Chapter – 08
“Hm?”
At Lilliana, whose eyes had widened into circles, Anriche lightly shrugged her shoulders.
“Because I want to see you become all chubby and healthy.”
“Yes, understood.”
Lilliana nodded shyly.
Only then did Anriche look satisfied.
The sight of her smiling with flushed cheeks finally made her look like a child her age.
By the time Lilliana finished eating, the night sky was already filled with twinkling stars.
“It’s still a little early, but I think it’s alright to head to bed.”
“You’re right, it’s already gotten this late.”
As they walked together chatting softly, Anriche noticed Elliot hiding behind the dining room door.
Apparently, he wanted to stay near Lilliana and had been lingering around the area for no reason….
Anriche smiled wickedly.
“Come to think of it, Lilliana eats tomatoes well, unlike someone.”
At Anriche’s exaggerated praise, Elliot—who had been peeking out—looked visibly stung.
Just hearing the word “tomato” alone was enough to make Elliot recoil in disgust.
Meanwhile, even though the topic had changed suddenly, Lilliana diligently nodded.
“Yes, because Mother said picky eating is bad for the body.”
In truth, she had never lived in an environment with enough food to even have the luxury of being picky.
Quietly pushing aside those thoughts, Lilliana looked up at Anriche with clear eyes.
“That’s right, I did say that. What do you think about people who are picky eaters, Lilliana?”
At Anriche’s question, Lilliana fell into deep thought for a moment.
Well… someone who is a picky eater.
She had never really thought about it before….
“Hmm… if it’s someone who does something Mother says ‘isn’t good’….”
Lilliana’s eyes shone with determination.
“Then I think I’d dislike it too.”
The moment she heard that declaration, Anriche glanced sideways at Elliot.
At this point, he looked as though the ground beneath his feet had collapsed.
You little brat. That’s why nobody told you to be a picky eater.
Just as Anriche barely held back her laughter—
“Um, Mother.”
Lilliana called out softly after taking a small breath.
Quickly wiping away her wicked smile, Anriche turned toward Lilliana.
“What is it?”
“Um… today, Mother….”
What is she trying to say that she’s hesitating this much for?
Anriche blankly looked down at her future daughter-in-law.
After moving her lips several times, Lilliana tightly shut her eyes and finally asked,
“You… sleep together with Duke Valois, right?”
“Hm? No, that’s….”
Unable to outright say, “The Duke and I have slept in separate rooms for a million years already!”, Anriche could only cry tears of blood inwardly.
Lilliana pressed her lips together tightly, then shook her head.
“No, it’s nothing. I got too greedy.”
“Too greedy? About what?”
“It’s nothing.”
But after starting the conversation like that, there was no way Anriche would simply let it go.
Only after being pressed several times did Lilliana cautiously open her lips again.
“A-Actually, I….”
“Yes, actually?”
“I-I… with Mother….”
With me? With me what?
Anriche frowned.
After hesitating for a long time, Lilliana’s cheeks suddenly turned bright red as she lowered her head deeply.
“I’m scared of being separated from you….”
Ah, so that was it.
Anriche could not hide her pitiful gaze.
Come to think of it, Lilliana was only seven years old.
A child still at the age where she needed an adult’s warmth, yet one who had never once been loved by anyone.
And then, for the first time, someone had taken care of her.
In that situation… wasn’t it only natural for her to fear being alone?
Seeing how she longed for human warmth made Anriche bite her lips tightly.
…Wait a second, come to think of it?
At that moment, her violet eyes gleamed ominously.
Whipping her head around, Anriche greedily took in the innocent-looking Lilliana.
Anyway, “Anriche” had already been sleeping separately from the Duke for a long time.
In that case, there was absolutely no problem with sleeping in the same room as Lilliana, right?
Good. This is exactly where I should earn points!
“Alright, let’s sleep together.”
“I’m sorry, I was too greedy—… Huh?”
Lilliana, who had hurriedly begun apologizing, widened her eyes greatly.
Since she looked utterly unable to believe her ears, Anriche nodded firmly toward her.
“I said let’s sleep together.”
“R-Really?! Is that alright?!”
“Of course. Let’s do that until your room is prepared.”
Answering casually, Anriche took the opportunity to add another suggestion that would surely perk up Lilliana’s ears.
“Should we bring up a cup of cocoa too?”
“Yes, I’d love that!”
The brightly smiling face of Lilliana dimmed slightly.
As though there was still something bothering her.
“But… um… Young Duke Valois….”
“Hm? You mean Elliot?”
Nod nod.
Lilliana nodded gloomily.
“I’m worried that if I sleep together with Mother, maybe the Young Duke will feel hurt.”
“…Ah. Hmm, that child….”
Not knowing how to answer, Anriche’s eyes rolled around.
Well, it was really sweet that Lilliana was being considerate of Elliot, but….
Anriche imagined herself asking Elliot, “Do you want to sleep with Mom tonight?”
…Wouldn’t Elliot probably recoil in horror?
But in the long run, I should earn points with Elliot too.
In that case, maybe she should stop by Elliot’s room on the way back.
She could roughly use the excuse that she came to bring him cocoa.
And if they could exchange a few words, even better.
After finishing her calculations internally, Anriche lightly patted Lilliana’s shoulder.
“Then would you like to go up to my room first, Lilliana?”
“…By myself?”
“Yes, I’ll have a maid guide you there.”
“Um, I… want to go together with Mother.”
Lilliana’s eyes immediately became watery.
Anriche glanced behind her.
Elliot was still behind the door, staring over with extremely wary eyes.
Mother, don’t bully Lilliana!
…That was roughly the kind of emotion in his gaze.
Since he was too far away, it seemed he could not hear the actual conversation between Anriche and Lilliana.
Letting out a deep sigh, Anriche whispered softly into Lilliana’s ear.
“Before going back to the room, I’m planning to bring a cup of cocoa to Elliot too.”
“Ah, is that so? But then why are you whispering it to me?”
“Umm… because I want it to be a surprise visit…?”
Anriche laughed awkwardly.
Actually, my son hates even the idea of me coming into his room. That’s why it has to stay secret.
She obviously could not say that.
Lilliana seemed to accept the explanation.
Taking the opportunity, Anriche beckoned over a maid.
“Escort the young lady to my bedroom. I’ll head up shortly after.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The maid lowered her head politely.
Lilliana followed after the maid, turning back several times.
Watching the child’s retreating figure, Anriche eventually headed toward the kitchen.
The surroundings were so quiet that it felt as though one could hear a pin drop.
Carefully walking without making footsteps, Lilliana slowly lifted her head.
The back of the maid walking ahead of her somehow looked rigid.
…This is awkward.
Lilliana carefully observed the atmosphere.
During the entire walk to Anriche’s bedroom, neither the maid nor Lilliana opened their mouths even once.
Normally, there should at least have been some light conversation.
Sh-Should I try speaking first?
Right, they said the thirsty person should dig the well first.
If the awkward atmosphere was too difficult to bear, then Lilliana could simply start the conversation herself.
Swallowing dryly, Lilliana finally opened her mouth.
“Um, perhaps our Mother….”
“It would be best not to speak carelessly about Madam.”
At that cold response, Lilliana reflexively shrank her shoulders.
…Am I not even allowed to ask about Mother-in-law?
But the maid’s firm voice was so frightening.
At the same time, the maid slightly turned around.
Her chilly gaze swept Lilliana up and down.
“You do understand that because of you, we had to work until late tonight, correct?”
“Th-That….”
“From now on, please eat your meals on time.”
Finishing her words, the maid tightly shut her lips.
…Could it be that I’m hated here too?
Lilliana’s heart sank heavily.
Anriche secretly felt rather proud of herself.
The original Anriche used to order the maids around with just the tip of her nose, yet here she was personally heading all the way to the kitchen to get cocoa herself!
Yeah, this is quite a lot of progress!
Feeling pleased, Anriche was just about to walk into the kitchen—
“That girl who came today, she’s from the Averitt Count family, right?”
—until she heard the maids whispering through the half-open door.
“The Averitt Count family?”
“You know, that family that arranged an engagement with Young Master Elliot a long time ago.”
“Ah, the one that completely went bankrupt?”
Their tone openly looked down on Lilliana no matter how one listened to it.
Oh, look at these little brats?
Anriche narrowed her eyes.
“Because that kid suddenly showed up earlier, we had to prepare food even though it wasn’t mealtime.”
“Right, so annoying….”
