Mayana looked at Cediloy with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you saying that?”

Cediloy, who had been silently observing her, spoke, “Because it seems like there’s something difficult for you to handle too.”

“Me?”

Why would he think that? Mayana stared at Cediloy with a bewildered expression. Had she ever shown signs of exhaustion while taking care of Arianthe? Swearing by everything sacred, she hadn’t. If anything, Arianthe gave her energy. It was thanks to Arianthe that she could cast off her heavy burdens.

However, Cediloy’s words deviated from Mayana’s expectations.

“Before coming here, what kind of person were you, no matter what you did?”

Mayana unintentionally tensed, showing a guarded expression. It was a change that wouldn’t be noticeable unless looked at attentively, but in that moment, it was vivid in Cediloy’s eyes.

“You already know, right? I worked at Forebeck Manor.”

“No, not that. Further back.”

“Do you want to hear about my past, Duke?”

“I’m curious. Sometimes you seem like someone haunted by bad memories.”

Bad memories. Mayana mulled over his words and let out a bitter smile. If there were times when she appeared different from usual, it was only when she longed for the past, most likely.

Could that be called bad memories? No, there were no bad memories. It was just too lovely, too yearned for, and that’s why it was agonizing. At times, it felt like her entire body was in pain.

But she couldn’t talk about such things. Mayana thought so. Cediloy didn’t seem like he wanted to understand, and she didn’t want to unnecessarily bring up those past stories with words.

Whether in writing or in speech, she didn’t want to vividly expose that time in a clear and concrete form. She just wanted to hide it deep within her heart until it became vague like a hazy dream.

Otherwise, she might not be able to endure it.

Cediloy, who had been gazing at Mayana with cautious and careful eyes, stepped back as he said, “If you’re okay, it’s fine. It’s actually better. You’re essential to Arianthe and to me.”

Mayana stared at him intently.

“I’m needed by the Duke?”

Then, after playfully raising her lips for a moment, she continued, “Why? I haven’t done much for the Duke.”

Cediloy’s eyes slowly closed. Under the twilight’s honey-colored light that had turned into a deep amber, his smile gently emerged.

“No, you’ve done a lot. Not just taking care of Arianthe but many other things.”

On the day of the tea party, Arianthe woke up two hours earlier than usual. She shook Mayana awake, knocked on Venti’s door, and climbed alternately onto Bridget and Ivy’s beds, urging them to wake up.

“Quick, Mayana! Wake up! Hurry!”
“Ugh… Lady, I’m not joking. If you keep rolling around like that, my stomach will burst.”

Whether Mayana complained or not, Arianthe burst into laughter and pulled her into a tight embrace, sheets and all. Mayana, who held Arianthe tightly to prevent her from falling under the bed, sighed as if she had no other choice and got up.

She thought, at least she’s not a puppy. If Arianthe were a tiny puppy, Mayana was sure she would have bitten off her hair, made her face wet with saliva, or something like that.

“Mayana, are you tired?”

Arianthe, nestled in her arms, raised her head slightly and asked. Mayana, leaning her face against Arianthe’s cheek that emitted the typical fluffy scent of a child, closed her eyes and smiled.

“No, I’m not tired. By the way, if you wake up so early, Lady, you might get tired… What will you do when you get sleepy after the lunch before the tea party?”

“I won’t get sleepy! I’m fine. So, hurry up and get up!”

“Alright, Lady. Alright…”

Mayana yawned loudly, then gently put Arianthe down under the bed and got up herself. In the living room, Venti and Bridget, who had risen with disheveled faces, were standing against Arianthe’s complaining, and still half-asleep Ivy, with her usual expressionless face, was also present.

Venti muttered like a grumble, “Lady… The tea party is still far away. Please let me sleep a little longer.”

“No! You can’t be lazy. Check if everything is prepared well! Dresses, tea, cookies, and cake! Also, rose decorations!”

Then, Bridget, with swollen eyes, spoke with difficulty, “If it’s about rose decorations, don’t worry, Lady. Um… I told the gardeners to put up rose decorations for the tea party… yes.”

“Bridget, your mouth was wide open just now.”

“I yawned.”

Arianthe stomped her foot.

“Stop yawning! Hurry! I want to take a bath quickly. And change my clothes, have breakfast, go to Father to say hello, and prepare for the tea party. Quickly, quickly!”

The four maids, still not fully awake, simultaneously responded with, “Yes.”

Arianthe swiftly finished everything from bathing to dressing, breakfast, and more without a single complaint. How well she listened, and she didn’t even protest when there were peas in the soup served for breakfast. Seeing Arianthe, who obediently finished all her dishes, Venti, with an amazed expression, shook her head and whispered to Mayana.