episode_0095

“Heue…”

A maid who had shared joys and sorrows with me for roughly 8 years broke down.

It was because I had spoken too strongly.

It’s not like I said something I didn’t mean.

In my heart, I had hoped for a slight misunderstanding, but there’s a limit to everything, and I got carried away by the atmosphere and tap-danced on the line.

It was about 0.5 drunk confession levels of ugliness.

I don’t regret the act of scattering meaningful words, but it created a slight discomfort.

“……”

Since this morning, Emily’s spirit, which had drifted far away, hasn’t returned.

“Emily.”

“……”

She doesn’t respond when called, and all the work that Emily, as a maid, should be doing has stopped.

She does react when touched, but the moment she makes eye contact with me, she just freezes.

This is really troublesome.

It doesn’t seem like anything I do will bring her back, so I just sat her in my room and left her alone.

Saying I left her alone sounds a bit strange.

Right, I gave her time to sort out her thoughts.

“It seems like you’ve been wandering around alone a lot lately, did something happen with Emily?”

“There was a minor happening, she’ll be back to normal soon.”

“I see…”

The two of us, who used to stick together like glue, suddenly acting separately was taken very seriously by those around us, but I didn’t pay much attention since it would be back to normal soon.

“I’m worried in many ways, is the eve festival preparation finished?”

“Yes, it’s almost done.”

“Tell me in detail.”

“I’ve adjusted the schedule with Princess Elizabeth, and I’ve checked the outfits and routes, and I’ve also prepared an outfit for Emily suitable for the banquet.”

“Even for Emily?”

My mother, who had been listening absentmindedly, widened her eyes and put down the teacup she was about to pick up.

“You did it yourself?”

“Yes, I’m trying to show off for the first time, so Emily can’t look shabby, Emily has to shine with me.”

“Heo…”

As I nodded with a confident smile, my mother stared blankly at me for a while with her lips parted.

“…You did really well, I was going to take care of it for you, but you did it, so you’re growing up too.”

“Haha.”

I wondered if I deserved to be told I was growing up just for taking care of Emily a little, whom I’ve been with for a long time, but my mother looked happy, so I just laughed it off.

“I’m relieved that you seem to be preparing well.”

“I can do this much at least.”

“I don’t know why someone who can do it hasn’t done it until now, this mother was worried sick without knowing.”

“……”

It seemed like a good atmosphere, but suddenly nagging came crashing in.

Is this why you bothered to call me when you’re so busy with the founding anniversary?

How little did you trust me that you bothered to call me during your busy schedule to forcibly arrange tea time?

I was a little sad.

I really prepared sincerely this time…

“Did you… call me to nag today?”

“Of course not, I just checked it while I called you.”

“Then what was the original purpose?”

“Our family’s schedule has changed a bit for the eve festival, I called you to let you know.”

“Suddenly?”

It’s two days before?

I concentrated on my mother’s words, putting the pout that had sprung out of my disappointment back in.

“Only you and Hayes will be attending this year’s eve festival.”

“Originally, my brother was supposed to attend with us.”

“That’s right, but the situation has changed a bit, so Edward had no choice but to reverse his attendance at the eve festival.”

“Hmm…”

It’s not an event held on the founding anniversary itself, and it’s okay to skip the eve festival.

Because the eve festival is a banquet and social party for young people.

All nobles attend the event on the founding anniversary, but there is no suitable place to gather everyone, including those in the later banquets.

Does an empire as powerful as the Empire can’t hold such a banquet?

If you gather people with titles, their spouses, children, and staff, the number reaches up to ten thousand.

At that level, it’s possible to gather like chickens, but it’s impossible to eat, drink, and dance.

A banquet is not a concert hall.

So, the eve festival started when young people without titles or unmarried people started having two banquets to play among themselves.

It also provides a place to find marriage partners.

So, my brother, who is a Count (Junior) and married, can attend or not attend, unlike me.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to suddenly change your mind after saying you would attend.

Not even weeks ago. Changing the schedule suddenly two days before?

Then that means there must be a good reason.

“Is sister-in-law sick?”

If my brother, who is a model citizen, suddenly changed his mind, I couldn’t think of anything other than my sister-in-law.

“That’s not it, so don’t worry.”

“Hmm…?”

However, I tilted my head and frowned as my mother immediately shook her head, saying it wasn’t because of my sister-in-law.

“The late Duke of Devonshire and the second and third sons of the Duke of Devonshire will be attending this year’s eve festival.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes.”

“Whoa…”

All three were not people who would show up in a playground for kids.

Not to mention that grandfather, and his grandsons, who are the children of the current Duke of Devonshire, are also nobles with titles.

First of all, I know that the Duke’s third son is 10 years older than me.

A nine-year-old child is a bonus.

Well… I could generously understand the second or third son.

But how old is that grandfather, and he’s actually participating in the eve festival.

There’s a limit to being pathetic.

“It’s shocking enough, but is that the reason why my brother is not attending?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

If that’s the reason why my brother is not attending, shouldn’t my brother be there with me?

You want me to handle those three and their followers alone?

My mother pointed to the ceiling with her finger and said.

“The higher-ups want a slightly more dramatic situation, it seems they want to do some weeding while that old man is overdoing it.”

“Tsk…”

I clicked my tongue and moved my eyes anxiously.

Isn’t my role too important to be called weeding?

Are they leaving me alone to teach me a lesson because I’ve been too cocky lately?

Princess Elizabeth is there, so maybe not…

“Well, I’ll give it a try.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing for mother to be sorry about, I mostly brought it on myself.”

“No matter what, what kind of parent would want to watch their child jump into a den of vipers.”

“I need to relieve some of mother’s worries, so I need to show you a dignified figure this time.”

“Only good with your mouth…”

As I spread my shoulders and raised one corner of my mouth, showing confidence that had no basis whatsoever, my mother glared at me but smiled.

If you’re facing a big event that you can’t avoid, it’s better to look confident than discouraged.

“You’re a smart child, so I think you’ll do well on your own, but don’t get excited there, and never act first.”

“Yes.”

“Take good care of Hayes who is attending with you, and manage your expression well while you’re in the hall, it’s best to have a soft smile, but if you’re going to laugh like an idiot, it’s better to be expressionless, oh, and don’t forget to take care of Emily.”

“Yes.”

Of course, having a good appearance and worrying are separate issues, so my mother said that I would do well on my own, but she listed a series of precautions for me.

Most of the contents were things that I had heard so much since I was young that I already knew them all, but I listened quietly without complaining.

If I said something for no reason, I would get twice the nagging, so it’s quicker to pretend to listen seriously and just skip over it.

“Always pay attention to your clothes and don’t just hang out in the corner.”

“Yes.”

But when will this end…?

“Don’t drink more than two glasses of alcohol, and…”

“Yes…”

I think I’ve heard about 50 precautions, but my mother kept moving her mouth and took out new precautions like a cornucopia.

“Are you listening properly?”

“Of course!”

When my eyes became blurred, my mother glared at me sharply to check my concentration, so I smiled and nodded quickly.

Haa…

Will this end in an hour or two…?

_

“Ugh…”

My mother’s nagging continued like a marathon, not just an hour or two, and ended just before dinner.

It could have continued while skipping dinner, but thanks to my brother who intruded, saying, “Shouldn’t we still have dinner?”, it was able to end.

I deeply felt that a high-ranking noble is not a high-ranking noble for nothing.

“Ah, that, young master, have you had dinner?”

“I did, did you?”

“I, I did too.”

Fortunately, Emily had recovered a lot while I was caught by my mother and listened to boring noble etiquette lessons.

“……”

Of course, silence came immediately after the short conversation, but it was a great improvement compared to the morning when she couldn’t do anything.

And this will also gradually improve as you act naturally.

So, I gave Emily, who was standing awkwardly, a light smile and headed to my desk.

“Young master.”

Just as I was about to pass by Emily, Emily gently grabbed my sleeve and called me in a low voice.

“Why?”

“Thank you.”

A thank you popped out of Emily’s mouth.

I was embarrassed to hear it when I hadn’t done anything.

“Uh… um… for what?”

“I don’t think I properly thanked you this morning, so I thought I should tell you now…”

I think I did…

Could it be because I didn’t thank her separately for the clothes and the necklace?

“Oh, it’s nothing, don’t feel too pressured.”

“I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t feel pressured by rubies.”

“Hmm…”

It was common to give rewards to exclusive servants.

My mother often gives jewelry or clothes to her exclusive maids and servants.

But seeing Emily’s reaction, it seems I’ve been negligent in taking care of my servants.

There was a reason why my mother was so surprised.

“If you’re so worried about it, you can spend your whole life repaying me by my side.”

While promising to take care of her more in the future, I smiled and made a light joke to ease Emily’s burden.

Close friends exchange these kinds of jokes sometimes, right?

So I threw it without thinking.

“……”

Emily took it too seriously.

Her face flushed red in an instant, and her shoulders trembled, so it was clear that she took it in a very meaningful way.

She was barely fixed, what if she breaks down again?

“Young master.”

As I was looking at Emily worriedly, Emily opened her mouth, making eye contact with eyes full of resentment.

“Yeah.”

“Ah… from now on, such remarks are prohibited…”

“Okay.”

Fortunately, instead of Emily breaking down, it ended with adding a new taboo following ‘not staying up all night’.

I should get into the habit of thinking and speaking deeply for the time being.