As I hesitated, Duke Penton, who had been standing still, cleared his throat.

“How reckless. Kito.”

“What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re dissatisfied because she’s from the Marsen family? Lize is just a ten-year-old girl. Contrary to appearances, you hold quite a grudge, Aimar.”

“…Kito.”

I didn’t even say I would play chess.

Baron Kito and Duke Penton bickered in front of me. But it seemed they reached a conclusion as the conversation ended.

“What do you think, Lize? Would it be alright? To play chess once a week.”

When Baron Kito asked, I thought for a moment.

It wasn’t actually impossible.

If the violin lessons ended early like today, playing chess once a week would be fine. If I explained the situation well to Roger, he would nag but eventually understand.

“It’s not confirmed yet! You can come to the Penton estate, but the children have to approve it first.”

The duke spoke.

“The children?”

“I mean Yurik and Yune. If they say no, I’m sorry but you can’t come. But those kids are quite picky.”

Ah, then there’s not much to worry about.

“I’m sorry.”

“Ah, no.”

“Anyway, don’t get your hopes up.”

So I still hadn’t answered that I would play chess. The idea of asking me before asking Yurik and Yune…

Hmm, it seems these two don’t have it.

* * *

Exactly three days later, I visited the Penton estate. It wasn’t a scheduled visit.

The starting point was when Isabel took the children to see the sea. It was a rare sea trip, excluding me and my father.

The estate, which had been busy with travel preparations since morning, quickly became quiet. Seeing me staying alone in the estate, Isabel said that I could read a book for a while today.

There was no invitation to go together. The door closed and silence flowed. Taking this opportunity, I set out to go to the library. Isabel overlooked the fact that just one book was not enough to ease this emptiness.

Even when Bitty blocked my way, it was no use. Bitty eventually followed me out of the estate.

“Young lady, it’s not too late. How about we go back to the estate now?”

Bitty repeated her words as if she wasn’t tired.

“If we get caught, not only will you be scolded by the madam, but all your books will be taken away!”

“…”

“Young lady, are you listening?”

No, not at all.

I happened to find a tourism poster asking if I’d like to go on a sea trip. The place Isabel and my siblings were heading to must be the sea drawn on that poster. As I was blankly staring at the poster, Bitty, who noticed it, smiled slightly.

“…You actually wanted to go to the sea too, right, young lady?”

“Why would I?”

I denied it right away, but I quite liked the sea. Especially the winter sea where the waves crashed heavily.

After gazing at the poster for a while, I took a step back with regret. And I arrived at the square, but,

“Oh? Isn’t that Lize Marsen?”

I ran into Duke Penton, who was riding a carriage heading to the estate. Unlike me, who was slightly startled and stiffened, he opened the carriage door.

“What a coincidence. Do you have time?”

“Pardon?”

“Why don’t you come with me to the Penton estate? I got permission from the children.”

He suggested that I go to the estate together. The duke, who was trying to get me on the carriage, saying that he had already gotten permission from Yurik and Yune, seemed a little unfamiliar to me. He was someone who hadn’t welcomed me until recently.

“There’s no need to wait until the promised day, right?”

“…I suppose so.”

“Come to the estate first and try playing chess. And if there’s anything uncomfortable or such, you can decide again then.”

From Duke Penton’s words, I realized that he was still wary of me. He was suspecting that even his children, who allowed my visit, might have agreed out of courtesy.

“Young lady, what is this about?”

Bitty grabbed my arm before I got on the carriage.

“I’m sorry. I’ll explain the situation later. So let’s go to the Penton estate for now.”

“B-but…”

“Bitty.”

“I-I won’t go inside. Absolutely not.”

At my desperate tone, Bitty sighed and took a step back.

* * *

As soon as we arrived at the Penton estate, I saw Bitty standing firmly in front of the garden. She really had no intention of entering the estate.

I asked her several times to come in with me, but each time Bitty flatly refused. It seemed that no matter what I did, I couldn’t change her mind. I gave up and followed the duke.

“Lize.”

“Yes?”

“Please understand that the children are a bit picky.”

The duke spoke with a serious face as soon as we entered the Penton estate. Perhaps he was worried now that he had invited me and we were in the estate together. At that moment, footsteps were heard that made him forget his worries at once.

“Sister! Sister! Sister Lize!”

Yune came bouncing like a rabbit and snuggled into my arms.

“Is it really you, sister?”

“H-hello.”

“I was a little doubtful when I saw you from a distance, but it really is you, sister! How did you come? I’m so happy you’re here!”

Seeing Yune, Duke Penton dropped the hat he was holding.

“Father. You dropped your hat!”

“Y-yes.”

Taken aback, Duke Penton bent slightly to pick up the hat he had dropped. In the meantime, Yurik walked up to me.

“Father, you’re here.”

“Yurik. Good to see…”

“Huh? Lize? What brings you here? I heard you were coming on Thursday.”

As soon as Yurik saw me, he smiled brightly. Even if Yune could be dismissed, when even Yurik welcomed me, Duke Penton dropped the hat he had just picked up again.

“Yurik…?”

“Yes, Father.”

“You’re not even greeting me…”

“Father, can I show Lize around my room?”

Yurik cut off the duke’s words in the end.

Duke Penton looked at his son with unfamiliar eyes. Then, Duchess Penton, who would wrap up this situation, appeared last. She came out wearing reading glasses, as if she had been reading a book, but took them off as soon as she saw me.

“Oh my, Lize really came.”

“Even my wife…”

Belatedly understanding the situation, Duke Penton sighed deeply and looked at me.

“I guess I was worrying for nothing.”

“We haven’t been friends for long.”

“Still, I didn’t expect them to like you to this extent. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s just…”

Duke Penton picked up the fallen hat again and even took off his outer coat. The duke realized that he had instantly become less important than me and drooped his shoulders. The duchess laughed at the duke and approached me.

“Lize, it’s nice to see you. How about taking a look around the estate while you’re here?”

“Oh? I want to show my room to sister!”

As Yune reached out right away, Yurik glared at his sister. It meant that he was first.

“Then go to Yune’s room first today. There are many interesting things in Yune’s room.”

The duchess set the order first so that the siblings wouldn’t fight. Yurik didn’t like being second, but he didn’t complain to his mother.

“Then, sister. Let’s go up quickly! My room is on the second floor!”

Yune pulled me and headed to her room. Holding Yune’s hand and climbing the stairs, I saw wallpaper and flooring in different colors from the Marsen estate. The floor was reddish-brown, and the wallpaper was decorated with morning glory patterns.

There were many unfamiliar objects that I saw for the first time, befitting a trading company family, and there were even metals that looked extremely expensive.

“I didn’t expect you to come and play at our house, sister!”

I was also surprised to come to the Duke Penton’s house earlier than I thought.

“Sister! This is my room!”

We arrived at Yune’s room.

As soon as the door opened, a strange energy flowed from inside the room. Despite being bright, the room was eerie and creepy like a haunted house. Bizarre and strange antiques of unknown origin were placed all over the room.

There were also various skull-like dolls that Yune liked. Even the wallpaper was unusual. The grotesque pattern in red was gloomy.

As I slowly looked around the objects, I noticed a book in the corner. It must be a very old book, as it was covered in a thick layer of dust. When I brushed off the dust, a circular mirror was drawn on the cover. As if it were a real mirror, my face was reflected in the circle.

“Ah, that book? I brought it because it was interesting.”

“You brought it?”

“Yes, I picked it up. But it’s in an unknown language, so it’s just for display. I don’t read it.”

For some reason, it was a book I was reluctant to open. I put the book back in its place and turned my attention to other objects.

“Have you seen enough of the room?”

Yurik, who had been leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, intervened.

“What? There’s still a lot to see! And there’s nothing to see in your room anyway, brother!”

“But I have plenty of books that Lize likes.”

“They’re all fairy tale books.”

“Then does Lize like your antiques?”

“She may not like them, but at least they’re more interesting than fairy tale books.”

Actually, what was interesting was Yurik and Yune arguing right now. I silently watched the siblings’ fight, which I thought would always get along well. Even Yurik, whom I thought was mature, was like his age when he fought. Needless to say for Yune.

“Lize, let’s go. I’ll show you my room.”

“Really, brother! That’s unfair!”

“Lize is my friend.”

“I’m friends with Sister Lize too!”

“Lize is older than you, right?”

“What about you, brother? You’re also older than Sister Lize!”

At this rate, it seemed like Yune would cry. With tears in her eyes, Yurik hesitated for a moment but didn’t back down.

Clenching her fists and huffing, Yune bit her lower lip as if she was resentful. As the atmosphere heated up, it became more awkward than fun. If Yune cried and Yurik got angry, it would never end.

‘What should I do?’

“What a mess.”

Just then, Duke Penton, who heard the commotion and came here, appeared. Relieved that he would settle the situation, I took a breath.

“You two, Lize needs to play chess with me now.”

Far from settling it, the duke tried to intercept me, the starting point of the fight. Yurik spoke as if it was unfair.

“Instead, let them watch Lize and I play chess. Is that okay, Lize?”

Yurik nodded reluctantly. But his lips were still protruding, as if he couldn’t hide his disappointment.

I had to promise Yurik that I would definitely see his room later. As soon as I said that, Yurik’s protruding lips receded. He seemed to feel better.

“Follow me, Lize.”

The duke went down the stairs with his words. Coming down to the entrance, I saw a chessboard set up in front of the sofa.

“Will you be okay? Our father is quite skilled.”

“I came to practice, so…”

Yurik whispered to me before sitting down.

It was a game I came to play casually. After arranging my clothes and sitting down, the duke explained the rules and time. If it was speed chess before, today was a normal match. When the duke and I sat facing each other, the duchess, who was in the kitchen, also came here to watch.

“Shall we begin?”

“Yes.”

At the duke’s words, I moved a white pawn.

“Starting with a pawn, I see. I should see the skills that make Kito like you so much.”

The duke glanced at the time and placed a pawn on f5. Unlike Baron Kito, who played chess with me with an intriguing face, he had a slightly bored expression. If I didn’t play the game carefully here, I might never be able to come to this estate again.

“Sister, fighting!”

Yune said.

My thoughts changed. This is not a light game.

I had to win.