The next morning, Lady Kosa came to find Maiana.

“Day off?”

Kosa said, extending her hand as if it were a bother.

“Yeah, that’s right. Both you and Vainti. Of course, you have to attend to the lady’s morning routine. After that, the Duke said you could take a half-day off.”

“Then, who will take care of the lady during that time?”

“The Duke will.”

After saying that, Kosa grumbled about being behind on work and quickly disappeared. Watching her back as she shook her large frame from side to side, Maiana, feeling bewildered, turned away.

Vainti, who had heard the story about the day off, seemed to be floating on air as she either cleaned or played. But for some reason, Maiana couldn’t feel relieved. Could Cedric really take good care of Ariante? Despite suggesting they spend some time together, this sudden challenge…

“Really? You’ll be with Father all day today?”

It wasn’t just Vainti who was excited. Ariante, so excited that she tucked her head into the armhole for a long time, grunted and fussed.

It was only when Maiana held the clothes on both sides for her that she could finally put her head in properly.

“Where are we going? What are we going to do?”

In response to Ariante’s question, Maiana moved her eyes with an ambiguous expression.

“W… well, the Duke will know.”

“You don’t know yet?”

Now I can’t hide it any longer. Maiana thought. She opened the back of Ariante’s spread-out skirt with a ribbon as naturally as possible and spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“Actually, milady, I have a day off today. Until evening.”

Ariante widened her eyes and looked at Maiana. It was a gaze that said, ‘So what?’

“So… I won’t be with you today. The Duke is going to play alone. Is that alright with you?”

“I want all three of us to go.”

“Oh, come on, last time the three of us played together. We went to the village too. This time, the Duke will play with us! Milady, the Duke has been waiting for you to play alone with him.”

“Well, that’s true…”

Ariante’s lower lip stuck out like a duckling. Playing with her father was good, but having Maiana there too was the best for Ariante.

“Can’t we have the day off later? Today, I want to be with my father…”

“It’s the day off the Duke gave, so you can’t just decide not to use it. And it seems like the Duke wants to spend some time alone with milady. Our milady is kind, isn’t she? You looked forward to playing with your father a lot, right?”
Upon hearing those words, Ariante seemed to have finally given up on pulling in Maiana. Above all, after hearing that her father wanted to spend some time alone with her, she couldn’t continue to insist. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to make Maiana uncomfortable but rather that she couldn’t do something that went against Cedric’s wish.

As if she knew exactly what Ariante was thinking, Maiana spoke while combing her curly hair.

“If you have something you want or something you’d like to do, be honest with the Duke. You understand, milady? Don’t hold back.”

Ariante nodded sullenly.

“I got it.”

“Good. Oh, how adorable! Look, milady. Isn’t this tiara ornament really pretty?”

A pair of azure eyes looked into the mirror. Ariante turned her head in various directions, carefully checking her reflection in the mirror. The flowing golden hair had a shine to it, and the diamond tiara, as Maiana said, looked very beautiful.

“I like it.”

Maiana smiled and gave Ariante a short, affectionate kiss on her head.

“Have a good time with the Duke.”

“Then, Maiana, will you stay here?”

“Well… Since I got a day off, I thought I might take a stroll. It might be fun to go to the village.”

“To the village? Then bring me another paper balloon!”

The paper balloon she received last time eventually lost all its air overnight, turning into a messy clump of paper. Nevertheless, Ariante didn’t throw it away, keeping it well-preserved on a shelf as if it were a precious toy.

“If someone gives out paper balloons, I’ll get one for you.”

“Promise? You have to. Yes.”

“Yeah, but I can’t give you one if there aren’t any. Understand?”

Ariante vigorously nodded. Her slightly disheveled hair from the nodding didn’t bother her at all. Instead, she had a joyful expression that didn’t know what to do.

After Gemero took Ariante away, Maiana stood there in a daze, not sure what to do for a moment. Vainti, who had almost finished her morning meal in a hurry, quickly went back to her room, put on her best outing dress, and appeared with a splendid hat adorned with lace.

“What? Are you not going anywhere today?”

Vainti said as she looked at Maiana, who was standing absent-mindedly, as if surprised.

“It’s my day off! Go somewhere and meet people, you.”

Maiana looked at Vainti with an amusing expression. Vainti, still with a proud expression, adjusted her hat and muttered.

“It’s good to take care of the lady, but you should also make some friends, right? You can’t just work forever.”

“What are you talking about? Are you thinking of getting married?”

Vainti looked at Maiana as if she would hear any strange question.