She did so. With her buttocks perched on Sediloy’s knees, balancing her weight on one leg, she embraced his neck.

“Opening a tea party is good, but I don’t know what to talk about.”

Sediloy smiled and embraced Maiana’s waist.

“Anyway, the topic that the Duchess is interested in is the topic of the day. Don’t forget. You are the most noble woman.”

“Since His Majesty the King is present, you shouldn’t speak so casually, Duke of Baltermance.”

“Who cares. His Majesty probably won’t hear a word of what we say here.”

Maiana laughed and snickered. The lips of the two who had come closer met softly and repeated the process of separating. Maiana felt Sediloy’s palm sweeping down her back, then sighed lightly.

“But there’s another problem.”

Sediloy now had a slightly troubled expression. He raised one eyebrow slightly and said,

“What’s the problem?”

Maiana replied,

“Because I’m not interested in jewelry or dresses. Elegant gossip, of course. Of course, those living in the Duchy… like Countess Alt or Lady Gilmore. Such people may not talk behind others, but if it’s called a noblewoman’s gathering, it seems they should laugh nobly and gossip about others.”

Sediloy’s eyes moved slowly. He made a thoughtful expression for a moment, then pressed his lips on Maiana’s collarbone, muttering.

“That’s… seems like your prejudice. Just because they’re noblewomen doesn’t mean they only have such conversations.”

When Maiana raised her eyebrows slightly, Sediloy added again.

“Of course, there are many cases like that.”

Maiana’s fingers lightly tickled Sediloy’s cheek and neck. Unbuttoning one, two buttons of his shirt… When her palm slightly touched the upper chest below his neck, Sediloy sighed and pulled Maiana’s body.

Maiana pushed his shoulder away again.

“Anyway, that’s what I think.”

A sigh finally escaped from Sediloy’s mouth. He leaned his head back onto the back of the sofa, blinked his eyes, and then glanced at Maiana elegantly.

“Are you deliberately doing this now?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Anyway, what’s the story?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Maiana said,

“The only area I’m interested in is parenting. How to raise Ariante and Swan well. How to mature and grow puppies like these 6-month-old puppies…”

Not puppies. She thought.

“…Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about except how to raise them.”

“Then just talk about that. Anyway, if they are noblewomen in the Duchy, they are all people who raise children like you. They probably want to pay gold coins just to hear your parenting lecture.”
That was true. Especially, the mother of Sisina Luzian couldn’t help but admire Ariante’s mature appearance whenever she saw it. The modest child didn’t know the fact that she would slide down the banister and ride the slide every day at home.

“So, instead of the Duchess’s tea party, it will be a mother’s gathering.”

Sediloy chuckled softly.

“That’s not a bad idea. Isn’t it?”

His fingertips gently touched Maiana’s skin again. Soft warmth, but within it, Maiana now knew how hot things were boiling.

Very, very well.

The light breeze of the spring night slightly shook the window of the Turret Room. Sediloy, occasionally looking at the flickering lamp light, whispered, burying his forehead in her arms.

“I remember what happened in your room.”

Maiana, with a slightly reddened face, squeezed his back of the hand. Delicate touches that touched her knee and calf were felt.

“It was quite embarrassing.”

Sediloy raised his head with a teasing expression.

“Are you seriously saying that? You didn’t seem embarrassed at all.”

“Are you the one to seriously say that? My heart almost stopped.”

“Well…”

Sediloy’s gaze moved slowly.

“You thought it was because of me, didn’t you? Or not?”

Of course, there was such a reason. Maiana thought. No, actually, that was the real reason… But she didn’t want to tell Sediloy the truth. She preferred to tease and make him eager until, like Ariante, he reached out his arms and hugged her waist…

Yes, just like now.

Maiana leaned against Sediloy, embracing him in his strong arms. Her thick milky hair lightly brushed Sediloy’s cheek.

“Alright, then. It would be nice to open a lecture on how great of a mother I am.”

Sediloy replied.

“Of course. If we gather all your parenting advice, we might be able to weave a giant tapestry.”

Maiana, who burst into laughter, embraced him, kissing his neck. His breath felt much sweeter than the tip of her tongue lightly touching.