Ariante, having swallowed what was in her mouth, alternately glanced at Meiana and Cediloy.
Somehow uneasy, Meiana thought. It was undoubtedly when Ariante looked at the two with such eyes that she was preparing an unexpected question…

“How much does Mother love Father?”

Meiana, who could almost hear a siren, quickly cut in. Swan started giggling on the side, and Cediloy, with fork and knife in hand, blinked before… turning his gaze toward Meiana.

“Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever hearing such a question.”

She’s going further with this! Meiana shot a glare at Cediloy, but it was in vain. Seeing him leisurely wiping his fingers, it seemed like he had made up his mind not to finish this topic until he heard an answer.

Ariante chirped like a baby bird again.

“Father always says he loves Mother, but Mother never says such things! How much does Mother love Father?”

Meiana, who had been pursing her lips, looked at Ariante, Swan, and then Cediloy before saying, “A lot.”

“How much is a lot?”

I knew it would be like this. Meiana clamped her mouth shut, and Swan, who had been chuckling next to Ariante, mimicked whispering to Ariante.

“Maybe as much as the stars in the sky?”

“Swan, saying it so loud isn’t a whisper.”

With Meiana’s admonishing tone, the two children burst into laughter, holding their bellies. The noise was loud enough for the employees passing by outside to glance curiously into the dining room.

Cediloy said, “Is Swan’s statement correct?”

“Why are you doing this too, Lord?”

Meiana retorted sharply, but Ariante pointed at her with a small finger and shouted, “Ah! She called him Lord again! Father, Mother called him Lord again!”

“Right. Mother will probably face punishment again.”

“Wait, where does this even happen? Both ladies are only worrying about planning and tormenting me!”

Ariante’s eyes widened.

“No! I don’t torment Mother. I love her so much!”

“Lady… ”

“She said Lady! Another punishment!”

Even if I just sew my mouth shut, it would be better. Meiana bit her tongue with a ridiculous expression. Even though she had almost completely removed the titles of Lord and Lady, they always seemed to pop out unexpectedly when she was off guard.

Of course, Cediloy and Ariante had no intention of tolerating it, and thanks to this, every time she made a mistake, Meiana had to endure punishment from the two.

With a relaxed smile, Cediloy said, “After tonight’s dinner, we might see something very interesting. Right, kids?”

Upon hearing this, Swan and Ariante, who were covering their mouths and giggling, answered simultaneously.

“It’s going to be so much fun!”

⭐️⭐️⭐️
After finishing the meal, while Ariante was pulling the exhausted Meiana upstairs, Swan quietly took Cediloy’s hand.

“Why are you doing this, Swan?”

“Well… I have something to tell you, Master.”

Cediloy looked around. The employees were busy clearing the table.

“All right, I understand. Shall we go up to your room together? Or would you prefer to go to my study?”

Swan pondered for a moment. It didn’t matter where, but… it seemed like going to Cediloy’s study would be better.

“I’d like the study.”

Cediloy nodded and, holding the boy’s hand, ascended to the upper floor. Swan, looking down briefly, had a thoughtful expression, making him seem more mature than his age. The hand they were holding seemed a bit larger than before, and overall, he appeared to have grown quite a bit.

In Cediloy’s study, Swan and Cediloy sat facing each other across the table, not as they usually did, side by side. Perhaps because of this change, Swan felt awkward and embarrassed, yet he also felt a bit more grown-up.

“Would you like some tea?”

Swan shook his head in response to Cediloy’s question.

“I’ll have some later with Ariante. It’s okay for now.”

“I see. Then…”

Cediloy, letting out a short sigh, brought his hands together on his knees, slightly bowing his upper body.

“What do you want to tell me?”

Swan faintly smiled, a gesture to ease tension. It was an action to relax. The boy, after fidgeting with his lips for a long time, briefly held his hand, then released it, then… took a deep breath, shoulders rising significantly.

Finally, Swan looked at Cediloy squarely.

“I’ve thought about it, Master. I… I want to continue the name of Glodde.”

Cediloy waited quietly until Swan organized his thoughts.

In fact, from the moment Swan looked directly at him, he had an idea of what the boy was going to say. Having experienced a similar situation himself, he could understand. It must have been when he told the King of Elmerat that he would succeed the Valthamminster Duchy. Perhaps he also stared at her with the same gaze as Swan’s current one.

Swan spoke.

“Master, I want to carry on the name of Glodde.”