Chapter 7

A few days after Lord Alan allowed me to call him without honorifics.

My education as a duchess is mostly complete, and I have a lot more free time now.

So, what I should do now... is to become better friends with Rebecca!

To change her doomed future, I need to shower her with love.

At first, I tried to be friends with Rebecca out of a sense of mission, knowing her future. But now, it's different.

I find her adorable and love her from the bottom of my heart.

Today, Rebecca is coming to the main house, so I'll prepare for her arrival.

Rebecca still lives in the annex, but from today, she is supposed to live in the main house.

"I think it's sad that a family member like Rebecca lives alone in the annex. So, please allow her to live in the main house, or let me live in the annex."

That's how I negotiated with Lord Alan.

Honestly, I thought I would end up living in the annex...

"Then, let's arrange a room for Rebecca in the main house."

"Wh-What? Is that okay?"

"Yes, it's fine."

I didn't expect him to agree so easily.

"However, I'm busy with work, so can I leave the room arrangements to Sophie?"

"Of course, thank you."

So, I immediately prepared Rebecca's room in the main house.

When I entered her room in the annex before, it was very clean and luxurious, but there wasn't a single girlish item.

It was probably arranged by Lord Alan or the butler.

It wasn't bad, but I thought it would be good to ask Rebecca about her preferences, so I consulted with her on various things.

And today, Rebecca's room in the main house is complete.

"Good afternoon, Rebecca."

"Good, good afternoon, Lady Sophie."

Rebecca still seems a bit nervous when she meets me, but I feel she's opening up more than before.

After a brief greeting, we walk together to the front of her new room in the main house.

"Rebecca, from today, this is your room."

"Y-Yes!"

Rebecca hesitantly opens the door and looks inside, and her face brightens with joy.

It's a bit smaller than her room in the annex. I thought a larger room would be better, but Rebecca prefers a smaller one.

She said a larger room would make her feel lonely, so I don't want her to feel lonely at all.

The curtains, carpet, and sofa, which decorate the room, are mostly pink and blue.

Rebecca said she likes those colors.

And there are two large rabbit plushies on the bed.

She seems to like rabbits the most, so I prepared pink and blue rabbit plushies.

"Wow...!"

I had only shown her the interior design lightly, but I wanted to surprise her, so I didn't mention the plushies.

Rebecca's face lit up with joy as she approached the bed and looked at the plushies.

"Lady Sophie, these...!"

"I prepared them because you said you like rabbits. Do you like them?"

"Yes! They are so, so cute...!"

She jumped up and down excitedly.

Oh, Rebecca is cuter than any rabbit...!

If she can be this happy with just this, maybe I should have prepared a bed full of various plushies of different sizes.

No, I'll increase them gradually in the future.

As a duchess, I have a budget for maintaining my dignity, and money to buy dresses and jewelry freely.

I use this budget to prepare dresses and jewelry for social events, but I have more than enough to spend.

I can't even use it all even if I buy expensive dresses every day.

So, I can use all of it for Rebecca's gifts.

"I'm glad you like it. Do you think you'll have fun here?"

"Yes! But... I think this room is too spacious for me..."

Rebecca said this while looking around the room.

Indeed, it's one of the smaller rooms in the main house, but it's large enough for a single person.

Especially for Rebecca, who is still short, it would feel even larger.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't prepare a smaller room."

"N-No! I'm the one who should apologize for being so picky...!"

"It's okay, that level of pickiness. I'd rather you be more picky."

"Thank you."

I want her to feel comfortable enough to be picky.

But I feel bad for not fulfilling her wish for a smaller room to avoid loneliness.

"Let's sit on the sofa later and have some snacks. I'll stay in this room for as long as possible to make you feel less lonely."

"B-But, I can't impose on you like that...!"

"I want to be with Rebecca, so I'll just be here. Or do you not want me to come to this room?"

"U-Um, no, I'm very happy about it."

"Haha, thank you."

When I patted her head, Rebecca blushed and smiled shyly.

Sigh, she's really cute...!

I hope our relationship is improving, and her future changes a little...

I can't see premonitory dreams whenever I want.

If I could, I would check Rebecca's future every day to see if it's changing.

I hope I can have a premonitory dream about Rebecca's future again someday...

"How is your study going, Rebecca? Are you not too tired?"

"Yes, I'm just reviewing now. But, is that all I should do?"

"It's fine."

The previous tutor, Countess Nable, was very strict, and the lessons were so difficult that I couldn't believe a ten-year-old girl was learning them.

But Rebecca is very excellent in her studies, and she always scored well on exams, to the point where Countess Nable couldn't criticize her much.

You're really amazing, Rebecca.

So, just reviewing is enough now.

And from now on, the tutor will be...

"I'll be teaching you from now on, so please look forward to it."

"Yes, I look forward to it."

Yes, I'll be the one doing it.

I won't be doing all the studies and dance practices, but my main job will be to plan them.

Rebecca has been pushing herself too hard with her studies, so I want to take it easy from now on.

"Let's study in the annex's library."

"Yes."

So, we left the room and headed to the annex.

When we reached the main house's entrance, Lord Alan was changing into his outerwear and about to leave.

"Good afternoon, Lord Alan."

"Good afternoon, Duke."

When we greeted him, Lord Alan looked at us and replied, "Ah."

"Good afternoon, both of you. What are you up to today?"

"I'm going to supervise Rebecca's studies in the annex."

"Ah, right, Sophie will be the tutor. I trust you, so I'll leave it to you."

"Yes, I understand."

I'm trusted by Lord Alan? That's nice, but why?

"Rebecca, Sophie will teach you kindly, but you must study diligently."

"Y-Yes, Duke."

Hmm, the atmosphere between Rebecca and Lord Alan still seems stiff.

I hope they can become a family too...

First, let's start with how they address each other.

"Lord Alan, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Rebecca's way of addressing you seems too formal. Can you allow her to call you 'Alan-sama'?"

"Hmm..."

Lord Alan glanced at Rebecca after hearing my words.

Rebecca flinched but didn't look away.

"I don't mind. I never told Rebecca to call me Duke."

"R-Really?"

"I said I don't mind."

It's a bit cold, but that's typical of Lord Alan.

Rebecca looked at me for a moment, and I nodded.

"S-So, Alan-sama."

"Yes, that's fine."

Rebecca looks a bit happier.

Lord Alan... hasn't changed.

Yes, the atmosphere isn't quite familial yet, but it's better than before.

Let's try to get along better gradually.

"Sophie, I told you to call me by my name without honorifics, didn't I?"

"Wh-What? But that was only when we're alone, right?"

"No, it's fine as long as it's not in public."

"R-Really?"

I didn't expect I'd have to call him Alan all the time at home.

It's a bit intimidating, but since Lord Alan wants me to call him without honorifics, I'll do it.

"Duke, it's time to go."

"Hm, yes, I know. I'll head to work now."

The butler urged Lord Alan, and I realized I had kept him for too long.

"Yes, have a good day, Alan."

"Y-Yes, have a good day, Duke."

When Rebecca and I said this, Lord Alan's eyes widened slightly.

Oh, his usual expressionless face changed a bit.

"...Yes, I'm going."

Lord Alan smiled slightly and left the main house.

I didn't expect him to smile again, and I was captivated by his gentle smile.

It still overlaps with the smile I saw in that dream...!

But I need to remember that it was probably a lucid dream, not a premonitory dream... though it's hard to forget.

But just now, it felt like a family, like a mother and daughter seeing off the father.

I hope we can deepen our bond like this in the future.

【Author's Note】

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