Chapter 20

A few days after my first social party as a duchess.

I received many invitations to tea parties and the like.

Most of them were from high-ranking noble families such as marquises and earls. They were all well-known noble families, truly impressive.

I have to carefully choose which tea parties to attend from these invitations. Since I just made my debut in society as a duchess, everyone probably wants to meet me.

It looks like I'll be busy.

But for now, I need to focus on what's in front of me.

That is...

"Rebecca, you're doing well."

"Ah, thank you!"

Rebecca and I are working together to make sweets.

Today, we're making donuts. Since it's mostly about mixing the ingredients, I can do it with Rebecca.

I'll have to fry them at the end, which is dangerous, so I'll do that part.

Pancakes would have been good too, but making donuts is fun because you can shape them yourself. You can make a hole in the middle or not.

"Miss Sophie, is this shape okay?"

"Yes, it's fine. Is this a rabbit?"

"Yes!"

The donut has ear-like shapes attached, without a hole in the middle.

I have to be careful when frying so they don't break off.

I need to be careful not to upset Rebecca.

After frying all the donuts, the ears didn't break off.

Next, we're decorating the donuts with chocolate and other toppings.

"Rebecca, are these the rabbit's eyes?"

"Yes! They're so cute!"

"Yes, they are cute."

Rebecca, who is happy making rabbits, is even cuter!

I want to shout it out loud, but I hold back.

The cooks in the kitchen are also looking at us and trembling, so maybe they're holding back too.

After finishing the cooking, we move to the main house's garden.

Since the weather is nice today, we decided to have tea in the garden.

The maids prepare everything, and Rebecca and I enjoy the donuts we made together.

"Mm, they're delicious."

"Yes, they're delicious! Miss Sophie's cooking is amazing..."

"Thanks to Rebecca's help."

They're delicious, and Rebecca looks so happy eating them.

It's such a happy atmosphere.

While chatting with Rebecca and eating the donuts, her hand stopped.

"Are you full?"

"Ah, no, that's not it..."

"Then what's wrong?"

The only one left is the rabbit donut that Rebecca put the most effort into.

If she's not full, why isn't she eating it?

"I feel sorry for eating the rabbit donut..."

"...Hehe, I see."

It's such a cute reason for hesitating.

But, it's important to her.

"Rebecca, if you don't eat it, you'll waste the ingredients, and that's even more pitiful."

"Yes, you're right."

"Yes. Besides, we can make them again, so it's okay."

"Ah, yes! I want to make them again with you!"

"Me too."

"Yes... then, I'll eat the rabbit."

She bows to the rabbit donut and hesitantly takes a bite.

At first, she looked guilty, but after eating, she looks happy.

Sigh, she's so cute...!

Just looking at Rebecca makes me feel refreshed.

I hope this helps her feel refreshed too...

"Rebecca, how's your recent study going?"

"Yes, I think the academic part is going well, but... magic is still difficult."

"Recently, you've been practicing magic a lot, haven't you?"

"Yes, because... I caused Miss Sophie to be in danger before."

"I'm fine, so you don't need to worry."

"No, it was because I was inexperienced, so I want to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Since Rebecca lost control of her magic and hit me before, she has been practicing a lot.

That's good, but I think she's overdoing it a bit.

I hired a magic teacher, and he said, "Lady Rebecca has a wonderful talent."

So, she should be able to learn normally, but Rebecca practices in secret on her own.

When I went to her room before, her desk was covered with magic books.

She's probably studying and practicing magic in her room.

"Try your best, but don't overdo it."

"Yes, I understand."

Rebecca nods seriously.

Is she really okay?

"Sophie, Rebecca."

Called from behind, I turn around to see Alan.

"Alan, are you back now?"

"Yes, I finished work early today."

He came to see us in the garden after returning home.

Behind Alan is the butler, Neo.

"Welcome back, Master Alan."

"Yes, I'm back, Rebecca."

Rebecca still seems nervous when talking to Alan, but this exchange feels like a family.

"Hmm, did you make these sweets again?"

"Yes, Rebecca and I made them together."

"They're really delicious! Master Alan, would you like to try...?"

Rebecca looks up at Alan with hopeful eyes.

After a moment's hesitation, Alan nods.

"Yes, can I have one?"

"Yes!"

"Of course."

As we nod, Neo brings a chair for Alan.

As expected, he's efficient.

Alan sits in the chair Neo brought, takes a donut, and takes a bite.

"...They're delicious, as always."

"Right? Miss Sophie's sweets are really delicious!"

When it comes to sweets, Rebecca becomes very talkative, even with Alan, which is so cute.

I'm also relieved that Alan said they were delicious.

He said he doesn't like sweets, but he says our sweets are delicious.

He says it's not just flattery, so I don't understand why he finds them delicious.

But seeing Alan eat the sweets I made, with a slight smile and closed eyes, is... well, it's a bit embarrassing, but I'm happy.

"Sophie, have you received any invitations to tea parties?"

"Yes, I've received so many that I can't keep track."

"I see. It might be troublesome, but accept a few. Also, there are some dinners I need to attend with you, so I'll let you know the schedule later."

"Understood."

It looks like I'll be busy...

And who will be at the dinners I have to attend with Alan?

Could it be the king...? No, that's probably not it.

I'm happy to have tea with Rebecca, but I can't just do that.

I have to do my job as a duchess.

"I think the next few weeks will be busy with meetings, but after that, you don't have to force yourself to attend tea parties or social events."

"Understood. I'll do my best not to tarnish the name of the duchy."

"That's not necessary. I'm sure you'll do fine, Sophie."

"Thank you."

Alan says that, but I'll try not to be complacent.

But if I spend a lot of time in society, I won't be able to check on Rebecca's studies.

"Rebecca, I'll be a bit busy, so I won't be able to check on your studies. Is that okay?"

"Yes, it's fine! I'll study hard!"

"Yes, I'm not worried about that at all..."

Rebecca is serious, so she won't slack off even if I'm not there.

On the contrary, I'm worried she'll overdo it.

Even now, I sometimes have to stop her from studying too much.

"Don't overdo it, Rebecca."

"Yes, thank you for your concern."

Rebecca smiles and says this happily.

When we first met, she rarely smiled, but now she smiles like a normal child.

To see Rebecca's smile, I have to work hard in society too.

【Request from the Author】

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