Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Yes?”

To Liliana with her eyes wide open, Anriche lightly shrugged her shoulders.

“I want to see you chubby.”

“Yes.” Liliana nodded loudly with a shy look.

Anriche became satisfied only then.

The way she smiled with her cheeks reddened, she looked like a child now.

***

When Liliana finished her meal, stars were floating in the night sky.

“It’s still a little bit early, but I think you can go to bed.”

“Yes, I think it’s already time.”

While walking with Liliana, Anriche found Elliot hiding behind the dining-room door. He wants to be near Liliana, so it looks like he’s been messing around while waiting…

Anriche smiled wickedly.

“By the way, unlike someone, Liliana eats tomatoes well.”

At Anriche’s exaggerated praise, Elliot, who was sticking his head out, gave a grim expression. It was because he hated the disgusting tomatoes.

On the other, even when the topic suddenly changed, Liliana nodded her head sincerely.

“Yes, mother told me that an unbalanced diet is not good for the body.”

In fact, she didn’t even live in an environment rich in food enough to be picky in the first place.

As her inner mind crept into her, Liliana looked up at Anriche with her eyes.

“Yes, I did. What does Liliana think of a picky eater?”

At Anriche’s question, Liliana was briefly lost in thought.

Well, she wasn’t a picky eater.

She hasn’t thought about it much so far, but…

“Well… Anyone who does that mother said is ‘not good’.” Resolution lit in Liliana’s eyes.

“I hate it too.”

Upon hearing her declaration, Anriche glanced at Elliot.

Elliot, by now, looked like he was almost collapsing.

Now, who told you to be picky. Anriche barely pressed her laughter to come out.

“Well, mother.”

Liliana, taking a small breath, called for Anriche.

As she hurriedly dispersed her wicked smile, Anriche turned her head towards Liliana.

“Why?”

“That… Today mother…”

What is she trying to say?

Anriche looked down at her future daughter slowly.

Liliana, whose lips keep tingling, closed her eyes tightly and asked a question.

“You’re sleeping together with the Duke of Valois… right?”

“Huh? No, that’s…”

She couldn’t bear to answer, ‘I’ve been in a separate room with the Duke for a million years,’ Anriche shed bloody tears inside.

Liliana wants to bite her lips tight, and she shakes her head.

“No. I was too greedy.”

“Greedy? What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

However, she had already said that much so there was no way that Anriche could let Liliana go.

Only after a few times, Lilia carefully opened her lips.

“Ah, actually I.”

“Yes, actually?”

“Wi, with mother.”

With me? Me and what?

Anriche narrowed her eyebrows.

After hesitating for a while, Liliana lowered her head, dyeing her cheeks brightly.

“I’m afraid of being alone…”

‘Oh, that was it.’ Anriche was unable to hide her sad eyes. Looking at it, Liliana was only seven years old.

She is still a child who has never been loved by anyone, even though she is at the age that needs an adult’s attention.

This is the first time she was cared for by someone. In such a situation… Isn’t it normal to be scared of being alone?

Regretting the way she misses the warmth of a person, Anriche bit her lips gently.

‘…Oh, come to think of it?’ At the moment, her purple eyes shone.

Anriche turned her head around.

Anyway, ‘Anriche’ has been in a separate room from the Duke for a long time. So, doesn’t it matter if she sleeps in the same bedroom as Liliana?

Okay, this is where you can score a point!

“Yes, let’s sleep together.”

“I’m sorry, I was so greedy… What?” Liliana, who was making her excuses in a hurry, opened her eyes wide.

Because it was a situation where she couldn’t believe her ears, Anriche nodded her head towards Liliana.

“Let’s sleep together.”

“I, really?! Can we do that?!”

“Of course, let’s do it until your room is ready. Shall I go up with a cup of cocoa?”

“Yes, I like that!” Liliana’s face, who was smiling brightly, became a little blurry.

As if there was something that bothers her.

“By the way, that… Young Master Valois…”

“Huh? You mean Elliot?”

Nod, nod.

Liliana nodded her head sullenly.

“If I sleep with mother, I’m afraid the Young Master will be sad.”

“…Aha. Well, that kid.”

Not knowing what to answer, Anriche rolled her eyes.

Well, Liliana’s care for Elliot is really adorable, though…

Anriche imagined her proposing to Elliott, “Would you like to sleep with mother today?” … I think Elliot is going to hate it.

‘But in the long run, I should have to score Elliott, too.’

If so, how about stopping by Elliot’s room on her way back?

She would roughly make an excuse for visiting his room as coming to give cocoa.

It would be better if they could have even a few words of conversation.

Anriche, who finished the calculations inside her head, gently patted Liliana’s shoulder.

“Would Liliana go up to my room first?”

“…by myself?”

“Yes, I will call the maid.”

“Well, I…I want to go with mother.” Liliana’s eyes wrinkled, and Anriche glanced back at her.

Elliot, who had yet to leave from the back of the door, was looking this way with his watchful eyes.

‘Mother, don’t bother Liliana!’

…It was a glance with that kind of meaning.

Given the distance, she doesn’t think he heard the conversation between Liliana and herself.

Anriche sighed, then whispered a little into Liliana’s ear.

“Before going back to the room, I will try to bring Elliot a cup of cocoa as well.”

“Oh, is that so? But why are you speaking in my ears?”

“Well, I want to make a surprise visit…?” Anriche smiled awkwardly.

‘In fact, my son doesn’t even like me coming to his room. So, you have to keep it secret.’ She couldn’t say that, so that was all she could say.

Liliana seemed to agree with her words.

So, Anriche beckoned one of her maids.

“Take her to my bedroom. I’ll follow you soon.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The maid bowed her head down.

Liliana looked behind her over and over while following the maid.

Anriche, who was looking at the back of the moving child, soon moved to the kitchen.

***

The silence was quiet enough to hear the sound of the needle falling.

Liliana, making sure the sound of her footsteps would not be heard, slightly raised her head.

The back view of her maid, walking ahead of Liliana, looked oddly stubborn.

‘…it’s awkward.’ Liliana took a peek.

On the way to Anriche’s bedroom, the maid and Liliana didn’t even budge a little at each other.

If they could only have a casual conversation.

‘Well, then shall I talk to her first?’

Yes, a thirsty man has to dig a well first. If the awkward atmosphere is too difficult to bear, Liliana will have to add her words first.

Liliana opened her mouth, swallowing dry saliva.

“Well, maybe mother…”

“It would be better not to talk about the Madam.”

In response to the chilly answer, Liliana reflexively shrugged her shoulders.

‘…Can I ask about my mother-in-law?’ Though the maid’s firm voice was too scary.

At the same time, the maid looked slightly behind her.

A cold gaze scanned Liliana up and down.

“Because of the Lady today, are you well aware that we had to work until late?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I’ll have to ask you to have meals on time in the future.”

The maid, who concluded her words, closed her lips tightly.

…Do you think I’m being hated here too?

Liliana’s heart sank.

***

Anriche was a little proud of herself.

She’s now going to the kitchen to pick up cocoa!

‘Yes, this is a lot of improvement.’

Anriche, feeling proud, tried to walk into the kitchen.

“The girl who came today, is she a child of the Count Aberyt family?”

Until she heard the voices of the maids through the half-open door.

“The Count Aberyt family?”

“Well, you know. The family that had been engaged to Young Master Elliot in the past.”

“Ah, the abandoned one.”

It was a blatant disregard to Liliana.

Look at these people.

Anriche narrowed her eyes.

“Because of the sudden arrival of the kid, it wasn’t time for meals, but I had to prepare food all of a sudden.”

“Yes, such a bother…”