Uh? The documents…. aren’t here?
Elusiana entered the office with Aster and tilted her head as she looked at the empty desk. The papers she had expected to be piled up all over the desk were nowhere to be found and it was just clean. She turned a curious gaze towards Aster.
No way, did the Grand Duke take care of everything?
Even more, during the funeral?
Elusiana looked alternately at the empty desk and the expressionless Aster, then frowned slightly. How bad must it have been for his heart that he had to deal with so many documents to forget his sorrow? When she thought like that, she naturally felt sad.
Is he feeling okay?
She thought the butler would have taken care of him well, but it was something she never knew.
“Excuse me.”
Aster, who was busy flipping through documents, smiled and raised his head. Even though it was a very small voice, he was surprisingly agile in responding.
Elusiana asked with an awkward expression. “I can’t see the documents I need to process. Where are they?”
“Ah, I forgot.”
Aster opened the drawer under the desk and took out the documents inside. “Here you go. There’s no need to rush because there’s nothing urgent.”
Elusiana nodded her head after being handed the documents. But she still didn’t seem to understand.
“Um, is this all?”
Aster, who had already had his eyes on the papers, put down his pen and looked up at her. “Well, it’s all for now. Why?”
Elusiana agonized for a moment, wondering if she could say this. Wasn’t there already a lot of talk about the maid taking over the aide duties? However, this situation was apparently abnormal to anyone’s standards.
I’ve been away for a week and can’t believe I have nothing to do. Considering the Grand Duke’s body, who only knew about work, she had to make sure that she got it right this time.
Elusiana’s eyes shone brightly with a strong will. “I have been away for a week, and I feel like there’s too little work.”
“Ah, because of that?”
Aster mumbled something else and covered his mouth with one hand as if to suppress laughter.
“Louis helped me with the work.”
Elusiana’s startled cheeks immediately turned right. Right! There’s a butler.
Aster, who seemed to be smiling for some reason, spoke while covering his mouth with his clenched hand. “It’s impossible for anyone to handle that many documents alone. Fortunately, the butler had good work skills and easily solved the problem. So, all you have to do is process the documents you’re holding now.”
“That, yes… I understand.”
“Were you anxious by any chance? Are you afraid that your position will be taken away?”
“N-no! It’s not like that! I just—!”
“I’m glad you didn’t. I didn’t want to be misunderstood. No matter what anyone says, Elusiana, you’re my aide. Then, let me ask you a favor.”
“Yes…”
Elusiana hurriedly moved to her place and took one look at her hot cheek. She could feel the stinging eyes following her back, but she sat on her seat, pretended not to notice, and opened the documents.
His aide. Ah, I’m embarrassed. Thinking about it again, what she said a little while ago was also presumptuous.
Why should I ask that? If the master tells you to do it, you just have to do what he tells you to do.
She must have mistakenly thought that her promotion from maid to aide meant she could do anything. Aster was a good man, so he just let it go, but she would have suffered badly if he had had a sense of authority. She didn’t say it out loud, but her words were like a demand: ‘Give me my job!’
Anyway, this is pointless nonsense. How far will I climb just because the Grand Duke treats me well?
Elusiana worked hard with her pen, with her head buried in papers.
* * *
The New Year’s Ball is just around the corner. The capital was suffering from the influx of nobles about a month ago. Still, in return, the market was bustling with activity.
“Here, there is an empty room. There’s only one left!”
“This is a menu with a special sauce that can only be enjoyed in the capital. Come quickly and try!”
“Give this as a gift to a beautiful woman. A must for the ball! Come with gold jewelry!”
The constant solicitation of customers made them hoarse, but the smiles on their faces didn’t disappear. Because there was no opportunity to increase sales as much as during this preparation period for the New Year’s ball.
“Ah, don’t push.”
“Did you make a reservation here?”
People everywhere looked envious or jealous as they watched the person who got past the long line and entered first. Nevertheless, there were no major problems with security within the capital. This is because twice as many personnel as usual were deployed to the security forces.
Tap, tap, tap. Aster glanced at them inside the carriage and frowned slightly.
“Do you have any concerns?”
When Louis asked, Aster sighed softly.
“Louis. This New Year’s Ball.”
“You said you wouldn’t go.”
“I did. It was like that, though.”
Aster, who was displeased with something, tapped his chin with his second finger and frowned again.
“Do you have any concerns?”
“This is the year Lusi comes of age.”
“I know.”
Aster glanced slightly at Louis. You know that, but you haven’t said anything? When he thought about that, that brightly smiling face was somewhat disgusted. Aster clicked his tongue and spoke quietly.
“Will Lusi attend?”
“Shall I find out?”
“…What do you think as a butler? Do you think Lusi will attend the ball?”
“Wouldn’t she be absent?”
Louis nodded his head as if it was natural. Aster, who was in a bad mood for no reason, spoke threateningly. “How can you be sure of that? Attending the ball the year of your coming of age is mandatory for nobles.”
“It’s no different from an obligation that has already been abandoned. In fact, the attendance rate of local nobles is significantly low.”
“Tsk.”
As if not to his liking, Aster clicked his tongue again. Louis smiled at him and said, “Does it bother you?”
“I’m asking because I’m worried that there might be some harm. It’s suspicious that Lady Eragost has been quiet so far.”
“You want the lady to come to her debutante, don’t you? Didn’t you plan to send a courtship letter after her debutante?”
“A courtship letter. It’s still a little early for that matter, Old Man.”
Aster’s eyes were wide open by the unexpected blow. His cheeks were burning red before he knew it.
“Hmm. If Your Excellency attends, I will try to persuade Lady Elusiana.”
Aster, who had been raising his eyes fiercely at Louis’s calm words, lowered his eyes meekly. “Persuade her?”
“Are you perhaps unwilling? You might say that because the debutante is a venue for public courtship.”
“What?”
“But I hope you will attend this time. The first young master also expressed his intention to attend. Wouldn’t it be better to watch your enemy closely?”
“Hmm. I see. My older brother said he would attend.”
“Aster, who was upset, nodded his head, pretending to be worried. Whether Genoyer attended the New Year’s ball or not made no difference. However, the term ‘public courtship’ annoyed him.
My Lusi will shine wherever she goes.
Meanwhile, Elusiana hid in the commoner’s area so no one recognized her. However, the New Year’s ball, where all kinds of nobles gathered with their selfish interests, was different. Even the brat from the Klaus family jumps on her, so who can guarantee that there won’t be someone worse than him?
I can’t let something like that happen.
Aster muttered in a low tone, hiding his unpleasant feelings behind a blank expression.
“Well, my brother’s recent movements were a bit suspicious.”
“He has been quiet since the funeral of the former Grand Duke.”
“…”
“Would you like to attend the ball?”
“Old man, you’re in charge of persuading Lusi.”
After finishing his sentence, Aster closed his eyes. It was clear that he didn’t want to talk anymore.
Louis, who looked at his figure, smiled slightly.
* * *
“Lusi.”
“I don’t have any thoughts like that.”
“Still, this doesn’t seem right.”
“Sigh, Father. I really don’t want to go. I’m serious.”
Simon looked teary as he watched Elusiana waving her hands furiously.
For nobles, the New Year’s ball is the year of their coming of age, and was very important. It wasn’t for nothing that the law mandated attendance. This day, it wasn’t different from a duty that had already been forgotten. Still, for Elusiana, the daughter of a fallen family, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to find a good partner. So, even though he had taken her daughter’s side in many cases other times, he couldn’t take her side this time.
“This is this father’s wish.”
Elusiana’s body, which had only thought about quickly leaving this uncomfortable situation, stopped momentarily.
“I promised your mother. I will find you a good match.”
“F-Father. That—”
“Until now, I pretended not to notice, but I can’t do that anymore. It’s hard to find a good partner now that our family has become like this.”
“I have no intention of getting married.”
“Why? Why do you think like that? If you suffered this much because of this father, you should now meet a good man and live a good life.”
“I’m still living well. I’m happier now than being pushed to marry someone I don’t even love in my heart.”
“So you’re going to live with this father forever?”
“Why? Can’t I do that?”
Uh? The documents…. aren’t here?
Elusiana entered the office with Aster and tilted her head as she looked at the empty desk. The papers she had expected to be piled up all over the desk were nowhere to be found and it was just clean. She turned a curious gaze towards Aster.
No way, did the Grand Duke take care of everything?
Even more, during the funeral?
Elusiana looked alternately at the empty desk and the expressionless Aster, then frowned slightly. How bad must it have been for his heart that he had to deal with so many documents to forget his sorrow? When she thought like that, she naturally felt sad.
Is he feeling okay?
She thought the butler would have taken care of him well, but it was something she never knew.
“Excuse me.”
Aster, who was busy flipping through documents, smiled and raised his head. Even though it was a very small voice, he was surprisingly agile in responding.
Elusiana asked with an awkward expression. “I can’t see the documents I need to process. Where are they?”
“Ah, I forgot.”
Aster opened the drawer under the desk and took out the documents inside. “Here you go. There’s no need to rush because there’s nothing urgent.”
Elusiana nodded her head after being handed the documents. But she still didn’t seem to understand.
“Um, is this all?”
Aster, who had already had his eyes on the papers, put down his pen and looked up at her. “Well, it’s all for now. Why?”
Elusiana agonized for a moment, wondering if she could say this. Wasn’t there already a lot of talk about the maid taking over the aide duties? However, this situation was apparently abnormal to anyone’s standards.
I’ve been away for a week and can’t believe I have nothing to do. Considering the Grand Duke’s body, who only knew about work, she had to make sure that she got it right this time.
Elusiana’s eyes shone brightly with a strong will. “I have been away for a week, and I feel like there’s too little work.”
“Ah, because of that?”
Aster mumbled something else and covered his mouth with one hand as if to suppress laughter.
“Louis helped me with the work.”
Elusiana’s startled cheeks immediately turned right. Right! There’s a butler.
Aster, who seemed to be smiling for some reason, spoke while covering his mouth with his clenched hand. “It’s impossible for anyone to handle that many documents alone. Fortunately, the butler had good work skills and easily solved the problem. So, all you have to do is process the documents you’re holding now.”
“That, yes… I understand.”
“Were you anxious by any chance? Are you afraid that your position will be taken away?”
“N-no! It’s not like that! I just—!”
“I’m glad you didn’t. I didn’t want to be misunderstood. No matter what anyone says, Elusiana, you’re my aide. Then, let me ask you a favor.”
“Yes…”
Elusiana hurriedly moved to her place and took one look at her hot cheek. She could feel the stinging eyes following her back, but she sat on her seat, pretended not to notice, and opened the documents.
His aide. Ah, I’m embarrassed. Thinking about it again, what she said a little while ago was also presumptuous.
Why should I ask that? If the master tells you to do it, you just have to do what he tells you to do.
She must have mistakenly thought that her promotion from maid to aide meant she could do anything. Aster was a good man, so he just let it go, but she would have suffered badly if he had had a sense of authority. She didn’t say it out loud, but her words were like a demand: ‘Give me my job!’
Anyway, this is pointless nonsense. How far will I climb just because the Grand Duke treats me well?
Elusiana worked hard with her pen, with her head buried in papers.
* * *
The New Year’s Ball is just around the corner. The capital was suffering from the influx of nobles about a month ago. Still, in return, the market was bustling with activity.
“Here, there is an empty room. There’s only one left!”
“This is a menu with a special sauce that can only be enjoyed in the capital. Come quickly and try!”
“Give this as a gift to a beautiful woman. A must for the ball! Come with gold jewelry!”
The constant solicitation of customers made them hoarse, but the smiles on their faces didn’t disappear. Because there was no opportunity to increase sales as much as during this preparation period for the New Year’s ball.
“Ah, don’t push.”
“Did you make a reservation here?”
People everywhere looked envious or jealous as they watched the person who got past the long line and entered first. Nevertheless, there were no major problems with security within the capital. This is because twice as many personnel as usual were deployed to the security forces.
Tap, tap, tap. Aster glanced at them inside the carriage and frowned slightly.
“Do you have any concerns?”
When Louis asked, Aster sighed softly.
“Louis. This New Year’s Ball.”
“You said you wouldn’t go.”
“I did. It was like that, though.”
Aster, who was displeased with something, tapped his chin with his second finger and frowned again.
“Do you have any concerns?”
“This is the year Lusi comes of age.”
“I know.”
Aster glanced slightly at Louis. You know that, but you haven’t said anything? When he thought about that, that brightly smiling face was somewhat disgusted. Aster clicked his tongue and spoke quietly.
“Will Lusi attend?”
“Shall I find out?”
“…What do you think as a butler? Do you think Lusi will attend the ball?”
“Wouldn’t she be absent?”
Louis nodded his head as if it was natural. Aster, who was in a bad mood for no reason, spoke threateningly. “How can you be sure of that? Attending the ball the year of your coming of age is mandatory for nobles.”
“It’s no different from an obligation that has already been abandoned. In fact, the attendance rate of local nobles is significantly low.”
“Tsk.”
As if not to his liking, Aster clicked his tongue again. Louis smiled at him and said, “Does it bother you?”
“I’m asking because I’m worried that there might be some harm. It’s suspicious that Lady Eragost has been quiet so far.”
“You want the lady to come to her debutante, don’t you? Didn’t you plan to send a courtship letter after her debutante?”
“A courtship letter. It’s still a little early for that matter, Old Man.”
Aster’s eyes were wide open by the unexpected blow. His cheeks were burning red before he knew it.
“Hmm. If Your Excellency attends, I will try to persuade Lady Elusiana.”
Aster, who had been raising his eyes fiercely at Louis’s calm words, lowered his eyes meekly. “Persuade her?”
“Are you perhaps unwilling? You might say that because the debutante is a venue for public courtship.”
“What?”
“But I hope you will attend this time. The first young master also expressed his intention to attend. Wouldn’t it be better to watch your enemy closely?”
“Hmm. I see. My older brother said he would attend.”
“Aster, who was upset, nodded his head, pretending to be worried. Whether Genoyer attended the New Year’s ball or not made no difference. However, the term ‘public courtship’ annoyed him.
My Lusi will shine wherever she goes.
Meanwhile, Elusiana hid in the commoner’s area so no one recognized her. However, the New Year’s ball, where all kinds of nobles gathered with their selfish interests, was different. Even the brat from the Klaus family jumps on her, so who can guarantee that there won’t be someone worse than him?
I can’t let something like that happen.
Aster muttered in a low tone, hiding his unpleasant feelings behind a blank expression.
“Well, my brother’s recent movements were a bit suspicious.”
“He has been quiet since the funeral of the former Grand Duke.”
“…”
“Would you like to attend the ball?”
“Old man, you’re in charge of persuading Lusi.”
After finishing his sentence, Aster closed his eyes. It was clear that he didn’t want to talk anymore.
Louis, who looked at his figure, smiled slightly.
* * *
“Lusi.”
“I don’t have any thoughts like that.”
“Still, this doesn’t seem right.”
“Sigh, Father. I really don’t want to go. I’m serious.”
Simon looked teary as he watched Elusiana waving her hands furiously.
For nobles, the New Year’s ball is the year of their coming of age, and was very important. It wasn’t for nothing that the law mandated attendance. This day, it wasn’t different from a duty that had already been forgotten. Still, for Elusiana, the daughter of a fallen family, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to find a good partner. So, even though he had taken her daughter’s side in many cases other times, he couldn’t take her side this time.
“This is this father’s wish.”
Elusiana’s body, which had only thought about quickly leaving this uncomfortable situation, stopped momentarily.
“I promised your mother. I will find you a good match.”
“F-Father. That—”
“Until now, I pretended not to notice, but I can’t do that anymore. It’s hard to find a good partner now that our family has become like this.”
“I have no intention of getting married.”
“Why? Why do you think like that? If you suffered this much because of this father, you should now meet a good man and live a good life.”
“I’m still living well. I’m happier now than being pushed to marry someone I don’t even love in my heart.”
“So you’re going to live with this father forever?”
“Why? Can’t I do that?”
