Chapter 25

I called out to a staff member near the entrance before leaving the store.

"Staff, can I place an order?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Two of each type of dessert in the store."

"Two of each type...! ? Understood, sir!"

"I'll send a servant from the duke's household later, so you can leave the payment and transportation to him."

"Understood! Thank you very much!"

I don't know how many types there are, but this should cover the inconvenience fee.

I don't eat them, but Sophie and Rebecca will. If they can't finish, I can have the servants eat them.

We left the store and walked down the street in silence. The atmosphere had been very comfortable just a moment ago, but it suddenly became awkward.

It's a shame, but it can't be helped.

I walked in the direction where the duke's carriage was parked and joined Neo.

"We're going back. I placed an order at the dessert shop we just visited, so send someone over."

"Understood. Thank you for your hard work."

Neo bowed without asking any questions. At times like this, Neo knows when to keep quiet, which is a good thing.

Sophie and I got into the carriage, and it started moving immediately.

We rode in silence for a while.

"...Sophie, are you okay?"

"Ah... Yes, I'm fine, thank you."

When I called out to Sophie, she replied with a slight smile.

"Actually, I'm the one who should apologize for the trouble my family caused."

"That's nothing. It's not even as bad as being bitten by a stray dog."

"Hehe, that's true for Alan."

Sophie seemed a bit down. She usually doesn't react this way. When Natasha insulted her in society, she stood up to her.

This time, it was Bertha Ingred, her sister, and family.

"...If you listen to the conversation with my sister, you'll understand that I was considered a defective product in the Ingred family."

Sophie spoke with a slightly sad smile.

"My family is poor, as you know, and my parents don't love their daughter; they only see her as a tool to make money. I realized this early on, but Bertha might not have."

To think of a daughter as a tool... I never imagined Sophie was treated the same way.

"At first, I was somewhat expected because I had a high magical power among nobles. When I entered the magic academy, my parents told me, 'Come back when you can make money.' But as you know, I couldn't use magic."

Sophie smiled bitterly. I like her smile, but I didn't like this one.

"After that, I was no longer expected and was abandoned. My parents wanted to marry me off quickly, but as a poor count's daughter, I wasn't very attractive, and no engagement was made. I wasn't particularly charming in society either."

The thought of Sophie marrying someone other than me... I don't want to imagine it.

"Bertha is sociable and popular among noble men, and she has received several marriage proposals. I don't think she's engaged yet, though."

Hmm, that typical cat-like woman being popular in society. She's the kind of woman I find the most troublesome and dislike, but there are people who fall for her.

"Bertha thinks she is loved by my parents... but that's not love. They only expect her to marry into a higher noble family and make a lot of money."

"I see."

The couple of the Ingred family only sees their daughter as a tool to make money.

If I could earn money by working... no, if I were capable enough, I wouldn't think of my daughter as a tool to make money.

"When I married Alan, my parents said, 'We've changed our minds,' but I wasn't happy at all. I hated the Ingred family... my family."

Sophie said this with a sad smile.

"Thank you for listening."

"No, thank you for telling me."

"...I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

When I asked, Sophie smiled bitterly again.

"I said I wanted to be a family with Rebecca and Alan... but I don't really understand what a family is. The Ingred family wasn't a family."

"...So you're giving up?"

If that's the case, it would be very disappointing, but if it's the Sophie I know...

"No, that's not it. I'm apologizing for saying I could be a family with Alan without really understanding what a family is."

Sophie looked me straight in the eye and said seriously.

"But I'm not giving up. I've seen a twisted family, so I've always had a longing for a family. And I believe that we, Rebecca and Alan, can create the family I've always dreamed of."

Hearing those words, I couldn't help but smile. I thought Sophie would say something like that.

I didn't know she was being oppressed in the count's family. I never imagined it.

I pride myself on my keen observation, but I didn't notice anything at all.

It's not that she's good at hiding it. She is very strong and has a core that doesn't rot even in such an environment.

She said she wasn't charming, but that's not true. She just doesn't pretend to be charming like Bertha to win the favor of men.

Even though it would mean being loved, even if only superficially, by her parents.

She is a woman of dignified beauty.

I had a high opinion of Sophie, but it seems I underestimated her.

"Me too."

"Huh...?"

Since she told me about her family, I should tell her about mine.

"I also have a longing for a family. Because, like Sophie, I didn't have a family."

Sophie said this with surprise. She probably had some idea that I had something on my mind regarding family.

"My father was a piece of trash who only saw his family as tools...—"

—My father only saw his wife as a tool for having children. After my mother gave birth to me and my brother, he separated from her and only stayed married in name.

My brother and I were raised strictly as the duke's heirs. We received harsh education from a very young age, even younger than Rebecca.

I had talent, so I could meet the expectations of that education, but my brother couldn't.

So his education ended early, and I received even stricter training. When I was eighteen, my brother, who was already engaged, had a child with another noble's daughter.

My father disowned my brother and sent him to the commoner's district.

As if to vent his anger, my father made my education even stricter. It was so harsh that I even envied my brother, who had fallen to the commoners.

But five years ago, my father died in a carriage accident. I wasn't sad at all; in fact, I even thought it would have been better if he had suffered before dying.

After that, I became the head of the Bernhard Duke's household.

Being the head made me busier, but it was also a relief not to have my father around.

A year ago, my brother and his wife died in another accident, and I took in Rebecca.

The main reason I took her in... was to prove that I was different.

My father and brother were terrible parents.

I wanted to prove that I was different.

"Yes, that's right..."

Sophie nodded slowly after I finished speaking.

"Yes, I wanted to prove it... but I ended up being strict with Rebecca. To be honest, I didn't know how to control it because I had been educated from a younger age than Rebecca."

Yes, it's just an excuse.

If things had continued that way, I probably would have become a terrible parent like my father and brother.

But that didn't happen because Sophie was there.

"I thought I couldn't be a good parent or create a family. But Sophie, can we be a family together?"

◇ ◇ ◇

Hearing about Alan's upbringing, my heart ached. His childhood was even harsher than I imagined.

But he has lived without giving in to his father.

His father and brother didn't value their family.

So he was worried if he could create a family.

When I fired Rebecca's tutor, Alan admitted he had been too strict.

And he said one thing.

"—I thought I was different."

He meant he thought he was different from his father and brother.

I remember that conversation clearly.

I want to say those words again now.

"Yes, we definitely can. Rebecca, Alan, and I. We all want to be a family."

I smiled and said clearly, and Alan smiled in relief.

"Yes, thank you, Sophie. I really am glad you are my wife."

"Me too, Alan. Being your wife is very fortunate for me."

"Really? I never thought I would feel such affection for a woman."

"...Huh?"

Affection?

Does he mean it in a romantic way?

No, it can't be. It must be a familial affection, right?

But the atmosphere now...

"Hmm, the carriage has stopped. We must have arrived at the mansion."

"Oh, r-right, yes!"

"What's wrong? You seem flustered."

"Well, the 'affection' you just mentioned, it's in a familial sense, right?"

"..."

Why is he silent?

He widened his eyes slightly and then put his hand on his chin, thinking.

Is it really something to think about?

Maybe I'm overthinking it, and he's just trying to find the right words to avoid hurting me?

"S-Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's fine. But... the affection I feel is real."

"O-Oh, thank you."

"Is it familial affection... hmm, I'm not sure."

Alan seems unsure too, but he laughed happily.

He opened the carriage door and got out first.

I'm still flustered...

Maybe because of my flustered state, I stumbled and missed a step.

"Ah..."

Just as I thought I was going to fall, Alan was right in front of me... and with a brief floating sensation, his face suddenly got very close.

"Hmm, do you want to be carried?"

"Eh, a-ah!"

Not only did he catch me, but he picked me up in a princess carry.

This is a princess carry... and in this position, our faces are so close!

"S-Sorry, I missed a step...!"

"Really? I thought you suddenly became more forward."

"T-Thank you for helping me! C-Can you put me down now...?"

"No, let's go into the mansion like this."

"Eh!?"

Why!?

"Your footing seems unsteady."

"B-But I'm fine! I was just thinking!"

"If so, you can concentrate better while I carry you."

No, I can't concentrate at all, and I was just flustered, not thinking.

This position makes me even more flustered...

But I can't say that, since I'm bound by the contract not to love Alan.

"Stay still, Sophie."

"...Okay."

Alan has already started walking into the mansion and doesn't seem to want to put me down.

Our faces are so close, so I turn my head away.

My face is probably red, so I don't want Alan to see.

If we enter the mansion like this, we'll be seen by the servants, not just the butler, Neo.

I don't want Rebecca to see, especially as a parent.

I hope she's not at the entrance...

When we entered, Rebecca wasn't there.

Instead, we were seen by a lot of servants, which I expected.

But are the servants a bit noisy?

It seems like they're bustling around.

"What's going on?"

Alan asked a servant while still carrying me in a princess carry.

I want to be put down soon...

"Ah, Your Grace, Lady, welcome back. There's something to report."

"What is it?"

"Miss Rebecca seems to have a fever..."

"Eh!?"

I couldn't help but exclaim loudly while still in Alan's arms.