CH 42

Karina tried to pretend to be puzzled. Actually, she was a little dumbfounded.

‘His action is faster than I thought.’

She did her best to advise Claude, but she didn’t expect that he would immediately follow what she had said. It was only a few days ago that he knew Astrid.

On the other hand, Claude and Astrid’s relationship has steadily deteriorated over the past seven years. Karina isn’t a fool to believe that a few words can fix everything.

“The trade carriage is leaving for Edmoor soon, and he asked if there was anything I wanted.”

“Is there anything you would like to have?”

“When I told him I didn’t have one, he asked if there’s a craftsman I like living in Edmoor!”

Astrid continued eagerly with an energetic voice.

“Mrs. Bloe surely must have told him that. Right?”

Karina hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Well… seemed like it was. But if he said that because I told him, why do you thank me?”

Astrid’s eyes widened.

“Well, I’m happy enough just to hear that.”

She was out of breath. Astrid’s voice had a pure tone that reminded her of some old memories. Karina looked at Astrid with a smile.

A girl who was adopted by the Duke as a baby and lived her whole life surrounded by wealth and power that she could never imagine.

However, Astrid was delighted with the small attention shown by her only family to a third party. Karina fully understood her feelings.

‘When I was young… I was alone.’

When Karina was a child, she hung on to the attention and love of her mother, her only family. However, she never gave her a glance until the end and went away.

“So I came here to say thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for this, Miss Astrid.”

“I’m still grateful. You don’t like it?”

Astrid tilted her head in an earnest voice.

“Or… Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, I’m not.”

Karina smiled, trying to reassure the girl.

“I was just a little surprised because I didn’t think you would come to see me in person like this.”

“If Mrs. Bloe is uncomfortable, I won’t go into the annex.”

Before Karina could even open her mouth that she wasn’t uncomfortable, Astrid quickly continued.

“Andrea, show them the present.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Andrea walked a few steps forward with a sullen face. She had a large box in her hand that looked quite heavy.

“Open it.”

Astrid ordered. Karina paused for a moment and opened the box only when it was clear that it was an order directed to her.

“Ah…”

Exclamations flowed out of her mouth. The box was filled with all sorts of toys that would keep the children’s eyes occupied.

“These are the things I used to play with.”

“Are you borrowing it for us? Thank you. The kids will be having a fun time.”

“…Borrowing it.”

Astrid shook her head.

“Obviously I’m just giving it to you. I’m too old to play with these things.”

Karina couldn’t help but laugh.

“Miss Astrid is currently only 12 years old…”

“How rude. How dare you say that to the Princess.”

Andrea firmly interrupted Karina. Karina snorted.

“Is Tors’ law different from Empire’s law? Do you come of age at 12 instead of 20 in Tors?”

“…”

Andrea frowned and didn’t say anything. Karina received the box from Andrea.

‘Oh wow.’

The box full of expensive toys was quite heavy. Still, thinking that the children would like it, a smile came to her face.

“Miss Astrid, would you like to come in for a moment and have a drink?”

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Astrid’s face brightened in an instant.

“Still, can I?”

“Of course.”

After a while. Roland and Melissa cheered and looked into the toy.

“Really… Can we play with it?”

“Yeah. The Princess gave it to you.”

“Thank you!”

Roland immediately greeted Astrid, but Melissa just bowed her head in silence. Fortunately, Astrid didn’t seem to be offended about the fact. Rather…

“Melissa, do you know how to move this?”

It’s hard to explain while holding a complicated carriage model. Melissa only shook her head. Astrid eagerly lowered the spring behind the carriage model to the floor with a trembling expression on her face.

“Ah…!”

Cheers came out of Melissa and Roland’s mouths.

The carriage model began to go straight, making a rattling sound like a real horse-drawn carriage.

“Is there anything else like this?”

Suddenly, Melissa’s cheeks had turned red.

“Of course.”

Astrid joyfully operated the toy. Karina smiled happily as she watched the scene, and then suddenly her eyes met Andrea.

Astrid triumphantly operated the toy. Karina smiled happily as she watched the scene, and then suddenly her eyes met Andrea.

Andrea was still unhappy, but she couldn’t hide the corners of her lips that kept going up.

It was about time for Karina to recommend Andrea a chair, who seemed uncomfortable standing all this time. The doorbell rang.

‘No way, again…?’

Karina opened the door, trying to calm her failing heart.

“…!”

Karina’s eyes widened. Wilder, who she had never seen since urgently evacuating to the Duke’s residence with her children, stood there. As he frowned at the sunlight, he shook Karina’s hand vigorously.

“I was worried there would be a return note, but I’m glad you looked fine.”

Even his sarcastic tone was welcome, it made her smile. Above all, Wilder was no less than the benefactor who gave Karina a place in Tors.

“Thanks to Your Grace the Duke, I’m perfectly fine. How have you been Sir Wilder?”

“I couldn’t have been well.”

Wilder grumbled.

“I’ve been half-locked in that damn house, and it was so frustrating that my backache.”

“Sir Wilder, are you also living in the Duke’s residence?”

“No way.”

Wilder strode inside.

“Hello, Sir Wilder.”

“Good to see you, Wilder”

The children and Astrid saw Wilder and greeted him. Wilder looked surprised at Astrid and soon replied while shaking his head.

“You all are very energetic. This old man will go up to the second floor to avoid disturbing young people like you.”

Wilder naturally went up to the second floor as if the annex was his own. Karina saw him peering through the structure of the house and thought that he must have stayed in the annex at one time too.

“It’s a nice house.”

“Yes, I don’t think I deserve it’s enough.”

“That’s a good posture. I feel sorry when it’s time to go back.”

Karina waited until the children’s chatter and play completely disappeared before opening her mouth.

“What’s going on?”

“Just to say hello… I don’t think you’d believe it.”

“Of course.”

Karina replied softly.

“You know. I don’t like to beat around the bush.”

Wilder narrowed his eyes and looked at Karina.

“Lady, the culprit is in Tors.”

“…!”

Karina’s eyes widened. Meanwhile, she hasn’t heard a word about the progress of the case.

She had no complaints because she herself refused, but it was true that her ears were wide open when she heard it.

“And I need your help to catch him.”