Chapter 17

"What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?"

"That's absurd, Duke!"

The retainers were all flustered.

Erhardt continued without pausing, "They will be formally educated as successors and will carry on the name of the Cleyder family together."

The meaning of this was clear.

'Marriage.'

Despite the retainers' reactions, Erhardt went on, "When the time comes, we will hold a wedding."

Even if the person is young, once the engagement ceremony is held, they are recognized as a member of the family.

If the Duke of Schuetz personally selects a child to marry Damian,

'The Cleyder Trading Company will never be taken away again.'

The retainers' faces hardened at this shocking news.

When they heard that the son of Cleyder had been found, they tried to push their own daughters into the family.

But now, all their plans had come to nothing.

Their shocked expressions were quite a sight, and Erhardt smiled bitterly.

"So, I hope you will bless us."

"……"

"Since you have all sworn to give your lives for the family, you will surely do so."

His attitude was clear: he would kill anyone who opposed him.

The retainers, who had been raging before the Duke arrived, had no choice but to remain silent.

'It's impossible...'

Among them, Baron Corvino gritted his teeth.

He thought the Duke wouldn't just sit idly by.

'But to think he would even consider marriage.'

He couldn't lose everything like this.

Baron Corvino bowed his head with the other retainers, thinking.

'I need to find a way.'

He couldn't let that young brat take over the massive trading company.

* * *

"Wow..."

I couldn't close my mouth, which had opened wide.

The room we were given was so luxurious.

The chandelier, reflecting the lighting, was dazzling.

'I want to bite it.'

Of course, biting a gemstone would only hurt my teeth, but I still had the habit of biting gold whenever I saw it, a habit I had since childhood.

At that moment, I felt someone approaching me.

It seemed Damian had returned after going out with the butler.

"Damian?"

But the person who approached was not Damian.

Four women in maid uniforms stood before me.

The middle-aged woman with dark brown hair tied in a single braid spoke first.

"From today, I will be serving you, Miss Eli. My name is Roine. I will do my best to make your stay comfortable."

"Thank you."

The maids behind Roine bowed their heads in unison.

"Ah... Hello."

I had never received such courteous greetings before. I bowed awkwardly.

Roine smiled gently.

"Miss Eli, please speak freely."

"R-really?"

But I had never spoken informally to an adult before.

'And the honorific 'miss' next to my name is also quite burdensome...'

Seeing my hesitation, Roine smiled gently.

"You will get used to it soon. Now, girls, introduce yourselves to Miss Eli."

Following Roine's words, the women behind her began to introduce themselves one by one.

"I am Ivana, this is May, and this is Asel."

"If you find it difficult to remember, you can call us whatever you like."

Roine added.

'Remembering names isn't that hard.'

People have names. I didn't want to call them anything I pleased.

'I've seen enough of that in the orphanage.'

"Ivana, May, Asel."

Muttering their names, Asel blinked in surprise.

"I've remembered them all. I may be lacking in many ways, but please take care of me."

"Oh my..."

Ivana blushed and looked moved. May and Asel felt the same way.

I had never received such looks before, and it felt a bit embarrassing.

'Do they think I'm from the same noble background as Damian? Why are they making those faces?'

"Since the introductions are over, would you please come this way?"

"Where are we going?"

"You must be tired from the long journey, so let's start with a bath."

A bath?

'But... I don't want to show my body.'

My body was underdeveloped and bony, not very presentable.

The food in the orphanage was poor, and I didn't eat much of it.

'But if I hesitate here, they might look down on me even more.'

I need to get used to this. I nodded with a determined look.

Asel giggled.

The maid next to her elbowed her.

"Ah, cough. I'm sorry. You're just so cute."

"Asel."

"...I'm sorry."

Roine's cold call made Asel quickly erase her smile.

'I thought she was kind, but her voice is a bit scary when she lowers it.'

"Miss Eli, do you have a favorite scent for your bath?"

Roine asked again with a gentle face. I shook my head.

"I don't know much about scents. I just want warm water. The water in the orphanage was too cold."

Roine's face hardened, and the three maids looked the same.

'Did I say something wrong?'

But if I had pretended to know the names of scents, I might have made a fool of myself.

While trying to find an appropriate answer, Roine spoke in a slightly lowered voice.

"We will work hard to find a scent you like."

Her expression was soft.

These were things I was not used to. My fingertips felt itchy.

"Thank you. I'll work hard not to be a bother."

Roine, who looked a bit surprised, smiled slightly.

"I should change my words. We will work harder until Miss Eli finds us bothersome."

I didn't understand what she meant, but she only smiled softly.

* * *

Thanks to Roine and the maids, I was able to bathe thoroughly.

"How can your skin be so beautiful?"

"Your cheeks... they're so..."

"Asel! Don't touch her without permission!"

Of course, it took longer than expected.

'Even with four people helping, it took longer than if I had bathed alone.'

Still, I was able to use warm water and fragrant oils to my heart's content.

'This is what it means to feel refreshed.'

After dismissing the maids, I lay on the soft bed and blinked blankly.

'I don't want to leave this place.'

Shaking my head, I thought.

There are other things to be greedy about. I rolled over on the bed to shake off the thought.

Then, my eyes met Damian's, who was lying next to me. Damian shivered.

"...What? Why are you shaking like you've been struck by lightning?"

I asked in a slightly pouting voice.

We were supposed to have separate rooms, but since there weren't enough properly furnished rooms, we decided to share for now.

Any room would be better than the orphanage, but Roine was firm.

Thanks to her, Damian and I were lying on the same bed.

Damian fidgeted and mumbled.

"I was... surprised..."

"Is my face that shocking?"

Damian had finally cut his short hair, which he had grown to his shoulders. This made him look even more beautiful and mysterious.

Damian, who suddenly had a clearer view, looked awkward but much lighter.

Yeah, you're beautiful.

Feeling a bit jealous, I poked Damian's cheeks.

"No, Eli."

Damian didn't push my hand away and answered with his cheeks pressed.

"Eli is... the prettiest in the world."

He mumbled as if he had made an embarrassing confession.

I chuckled and poked Damian's cheek.

"Your words sound so unrealistic."

"R-really..."

"Okay, okay."

I said, extending my hand. Damian fidgeted and took my hand.

"Hey, Damian."

I whispered to Damian as if sharing a secret.

"We're going to be married."

"Married?"

"Yep. Married. Do you know what it means to be married?"

Damian shook his head.

"Being married means you promise to love one person for the rest of your life."

"Love?"

Damian tilted his head, not understanding.

"What is it?"

"It's the feeling of wanting to protect someone and be with them."

Damian blinked blankly at my explanation.

Was it too difficult to understand?

"Um... let me see..."

I tried to explain it more clearly but soon closed my mouth.

'How should I explain it?'

I thought deeply, frowning.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the right words.

Love, affection. What other similar emotions are there?

I slowly opened my mouth after pondering each word.

"I don't know much, but my mom said that when you fall in love, your stomach feels ticklish, and you feel a heat in your body. Your heart also beats fast."

"..."

Suddenly, Damian's mouth twitched.

"Then..."

Suddenly, his cheeks, which had been pink, turned red.

"Damian?"

Worried, I leaned closer to him.

My face was reflected in Damian's clear eyes.

At that moment,

"Hic."

Damian suddenly started hiccupping.