97 – someone exists
The path from the kitchen to the drawing room was not as far as I thought.
Or maybe I was too nervous to feel the passage of time properly.
Anyway, it wasn’t important.
“I don’t know what kind of car Prince Albert likes.”
“······I am okay.”
After spending the first night with my fiancée, this situation that I’m alone with my mother-in-law is important.
I wondered if I was sitting properly.
The Duchess said with a slight smile.
“Don’t hold back, just tell me.”
“······but.”
“The story may be longer than expected, so I think it would be good for Confucius to quench his thirst in moderation.”
“…”
If you say that there, there is no way to refuse.
After much deliberation, I chose the black tea that looked the most acceptable, and the maid who had been standing next to the Duchess poured me some black tea.
“Lina, would you mind avoiding the seat for a while? I want to have a chat with Gongja alone.”
“Okay, ma’am. I’ll be outside. Call me when you need me.”
“Thank you.”
rattle-
Upon hearing the Duchess’s thanks, the maid named Lina really left the drawing room.
From nob le mt . co m
Now, really, it was just me and the Duchess in the drawing room.
“Now that the listener is gone, let’s start a conversation.”
“Conversation is…”
“Of course, you’re talking about Rebecca and Confucius, right?”
“…”
I did it anyway, but it was like that.
It was clear that the Duchess had already heard everything that had happened between me and Rebecca yesterday.
That the misunderstanding Rebecca had with me was resolved, and that the line between men and women had finally been crossed.
It was an embarrassing situation.
The Duchess waved her hand as if there was no need to be nervous.
“Don’t be too nervous. I just want to talk about my future son-in-law and daughter.”
“That’s how the tension is not…”
“Now then, let’s start with a story. Shall we start with that dish that Confucius seems to have made himself?”
“…”
The Duchess cut off her words as if she didn’t want to hear my rebuttal.
Feeling like I know where Rebecca’s opposite personality came from, I slowly began to answer the sudden question.
“······I didn’t make it myself. The soup was prepared by the chef.”
“Then does that mean that the toast and the strange-looking cake were made by Confucius himself?”
“Yes. I made the two you mentioned.”
“Oh my goodness.”
“It’s nothing special. It’s just a simple dessert…”
Humility did not last.
“That’s not great. Are you going to lie in front of the Duchess of Valencia?”
“…”
The reason was because the Duchess simply cut off my words like before.
It was clear that Rebecca’s personality came from the Duchess.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to cut off people’s words like this.
“I’m not very good at cooking, but just looking at it makes me feel great.”
“… that’s too much praise.”
“Besides, my boyfriend has never made anything like that for me. Does that make him look even more amazing?”
“…”
Unintentionally, I heard the back story of my future father-in-law from my future mother-in-law.
sorry. Duke of Valencia.
I have absolutely nothing to do with that remark of the Duchess.
While I was apologizing to my future father-in-law, the Duchess continued.
“I’m kidding, of course. My boyfriend always made me happy, even though he never made dessert.”
“…”
“I just felt that Gongja loved our Rebecca that much, so I played around with it.”
It’s true that I love you that much, but dessert is an apology for bothering me all night.
The word lingered in my mouth, but it never came out.
Because I didn’t have the hobby of being questioned for saying something I shouldn’t have to do.
Sometimes silence is best.
“By the way, is that a strawberry on top of the cake?”
“Yes. I thought it would be even more delicious if eaten with cake.”
“That’s a strange idea. Did Prince Albert come up with it?”
“That’s right.”
“hehehe. My daughter will like it.”
“It’s quite a well-known fact that the Princess likes strawberries. I’ve focused on that.”
“…Well, is it a well-known fact that my daughter likes strawberries?”
The Duchess was asking me as if I really thought so.
Is it really famous that Rebecca likes strawberries?
“Not many people know that Rebecca loves strawberries.”
“…”
“Me and him, Dorothy and the chef, and Gongja, there are only five of us.”
“······ But not like that.”
“I know what Confucius is thinking, but our Rebecca is a much deeper child than we thought.”
That was right.
Even if Rebecca seemed disheveled to me, I already knew that she was actually a deeper person than anyone else.
If so, please…
The Duchess was smiling as if she knew it.
“My daughter, who knows better than anyone else that she is the next duke of the Duke of Valencia, can’t show her liking for something to others.”
“…”
“Because it’s Gongja. Because the opponent is Prince Albert. I think so.”
“······Is that so.”
Saying that Rebecca looked like that because she was ‘me’.
Could there be anything more delightful than these words I’ve recently heard from someone other than Rebecca?
Of course, Rebecca was out of the question.
– i love you. Albert.
When my fiancé whispered in my ear that I loved her, I fell into the illusion that I had the whole world.
“To be honest, I was more worried at first. Rebecca is also Rebecca, but you can’t judge Gongja only by rumors and documents.”
“…”
“Even in the document containing Confucius’ information, it was written that he had been receiving treatment from the church since he was young. As a mother with a daughter, I was worried.”
Such was the Duchess’ concern.
Wasn’t it that she had chosen a strange person as her fiancé?
Wasn’t it that the adults’ thoughtless promises filled their daughter with shackles?
A worry that any mother with a daughter would think of.
Even so, the Duchess smiled brightly.
“······ But now that I think about it, it all seems like a pointless worry.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Of course. When I look at Rebecca these days, she looks happier and happier than ever. It’s all thanks to Prince Albert.”
Saying you did a good job connecting me with Rebecca.
Saying that my existence is precious to Rebecca and that it is more special than anyone else.
praised me like that.
“But I don’t have any intention of praising until yesterday.”
“…”
“How many times have you been bothered so that my daughter, who always wakes up at 8 o’clock, barely wakes up at 11?”
“······I have nothing to say·····.”
“As long as you’re careful with that, everything seems to be fine.”
“…”
“Alber Zernias. Thank you for being my daughter’s fiancé.”
This is the utmost sincerity.
The woman of the highest rank next to the empress in this empire smiled brightly as she said that.
“I am also always grateful to the Duchess.”
“Oh. Gongja is mine?”
“Aren’t you the one who gave birth to my fiancée? In fact, the happiness I’m feeling is also thanks to the duke and duchess.”
“I can understand Rebecca’s words that she’s really good at talking.”
“······Did the princess say that about me?”
“Yes. He speaks well. He always whispers only what he wants to hear in his ear.”
“…”
My face was hot.
What the Duchess said was not a lie, but it felt embarrassing to hear it from a third person other than Rebecca.
“······The princess said that. I guess I’ll have to restrain myself.”
“No, don’t restrain yourself. Rather, I wish Gongja would say that to Rebecca more often.”
“yes?”
“That’s true, because Rebecca’s expression when she said that to me looked happier than anyone else.”
Because he seemed happier than anyone else in the world.
The message the Duchess delivered in a low voice reached me deeper than any other words.
My presence makes my fiancee happy.
That was enough.
“······I see. I will keep this in mind.”
“Okay. That attitude is enough.”
“Can I get up early? My fiancée will be angry if I bring food late.”
“Oh my, the time has already passed. Hurry up and go. I won’t catch you anymore.”
“thank you.”
I got up from my seat and once again made up my mind to tell Rebecca.
And just as I was about to take the first step to leave the drawing room, I heard a calm voice from behind.
“Thank you again, Gongja. Thanks to you, my daughter is happier.”
“…”
“I may not be ashamed, but I will continue to take good care of you, son-in-law.”
“I understand. Mother-in-law.”
“hehehe. Go quickly. I don’t know if my daughter is angry, right?”
“Let’s go first.”
After saying that, I headed back to Rebecca’s room.
With slightly cooled food and strawberry cake still shining red in her hand.
“······Surely, boys feel differently than girls. Should we ask him to give birth to just one more son?”
“…”
I decided to ignore the voice coming from behind me.
I just wanted to express my condolences to the Duke of Valencia.