Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

The next day, the breakfast with Charlie and Monica had a chaotic atmosphere with no warmth at all.

Charlie didn’t talk much because she was suffering from a hangover headache, and Monica maintained a confronting attitude toward my husband.

Surprisingly, Regen ate food without being conscious of Monica.

Still, he was concerned, so before dessert came out, he asked if Monica had any discomfort while she was here.

Regen didn’t really care whether Monica liked him or not.

Aedis was the party……

Aedis was just busy lecturing me and her about how healthy onions were, even though Monica courageously glared at him from time to time.

He probably didn’t even notice Monica was staring at him.

In any case, Aedis’s onion lecture was so blunt that I had no choice but to nod my head, but I didn’t eat the onion.

She had been a picky eater since morning, so I asked why Monica hated Aedis, and I gave her a tour of Cyclamen Castle.

Charlie said she would vomit if she walked any more, and she promised tomorrow.

Hearing that the northern alcohol was stronger than expected, the butler, who put all his heart and soul into bringing the best alcohol, wiped away his tears, saying that he had been disrespectful to Her Grace’s friend.

But I’m sure Charlie, the most drunk of us, will seek the butler another time.

There is no need to be overly formal, as all he had to do is attend my birthday party with a sober mind.

“To be fair…… It is a castle with a beautiful view.”

Monica murmured softly as she looked from the balcony to the finished central garden.

If Aedis had not changed the appearance, which was called an ink stone, the opposite sentiment would have come out.

“How is the capital city these days?”

“It has never been quiet. Recently, Morgana’s collusion has been rampant.”

Suddenly, Monica smiled in dismay.

“If I tell you this, you won’t come back.”

“Well, I’m going to go hang out with Aedis for a few days.”

Monica’s brow furrowed as my husband’s name came out of my mouth.

Monica finished her appreciation and slid her gaze toward me.

Monica’s face was full of complex emotions as she stared at the necklace as a gift.

Despite the fact that I wore it on purpose, she had a gloomy face.

“Thank you for giving it a look.”

“Monica, do you know what I meant by dismissing the maids?”

“I know. But now…… ”

“…..”

“Give me a little time.”

Monica didn’t want to face me.

And I had no obligation to force her.

Aedis was my husband, but also the owner of this castle.

I couldn’t resolve anything without telling him why only a guest was so rude.

“I will arrange a meeting for you in the evening, so tell me then. I don’t think you came all the way here with Charlie just to fight my husband.”

Monica’s face flushed red.

“Yes, of course it is! I also intended to offend him from the beginning…… ”

At least I didn’t know what her actions would look like.

I narrowed my eyes, and she smiled.

“Then see you in the evening.”

In the afternoon, I sat Paimon on my lap and checked the gifts and replies.

Even if they were afraid of Aedis, none of the nobles refused to attend my birthday party.

I left the butler to handle the overflowing gifts, and as I had promised Monica, I set a meeting for dinner.

It was a small party with only three participants.

However, no one understood my intention to have a conversation.

The hangover didn’t go away completely, and Charlie picked up the bottle again, even though her eyes were puffy.

“Eve, I didn’t know about it until now, but it must have been a lot of stress while traveling. Why is alcohol so delicious?”

So was Monica.

“I want to drink too.”

…… what. I’m not throwing a drinking party.

I purposely brought sweet and sour tropical fruits that I couldn’t find in the north, but Monica and Charle didn’t pay any attention to the fruit drinks.

I was contemplating whether I should put the rest of the bottle under the table, but Monica emptied the glass at once and called me.

“Maevia.”

“Yes, Monica.”

“What’s Maevia’s name?”

Is she drunk or not?

“…It’s Maevia Kallakis.”

“Is that right? But why does everyone call you Eve?”

“……”

“I can’t call you that.”

She had a face that looked like she was about to cry if touched lightly.

“Monica, did you want to call me by my nickname? But when we first met, I said that you could call me whatever you like.”

“…… Because I didn’t like you back then.”

“….”

“Now is…… Maevia would hate it.”

“…..”

I had a lot to say, but looking at me as one she cared so much for, Monica asked abruptly.

“You know, how would you feel if the Grand Duke took on a new wife after you were old or dead?”

It was a question that came out of the blue.

…… Let’s pretend we didn’t see the alcohol in Charlie’s mouth.

As Monica drank alcohol one glass after another, she spoke over and over again with eyes not at all intoxicated.

“Even in the capital, Grand Duke Kallakis has been the head of the family for a very long time, and in fact, rumors are spreading that he has tremendous abilities. Before I even entered the castle, I knew the rumors were no exaggeration.”

“….”

“Can you handle it when Maevia is very old, but the Grand Duke will still look young?”

“…..”

Monica raised her voice as if she had become Maevia Kallakis.

“No. It looks like you already started giving your heart, but it can’t be. So…… Can’t you go back to the capital with me before you give more here?”

In the end, Charlie could not bear to witness it and stopped Monica.

“Monica, I’ll take you to your room.”

Charlie lifted Monica with strength and apologized to me.

“I’m so sorry, Eve! When you left the capital, she promised not to do this……I’ll get going anyway!”

I watched Charlie take Monica out.

When I asked Monica why she hated Aedis, she was worried about me.

“Umm ….”

I felt a little strange.

Because the things Monica said she was worried about me are things that I also have to take seriously.

Aedis has lived for over 500 years, and I don’t know how many more years he will live.

On the other hand, since I was an ordinary person, my life span was fixed.

Well, since this is a world with magic, you can extend your lifespan by several tens of years by spending an astronomical amount of money.

“Should I have told my parents that I didn’t want to die soon…… ”

There’s no way my parents wouldn’t have worried about what Monica was worried about too.

It’s a problem because they didn’t show it much

I poured into my glass what Charlie had especially drunk and took a few sips.

“Wow.”

Immediately my face lit up. No, I can’t get drunk either!

Scared of a hangover that even Charlie couldn’t handle, I went outside.

I was thinking about going back to the bedroom after getting some air to wake up, but there was someone on the balcony where Monica had admired the view during the day.

It was Regen with fluffy, woolly hair.

“Lord?”

“…..”

“My~Lo~rd?”

“Hah.”

Regen looked back at me.

“Your Grace?”

I tilted my head.

Regen’s eyes were glazed and hazy as if he had just woken up.

“What were you thinking?”

“That, just.”

Regen stuttered, stroking his little hand.

It was a behavior that showed when he was in trouble.

“Just?”

“That is……”

“You want to keep it a secret?”

I’d like to let go of this, but I’m a little worried.

Regen contemplated for a few seconds then immediately clenched his fists and looked at me.

“Your Grace.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really happy living here?”

Huh?

“Of course.”

Was he still thinking about what Monica asked about my marriage yesterday?

It’s okay that Monica hated Aedis, and I thought Regen was putting his concern in the wrong place.

The corners of his eyes drooped.

“But not many good things happened. You are also ill……”

Tears quickly flowed from Regen’s eyes.

Aww, my face seemed to heat up.

I pushed away the rushing drunkenness and comforted Regen.

“Of course, there were times when I got sick, but the lord and Aedis were by my side every time that happened. I am always happy, thanks to you two.”

“…… really?”

“Did you see me lying?”

Regen paused.

And considering my feelings, he shook his head to and fro.

It was a slightly suspicious face.

…… I’m afraid of how far my reputation has fallen.

When I put on a shocked expression, Regen hurriedly comforted me.

“I trust you! I have no doubts whatsoever about what Your Grace said!”

Then Regen whispered as he lifted his foot, as if to make me feel better.

“You know, I speak only to my most trusted person in the world, Your Grace, so sometimes I feel like someone is calling me in a voice that only I can hear.”

“Uh? Like Paimon?”

Suddenly Regen trembled.

“No, no way, are you with Paimon right now?”

Oh no. I’ll have to catch Paimon and make him apologize.

Regen’s chattering trauma showed no sign of improving.

“Now that I am alone, I can rest assured.”

Regen sighed in relief.

“Then can I ask you one favor?”

“If it’s the Lord, anything.”

Regen pushed his head out of the balcony to make sure there was no one in the hallway, then he groaned, whispering as if he wasn’t relieved.

“If only, really if.”

“Yes, if.”

“If I suddenly disappear, I don’t want Your Grace to search for me.”

“…..”

“Promise me. Your Grace is not going to look for me.”