Me? Tame? Who? Those scary people? Oh no, this is going to be a disaster! I waved my hand at Terdeo and pretended not to understand, continuing to eat my soup. The dining table became noisy. Phineas, who had been smiling quietly until now, calmed everyone down.
"Alright, everyone, calm down. Why are you so noisy whenever we gather? ...Selphy, how is your body?"
"I'm fine. The Grand Duchess didn't hit my head yesterday and even put a handkerchief in my mouth to prevent any injuries, so I'm relatively better than usual."
"His Highness the Duke took appropriate measures. He has excellent reflexes."
I just did what came to mind. Don't look at me with such a proud expression. The pressure of everyone's gaze made me feel uneasy. I felt embarrassed by the excessive praise for my actions. I awkwardly laughed and changed the subject by speaking to Terdeo.
"Oh, the festival starts today, right?"
"Ah, that's right. I almost forgot."
Almost forgot? Even though it's a festival where he's the main character, Terdeo's reaction was indifferent.
"I should have paid more attention. I'm sorry."
Just as I apologized, Terdeo was about to say something, but the other three spoke first.
"Shasha, why are you apologizing for such a trivial matter? It's all fine."
"You're right. Her Highness the Grand Duchess doesn't need to apologize. Besides, His Excellency the Duke isn't interested in the festival anyway."
"Prince Theo will probably understand, Your Highness."
I clearly apologized to Terdeo, but strangely, the response came from elsewhere. Terdeo laughed in disbelief at the three people's reactions and shrugged.
"If I don't accept your apology, I'll be the bad guy. There's no need to apologize. As Selphy said, I'm not interested in that festival."
Well, Terdeo isn't the type to be interested in a festival. When the topic turned to the festival, Terdeo propped his chin on his hand and looked at the brunch on the table in a disheveled posture.
"His Majesty loves being in the spotlight, so he's making things troublesome for me. There's even a parade on the last day of the festival. It's not like we're caged monkeys."
Terdeo muttered with a shiver and frowned.
'They don't like setting up statues.'
That's why he didn't react much when the statue was broken.
"If it was broken once, why not break it again? Why not this time?"
Terdeo grumbled, clearly hoping the statue would break again, and continued to pick fruits from the salad, piling them onto my plate.
'That's enough, it's overflowing.'
I shared the mountain of fruits on my plate with Selphius. As the fruits in the salad disappeared, Selphius, who had been pouting, eagerly accepted them like a baby bird.
"Anyway, you have to attend that parade."
"Me? Why me? I'm not a war hero."
I looked at Terdeo with a dazed expression. He propped his chin on his hand and tilted his head.
"Didn't I tell you?"
"I've never heard of it before."
"I see."
Don't nod so calmly.
"Then consider this the official notice. You have to attend the parade with me on the last day of the festival, so get ready."
Should I punch him? Cersia, who had been listening to the conversation, pointed at Terdeo with her thumb as if reading my mind.
"If you want to break Theo's legs, just tell me, Shasha. I'll help you."
Terdeo pressed his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Cersia, didn't I say you need to leave now? You came here to work."
"Why are you sending me away all of a sudden... Oh!"
Cersia stopped mid-sentence, took a deep breath, and suddenly stood up. She loudly exclaimed to herself and hurriedly prepared to leave.
"Look at my state! Those guys will get their prices slashed without me! That wine is worth thirty times the market price!"
"He's not a grumpy drunk but a swindler."
Selphius, who was propping his chin, muttered, and Cersia clenched her teeth and ruffled his hair.
"This is what business is about. It's the world of adults that you, a child, don't understand."
Then, Cersia turned to me, her red eyes filled with concern.
"I'm sorry, Shasha. I'd like to be with you as much as possible, but this business is really important, and I need to go myself."
"No, it's fine. I'm grateful that you came. And I enjoyed the gifts you always send."
"I'm so glad to hear that. I'll send more. Enjoy them. You can eat them all by yourself, without giving any to Theo or Selphy. Oh, do you have any favorite foods? Or anything you want to eat...?"
As the conversation dragged on, Terdeo sighed and pointed at the door with his chin.
"Aren't you leaving yet, Cersia?"
"I've always been caught between this heartless brother and this prickly nephew, Shasha."
"Butler, prepare the carriage for Cersia to leave immediately. Send her luggage with her, and there's no need to stop at the annex."
"Shasha, can I sew her mouth shut? I need your permission."
This sibling really means it. After grumbling for a while, Cersia checked her watch and stopped the conversation, realizing she was really late.
"I really have to go now. Uncle being here means Lady Gloria is in the capital, right? Please tell her I'll visit after this is over."
"Sure, don't worry. Take care of yourself and don't forget the medicine and lavender-scented candles I gave you. Cersia, your time is coming soon, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's as important as my life. I feel more at ease with it."
Her time is coming. I involuntarily shuddered at the words. Just imagining Cersia bleeding made me feel dizzy, as if the ground beneath me was collapsing.
'No, don't think the worst.'
I quickly shook my head and composed my expression. I smiled brightly and waved at Cersia, who was leaving.
"Come for tea next time, Cersia."
It was a plea for her to stay healthy and alive until then. Cersia smiled as if she understood my unspoken message.
"I'll definitely come to eat, Shasha. Next time, I'll bring the guy who spread the fake news and the one who poisoned me as gifts."
No, that's not necessary. Just catch them and hand them over to the police. As I stood up to see Cersia off, Terdeo placed his share of the cake in front of me.
"I'll see Cersia off, so you eat this. ...Go, Cersia."
" Theo, you're seeing me off? What's going on? You usually don't care."
"Just run to the carriage."
The two bickering figures gradually moved away. I glanced at their similar backs and then turned to look at my plate. In front of me were two plates: a pile of seasonal fruit salad and a rich chocolate cake. ...
"What? The Grand Duchess is attending the parade on the last day of the festival?"
"Yep, that's what he said."
Rebecca, who was enjoying tea, hastily put down her cup at my affirmative answer. She then tapped the table with her fingers, as if deep in thought.
"What are you doing, Rebecca?"
Rebecca ignored my question and narrowed her eyes, focusing on something.
'Did she think of something important?'
The silence stretched on. I leisurely watched the clouds drift by in the sky and then asked Rebecca.
"Rebecca, what are my family members doing these days?"
They were so quiet that I hadn't received any reports about them. They must be trying to take my inheritance, which was strange. Rebecca, lost in thought, muttered in response to my question.
"Nothing special. They just attend gatherings with other noble ladies. They tried to hire a lawyer to create grounds for disinheritance, but it didn't seem easy. No lawyer wants to make the Grand Duchess an enemy."
That makes sense. So, I don't need to worry about them for now. I left Rebecca to her thoughts and sipped my tea. A moment later, Rebecca stood up with a determined look.
"Alright, I've decided!"
"Huh?"
"We're going out!"
Suddenly? Out of the blue? Rebecca was overflowing with enthusiasm, almost burning with it. I couldn't understand why she was suddenly so enthusiastic.
"Why are we going out suddenly?"
Moreover, a sudden outing was bothersome.
"I tried on the dresses, hats, and accessories you have, but they won't stand out in the parade. We need something more striking!"
"What? It's fine if it's not striking. After all, I'm not the main character of the parade."
I laughed and sipped my tea. Rebecca snatched my cup, placed it on the table, and firmly replied.
"No, everyone, whether noble or commoner, will be watching the Grand Duchess that day. You need to be more beautiful and radiant than ever!"
"Then we can call a tailor to make a dress or order from a catalog."
"The Grand Duchess should also see the route of the parade! Knowing the route in advance will make you more comfortable!"
That's true. Rebecca pushed me out of my chair and urged me to go out.
"Alright, alright. Let's go, let's go."
I reluctantly stood up. Before following me, Rebecca instructed a maid to prepare the carriage and contact the boutique shop to keep all