TCHB 17

Chapter 17

“Woooow!”

At the loud exclamation, I turned around to look at the owner of the voice. Rote’s cheeks were flushed bright red. She looked thrilled.

We were currently in the southern region of one of the ducal territories.

When Rote saw the emerald-colored sea, her eyes sparkled. Even Ventus, who usually didn’t go outside much, looked surprised at the unfamiliar sight.

I wondered what kind of expression Kiel was making. When I glanced over at him, our eyes met exactly—and he hurriedly turned both his gaze and his steps away.

Wow… that hurt! That really hurt! Just yesterday, when he fell asleep in the carriage, he looked like an angel…! I was so wronged that I decided I had to hear the reason he was avoiding me!

“The sea here uses artificial magic to preserve marine life that lives during the winter, so the water is extremely cold. Let’s not go in. You’ll catch a cold for no reason.”

So that chill I felt wasn’t just my imagination… We nodded in agreement.

After that, we went back into a scenic mansion overlooking the sea and changed into warmer clothes.

Seeing a place like this after being stuck in the suffocating capital made my chest feel wide open.

“Alright, shall we go eat something delicious?”

At the Duchess’s words, my eyes lit up.

I’d been to the western region before, but this was my first time in the south, so I was curious about how good the food would be. The west was mostly mountainous—nothing tasty, and monsters appeared frequently.

So it was bad! Totally, completely bad! I hate places without good food! Bleh!

“Auntie, what are we eating?”

I trotted after the Duchess as I asked. She smiled beautifully and looked at me with affectionate eyes.

That’s when I realized—my cuteness only worked on women.

Neither Kiel nor the Duke looked at me that way, but Rote and the Duchess made it very obvious.

“We’re going to the best place I told you to empty out last time. I believe they mainly serve seafood. Do you dislike seafood, by any chance?”

Shock crossed the Duchess’s face. Seeing her reaction made a mischievous urge bubble up inside me.

“Well… um…”

When I hesitated and made a troubled expression, her face grew even more worried.

Hehehe, this is fun…

I wondered if it was okay to have this kind of mindset on my third life, but alas—I had no conscience. Just as I was enjoying myself, I felt weight on my head. When I looked up in confusion, Ventus had placed his hand there.

“She likes seafood. Don’t worry.”

As Ventus spoke, the Duchess looked at me. I nodded vigorously and admitted I’d just been joking.

But how did he know?

Curious, I nudged Ventus’s arm with my elbow.

“How did you know?”

I didn’t remember eating seafood when I was Alena.

Ventus stared at me as if the answer were obvious, then spoke.

“Your expression was totally evil. It was the same look you make when you’re about to mess with me, so I just guessed.”

“Oh…”

A small sound of admiration slipped from my lips.

Tch, he really pays attention to me, huh?

I walked forward with light steps—though no matter how hard I tried, my legs were still painfully short.

“Here we are.”

After riding a carriage from the rental station, we arrived at a street that was neither too large nor too small. Laughter echoed from everywhere, and somewhere nearby, piano music and a clear singing voice drifted through the air.

Entranced by the gentle melody, I slipped through the crowd.

A woman with beautiful deep-red hair was singing, while a black-haired man played the piano with graceful fingers.

It was like a painting come to life. I didn’t even realize that the Duchess, Ventus—everyone—had disappeared.

I only noticed when someone gently grabbed my arm from behind and pulled me back.

“Ventus?”

“Kiel?”

I’d called out thinking it was Ventus, but it was Kiel instead—Kiel, looking disheveled.

He was breathing hard. Seeing him suddenly speak to me, I froze, then realized I’d wandered off without thinking.

“I’m sorry, big brother… I didn’t mean to…”

“…I know.”

After saying that, Kiel muttered something quietly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear what it was.

I tightly held onto Kiel’s hand and followed behind him.

But why had he been avoiding me? If he searched for me this desperately, it didn’t seem like he was angry. This was the perfect chance to ask…

But I couldn’t.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—the place I’d been wasn’t far from the restaurant.

“Mother, we’re here.”

Kiel led me inside a shop. I spotted the Duchess pacing back and forth, Rote with red-rimmed eyes, and Ventus glaring straight at me.

Gah—making Rote cry!

I apologized and promised never to do it again. No matter how nostalgic the melody was, I shouldn’t have followed it. Sighing internally, I took my seat.

“This is salmon steak, and this is…”

The Duchess explained each dish. I popped a piece of salmon steak into my mouth.

Heavenly!

It melted right away—absolutely incredible. I took another bite.

I could eat this all day and never get tired of it.

This was a revolution in the world of food!

Seeing me happily devour only the salmon steak, the Duchess passed me other dishes as well. The freshness was on another level. Now I understood why this place was so popular.

“Well then, now that we’ve eaten, shall we go take a look at the festival?”

I snapped my head up.

A festival! Delicious food! Cute, fluffy dolls! Shooting games!

My excitement shot straight through the sky. Seeing my enthusiasm, the Duchess gave permission and placed a bracelet-like item on my wrist.

She told me that since everyone might want to go to different places, I could wander freely—but I had to keep the bracelet on at all times.

“Yes!”

I answered loudly and dashed out of the shop. I thought I heard someone calling me from behind, but nothing could stop me now.

Because I was super excited!

* * *

“The children have all gone out.”

The Duchess spoke while looking out the window. She summoned a servant she’d secretly instructed to follow them. Soon, only the Duke, the Duchess, and the servant remained in the shop.

“So why did you send all the kids out, Clarie?”

The Duke called the Duchess by name affectionately, meeting her eyes.

“Oh my.”

Clarie blushed shyly at her husband’s gaze. The poor servant caught in between suffered silently.

“We need a strategy meeting! At this rate, our Kiel is going to lose Shuri to that Ventus boy! Our future daughter-in-law!”

She spoke seriously, but to the Duke and servant, she looked like a childish girl. Smiling, the Duke kissed her cheek.

“They already know each other’s preferences, and when Shuri disappeared earlier, Kiel moved before thinking. At this rate, it’s dangerous!”

Clarie slammed her teacup down. Clink! The tea rippled.

“So what does my wife want to do?” the Duke asked.

“I’ll teach Kiel the things I taught you.”

Those lessons included not avoiding someone’s eyes, not hiding when seeing someone you like—things like that.

At her words, the Duke’s eyes widened before he asked seriously,

“…You mean Kiel is like I was?”

Clarie added that he might be even worse, and the Duke was deeply shocked.

“But that takes time. That child will only be staying with us for two months at most. And even now, she’s being pressured so much by the Count.”

When the Duke spoke gloomily, Clarie smiled and asked him to endure just a little longer. At that smile, the Duke fell for it again.

“…So what exactly are you planning?” the servant asked quietly.

At this moment, the servant desperately wanted to return to the ducal estate.

Even knowing how close the couple was, he didn’t want to see—or hear—this up close. Being stuck here was extremely uncomfortable.

“Then how about following the children and creating opportunities for the two of them to be alone?” Clarie suggested.

“Rejected,” the servant replied immediately.

Clarie lifted her teacup elegantly and looked at him as if to ask why. Understanding at once, the servant explained.

“Have you forgotten what happened last time when Lady Rote tried to leave Young Master and Miss Shuri alone together?”

“Ah.”

Recalling the incident, she nodded in agreement. She fell into thought again, and this time the Duke spoke.

“Then how about simply sending an engagement proposal to the Count’s family?”

“Rejected.”

The Duke crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, gesturing for an explanation.

“Miss Shuri is the Count’s only daughter—precious beyond measure. Do you think he’d give her away so easily? Or allow her into a loveless engagement? Could you do that to Lady Rote, my lord?”

The Duke fell silent again, unable to refute such a reasonable argument.

Though he didn’t show it, the Duke had grown fond of Shuri, who always made Rote smile. And her behavior was adorable—especially the way she worked so hard to keep up with Kiel.

Anyone could see how lovable she was. There was no way the Count would give up such a beloved daughter.

After proposing about twenty more ideas, none worked. They put their heads together once more.

Until sunset, the “Make Shuri Our Daughter-in-Law Project” continued without rest.