“I’m here.”

I heard the voice of the kid who shouldn’t be audible right now. I checked the clock on the wall and exclaimed in surprise.

“You’re early?”

“Today’s the last day. So I came to stay longer.”

“A week has already passed, huh.”

I moved the scrapbook and nobility guide to the side. The kid’s eyes briefly glanced at them before looking away.

“Why? Are you feeling sad?”

The kid asked with a bright smile. I smiled back and said.

“Yeah. A little bit sad.”

My answer surprised the kid. Those already big eyes opened even wider, showing an expression about to fly away.

“You’re really sad?”

“Yes.”

The kid, who had been sitting gracefully like a painting, suddenly stood up and strode over to me. Then plopped down next to me and tightly held my hand.

“Me too. I’m sad.”

I gently patted the slightly bowed head. After today passes, I won’t see this child except when carrying out requests, right?

“Is there anything you want to do with me? Since it’s the last day, I’ll try to grant most wishes.”

“Really?”

The kid raised both hands high. It looked like they might really fly away if they flapped hard enough.

“I want to eat at home with the lady.”

“You want to eat at the Duke’s mansion?”

It’s not an impossible request, but it would be quite a burdensome occasion. If it’s with the Duke like last time, it would be even more uncomfortable.

“No. I want to go to the lady’s house.”

“…Ah.”

Taking the kid to the mansion isn’t a difficult task. I was just worried that a child who’s been living in luxurious and exquisite surroundings might be shocked to see the mansion.

“Kid, it’s not impossible to bring you to the mansion, but there’s no kitchen maid and not many maids, so you might be uncomfortable.”

“If there’s no kitchen maid, does that mean the lady cooks herself?”

“Yes.”

The kid’s lips twitched. It was clearly an expression of trying to hold back laughter.

“Then tonight, can I eat food made by the lady?”

“My cooking isn’t good. I’ll buy and bring something from outside.”

“Aww… But I still want to try the lady’s cooking.”

The kid puffed up their cheeks. I felt the urge to poke them with my finger.

“Without any exaggeration, the food I make is really not tasty. Are you still okay with that?”

“Yes! Please do it. It’s fine.”

“Alright, but we need to get permission from the Duke first.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure to get it.”

The kid didn’t seem to have any intention of giving up. I looked at the wall clock before answering.

“Then we’ll have to go to the market earlier than usual today. Want to come along?”

“Yes!”

The excited kid wandered around the office. It looked like they wanted to jump around but were forcibly holding back, which made me burst into laughter without realizing.

“Anna, I’ll write a letter so please send it to the Duke’s mansion. Also, let Father know in advance that I’ll be having dinner at the mansion with a guest.”

“Yes, young miss.”

Anna replied with a pleased expression. And just as she turned to leave the office.

“You’re here early.”

An unforgettable voice struck my ears. Anna froze like a statue upon discovering Duke Artenbach who had suddenly entered.

“Fa…Father?”

The kid also seemed surprised, not expecting him to come, with a rather shocked face. I stood beside them with an equally surprised look.

“Ah, I didn’t come for a request, so don’t mind me.”

He slowly walked in, examining the changed furniture. With white gloves on, he ran his hand over the shelves, sofa backs, and so on.

‘It’s suffocating!’

Is he checking the cleaning status? He’s not rechecking his gloves, so it doesn’t seem like that.

Why is he going to that corner?

“Don’t think I’m here and act as usual.”

The Duke, who had his back against the wall in the corner of the office, said as he looked at the kid and me with his arms crossed, standing askew.

So you’re saying you came to monitor? Why?

“…Father, if you stand like that, the lady will feel uncomfortable.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Well done, kid!

“Isn’t today the day you’re supposed to go to the art gallery?”

“I decided to go tomorrow.”

“What about the port? The spices and vodka were supposed to arrive.”

“It’s fine since there’s a capable secretary.”

I listened intently to the conversation between the kid and the Duke. It was fascinating how the kid knew all of his schedules.

‘The Duke going to the art gallery must be to scout talent?’

Artenbach Art Gallery and Black Swan.

Because they were rivals with an unbridgeable gap, I gathered even more information.

When the gallery director sets up interview dates to gather artists, Duke Artenbach judges their character and talent level to determine if they have value as affiliated artists. Of course, most become affiliated with the gallery, but occasionally some are rejected.

When I didn’t know better, I used to bring in people who were rejected there, but they were people with character issues to the point of considering contract termination.

After experiencing that three times, I stopped even looking at people who were rejected from the gallery interviews.

‘Maybe Ranson will be at tomorrow’s gallery interview.’

Judging by the lack of other contact from him, it’s quite possible.

“Lady.”

The kid’s voice snapped me out of my wandering thoughts.

“Huh? What?”

“Since Father is here, I’ll ask right away.”

The kid jumped down from the sofa and approached the Duke.

“We planned to have dinner at the Baroness’s mansion today, is it okay if I go?”

The Duke’s eyes landed on me. My shoulders involuntarily hunched even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“If that’s what you want, you may go.”

“Would you like to come with us, Father?”

For a moment, it felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head with a hammer. The Duke was the last person I wanted to bring along.

I swallowed hard. I repeatedly chanted in my mind, begging him to refuse.

“I have to attend a banquet with investors in the evening. It’s regrettable, but go by yourself.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I had been so focused on his answer that I’d forgotten to breathe.

Just as I thought how fortunate it was that he declined, my eyes met the Duke’s.

His brow furrowed slightly. I must have let out my sigh of relief too loudly.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll eat a lot for your share too, Duke.”

The Duke nodded and placed his hand on the kid’s head. It was the image of an aloof but loving father.

* * *

Although he said to act as usual, I couldn’t help but keep glancing towards the corner of the office.

He refused when I tried to bring him a chair.

He declined when I suggested eating together as lunchtime approached.

I was going crazy with discomfort at his statue-like presence, while the kid happily played back and forth between the Duke and me.

As we continued this tense and suffocating routine, Anna returned from the mansion with news.

“The Baron says he has plans to go out this evening.”

“Is that so?”

It was a relief, but at the same time I had an ominous feeling.

“I hope he’s not going to the gambling house?”

“I’ll have a mercenary secretly follow him.”

Instead of answering, I nodded. Anna, who was about to leave the consulting room, was startled to see the Duke still there and hurried out to the waiting room.

“Lady, when are we going to the market?”

“Around 4 o’clock.”

“There’s still a lot of time left.”

The kid clasped their hands as if praying under the wall clock. Hearing them mutter for time to pass quickly, it seemed they were extremely excited about going to the Baroness’s mansion.

“Kid, do you want to go sooner?”

“Yes! I’d like to go right now if I could.”

I looked briefly at the nobility guide and scrapbook spread out on my desk. Then, as I folded and organized them, I said.

“If you help me organize the guide and scrapbook, we could leave earlier.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the kid came over and lifted the guide. Since it was too heavy to lift completely, we decided to carry it in halves.

After all the organizing was done.

The kid, already prepared to leave, silently urged me with sparkling eyes. I spoke to the living statue in the corner.

“Duke, we’ll be closing the office early today.”

At my words, he uncrossed his arms and stood up straight.

“Are you going to the market?”

“Yes.”

While I was talking with the Duke, the kid had already gone outside. Through the open window, I could see black hair swaying with anticipation.

“I’ll accompany you.”

“You must be busy, there’s no need…”

“I’m not busy. So lead the way.”

He gestured towards the outside with his chin. I moved my steps slowly, trying to suppress the frown forming on my face.

I was already worried about the gazes that would pour down on us the moment we entered the market with the Duke.

* * *

As expected, all eyes in the market were turned towards us.

The Duke, with a presence so powerful that one could recognize him as the head of the Artenbach family even from 100 meters away.

And the kid, who stood out just as much as the Duke.

The people in the market showed endless interest in me, who had appeared with such men.

‘I knew this would happen.’

The fruit stand owner over there was dropping apples outside without properly opening the bag in his hand. Of course, his gaze was fixed on us, not the apples.

The person grilling meat hurriedly moved the tongs at a customer’s complaint that it was burning.

‘I need to buy quickly and leave.’

For the sake of their peace and my mental stability, that’s what I should do.

“Kid, have you ever eaten lasagna?”

“The one with meat and tomatoes?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m planning to make.”

I went to the vegetable stand with the kid. While buying ingredients like tomatoes and onions, I diligently answered the child’s questions about how to use them.

I held a bag in one arm and held the kid’s hand with the other. Then I turned around to go straight to the butcher shop.

A large shadow approached rapidly, and the Duke’s intimidating face drew near. I stumbled back momentarily, startled.

He reached out his hand towards me. As I froze in tension, feeling like my heart might burst, the bag in my arms was suddenly lifted away.

“Where to next?”

The Duke asked indifferently, holding the bag he had taken from me. I answered with a sour expression.

“Um, the butcher shop.”