'That meticulous person.'
Doesn't that mean you paid on purpose because you thought you might not have another meal appointment?
I shook my head slightly.
“I can’t stop you.”
"Even if that weren't the case, to be honest, I don't really want to be treated by a woman I like. Honestly..."
He spoke in a slightly self-deprecating tone.
"It is true that I am more desperate and anxious about spending time with Asha than Asha is."
"It sounds a bit strange to say it like that. I was also relieved that the work finished without any problems today, thanks to Carcel."
I should have known when he said he was going to the restroom earlier.
"You don't have to do that from now on."
"I know. But it’s a bit of a shame that we don’t have a reason to meet yet unless I treat you to a meal like this."
Carcel maintained a brazen attitude.
"I tried to come up with a reason for that."
"I'm letting it slide just this once."
My plan was to first obtain information about Marquis Rivandel from the Information Guild, and if anything seemed off, cut ties without hesitation.
He nodded obediently.
"I am truly glad that Asha is such a kind person."
Although I felt strongly that I had been deceived, I eventually rose from my seat.
"Thank you for the meal."
In any case, without Carsel's help, I wouldn't have been able to sign the contract so easily.
"Thank you so much... Carcel."
I offered my thanks and smiled slightly.
Carcel stared at me for a moment with unreadable eyes... then finally looked away.
"Why?"
"No problem. May I take you back home? Or is there somewhere you need to stop by?"
"No, I plan to go back early and rest today."
I finished a major task, and there is a case tomorrow.
It is one of the important cases for Linea as well, so I can't be there without her
'I have to get moving early in the morning!'
As I left the restaurant with Carcel, a black carriage approached closely as if it had recognized me.
I returned to the Count's mansion with his help once again.
I took Carcel's hand as he got off the carriage first, and I said goodbye to him.
"Thank you for today. In many ways."
Then, he moved his lips a few times as if hesitating, and began to speak.
“Asha.”
Before I knew it, Carcel opened his mouth, calling my name as if it were a familiar sound.
"From now on, I will not show up in front of your house without permission unless Asha calls me first."
"Ah... Yes."
It seemed like he thought I was feeling very burdened.
I was actually a bit flustered.
Since things turned out well today, the atmosphere was continuing on a heartwarming note.
He looked down at me and continued speaking.
"So, I will wait."
Carcel whispered softly to me, who was looking up at him, unable to say anything.
"Until the day Asha calls me first."
He stepped back, and the scent of Carcel's body brushed the tip of my nose in an instant.
Leaving me standing there with my mouth agape, Carcel got back into the carriage.
Soon the coachman got out, closed the door, and the carriage moved away.
I stood there for a moment as if entranced, then hurriedly shook my head vigorously.
Get a grip! Now is not the time to be swayed by a man!
"We have to wake up at 6 a.m. tomorrow, so let's wash up quickly and go to bed."
Muttering to myself, I struggled to turn my gaze away from Carcel's carriage and entered the Count's mansion.
***
7 a.m. the next day.
As expected, as soon as it turned 7 o'clock, my mother-in-law unlocked my locked room with a key and came in.
Entering with a maid leading the way, she shouted triumphantly at the top of her lungs.
"Yes! The sun is high in the sky, yet you are still lazily sprawled out sleeping...!"
"Good morning, Mother?"
I smiled at my mother-in-law, already neatly dressed.
I knew a long time ago that she was a duck.
In May, the social season begins in earnest.
That means it is a time when both my young master, the Count of Delmore, and my mother-in-law get busy.
And that is why they let me stay and eat at this house.
In the original work, what Asha Delmore actually does is closer to that of a nanny.
The mother-in-law was the very person who believed that teaching a girl only the bare minimum of etiquette was enough.
Still, since I had to participate in social activities for the sake of appearances, I ended up following Linea around and taking care of her schedule from now on.
'Mothers-in-law tend to be very conscious of how others perceive them.'
First off, Linea's social activities this spring began with a tea party hosted by Count Annexa, who had some acquaintance with the Delmore family.
And the conflict between the mother-in-law and Asha Delmore on this day does not appear in the original work either.
Thanks to knowing about the incident in advance, I didn't have to suffer humiliation from the morning.
With a face that still looked unfazed, I spoke to my mother-in-law, who was looking down at me in bewilderment.
"I heard Linea has a mandatory tea party to attend today. I've prepared everything in advance, so please don't worry, Mother."
“No. What about you...!"
I smiled brightly, unconcerned by my mother-in-law's clearly flustered expression.
"It's 3 PM today, right? I just need to go to Countess Annexa's estate."
“Yeah, yeah.”
"Then, could you please leave now? I need to get ready."
"Uh...? Ah. Got it."
As I sat up in bed with a sweet smile, my mother-in-law flinched and slithered back.
She looked quite surprised that I knew information that I absolutely could not have known.
Moreover, all the maids at the Count's estate are henchmen who only fawn over my mother-in-law.
But the fact that I know this information...?
'It is only natural to suspect that there is a spy among her henchmen.'
It was an utterly perplexing situation for the mother-in-law, whose personality required everything in the household to be under her control to be satisfied.
The maids, aware of this, were also exchanging suspicious glances.
I spoke to them once more.
"Mother, and after the Linea tea party ends today, shall we go to the dinner party at Baron Murin's estate this evening together?"
"...How do you know my schedule?"
"Hmph. Because I always pay that much attention to you, Mother!"
I crinkled my eyebrows in a smile and continued speaking brightly, pretending to be the master of the house.
"There is nothing I don't know about you, Mother."
As I stared intently at the mother-in-law, the commanding presence she had when she first entered completely vanished.
"No, you are such a strange girl. That is why people say you devoured your husband!"
I pretended to feel sorry with an innocent face.
"Good heavens, how could you say such a thing to a widow grieving the sudden death of her husband?"
My mother-in-law took a slithering step back.
I spoke to her while opening my arms.
"Hearing you say that, Mother, it suddenly hits me that my husband is dead, and I feel sad. Please hug me."
"W-What nonsense! I guess I have to go now."
"Mother! Hug me!"
In the end, the mother-in-law, annoyed by the daughter-in-law's ill-advised charm, left me behind and walked backward out of the room without any loyalty.
The captain was terrified and ran away, and the maids also left in a rush with him.
“It’s a shame.”
In the room, where no one was left again, just like at the beginning, I just licked my lips for no reason.
Now that the mother-in-law situation was somewhat settled, I had to take care of Linea and head to the tea party.
I earned money for this day.
I raised the corners of my mouth and grinned.
Finally, it's time to customize my favorite!
At 10 a.m., I knocked on Linea's door.
Linea already knows that I am the one going to the tea party today.
"I'm all dressed. Baby? Shall we go now?"
When I asked in a needlessly cheerful voice, a look of hesitation flickered from beyond the door.
She is a child who fears her grandmother's orders more than anything.
She must have known that she had no choice but to face me today.
“Linea?”
However, even though I wanted to give it more time today, the schedule was tight.
As I urged her on with a few more knocks, Linea finally peeked through the door.
The child had a very intimidated look on her face.
I knelt down to meet Linea's gaze and greeted her.
"Hello, Linea."
If Linea had cat ears, they would have stuck tightly to her round head and made it obvious she was scared.
"I think you need to come with me to the tea party at Countess Annexa's house today. Are you all ready?"
"Ah. Not yet. I heard it's at 3 PM..."
"There's somewhere we need to go together before that. Let's go out and eat too! I'll treat you to something delicious."
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