My daily routine on days when I didn’t go out was peaceful.
It was still difficult to get up early in the morning. But I work in the office, eat lunch in the afternoon, and have tea time in the greenhouse.
It was a peaceful routine with nothing special.
Today, as always, I had tea time in the greenhouse filled with the subtle scent of lilies.
Just watching the pure white flowers in full bloom made me feel better.
When I was in the greenhouse, I wanted to have as much alone time as possible, so Lasha didn’t come into the greenhouse.
After preparing tea and dessert, she waits outside until I leave the greenhouse.
I was a little sorry for her, but my time in the greenhouse was a time of commitment and reflection for me.
“Ummm… … I did too much yesterday.”
It was only natural that heat rose on my face just thinking about it.
“It’s my body…… But it isn’t easy, is it?”
I blamed and reflected on myself.
Yesterday wasn’t the only time Edlade showed interest in me.
It was the same in the garden, at the ball, and on the day it rained.
“I think our personality has changed a bit.”
He was a person who hated contact with others and didn’t care.
So for two years before I knew him in my last life, I hid myself shaking every time I encountered him.
In fact, when they met by chance, he would stare at me with ferocious eyes, kick their tongues and turn their backs away.
“Um, it’s definitely the same person, but it’s just like a different person. Nothing has changed for Ed.”
There is a change.
That he doesn’t remember me.
But anyway, we met for the first time on the day of the wedding, and the relationship started from then, so what’s the big difference?
There was no reason for Edlade to change.
“It’s harder than I thought.”
Like yesterday, it was difficult for him to show unexpected behavior or show interest.
My small plan of only sneaking a glimpse at his face once a day had gone awry. To be honest, that plan didn’t go well.
“I couldn’t be so greedy.”
I think once a day was too much of greed.
Yeah, let’s do it once a week.
I will try to talk to him only once a week.
The mind was always a problem that was hard to understand and hard to find answers to.
There are many things to do, but Edlade was different every day.
It is not right to flinch and shake at each reaction, but I sighed because my body and mind were too honest.
I rested my cheek against the cold marble table. The heat that had risen cooled down a bit.
“… … It was great though.”
Hehe. The smile was the conclusion.
When I thought it was complicated, the answer at the end was always the same.
Just something good.
“Why are you grinning alone? Are you crazy?”
It was a young, rather childish voice.
Surprised, I got up from the table.
When I was in the greenhouse, Lasha prevented everyone from entering.
The hostess is relaxing, but who dares to come in?
After the ball, there was a rumor that Edlade had become a little interested in me, so the people in the mansion treated me with care.
Of course, as Lasha said, it’s thanks to Halbert’s one-time fuss.
“Ha! Is this really the hostess of Philemon?”
He was wearing a dark navy blue robe and looked at me piteously with his arms crossed on his chest.
An enemy who is harsh enough to hurt your skin.
I know that I am extremely sensitive to the negative emotions of others.
‘He doesn’t like me, does he?’
I don’t have to be smart to understand this.
I stared at the boy who spoke harshly without hiding his hostility.
The emblem of the Philemon family was engraved on the left chest of the dark blue robe, and the pattern next to it was a white tower.
‘The pattern of the tower, then this child… … He is Archeus.’
It reminded me of Halbert’s words.
I didn’t think Archeus could be so young because he was a wizard of the family.
I was a little surprised to see the boy who is yet to grow up.
“What are you looking at like that? I don’t think it’s because the hostess doesn’t recognize me, right?”
The attitude of holding his chin and speaking arrogantly was certainly rude.
I quietly recalled the memories of him.
“Are you Archeus?”
I asked with a soft smile.
“Huh! I didn’t recognize you as Your Excellency’s wife! Of course, the hostess of the family is no less!”
“Of course.”
I readily agreed with what he said.
I slowly pulled out the chair so he could sit down, and Archeus looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“The Philemon family is a prestigious noble family with over a thousand years of history since the founding of the country. If the hostess of such a family is someone like you, I would be against it.”
“Well, I’m glad you know the subject!”
Talking bluntly, Archeus sat in his chair.
Still, he looked like a little boy with his chin raised in an arrogant posture.
Archeus was a wizard who was taken care of by Edlade since he was a child, and he grew up and lived up to Edlade’s expectations.
To that extent, he was a pride of the family, and his loyalty to Edlade was unquestioned.
“Would you like to eat this?”
Chef Hans made this dessert, especially for me, who likes sweets.
It was a panna cotta made of whipped cream and sugar and had a sweet taste without adding syrup.
The dessert, also called sweet pudding, was one of my favorites.
It was more delicious if you served it with cranberries or chocolate toppings, Even Lasha swallowed her spit with her eyes shining.
‘I had never met Archeus in person in my previous life, but… ….’
I often heard it through stories.
I hadn’t met Archeus before. When I asked Edlade about him, he had said,
‘Archeus? Innate genius. He is blessed with talent. He is a pitiful boy but Halbert doesn’t like him. Oh, he likes sweet food like you, so maybe you two can get along with each other.’
As Edlade said, Archeus still had an irritated face, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the sweet pudding I offered to him.
Even in a greenhouse with a faint scent of lilies, the sweet smell of the pudding made my tongue salivate to the point that I couldn’t stand it.
I thought it was lucky that I hadn’t touched it yet because I was thinking deeply.
“Panna Cotta… … No, it would be more convenient to call it sweet pudding. It’s okay to eat.”
“Who is eating?!”
“Is there any reason not to eat?”
Archeus shut his mouth.
The way he looked at me with his eyes wide open seemed like he was looking for a reason not to eat.
“Have you looked at Edlade’s body?”
“Don’t call Your Excellency’s name!”
“But you aren’t Edlade, are you?”
“You don’t have the qualifications to call him by his first name……!”
“As long as he has given me permission.”
“He couldn’t have allowed it!”
I put my arms up on the table and looked at him with my chin in my hand.
‘Maybe he is 15 now?’
He was a little tall for his age.
He didn’t look like he had any muscles, but his slender body and raised eyebrows matched his arrogant personality.
With a common expression.
He was like a cat with its tail tight and claws out as if someone was going to take its owner away.
“What should I do?”
“… ….”
“He gave me permission.”
As I answered with a laugh, Archeus’s face crumpled.
I could even hear the sound of grinding teeth.
I didn’t do anything and I don’t know why he was so angry.
This time, I pushed the plate of pudding in front of him.
“Shall we talk while we eat?”
“Who’s talking to you?”
“Then think about it as you eat. I’m not going to ask about why you came here.”
Archeus, who was contemplating something with a distorted expression on his face, kicked the table.
“Ugh!”
Unfortunately, the table was made of marble, and it was his feet that hurt.
“This is real!”
“… … I didn’t do anything.”
He was a very young child who could not stand the anger of his own. So he was kicking and got angry at me.
You’re rude and you talk harshly. Surely… … Halbert would hate it.’
I felt fortunate that there was no one around.
It was not good to know that the vassal had spoken in this way to the hostess who had properly wed into the family.
I was insulted with nonsense, but Archeus could not escape punishment.
It was already wrong to speak informally in the first place, but it seemed unnecessary to tell Edlade.
‘I’ll have to bear with it once…’
He may hate me because I was like a slave to the Rayburn family and suddenly became the hostess.
Even if it was me, I would have done the same.
That’s why I easily affirmed Archeus’s words.
Cause I’m not worth it.
In the end, the Philemon family collapsed because of me in the past.
But I can’t protect it with such a weak heart.
“Don’t pretend to be naive! Do you think I don’t know that you’re a mole from the Rayburn family? Who do you think will believe you when you are interfering with your Excellency’s work? No one in the Philemon family welcomes you!”
“… ….”
“Does the blood of a slave who was not recognized even by that family dares to pretend to be the Philemon family hostess? Fortunately, he doesn’t remember that he is married to a woman like you!”
The bitter words of Archeus, pouring out like fire, stung my heart as if it had been pricked by a needle.
Those were terrible words. Halbert said it was fine, but it was certainly not fine to hear it this way.
He hesitated for a moment as to what to say.
“I hate you!”
At the last words of Archeus, he lowered his arms.
After pouring it out for a while, he smiled as he raised the corner of his mouth with a refreshing expression.
It looked just like the smile of a victor in a fight.
He’s really young. This child did not see me as the hostess and duchess of the family.
He was denying my existence, so he could say something like this.
“I never asked you to like me.”
I slowly rose from my seat.
I’ll have to ask Hans to make the sweet pudding again later and send it to his room.
I looked at Archeus with such a leisurely thought.
Archeus, who was growing, was a hand larger than me when I stood up.
“I never asked you to admit it.”
“… … What?”
“It doesn’t matter what you say.”
“… … .”
“But please stop saying that.”
“…… Ha!”
“If someone hears it, it’s not the face of the family. Do you want Edlade’s to lose face?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Archeus. No matter what you say……”
“…….”
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Slowly, I placed my hand on Archeus’s shoulder.
He flinched but didn’t avoid it.
He was trying not to lose.
“I will never leave Edlade’s side.”
I smiled softly and patted his shoulder.