No, I take back what I said about it being too good a match.

Even though night hadn’t fallen, dinner continued. Then the topic of engagement came up again among the siblings.

“Isn’t Roger too good to lose?”

“What are you saying? Li-Lize is too good to lose!”

The siblings showed different reactions and got excited.

The sisters thought Roger was too good to lose, but surprisingly the brothers raised their voices saying I was more valuable. Thanks to this, the dining table became noisy.

“Actually, I’m making all the concessions. If it weren’t for me, Lize wouldn’t get married.”

Far from trying to stop them, Roger, sitting across from me, was further encouraging the siblings’ excitement. Roger shrugged his shoulders quite triumphantly, as if he truly believed what he was saying.

Let’s stop talking.

“It reminds me of old times. Sometimes I would visit Isabel’s house for meals and clean my plate because the food suited my taste. Grandfather was amazed to see this. Do you remember?”

As I tried to change the subject, I heard Mrs. Bakus’ voice.

Mrs. Bakus had forgotten to eat as she was so busy talking. She seemed to have a whole bundle of memories to share with Isabel, as her lips showed no sign of stopping.

“It wasn’t just sometimes, you came often and it was troublesome.”

“Oh my, was that so?”

Unlike the smiling Mrs. Bakus, Isabel’s expression didn’t change at all. Isabel’s unchanging expression was so stiff that I was rather worried it might upset Mrs. Bakus.

“But grandfather was quite fond of me, wasn’t he?”

Contrary to my concerns, Mrs. Bakus seemed used to Isabel being like this and naturally continued talking.

The two of them had known each other since childhood, so they had many more memories than I thought. With so many memories, the college stories I was really curious about didn’t come up.

‘Well, Isabel dropped out of college, and Mrs. Bakus has now given up her work as a doctor.’

I thought there wouldn’t be any college stories and felt disappointed.

“By the way, it reminds me of Professor Bretagne whom we saw after a long time. I didn’t realize it then because of the circumstances, but thinking about it now, he seems exactly the same as when we were in college.”

My hand stopped cutting the meat. It was a name included in the schedule of the problematic astronomy camp. If I had participated in the camp, I would have gone to that professor’s mansion for an interview and dinner.

That name was mentioned once more by Mrs. Bakus. Then I remembered that Isabel also knew this professor well. Given the situation, there was a high probability that Isabel had attended the school where this university professor was.

I tried to remember which university Professor Bretagne was from. At the same time, I regretted not asking Roger before about the name of the university Isabel and Mrs. Bakus had attended.

“Isabel and Professor Bretagne didn’t get along well, did they? There was friction every time they met.”

“It’s an old story, I don’t even remember.”

“Oh my, but it seems your personalities still don’t match. This time when we visited the professor’s mansion, Isabel cornered the professor. Do you know how pale the professor’s face was then, Isabel?”

Mrs. Bakus couldn’t stop laughing, finding something very amusing. As I was thinking amidst her laughter, I soon recalled a phrase written on the camp flyer.

There was no need to think about where Wayclean University was or what kind of university it was. It was such a prestigious university that even if you asked a passing child, they could easily answer. Especially famous in the field of science, all scientists from there were treated as elites.

“Did you… attend Wayclean?”

At my interjecting voice, Mrs. Bakus clapped her hands.

“Oh my, did you just realize? That’s the university Isabel and I attended.”

“……”

It was surprising enough that she had attended university, but for it to be the top prestigious one? I even suspected if the whole world was turning its back on me and lying.

“I must have spoken strangely, Lize. Even though your mother and the professor didn’t get along well, the professor always acknowledged your mother’s talent.”

While listening to Mrs. Bakus’ words, I felt a bit scared.

Going to university was something I had wished for.

For a woman to live independently without marrying in this near-modern era. To achieve this, among the narrow and winding paths to take, perhaps going to university and accumulating knowledge would be the easiest path.

Although she dropped out midway, Isabel had once walked that path. The path I desire and pursue.

Then all those feelings of subtly looking down on Isabel while partly sympathizing with her were now directed at myself. With an added sense of misery that wasn’t there before.

“I think this is a good opportunity, Isabel. You’ve already met university professors twice this year, right? Why don’t you try studying astronomy again?”

The situation I had been worried about came. I learned another piece of Isabel’s past that I didn’t know.

“Sillie.”

“You did well, didn’t you? Before dropping out of university, you published papers and received certifications, right?”

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

“That’s why you went to the professor’s mansion and received teachings along with other disciples.”

“Stop it, Sillie.”

When Isabel spoke firmly, Mrs. Bakus, who noticed the atmosphere, stopped talking.

“It seems I said something unnecessary. I’m sorry.”

“I’m happily married, Sillie. I gave up on astronomy a long time ago. I plan to live the rest of my life for my children.”

At Isabel’s detached attitude, Mrs. Bakus seemed to have a lot to say but didn’t bother to voice it.

The two women who had finished their conversation resumed eating a step behind the children. Because no words were exchanged, only the children’s voices could be heard.

Mrs. Bakus glanced at Isabel and tried to continue the conversation. But Isabel didn’t give her the chance. Such Isabel shifted her gaze to me sitting next to Mrs. Bakus and gave a silent signal.

At first, I wondered what that signal meant.

“Mrs. Bakus.”

“What is it, Lize?”

Mrs. Bakus responded with a smile at my call.

I put down my fork and placed both hands on my thighs. The signal Isabel gave meant to quickly apologize to Mrs. Bakus for my wrongdoing.

Although the timing wasn’t appropriate to apologize, Isabel was watching.

“I’m sorry about last time… for lying to you and causing worry. I persuaded Roger and went to the beach without telling you, didn’t I? I heard from mother. You went to the professor’s mansion to find Roger and me, and wandered around the village all night? I shouldn’t have lied…”

As my voice gradually turned inward, the siblings and Roger also reacted. Their gazes fell on me.

“I will never lie again in the future. I will definitely let you know if anything happens to Roger. So… can I continue to be close friends with Roger?”

“Mother, I’m reflecting too. Please let me continue to be close friends with Lize in the future.”

Roger, who had been chattering excitedly, hastily chimed in. Even the siblings who had nothing to do with this incident are positively steering the situation, asking to forgive Lize and Roger.

Even without the siblings stepping in, the kind-hearted Mrs. Bakus would have forgiven me, but it was still appreciated.

“Lize. I was worried about you and Roger, but that’s all. It’s fine as long as you two are safe. And about being close friends with Roger in the future, shouldn’t that be my request rather than yours? Will you stay close friends with Roger from now on? Lize.”

Is Mrs. Bakus an angel? When I nodded, she smiled kindly and added, ‘That’s all I need.’

“If you forgive too quickly, it might set a bad precedent.”

In contrast, Isabel was quite strict.

“There’s no one as diligent and pretty as Lize, is there? It’s like seeing Isabel’s childhood. Isabel was also very pretty and smart, and even good at chess like Lize. Come to think of it, there are so many similarities.”

Mrs. Bakus, who had unconsciously brought up old stories again, realized Isabel’s cold reaction after finishing her words. This time, even I and the siblings couldn’t laugh it off.

I was worried that the relationship between Mrs. Bakus and Isabel might completely fall apart. A sound from outside the mansion broke the silence to prevent that misfortune. The loud neighing of a horse shattered the stillness.

Someone had come to the Marsen mansion. Realizing this, Isabel stood up and checked the entrance.

“Damn, it’s freezing.”

Along with father’s voice, his figure was slightly visible. Even though it was spring, the wind must still be cold for father as he was wearing a thick coat.

“Count? Didn’t you say you’d be away from the mansion for a week?”

“Is that what you say when you first see your husband’s face? There were circumstances, so I came back after just one day.”

“I thought so and invited guests. Mrs. Bakus and her son are scheduled to stay at the Marsen mansion for three days.”

“Ah, I think I heard about that. I’ll just greet them briefly and then go to my room.”

Father in this atmosphere? An inexplicable worry came over me.

As Isabel and father’s footsteps drew closer, Mrs. Bakus and Roger stood up from their seats. Father’s face, clearly showing fatigue, appeared in the dining room. As he surveyed the dining table with blurry eyes, father’s gaze met Mrs. Bakus’.

Mrs. Bakus seemed a bit nervous seeing father, who looked younger and neater than she had heard. Father’s expression, which had been like a corpse, also brightened up as soon as he saw the plump and cute Mrs. Bakus.

“Ah, could this beautiful lady be Mrs. Bakus?”

“…Excuse me. I’m Sillie Bakus. This is my son, Roger Bakus. We didn’t know you were coming, Count. We’ve been rude.”

“Rude? Don’t say such disappointing things, madam.”

The madam and father exchanged words. That inexplicable worry grew stronger.

Father took off his coat and entered deep into the dining room. His tired appearance was gone, and father’s mood seemed quite good. He approached the wall and took out one of the lined-up wines.

“I was going to return to my room, but seeing the grand dining atmosphere, I can’t avoid it. May I join you? Madam.”

“Of course.”

“Then excuse me.”

As father sat down, Isabel also sat down quietly.

Just a few seconds after sitting, father showed Mrs. Bakus kindness and smiles he had never shown us before. My concern became reality.

‘What should I do about this.’

Father, who had a tendency to be flirtatious, would become talkative when he saw a beautiful woman or someone to his liking. And Mrs. Bakus was exactly the type of woman father liked.

“So you’ve been friends with my wife since long ago? Isabel never talks about herself, you see.”

“It-it’s an old story. Nothing special happened even though we were friends.”

The madam seemed burdened by father’s attention, stumbling over her words or avoiding them.

Father, who had completely settled in his seat, poured wine. He filled the glasses of Mrs. Bakus and Isabel with wine even though they refused alcohol, then forcibly tried to lift the mood.

As a result, only father was excited. The siblings and Roger were bored, and Isabel was quietly sitting as if she might overturn the table at any moment.

“Count. Sillie seems uncomfortable, so let’s stop here.”

“Ah, then may I ask just one last question?”

Isabel, unable to bear it anymore, tried to stop him, but father didn’t cease. The last question became two, then several. Mrs. Bakus, who had been trying to avoid politely, finally gave up and answered each question diligently.

This dining table had completely turned into father’s solo stage.