In Erica’s mind, the conversation that BonPiju and Marquis Jonathan Blanche had a few days ago came back to mind.
“Bonpiju. After you go down to the Grand Duke, make sure to report regularly.”
“Yes, master. Do not worry.”
“Keep an eye on that girl too. Teach me properly so that I don’t talk nonsense or do useless things. Do you understand?”
“of course. Master, relax. Lili, that guy won’t do anything stupid. “He has a very timid personality, and isn’t he just a ten-year-old girl?”
“but. “She’s holding her hostage here too, so if you don’t want my mother to be wrong, you’ll take care of her.”
It happened the night before I left, when I went to ask to see my mother’s face one last time.
This was a conversation the two of them had after kicking the girl out with the words, ‘If you have time like this, go and practice how to walk properly.’
Crack.
Erica bit down so hard that she felt the fishy taste of blood linger in her mouth.
A feeling of crying threatened to burst out from deep within her heart, but Erica managed to suppress it.
After catching her breath without anyone noticing, the girl thought calmly.
‘Anyway, Bonpiju is looking down on me.’
They’re even trying to catch a glimpse of it during the day.
Therefore, I expected that Bonpiju’s wariness toward me would gradually ease as time passed.
If such a situation really came, Erica would be able to move much more freely.
‘I still don’t know what kind of place Grand Duke Acliffe is.’
As Sebastian and I are not marrying because we love each other, but rather an arranged marriage, people in Acliffe will not react well.
So wouldn’t everyone be working hard to catch Erica’s pod?
Many eyes would probably follow her.
‘The only person who can be my shield in that unfamiliar place is Bonpiju.’
A suitable trouble maker who will take the attention that would be focused on him.
Erica thought BonPiju was perfect for the role.
‘I have to hold my breath. ‘Let’s find someone who will be on my side.’
The girl’s gaze glanced at Sebastian and then fell.
I’ve only just met Sebastian too.
Just because he was hostile toward BonPiju, it could not be said that his feelings toward him were friendly.
Anyway, fortunately, my worries about what would happen if my lie was discovered were for naught, and the excuse flowed out of my mouth more smoothly than I expected.
“I didn’t complain because I had in mind that something would happen at the Grand Duke’s residence.”
She swallowed dry saliva again, read the surrounding air for a moment, and then spoke cautiously.
“I was worried and scared that something might happen on the way… … I did. So… … “It’s far.”
“Arcliff’s knights would be able to take better care of your safety than just a maid.”
“yes. That’s right. but… … I didn’t think about it that far. I just… … . “I complained like that because I thought it would be nice to have the most familiar and trustworthy person by my side.”
Will you believe me?
I need you to trust me.
With her heart pounding, Erica lowered her gaze again.
With nowhere to cling to, she clenched her hands on the ground and clenched at least the dirt.
It was then.
“Now that I think about it, I think it’s something a young lady could worry about.”
Sebastian’s assistant, Milod, intervened as if to mediate.
Since he was also a faithful vassal of Acliffe, BonPiju felt a lot of regret for a short period of time for saying insulting words that went beyond false statements.
However, I had no choice but to treat Erica as a relative.
This was because he was naturally kind to children.
But there was no further response from Sebastian.
But no one here interrupted his silence.
This was because only he was given the authority to decide how to handle this situation.
Cool red eyes turned to Bonpiju.
‘This is outrageous.’
That person’s behavior was so bad that it made you wonder if he was the person the Marquis Blanche had sent on his behalf to this important event.
‘Or maybe it’s because he’s become dull by imitating a lion instead of his master.’
When I briefly clicked my tongue, I could see Bonpiju flinching.
The appearance was also the same, so he just withdrew his gaze.
‘how will we do it.’
The eyes with red pupils narrowed.
The hilt of the sword was completely in my hand.
‘what. I had no intention of handing it over in the first place.’
However, it was much easier than expected, so Sebastian found it somewhat uninteresting.
Even from the beginning, it was an unwilling marriage. So, if I were to end this marriage like this, I thought there would be nothing more I could wish for.
Of course, it was a waste of time to put aside ten busy days to come here, but I thought it was an amount of fatigue I could tolerate if I could avoid annoying things in the future.
At that time, the image of Erica kneeling crouched was caught in the corner of his gaze.
‘Didn’t you say you were scared to go to unfamiliar places?’
But I thought it was a very desperate attitude for saying that.
‘What can I say?’
It seemed as if this marriage had to happen.
Sebastian recalled what he had heard from Milod.
“It may not be you, Grand Duke, but for ordinary children, leaving their parents’ arms is a scary thing, like being dropped into an unfamiliar world alone and with nothing in sight. “This is a very great fear.”
Milod repeated those words several times as if emphasizing it.
I was afraid that Sebastian would get angry, so I kept adding, ‘You’re probably not the Archduke.’
Meanwhile, Milod urged Sebastian to understand even if the Blanche girl cried so much that it got on her nerves.
To be honest, Sebastian couldn’t understand that fear.
But since other people usually say that, I just memorized it.
‘But is Milod wrong?’
Sebastian’s red eyes took in Erica’s small body.
Only ten years old.
I thought I would try not to go no matter what.
But this little girl in front of me didn’t cry or raise her voice.
It just seemed like he was enduring it.
‘Jonathan Blanche, that snake-like man, did he raise his child well?’
So honestly, my first impression of Erica wasn’t that bad.
It was scary to feel intimidated by oneself, but I was able to do it because most people are like that.
The moment Sebastian looked back at Erica, who looked at me in surprise and lowered her gaze, he almost clicked his tongue.
But he soon came to his senses and pursed his lips.
This was because it wasn’t very pleasant to see him cringe as if he were a real rabbit, listening to every single little sound that others just overlooked.
His eyes swept over Erica again.
‘Well, I said she was Jonathan Blanche’s only daughter.’
I think that’s why I heard people say that they are raised with a lot of pampering.
Sighs and snorts came out.
The corners of Sebastian’s mouth tilted up.
‘good. There’s no reason not to grab the reins held out to me.’
It was very annoying to be called the head maid, but Erica herself wasn’t that bad.
Finally, Sebastian made his decision.
Since my son-in-law was so quiet, I could clearly hear the boy taking a short breath.
“Twice.”
Erica, who was still kneeling and only looking at her fisted hands on the ground, lifted her gaze upward.
“… … yes?”
Sebastian had an expression that did not understand what he meant by his words.
Fortunately, Sebastian continued and explained.
“I don’t tolerate even one mistake.”
“ah… … .”
“But today I gave Marquis Blanche a total of two chances.”
Erica nodded as if she finally understood what it meant.
In other words, it meant that Sebastian had a big heart and would forgive Bonpiju’s rudeness earlier.
Erica’s face, which had been covered with dark clouds, brightened just a little.
“Thank you for the generous disposition. “I truly, truly thank you from the bottom of my heart, Archduke!”
After looking down at the girl for a moment, Sebastian bluntly threw her a look.
“But there will be no more exceptions. “We won’t tolerate a third mistake.”
“yes… … !”
Erica answered bravely and then added:
“I will tell Bonpiju well and teach him not to make any more mistakes.”
Hearing the girl’s words, Bongpiju briefly glared at Erica with an expression that said, ‘How dare you do that?’
However, it was true that he had been able to save his life twice thanks to the girl, so he did not open his mouth any more.
One of the reasons was that he felt a little intimidated because the disapproving gazes of so many people present were already pouring in on him.
BonPiju chewed his lip, lowered his gaze, and began to straighten his messy clothes.
Erica knelt down and kept shaking her head.
“Thank you, Grand Duke.”
Huh.
A somewhat uncomfortable cough escaped from between Sebastian’s lips.
After clicking his tongue briefly, he opened his mouth again.
“That’s enough, now rather than that…” … .”
