t. Elvis wasn’t putting on airs, he was just stating what was true for him, and Cordelia felt a strong feeling of a 『noble』coming from him.

“Well, having said that.... It’s probably impossible for you to understand without proper experience. If I can get a long break in the near future, then I’ll take you to the fief. You may find the answer you seek by broadening your horizons.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah. The books on this bookshelf are about the fief. I don’t mind if you take them with you. The medicinal plants you like so much are also written down in them.”

“Thank you very much!”

Cordelia naturally smiled because she got a thrilling promise from Elvis.

Elvis glanced sideways at her and returned to his desk where the stacks of documents were.

Cordelia approached the bookshelf, mindful not to disturb him and the sound of door knocks resounded throughout the room.

The person who had appeared was Hans.

“Excuse my intrusion, Master. Marquis Flantheim is here.”

“.... I only have a bad feeling about this. Send him away.”

“That is impossible, Master.”

Elvis gave a long sigh at the Marquis, who was apparently like his son and came today too without giving any advance notice.

“We don’t need tea. At any rate, it must be a troublesome matter or something stupid. There’s no need to entertain him. You don’t need to come.”

“Certainly.”

Hans respectfully saw Elvis off.

Hans smiled gently at Cordelia in the room without its occupant.

“Please let me know if there are books out of your reach.”

“Let’s see.... Then that one over there.”

“Certainly.”

Then Cordelia asked Hans while receiving the book.

“Say, Hans. I have something to ask you, is that alright?”

“Anything.”

“I heard from father that the Queen came to see the greenhouse, but when was that?”

“The Queen came two days after Ojou-sama went on a ride with Isma-sama. She came together with His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Hans, who had said some extremely auspicious word for Cordelia, looked gentle as always.

(The Crown Prince!!)

So it was like that, huh, she thought, but on the one hand, she was relieved that they didn’t meet.

At least with the near miss, she didn’t have to worry about having stepped on a landmine without knowing. That’s great.

She hadn’t shortened her lifespan without knowing, but it was still bad for her heart. Her heart was still racing, even though she knew she’d been saved.

But in contrast to Cordelia, Hans continued to speak softly.

“The greenhouse is the embodiment of amazing technology, is it not?”

“As expected of Otou-sama.”

“Yes. Master couldn’t help but make it because Ojou-sama is so cute.”

“Eh?”

Cordelia, who was relieved, made questioning sounds at Hans and tilted her head in confusion.

The flow of the conversation changed a little? As she wondered that, Hans continued while grinning.

“One day, Master suddenly finished all the matters that he had to deal with and demanded the construction of the greenhouse that had been planned several years ago. He reasoned that he wanted to grasp the current state of technology. He was acting out of the ordinary, and even I was surprised.”

“Was it that sudden that even you, who has always been by father’s side, were surprised?”

“Oh, I was just talking to myself, and I wouldn’t bother to lie when I’m talking to myself!”

It seemed that Hans wasn’t only an excellent butler, he was also quite a cunning man. “It’s a secret,” Hans kept saying as he put his index finger to his mouth.

“Master also knows that Ojou-sama is working hard from the reports he receives from Ronnie. The renovations of the detached building were probably also the results of his expectations. It’s the Master we’re talking about, so he definitely has other reasons for it as well.”

Cordelia felt as if she was turning red from listening to Hans.

(Ronnie!! There should still be almost nothing to report about; there shouldn’t be!! Otou-sama, you’re going to put pressure on me if you expect too much. It’s easier for me if you just remain as a doting father....)

Those complaints flashed through Cordelia’s mind. And then, she was filled with the desire to not betraying those expectations.

“That’s right. First of all, I want to decorate this room with flowers, so that they’ll heal Otou-sama’s tiredness. Hans, please help me select some vases and flowers.”

“Certainly, Ojou-sama.”

Hans respectfully bowed to Cordelia.

“Otou-sama’s heart seems to be breaking for the people, but it doesn’t seem like he cares for himself much. So, I’ll take care of him in his place.”

Cordelia said and slightly smiled at the chair that was without its occupant.

References

1. ↑ He’s was being informal by using ‘da’ then he ended it more formally by using ‘desu’.

Translator: Blushy

Editor: SenjiQ