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Chapter 47
“Even if you don’t have friends yet, you can slowly make them. Don’t be too sad.”
“Y-Yeah……”
Cecilia lowered her head even more, feeling her heart ache at Eloise’s words. The sincerity behind that comfort made it sting even more.
“That’s right! Don’t be sad, Mom! You make friends just like me!”
Brizni, who had long given up trying to understand what counted as a ‘bad word,’ nodded proudly. When in doubt, just copy!
“Oh? Then that means I’m your first friend?”
“Of course!”
“I’m also Brizni’s first friend!”
Oh my! Brizni felt like she was flying in the air, as the first friend of Eloise—so beautiful like Izu and as kind as an angel—was her very own!
“Really? I’m so happy! Mom, she’s my friend!”
Brizni proudly pointed at Eloise.
“Don’t worry, Cecilia! You’ll also be able to make lots of friends, just like the Duke!”
Eloise comforted Cecilia and mentioned someone among the adults she knew who had the most friends.
“Does His Highness have a lot of friends?”
“Yes! Uncle—well, Claude, Riena, Cain…”
Eloise counted on her fingers. If Alec had been there, he might have felt distressed hearing those names from a child’s mouth—but it was fortunate he wasn’t.
“That’s a lot of friends!”
Brizni’s eyes grew wide as Eloise counted on her fingers, and she raised her voice excitedly.
“His Highness is such a good adult, and he has lots of friends too!”
Amazing! Brizni muttered to herself, feeling that she was on a completely different level, not even knowing the rules about bad words. Well, if she didn’t know, she could just learn!
“Eloise!”
Brizni grabbed Eloise’s hand suddenly.
“Yes?”
“We should go see His Highness right now!”
“Sure!”
Eloise nodded without hesitation at Brizni’s sudden suggestion. After all, it was always good to see the Duke.
“Mom! We have something important to do, so we’re leaving!”
“Cecilia, we’ll be going now.”
Cecilia, who had been worrying about her own issues with friends, raised her head as she listened to the children’s farewells.
“Huh? Wait!”
Cecilia hurriedly got up and reached out to stop the children, but they were already far away.
“Well, I do have something close to a friend… Titi…”
Left alone in the garden, Cecilia muttered the name of the dog she had raised as a child. Her meaningless murmur lingered in the garden, unheard.
Alec, who had been scribbling with a quill, paused, then resumed. Finally, he put down the quill, staring at the ceiling with a sigh.
“Um… kids?”
Eloise and Brizni, who had been sitting and playing beside his desk for several days, responded immediately.
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Alec looked at the children with wide, sparkling eyes, then sighed again. If they were just playing, it wouldn’t be this complicated. What made Alec more troubled was that they had been watching him for hours.
“You must be bored staying here. How about going outside to play?”
Brizni shook her head vigorously, speaking firmly.
“No! I’m here to learn right now!”
“Uh? W-What are you learning…?”
Alec turned to Eloise in confusion. Brizni hugged Eloise tightly in response to his gaze.
“I’m here because Eloise is my friend!”
Brizni glared at him as if to protect her friend, squeezing even tighter.
“That’s right! I’m Eloise’s friend too! And I want to see the Duke here too.”
“Friend!”
At the words “Brizni’s friend,” Brizni smiled brightly. Although they had agreed to be friends a few days ago, having Eloise confirm it in her own words made her feel like she could fly.
“We’re friends, right?”
“That’s right, we’re friends. Friends! Friends!”
Brizni kept repeating it, clearly overjoyed.
“You’ve gotten really close.”
It had been a first meeting full of awkwardness and a lot of incidents. Though it hadn’t been long since all those events, seeing them already become best friends made Alec’s eyes soften.
“Of course! I’m a thief, after all!”
Alec’s softened expression trembled at Brizni’s next outburst.
“Uh, huh?”
“I’m a fool!”
Not knowing whether Alec realized it, Eloise and Brizni laughed together.
“…….”
Giving up on trying to understand, Alec quietly returned his gaze to his documents. Just as he picked up the quill to sign again, the office door banged open.
“I’m here!”
“Haah…….”
Another interruption made Alec bury his face in his hands with a sigh. At least the kids were cute……
“Why are you here…?”
“To report. Huh? Miss! Brizni too?”
Riena looked at the children sitting on the floor.
“What? Why is Eloise called ‘Miss’ but I’m just a name?”
Brizni puffed her cheeks and asked, and Riena answered matter-of-factly.
“That’s because we met before I left the family, right? You weren’t above me back then.”
“I want to be called ‘Miss’ just like Eloise! Call me that too!”
“Nope. That’s weird. You’re obsessed.”
“I should be treated the same as Eloise because we’re friends!”
Brizni stomped her foot, pointing to herself and Eloise.
“What does that have to do with me? You can call me whatever you want.”
“But I’m above you now!”
“So what?”
Riena laughed and flicked Brizni’s forehead.
“Ow!”
Brizni staggered, holding her forehead.
“Brizni, Riena also calls the Duke by his name.”
Eloise, observing Riena and Brizni’s battle, suggested giving up.
“His Highness is called ‘Your Highness,’ right?”
“Then what was his original name? Hey, Alec must’ve changed it without me knowing?”
Riena chuckled, teasing.
“The Duke’s name is Alec Reston.”
“Alec Reston, Alec Reston, Alec Reston.”
Brizni repeated the name enthusiastically after Eloise explained.
“Riena also calls the Duke whatever she wants.”
Eloise explained seriously, and Brizni nodded in understanding.
“I see.”
Watching them, Riena was overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling.
“So Brizni probably won’t listen to me.”
“I understand what you mean!”
Brizni nodded vigorously and jumped to her feet.
“You can call me by my name! I’ll allow it!”
“……Why are the kids even in the office?”
Riena had no idea how to respond and gave Alec a reluctant look.
“Haah…… I don’t know either.”
Alec rubbed his head in exasperation. Brizni then tugged at Riena’s clothes.
“Hey, Riena.”
“She’s calling my name nonstop.”
“You also call my name nonstop!”
“…….”
Faced with the tiny finger confidently pointing at her chest, Riena had nothing to say.
“You must show proper respect and etiquette to His Highness!”
Riena thought of the strict ‘Reston’ from her academy days scolding her in her mind.
“This little one talks like her mother?”
Riena patted Brizni’s head.
“Don’t! My hair’s ruined!”
Brizni squirmed, uncomfortable with Riena’s rough touch. Riena responded with a laugh.
“You really are your mom’s copy, huh?”
“No! I’m not like my mom! My mom is far more elegant and dignified than me!”
“She has a voice as clear and loud as Cecilia’s. Right, Alec?”
Alec had completely given up and focused silently on the documents.
“Ow! I just told you to show respect and etiquette to His Highness!”
“I’m the same adult as His Highness! Why don’t you show me respect?”
