Chapter 77

After finishing her walk, Amelia’s stomach was grumbling with hunger by the time she returned to the mansion.

"Today’s breakfast is bound to be delicious."

As she headed towards the dining room with a confident smile, Laila beside her let out a wry laugh.

"You said the same thing yesterday."

"Did I?"

"By the way, the main dish for today’s breakfast is Recruit brand sausages!"

"Sausages! That’s great! They’re best eaten with ketchup..."

While they were having this conversation as they walked down the corridor,

"Ah, good morning, Lord Logan!"

A familiar figure came into view, and Amelia’s voice brightened.

Logan, who was walking towards them, was accompanied by a servant.

"Good morning. Just back from a walk?"

"Yes, with Laila."

Laila bowed gracefully to Logan.

"Are you going for a walk, Lord Logan?"

"Do I look like I’m dressed for a walk?"

"You’re dressed for work, aren’t you..."

Logan’s attire was unmistakably that of someone heading to a serious job.

He wore a brooch symbolizing the Hernberg family on his chest.

A refined white shirt with a neatly tied tie, and over it, a pure white jacket woven with gold thread.

From head to toe, he was dressed in the formal attire of a duke.

"I’m heading to the castle now. I’ll probably be back around evening."

"Thank you for your hard work this morning... Please be careful. And..."

She glanced at the young servant standing beside Logan.

Noticing Amelia’s gaze, the young man stepped forward.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Amelia. I am Rio, Lord Logan’s servant. I’ve been on leave for a while, so I apologize for the late greeting."

With that, the young man—Rio—bowed formally.

Just as Amelia had several servants, Logan had multiple servants, including Oscar.

Rio seemed to be one of them, but it was the first time Amelia had met him.

He had sharp, dignified eyes, but his well-proportioned face still retained a youthful quality.

His neatly styled, smoky golden hair and clean, calm light gray eyes gave him a composed appearance.

He looked to be slightly older than Amelia.

He was a bit shorter than Logan but had a straight back and broad, well-defined shoulders.

He was dressed modestly, as befitting a servant.

"Pleased to meet you, I’m Amelia, Lord Logan’s fiancée. I hope we can get along."

Amelia smiled, and Rio looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Yes, I hope so too."

He said it casually and then stepped back behind Logan.

Without delay, Logan added,

"Rio was originally in the military, and his combat skills are well-recognized."

"Guard...!! So he must be very strong!"

"Yes, he’s the one I trust the most as my bodyguard."

"I am honored to receive such praise."

Rio’s previously unchanging expression softened, and he said it with a hint of pride.

(I thought he seemed like a tough person...)

Seeing Rio’s smile, which resembled that of a child pleased by praise from a parent, her impression changed.

"Still, it’s amazing that you were in the military, Rio..."

Amelia, who had been isolated for a long time and had almost no knowledge of the military, genuinely admired him.

However, as the front-line protectors of the country, the military’s combat skills and physical abilities were unmatched, and Amelia, who was terrible at both, felt a sincere admiration.

Hearing Amelia’s heartfelt words, Rio’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Of course, I must protect Lord Logan."

Amelia felt a slight edge in his matter-of-fact tone and tilted her head slightly.

"Lord Logan, it’s time to go."

"Yes, you’re right. I’ll be off then."

"Okay, have a good trip!"

As Amelia said this cheerfully, Logan’s expression softened slightly before he headed towards the entrance.

"Lord Logan, of course, but Rio is also very handsome..."

After the two of them were out of sight, Laila said with a dreamy look.

On the other hand, Amelia looked a bit uneasy.

"Did I do something to offend Rio? He seemed a bit wary...?"

"Oh, ah..."

Laila had a look of realization.

"I don’t think you need to worry. Rio is like that with everyone except Lord Logan."

"I see... So he admires Lord Logan!"

"He swears absolute loyalty. I heard that he was without a place after leaving the military, and Lord Logan hired him."

"I see, he has his own story..."

Amelia felt a bit of kinship with Rio.

She herself had been treated as a troublemaker by her family and was chosen as Logan’s fiancée.

(I hope I can become friends with Rio someday...)

That was what Amelia thought.