“Find it offensive. Huh, if I become the Duchess of Balthminster, I won’t need a husband, maybe. What do you think?”

“What about Sir Cyrus, then?”

At Vainty’s question, Ariante paused for a moment. After her cheek slightly reddened, Ariante raised her chin again and replied slyly.

“We’ll just be friends if it comes to that.”

“If it were me, I’d rather get married than just be friends.”

“Vainty, I won’t date men again. You know, I cried so loud in the middle of the night saying I won’t date men again, not even two months ago.”

“Why are you bringing that up again!”

In the end, Vainty’s outburst concluded the conversation. As she rolled her eyes, looking impatient, Ariante laughed like a child with a mischievous expression.

“Look at her stomping like that. Seems like she forgot how lively it is here. Anyway, silly pig. So cute, I could die.”

“Vainty is getting old too, Your Ladyship. Stop teasing her. What if one day she collapses? I heard from a relative that there was someone with an unusual temper among my grandfather’s relatives. One day, over some trivial matter, he got angry, collapsed, and never opened his eyes again.”

Ariante said, “Bridget, never mention that story to Vainty. If she finds out that I compared her to a furious grandfather, she might really collapse.”

Bridget chuckled and laughed. Ariante looked back at herself in the mirror, looking a bit more refined than before, thanks to Vainty’s persuasive efforts. Still, she thought her own design for the dress would have suited her much better.

“It’s useless to be this tall. It would be cute if I were as small as Crone or Sissy.”

Bridget widened her eyes as if asking what Ariante was talking about.
“It’s unnecessary. Your Ladyship, you look so elegant compared to other young ladies your age because of your height. And because you grow quickly, later on, you’ll be similar to others when you become an adult.”

“Aren’t I almost done growing now? When I stand next to Crone, I’m taller by at least one head.”

“Miss Crone will grow taller too. Growth periods vary for everyone. Besides, His Grace and the Duchess are both tall. So it’s only natural that Your Ladyship is tall too.”

Although the two people she mentioned, Cedeloi and Meiana, had no genetic connection to Ariante’s growth—especially Meiana—Ariante felt pure satisfaction with Bridget’s words.

“Well, even my mom is tall, and she looks elegant because of it. It seems somewhat okay when I think about it that way.”

“That’s right.”

While Ariante made various expressions in front of the mirror, a loud knocking sound echoed through the living room as a large door was knocked on. Then, a butler who was outside came in and said respectfully:

“Your Ladyship, Viscount Glordon wishes to see you.”

“Swan? Tell him to come in, quickly!”

The butler stepped back. Bridget quickly tidied up the scattered boxes and went to find Vainty. Ariante, who was rolling her feet restlessly, ran towards the door without looking at the man’s refined shadow, hugging him as he entered.

“Welcome, Swan!”

At that moment, Ariante’s eyes widened, and Lujian, who was embraced by her, shook his glasses in astonishment. Swan was behind him.

“What, Lujian! Why are you?”

Lujian spread his arms with a bewildered expression.

“Excuse me? Why do I have to get scolded in this situation?”

“Who said anything about scolding? Anyway, it’s just a bluff.”

After throwing a barb, Ariante properly went to embrace Swan this time.

“Welcome.”

“Your dress is all wrinkled, Ariante.”

Swan’s voice had transformed into that of a refined man. Over the past nine years, he had grown from a sensitive and timid boy into a polite and affectionate adult.

When he turned seventeen, he gave up becoming a quantum of the Balteminster family and chose to continue the name of the Glordon Viscount family. Since last year, he had been dedicated to rebuilding the vacant viscount mansion.

“Look at your face. Are you having proper meals?”

Ariante asked with a worried expression, stroking his cheek. Swan smiled gently and nodded.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

At that moment, Lujian teased from the side.

“You don’t see how much she eats. Yesterday, too, oh. I thought you and Silas were having a contest to see who would burst their stomach first.”

“Come to think of it, how about the others?”

Lujian shrugged his shoulders.

“Sissy caused a commotion because she lost her handkerchief. We went to help her find it together. Well, to be precise, she was dragged there rather than going voluntarily. Hey, Ariante, did you get engaged to Silas now? Then you can confidently tell Sissy not to bother about my engagement partner. She still hasn’t woken up from her dream.”

Ariante laughed wryly.

“Don’t mention that to Sissy.”