"Actually, a reply to the invitation I sent yesterday has come back."
As Carcel turned his head and gestured to the servant, the servant brought a tray full of envelopes.
"It looks like Carcel's is mixed in too."
Carcel calmly shook his head and replied to me as I said that.
“It’s all Asha’s.”
"Are you saying all these dozens of them came to me?!"
To be honest, I rarely went to social events, and people never bothered to send me an invitation, even though I didn't have any close relationships with them.
So, it was the first time I had ever seen such a large number of invitations!
Carcel said as if it were no big deal.
"Because everyone already knows that Asha has become the Marchioness, and that the Delmore family is under a massive investigation."
At those words, I stopped preparing Linea's meal and opened my eyes wide.
"You're saying they're being investigated? Since when?"
"Since the first day Asha came to my house, I have already detained and am investigating the maids and all the servants."
"Can you do that just on charges of child abuse?"
He didn't say that when I asked the lawyer.
Then Carcel readily nodded.
"It is not only allegations of continuous child abuse, but also allegations of tax evasion by the Count of Delmore and the Count's gambling."
"You've cooked and eaten quite a lot of different things."
"It wasn't just Asha's matter; I was actually watching over the whole thing while fully aware of it. After all, I am an inspector."
"Then does Carcel know all the information?"
When I asked that, Carcel just gave me a meaningless smile.
'Are you saying you would choose silence over lying?'
I suddenly remembered that when I went to the Information Guild, the documents the Master handed me definitely didn't mention Duke Lakan at all.
Even if it's classified, it's an intelligence guild; wouldn't they at least have that much intelligence capability?
'Did they not tell me because I didn't pay them more?'
Even as I thought that, there was a fact that suddenly came to mind.
Master said that to me.
- Recently, a VIP of an unmentionable rank purchased information regarding Madam.
I thought that the VIP of an unmentionable rank was Duke Lakan.
But isn't Carcel in front of me Duke Lakan?
"Carcel, be honest with me. By any chance... have you ever bought information about me from the Information Guild?"
If that were the case, everything from the first meeting could have been a lie rather than a coincidence.
Carcel shook his head at me for asking that.
"To be honest, Asha isn't really a dangerous person for me to look into."
"Is that so?"
It might be a lie.
However, Carcel shook his head at me as I looked closely at him.
"And I do not buy information. Because all information distributed by the Information Guild passes through my hands at least once."
"Yes?!"
This was completely unexpected.
"So, if I wanted information about Asha, I wouldn't need to pay. If I ask, any information guild will bring me any information about Asha."
Those words are sincere.
Carcel is not a VIP who bought my information.
Then who is it?
'Unless it is Duke Lakan, there shouldn't be anyone targeting Asha Delmore.'
To think a VIP would buy and read information about a minor character who isn't even that special.
"What's wrong? Did someone say they bought Asha's information?"
“Um, no.”
Carcel answered, perhaps noticing that I was flustered.
"I will look into it. It seems someone... lied to me."
Carcel's eyes curved like a crescent moon, filled with a smile.
Just then, Linea, who had been quiet until now, finished her meal briskly and asked cautiously.
"I wonder if everyone has replied to the invitation?"
"Ah. I'll look at it now. Sorry."
Even so, Linea waited quietly without interrupting until we finished our conversation.
Finding that endearing, I gently stroked Linea's hair and gathered only the things that had come to the child.
"Let's see, Lucian is definitely coming. He says he's genuinely happy that Linea invited him."
I opened the invitations and handed them to Linea one by one.
It seems I have become the center of social gossip.
Even the children who weren't very close to Linea sent positive replies saying they would attend, despite the urgent invitation.
"Still, I feel much more at ease knowing that Eloy and Lucian are coming."
"Me too."
Since there are two people she's fairly close with, Linea, she'll be able to get along with the kids quickly even if she's shy.
I asked Linea.
"I'm thinking of going to see the Marquis's mother today. Linea, would you like to come? You don't have to go if it's difficult."
Perhaps because of her grandmother, Linea seemed a little flustered at first and looked around cautiously.
In the child's memory, the grandmother was always someone who disliked her.
I patted Linea.
"Then, how about you stay home today, Linea? You can look around the house and play with your sisters."
However, Linea's eyes, lost in thought for a moment, began to move aimlessly.
Then, as if having made up his mind, the child answered.
"No! I want to go see it."
"You're not going against your will, are you? Linea doesn't have to do anything anymore just because it seems like other people want her to."
Linea pondered further at those words and shook her head with conviction.
"Still, I thought the Marquis's mother would be just like him... I think she would be a kind and good person."
Perhaps feeling embarrassed by the last words, the child's gaze turned downward.
I grinned.
"Yes?"
"...She is not that kind of person. However, I would like to let your daughter know in advance that she is not that affectionate."
Carcel said worriedly.
"Then, Carcel, how about we go today and decide whether or not to visit again?"
"Understood. If that is Asha's wish."
Carcel nodded.
"I will contact my mother now."
A few hours later, I arrived at Carcel's mother's house.
***
"This is the Duke of Lakan's mansion. Although there are several houses, this is where I mainly reside."
"Honestly, I wondered if there was any mansion that could rival the Marquis's mansion."
It is an overwhelming victory for the Duke's mansion.
"I'd get lost here even at home."
"I'll have to be careful not to lose Asha. Actually, that's why I insisted on holding your daughter."
Linea had long been in his arms. It was like a carriage.
Even though he spoke mischievously, Carcel reached out his hand to me, perhaps out of concern deep down.
I hesitated for a moment, then finally took his hand.
Now, holding hands has become increasingly familiar.
'I suppose the one I'll have to get more used to in the future is Carcel's family.'
I didn't intend to build a close friendship, but since they were Carcel's family, I wanted to be polite.
According to what Carcel told us in a worried tone before he arrived, my mother-in-law tends to find people bothersome.
'Wouldn't that be better?'
After dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law, I found it better to keep my distance with a moderate level of indifference.
And above all, looking at our Linea, honestly, I think even a mother-in-law would fall head over heels for her.
'You're really, really cute today!'
Before coming here, Carcel saw me at a loss as to what to dress Linea in and took us somewhere.
According to him, this place is just a temporary closet.
'But it was truly a graveyard for children's dresses.'
Now that he considered her daughter, Carcel also seemed to know no bounds.
With the help of the maids, I dressed Linea in a light yellow dress that would make her cuteness stand out among the many dresses.
Is that all?
She had her hair in pigtails and even wore a cute bonnet.
She was so supremely lovely, truly like the embodiment of an angel, that several of the maids even bled from their noses and gave her a thumbs-up.
I looked around and subtly sounded out Carcel.
"Wouldn't Mother's heart open up if she saw Linea?"
"I don't know. At least as far as I know, she doesn't like children. But if it were your daughter."
Carcel stared down intently at Linea, whom he was holding.
Linea looked around curiously, as if sensing his gaze, then turned her head toward Carcel.
Then, the round eyes framed by the delicate eyelashes that were revealed were insanely cute.
Carcel shook his head heavily once.
"That’s a cuteness that melts people’s hearts."
"Right? I'm not saying she's cute just because she's my daughter; I'm speaking objectively."
Thanks to hearing all sorts of compliments lately, such as 'cute' and 'lovely,' Linea is still just embarrassed, but she isn't as awkward as she used to be.
She moved her pale pink lips back and forth, looking flustered, though.
And so, finally, we were guided into the reception room where the mother-in-law was.
As soon as I made eye contact with my mother-in-law, I was inwardly surprised.
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