“The Duke has been in a really bad mood lately…”
“So?”
Edwin asked back as if wondering why Roman was even saying something he already knew.
“Since you’ve been spending more time than usual with Lady Renee lately… and happily at that…”
It felt like there was extra weight behind the words “spending time” and “happily.”
At the chilly tone in Roman’s voice, Edwin replied with an uneasy voice.
“S-So?”
“The Duke is seriously considering something.”
“What?”
Edwin seemed to have already guessed what Roman was going to say. It was more a question to confirm his worries.
Of course, I hadn’t picked up on anything, so I focused on what Roman would say next.
“He mentioned that there’s still so much more for you to study, Master Edwin.”
In other words, he was going to increase Edwin’s lessons.
Edwin slumped his shoulders, as if he’d expected this. But he didn’t seem entirely upset by the idea.
Still, his face showed a mix of emotions.
Well, Edwin was the type to genuinely enjoy learning. Having more classes might actually be something he liked.
But since he had been squeezing in time to visit me in between his busy schedule, if the lessons increased, he’d barely have any time to see me.
That must’ve been why his expression looked so uncertain—like he couldn’t tell if he should be happy or not.
“Do you think Father’s really made up his mind?”
“I’m not sure. He seems to have already chosen several subjects… But he’s hesitating, probably because he doesn’t want to make Lady Renee upset.”
“Make me upset?”
Surprised by the random comment, I pointed to myself and asked. Roman leaned forward, as if relieved the topic had finally shifted to me.
“Yes. So please, even just for a bit—spend some time with the Duke.”
“S-‘Spend time’ with him?”
“You haven’t been joining him for tea or meals lately. If you could just give him a little of the time you give Master Edwin…”
“But I don’t go, and the Duke still meets with Edwin.”
“Whether it’s tea or a meal, if Lady Renee is missing and it’s just the Duke and Edwin, then what meaning does it really have?”
“What do you mean it doesn’t have meaning? It’s father and son bonding time.”
“You know very well that meaningful family time only happens when you’re there too, Lady Renee.”
Roman looked at me with quite a pitiful expression.
“Honestly, everyone’s well-being depends on you, Lady Renee.”
Roman was pleading, but something about his tone made me lean back instead. I sank into the couch until I was fully slouched.
Edwin looked up at me, seemingly watching to see how I would react.
Maybe he was ready to drive Roman away if I showed even the slightest dislike.
Still, I couldn’t hide my uneasiness over the possibility that I’d soon have way less time to spend with Edwin.
Did Roman mean “everyone” included Edwin, too?
“No, wait. Why does everyone’s well-being depend on me?”
“Well, it’s because the Duke is in a bad mood lately since you’ve been avoiding him.”
“I’m not avoiding him…”
My voice gradually faded under Roman’s firm gaze, as if telling me to stop making excuses.
“Please, I’m begging you. I haven’t seen him this emotionally drained in a long time.”
Roman didn’t forget to plead one last time. Then, as if his business was done, he stood up.
I thought he would leave right away—but surprisingly, Roman just stood there and stared at Edwin.
“Master Edwin, it’s time you came back with me as well.”
“…Okay.”
Edwin seemed to understand everything Roman had said. He looked at me with a regretful expression, but eventually followed Roman out.
Unlike when he came in full of energy, Edwin left looking completely deflated, and it tugged at my heart.
“Wait, Roman looks like that just because I’m avoiding the Duke? Isn’t it just that he’s been working more and he’s tired?”
It felt like a storm had just passed. I suddenly realized that Roman’s current expression reminded me of how he looked right before taking a break during his busiest period.
He had been super busy back then too.
“But didn’t Roman actually like having a lot of work?”
Amelia, having overheard my muttered words, gave a small laugh and sat across from me.
“Exactly. Maybe he just wants an excuse to fuss over you, Lady Renee.”
Just from Amelia’s expression, it was obvious she’d already figured out the entire situation.
She didn’t say it outright, but her face made it clear that this was nothing like what I had assumed. Still, she didn’t point that out—she just went along with what I said.
When I stared at her silently, she asked,
“What is it?”
“I was just wondering why you never say anything, even though you already know everything.”
“Because it’s more fun this way.”
It wasn’t even a surprising answer. Amelia never bothered to hide her amusement at times like this.
“It’s okay. If it’s something you absolutely need to know, I’ll be sure to tell you.”
She had a point, and I nodded. I’d come to learn that when Amelia didn’t say something, it usually meant it wasn’t worth me knowing.
It was either something that would just scare me unnecessarily, or something too trivial to matter.
Which one was it this time? As if reading my thoughts, Amelia gave an answer.
“You’re already feeling uneasy, Lady Renee. There’s no reason to make your heart even more tangled.”
Her words made me turn my eyes away, as if she knew exactly why I’d been avoiding Raynan lately.
So much for asking about the mood changes or what Roman’s words really meant.
I figured it was better not to say anything to Amelia at all right now. That was a lesson I’d learned from being around her for many days.
No matter what I asked, she’d just respond vaguely like this—and enjoy every second of it.
****
After leaving Renee’s room with Roman, Edwin asked him seriously by his side.
“Is it true? He’s really going to increase my lessons?”
“It’s just as I said. He doesn’t want Lady Renee to be upset with him, so he’s holding back. But still, wouldn’t you like it if you had more classes?”
“Well, yeah… but I’m barely getting to see Mother as it is. If I have more classes, I won’t get to see her at all.”
“If he can’t help it and does increase them, it’ll probably be just one or two subjects. Besides, the Duke seems relieved because you’re helping Lady Renee stay well.”
“Hm…”
At Roman’s words, Edwin looked slightly reassured. Then, glancing around them, he leaned in and asked quietly:
“But seriously… why is Mother avoiding Father?”
“Master Edwin, if I knew that, do you think I’d have come pleading like this to Lady Renee?”
“Fair point.”
“I think he tried asking her directly… but I don’t get why she became even more distant after that. Maybe he said something wrong.”
“Something wrong?”
“Yes. But Lady Renee is so kind and laid-back that she wouldn’t usually avoid someone over something small.”
“Yeah, that’s true. I bet Amelia knows why though…”
As soon as Amelia’s name came up, Roman and Edwin looked at each other. They exchanged a meaningful glance, then shook their heads at the same time.
“She’d never tell us.”
“Yeah. Amelia would probably just tease me with it.”
“Exactly.”
Knowing Amelia all too well, the two of them didn’t even consider asking her.
Just then, while their conversation paused, a familiar face appeared ahead of them. She paused at the sight of Edwin and Roman but quickly smiled and approached them with a cheerful greeting.
The moment they confirmed it was Erin, both Roman and Edwin made to walk right past her, uninterested.
But before they could move on, Erin spoke brightly to Edwin in a friendly tone.
“Oh my, Master Edwin, there’s a wrinkle here. And I think a navy color would suit you even better than this one.”
She spoke while smoothing Edwin’s collar, as if they were close. Of course, the moment she touched him, Roman slapped her hand away.
“Do you not understand that you shouldn’t touch him so carelessly?”
“Oh, I apologize. I was just pleased to see how gallantly Edwin grows each day…”
At Erin’s words, Edwin smiled coldly.
“Pleased? Are you in any position to be saying that?”
Though still a child, Edwin gave off a presence that couldn’t be ignored. Erin flinched.
The smile on her face slowly faded in the face of his unexpectedly cold and heavy atmosphere.
“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”
Realizing the mood, Erin quickly and politely apologized. But Edwin didn’t tell her to raise her head.
Since she was the one at fault, she had no choice but to stay like that until Edwin either walked away or told her she could look up.
This wasn’t the same child who used to laugh brightly beside Renee and just be adorable.
Who exactly was this person now standing in front of her?
He looked like Edwin—but he didn’t feel like him.
Maybe it was a mercy she kept her head bowed. With how cold Edwin had suddenly become, she was too shaken to move anyway.
“It’s not my place to interfere with matters between adults. But if something is hurting my mother, that is something I will interfere with.”
Edwin spoke firmly. Even without looking, Erin could feel his sharp gaze directed right at her.
His voice was so fierce that it made her flinch without thinking.
“Keep it in mind. It’ll be a very important part of deciding your future.”
With just that, Edwin walked past her. As he passed, Erin cautiously lifted her eyes to check—and for a moment, their eyes met.
What she saw in Edwin’s gaze was contempt and disgust.
Even after Edwin disappeared from view, Erin stayed frozen in place. She couldn’t move—not out of shock, but because she was burning with frustration.
She couldn’t even feel her fingernails digging into her palms.
“Renee… What does Renee even have…”
Raynan had definitely begun to open up to her. He was the type to brush people off with a cold word if they said something even slightly unnecessary—but he had always heard Erin out.
Sure, he often looked indifferent. But he didn’t dismiss her or snap at her.
Yet now that Renee and Raynan had developed some strange connection, his attention was completely focused on Renee.
That made it nearly impossible for Erin to even approach him.
Raynan now gave off the same intimidating energy that Edwin had, and he treated Erin like she didn’t even exist.
“She’s doing it on purpose. She’s afraid I’ll take him away.”
If she’d had just a little more time, Renee’s place would have been hers.
Erin thought Renee was deliberately shaking Raynan up because she was afraid.
“You think I’m just going to let this go? You think I can’t do the same kind of thing you did?”
Blood dripped from her palms, but Erin didn’t notice. Her jaw was clenched tight as she muttered through gritted teeth.
