Cedric slowly scanned Roberto from top to bottom, feeling doubtful about his identity.

“You know something about my actions, Roberto?”

“I’m sorry, but I saw what happened in the garden a little while ago.”

“Is that so?”

You! You! You! You!!

A man swallowed back the words he couldn’t spit out and let out a short sigh.

“…Anyway, it’s fortunate.”

Cedric, looking at Lamein, who muttered with a doubtful look, let out a short sigh.

A short breath naturally flowed out, as if nothing was different from other days.
“I’ve been watching you two closely from the beginning.”

It was him who had been observing them since the moment the two exchanged emotionless glances.

“From when the master started following the mistress recently…”

“What? Following?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I chose the wrong word. I’ve known since the time when the master started following her like a puppy.”

“What? A puppy?”

Whether it’s following or being like a puppy, isn’t it the same thing?

As if asking that, Cedric’s eyes sparkled.

“Yes, exactly like a puppy.”

Roberto nodded his head.

‘Like a dog…’

Suddenly, Lamein remembered the very loud whisper she made.

“So, is that why you said that?”

“……What?”

“No, it’s just a mutter. Continue.”

Roberto nodded briefly, urging him to continue.

“And I became certain when the Marquis risked his life to shield the mistress with his body.”

“…….”

“The relationship between you two, or more precisely, the master’s feelings have changed.”

With Roberto’s clear voice.

“If it were such a situation, wouldn’t anyone have done the same? Moreover, any knight would have saved someone in danger.”

Cedric responded with a voice asserting his sense of justice.

“Isn’t that right?”

Now, he accurately knows his feelings toward Lamein.

However, he wondered why Roberto, who knows nothing, was making such speculations, so he questioned.

“Well… I’m not sure because I’m not a knight.”

Why ask me that?

Roberto smiled with a chubby expression.

At that moment, Cedric, who had been thinking about pressing him down, released the thought.

“I do know one thing for sure, though.”

Roberto spoke with a calm voice.

“Staring naturally at someone who didn’t show much interest before. Always wanting to stay by their side. It means your heart is already heading towards that person.”

“…Did I do that?”

Roberto lightly smiled.

“You did it to an extent that it would be strange if you didn’t.”

Hm. Cedric let out a small, awkward laugh.

“Madam probably already knows, don’t you think?”

“…Lamein knows?”

Cedric made a slightly puzzled expression.

“Madam is not someone who lacks insight like that.”

Roberto asserted with a voice without a hint of doubt.

Hmm. Cedric, who murmured again, sank into his thoughts.

He reviewed the words and actions he had done so far.

Confessions thrown out now and then.

A kiss that burst out without being able to swallow the erupted emotions.

Thinking silently, he realized that not knowing something is more strange.

‘Is she pretending not to know even though she knows?’

Perhaps that’s the case.

“Express your feelings a little more. If you show your heart, Madam will show hers too.”

Cedric raised his eyes that had been slightly lowered.

“Show my feelings. What exactly should I do?”

“Is there anything other than treating her kindly?”

Kindly… Cedric made a vague expression.

Roberto, who had been watching, quickly opened his mouth.
“I shouldn’t be attacked as terrifyingly as I was in the garden a while ago!”

“W… Who attacked you?!”

Looking at the embarrassed Cedric, Roberto tilted his head with a sly smile.

“Do you know how nervous I was, thinking I might get slapped?”

When Lamein reached her hand to Cedric’s forehead, Roberto, who thought he might be slapped, was surprised.

Phew. A thin sigh escaped Roberto’s lips.

With the thought that it could be true, Cedric, who had nodded his head, suddenly twisted his chin.

“Roberto, but don’t you think it’s too much interference?”

Cedric asked with a dissatisfied tone.

Roberto blinked his eyes slowly, as if thinking for a moment.

“Come to think of it, it might be. But sometimes, without realizing it, I interfere because I envy you.”

“Envy?”

“Yes. You two are already a couple, aren’t you? It’s enviable to watch someone who is nothing, has no connection, and still has to protect them.”

A somewhat bitter smile appeared on Roberto’s lips.

Wondering why Roberto was making such an expression, Cedric didn’t ask.

“Well then, I’ll step back.”

With a polite tone, Roberto finished his greetings and left the room.

Lamein’s room.

Lamein, dressed comfortably, turned her gaze to the window.

“You changed the flowers again.”

Different vibrant flowers were arranged in the vase on the table in front of the window from the morning.

“Haven’t you changed them yesterday?”

“Ah, flowers?”

Jane turned her head while organizing dresses in front of the wardrobe.

“Lord Roberto gave the flowers and left.”

Huh? Who is it?

Turning my head quickly towards Jane, she was organizing dresses with a nonchalant expression.

“Roberto gave flowers?”

“Yes.”

Jane, who lightly answered, stopped organizing the dresses.

Because the gaze was felt as if it was a mistake that made the side of the face sting.

Turned the head subtly.

“Why did Roberto give flowers?”

The mistress, who seemed excited, asked.

Jane, who had stopped her hand organizing dresses, turned her body neatly toward Lamein.

“He said he bought them because they were pretty as he passed by.”

Tsundere? What is it?

“I will take those flowers, Jane.”

“…Huh? No, I won’t.”

“No, I originally don’t like flowers.”

…Why all of a sudden?

Jane opened her eyes wide.

Lamein, who watched her closely, slowly opened her mouth.

“Jane. Let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes, please.”

“If someone suddenly starts giving gifts for no reason, why do you think that person is doing that?”

Jane slightly furrowed her brows as if thinking. Then,

“Isn’t there a hidden agenda behind it?”

Very serious, she spoke with a voice suggesting a conspiracy.

Eh. So oblivious.

Lamein sighed subtly and opened her mouth again.

“Jane, I have one more question.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Have you ever seen someone liking another person suddenly start giving gifts? Why do you think that person does that?”

Jane rolled her eyes as if thinking.

“Ah!”
Then, as if someone had come to mind, Lamein opened her eyes wide.

“Lord, it’s you!”

Lamein’s lips trembled as she prepared for the next question, “How was his behavior?”

“Who? Cedric?”

“Yes, Lord Cedric genuinely likes the mistress.”

What could be the criteria for his liking? It makes me curious.

“Recently, whenever the Lord looks at the mistress, I feel like… he desperately wishes for something.”

Jane, who couldn’t bring herself to say that it might be love, smiled shyly.

‘Cedric likes me? What nonsense.’

She almost burst into a bitter laugh.

Ah, longs.

Longs earnestly for the position of a duke.

Lamein nodded silently.

“I can feel my heart fluttering even when I see it.”

Jane, with her hands clasped in front of her chest like someone in love, whispered.

“Enough. I asked a pointless question.”

“…What?”

“Jane, do you often hear that you’re clueless?”

“Me? I’ve never heard such a thing.”

Jane widened her eyes as if refuting.

Okay, okay.

Seeing the owner waving her hands in the air as if to stop talking, Jane made a resentful expression.

Meanwhile,

Cedric’s room.

Cedric stood by the window where the sunlight was streaming in, narrowing his eyes.

‘Lady, do you perhaps know as well?’

‘Lady is not someone without a clue.’

Cedric’s eyes, pondering Roberto’s words, sparkled.

‘If you express your feelings a bit more, the lady will surely show hers too.’

Cedric, who was currently in a situation where he didn’t know Lamein well, was completely immersed in Roberto’s words.

“To be gentle… How should I do that?”

A determined smile spread across the man’s lips, lost in meaningless contemplation.