PDHMO 22

Chapter 22

“Young lady…”

She’s going to cry like that.

I raised my hand to calm Ellie down.

“Ellie! I’m fine!”

I shook my head slowly with a firm expression.

“I don’t really care about that.”

I meant it. I just wanted to keep a decent relationship with the Duke, not to be loved or get close to him.

“Really…?”

Ellie asked, watching me carefully. I nodded confidently.

“I didn’t ask because I was curious.”

“Really?”

“The other day, I saw a child in the annex. A boy around my age.”

“The watch seller did come yesterday, but he just handed over the items at the main entrance. No guests came in.”

“Hmm?”

Ellie’s answer only made me more curious.

Then how did that boy get into the annex?

And he seemed to appear so naturally, like he wasn’t coming to the mansion for the first time.

If it were me, I would have gotten lost for sure.

“What did he look like?”

“Um… light brown hair…”

Huh? What did he look like?

I clearly saw his eyes and even talked to him yesterday, but I couldn’t remember his face well.

All I remembered was his thin, straw-colored hair.

“Uh… wait a minute?”

I put both fists to my temples, groaning.

No matter how hard I tried, all I could recall was a faint silhouette.

“Young lady?”

“…Sorry. I don’t remember his face.”

“Eh?”

“I don’t know what he looked like. Weird, right?”

I said awkwardly, and Ellie smiled gently, looking a little troubled.

I didn’t know his name or face, so asking more would be useless.

“It’s okay, Ellie. Don’t worry about it.”

I decided not to think about it either.

I stood in front of the mirror with my arms spread, pouting at my reflection.

“Ellie, do I really have to wear this?”

“Of course! It’s your first dinner together with the three of you. You need to look cute.”

“Hmm…”

The dress Ellie had put on me really wasn’t my style.

It had too much lace, and the ribbon tight around my waist was uncomfortable.

I even wished I could wear my training clothes instead.

All because of the Duke.

Last night, he told Mom to have dinner together because he had something to say.

And my attendance happened so naturally, as if it were obvious.

I didn’t even need to see the dinner mood to know it would be uncomfortable.

“Haa… I don’t want to go.”

“Why? The chef really put a lot of effort into the food today!”

“No matter how good it tastes, I don’t think I can enjoy it.”

When I said this sadly, Ellie and the maid Judy, who was tying my hair, widened their eyes.

“Why? Are you upset?”

“No, not really…”

“Young lady… don’t use polite speech with us.”

Judy said with a frown.

“Ah, okay.”

Anyway, the servants here acted like something terrible would happen if I only used polite speech.

They got really upset about it.

But for now, it felt awkward to speak casually with anyone except Ellie and Finn.

Those two had frequent contact with me, so it was easy to talk to them.

“Young lady, you’re ready! Shall we go?”

“Mm…”

I reluctantly moved my feet.

In the dining room, Mom and the Duke were already there.

“Chloe, come here.”

Mom waved faintly with a smile as she saw me entering.

I ran straight to her and sat beside her.

The chef had really worked hard. The table was full of dishes.

I admired the food, but a sharp gaze hit me so strongly my face felt stung.

I didn’t even need to look to know who it was.

I glanced up at him.

Of course. The Duke was staring at me intensely.

I could clearly see the meaning in his eyes.

‘Got it, understood.’

I nodded slightly at him, secretly.

It was when we were carrying out the plan we made last night.

Pepe woke up only when the moon was getting brighter.

“Yaaawn, this is such a comfortable place to rest.”

“Yes, he was sleeping very soundly.”

It was strange watching the squirrel stretch and yawn.

“Ugh! Ellie is really nice. She gave me cookies with all sorts of flavors.”

“Shouldn’t a squirrel eat acorns or fruit?”

“You can’t treat him just like a squirrel. Huh? But what are you doing?”

Pepe jumped down and approached me, looking at the messy table.

“I’m making a piggy bank.”

“A piggy bank?”

Yes, I was secretly making a piggy bank.

Emergency money should be hidden somewhere no one knows.

Pepe isn’t human, so it’s fine.

“What’s a piggy bank?”

“It’s a container to save money.”

“Money?”

Pepe asked, eyes wide.

“Yes.”

I didn’t look at him, just nodded roughly.

Right now, I needed focus to make a hole in the wooden box for the money.

“Hmm… Is this the Eraiten mansion?”

“…….”

“Can you make me a bed too? The cushion isn’t soft enough.”

“…….”

“The spot near the window is nice. The air feels cool.”

“…….”

“I’m hungry after waking up. Any cookies?”

“Ah, ugh!”

Pepe’s endless chatter ruined my concentration.

The hole I was cutting in the money box got all mangled.

“Hey! Why do you keep talking? You messed it up!”

“Why is that my fault? You’re just not good at it!”

“Heyy!”

I stood to grab Pepe. Then I heard a knock at the door.

Who is it at this hour?

“Anyone in there?”

It was Herald’s voice.

I panicked at the unexpected visitor.

I grabbed the folded blanket from the sofa and hid all the broken pieces of the piggy bank inside.

I put the stuffed blanket roughly in the corner of the sofa, then ran to open the door.

“Yes!”

It was Herald, neatly dressed in a black robe.

His hair was slightly wet, so he must have just finished bathing before coming.

“Why…”

I asked why he came, but Herald didn’t answer. He just looked around the room carefully.

“Were you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Good, let’s go inside and talk.”

He walked past me and entered the room quickly.

I sighed, having my piggy bank-making time interrupted by Pepe and the Duke, and followed him with my eyes rolling.

He went to the single-person sofa and crossed his legs.

It looked huge before, but now it seemed small with him sitting.

“The room is smaller than I thought.”

Of course, it seems small to you. It’s huge for me alone.

I swallowed my words and sat on the long sofa across from him.

Since he came at this late hour, it must be urgent or important.

I quickly asked without hesitation.

“What’s the matter?”

“…….”

But Herald kept his mouth shut, only moving his eyes.

Then his gaze fixed on the seat next to me.

“What’s that…?”

“Huh?”

I followed his gaze. Pepe was sitting next to me, looking at Herald.

“A squirrel?”

“Ah……”

I realized I should have asked the Duke if Pepe could stay with me.

I looked at his face cautiously.

Sure enough. His brows were furrowing.

Oh no.

He seems to dislike not just children, but animals too.

What do I do now?