“When will I grow up? Sixteen years old? Twenty years old?”

“Well, let’s go with sixteen. By then, you’ll probably be entering society. If your feelings don’t change by then, I’ll somehow become Milady’s mother for you.”

As Meiana tightly held her hand, Arianthe smiled happily.

“It’s a promise.”

Arianthe said.

“When I turn sixteen, if my feelings haven’t changed, promise me you’ll become my mother by marrying my father. Okay?”

Meiana nodded with a smile.

After sending the children who had been playing in the forest back east, Ash went straight to find Cedelloi. Sitting in front of the empty fireplace, reading a letter, Cedelloi greeted Ash with a grin and scolded him in a reproachful tone.

“I clearly issued a restriction on Arianthe going out, so what are you doing taking her to the forest?”

But Ash just shrugged his shoulders, as if saying, “So what?”

“It’s all part of the lesson. If you’re dissatisfied, you can dismiss me.”

“Ash, your habit of making threats seems to be routine. Even at the Royal University, there were rumors about it. You said that if rumors spread to the dean, you’d go and bother him, threatening to quit your teaching position.”

“Since when did believing in rumors become a common practice? It’s just baseless gossip. Ignore it.”

In fact, it was a greatly exaggerated rumor—what he actually did was so absurd that believing it would make one an idiot. Ash, nonchalantly selling Cedelloi, who knew it was not due to the alcohol, pulled out a glass with diamond embellishments and a bottle of sherry from his shelf.

“Drinking in broad daylight?”

“Is there a rule that says you can only drink at a certain time? I didn’t know.”

Cedelloi chuckled as if amused by Ash’s sarcastic remarks.

“That’s why people suspect you of having a split personality.”

“I don’t have a personality to cater to people who don’t like it. You should know that.”

With a sarcastic remark, Ash drank the second glass of alcohol, and the impression on his face wrinkled. Cedelloi waited silently until Ash finished the second glass. Holding a bottle and glass in each hand like a drunkard, Ash slammed the bottle onto the edge of the desk. Only then did Cedelloi, with a chin gesture, offer him a seat and asked.

“What happened?”

“When you don’t ask anything, were you subtly keeping an eye on me?”

Ash said, teasing.

“Ever thought that servants might not know the topic and might blabber on about it as if they knew, just like the landlord’s employees?”

Cedelloi’s eyebrows seemed to show or hide, as if he could see or not see them. He still had a faint smile around his lips, but he understood what Ash was saying.

“Why suddenly talk like this, Ash? Today, you’re not speaking like yourself. If you have something to say, just say it. We’ve been in the same boat, bothering each other for quite some time now.”

In response to Cedelloi’s words, Ash chuckled with a sly smile and buried himself deep in the chair. His gaze seemed sharp, as if he were about to start a critical evaluation, but a relaxed smile lingered around his lips.

At one time, the expression, which was the most feared by students of the Royal University, famous for its high noses, was Ash Lorren’s expression. Expressing such a look meant an impending torrent of harsh words, so… let’s call it a sign of an approaching typhoon.

However, Cedelloi was not a student of Ash, and the unique expression could have a different meaning for him.
He already knew that Ash had a habit of making such expressions just before bringing up something important. It had been that way since he was very young.

“Since I first came to your house, I’ve been thinking about some strange things. Well, to be more precise, about strange people.”

“If you could avoid using the word ‘people,’ Ash?”

“Why, do you still feel contempt in the word ‘human’?”

“You always do when you speak. Don’t you know that?”

Seated with his body leaning against the chair, Cedelloi added.

“Well, you’re somewhat similar, no matter what you say. Just do as you please. So, who’s the strange one?”

“The first is the one you introduced to me, Meiana Dohn.”

Cedelloi’s eyes blinked slowly. The smile that had lingered around his lips became a bit thicker and clearer. Ash immediately realized that Cedelloi had unintentionally erected a defensive wall.

‘She must have something going on with that Dohn.’

Ash thought.

Cedelloi, as if observing, carefully examined his friend before saying.

“Are you talking about Meiana?”

“Meiana, calling her by her first name so casually. There are many things I’m curious about regarding that woman, but unfortunately, today is not the day. Today, we need to talk about another woman.”

“Is it about Jocelyn, the housekeeper?”

Ash’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re good at guessing. Or was it a well-founded inference?”

“Both.”

As a habit, Ash, with one leg crossed over the other knee, twisted his lips while resting his fingers on his temple.

“So, what kind of woman is she?”