Chapter 24

When I heard that Sophia was going out into town, I decided on a whim to follow her.

Today, I was unusually on leave and had been thinking of spending some quiet time with her.

I usually spent my days off reading alone in my study.

Since I can remember everything after reading a book once, I always had Neo prepare new books for me, but when I said I didn’t need any today, I felt a bit relieved.

Then, I went out into town with Sophia and visited various stores.

Shopping was something we usually did by calling merchants to our house, so going to the stores ourselves was a refreshing change.

At the clothing store we just visited, I hadn’t expected that Sophia and Rebecca would be getting matching outfits made.

When she suggested it, I felt a warm sensation in my chest that I will never forget.

When she was choosing cooking utensils, I thought it would be more efficient to buy everything at once.

But choosing clothes with Sophia, discussing and hesitating together, was a bit enjoyable.

I had never found shopping enjoyable before, but being with her made me feel emotions I never expected.

The same goes for the sweets shop we’re about to visit.

I’m not good with sweet things, and that hasn’t changed.

But I can enjoy the sweets and desserts she makes.

Among the foods I don’t particularly like, the things she makes are in the category of what I do like.

So, I was a bit looking forward to going to the sweets shop.

"Here it is, Alan."

"Yes."

The sweet smell inside the shop was already noticeable, and I could tell I didn’t like it even by that alone.

If I were alone, I definitely wouldn’t have entered.

"Rebecca likes sweet things, so it would be nice to buy some for her. Also, seeing what kinds of sweets are available could broaden the range of what we can make."

"Can you learn to make them just by looking at the products?"

"If you can imagine how they’re made, you can probably imitate them to some extent."

"Interesting, that’s impressive."

"Ah, will you eat something too, Alan?"

"No, I don’t need to. I only find the things Sophia makes delicious."

"S-so, is that so..."

Sophia replied with a slightly embarrassed smile.

I feel like I’m starting to understand her emotions from her expressions.

I’ve started to find her expressions cute.

But being with Sophia might be why I’m enjoying this place I usually dislike.

...That’s why I didn’t expect it.

"Huh, big sister?"

"Ah... Berta."

Sophia’s smile seemed to cloud over.

At first, everything was fine when we entered the sweets shop, and she seemed to be enjoying looking at the products.

I was getting attention, and I thought it might be because the glasses weren’t working, but I realized it was because there were few male customers in a shop mostly frequented by women.

We were standing side by side, looking at the sweets, and I was waiting for the staff to bring us some samples when a woman suddenly spoke to Sophia.

"Is it really you, big sister? Wow, it’s been a while."

"...Yes, Berta. It’s been a while."

Berta Ingred, whom I had met once before.

When I was looking for a wife, she was one of the candidates I met.

Her hair color was slightly different from Sophia’s, a dark brown, and it was long.

Her face didn’t resemble Sophia’s much, and Sophia was more beautiful.

"Big sister, why are you here?"

"Of course, to buy sweets."

"Ah, right, this is a sweets shop after all."

Her smile seemed forced.

I often attend social events and talk to many noble men and women.

So, I can tell to some extent what people are thinking from their expressions.

Berta’s current expression seemed to be mocking her sister, Sophia.

"Big sister, what are you doing here? This is an expensive sweets shop, do you have enough money at home?"

Sophia’s tone seemed concerned, but I could sense a bit of sarcasm.

This was unusual for her.

"Of course, big sister, you were sold to the Bernhard Duke’s family, so you have plenty of money."

"...I see, that’s good to hear."

Sophia was sold to the Duke’s family?

Indeed, the Ingred Earl’s family received a large sum of money for the arranged marriage.

But I never thought of buying Sophia with that money.

Does the Ingred Earl’s family see it that way?

"Big sister, isn’t it rare for you to come to a sweets shop? You used to make them for me and Mother at home."

"Yes, that’s true. Now that I’m a Duchess, I have more money and can make sweets for the person I like."

Just hearing this conversation between the sisters made it clear that their family relationship wasn’t good.

When she says she can make sweets for the person she likes now, did she have to make them forcefully when she was at the Earl’s family?

But I remember her saying she liked making them.

"Hehe, the person you like... Big sister, you’re not loved by the Duke, are you?"

Berta said this without hiding her mockery.

Since she’s from the Ingred Earl’s family, it’s not surprising that she knows about the arranged marriage.

But when Sophia said “the person I like,” she was probably referring to Rebecca, not me.

So, Berta is mistaken... but it’s infuriating.

In the past, I wouldn’t have felt anything if someone else was being looked down upon.

But now, it’s because the Duchess is being disrespected... no, that’s not it.

It’s because Sophia is being mocked that I’m irritated.

It was the same at a previous social event.

A certain Earl’s daughter was mocking Sophia, and I was very angry.

I was so angry that I wanted to ruin that Earl’s family, but Sophia stopped me and I calmed down a bit.

But if I had acted on my anger and ruined the Earl’s family, I wouldn’t have regretted it.

"Berta, weren’t you told not to leak the details of the contract outside?"

"Nobody’s listening. Or what? Are you so upset about being told the truth that you’re not loved?"

"..."

I’m starting to feel irritated again, just like last time.

If I listen any longer, I might want to ruin the Ingred Earl’s family again, so I should intervene.

I was standing behind Sophia, but I moved to stand next to her and looked down at Berta.

She probably thought I was a butler because I was standing behind her.

But the moment I took off my glasses, Berta’s expression changed to one of surprise.

"D-Duke!?"

Berta probably never spoke to Sophia like this at social events.

I remember talking to Berta a few times, but I didn’t realize she was so two-faced.

Berta, who was surprised, quickly put on the smile she usually wears at social events.

"Duke, it’s been a while. My sister is always grateful to you."

Even though she must have realized I was listening, she’s quite thick-skinned.

Normally, she would have apologized for speaking ill of the Duchess.

"Are you accompanying your sister today? You’re very kind."

Does she think she doesn’t need to apologize because the Duchess is her sister?

That might be part of it.

But the main reason is probably... she thinks I don’t care about Sophia.

She knows that Sophia and I have an arranged marriage, a marriage in name only.

So, it’s not surprising that she thinks I don’t value Sophia.

"Accompanying my wife while shopping is just a small thing, and it’s considered kind?"

"Ah... Yes, the Duke has always been very kind."

Berta, surprised by my words, continued to praise me with a smile.

She’s thoroughly trying to please me.

That’s one of the things I dislike about noble daughters.

And what irritates me the most is that she’s neglecting my wife, Sophia.

"Does your sister cause any trouble? I’m worried because she has no special talents."

Berta said this with a fake smile.

Does she have to mock Sophia to talk?

Is this how things were at the Ingred Earl’s family?

It’s very unpleasant.

"The only talent she has is making sweets, which she always made for me and Mother. While they’re delicious, the sweets from this shop are much better."

"...Shut up."

"Ah..."

I don’t want to hear this noisy woman’s voice anymore.

"Berta, the daughter of the Ingred Earl, you have been excessively disrespectful to the Duchess of Bernhard."

"A, I’m sorry... but, it’s my sister..."

"Before you are her sister, she is the Duchess. And this is a public place, not inside your home. Be careful with your words."

"I’m very sorry."

Berta’s fake smile finally disappeared, and she apologized with a frightened look.

There were other customers in the shop, and it was noticeable when a young lady bowed in the middle of the store.

And since I had already taken off my glasses, everyone knew who I was.

If we stay any longer, we’ll be a nuisance, and the mood will be ruined.

"Sophia, I’m sorry. Let’s leave the shop."

"Ah... Yes, that’s right."

Sophia also seemed to think the same way after looking around.

I took her hand and turned to leave the shop, but before we did, I had one thing to say to Berta.

"Let me tell you one thing, Miss Berta. I think the sweets made by Sophia are the best in the world. You won’t be eating them anymore, will you?"

I glared at Berta, who was behind us, and heard a pitiful "Ah" in response.