Chapter 17

Unlike the pleasant weather, there was a cold wind blowing around Madam Murphy. Kathia approached her and spoke in an endearing manner.

“Aw, c’mon, I told you I’m sorry~ So please forgive me~”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do we know each other? In any case, how many times have I told you to not wear slippers outside the house—!”

Unbeknownst to her, Madam Murphy was about to chide Kathia, but as soon as the realization hit, she clamped her mouth shut.

And as to be certain to not get involved anymore, she bolted into her house.

First staring at the door which had shut in her face, then at her own second-story home 20 steps away, Kathia groaned.

In any case, with Madam Murphy becoming her next-door neighbor, she felt the need to make amends; she didn’t want to see each other’s faces every day just to butt heads.

Moreover, Kathia really wanted to relay the message of not wanting to have hurt her feelings.

As one can see, Madam Murphy is quite stubborn, so I may need time and effort to go about it.

Hm, what should I do? Should I bring her presents? While Kathia was thinking seriously, the door opened.

The unfriendly Madam Murphy tossed out a basket.

The haphazardly caught basket was full of potato soup, freshly-baked scones, blueberry jam, hardened cream cheese, and bite-sized sliced fruits, all of which looked absolutely mouth-watering.

“Eat it or not.”

Madam Murphy who just spoke like that slammed her door again.

Ah, where did my elegant lady-in-waiting go?

Crinkling her eyes and chuckling, Kathia shouted, “I’ll enjoy it!” and returned home. Day by day, the fact that the baskets were getting heavier made her burst out in laughter.

Kathia skipped up the stairs in a good mood but while unpacking the basket, she began to berate Jean, who was laying on her sofa.

“Don’t prop your legs up on the table!”

“My apologies. Because of my long legs, it can’t be helped.”

“Is there absolutely nothing going on at the Adolphe Knighthood? Is it alright for the head of the Knighthood to stroll around like this?”

“Normally for guys like us who have to use our bodies, when we’re busy, we’re busy to death, but when there’s nothing, we’re bored to death. And even at this very moment, if you look carefully now, I’m working hard.

“Since when was playing dead considered as work?”

“I may look like this, but I’m currently carrying out an important task related to my master’s safety.”

Jean smiled meaningfully. Then he glanced towards the attic where nothing was there.

Kathia took a scone and thoroughly spread jam and cream cheese on it before tilting her head.

If it’s Jean’s master, then that’s Deon, so what does sticking close to me have anything to do with his safety?

What a half-assed liar. Kathia unjustifiably concluded while picking on him.

“If you’re not busy with the Knighthood, why don’t you go on a vacation and visit your fief? Your family is likely waiting for you there.”

“Oh, waiting for me? My wife and sons, who denied my request for them to come up to our townhouse during spring, just because they were too bothered to? The ones who claimed they wouldn’t die off that easily so they don’t stay in contact? Those lovely members of my family?

“…Eat this. It’s tasty.”

Kathia shoved a scone into Jean’s mouth. This must be a remote father. The Empire’s hero receives even this kind of crappy treatment from his family.

Giving him a pitiful look, Kathia suddenly asked.

“In any case, Sir Troy, how old are your sons?”

“The oldest punk is 12 this year; the younger one is 10.”

“How cute~”

“Now that the two punks are entering manhood, they sure aren’t.”

Even though he said that, Jean’s face was slightly different than usual. It was the face of a father, Kathia remembered, and once felt when she was young, a distant memory.

“I don’t know who they take after, but the both of them are wild and they don’t even listen after growing up a little nowadays. It’s such a pain.”

“I think I could guess who they take after.”

Kathia replied as she was eating the strawberries from the basket; Jean nodded in accord.

“I can’t deny that. If they were to take after my wife, the house would be deserted for sure.”

Oho, Jean’s wife. After gulping down the strawberries, Kathia asked in an excited manner.

“What is Countess Troy like?”

“Are you talking about my wife?”

“Yes, since I’ve neither met her nor heard anything about her.”

“Hm, let’s see. My wife is the type of person who…”