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“Is this a caregiving story? Chapter : 11”
“Ah, Miela. This person is….”
The world in Isstin’s mind went completely blank. It was because the situation he had been most worried about had finally arrived.
While he hesitated, Regina spoke first. Her red lips curved into a charming arc.
“I am Regina Valouar. The mistress of the ducal household. People in society call me the Duchess.”
“What? Th-the Duchess? Of the Valouar family?”
Miela gasped in shock. Seeing the girl turn pale in an instant, Regina slightly raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t even said anything harsh yet, and she was already this startled—was she a very fragile child?
“Child, are you perhaps not feeling well? You don’t look good.”
“N-no, it’s not that. It’s just… it’s my first time seeing someone as important as the Duchess in person.”
“My dear, ‘Duchess’ is already a title that indicates high status in itself.”
Regina narrowed her eyes. So there are people like this too, she thought. She had met many kinds of people—from commoners to royalty—but this was the first time she had seen someone so genuinely ignorant and pure.
“Oh! I see. Th-then what should I call you…?”
“You should just call me Duchess. Or, well, you can call me Lady Regina.”
As she said that, Regina suddenly felt something was off.
Wait a moment. Why am I even allowing this child to decide how to address me? It’s not like we’re going to keep seeing each other. Honestly!
She was both dumbfounded and speechless. She always maintained a composed mask of politeness to everyone, yet after only a few exchanged words, she found herself completely swept along by this girl.
Maybe Isstin got involved with her in a similar way.
Regina, trying to gauge the girl’s intentions, asked again.
“Child, it seems you’ve heard of the Valouar family?”
“Yes, of course I know it.”
Not “I’ve heard of it,” but a confident “I know it.”
Her prediction was immediately off.
This child… I can’t tell what she’s thinking at all.
There were people like this sometimes. Those who pretended to be kind and trustworthy just to gain something—acting innocent while scheming. From servants to lower nobles, she had seen many types.
In fact, until just now, Regina had thought the girl might be one of those types.
But after that answer, I’m even more confused.
Those who pretend to be harmless and ignorant usually act ignorant. They don’t answer so directly.
So Regina continued testing her.
“Oh? I’m curious how well you know it.”
“It’s the richest and, um… very scary—ah, no. I mean… it’s a very great family in the Empire.”
“Oh-ho.”
Not bad.
Unlike her innocent appearance, the blunt and almost materialistic answer pleased Regina.
She preferred this kind of honesty over fake flattery.
Her impression of the girl improved slightly.
So she actually knew about our family?
Meanwhile, Isstin, watching from the side, was confused.
Did she approach me already knowing everything about me?
But she doesn’t seem like she’s acting at all… you can’t fake that kind of sincerity.
As Isstin, still pretending to be a servant, stayed silent, his thoughts grew complicated.
At that moment, Regina looked between him and Miela and asked,
“Child, I heard you were the one who saved the fallen Titi. Is that true?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She looked at the nodding girl quietly.
“Do you need any reward for that? For example, money…?”
“What do you mean? I already received a reward.”
“…What?”
“Titi invited me here, and I got to eat a lot of delicious food.”
Miela looked genuinely confused.
Regina also couldn’t quite understand her words. Serving food to a guest was the bare minimum—did she really consider that a reward? Surely Isstin hadn’t told her to treat her like this?
I suppose I’ve seriously failed in raising my son.
She sighed and held her head. She couldn’t believe that the savior who helped her son was being treated so poorly.
Then Regina softened her tone.
“I see. Child, I’m sorry, but I need to talk with Titi for a moment. Could you wait outside for a bit?”
“Okay! I’ll wait inside the dining room!”
“Very well.”
As the dining room door closed again, Regina led Isstin to the reception room.
Now finally alone, the two mother and son dropped their polite masks.
“Haah, Isstin. I feel I absolutely must say this.”
If she didn’t correct mistakes early, they would become habits. So Regina, despite her annoyance, prepared to scold him.
But Isstin also felt this might be his only chance.
“Wait, Mother. I also have something I need to tell you. It’s very important.”
“No, I’ll speak first.”
“…Yes, please go ahead.”
As Isstin waited, unaware of what she would say, he thought back to Miela’s earlier conversation with Regina.
Mother is definitely suspicious of Miela. But I know how pure and even foolish she is. She didn’t even understand the meaning behind Mother’s questions and answered everything honestly.
Such honesty must have looked suspicious to Regina.
No matter what Mother says, I will protect Miela.
Isstin made up his mind firmly.
But the next moment, the sharp reprimand he heard was completely unexpected.
“Does it make sense that you only gave your savior a single meal as thanks?”
“…Pardon?”
Isstin doubted his ears. So shocked he even forgot what he was about to say.
“To call that a reward is disappointing, Isstin. I did not raise you to be so stingy.”
“No, wait, Mother. There’s been a misunderstanding….”
He looked flustered, but Regina had already misunderstood everything.
“It’s fortunate I introduced that child to you as a servant rather than a noble son. Otherwise, our House of Valouar would have been seen as lacking even basic generosity.”
Isstin quietly felt relieved. He had been worried she might tell him to send Miela away immediately—but instead, she was criticizing him for treating her poorly.
That was a relief.
“Yes, of course I never intended to settle things with just that much. In fact, I was going to discuss her with you anyway, so this works out well.”
“What?”
Regina finally realized something was off. Isstin continued immediately.
“Mother, her name is Miela.”
“Oh my, what a lovely name… no, ahem. So what were you trying to say?”
The image of the girl’s gentle face appeared in Regina’s mind. The name suited her small, delicate appearance.
Then she cleared her throat.
“Yes, it’s a very fitting name… no, what I meant was—”
Isstin, about to praise Miela, quickly returned to the main point.
Truly, mother and son were alike. Though neither of them seemed to think so.
“I would like to bring Miela to the main estate. I hope you will allow it.”
“Hm?”
Regina’s eyes narrowed—a habitual reaction when hearing something unexpected.
“Why would you say that? I’d like to hear your reason.”
