CH 38.2

“Lady Leticia, the Duke has come to pick you up.”

Collen was the first to pick me up, so I was the first to leave school.

“It’s the Duke!”

The children were excited when they heard that Collen had come to pick me up.

I looked out the classroom window before getting into the carriage. Children lined up along the window.

“…They’re really interested. The Duke’s family must be great.”

I sighed.

“Thank you for coming to pick me up, Dad.”

I sat next to Collen in the carriage. Collen asked me softly.

“How’s the school, Leticia?”

I forced out a smile.

“It was fun.”

“Did you attend class?”

“Hmm, today I just got to know everyone.”

“And then?”

Collen asked languidly.

“I drank tea with my classmates.”

“Was that fun?”

“Yes, I made new friends.”

I guess I’m only half like Collen. Anger resembles him, but I can’t lie at all. Collen is very good at lying.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“If that’s true, why do you look like you’re about to cry right now?”

My body stiffened. If I said one more word, I felt like I would cry, so I just shook my head.

What would I say? Like an idiot, I was looked down upon by my classmates, whose status was heaven and earth different.

‘As Duke’s stepdaughter, instead of behaving with dignity, I made enemies for myself among the other children of the nobles.’

I just went to school for one day and ruined everything. What will Collen think?

“Well, it’s nothing…”

“Honey.”

Collen leaned over to me.

“Tell me honestly. What happened?”

A cold smile crept across Collen’s lips. I was surprised. Collen patted me on the back.

“Are you okay? So tell me.”

“…Just.”

I took a deep breath. I looked in Collen’s eyes.

“They told me not to come to the Saturday gathering. Other children are going to play together even when there is no class.”

Collen’s expression was unsatisfied, so I quickly added:

“But there is a reason for that. The meeting seemed like a gathering with pets.”

“With pets?”

“Yes. Dogs, cats, small animals, like that. Everyone is going to walk together in the park and have tea in the greenhouse. But I have no pets. So I still can’t go. I want to spend my Saturday with my family.”

Glancing, I looked at Collen.

“Dad, are you busy? Even on Saturday?”

“No. I don’t,” Collen said quietly.

“But can’t you do both?”

“What?”

“Meet your friends and spend time with your family.”

“Ah, that’s right. Leticia,” Collen whispered as he wrapped the muffler around my neck. “I forgot to tell you. I actually have a pet.”

Really?

“I don’t think I saw it at the mansion.”

“This is because it lives in the forest.”

This is one of the places where Zion said never to go. The small, dark forest behind the duchy leads to the outskirts of the capital.

“I’ll give you my pet so you can go to the meeting. Don’t worry. There is nothing vulgar family about showing up somewhere uninvited. If you are the daughter of a Duke, of course.”

“…”

“Everyone wants to get close to us, and they are clamoring to brush at least one hem of our clothes. Some people are so moved that they cry.”

Ugh, how do you cry under that circumstances?

“This is the social life of this kingdom. If you come to them, they will all be happy. Trust me.”

No, it’s about Collen and Jade.

I ignored the ominous forebodings creeping through my mind.

“Dad, that’s definitely an animal, right? Crawling on all fours.”

“Ah, yes. It’s pretty cute.”

Then it will be fine.

I sighed heavily. Is it some kind of wild animal if it lives in the forest? I had such an unspoken concern.