Chapter 7

My name is Marca Sarge Perulsha.

Due to the extra characters in the middle, it takes up space, time, and effort to sign, which I find quite bothersome.

As the legitimate head of the Perulsha Baron family, I am now... no, I am still diligently working, just a lowly upstart former commoner.

On my sixteenth birthday, I welcomed adulthood, which is not entirely accurate to call it that, and since I no longer had to hide, my study, where I am now engrossed in work, is piled with unread books I bought two months ago.

"Lord Marca! Shall we have tea soon?"

And the maid who was supposed to be Lady Liliane's attendant appeared in the study with a tray of tea and pastries, looking delighted.

"... I actually prefer coffee. Ami..."

When I said this to her, who brought a set of teacups with blue flowers,

"Do you even know how many cups of coffee you drink every day? I've also brought some pastries that go well with tea today, so please enjoy them."

She smiled and rejected my request.

Until recently, Ami, who worked for Lady Liliane, has been taking good care of me as well.

When she entered the room, she started tidying up the low table that was only used as a storage space.

I no longer needed to stick to the crude lie of "reading books" in the dimly lit study and now work in the study that the baron used.

"... Hey, Ami."

"Yes! What is it?"

I put down my pen and looked at her.

"You might feel indebted, but you could have continued to serve Lady Liliane."

It was a genuine question.

Given how devotedly she protected my sister, I thought Ami would act for her.

I never expected her to be the kind of person who would get angry for me, and I was quite surprised that day.

"--- Huh??"

Ami's eyes widened in surprise.

I could tell from her voice that she was confused, so I added,

"You finally became a maid for the duke's family. Lady Liliane is more beautiful, gentle, and kind, and there are few people as supportive as her, right?"

When I tilted my head, Ami's expression changed rapidly.

"What are you saying!?"

Her voice, usually lively, suddenly flooded my ears.

Taken aback by Ami's momentum, which made her shoulders rise and fall as if she had just run, I was taken aback.

"... Erm... So, you're serving me of your own will... right?"

"There's no need to say 'for now.'"

"... Oh, I see..."

--- That seems to be the case.

I had a vague feeling, but she has changed.

Well, I like this Ami, so I'm happy that she works for me.

When called, "It's ready," I got up from the long table and sat on the sofa.

On the table were aromatic tea and richly baked financier pastries.

When I bit into them, the sweet buttery flavor spread in my mouth, and they were incredibly delicious.

And when I drank the tea Ami had made, the sweetness was perfectly balanced.

"Ami, let's eat together."

"Is that alright?"

"Yeah. Eating alone is lonely."

So, Ami also sat down without hesitation and nibbled on a financier.

"I wonder if Mother and Sister are enjoying their vacation now."

The mansion, now silent, no longer has my step-sister, sister, or mother.

"Was it really alright? The entire villa, jewels, dresses, and money..."

"It's fine. I can get away from Lady Liliane, and they were happy to leave this mansion, so it's perfect."

Mother once said,

She wanted to live a life of leisure in a luxurious seaside mansion.

Sister once said,

She wanted to become rich and not be looked down upon by anyone.

I don't know if their wishes are still the same, but I think they should do as they please. I will live as I please.

"I'll take it easy and read books after working a bit more."

Munch, munch. I savored the golden, edible gold bars.

"...... Lord Marca, are you pretending that the existence of that box doesn't matter...?"

However, at that moment,

Ami's penetrating gaze was directed at me.

She glanced at the box she mentioned, and I pretended not to see it and looked straight ahead.

"...... Lord Marca......"

Called by Ami, who seemed to have figured everything out, I couldn't answer.

"Lord Marca!"

Unfortunately, Ami wouldn't let it go.

Sebastian would have left it alone.

"...... Yes......"

Resigned, I answered, and Ami stood up and brought the box to my eyes.

She didn't need to bring it all the way here.

"To treat a gift from a man like this. And it's from Lord Ricardo! Do you want to make all the girls in this country your enemies!?"

For the past few days, Marca Sarge Perulsha has been receiving gifts almost daily from a certain man.

This man, who is the first to be named as a "potential husband" by not only the young ladies but also the town girls among the unmarried noble men in this country.

--- Ricardo Ela Reze.

At the young age of twenty, he became the deputy commander of the royal knight corps.

Born into a marquis family, he is the second son, but he has achieved success as a knight and has been granted the noble name "Ela" by the emperor, making him an ultra-elite.

And what stands out the most is his appearance.

Soft golden hair that falls over his forehead.

From between the strands, piercing blue eyes that see straight through everything.

Handsome. Dashing. Beautiful. Enchanting—.

No matter how I put it, he is a man with a face that cannot be described in words.

"...... He must have lost his mind from a broken heart......"

I said, looking at something far away.

Whether for better or worse, Deputy Commander, who makes you think, "Maybe I can reach him...♡," is undoubtedly popular.

Lady Liliane's husband was also quite something, but he is now married and too cold towards others.

Therefore, he, who is the second choice for Lady Liliane's fiancé, is currently the top candidate for the best husband in the country.

"What are you saying!?"

When I voiced my thoughts, a sharp gaze from Ami came my way.

"All these gifts were sent with Lord Marca in mind! I know that the only recent rare old book you received is not in this box!"

"...... Books are meant to be read......"

She hit a sensitive spot.

However, books are innocent, so I can't put them in a box.

When I conveyed this with my eyes, Ami placed her hands on her hips.

"Then, please use the pepper spray, emergency silver whistle, and the steel-reinforced hat and boots for protection that were sent by the Empress!"

"...... Do you think I'm the only one who finds this strange??"

Maybe I'm saying something wrong.

No, well, I understand that he sent these things with me in mind.

I understand, but... normally, would you send self-defense items to a girl you have no connection with? Normally?

If I were a "lady," I would probably cry, thinking my dreams were shattered. No joke.

"Especially since the streets are already in an uproar over Lord Ricardo's declaration of love to Lord Marca, you must take proper care of yourself!"

"...... Yeah......"

Alright. I won't say anything more.

Really. How can that Deputy Commander be so unaware of his own beauty?

If Lady Liliane found out that he sent gifts to me, it would be a disaster, with Lady Meltia's uncontrollable anger.

I couldn't sense it, and I couldn't help Lady Liliane because I was a coward, so I left it to the Monster Duke.

Now, he even made a declaration of love to me, someone who can only earn money, in the middle of the street, causing misunderstandings. It only makes me frustrated.

If he could make such a clear decision, he should have declared his love to Lady Liliane sooner—

I bit into the last financier I had intended to leave for Ami, opening my mouth wide in a way that no noble lady (hypothetically) would.

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