Chapter 95

"From what I think──..."

After hearing Lord Zain's thoughts, it seemed that the sounds "pa pi pu pe po" that Haniwa-chan could pronounce were being articulated along the vowels of the words we spoke.

For example, the earlier "pe pi po, po pu po" was apparently interpreted as "Zain, please."

"Is, is that so...?"

Now that he mentioned it, it did seem to fit. I had thought she was combining words like English sentences, following some kind of rule.

"Then, what about the 'pu pi' she often says?"

"I think the most common word with the same pronunciation is 'suki' (like)."

"Really? Haniwa-chan?"

"Pi!"

When I asked, Haniwa-chan nodded with a smile, confirming that this interpretation was correct, and I was moved to tears.

"H-Haniwa-chan...!"

So, the "pu pe po, pu pi!" she often says to me means "Grace, I like you!" It was too adorable.

When I opened my arms to invite her, she immediately flew into my chest, and I hugged her tightly.

"Haniwa-chan, I love you."

"Pi! Pu pi!"

I had always found Haniwa-chan incredibly cute and loved her, but now that we could communicate, she seemed even more precious.

"Do you understand me, Haniwa-chan?"

"Pa pi pa, pe pu!"

"You were saying 'Mariabel,' right? That's wonderful!"

Mariabel clasped her hands, showing how excited she was to talk more.

From then on, I decided to study Haniwa-chan's language more diligently to better understand her feelings.

◇◇◇

On the second day, we toured the tourist spots within the duchy. The duchy was much larger than I had imagined, and it felt like we couldn't see everything even in a week.

The most famous and popular place within the duchy, the flower field, was breathtaking.

Under the large windmill, millions of vibrant flowers were spread out like a carpet.

"...It's really beautiful."

I was so moved by the beauty that I could only manage to say such a common phrase.

Everyone else was also moved, and Haniwa-chan was happily swaying with the flowers.

"The view changes with the seasons. Let's come back and see it again then."

"Yes, I'd love to!"

I felt genuine happiness in making such a casual promise about the future with Lord Zain.

After returning to the ducal mansion and finishing dinner, Lord Zain showed me the library within the mansion to learn about Lady Rosalie, the previous Saint and the former duchess.

Incidentally, I was also having people investigate matters related to the Saint and the movements toward war, alongside my own research.

"Here, you can find records not only of my mother but also of the Winslett ducal family. If anything catches your attention, feel free to read it without any reservations."

"Thank you."

These must be valuable items that no one outside the ducal family would normally be allowed to see. I was delighted that he trusted me enough to grant me this permission.

However, I couldn't find any new information about the Saint or the manifestation of her powers.

On the morning of the third day, after finishing my preparations to go out, I returned to my room to get ready.

When I went to the dining room, Lord Zain and Mariabel were already there.

"Good morning, Lady. Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday, Grace."

"Thank you! I'm so happy."

As soon as we met, they both wished me a happy birthday. Then, the three of us enjoyed an even more luxurious breakfast than the previous day.

I had been thinking this since the first day, but the meals in the duchy were incredibly delicious. There were also many unique dishes specific to the duchy, and I planned to ask for the recipes to add to our dining room menu before leaving.

"Please go on a leisurely date with your brother today. We have a party planned for tonight, so I'll be waiting at the mansion."

"Really? Thank you, I'm looking forward to it."

It had been since childhood that I had a birthday party, and I felt ticklish and happy.

Incidentally, it seems that high-ranking nobles usually throw parties on their birthdays.

"Lady, you enjoyed ruining—participating in social events, but you never held a birthday party for yourself."

So, when I asked Evan, he gave me this answer.

"Why?"

"Because she said there was no point in celebrating her birthday if no one truly wished her a happy birthday."

"......I see."

I remember feeling a strange sensation when I learned that the original Grace had such a side.

After enjoying a delightful breakfast, Lord Zain and I went on a ride together.

Sitting in front of Lord Zain, we rode the horse together under the clear blue sky, slowly walking through the refreshing green meadow.

The scent of the bluish grass tickled my nose, and the gentle wind caressed my cheeks. It was so quiet that the only sounds were the chirping of birds and the rustling of the grass and trees.

"It's very comfortable."

"The view is also great today, so you can see the scenery clearly."

Thanks to the clear sky, we could see the distant mountains, and everything around us was so beautiful that I wanted to take a photo to remember it.

However, while I was thoroughly enjoying myself, Lord Zain had a concerned look on his face.

"Is it really okay to spend your birthday like this?"

"Yes. I've been wanting to do this with you, so I'm very happy."

Actually, it was all my request. I had always dreamed of having a leisurely picnic with my lover on a sunny day, even in my previous life.

It doesn't cost much, and I still think it's the best date.

And actually, enjoying the peaceful scenery and spending time with Lord Zain, talking about trivial things without worrying about the time, was even more fun and happy than I had imagined.