“Hmm, indeed… I do understand that this is rather sudden for you. Very well, tomorrow. As long as you can give me an answer by tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!? You are surely in a great rush, Anne!”
“What do you mean, Ms. Claire? These matters are more about feeling and one should rely on their intuition. But perhaps you have experienced one too many proposals and attempts at arranged marriage, that it has dimmed your senses?”
“You only saw the advantage in it once you learned of the Silver Fenrir’s attachment. I don’t think you have any right to talk about feelings!”
“And why is that? A man who orders a Silver Fenrir… Such a man would be incredibly appealing to someone in my position… Can you really not see it?”
“Well… That is true, but… Mr. Takumi wouldn’t do…”
“Go-Good Leo! Arrghhh!”
“Wuff! Wuff!”
Ms. Claire was in a terribly bad mood again.
Well, I suppose my appeal really did start and end there… Though, I also had Weed Cultivation… But I suppose that didn’t really add to my appeal as a man.
And so I confusedly watched Ms. Claire and Anne argue as I thought of the right way to refuse her.
…Was this how Ms. Claire felt every time her father tried to matchmake her?
Regardless, the carriage continued to move along. Outside, I could occasionally hear Mr. Ekenhart’s screams.
“Welcome back!”
“…Hmm.”
“Finally… Hah… The journey was very tiring.”
“What a good welcome. I suppose that’s what should be expected from a duke’s house.”
It did not take long to return to the mansion.
We got out of the carriage, and with Mr. Ekenhart in the lead, we faced the servants who came out to greet us.
Mr. Ekenhart looked very exhausted after being carried around by Leo… But he had held up.
As for Ms. Claire, she had been arguing with Ms. Anne the whole time, and was tired as well.
Surely Ms. Anne must be the same, I thought as I turned to look at her. But she seemed rather cheerful as the servants greeted her.
…Perhaps she was tougher than she looked.
“Your Grace, will you have dinner immediately?”
“…Indeed. I am quite tired… I shall eat and rest right after.”
“Certainly. It will be prepared right away.”
Ms. Helena stepped forward and addressed Mr. Ekenhart.
Of course, the reason that he was so tired, was because of Ms. Claire and Leo.
As for Leo, running around seemed to have relieved her of stress, and she looked quite pleased as she wagged her tail.
“Welcome back, father, sister, Mr. Takumi and Leo!”
“Kyau-kyau! Kyau!”
“We’re back, Tilura.”
“Wuff! Wuff-wuff!”
Tilura had realized that we had returned, and she came running out to greet us with a big smile, and with Sherry in her arms.
Considering the direction she had come from, I suppose she had been training in the back garden? She sure was passionate.
She greeted everyone except for Ms. Anne, who she did not know very well.
Ms. Anne looked a little annoyed at being ignored…