Chapter 4

Sitting across from me is a man with an incredibly handsome face.

The overwhelming atmosphere makes my father, stepmother, and half-sister, who are sitting beside me, and my half-sister on the side sofa, fall silent.

However, my half-sister is not only silent but also looking at the man with a dreamy expression.

While glancing at this scene from the corner of my eye, I, who am sandwiched between my parents, observe the man sitting directly in front of me without staring too much.

Noticing my gaze, he slowly puts down his teacup, which he had been sipping from, and places it back on the saucer without making a sound.

He is truly elegant.

Claude Lindbergh, the current Duke of one of only three ducal families in this country, lives up to his reputation.

Even I, who am not well-versed in high society, know he is a super catch.

It's hard to believe that someone I have never even seen from a distance is now so close to me.

"Quite a good tea, indeed."

Of course, it is.

The most expensive tea leaves in our house.

Incidentally, I think I am probably the only one who has received an education that allows me to appreciate the taste of tea.

However, I also understand that this is a social courtesy.

Even the highest-quality tea leaves in our house are not so to this gentleman.

"Yes, yes! Nothing but the best will do to entertain His Grace, the Duke of Lindbergh. Hehe, we have a child in our house who is very knowledgeable about tea. She says this is a very rare and valuable item that is hard to come by."

My stepmother glances at my half-sister.

She is desperately trying to show that this child is a talented and elegant young lady who can appreciate tea.

I doubt this gentleman, who is not lacking in perception, is ignoring all of my stepmother's comments and, of course, my half-sister as well.

This makes me very uncomfortable.

I want to tell my stepmother, who is boasting about the highest hospitality,

"You are digging your own grave."

She is essentially telling him that she knows nothing about the taste or value of tea.

"That is... This is Robley tea, which I don't often get to taste myself. Thank you for such a rare and valuable item."

"Hehe, for a house like ours, it's nothing at all."

Being insensitive and unaware can be enviable at times like this.

I am sweating, having been raised to be considerate of others.

Incidentally, the Robley tea mentioned by the Duke is a type of high-quality tea that is generally easy to obtain.

It must be cheap to him, but he is praising my ability to distinguish its taste, which is impressive.

However, the reason I am sweating is not about the tea.

It's because of my stepmother's comments.

"Yes, it would be difficult for a ducal family to serve such tea. Truly, the historical lineage of a marquess family is impressive."

My father stiffens, finally understanding what his former mistress, now a commoner, has said to the Duke, one of the most powerful figures in the country.

Yes, he is also saying that the Duke's family doesn't keep such cheap tea, but I wonder if anyone else besides me has understood.

It doesn't seem so.

"I, I apologize! I, I didn't mean to belittle it..."

"Yes, I understand. Your ladyship is a former courtesan of common birth. It's understandable that she lacks proper education. Of course, the lack of manners in her children, born of her bloodline, is not the fault of the Marquess."

The two of them instantly turn red at this blunt insult.

However, they are not foolish enough to explode, and for some reason, they glare at me.

I haven't done anything, so why am I being glared at? It's a mystery.

The Duke of Lindbergh, who is clearly mocking and provoking them, clearly dislikes the two of them.

His lips curve, but his eyes do not smile.

He is terrifying.

Since he came to our house, he has been like this, and I don't understand why they are trying to flatter him.

Their inability to read the room is, in a way, admirable.

"Well, Marquess Verdigo, I have come today with a special request. I believe you have received the preliminary notice, so you should be aware of the matter..."

"About that, I am surprised and confused as to why—..."

Actually, I am also surprised and confused.

To reiterate, I have never met the Duke of Lindbergh.

I can confidently say that I have never even crossed paths with him.

Yet, there is a sudden preliminary notice and proposal.

When the preliminary notice arrived, my stepmother and half-sister's reactions were intense.

They asked things like, "Why you?" and "Is there a mistake in the name?"

But even I thought the same.

However, in reality, there was no mistake.

"I don't understand why you are confused. The Verdigo Marquess family has guarded that territory since before the founding of the kingdom. Tracing back, it connects to the royal bloodline. It would not be strange for my family to form a marital alliance with yours, would it?"

He states this matter-of-factly.

—Yes, the Duke of Lindbergh has come to propose to me.

This is a truly mysterious action.

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