be okay?”

The gentle eyes meticulously looked at me.

“I’m fine. This is because I didn’t sleep at dawn. I can take a rest after going back from the academy.”

Sighing, he finally let me go to the academy.

Jeremy, who took another carriage as well today, hesitated then whispered to me.

“I hope you’re not too surprised with what happened in the academy.”

His voice, telling me despite his hesitatation, was very serious.

I entered the academy while wondering what happened that he even gave me such a warning.

The moment I made my entrance, dozens of students, who were entering the building, stared at me openly.

They whispered to each other, and some looked at me amusingly.

As I walked through them, the gazes followed where I went.

Then, a group of students appeared.

They were students from the magic department based on their neckties.

A student who looked like their representative took a step forward and greeted me.

“Young Lady Miller, I hope you’ll accept us.”

“Excuse me?”

“We want to enter under you.”

My head turned blank at the words that were said while kneeling down courteously.

A group of students from the knight department walking from another direction caught my eyes.

Don’t tell me . . . you guys too.

Please don’t.