Episode 36

Viola’s reaction changed significantly. Not in a bad way. Her tense shoulders relaxed.

Ezekiel couldn’t believe it even though he was watching.

‘This works?’

Viola, who was clearly well prepared in front of the dumb Ezekiel, began to try hard to persuade him.

“…I’d like to participate in the maid selection. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t! Being a maid isn’t an ordinary thing, and—”

As she babbled away like a trembling squirrel, Ezekiel gently reassured her.

Even in the midst of all this, my appetite was bitter.

“The Crown Princess’s maid is a position close to the next in line for power. Our duchy is also part of the Empire, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you applied.”

“I was just wondering since you and the emperor aren’t on good terms.”

“Since it is the Crown Princess’s business, the Emperor will not be able to exert any influence.”

Viola’s expression brightened and Ezekiel’s heart pounded.

It was rare to see her smile so brightly.

At least in his memory, he only saw such a sight in the early stages of the contract marriage.

‘Did I make you lose your smile?’

He felt a little self-reproachful. He felt Michele’s gaze on him again.

‘Don’t cry and keep talking.’

A glance alone conveyed his nephew’s inner thoughts as he trained him. Ezekiel regained his senses.

“If you are willing to go to the capital to select a maid, I will follow you.”

“Can you do that?”

“Didn’t I say I would go anywhere with you?”

Viola, who had been hesitating, smiled beautifully again.

After a while.

After Viola went out to pack her bags, Michele put down his book and approached her.

“It wasn’t bad this time.”

I felt reassured by my nephew’s review.

“I’ll try my best not to interfere, so you two just take care of it.”

Michele, who said he would not let go of his observational gaze, jingled the four gold coins he had stolen from Ezekiel.

“Anyway, I’ll only be with you two for a month during summer vacation, so it would be nice if there was any progress in the relationship during that time.”

Yeah. One month from now.

It will definitely change the relationship.

Ezekiel and Michele had the same idea.

***

A peaceful conversation with Butler Alfredo.

Today I was able to hear from Alfredo about Gabriel’s son, Michele.

“Master Michele is very intelligent. He became very mature at an early age, especially after losing his father, Gabriel.”

“So that’s why Ezekiel took such good care of his nephew.”

Alfredo nodded with a look of regret in his eyes.

“Is there anything else you would like to ask?”

Alfredo gave me a choice at some point.

Should we end our conversation here today?

No. I think we can boldly take a step further.

“I plan to participate in the selection of Crown Princess Giovanna’s imperial maids soon.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were interested, Madam.”

“It just so happened.”

Butler Alfredo, who had been silent for a while, smiled kindly.

“Then I must also tell you the story of Crown Princess Giovanna.”

I was shocked. This was high-level information that only the Information Guild could handle.

You’re giving me information that only Ezekiel, the Duke and Guild Master, would hear!

“Since you are my wife, I must inform you specially.”

I felt like I’d earned his trust. I suppressed my joy and pretended not to notice.

“But Alfredo knows a lot. Where did you hear about the princess?”

“I have wide feet. I guess it’s because I’ve been a butler for so long.”

The butler cleared his throat with all his strength.

“If there is any information you would like to know, even if it is not necessarily about the Duke of Vetra’s residence, please let me know.”

How can you be so trustworthy?

I was simply touched that Butler Alfredo’s guard had been lowered.

“Can I really ask you a few questions, butler?”

“This old man has many friends. I just relay the stories they tell me.”

“Wow. You’re amazing, butler. You have such great friends.”

“Anyone can become like that in life.”

He said it as if it was no big deal.

As if it were a trivial matter, like telling a story that friends comfortably talked about in private.

Perhaps I, too, would like to be fooled to that extent, misunderstanding the value of the information the butler gives me.

‘I’m sorry, butler.’

Actually, I know the butler’s true identity.

I smiled brightly at him, pretending to be a butler who hid his power.

I thought I should let the butler enjoy the role of an ordinary man who knows a lot.

***

“Madam, I’ll prepare some snacks so you don’t get hungry on your way up to the capital!”

D-10 until reaching the capital of the Piedmont Empire.

After the chef was replaced, the kitchen came alive and started preparing food.

The kitchen assistant who was almost unfairly kicked out last time also put a lot of effort into making snacks.

“Hey, you probably won’t like this, ma’am. How about peaches or melons?”

“If anyone saw you, they would think you were a madam.”

“If you like it, I’ll be happy too. Hehe.”

While the kitchen assistant, eager to repay the favor, was busy picking out snacks, someone on the other side of the duke’s residence was rolling their eyes in disapproval.

“I came all the way to the territory, but I guess I have to go up again.”

“I didn’t know it would be like this. My wife said she’d go to the capital, so I should go too. If you don’t want to, you can stay here.”

“Okay. What do you want me to do here by myself?”

Michele grumbled as he pulled a book from the bookshelf, seeing Ezekiel trying to comfort himself.

“Still, I don’t regret it. Thanks to my visit, even if it was just for a few days, my uncle’s crisis seems to have calmed down.”

Michele rested his chin crookedly as he read the book, “An Outline of Modern Magical Theory.”

“If you two don’t want to get into trouble, I, a capable person, should follow you to the capital. What can I do?”

“Good Michele, don’t shake your legs. Your luck is running away.”

“Hey, tsk.”

Michele, who buried his body in the soft cushion, stopped his shaking legs.

Then, out of habit, I trembled and flinched twice more.

Michele coughed and quickly changed the subject.

“Uncle. What are the reactions of the people of Yeongji regarding your participation in the maid selection?”

“Some people were taken aback when the proud Duchess of Vetra went to the maid selection.”

“Still, most people accepted it somehow?”

“Everyone understood because it was because of the toy business.”

“Okay then.”

“Okay. That’s fine.”

Michele, who was watching Ezekiel’s cheerful smile, looked up quietly.

“Oh. Uncle, are you really concerned about your aunt’s reputation?”

“Isn’t it strange that she doesn’t care, since she’s a duchess?”

Ezekiel had a colorful expression on his face, like a broken toy.

Michele couldn’t turn the pages of the book because he was too busy teasing his uncle.

“I guess you really like it.”

Michele said half seriously, half jokingly.

“I should keep calling you ‘aunt.’ Then, someday, I might become a real aunt.”

“…….”

“You’re embarrassed. Even I think you seem like a nice person. That’s why I’m trying to help you.”

“What a surprise, you’re praising someone.”

“I’m not saying this because I particularly like him. My uncle seems okay with it, so I just accept it.”

Michele didn’t realize that his ears turned red whenever he lied.

Ezekiel quietly pretended to agree because he thought it was cute that only the person involved didn’t know.

***

I opened the window towards the transparent, sparkling canal.

Vetra, goodbye for a moment!

[Today’s Diary: Let’s go to the capital!]

Anna packed her bags one by one and pushed down on her suitcase with all her might. Her forearms tensed.

“It’s the summer social season, so I have a lot of clothes to pack! Still, it’s fortunate that they’re summer clothes, so they’re not too bulky.”

“I’ll help you press it too. Hehe!”

“Madam, you don’t have to do it!”

“I feel better if I do it. Okay, one, two!”

We insisted that it wasn’t too bulky and worked hard to pack, so we went to sleep and waited for tomorrow.

I had another strange dream today, although I didn’t hear the chattering voices like before.

7 months and 29 days left until Ezekiel and Namnam become one.

Could it be that I fell asleep while repeating and chewing over that fact?

Ezekiel, whom I met in my dream, asked me with a very different expression than when I first met him, and with a longing tone.

‘Viola. Do you want to divorce me?’

My answer is… … .