Chapter 11

A few days after Sophie and Rebecca made me hotcakes and I ate them.

"Lord Alan, please review these documents."

"Ah."

I was reviewing documents in the carriage on my way back from work.

Neo, the head butler, was with me.

He is still young but very capable, and I often bring him along to help with my work.

Moreover, he has a good face and always wears a smile, so even a less discerning young lady might be captivated by him, which is quite convenient.

I have never told Neo this, but I think he understands.

"Today's work was quite delayed. Dinner will be a bit late, but should I bring it to your study?"

"No, I'll eat in the dining room."

"Understood, I will prepare it accordingly."

"...It's already late, they might have already eaten."

"Huh?"

In the midst of our usual conversation, I unintentionally muttered this.

"No, it's nothing."

"I see... Probably because it's already late, Lady Sophie and Lady Rebecca have already finished their meals. It's also quite late, so they might already be asleep."

"I know, you don't have to say it."

"As you wish."

Neo, with a slightly sly smile, not his usual fake smile.

Because of his excellence, he must have realized the meaning of my words. It's a bit annoying.

A year ago, I took in my niece.

Rebecca, the daughter of my deceased brother and his wife.

My brother and I were similar, but Rebecca had a face that reminded me of my brother.

However, her hair color is completely different; mine is black, hers is golden.

She probably only resembles her mother in that aspect.

For a year after taking in Rebecca, I have been constantly asked in society, "When will you take a wife?"

Of course, no one would be so impolite as to say this directly to me, a duke, but most of them would say, "Please consider my daughter as your wife" with the intention of marriage.

I had no intention of marrying anyone.

Having seen my father, I, who carries his blood, thought I would never fall in love with a woman.

Moreover, I had never been attracted to any of the young ladies in society. Perhaps because I had seen my parents and my brother and his wife, I had no expectations for love.

But the numerous proposals and voices from around me were troublesome, so I decided to get a wife in name only.

As the duchess of the Bernhard family, she would have to be a noble lady with at least a certain rank, so I chose one randomly.

That was about two weeks ago, when Lady Sophie from the Ingred family came to the ducal household.

I chose her randomly, but the reason I chose her was that her hair color and aura somewhat resembled Rebecca's.

Her face doesn't resemble Rebecca's, but if Rebecca's face resembled mine, it wouldn't matter.

Since I thought love was troublesome, I set the condition that she should not interfere with my work, not love me, and not get in my way.

The first week, my life didn't change much, for better or worse.

I had meals with Lady Sophie, but there wasn't much to talk about.

When I had meals with other young ladies a few times, it was annoying because they kept talking, probably trying to impress me.

Lady Sophie adhered to the contract and didn't interfere excessively.

So, I didn't dislike having meals with her; it was quite relaxed.

But a week after Lady Sophie came to the ducal household, she overslept.

I don't think it was unusual, but from that day on, she started to interact with Rebecca.

Rebecca had been receiving strict education for a year.

It was a bit too strict for a child of nine or ten.

But Rebecca was talented and could keep up.

Mrs. Nable, the educator, was known to be a woman who bullied those below her.

But I wanted Rebecca to grow, so I ignored it.

If I were to punish Mrs. Nable, I thought Rebecca's will was important.

However, things changed after Lady Sophie met Rebecca.

During a meal with Rebecca, she asked her a question.

Rebecca, who had been shrinking back and unable to express her feelings, was supported by Lady Sophie.

"Rebecca, calm down. Just say what you feel."

Thanks to Lady Sophie's support, Rebecca was able to express her feelings to me for the first time.

I had been unable to draw out Rebecca's feelings for a year, but with Lady Sophie's support, I could.

After that, Lady Sophie seemed to think that firing the educator was a breach of contract and apologized.

It was no problem at all, so I told her it was fine, and I asked her why she suddenly started interacting with Rebecca.

She said, "I want to become close to Rebecca as a family."

I don't understand the concept of family. But I had a little bit of longing for it.

I didn't have a family, so maybe that's why I took in Rebecca.

But I am a cold person, and I couldn't draw out Rebecca's feelings on my own.

...I thought it was inevitable because she was raised by that scumbag father.

So, I was about to give up on my longing when she said it.

"Lord Alan, please be kind to Rebecca."

"Rebecca and I want to become a family with Lord Alan."

Lady Sophie's words resonated through my body.

It was as if she had seen into my heart and said exactly what I wanted to hear.

That's why I'm a little interested in Lady Sophie... in Sophie.

"Lord Alan, we have arrived."

"...Ah."

I was lost in thought for a moment, and we had already arrived at the ducal household.

I hadn't finished reading the documents yet.

"I'll read them later. Bring them to my study."

"Understood. Shall we go to the dining room first?"

"Yes, after I change."

"Understood, I will prepare it."

After finishing work, I got off the carriage as usual and entered the main house, heading towards my room.

Just before I was about to go to my room, I remembered something I wanted to eat.

"Neo, tell the chef to serve something sweet at the end of the meal."

"Yes? What, like fruit?"

"No, something sweet... preferably hotcakes."

"Understood."

Neo, who was probably curious, listened carefully and went to tell the chef.

He might already know that I ate something Sophie made.

I wanted to see if I had overcome my dislike of sweet things at today's meal.

I no longer receive invitations to tea parties from young ladies, but at such tea parties, there are usually many sweet things.

It would be impolite not to eat them, so I have to eat a little, but I don't like them.

I can eat them, but I don't want to.

So, it would be good if I had overcome it...

"...Hmm, thank you for the meal."

The dessert made by the chef, the hotcakes as instructed, were not delicious.

They were not as good as what Sophie made, even though the desserts made by the ducal household's chef should be better.

Or maybe I just don't care much about food, so even if I eat at a popular and expensive restaurant, I hardly remember the taste the next day.

But the hotcakes made by Sophie and Rebecca... they were delicious, and I still remember the taste.

I don't understand why.

"I'll work in the study. Bring the urgent documents first."

"Understood."

I gave Neo these instructions and headed to the study.

Honestly, there are no urgent tasks. They are all things that can wait until tomorrow.

I just have some free time until I go to bed, so I'll do some work.

I don't want to waste time, as it's inefficient.

And I have no hobbies, so I have nothing to do with free time.

On the way to the study, I passed by a room, which was Rebecca's new room.

The door had some decorations changed, making it easy to identify as Rebecca's room.

I hadn't checked the interior of Rebecca's room yet.

She's probably already asleep.

I remember that when she was being educated by Mrs. Nable, it was not unusual for her to study until this time.

But now, Sophie is educating her. She considers Rebecca's health, so it's likely that she is already asleep.

I was curious, and before I knew it, I had opened the door.

I entered quietly, and I could hear her breathing and a faint light.

She was indeed asleep. As I approached the bed, I realized that not only Rebecca but also Sophie was there.

Why is Sophie here? No, she mentioned that they had napped together before, so it's not unusual.

In the dim light, I could see their faces a little.

They seemed to be sleeping soundly, and even as I sat on the edge of the bed, they didn't show any signs of waking up.

Their faces don't resemble each other, but they seem to have a similar peaceful expression.

They could be mistaken for mother and daughter... or sisters?

Rebecca is ten, and Sophie is twenty-two.

Calling them mother and daughter might be a bit too close in age, but on paper, they are stepmother and stepdaughter.

But they are definitely a family.

Even though they have only known each other for about a month, they seem to have formed a family-like relationship.

I don't quite understand it.

But...

"Rebecca and I want to become a family with Lord Alan."

I remembered Sophie's smile when she said that.

And I remembered the taste of the hotcakes they brought to my study and Rebecca's happy smile.

For some reason, I felt a warmth in my chest. I don't know what it is.

But something has changed since Sophie came to the ducal household.

Whether it's a good change or a bad change, I'm not sure.

But it's not something I dislike.

After a while, Sophie and Rebecca turned over at the same time, and the blanket slightly lifted.

Their movements were almost the same, so I couldn't help but smile a little.

I straightened the blanket over them and left the room without waking them.

When I went to the study, Neo was waiting for me at the door.

"Oh, Lord Alan. Where did you go? I thought you went straight to the study after the dining room."

"It's nothing, just some personal business. Don't worry about it."

"Ah..."

Even the capable and perceptive Neo didn't know where I had gone.

That's right, the old me would never have gone to Rebecca's room.

After that, I worked until I went to bed as usual, but I felt like I made a little progress.

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