Chapter 3

"Ah, a-ano..."

Miss Rebecca looked up at me with an anxious expression and spoke.

"I'm sorry, I showed you such an embarrassing sight."

"I-It's not like that at all..."

"Then let's have lunch together?"

"Is that really okay? I can eat lunch... and besides, dance practice hasn't ended yet..."

Despite her obvious anxiety, I could sense a hint of hope in her eyes. I tried to give her a gentle smile as I spoke.

"It's fine, it's important to eat well and stay healthy. Besides, if you always skip lunch, you must be hungry, right?"

"N-No, I'm not particularly hungry..."

Before Miss Rebecca could finish speaking, a cute rumbling sound came from her stomach.

Instantly, Miss Rebecca's face turned pale as she clutched her stomach.

"I-I'm so sorry! I made my stomach growl, how embarrassing...!"

Seeing her hurriedly apologize with a pale face, my anger towards Lady Nerville, the former governess, flared up again.

A ten-year-old girl shouldn't be embarrassed by a growling stomach; she shouldn't even be apologizing with a pale face.

What kind of education would make her react like this?

I impulsively fired her, but I'm glad I did.

I knelt down to meet her eye level and gently stroked her head.

She flinched when I reached out, but as I started to stroke her head, she looked at me with a curious expression.

"It's okay, I'm not angry at all."

"Y-You're not angry?"

"Yes, in fact, I find it endearing, and it makes me smile."

I deliberately lifted the corners of my mouth with my index fingers and said, "See, it's like this."

"Miss Rebecca's tummy rumbles made my smile so wide."

"...H-Haha."

Seeing my forced smile, Miss Rebecca couldn't help but laugh.

What an adorable smile...!

I'll definitely change the fate of this cute girl, who is destined for destruction.

"Let's eat together, okay? Huh?"

Holding her hand gently, I asked, and she replied hesitantly, "Y-Yes."

"Then let's go. Maid, please prepare lunch for Miss Rebecca and me. I'll be eating in the dining room of this annex as well."

"Understood."

After addressing the maid, I led Miss Rebecca to the dining room by her hand.

At first, her hand was completely limp, but it gradually tightened a little.

Looking at Miss Rebecca, she was looking up at me with a worried expression... and her upward glance was so incredibly cute that my heart ached.

"Miss Rebecca, do you have any favorite dishes? Is there anything you want to eat?"

"U-Uh, I don't know... I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize, Miss Rebecca. If you don't know what you like yet, you can discover it as you go."

"Y-Yes."

We walked hand in hand and sat down at the dining table.

Normally, we would sit across from each other, but since it's a ducal family, the table is very large.

If we sat across from each other, it would be too far, so I sat next to Miss Rebecca.

"A-Are we supposed to sit like this? Shouldn't we sit across from each other?"

Miss Rebecca, who has already learned table manners, asked curiously.

"Indeed, but we're family, so it's fine."

"F-Family...?"

"Yes, family."

Miss Rebecca looked at me with surprise.

She has never experienced the love of a family.

But from now on, I intend to love her deeply.

Soon, lunch was brought in one after another.

I thought I might have caused trouble to the chef by suddenly saying I would eat here, but the food was beautifully presented and delicious.

As expected of a ducal family, they hire only the best... except for the governess.

I need to ask Lord Alan why he hired such a governess.

While thinking about this, I noticed that Miss Rebecca had stopped eating.

There was still quite a bit left...

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, there's a bit more than usual..."

"Can't you eat anymore?"

"N-No, I can eat, but... is it okay to eat this much?"

I see, Miss Rebecca has been on a strict diet, so she feels guilty about eating.

"It's fine, eat as much as you want. Do you have any favorites?"

"U-Uh, they're all so delicious, I like them all!"

Oh, Miss Rebecca's innocent smile is so cute...!

The maids and butlers around us also seemed to be smiling warmly.

Earlier, during the practice, they had frowned or looked away.

They must have wanted to stop it but couldn't because of their position.

I'm glad the staff seems to be good people.

The lunch was quite substantial, but Miss Rebecca managed to finish it all.

It's good that she ate a lot, being ten and in her growing years.

"Was it delicious?"

"Yes, it was very delicious!"

Miss Rebecca's adorable smile.

It's the best smile of the day; food really does make people happy.

"What do you have planned for the rest of the day?"

"U-Uh, after this, it's a lecture... f-fa."

Oh, a cute yawn. Did she get sleepy from eating so much?

Just as I thought this, Miss Rebecca's face turned pale again in a hurry.

"I-I'm so sorry! I made such an improper gesture...!"

Her apologetic face seemed so out of place after the adorable smile she had just shown.

I couldn't bear to see that expression anymore and hugged her from the side.

"E-Eh, Lady Sophie...?"

"There's no one here to scold you. So don't apologize so much."

I lifted her up while still hugging her.

Even I, who am not particularly strong, could easily lift her due to her light weight.

I need to make sure she eats more from now on.

"Let's take a nap today. Since the governess is gone, it's fine."

"Eh, a nap?"

"Yes, you must be sleepy, right?"

"W-Well, um..."

"I'd be happy if you could be honest with me."

"...Yes, I was studying late last night."

"Late last night too?"

I repeated it without thinking.

"Oh, it's my fault. I can't always get perfect scores on tests..."

"It's fine, it's okay."

Hearing her story made me angry.

I'm not angry at Miss Rebecca, but I need to make sure she understands that.

"Where is her room? Please show me."

"This way, please."

The maid immediately opened the dining room door and led the way.

"Miss Sophie, I can walk by myself...!"

"It's fine, Miss Rebecca is light. Just stay in my arms."

"But..."

"Miss Rebecca, it's okay to be pampered."

"Be... pampered?"

She looked at me with surprise, her long, beautiful eyelashes making her even cuter.

"Yes, Miss Rebecca is still young, so it's okay to be pampered."

"R-Really?"

"Yes, of course."

Miss Rebecca has never been loved by her parents and has been subjected to strict education since coming to the ducal family.

She might have never been pampered in her life.

So I need to pamper her and change her fate of being executed.

"Miss Rebecca, you need to wrap your arms around my neck for safety."

"Y-Yes."

"Hehe, you're such a good girl."

Miss Rebecca hugged me tightly, and I could feel her warmth.

It seemed she could feel it too.

"It's warm."

"Yes, it is. It's a comforting warmth."

"Comforting... Yes, it's very comforting."

Her voice, which had been tense earlier, now sounded a bit relaxed.

Sigh, even her voice is so cute...!

Thinking about this, I headed to Miss Rebecca's room.

When the maid opened the bedroom door, it was a very luxurious room.

But there were many books and papers on the desk, indicating that she had been studying there.

I'll have to separate her bedroom and study room later; otherwise, she won't be able to relax and sleep.

I gently laid Miss Rebecca on the bed.

"Ahh..."

When I let go, I heard a small, sad voice from Miss Rebecca.

Oh, she's so cute.

"Thank you for carrying me, Lady Sophie."

"Yes, let's take a nap together."

"R-Really? But it's still the middle of the day..."

"You worked hard until late last night, so it's fine. Besides, if you don't rest, you'll get sick."

We got into the bed and lay down on our sides, facing each other.

The room was dim, with only a faint light from the bedside lamp.

The light was just enough to see Miss Rebecca's expression.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"I'm fine, but..."

She must be a bit uncomfortable lying down in her regular clothes.

And she might think it's wrong to sleep during the day, so she might not feel sleepy.

I moved a little closer to Miss Rebecca and stroked her head.

"Ahh..."

"Do you not like having your head stroked? If you're uncomfortable, I can stop."

"N-No... it makes me feel safe and comfortable."

Miss Rebecca said this in a small, shy voice.

Yes, she's so cute.

"Can I keep stroking it? Your hair is so beautiful and feels nice to touch."

"Y-Yes..."

"Is there anything else you want me to do? It's okay to be pampered."

"U-Um, one thing, is that okay?"

Miss Rebecca asked hesitantly.

This is the first time she's asked for something, after being confused by my behavior.

I'm so happy.

"Yes, what is it?"

"U-Um, can you... hug me again?"

"..."

So cute...!

I almost made a sound, but I managed to hold it in.

Her cuteness caught me off guard.

"Of course."

"Ahh..."

I hugged Miss Rebecca, and she hugged me back just like before.

Her face was nestled in my chest.

"Is it uncomfortable?"

"No, I'm fine..."

"Can you sleep?"

"Yes... I feel so safe..."

She seemed to be getting sleepy, and her voice was getting softer.

I stroked her head with my hand.

"Good night, Miss Rebecca."

"Yes... good night, Lady Sophie..."

Miss Rebecca said this with a completely relaxed voice.

After a while, she seemed to fall asleep, and I could hear her cute breathing from my chest.

Hehe, she's so cute.

To think that this cute girl would grow up to seek affection by bullying other young ladies and planning to poison a prince.

If I start loving Miss Rebecca now, I believe I can change that future.

I thought about sleeping too, but I wasn't sleepy at all; I had slept until noon.

If I tried to get out of bed, I would wake Miss Rebecca, who had just fallen asleep.

So I had no choice but to lie there.

After that, I stayed in bed until Miss Rebecca woke up.

She must have been tired and sleep-deprived, as she slept peacefully until just before dinner.