CH 63

However, the time to gaze at each other can only be enjoyed until it ends. I elegantly ate the large prawns with sauce and even tried the meat dishes during that time.

Ah, it’s delicious.

Since I usually live modestly, I have to indulge in luxury when I can. But if it continues, I might actually get fat. I should exercise somewhere.

While thinking about such trivial things, I eagerly ate, and the Duke, who had finished the gazing time, returned to the conversation.

“Oh, by the way, Lady Lorraine is planning to go out to various places while staying here, right?”

“Yes, I haven’t really tried going to such places before, but I want to get used to social events a little more.”

After all, I have been an extremely inconspicuous existence, mastering the art of being a wallflower among wallflowers and being able to hide in crowds. Of course, that was convenient for admiring handsome men, but now that I have someone important to me, it is preferable to do the opposite.

I don’t need to stand out, but I want to become a good listener.

“I see, that’s good.”

The Duke nodded while looking at Jeremiah and me alternately.

“Besides, the biggest winter event is coming up soon. Take your time and enjoy it. After all, you will become my sister-in-law someday.”

“Well, that’s a good idea. Stay until the Javier festival.”

“But wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”

I thought I would only stay for about half a month, but that would mean staying here for over a month. I was confused, and Jeremiah spoke up.

“It’s okay. It’s not a bad thing to spend time with me, and it’s his grace’s offer. You can explain it to your family in a letter. Besides, I want to spend time with you during the Javier festival.”

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me as if asking what I would do. I was caught off guard and stopped breathing. What a cheap shot. I thought he wouldn’t use sweet words while we focused on dinner tonight.

I put my hand on my chest and answered while trying to hide my agitation.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. Actually, I’ve never seen the festival held at the cathedral in the capital, so I wanted to see it once.”

I smiled desperately like a lady.

I did well to hold back. My heart was still beating fast, but it seemed to have returned to normal somehow.

However, Jeremiah’s surprise attack was devastating. I’ll have to be more careful from now on. Yes, I’ll do that.

Behind my smile, I told myself that.

“That’s good. I’m looking forward to it too,” Jeremiah replied with a smile. He probably saw through my agitation. With no way to resist, I closed my eyes and quietly regulated my breathing.

By the way, the Javier Festival is a celebration of the day when a person who conveyed God’s teachings appeared in this world.

When I was young, I thought it was like Christmas, but at a dinner party, a pastor with memories happened to be invited, so I asked him about it. He answered that it was more like Easter. I don’t really know what that means, but I think it’s completely different now, as it’s in the spring and not the birth of the savior, and there’s no mysterious old man like Santa Claus.

I used to go to the festival held at the church near the Valcourt family’s mansion. One of the pleasures was the special feast made only during that time. However, my father was always busy during that time, so I rarely went to the capital city, and I had never visited the festival here, which is said to be the most magnificent and glamorous.

Moreover, if I can walk with Jeremiah, there is no reason to refuse.

After a while, when my breathing had calmed down, The Duke looked at me and Jeremiah with a smile and said, “That’s right, young man. There are also events suitable for lovers, so I understand why you want to go. I also wanted to go, but Paula refused me with all her might. That was so sad~.”

While saying that, The Duke glanced at Paula, but she was enjoying her drink. She noticed it and ignored it. I felt a little sorry for Duke.

However, he seemed used to it and quickly changed the subject, saying, “Oh, by the way, Jeremiah is with you, so as long as you choose where to go, it should be okay. But the capital has been a bit dangerous lately, so be sure not to go to any dangerous places.”

“Did something happen?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

It’s not that I don’t read the newspaper, but I don’t read it that often. I only read it occasionally to kill time.

The content is difficult to understand, and I don’t understand much about politics. Besides, not much happens in my territory, so there are things that I don’t need to know. Of course, there are things that I should know, so I read it occasionally.

So, even though The Duke told me, I didn’t immediately understand what he was talking about.

“Yeah, there have been a series of small explosion incidents here and there, and some people have been injured. Moreover, it seems that the target is the upper class, such as nobles, bureaucrats, and military personnel. Since there has been no damage to the common people, I think there is no mistake.”

“That seems to be the case. We don’t know the purpose, but it’s better to be cautious. So far, it seems that no ladies have been involved, but we don’t know how the culprit will act in the future.”

In response to The Duke’s worried words, Jeremiah answered.

I was surprised and a little uneasy to hear that such a thing was happening.

“Don’t worry, Lorraine. The police are also working on it, and places where only the upper class can enter are safe.”

“Yes, I hope they catch the culprit soon.”

I answered like that.

There is also a police force in this country. However, the investigation is still relying on circumstantial evidence to identify the culprit, so it is unreliable.

But honestly, I don’t have a real sense of it.

In both my past and present lives, I have never been involved in an incident, and I can’t imagine such a thing happening to me.

“Yeah, I hope so too. Well, after a dark topic, sweet things are a must. I have something special made for tonight.”

The Duke casually changed the subject and called for a servant to bring something special. It was a colorful and beautiful assortment of sweets, and I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.

There were also rare foreign sweets mixed in.

Among them, one caught my eye.

——Isn’t this ohagi (mochi)?

I stared at it, which looked like a small, boiled and mashed bean that was formed into a shape. It was made small so as not to stand out among the other fruit preserves, but it was clearly something eaten during the Higan festival.

“Oh, that’s something one of the servants made to recreate the taste of their hometown, and the chef approved it. Now, please take whatever you like. Tonight’s dessert is made up entirely of things from outside this country.”

“I see. Thank you.”

I decided to try it right away.

I just had to taste it.

It was small enough to fit in one bite. It was a bit odd to have a glass of wine placed next to it, but I chewed on it anyway.

——Hmm, the taste of the beans is a little different, but it’s definitely ohagi.

I already knew that.

It was probably made by one of the servants, likely him. He had red hair and a bright smile. I finished eating it with mixed feelings.

Somehow, I feel like I can’t avoid having some kind of relationship with him while I’m staying here, no matter how much I try to avoid it.

――If that’s the case, I’ll stick with Jeremiah as long as I can. Besides, it seems that I will have a personal servant.

In other words, I just have to avoid meeting him alone.

While thinking that it was troublesome, I enjoyed the other desserts as well.

They were all delicious, and I thought I might get a cavity, but the dinner that night ended happily and peacefully.