Chapter 75

"This is really sweet and delicious."

To my surprise, Heron seemed to enjoy sweet foods.

Thanks to him, I ended up having an unexpected dessert time.

It was indeed a precious moment, but...

Knowing who he was, it felt as uncomfortable as sitting on a bed of thorns.

I glanced at him and took a bite of the strawberry-flavored macaron.

As I savored the sweetness, Heron spoke.

"My granddaughter also loves pudding very much."

"You have a granddaughter?"

"Yes. She is about the same age as Lady Ely. Just like Lady Ely, she loves sweet and delicious things."

Heron nodded and placed the clean plate on the table.

"Ah, but in terms of age, she is more similar to Lady Salome."

Salome. He means Vintia.

'After that incident, others even hesitate to mention Vintia’s name.'

Heron is bringing it up so freely.

I stopped fidgeting and looked at him. He said with a slightly troubled expression.

"Actually, there is a reason I came to see you, Lady Ely."

"What is it?"

"Could you possibly forgive Lady Salome and the Count?"

"…What?"

What is he talking about? I just blinked in confusion.

"As you saw that day, Salome has possessed strong telepathic abilities for generations. Thanks to their power, the trade of goods has become much smoother."

"…."

"Of course, it was a just punishment for attempting to harm Lady Ely…."

He was suggesting that if I forgave Salome and Vintia, it would help the smooth operation of the trade.

'Interrupting the flow of goods would be the worst-case scenario for the trade.'

However, they had meddled with the children under the protection of Duke Schuetz.

Not to mention, they had even ignored Damian, whom the Duke had searched for over ten years.

'From the Duke’s perspective, it wouldn’t be strange to kill them immediately.'

The trade’s position must have been quite difficult.

But no one in their right mind would step forward to say, "Please don’t kill them."

'So he came to me.'

Then, what should I answer? What response would satisfy him?

Heron silently watched my hesitation.

* * *

As the deep silence continued, Heron’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

The child had not given a proper answer.

Forgiving the people who had attacked her would be difficult even for an adult, let alone a child.

But he couldn’t be swayed by just such a request.

'I thought she was a smart child.'

The girl in front of him had not flinched even in front of many adults and had managed to get an apology from Vintia.

Even when she was unfairly accused by Vintia, she didn’t shed a single tear and pushed the child.

Not only that, she even offered pudding to someone who coveted her snack, saying it wouldn’t strain their teeth.

Despite her young age, she had a remarkable ability to respond appropriately to different people.

Just as Duke Schuetz had said.

'This child might be a great help to Duke Damian.'

But to be swayed by such a request.

As a former teacher of the previous Duke Cleyder, he prided himself on his ability to judge people.

'Could I have misjudged her?'

His face, aged by many years, showed a fleeting moment of regret.

He took out a small piece of paper from his pocket and looked down at the silent Ely.

It was a fake document he had made with the help of a servant.

"If the Duke’s child signs this herself, please withdraw all your intentions."

It was a statement that would shock anyone. Setting conditions for Duke Schuetz.

However, the Duke did not get angry.

"Then the game is already decided."

He laughed confidently.

It was the first time Heron had seen such a self-assured smile from the Duke.

Therefore, Heron had placed great expectations on Ely. But this was the result.

As he extended the document, Ely’s gaze followed him.

"If you agree with my intentions, please read it carefully and sign here."

"…."

"I beg you, Lady Ely."

Heron’s request made Ely look at the document in front of her and pick up the pen.

She was still a child. Moreover, due to her background, it was uncertain whether she even knew how to write properly.

Even if she had just learned to write, she wouldn’t understand what was written in the document. She could probably only write her own name.

While Heron was lost in thought, Ely quietly put down the pen.

Heron immediately checked the document.

-Ely Amantha Cleyder Erhardt Schuetz

After confirming the name, he folded the document and put it in his pocket.

'The test is over.'

All that was left was to inform the Duke of the result.

"The time is already up."

Heron smiled gently, hiding his regret.

"Thanks to you, I had a lot of dessert for the first time in a long while."

"Is this your first time trying something like this?"

"Yes, it’s not easy to come across such an opportunity."

"Indeed."

Ely mumbled, but Heron didn’t pay much attention and stood up.

"Then I will take my leave."

"Wait a moment."

At that moment, Ely stopped Heron, who was about to bow and leave.

"When is the next lesson?"

"…The next lesson."

"I would like to have it sooner."

"…."

"I want to eat more delicious things with you, Heron!"

Her innocent smile was endearing.

That’s why she had signed her name on the document herself.

She was a pitiful and adorable child.

Heron paused for a moment and smiled.

"I will discuss the schedule with the Duke and let you know."

Heron bowed again and left the room. As the door closed with a loud sound, his face hardened.

He didn’t like sweets.

Perhaps that’s why the sweet taste of the pudding lingering in his mouth felt particularly bitter.

'After all, it’s already happened.'

Heron immediately headed to the Duke’s office.

As he entered, the Duke, who had been lounging, raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Is it already over?"

"Yes."

Heron nodded with a slightly lowered voice.

"How did it go?"

"She signed it herself."

Heron took out the document from his pocket and handed it to the Duke.

"…Ely signed it?"

"There was no coercion."

As Heron spoke, Erhardt frowned slightly.

He unfolded the document and read the words.

"Huh."

He burst out laughing in amazement.

Heron, with his eyes lowered, calmly waited for his reaction.

'It’s understandable.'

After all, this was the only child the Duke of Schuetz had trusted.

'But since she signed it herself, that thought is now the last…'

Just then.

"Ha ha."

The laughter continued, but this time it was filled with joy, not disappointment.

Heron, puzzled, raised his eyes.

"…!"

The Duke was laughing.

After many years, Heron, who was rarely surprised by anything, had his eyes widen.

The Duke’s laughter was truly astonishing.

'And he’s laughing so joyfully.'

As Heron stood dumbfounded, Erhardt waved the document and said.

"It seems you’ve lost this one."

He extended the document.

"Read it."

Heron’s wrinkled hands took the document.

His eyes fell to the spot where Ely had signed with her small hand.

-Ely Amantha Cleyder Erhardt Schuetz

In the Imperial style of signing, one writes their maiden name after their given name, and after marriage, the husband’s name and family name.

He was impressed by her knowledge of this rule, but there was no mistake.

But where did the Duke see his defeat?

Then Erhardt said.

"Indeed, there is no mistake in the signature."

"…."

"That’s why you lost."

"Excuse me?"

"It’s written there, isn’t it? 'Cleyder'."

"What’s the problem with that…"

Heron’s eyes widened as he read the signature.

In the Imperial style of signing, the last part is the husband’s name and family name.

Here, the husband refers to the husband.

Women take their husband’s family name upon marriage.

So, Ely only needed to write Schuetz, without Cleyder.

But strictly speaking, Damian had been adopted by Duke Schuetz, but before that, he was the son of Duke Cleyder.

So, she had also written Cleyder, the name of her husband.

This was not just a simple signature.

By writing Cleyder, she was also saying that Damian was her husband and that she was his wife.

"Ely did write it herself, but you have effectively acknowledged it. That her name includes Cleyder."

"…."

"You accepted the signature without any objections."

Erhardt leaned back in his chair and tilted his head loosely.

"Didn’t I tell you? You shouldn’t underestimate Ely."

His gentle voice was filled with joy.

"…I will take my leave."

Heron bowed and quickly left the office.

'She hasn’t left yet, has she?'

She mustn’t have. Heron’s pace quickened even more.

Bang!

The door opened with a loud sound.

Contrary to his expectation that she had left the room, Ely was sitting calmly on the sofa.

"You’re here?"

Then, as if she had been waiting, she smiled and greeted him.