Chapter 32
Lucian, Claude, Amelia, Duke Bellomon, and I sat at a long dining table. Soon, the table was filled with dishes carefully prepared by the chef.
“Let’s eat.”
The duke smiled as the meal began.
The sound of clinking tableware mixed with light conversation. While the duke and Claude talked, I turned my attention to the children.
“Amelia, do you need help cutting your food?”
“No, I can do it myself.”
“What about you, Lucian?”
“I can do it too.”
Normally, he would have acted spoiled and asked to be fed.
I smiled, watching Lucian try to act mature in front of Amelia.
“By the way, Lucella.”
I flinched.
Hearing the duke suddenly call my name, I almost dropped my fork.
“Yes?”
I answered, trying to hide my surprise.
It was already shocking enough to be invited to breakfast, but now he was addressing me in front of everyone. What was he planning to say?
“I heard from Marquis Agris that you personally saved him when he was buried under the rubble. Not only that, but you also found his niece, Amelia.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You also volunteer at an orphanage regularly and even reported the director and staff for embezzling funds.”
“That’s true.”
“You did well.”
“I… what?”
I had been replying absentmindedly until his unexpected praise made me look up in shock.
Wait… what did he just say?
“You did well. That was truly an impressive achievement.”
That’s right. The duke was praising me.
And he was doing it in front of the servants and guests.
“T-Thank you.”
I nodded stiffly and even stuttered.
This was the first time the duke had ever praised me.
Not just in front of others—but ever.
“I think you deserve a reward. Is there anything you’d like?”
“What?”
I blinked rapidly at the unexpected offer.
Why is this man suddenly acting so out of character?
It was strange enough that he was bringing up the past just to praise me, but now he wanted to reward me?
Just recently, he had been making subtle remarks about how long I planned to stay here.
I was about to politely refuse his offer out of discomfort—
Wait.
A brilliant idea popped into my head.
I can’t waste this rare opportunity just to be humble.
Especially when it was for Lucian’s sake.
“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse your generosity, would it?”
I quickly changed my mind.
“Alright. What do you want?”
“It’s not an object, but rather something I need your permission for.”
“Permission?”
“Yes.”
I carefully opened my mouth, watching the duke’s expression.
“Can I invite the orphanage children to the mansion?”
I wanted to bring Edwin to the duke’s estate.
I had been worried that the duke might refuse to let orphanage kids into the mansion. But now, I had the perfect opportunity.
“The orphanage children…?”
“They’re Lucian and Amelia’s friends.”
The duke looked surprised.
Across the table, Claude and Amelia also widened their eyes, clearly not expecting me to ask for something like this.
Ignoring their reactions, I quickly continued before the duke could refuse.
“Lucian recently made some new friends. I thought it would be nice to invite them over to play.”
No parent would dislike hearing that their troublemaking son had made friends.
“And Amelia will be returning to the Marquisate soon, so she won’t see them often. It would be good for her to spend more time with them while she can.”
Just in case, I made sure to mention Amelia as well.
Even if the duke didn’t care about Lucian’s friends, he wouldn’t refuse the niece of Marquis Agris and her friends, even if they were commoners.
Of course, he wouldn’t be thrilled about orphans coming into his home.
“You’re asking for that as a reward?”
As expected, the duke’s expression soured. He looked like he had just swallowed something bitter.
“Yes.”
But I didn’t take back my request.
It wasn’t like I was asking for gold and jewels.
Besides, he was the one who told me to name a reward, so he had to grant it.
“There’s no reason I can’t allow it. Do as you wish.”
His unexpected approval made me lean forward in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then, what date should we—”
“Any time. Call them whenever you want.”
What was going on with him today?
Is he dying or something?
Hiding my thoughts behind a polite expression, I bowed my head.
As I did, I heard the duke mumbling behind me, “Of all things to ask for…”
“Shall I prepare some tea?”
“No need.”
Duke Bellomon dismissed the butler and entered his office alone.
Even though he had been away for a long time, the office was still as tidy as ever.
Walking over to his desk, he sat down and began reviewing the large stack of documents waiting for him.
Although his retainers and Gillian had handled things in his absence, the final decisions still rested with him.
A polite knock interrupted his work.
“Your Grace, may I enter?”
It was Gillian’s voice.
“Come in.”
With permission granted, Gillian stepped inside, carrying a thick stack of papers.
“This is the report on the orphanages in the territory.”
Gillian placed the documents on the desk.
Before returning to the territory, the duke had assigned him this task.
After the embezzlement scandal at the Busnié Orphanage, the duke had ordered an inspection of all orphanages within his lands.
It wasn’t out of concern for the children’s well-being—he simply wanted to make sure that the Bellomon family’s money wasn’t being misused.
“More than ten orphanages submitted false budget reports. Many were also caught in various corrupt activities.”
“They dared to pull such tricks in my territory? They must be fearless.”
“Indeed. Lady Rilfrey has truly accomplished something remarkable.”
Gillian subtly praised Lucella.
The duke remained silent.
Gillian was right.
If it weren’t for Lucella, he wouldn’t have even realized that the orphanage funds were being misused.
And yet, after all that, she only asked for something so… simple.
Duke Bellomon recalled Lucella at breakfast, stating her request with confidence.
She had only wished for something as simple as inviting the orphanage children.
Even though she had exposed the embezzlement and put the Marquis of Agris in her debt, she could have asked for something much greater.
Yet, her request was so small and insignificant. The Duke had even been prepared to open the family vault, only to find it unnecessary.
“I knew she had a sense of propriety, but I didn’t expect her to be so unambitious.”
Since the death of her sister, the Duke’s wife, Lucella had always been cautious while staying at the duke’s estate. She knew that continuing to live in someone else’s home was shameless.
But she had no choice.
Her uncle had taken her family’s title and lands, leaving her with nowhere else to go.
So Lucella chose to ignore the whispers about her. Instead of paying attention to the criticism, she focused all her care on Lucian.
It was the only thing she could do while staying at the duke’s mansion.
Perhaps because of this, Duke Bellomen had always seen her as someone with a sense of shame but also a thick skin.
However, after breakfast that morning, his opinion of her changed slightly.
She was no longer just a bold woman—she was humbler than he had thought.
“Your Grace?”
Gillian’s voice pulled the duke out of his thoughts.
Looking at the list of names involved in the embezzlement, the duke called for his butler.
“Increase the budget allocated to Lucella. Double the current amount.”
“Good morning, Lady Lucella.”
“Uh… right.”
I nodded awkwardly at the servants who suddenly greeted me with such formality.
It was strange to see their attitudes change so suddenly.
Until now, the only people in the duke’s estate who treated me with true respect were Riley and Lucian’s nanny, Grace.
The rest of the staff acknowledged my status but never treated me with such politeness.
After all, I was just a guest in the duke’s household—a freeloader.
It had hurt my pride, but I couldn’t argue. Their true master was the Duke, not me.
“So why did their attitudes change overnight?”
I tilted my head in confusion, sensing the odd shift in the atmosphere.
