MAS 07

-chapter 7-

“Did you call for me, my lord?”

“Why do you think I called you?”

Quick-witted as ever, Ken grasped Siderion’s intent and responded immediately.

“Please don’t concern yourself too much with the previous disturbance. Her Grace is still immature and must have misunderstood—”

“Misunderstood?”

At that single word, Ken fell silent.

A sense of unease crept over him as he cautiously resumed speaking.

“Y-yes… Her Grace is still very young, is she not? She likely doesn’t yet understand the workings of the estate. I will assign her additional etiquette tutors so that she won’t trouble you with unnecessary matters—”

“Do you think I called my butler just to hear something like that?”

So that wasn’t it?

Ken’s mind raced, nearly overheating.

The former Grand Duke of Asytria had been the same, but Siderion—his son—lived up to his reputation as a monster born with an overwhelming affinity for fire. No matter what people whispered behind his back, he never cared.

At first, Ken had punished the maids who spoke ill of their master, but both father and son showed no interest in what servants called them.

Every time Ken disciplined someone for gossip, he was warned not to stir up trouble over something trivial.

Something trivial.

He didn’t understand it, but obeying his master was a butler’s duty.

From then on, Ken stopped restraining the servants, and it was only natural that whispers about the master’s indifference grew more frequent.

So that can’t be it.

Siderion had always been difficult to understand, but today was particularly so.

Ken asked carefully,

“…Then?”

“Your daughter’s name was Elga, wasn’t it?”

The sudden mention of his daughter made Ken visibly panic.

“M-my daughter—did she make some kind of mistake—!”

“She’s irritating.”

“…Pardon?”

“She’s irritating.”

What kind of baseless, incomprehensible statement was that?

Ken opened and closed his mouth, unable to figure out how to respond.

“If she made a mistake, I will discipline her properly.”

“Ken.”

Siderion called him quietly. Ken swallowed hard and bowed his head repeatedly.

“Since when did a butler start arguing with his master?”

“A-arguing? Never! I would never— I was merely—”

As Siderion gazed at the old man’s face, thick with tension, he spoke softly.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Ken looked at him helplessly.

That expressionless face—so devoid of emotion it sent chills down one’s spine.

If even a trace of emotion showed, he might have tried persuasion.

But given Siderion’s elemental nature, this was not an emotional decision.

Elga must have done something wrong.

Though he felt wronged without knowing why, how could a butler defy his master?

Ken swallowed a sigh and lowered his head.

“…Understood.”

*

Lately, something felt strange.

“My lady, are you out for a walk?”

“The head chef says he’s preparing steak today—your favorite, my lady.”

“Good morning, my lady.”

So, basically… everyone suddenly started treating me nicely.

“Huh? Uh… yeah…”

At first, I wondered if it was my imagination, but I was far too perceptive to dismiss this as coincidence.

They say when people start acting out of character, it means death is near.

Did everyone get a terminal diagnosis at once?

Feeling awkward enough to want to crawl into a hole, I grabbed Mary tightly and whispered,

“Mary, people are acting weird.”

Mary’s eyes widened before curving into a gentle smile.

“Weird? Everyone’s being kind to you, my lady.”

“That’s exactly why it’s weird! They used to barely acknowledge me.”

“Well… that’s true. They’ve definitely been nicer lately. Oh! Could it be because of that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“After what happened between you and… and Elga left the estate, there’s a rumor that the Grand Duke himself intervened. Maybe everyone’s trying to stay on your good side so they don’t end up the same.”

My face twisted instinctively.

“What…? That doesn’t make any sense!”

“I don’t know. But that’s what people are saying.”

Even Mary looked unconvinced as she said it.

Well, whatever the reason—people being kind isn’t exactly a bad thing.

I decided not to overthink it.

Because I had far more important things to worry about.

And the thing I needed to worry about was—

“…Why are you here?”

Siderion looked at me with clear displeasure as he worked through documents in his office.

Like I came here because I wanted to see you.

Let me be clear—I was the victim here.

I hadn’t chosen to be here in the first place.

But just because something’s unpleasant doesn’t mean you can avoid it forever.

I’d thought there were two months left until Siderion left for the battlefield, but after counting properly, there wasn’t even a month and a half left.

And with at least two weeks spent at the imperial palace preparing for war, that meant I had barely a month to work with.

“Ah, it’s nothing big—just this…”

I carefully held out a pouch I’d tucked inside my clothes.

“…?”

He looked back and forth between me and the pouch with suspicion.

“Open it.”

Despite his wary expression, he untied the pouch.

When he saw what was inside, his eyes narrowed even further.

“…Cookies?”

“Well? What do you think?”

“About what?”

“Don’t they look good?”

Despite my question, Siderion just stared at the cookies, showing no intention of speaking.

My plan had been simple.

If I wanted a safe divorce, I needed to leave at least a slightly positive impression on Siderion.

Sure, he barely felt emotions—but that didn’t mean he had none at all.

And besides—

You might be bad at emotions, but you can still taste things, right?

According to my memory, there was exactly one thing Siderion genuinely liked.

Desserts.

If you eat these cookies, can you really keep ignoring me?

I’d come armed with what I thought was a brilliant plan.

Did I miscalculate…?

I’d expected him to drop his guard immediately, but instead he was locked in a staring contest with the cookies.

The longer the silence stretched, the more anxious I became.

“…D-do you not like cookies?”

Just as my perfect plan was about to crumble—

Siderion reached out and put one cookie into his mouth.

With his usual blank expression, he began chewing seriously.

Then he reached out again and popped another one in.

The stiffness around my mouth slowly melted away.

Watching him chew in silence, he looked exactly like a hamster.

Whenever he opened his mouth, his manners vanished—but when he ate quietly, he looked like an angel.

You little punk… you’re actually kind of cute.

Moments like this made him seem like a normal kid.

My worries proved pointless—he ended up eating every single cookie I brought.

“So? It’s good, right?”

I asked proudly.

Siderion stared straight at me.

“Did you make these?”

“No? Obviously not. I’m only twelve, you know.”

Well… not exactly.

Anyway!

If Siderion were a normal kid, I would’ve gone with an emotional approach—but since he wasn’t, that meant—

I didn’t need to suffer unnecessarily.

Still, his expression looked oddly sulky. Was it just my imagination?

As I blinked, Siderion held something out to me.

I took it instinctively.

An empty cookie pouch.

In other words—trash.

“If you’re done, get out.”

“Huh?”

Come on, even people like you have some decency.

Oh—wait. Maybe not.

When I just stood there blinking, his aide added politely,

“My lady… His Grace is quite busy with work, so—”

He spoke gently, clearly trying not to hurt my feelings, but the message was clear.

Leave.

I can’t just go back like this…

Do you know how much resolve it took for me to come here?!

I needed to get closer—even a little—so I could bring up divorce someday.

If nothing else, I needed to understand what was going on in Siderion’s head.

I spoke again, my voice more desperate.

“Um—excuse me—”

“Get out.”

You jerk. Fine—I’m going!

I left the office with my lips puffed out in a sulk.

So he behaves nicely while eating, then kicks me out the moment he’s done?

What kind of person is this?!

I wasn’t asking for anything grand—but changing his attitude that fast?

I’d always known it, but he truly had an incredible personality.

Now I’m feeling stubborn.

Just you wait.

I will get you to talk to me somehow.

*

“…What exactly are you doing here?”

At the sound of his voice, I slowly blinked awake.

Only then did I realize I’d dozed off.

“H-huh? What time is it?”

Siderion looked at me as though I were utterly pathetic.

Then he said coldly,

“Move.”

“Wait—wait! Talk to me for a minute!”

I jumped up and blocked Siderion as he reached for the door handle.

His brows furrowed deeply.