A small, round body and plump arms and legs that look like sausages strung together.
And a face giggling at Ryan...
'Wow, so fucking cute...'
It is hard to take one's eyes off it. Ryan was seized by an indescribable emotion upon seeing this small and fragile being.
"P-Please give him to me!"
"Wow."
However, before he could even be moved, a hand reached out and snatched the baby from Ryan's arms.
She was the head lady-in-waiting at the imperial palace.
Ryan licked his lips as he looked at His Royal Highness the Imperial Grandson, Sebastian Valencier, held in the hands of the head lady-in-waiting.
"Look here, you're making me feel awkward! It's barely been a few minutes since he hugged him, and you're taking him away in such a hurry?"
As the Crown Princess, who was watching, scolded her, the head lady-in-waiting hesitated and glanced at Ryan.
"Haha! Not at all, Your Highness."
Ryan was disappointed, but naturally, he understood the head maid's anxiety.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's first son, born after much difficulty. The sound of a baby crying returns to the Imperial Palace after a long time—a joyous occasion for the Empire.
Imperial Grandson Sebastian is a baby who keeps everyone on edge just by his mere existence, so for the Head Lady-in-waiting, it is instant death.
Being held in the arms of someone with supernatural abilities must be unsettling.
'On the contrary, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess trusts me too much, you know.'
Ryan thought that and hid his disappointment.
He couldn't bring himself to take his eyes off the back of the head lady-in-waiting as she hurriedly disappeared, clutching the imperial grandson as if fleeing...
"I'll sneak it out later, so stay and look around a little longer."
The Crown Prince, who had been watching, patted Ryan on the back and spoke with a look of pity.
"By the way, Duke Belzer. Is the estate's business really that busy?"
The Crown Princess asked.
"The Princess says that Baron Hughes, the steward, is very competent. You should leave most of the affairs to him and stay in the capital for a while; that way you can meet good people and things like that."
"Do good people only exist within the capital? Belzer is a place where people live, too."
"I say this because all the young ladies from respectable families are gathered in the capital. Since we are taking in the Duke's wife, it is better to have someone of a discerning eye within aristocratic society."
"Hilde, Duke Belzer is not in a position to be picky about whether someone is a noble or a commoner right now."
The Crown Prince and his wife clashed and heated up over finding a mistress for another household.
Ryan just scratched his head between the two and spoke.
"I am fine. I feel I have been too negligent in my duties as the lord, so I intend to fulfill my responsibilities for the time being. The newcomers also need some time to adjust to their nature."
He put his arm around Richard's shoulder, who had been standing silently behind him, and brought him forward.
"Actually, I am very busy with work, but Her Highness the Princess said she really wanted to see this fellow's face this time, so I made a special trip to come. Haha, and while I'm at it, I'd like to see His Royal Highness the Grandson as well?"
“Ah! Rather than that.”
For some reason, the Crown Princess smiled. She gently gestured to Ryan as if to call him closer.
As he approached, the Crown Princess distanced herself from the others and whispered so that only Ryan could hear.
"I probably called you because I have someone I want to introduce to you."
"Yes?!"
Ryan's eyes flashed.
"The Princess went through so much trouble to find you a match, and although she hired a Baron's daughter as a lady-in-waiting a few months ago, you see she's always walking around with only her by her side these days?"
“Yes...”
"When I asked why, she casually mentioned that she is a really nice person and that she would be a good match for you. I suspect she might be considering her as your partner."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ryan covered his mouth.
Va, Vania!
After all, there is only you!
"Don't stay here like this; go see the Princess's face right away."
***
Clara Flynt was the eldest daughter of a poor baronial family.
Her father who is a retired knight holding a title of nominal importance. A life with three younger siblings to support under a commoner mother.
Even though both of her parents were in poor health, Clara took on odd jobs like sewing to support the family.
A sudden change came to Clara's life a few months ago.
It was from the time when the Princess, Vania Valencier, invited Baroness Flynt, that is, Clara's mother, to a tea party.
No, how on earth did she know of such a humble, nominal baronial family and even invite us?
She didn't know the reason, but anyway.
Her mother, having returned from the party, spoke excitedly.
"I heard Her Highness the Princess is looking for a lady-in-waiting, and she said she really wants to see you!"
What kind of luck is this?
The family saved up a week's worth of food money to buy Clara a nice dress.
Clara, who went to the imperial palace wearing the most expensive clothes she had ever worn, received the honor of becoming a lady-in-waiting to the Princess that very day.
The Princess, who even paid an absurd salary in advance as if she knew Clara's situation well.
The family, who were prepared to go hungry for a week, instead tried the most expensive and delicious meal of the day.
But... the joy is short-lived.
Clara soon realized.
The reason why Princess Vania took her as a lady-in-waiting and is treating her so well.
"There's a funny story behind your name, you know?"
Vania said with a smile. Clara was out again today as her companion while she took a walk in the Imperial Palace garden.
"What is the story behind this?"
"I told you that my brother and I pretended to be father and daughter. Back then, we used the alias 'Clara' for my biological mother, who didn't even exist!"
Saying that, Vania giggled.
Is this... funny?
It is not particularly special that someone used the name Clara as a pseudonym when there are over a hundred people in the empire, or that it overlapped.
Nevertheless, the reason Vania is subtly bringing this up is...
"The villagers, who were late to hear the news, still think that a woman named Clara is my brother's wife, you know?"
Ugh, as expected!
Yes, knowing the reason, Clara held back her urge to cry.
Thinking to herself what her friends would say.
"The Princess is searching for a marriage partner for Duke Belzer with fire in her eyes."
"Since the rumors about him are a bit scary, I suppose it won't be easy to arrange a marriage with just any noble lady."
After the family's fortunes declined following her father's retirement, they were friends who subtly ostracized Clara.
Friends she desperately wanted to cut ties with, but couldn't because they brought her work.
Those women, who had been openly jealous of the news that Clara had become the Princess's lady-in-waiting, brought such rumors a few days later.
"Why do you think Her Highness the Princess would have made you a lady-in-waiting when your family is so insignificant?"
"You must have searched and searched until you reached your fourth turn, since you at least hold the noble title. As for the financial support, the reason is obvious, isn't it?"
"What are we going to do about our Clara? Then isn't that practically selling her out for money?"
"Oh my! Still, if she makes a good impression, she could become a Duchess. It would be a breakout moment! Of course, she would have to survive Duke Belzer's grasp before she can safely become a Duchess, though!"
Rumors of Duke Belzer, a terrifying man said to be able to kill a person in a second with a single glance, had already spread throughout the province.
However, even if Vania is really being nice to me to make me her brother's partner...
'There's nothing else I can do.'
Clara had to make a good impression on Vania. If she quit her job as Vania's lady-in-waiting, her poor family would have to go hungry again like before.
She did not want to hesitate regarding a matter that involved the livelihood of her precious family.
“Clara.”
"Yes, Your Highness."
Clara quietly turned to look at Vania, who was calling her.
'...You're really pretty.'
Clara suddenly had such a thought.
Regardless of her intentions, Vania was objectively such a good person.
At first, she liked her pretty face, but after getting to know her, she found her to be kind and affectionate as well.
Clara was also well aware that such a personality was not an act intended to lure her in.
"By any chance, what about a guy who smokes...?"
"Yes, yes?"
Oh man. It was bound to happen!
Clara, who had inwardly become complacent, was on edge as Vania, who had never once brought up the topic of men, became extremely nervous.
'He smokes too? Ugh!'
To think that such a terrifying person even has unhealthy habits!
You're working so hard to find a partner for your younger sibling, but do you even have any intention of getting married yourself?
"Ah. No, Clara! Actually, he wasn't originally a smoker!"
Vania was flustered by Clara's momentarily frozen reaction.
"He's probably quit by now. When he left for Belzer, I made sure to tell him to quit smoking for sure."
"I, I see!"
"Yeah, you know, Clara..."
It was trying to come out. It was trying to come out!
Just as he was waiting for Vania to open her mouth, feeling as if he were receiving a death sentence.
"Bunny... no, Your Highness!"
A voice calling Vania was heard from afar.
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