Jennifer, who was sewing next to her, glanced at her roundly.

“Enough. You have other things to worry about.”

Twisting her head nervously, Jennifer chuckled.

“Don’t ignore me. I also know what jealousy is.”

“Have you fallen for someone?”

Although Kristin’s tone was indifferent, Jennifer felt awkward. Moreover, her face turned red…

“No……!”

“The doctor’s assistant?”

“Uh, itchy!”
In the end, Jennifer got pricked by the needle. As she looked at her finger bleeding and sucked on it, Kristin clicked her tongue.

“It’s stranger not to know. Every time I see that woman, you’re in a state of nervousness like a restless puppy.”

Rather than getting caught, Jennifer felt relieved after being exposed.

“Isn’t the headmistress jealous of the relationship between Miss Adele and Doctor?”

“No.”

“No way! Since earlier, you’ve been glaring out the window with fiery eyes.”

He, who had thrown away the sewing, glanced outside the window. However, even Mark’s shadow wasn’t visible.

Instead, next to Adele were two men, Jade and Polin.

“It can’t be those little kids… No?”

“Is there a law against it?”

In response to Kristin’s quite serious answer, Jennifer’s mouth gaped open.

“Oh…”

“I’m a target of vigilance for anyone who makes my woman laugh.”

Jennifer quickly covered her mouth with both hands and mumbled.

“Poor Miss Adele. How did she end up with this crazy man…”

“I can hear everything.”

“I said you would! How could you be jealous of those cute little kids?”

“Enough. What’s the news from Zimmer?”

Seeming tired of the argument, he put down the teacup and changed the subject.

Jennifer’s expression quickly turned serious.

“I received word that he will arrive around evening.”

“Lord Rodwell must have died in the end, right?”

“That’s probably it.”

So Zimmer would be coming back.

Kristin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, murmured to herself like a soliloquy.

“We need to hurry to Rosesulf.”

Soon, the whirlwind would engulf even Kristin.

Before that happened, she had to return to Rosesulf.

Lock the gate at the castle and avoid this storm.

Looking out the window again, Adele was still smiling brightly with the two children.

He felt strange. Even in a place where he had no confidence, seeing her smile so brightly…

Was this jealousy?

No, it was a much more complex emotion that couldn’t be explained by jealousy alone.

Soon, Mark was seen approaching the three people. Jade ran up to his father and shouted.

“Dad, we caught a lot of fish!”

The child’s voice was as bright as the sunlight.

“Good job!”

Praising Jade, Mark lifted him up, and with a triumphant expression, Polin also shouted.

“They’re much bigger than the ones we caught before!”

“Oh, really?”

“Lady, show us quickly. Quickly!”

Holding onto Mark, Jade bounced up and down, urging Adele.

Then, barefoot Adele proudly extended the glass bottle she was holding forward.

Snap!

“Pfft!”

Watching from the second-floor window, Kristin burst into laughter without realizing it.

“What’s going on? What is it?”

Seeing Kristin laugh, Jennifer, who had also looked out the window again, muttered.

“Isn’t that an empty bottle?”
That’s how it was. On the second floor, there were only about six small crucian carp in a bottle, barely visible. Yet, they had expressions as if they were generals in charge of improvements.

“Wow, you really caught a lot!”

However, Mark seemed to admire these kids’ innocence.

“Dad, let’s all have dinner with these! Okay?”

“Th-that’s… let’s all eat together.”

While saying that, Mark looked at Adele awkwardly.

“Is it possible, Adele? Even though you’re…?”

As the kids asked with eager expressions, Adele confidently replied, holding up the glass bottle with swimming crucian carp.

“Of course. You can look forward to dinner tonight!”

“Wow, Mom is the best!”

When the two kids shouted excitedly, Adele also burst out laughing loudly. Mark, who had been dumbfounded on the side, soon joined in the laughter.

Their laughter echoed clearly to the bright-eared Kristin.

The scenery outside the window seemed like a fleeting moment of a happy family.

“A few years later, when she and my child are born, can we also be like that?”

“Should I learn to fish just in case for that time?”

Thinking about that, Kristin felt content. Then suddenly,

“Could it really happen?”

Doubt crept in.

“Can we have a wedding in Rosesulf without any mishaps?”

“Can we give birth to such a dazzling child?”

As happiness approached, an accompanying sense of uncertainty also emerged.

Yes, this strange feeling wasn’t jealousy.

It was… anxiety.

Instinctive anxiety.

The main dish for dinner was crucian carp soup.

Of course, the soup, flavored with various vegetables, showed no traces of fish. Still, the kids’ enthusiastic expressions made it seem like they had caught wild boars with their bare hands.

“Cute little guys.”

Watching the kids go upstairs after the meal, Adele muttered contentedly.

Having played with the kids all day, her body was tired, but her mood was cheerful.

“Now it’s my turn to look after them.”

As she turned around, Kristin stood with a delighted expression.

“Oh my, are you jealous?”

“Yeah, jealous.”

Adele chuckled.

“Don’t be scared. I was just making tea to share. How about that?”

“Tch, you’re acting kind.”

“Then sit down. I’ll quickly prepare and join you.”

After a while, Adele came out with a simple snack on a tray.

On the spacious deck, there was a rugged-looking bench that Mark had made.

Kristin sat there, gazing at the darkening sky.

It seemed like she was lost in deep thoughts, so Adele couldn’t disturb her without thought.

At times like this, she felt like he was in a different world, not here. And it felt unfamiliar.

The sun had already hidden behind the mountain peaks, leaving only the western sky bathed in a faint purple hue.

Clatter.

Carefully placing the tray on the table, Adele looked back.
“What are you thinking?”

Adele asked, placing a steaming cup of black tea in front of him.