Chapter 10

Since I couldn't update yesterday, I will update twice today.

The next update will be at 5 PM.

"Here I am."

"Here I am...?"

Cecilia let out a voice as if she were flinching and hid her face deeply with the fan she was holding.

It was no wonder. Standing in the entrance hall was not only Lean, but also behind her were Jade, Dante, and Hugh. If only Oscar were here, it would be the usual group.

Jade and the others were looking around the entrance hall of the Duke's residence and exclaiming in admiration. It was only natural, given that the chandelier that would normally illuminate a grand hall was in the entrance.

"...Lean, come here for a moment."

Cecilia beckoned and led Lean to the edge of the hall, lowering her voice.

"Why did everyone come!? And earlier than planned! We agreed that you would come three days from now, right!?"

"Hehe. I'm just an impatient person."

"Even so!"

"Didn't I say, 'Remember this'?"

Lean laughed. This must be payback for the Chinese dress incident, right? If so, it's a pretty extreme response. Too sharp to follow.

Cecilia held her head.

"How did you explain it to everyone and bring them here?"

First, she needed to understand this. Among them, only Gilbert and Lean knew that Cecilia was Cecil. Dante might have noticed, but since it wasn't confirmed, it was safer to assume he didn't know.

"Did you tell everyone that I'm Cecil!?"

"Of course not. I just said Cecilia is an 'old friend.' When I mentioned I was going to visit, they all said they wanted to come along! Everyone seems very interested in the Duke's residence."

She said it as if it were an irresistible force, but saying she was "going to visit" in front of everyone was clearly a deliberate act.

Cecilia held her aching head. Just when she thought things would slow down, this happened. Gilbert has been clearly emitting an unhappy aura since earlier, and this was too much to handle.

"Ugh..."

"It's okay, it's okay. We'll leave by evening! I just wanted to surprise you! I'll go back to the mansion once and come again in three days!"

"If that's the case..."

If they came the day Gilbert and Cecilia returned to the mansion, it meant they came straight from the academy dormitory to the mansion. They couldn't have arrived so quickly if they had gone back to their respective mansions first. While it was quicker to just drop by, this level of initiative was hard to accept.

"Oh, oh! So many guests today!"

At that moment, a gentle voice came from the stairs leading to the second floor. Turning around, a woman with honey-blonde hair, the same as Cecilia's, was slowly descending the stairs.

"Are these Cecilia's guests? Or Gilbert's?"

There stood Lucinda Silvy, the mother of Cecilia and Gilbert.

She looked like a typical upper-class noblewoman, her cheeks lifting in a delighted smile as she stood before them.

"Welcome to the Silvy residence. I don't know what brings you here, but please make yourselves comfortable."

Lean bowed, representing the group.

"Thank you for having us. I am Lean Lazarow, daughter of the Lazarow family."

She performed a beautiful lady's curtsy, something unimaginable from her usual self. Lucinda's eyes sparkled at the introduction.

"Oh! You're a noble lady, Lean? Cecilia's friend?"

"Ah, yes!"

"Then the others behind you are...?"

Blushing like a young girl, Lucinda peeked behind Lean.

"No, these are..."

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I'm Jade Benjamin. I don't know Cecilia, but I'm friends with Gilbert at the academy. I heard we could see the Silvy residence, so I came along!"

True to his merchant background, he took over with a friendly smile.

"So, you're Gilbert's friend? Does that mean you're all staying overnight? Lean, you're staying, right?"

Clearly delighted by the arrival of her children's friends, she asked with a full smile.

Lean smiled back at the charming Lucinda.

"Ah, yes. But I was thinking of coming again properly. We just stopped by before going back to our mansion today."

"We just came with Lean."

Indicating they had no plans to stay, Lucinda squeezed Lean's hand.

"Don't say that, stay right away! We'll prepare everything for you, including clothes and meals. For Jade and the others too."

"Mother!?"

Cecilia exclaimed in shock at her mother's invitation to Lean and the others.

"Right! There's a cottage by the lake in the back. You can use it if you like. I think there are enough rooms, and I'll assign staff and guards too."

"Wait, wait a minute!"

Gilbert also couldn't help but speak up at his mother's overenthusiasm.

"If you suddenly decide this, their parents will be surprised..."

"It's fine. I'll contact their families. If there's any issue, they'll let me know."

This is what people call power.

If the Duke's residence made such a call, it would be a mere formality. There would be no room for objections.

"Aren't you concerned about young men being with Miss Cecilia?"

Dante, perhaps thinking it was too much, raised his hand to support Lean. However, it seemed to have no effect on Lucinda.

"Oh, Gilbert is here. I'm not worried at all. He will protect Cecilia from anything, won't he, Gilbert?"

"Um, well, that's true, but..."

Perhaps because she knew his feelings, Lucinda's eyes of complete trust made Gilbert press his temple.

Holding down her most troubled son, Lucinda, confident of her victory, clapped her hands.

"Then it's settled! Use this opportunity to get closer to Cecilia as well as Gilbert!"

Despite her gentle demeanor, she was skilled at getting her way.