Are all kids these days like this? Am I just too conservative?
But even so, it was still difficult for an adult to comprehend the situation, with these kids, who were barely out of puberty, sharing a room with a bed.
But it seems like that could happen between friends... But Ruin and Nife are clearly too close to being just friends because one of them clearly likes the other!
Even as I screamed silently, a conversation was going on inside.
“Didn’t you get scolded a lot by your older sister?”
I was shocked by that question. He was worried I'd scold him. It seemed as if Ruin also liked and cherished Nife.
I don't know if he likes it rationally or if he likes it as a friend.
"Yeah! Even if I got scolded, it was because I messed up. And you don't know how kind she was to me. She even taught me how to ride a horse."
Ruin smiled happily at those words.
“That’s probably because my older sister wanted to ride a horse, so she taught me how to ride.”
"No! You could have gone alone, but you took me with you. You played with me."
No. I just rode because I wanted to ride.
Ugh. I groaned quietly at the door. Contrary to my initial concerns, the two seemed to be simply chatting. And it was a very wholesome, lively, even healthy conversation.
I was glad that Ruin had a friend with whom I could talk so comfortably, but at the same time, I felt sorry that this friend happened to like Ruin.
If Nife hadn't wanted to marry Ruin, I would have fervently supported their friendship. It was tragic and unjust that children couldn't be friends just because their families were at odds.
But Nife loved Ruin. And very, very passionately.
I wanted to ask Ruin what was on his mind, but today, it seemed impossible to interrupt the meeting between the two boys and the girl. I turned away. It seemed best for adults to act like adults and prepare meals for the children.
When I appeared in the kitchen, the chef and the kitchen attendants all turned to me in surprise. They scrambled to find their seats, then greeted me with booming voices.
Since I rarely showed up in the kitchen to interfere, I felt awkward with them, and they seemed to feel awkward with me.
“Is there anything you really want to eat today?”
The chef stepped forward with a determined expression and said, "I have no food preferences and can eat anything with pleasure, so I had no complaints about my work in the kitchen."
But as a chef, it was natural to be concerned about the new hostess's taste. "I wish I had paid more attention," I thought, shaking my head.
Then the chef asked cautiously with a worried look on his face.
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. That’s not why I came here.”
I waved my hand. The reason I came today was because of Ruin and Nife.
"My little brother is coming over today, so I want to treat him to a delicious meal. Could you prepare something he likes?"
At my words, the chef clenched his fists.
“I’ve been waiting for a day like today!”
"Huh?" The chef said forcefully, leaving me bewildered.
"I wanted to show off my skills to you, Madam, but you're always so busy that you never ask what you'd like to eat. I was starting to feel discouraged. But since you're asking me to cook for you, I assume you like our food?"
It wasn't meant to be that grand. Of course, the meals were always warm, delicious, and thoughtful.
"Yeah. I'm enjoying every meal. Thank you so much."
I remembered that I had been too busy to pay attention to him until now, so I expressed my sincere gratitude. The chef was very excited and asked me.
“So what should I prepare for dinner tonight?”
"Oh, Ruin likes lamb. And I'd appreciate it if you could prepare some carrot soup. Also..."
The chef began taking notes on everything I said. I was reciting Ruin's favorite foods, and then, as if a thought struck me, I asked the chef.
“What does Nife like?”
“Are you talking about the lady of the Sasha family?”
When I nodded, the chef said as if he knew very well.
"That lively young lady said she liked anything meaty. She snuck into the kitchen last time and asked me to leave out some vegetables."
"What?"
"She did something so cute?" I said with a sigh and a laugh.
"Yeah, sometimes you have to pretend not to notice her picky eating. And prepare a meat dish that she'd like."
“Yes, ma’am! Leave it to me!”
Hearing the chef's powerful voice, I went down to the dining room and casually glanced around the table. It was a gathering of family and friends, so it would be best to sit close together. We'd have a lot to talk about. As I pondered this and that, time flew by.
When dinner time arrived, Ruin and Nife appeared side by side in the dining room. Unsure how to view them, I greeted them with wide, shaking eyes.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
Nife greeted me faster than Ruin. It looked like she had a tail attached to her backside, wagging it.
"Why didn't you come to Ruin's room? I waited for a long time, but you didn't come, so I thought you were busy."
“Oh, really? I was busy preparing dinner.”
I answered calmly. I couldn't bring myself to say that I couldn't interfere while you two were there.
As the delicious lamb appeared on the table, Ruin and Nife's faces brightened at the same time.
"Ruin, is that what you like? Her Highness must have put a lot of thought into it."
“Thank you, sister.”
Ruin greeted me shyly. Nife continued to care for Ruin even as he ate his meat. Ruin, in turn, gazed at Nife with affectionate eyes.
The anger and fear they'd shown each other when they first met were nowhere to be found. It seemed their earlier conversation had completely dissolved any animosity.
The two seemed genuinely affectionate. It made me wonder if, had the Winsley and Sasha families remained close, I might have stepped in to facilitate their marriage.
Even at this very moment, Ruin was urging Nife to eat a pepper. Nife, though with a tearful expression, put the pepper in her mouth and swallowed it whole. Ruin's expression, watching her, was filled with immense joy.
What should I really do?
The day of the Imperial Hunting Tournament had arrived. Ruin and Nife, having come all the way to the Grand Duke's residence, decided to attend.
Although Nife had never learned hunting skills and could only sit in the stands, she seemed to enjoy the very fact that she was going with Ruin.
I stared blankly at the carriages prepared for the imperial hunting grounds. There were two carriages, each suitable for nobles.
Of course, there was no need for Julian, Ruin, Nife, and me to cram into one carriage. But it seemed wasteful for all four of us to ride in separate carriages.
So there are two of them... How do I divide them?
Me, Ruin, Julian, and Nife? I think Nife will be scared the whole way there.
Me, Nife, Julian, and Ruin? Ruin seemed to be sweating profusely the entire way.
In fact, there was only one answer. It would be most appropriate for Julian and me to ride in one carriage, while Ruin and Nife would ride in another.
“Madam, why are you so worried?”
“I’m worried that the news that Ruin and Nife were riding in the same carriage will spread throughout society, and that their marriage will be blocked.”
When I spoke very seriously, Anna burst into laughter.
"Madam, you're strangely old-fashioned. Who says that these days?"
Is that so? I frowned, but there was no other way. When I told Nife to ride in the same carriage as Ruin, Nife flashed the brightest smile I'd ever seen and slid into the carriage. Ruin didn't seem to mind either.
As the carriage departed, I was lost in agony. I held Julian's hand and sighed deeply. Julian simply looked at me, not telling me to let go or to stop sighing.
“What should I do?”
Of course, he didn't answer. That's understandable, because all I'd said on my way here was, "What should I do?" or "Have I done something terrible?" At first, Julian asked why, but after a while, he just stared at me without answering.
Either way, I said what I wanted to say.
“What if Ruin and Nife really get married?”
I threw Julian's hand away and slapped my palms against my cheeks, screaming.
"If they really do want to get married, what position should our family take? Should we apologize first? Or should we be overbearing and avoid being looked down upon? How can we ensure Ruin's marriage goes smoothly? What if Ruin is bullied by Count Sasha and his wife? Can Nife protect Ruin from her parents? What should we do? What should we do...?"
"Stop."
As I continued speaking without taking a breath, Julian stopped me.
“Madam, speak while breathing. You’ll be in big trouble.”
I kept quiet for a moment. Julian's words seemed to make sense. But my worries persisted.
I didn't scream anymore. I just screamed.
“Our Ruin is still a child!”
“Ha... This is driving me crazy.”
Julian could only hold his forehead like someone suffering from severe motion sickness.
"Madam, I think Young Master Winsley is a very intelligent man. At least he seems much smarter than you."
I asked seriously, still with my palms on my cheeks.
“Does Julian think so, too?”
“Yes. So, don’t worry about that.”
Julian soothed me with great calm. Perhaps it was because I'd once lived an unhappy life through marriage? Unlike me, Ruin's marriage felt daunting and difficult. If Julian hadn't been by my side, I might have stopped the carriage, rushed to Ruin, and acted like a stern parent.
I let out a long breath.
“Thank you, Julian. I’ll calm down now.”
“You said that earlier, too.”
I couldn't help but shout at Julian's mischievous words.
“This time it’s real!”
But even so, it was still difficult for an adult to comprehend the situation, with these kids, who were barely out of puberty, sharing a room with a bed.
But it seems like that could happen between friends... But Ruin and Nife are clearly too close to being just friends because one of them clearly likes the other!
Even as I screamed silently, a conversation was going on inside.
“Didn’t you get scolded a lot by your older sister?”
I was shocked by that question. He was worried I'd scold him. It seemed as if Ruin also liked and cherished Nife.
I don't know if he likes it rationally or if he likes it as a friend.
"Yeah! Even if I got scolded, it was because I messed up. And you don't know how kind she was to me. She even taught me how to ride a horse."
Ruin smiled happily at those words.
“That’s probably because my older sister wanted to ride a horse, so she taught me how to ride.”
"No! You could have gone alone, but you took me with you. You played with me."
No. I just rode because I wanted to ride.
Ugh. I groaned quietly at the door. Contrary to my initial concerns, the two seemed to be simply chatting. And it was a very wholesome, lively, even healthy conversation.
I was glad that Ruin had a friend with whom I could talk so comfortably, but at the same time, I felt sorry that this friend happened to like Ruin.
If Nife hadn't wanted to marry Ruin, I would have fervently supported their friendship. It was tragic and unjust that children couldn't be friends just because their families were at odds.
But Nife loved Ruin. And very, very passionately.
I wanted to ask Ruin what was on his mind, but today, it seemed impossible to interrupt the meeting between the two boys and the girl. I turned away. It seemed best for adults to act like adults and prepare meals for the children.
When I appeared in the kitchen, the chef and the kitchen attendants all turned to me in surprise. They scrambled to find their seats, then greeted me with booming voices.
Since I rarely showed up in the kitchen to interfere, I felt awkward with them, and they seemed to feel awkward with me.
“Is there anything you really want to eat today?”
The chef stepped forward with a determined expression and said, "I have no food preferences and can eat anything with pleasure, so I had no complaints about my work in the kitchen."
But as a chef, it was natural to be concerned about the new hostess's taste. "I wish I had paid more attention," I thought, shaking my head.
Then the chef asked cautiously with a worried look on his face.
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. That’s not why I came here.”
I waved my hand. The reason I came today was because of Ruin and Nife.
"My little brother is coming over today, so I want to treat him to a delicious meal. Could you prepare something he likes?"
At my words, the chef clenched his fists.
“I’ve been waiting for a day like today!”
"Huh?" The chef said forcefully, leaving me bewildered.
"I wanted to show off my skills to you, Madam, but you're always so busy that you never ask what you'd like to eat. I was starting to feel discouraged. But since you're asking me to cook for you, I assume you like our food?"
It wasn't meant to be that grand. Of course, the meals were always warm, delicious, and thoughtful.
"Yeah. I'm enjoying every meal. Thank you so much."
I remembered that I had been too busy to pay attention to him until now, so I expressed my sincere gratitude. The chef was very excited and asked me.
“So what should I prepare for dinner tonight?”
"Oh, Ruin likes lamb. And I'd appreciate it if you could prepare some carrot soup. Also..."
The chef began taking notes on everything I said. I was reciting Ruin's favorite foods, and then, as if a thought struck me, I asked the chef.
“What does Nife like?”
“Are you talking about the lady of the Sasha family?”
When I nodded, the chef said as if he knew very well.
"That lively young lady said she liked anything meaty. She snuck into the kitchen last time and asked me to leave out some vegetables."
"What?"
"She did something so cute?" I said with a sigh and a laugh.
"Yeah, sometimes you have to pretend not to notice her picky eating. And prepare a meat dish that she'd like."
“Yes, ma’am! Leave it to me!”
Hearing the chef's powerful voice, I went down to the dining room and casually glanced around the table. It was a gathering of family and friends, so it would be best to sit close together. We'd have a lot to talk about. As I pondered this and that, time flew by.
When dinner time arrived, Ruin and Nife appeared side by side in the dining room. Unsure how to view them, I greeted them with wide, shaking eyes.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
Nife greeted me faster than Ruin. It looked like she had a tail attached to her backside, wagging it.
"Why didn't you come to Ruin's room? I waited for a long time, but you didn't come, so I thought you were busy."
“Oh, really? I was busy preparing dinner.”
I answered calmly. I couldn't bring myself to say that I couldn't interfere while you two were there.
As the delicious lamb appeared on the table, Ruin and Nife's faces brightened at the same time.
"Ruin, is that what you like? Her Highness must have put a lot of thought into it."
“Thank you, sister.”
Ruin greeted me shyly. Nife continued to care for Ruin even as he ate his meat. Ruin, in turn, gazed at Nife with affectionate eyes.
The anger and fear they'd shown each other when they first met were nowhere to be found. It seemed their earlier conversation had completely dissolved any animosity.
The two seemed genuinely affectionate. It made me wonder if, had the Winsley and Sasha families remained close, I might have stepped in to facilitate their marriage.
Even at this very moment, Ruin was urging Nife to eat a pepper. Nife, though with a tearful expression, put the pepper in her mouth and swallowed it whole. Ruin's expression, watching her, was filled with immense joy.
What should I really do?
***
The day of the Imperial Hunting Tournament had arrived. Ruin and Nife, having come all the way to the Grand Duke's residence, decided to attend.
Although Nife had never learned hunting skills and could only sit in the stands, she seemed to enjoy the very fact that she was going with Ruin.
I stared blankly at the carriages prepared for the imperial hunting grounds. There were two carriages, each suitable for nobles.
Of course, there was no need for Julian, Ruin, Nife, and me to cram into one carriage. But it seemed wasteful for all four of us to ride in separate carriages.
So there are two of them... How do I divide them?
Me, Ruin, Julian, and Nife? I think Nife will be scared the whole way there.
Me, Nife, Julian, and Ruin? Ruin seemed to be sweating profusely the entire way.
In fact, there was only one answer. It would be most appropriate for Julian and me to ride in one carriage, while Ruin and Nife would ride in another.
“Madam, why are you so worried?”
“I’m worried that the news that Ruin and Nife were riding in the same carriage will spread throughout society, and that their marriage will be blocked.”
When I spoke very seriously, Anna burst into laughter.
"Madam, you're strangely old-fashioned. Who says that these days?"
Is that so? I frowned, but there was no other way. When I told Nife to ride in the same carriage as Ruin, Nife flashed the brightest smile I'd ever seen and slid into the carriage. Ruin didn't seem to mind either.
As the carriage departed, I was lost in agony. I held Julian's hand and sighed deeply. Julian simply looked at me, not telling me to let go or to stop sighing.
“What should I do?”
Of course, he didn't answer. That's understandable, because all I'd said on my way here was, "What should I do?" or "Have I done something terrible?" At first, Julian asked why, but after a while, he just stared at me without answering.
Either way, I said what I wanted to say.
“What if Ruin and Nife really get married?”
I threw Julian's hand away and slapped my palms against my cheeks, screaming.
"If they really do want to get married, what position should our family take? Should we apologize first? Or should we be overbearing and avoid being looked down upon? How can we ensure Ruin's marriage goes smoothly? What if Ruin is bullied by Count Sasha and his wife? Can Nife protect Ruin from her parents? What should we do? What should we do...?"
"Stop."
As I continued speaking without taking a breath, Julian stopped me.
“Madam, speak while breathing. You’ll be in big trouble.”
I kept quiet for a moment. Julian's words seemed to make sense. But my worries persisted.
I didn't scream anymore. I just screamed.
“Our Ruin is still a child!”
“Ha... This is driving me crazy.”
Julian could only hold his forehead like someone suffering from severe motion sickness.
"Madam, I think Young Master Winsley is a very intelligent man. At least he seems much smarter than you."
I asked seriously, still with my palms on my cheeks.
“Does Julian think so, too?”
“Yes. So, don’t worry about that.”
Julian soothed me with great calm. Perhaps it was because I'd once lived an unhappy life through marriage? Unlike me, Ruin's marriage felt daunting and difficult. If Julian hadn't been by my side, I might have stopped the carriage, rushed to Ruin, and acted like a stern parent.
I let out a long breath.
“Thank you, Julian. I’ll calm down now.”
“You said that earlier, too.”
I couldn't help but shout at Julian's mischievous words.
“This time it’s real!”
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