I thought it would be awkward because of yesterday’s incident, but unexpectedly, it was Kardiel who spoke first.

“Stepmother, I was short-sighted yesterday.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. As you said, I think I naively thought that I just needed to inherit the duke’s title.”

“Kardiel……”

“While talking with Lord Joseph, I was able to think calmly again. So from today, I’m planning to seriously prepare for the academic college course.”

In Kardiel’s even tone, I felt the child’s respect and love for me.

I couldn’t know exactly what kind of persuasion Lord Joseph had used on Kardiel.

But it was truly fortunate that Kardiel, who had been stubborn unlike his usual self, had softened his heart.

That was enough. I placed my hand on the sturdy shoulder of my eldest son, whom I trust and rely on the most.

“I also felt bad all night because I thought I spoke too harshly to you yesterday. Karl, I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you spoke first like this.”

My heart, which had been anxious all night, suddenly softened at Kardiel’s lake-like clear blue eyes.

I smiled gently and patted the child’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Karl. And I’m sorry about yesterday too.”

“No need. I know well that you did it because you care for me.”

Truly a praiseworthy, admirable, and grateful son. How did such a child come to be mine?

“Mother! Did you sleep well?”

“Mom, hug me too!”

“Oh my, it’s mealtime. Let’s go in together.”

Euphemina and Chersion also arrived at the dining room not too late. I entered the dining room surrounded by the three children.

“It’s a shining morning.”

Yes, it’s truly a morning with a shining man.

Lord Joseph, who was already seated at the table, came to greet me and kissed my fingertips.

He didn’t forget to show his sensibility by pulling out my chair for me today as well.

“How did you do it?”

When Lord Joseph came close, I whispered and asked.

Then he answered with a laugh that only I could hear.

“That’s a secret between men.”

W-What?

“No matter how curious the duchess is, I won’t tell you.”

“……?”

Lord Joseph winked, closing just one eye.

It seems he really has no intention of answering. I don’t understand why I should feel left out.

Anyway, yesterday’s incident seemed to have been resolved well.

As someone who had been worried about what would happen if my relationship with Kardiel soured, this was truly a relief.

So even if not right away, after some time passes, I might be able to ask again.

“Oh right, by the way.”

Seated at the table, I suddenly looked at the children and asked.

“I heard that Teacher Jepetto and Teacher Ernestine saw a ghost on the floor where your rooms are early this morning.”

At those words, the children’s bodies simultaneously stiffened.

Chersion’s reaction, in particular, was significant. The child’s amber eyes shook violently as if there had been an earthquake.

‘Ah, did I suddenly say something too scary in front of the children?’

Yes, perhaps ghost stories might be too much stimulation for children who haven’t come of age yet.

Even grown adults get scared like that.

Reflecting on my own lack of sensitivity, I continued speaking.

“Of course, we all know there are no such things as ghosts in this mansion. But the teachers seem to have been very surprised, so it would be better if you don’t wander around outside late at night. Understood?”

But really, today everyone’s reactions to my words are peculiar, from the tutors to the children.

Kardiel suddenly gulps down cold water, Chersion still has trembling eyes while covering his mouth with both hands.

Euphemina is unusually focused on her meal without responding to my words.

“Chelsy. Are you alright?”

“I-I-I’m f-fine!”

Moreover, I had been worried about Chersion’s reaction since earlier.

As I tried to stand up to check on the child, Chersion shook his head vigorously from side to side.

I’m not sure if he’s really alright, but it was clear that he was rejecting my concern. Then it might be better to pretend not to notice for a while.

I turned my head reluctantly and asked the children again.

“Did you understand what I said, children?”

“……Yes, stepmother.”

“……”

“Y-Yes…!”

What’s this?

‘This really feels strange.’

The reactions are still suspicious. I wonder if something happened that I don’t know about.

Meanwhile, Lord Joseph was chuckling softly.

Looking at him laughing with slightly downturned eyes, I realized that he too needed some advice regarding this matter.

“Lord Joseph should be careful as well. There are strange rumors going around about ghosts or whatever.”

Then Lord Joseph answered with an expression and tone that had not yet fully suppressed his laughter.

“It’s probably not a ghost anyway, so is there really a need to be careful?”

Oh, finally a somewhat normal reaction. I asked with a more relaxed face.

“It seems Lord Joseph doesn’t believe in ghosts.”

“No, rather, I’m more on the side of being certain of their existence.”

His words continued after finally suppressing his laughter.

“So I could easily tell that what the two tutors saw wasn’t a real ghost. I even have some idea about the ‘identity of the ghost’ they’re talking about.”

The identity of the ghost?

My head turned sharply towards Lord Joseph, suddenly very interested.

Perhaps the frightened children might feel a little reassured if they hear his words too.

With that thought, I urged Lord Joseph’s answer with my eyes.

“That’s……”

“Lord Joseph.”

But just as Lord Joseph was about to open his mouth to reveal the answer, Kardiel’s cold voice interjected into the conversation.

“Chersion is very scared, so I would appreciate it if we could refrain from that topic now.”

Oh!

I closed my mouth with a start.

Indeed, when I turned my gaze, Chersion was looking back and forth between me and Lord Joseph with those big eyes full of anxiety.

Only then did I realize that whether ghosts exist or not wasn’t the important thing.

For the sensitive Chersion, such things might be much more stimulating than I had anticipated.

So just mentioning the word ‘ghost’ could be enough to frighten him.

‘I almost made a mistake.’

Come to think of it, the identity of the ghost wasn’t important anyway. I quickly exchanged glances with Lord Joseph, then sat up straight again.

“That would be best. It’s probably just a misunderstanding by the two teachers. As Karl said, we should stop talking about this now.”

“In fact, I was about to say the same thing. There are so many mysterious things in an ancient mansion, it’s no wonder they might have been mistaken.”

“Hah……”

Ernestine calmed herself with a long breath.

Having fainted all night, her physical condition wasn’t entirely sound. Her shoulders ached and her back hurt.

“Teacher El. Are you in much pain?”

“No, young master. I’m quite alright, hoho.”

Still, seeing the angelic youngest master’s face full of worry, she thought she couldn’t continue in this weakened condition.

After all, she regarded him like her own child.

‘If my son were alive, he’d be exactly young master Chersion’s age……”

Ernestine had a deceased son. It was a story from five years ago.

At that time, Ernestine was a poor musician barely maintaining a modest reputation by selling composed scores to theaters.

Unfortunately, her reputation wasn’t enough to maintain a normal livelihood for her family.

As time passed, debts grew daily and creditors frequented Ernestine’s shabby shack.

She had often thought about quitting composition and doing something else.

But whenever that happened, her parents and wife encouraged Ernestine’s talent, allowing her to continue dreaming of being a composer.

The burden of livelihood fell entirely on the family.

Her parents dragged their old and tired bodies out every day looking for work, while her wife took on rough and hard work as a laundry maid in some mansion.

Her kind six-year-old son secretly started cleaning chimneys without the family’s knowledge. That was the beginning of misfortune.

The son who fell from the chimney returned to Ernestine and her family’s arms as a corpse covered in ashes.

Her parents collapsed and her wife wailed. Everything was hopeless.

If Baron Baden hadn’t brought the score she had sold cheaply just then, the whole family might have made an extreme choice.

Baron Baden decided to sponsor Ernestine. At that time, he was nothing short of Ernestine’s savior.

He provided living expenses and even held her son’s funeral.

He allowed her to continue focusing on composition.

Ernestine’s name began to spread explosively during that period.

Before long, her work was staged at the capital’s grand theater and became a great success, making her an instant star.