Chapter 74

"That person must also like it very much."

The duke muttered while ruffling Damian's hair.

'That person?'

At that moment.

There was a knock on the door.

"How did you know I was talking about you? As expected, you are quick to notice."

The duke said this as he got up from his seat.

"Your Grace."

The person who entered after opening the door was the butler Franz.

"Come in."

At the duke's words, Franz opened the door wide as if to guide someone in.

The man who followed him in was an elderly man with white hair and a beard.

'Huh? That man...?'

He was one of the people present when I got the apple from Wintia and the nanny.

'So he's from the Cleyder side.'

The people from Cleyder had all left. Why was he still in the duke's castle?

"It is an honor to meet you again."

He bowed politely to us.

"I am Heron Hooper, and I will be serving the two of you from now on. Please take care of me."

'Heron Hooper?'

I widened my eyes.

Heron Hooper was the mentor and one of the elders of the late Duke Cleyder.

Thanks to Heron Hooper, the guild was able to operate smoothly even after the Duke Cleyder's death.

'But he was someone who cared deeply for Duke Cleyder.'

That's why he tested Damian even more.

He had to check if Damian, who had lived as a slave, was suitable to carry on the Cleyder name.

For Heron, it was a matter of being extra cautious, but for Damian, it was one of the greatest trials.

Heron was the strongest among the elders.

'He only opened his heart to Damian after he turned fifteen.'

To succeed his father honorably, Damian went to war under the Cleyder name.

The young boy risked his life. Only then did Heron acknowledge Damian.

'That means Heron's appearance now...'

It was as good as strongly opposing my marriage to Damian.

'A trial right after the proposal!'

But I couldn't react like I did with Wintia. Without Heron, Cleyder would fall apart.

That can't happen. I swallowed hard and forced a smile.

"Hello, Mr. Heron. I'm Elli. Please take care of me."

Damian, who had gotten up first to greet, also bowed.

"I am the one who should ask for your care."

I met Heron's eyes, which were smiling gently.

Then his gaze fell on the hands Damian and I were holding.

For a moment, his eyes sharpened. It was very brief, but I could feel it.

'That smile is fake.'

He is wary of me.

Deeply so.

I wasn't depressed because there were countless people who disliked me, but the opposition was too strong, especially someone who could help Damian.

'But the duke wouldn't have brought in someone who would harm me.'

Then, let's change my perspective.

The current operation of the Cleyder guild depends on Heron.

His loyalty to Cleyder is outstanding.

In other words, if I could win his favor, I could gain a very reliable ally.

Good. I smiled.

"Please take care of me, Mr. Heron."

* * *

On a warm afternoon

I was sitting alone in one corner of the reception room, waiting for Heron.

'But why did he call me here specifically?'

It was a room in the duke's castle that wasn't often used.

Why did he call me here alone, in a place where even the servants rarely went?

'And what are these...?'

The sofa where I was sitting was piled high with cute dolls.

On one side of the table, there was a toy that would spin on its own when a mana stone was tapped, and another amazing toy that would return to its original position when a marble was dropped from a height using the principle of recoil.

I tapped the marble with my finger and then turned my gaze to the side.

Next to the toys, there were all sorts of delicious desserts.

Strawberries topped with whipped cream, crepes with chocolate, soft pudding drizzled with caramel syrup, and sorbet made with slightly mashed peaches and frozen yogurt.

In case I got tired of these, other desserts were also prepared in abundance.

...No matter how I thought about it, this didn't look like a room for a lesson.

'If I were really a child, I would have been jumping around.'

I thought this as I reached for the basket in the farthest corner.

This much should be okay.

I popped a candy into my mouth and looked up at the clock in front of me.

The lesson was at 1 PM. It was one minute before 1 PM.

When the small hand of the clock on the pillar precisely reached the number 12.

Knock knock.

The door opened with a knock, and Heron came in.

"Good afternoon."

He smiled at me. It was a kind smile, but I couldn't feel it as purely gentle.

"Hello, Mr. Heron."

I curtsied, and Heron smiled.

"Wasn't it boring waiting alone?"

"Yes, but the candy was delicious, so it was okay."

'I'm glad I only ate the candy.'

I praised myself and secretly sighed in relief.

"Ha ha. I'm glad the candy was there. Now, please sit down."

He smiled kindly and pointed to the sofa, and I sat down obediently.

"Before we start the lesson..."

Heron, sitting opposite me, opened his mouth.

What would he say? I waited for his words with a bit of tension.

"Could you give me one piece of candy?"

"......Yes?"

But his question was far from what I expected.

His eyes behind the glasses were still unreadable.

"Yes."

I pushed the basket towards Heron.

'Wait a moment.'

Then I pulled it back to my side. Heron, who had reached out, asked curiously.

"Are you taking it back?"

"Yes. I don't think it's a good idea."

"......Why not?"

He looked at me with a strange expression.

"The candy is hard, so it might be inconvenient for you to eat."

"......"

"Instead, I'll give you this."

I offered him the plate with the pudding.

"It's soft and easy to eat. With plenty of caramel syrup, it's even more delicious than the candy. It won't strain your teeth either."

Heron's expression became strange for a moment, then softened into a gentle smile.

"How did you know my teeth aren't good?"

"......"

His question was so obvious that I was at a loss for words.

Heron is an old man who has lived a long life. His teeth can't be in good condition.

But he specifically pointed to the basket of desserts in front of me.

If he just wanted something sweet, he would have mentioned the other desserts around.

There was only one reason he pointed to the basket.

'Because I was holding it and eating from it just now.'

I was an orphan who had been adopted into the duke's family overnight.

From a very lowly child to a position everyone envied in an instant...

'He must have simply tested if I had become arrogant.'

The reason he treated me so formally must have been for this.

The more people bow to you, the more arrogant you become.

'So that's why he called me here alone.'

Then, how should I react?

I thought for a moment and smiled.

"Just because."

"......Yes?"

"Yes. Actually, I really like these candies. Hehe. I wanted to eat them all."

I could have been honest.

But if I thought too much, it would be suspicious.

It was more convenient for me to let it pass naturally.

"Hmm..."

I thought he would just laugh it off, but Heron looked at me with a subtle expression.

As if gauging whether my words were true.

After a long moment of his gaze, Heron smiled.

"That pudding does look very delicious. Thank you for offering it."

The spoon in my hand had already moved to his.