At my shout, the two of them burst out laughing.

“Tsk!”

As I glared at them, he finally put on a serious expression and said,

“Anyway, it’s a discussion of ruling the land that has been handed over officially.”

“There is no particular reason to refuse.”

I pressed my lips together at his words.

Ha, the cowardly imperial family.

That was when it happened.

Knock knock, the door of the tea room opened.

“Ares, Ixion!”

“I heard you were enjoying tea time away from the office. Can I join my little sister’s rest?”

“Of course!”

I brightened up.

It was perfect timing as I was just about to finish the tart.

But someone new coming in?

‘That means new desserts!’

I gulped as I looked at the eclairs on the tea table.

‘I want to eat it too… Should I ask for just one bite?’

The silver dessert knife cut into the éclair and a rich cream flowed out from inside.

As I speared the delicious-looking éclair with my fork, it floated up in the air with my head.

Left, right.

Back to the left.

Huh?!

Following it left and right, I realized something was off.

“That’s not fair!”

As I yelled out, Ares laughed and narrowed his eyes.

“It’s because my little sister is too cute.”

“I said that people who play with food are bad people.”

Then Ares put an éclair in my mouth.

“Is this better?”

“Ares is a really good person! I’ve known that since I first met you.”

“Want some more?”

“Ares is a half-blood, right?”

“Huh?”

“You’re a mix of heaven and empire.”

“…….”

Ares’ expression became subtle.

From the side, Count Candor and Viscount Dier spewed tea from their mouths.

Oh no, this is too much.

I’m embarrassed.

“…What should I do?”

Ares mumbled, burying his lips in the hand that rested his chin.

His red pupils turned towards me, and he slightly tilted his face.

His beautiful black hair slid over his white cheek, and his gentle eyes smiled.

“I’ve been caught with a secret. My little sister should take responsibility for me.”

Whoa.

Whoaaa.

He must be a real angel.

He had such persuasive beauty.

“Ew!”

Ixion retched.

“It really gives me goosebumps. Not just anything, but this kid is an angel.”

“Jealousy is ugly. If you’re envious, say you’re envious.”

“What’s so enviable about that? It’s just a compliment that was earned through bribery.”

Ixion grumbled and asked me.

“How about me, fluff ball?”

“Um…I feel like a wall¹?? with you.”

“Huh?”

Ixion had a rare expression of confusion, then soon asked with a shocked face,

“Why…?”

“Perfect²??!”

Ixion’s lips, which had been parted, closed.

“Oh, well. Really…”

Ixion pretended to be shocked, then pretended to be in a bad mood.

‘Your cheeks keep twitching up. I can see it.’

Anyway, I got two eclairs in my hand.

The power of the great K-joke!

“Ah, miss, what about me? What about me?”

Viscount Dier asked with a mournful look.

I looked at the plate in front of Viscount Dier.

Of course, it was empty.

It’s been quite some time since the strawberry tart came out.

“Do you want a really honest answer?”

“No.”

Viscount Dier shook his head.

Sorry, I’m a capitalist baby.

I happily munched on my eclairs and asked Ares and Ixion.

“Did you hear? Someone who wants to become a stepmother is coming to the palace.”

“They said she’ll arrive in a week.”

Ares replied dryly.

“Does it matter to Ixion?”

“Not really.”

“What about Ares?”

“How about my little sister?”

The question came back.

He looked like he didn’t care much.

“It’s okay to have a stepmother, but…what if it’s someone chosen by the palace?”

Why does everyone seem so indifferent?

Is there some political relationship that I don’t know about?

‘If everyone’s reaction is okay, Lady Aphelia might be a really good person!’

Yeah, let’s meet her first.

You can’t just reject someone without even meeting them!

Just because she’s a new stepmother pushed by the palace doesn’t guarantee that she’s necessarily bad, right?

She could be completely immersed in Phaeraton and become one of us!

‘Oh, then she can be a double agent and use it to my advantage!’

Great, great.

Feeling the cream filling in my mouth, I giggled.

Wait for me, imperial palace!

* * *

Within a week, I learned a lot.

It is said that since our mother passed away, the palace has tried to attach a new duchess more than once or twice.

‘No, but how can we receive a new duchess when my father, who is supposed to be the marriage partner, is away at war.’

The palace was truly an incomprehensible place.

Lady Aphelia is a relative of the empress and apparently has a daughter.

In the past, they rejected a marriage proposal because they found it burdensome, so now they are sending a lady who divorced her ex-husband.

“Miss, Lady Aphelia’s carriage has arrived at the main gate.”

Upon Laura’s words, I quickly got up and went down to the lobby.

“Miss?”

Hedwig, the chief butler of the ducal residence, looked at me with surprised eyes.

“A guest is coming. I’m curious too.”

“Yes, please come this way. If even one Phaeraton welcomes this person, they will surely be grateful as well.”

“What about Father?”

“His Excellency is busy with official duties.”

But still, when your potential wife has come?

‘In a way, he’s like a romance fantasy male lead.’

Neglecting the heroine who was an arranged marriage partner due to work and later regretting it, that kind of thing.

While having such thoughts, the carriage arrived at the front of the palace.

The newly decorated golden carriage was very splendid and beautiful.

A lady with shiny golden-brown hair stepped out from inside.

Following her, a girl with the same golden-brown hair also appeared.

That girl must be Cynthia, Lady Aphelia’s daughter.

‘But young children are vulnerable to magical energy, so they might not be able to stay in the ducal residence.’

Is it going to be okay?

Cynthia was much taller than me.

She looks much older than me as well.

‘I don’t know exactly how old she is, but maybe it’s okay at that age?’

“Please come in, Lady Aphelia.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

Even though only employees came out, Lady Aphelia smiled brightly without any unpleasant expression.

“Hello, Lady Aphelia.”

As I grabbed the hem of my skirt and greeted her, Lady Aphelia smiled and said,

“Oh, you’re so cute.”

She lowered herself and met my eyes.

“Thank you for welcoming me like this.”

I felt sorry for no reason when I saw her kind face.

Maybe I was reading too much into her politics.

“I’d like you to freshen up today and have lunch with His Majesty tomorrow. Is it okay to have a meeting about Kanzain after lunch?”

“That’s fine. Can you show me to my room?”

“Please come this way.”

I watched Lady Aphelia’s back as she walked away and tilted my head.

Kanzain was the land that Lady Aphelia used to govern but was recently given to my father by the imperial family.

‘This schedule feels like a real business meeting.’

Well, she came to the ducal residence for that reason.

Still, Lady Aphelia must have received an order from the empress to become a duchess.

‘Was it not her own will?’

It was a meeting that was different from what I had expected in many ways.

* * *

“Lady Aphelia said she wants me to attend the lunch? Why?”

“Yes, Miss.”

My personal butler, Orca, lowered his head with a calm attitude.

“Why?”

It’s a chance for her to have a meal with my father alone.

The answer came not from Orca, but from somewhere else.

“Well, is it because Miss is so lovely?”

“She said she went to meet you in person yesterday. Even I would want to have a meal with you.”

“Anyone who has seen our Miss once will want to see her again! There are people who haven’t seen you at all, but no one who has only seen you once!”

“….”

That’s wrong.

These sisters can’t make a normal judgment because of Ruru.

“Anyway, there’s no reason to refuse. There will be a lot of delicious food.”

“Then I’ll let her know you’ll attend.”

“Yeah, let’s postpone the meeting for today and reschedule it for later. Contact the advisory team.”

“Yes, miss.”

Orca lowered his head and left the room.

I got up from the sofa.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk!”

My sisters looked at me with surprise.

Tsk tsk.

They still don’t know anything.

“If you want to eat a lot later, you have to digest your breakfast!”

Even Aunt Aphelia agrees!

If you’re going to invite me to lunch, you should have told me before breakfast!

I left the room holding my still-full stomach with a meat pie.

‘I have to go to the rear garden! I’m going to play with the water there!’

Hehe, I’m excited!

I felt like half of my rationality as a reincarnated person had disappeared, and I freely expressed my childish heart.

Playing in the water is fun!

Even adults enjoy it!

Going through the back door where the employees go is much faster to get to the rear garden.

I ran down the hallway and stopped.

‘A child?’

A child in the silent grandeur of the Duke’s residence, that’s something.

It wasn’t Cynthia.

She was a small girl who was only about one hand taller than me.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

The girl was surprised to hear my voice and bowed her waist towards me.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

I was even more surprised at her flat apology.

“Just wait, it’s really okay.”

When I held onto her arm that kept bending down, she looked at me with surprise.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

I was worried that the child would get sick because of the magic.

“Oh, no, it’s okay.”

It’s a relief that she’s not hurt, but is she really okay?

Anyway, since it seems like they’re uncomfortable with my presence, let’s get away quickly.

“That’s a relief. Then—”

Grrrr!

I heard thunder-like sounds from the child’s stomach.

She’s not hurting, but she’s hungry.

The child held onto her stomach and lowered her head.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Dana.”

“Dana, I’m Ruatisha.”

When I smiled and reached out my hand, she blushed shyly.

“Do you want to make a contract with me and rob the kitchen together?”

“What?”

I grabbed Dana’s hand and ran to the kitchen.

Let’s go steal everything!

There will be a lot of delicious food prepared for lunch!

* * *

It was time for the long-awaited lunch, but I was not happy at all.

‘My stomach… it’s so full…’

I couldn’t eat this delicious food in front of me.

It’s not fair!

“Ruru, don’t you have an appetite?”

Dad looked at me with concern as I struggled.

“No. I ate too much earlier.”

Dad looked at me without saying anything.

“I’m serious.”

I really took over the kitchen and stole everything.

The ruler of the kitchen, Ruru, shook up the kitchen, that’s what I’m saying.

Dad stopped eating and got up from his seat to hold me.

“Let’s eat a little bit. If you don’t eat now, you’ll be hungry later.”

Dad sat me on his lap and cut the meat into small pieces for me.

“Ah~ go ahead.”

“I’m really full.”

“If you eat well, I’ll buy you a diamond as big as your fist.”

No, why are you tempting a child with diamonds?

But even so, I couldn’t open my mouth.

A diamond as big as my fist? That’s what you’d expect in a romance fantasy!

“You have to eat vegetables too. If you eat celery, I’ll get you a golden brooch.”

Oh my goodness.

If you say so… I’ll eat well.

What else should I eat?

“I couldn’t have imagined that His Excellency would personally sit you on his lap and feed you food with his own hands.”

Lady Aphelia said with a gentle smile.

Her daughter, Cynthia, nodded as well.

“Even if I tell others, they won’t believe it.”

“You look lovely. Your Excellency must really adore your daughter.”

“She just likes me too much.”

Dad said arrogantly, cocking his head arrogantly. (Even though he was holding a baby spoon.)

“She thinks I’m the best.”

“Oh my.”

“He keeps applying medicine even though I’m fine.”

“I wonder why.”

“Whenever he sees me, he keeps wanting to hug me…”

“Oh my goodness.”

Enough is enough now!

The soul is fading from the lady’s eyes!

The dinner ended with Dad’s boasting.

I held Dad’s hand and left the dining room when Cynthia spoke.

“Hello, you’re Ruatisha, right?”

Her cheerful face didn’t seem annoyed.

Oh well.

What’s the child’s fault in the complicated affairs of adults? Let’s treat her kindly.

“Hello! I’m Ruatisha.”

“Oh my, you’re adorable. How old are you?”

“I’m five years old.”

Cynthia clapped her hands with a delighted expression.

“Oh my, the age difference between us is perfect!”

Huh?

Do you want to marry me, big sister?

That’s a bit too fast.

Has the cuteness of Lady Ruru, who will conquer the world, captured the girl’s heart as well?

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