“It’s a dish of pickled salmon lightly sprinkled with pepper and salt.”

Ameline began systematically teaching what size fork, knife, and spoon to use for each food. But knowing it theoretically was different from putting it into practice.

Especially when eating fish dishes, she made mistakes several times. She had difficulty when filleting the fish meat. She had to fillet it as if scraping off the backbone or fins, and she shouldn’t flip the fish over to fillet it.

For meat dishes, she had to hold the meat with a fork and cut it with a knife while eating, and the meat had to be cut at a right angle.

“When cutting the meat, you should pull the front part of the blade as if cutting. The plate shouldn’t move when you’re cutting.”

Lorencia had memorized all the dining manners theoretically, but she felt that practice was different.

She thought she could just eat dessert, but the shape shouldn’t be ruined, and it was different to pick up fruit with a fork versus scooping it with a spoon.

The storm-like practice session for the course meal passed.

“You did well.”

“I thought I would do well since I memorized it, but practice is different.”

“Still, you calmly followed along well even though it was your first time learning.”

“You’ll get used to it quickly.”

Ameline and Evan began praising Lorencia. Blushing shyly, Lorencia nodded. Studying was for herself, but having people cheer her on and praise her made her heart feel soft and fluffy. It was embarrassing, but a corner of her heart felt warm.

But the warmth was short-lived. Teishar came to see her. Her fluffy feeling instantly hardened at his words. It was the same for Evan and Ameline.

“I thought Father would come. Why is he trying to take me, his illegitimate child, to the earl’s residence?”

Teishar felt frustrated at Lorencia’s words, as if he had eaten a sweet potato without water. He wanted to tell her it was because she was the child of Goddess Ella, but he couldn’t say it hastily.

“Is he perhaps trying to arrange a political marriage for me somewhere?”

At the word “marriage” that Lorencia brought up without much thought, Teishar was taken aback. Aside from the secret of her birth, Lorencia was currently established as the young lady of Earl Pol Heredian.

If, by any chance, Brant says her marriage partner has been decided so she should return, would she go back to the earl’s residence for a political marriage? No, he must never let her go back.

The claim that her marriage has been arranged could be a lie. A lie to take Lorencia away.

Teishar’s mind suddenly became complicated. He couldn’t part with his young tree like this. Should he consider kidnapping her instead? He absolutely couldn’t be separated from his young tree.

“Lady Lorencia.”

“Yes?”

“Would it be alright if you married me instead?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, if by any chance Earl Brant brings up talks of marriage, would it be alright if you said you’ll marry me?”

Lorencia stopped walking and looked up at Teishar. Their gazes met, red eyes locking with each other. The emotion she read in his eyes was earnestness.

“What I’m saying is, if Earl Pol Heredian tries to arrange a political marriage, don’t go along with it.”

Teishar’s cheeks gradually reddened, the flush spreading to his ears. Why did the word “marriage” that he had only been thinking about suddenly come out of his mouth? He himself didn’t understand what nonsense he was spouting.

Still, he had to somehow clean up the words he had let out.

“Rather than returning to the Pol Heredian earl’s residence, marrying me would be, well… The reason I’m suggesting marriage is…”

Teishar, who had never even felt nervous in front of hideous monsters, learned for the first time in his life what nervousness was.

“If they try to force a political marriage on you, it would be great if you could tell them you’ve promised to marry me.”

Teishar kept talking, trying to clean up what he had said to Lorencia. The more he spoke, the more muddled it became. He should shut his mouth, but it wouldn’t stop. It was so embarrassing.

“I think I would be better than a political marriage. I’m saying this in case Earl Pol Heredian brings up talk of a political marriage, you can use me…”

“I’ll do as you say, Duke Spencer.”

“You understand what I mean?”

“If my father brings up the topic of taking me back for a political marriage, you mean I should tell him I’ve been proposed to by Duke Spencer, right?”

“That’s right. You can say you’ve agreed to marry me.”

Teishar sighed in relief. He was glad the young tree seemed to grasp his intention well. Saying “marry me” in a raised voice out of embarrassment made his face flush for some reason. Teishar unknowingly bit his lower lip before sticking it out slightly.

“Duke Spencer, thank you for worrying about me.”

Teishar’s red eyes gradually widened. The moment Lorencia thanked him seemed to pass in slow motion. His heart pounded as their gazes met, her violet eyes captivating him. His heart beat loudly and powerfully the moment she smiled and thanked him. Each thump made his chest feel stuffy. It was as if his heart, like a fragile sheet of paper, was repeatedly being folded and unfolded.

This sensation was something he was feeling for the first time in his life. Teishar was confused about whether he should stay still or what he should do in response to this unfamiliar feeling that suddenly washed over him.

“But my father won’t easily bring up political marriage to me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I’m an illegitimate child. And as you can see, with this skinny body and plain face, who would want to marry me? I wouldn’t even be considered for a political marriage.”

“In my eyes, you are very precious and pretty, Lady Lorencia.”

“Thank you for saying that, Duke Spencer.”

The corners of Lorencia’s eyes curved into a pretty crescent shape.

Blinking slowly, Teishar gazed at Lorencia. He felt strange. Teishar raised his hand and touched his own cheek. It was hotter than the cheek of someone with a fever.

Teishar unfolded the paper-like heart again, and carefully engraved words on that paper.

Teishar was worried as he entered Adrian’s office. The young tree said she wanted to talk to Brant alone. So Teishar sent Adrian a pleading look, asking for his help.

Thinking it was good to pile up debts from Teishar, Adrian began persuading Lorencia alongside Teishar about her intention to see Brant alone.

“We’re worried you might get hurt like Lady Illina.”

“I appreciate your recommendation. But it’s alright. Your Highness Adrian, and Duke Spencer.”

Lorencia firmly rejected Teishar, who wanted to stay by her side. Teishar’s shoulders slumped. Adrian patted his shoulder in consolation.

“Duke Spencer.”

“Yes, Lady Lorencia.”

“Thank you so much for worrying about me.”

“If you’re thankful, then together…”

“Instead, would you escort me to the parlor door?”

“I understand.”

The door to the parlor where Brant was opened. Lorencia entered, receiving Teishar’s polite escort. Brant frowned and glanced at Lorencia. Her complexion had improved since he last saw her. He could imagine how much she must have eaten like a pig without even seeing it.

He hated seeing Lorencia doing well, but there was someone he hated seeing even more. It was none other than Teishar. In front of Brant, Teishar exuded an intimidating aura like a beast baring its fangs. But next to Lorencia, he was acting as docile as a gentle lamb. It was an infuriating sight.

“Lady Lorencia, if anything happens, please scream right away.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

The red gaze that had been shining affectionately shifted away from Lorencia. His red eyes looked at Brant. The corners of Teishar’s eyes lifted slightly as he looked at him.

Teishar approached Brant and extended his hand. Brant couldn’t refuse when Teishar smiled and offered a handshake. After a moment’s hesitation, Brant accepted the handshake, but he felt Teishar’s grip on his hand gradually tightening.

“Lady Lorencia hasn’t fully recovered her health yet. If it wasn’t for her request, I wouldn’t have had to leave this room. It’s a shame.”

Brant gulped. In other words, this was Teishar’s warning not to mess with Lorencia because she was unwell.

“Thank you for escorting my precious daughter here, Duke Spencer.”

As Teishar closed the door and left the parlor, Brant’s expression changed.

“Lorencia.”

“It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Lorencia gazed at Brant, who was eyeing her warily, with no emotion.

“I heard you were desperately looking for me.”

Recalling the etiquette she had just learned from Ameline, Lorencia gracefully sat across from him. Then she smiled softly and tilted her head slightly.

“For a filthy monster, you’re putting on quite an act, sitting like a proper person.”

“Isn’t that filthy monster the one you want to take back and carefully attend to?”

“Me, carefully attend to you?”

“According to Duke Spencer, you begged him to summon me, saying you missed your precious daughter.”

“You, precious? Missing you? Haha. You know better than anyone that I could never consider a monster like you precious. Don’t you realize that what I told Duke Spencer was just an excuse to call you out? You couldn’t have taken it seriously, right?”

Brant spat abuse at Lorencia with an overtly unpleasant face.

“Lorencia, don’t forget. I will never acknowledge you as a daughter, and there’s not a shred of love for you.”

“I’m truly relieved to hear you say that.”

“Relieved?”

Lorencia smiled leisurely at Brant, who was glaring at her with a displeased expression, and spoke.

“The excuse you gave Duke Spencer sounded so sincere that I was a little worried, thinking your head had gone wrong. So I came to confirm it.”

“You must return to the earl’s residence.”

“And why should I go back?”

“Are you going to disobey the family head’s order?”