MBFUV

Chapter 14

The main course was veal steak with vegetables, and Arno casually took my plate and cut it for me like it was the most natural thing.

I quietly picked up a piece and started eating.

“Oh, right, Agnès. I almost forgot. We got an invitation to the birthday banquet of Count Arène’s eldest daughter.”

“What?”

I looked at Father with wide eyes, confused, swallowing the meat without chewing.

Father gave a slightly awkward smile.

“Well, your nanny and Arno both think you don’t spend enough time with people your own age. And now that Arno is leaving, everyone you know is just here in this castle, right?”

“I’m fine with how things are. Really!”

I didn’t feel like I was missing anything in my life right now.

“I think you do need to spend more time with kids your age. You’re always in your room reading books—that’s how you end up acting like a little old lady.”

I pressed down hard on Arno’s foot under the table as he chimed in with Father, pretending to agree.

“I’m not a little old lady, I’m just thoughtful and mature.”

That was my way of telling him to shut it. He let out a small grunt and winced.

“I hear other girls stay in Luage and enjoy tea parties, but you never want to leave the estate.”

It’s true I didn’t like going to the capital—but both Dad and Arno didn’t like me going out either.

Now they’re blaming me for that? I felt a bit rebellious.

“That’s only because neither of you liked the idea either!”

“Well, the outside world is dangerous.”

“Inside the estate is fine!”

“I don’t need friends.”

“It might feel awkward at first, but once you join in, you’ll have fun.”

Normally, Dad would give in when I complained this much, but this time, he was firm.

“I’m really okay, though…”

I pouted unhappily. Dad looked like he was thinking for a moment, then suddenly held up a finger like he had an idea.

“If you go to the banquet, I’ll buy you that land in the capital you wanted.”

“What?”

Arno spit out his juice in shock.

Gross! I gave him a disgusted look.

Still, using that as bait, huh? Dad knows me too well.

Does he really think I’d fall for that?

“…When’s the party again?”

Yep, he really knows me.

My sudden change in attitude seemed to surprise him, and he paused.

“Um… it’s in three days.”

“That’s not much time. Have we prepared a gift yet?”

“How about you choose the gift yourself? You could go out with Arno and pick something.”

“I’ll take care of the gift myself. I don’t need Arno.”

“O-Oh, really?”

“Don’t worry, Father.”

I smiled brightly, as if telling him to relax.

“I am worried…”

I didn’t care what Arno muttered—I happily kept eating dessert.

After dinner, I left the dining room and started walking down the hall when I realized I was the only one who came out.

Huh? Why hasn’t anyone else come out?

I quickly went back to the dining room, but the door was already shut tight.

Maybe I could hear something from inside?

I pressed my ear to the door, but all I heard was silence.

What the—did everyone leave without me?

“Young Miss, what are you doing?”

I jumped when I heard a servant’s voice behind me and turned around.

He was pushing a tray with thin crackers and pickled olives on it.

So they were still inside. They left me out on purpose?

What are the three of them talking about without me?

“You’re taking that inside, right?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

I peeked under the white cloth covering the tray. There was enough space for a whole person to fit under it.

“Aaron?”

“It’s Ed, ma’am.”

“I’ll give you a big bonus.”

“A bonus?”

Ed’s eyes widened and he gulped. He suddenly looked excited.

“Yup. Your mission is to sneak me into the dining room under this tray.”

Ed scratched his head and tilted it, clearly confused.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just walk in…?”

“Hide and seek! I just want to play hide and seek with Dad after so long.”

Hearing that, he got it and his face lit up like a playful uncle.

“Aha! I see. Then I’ll help.”

“You better do a good job, okay? If we get caught, we’re both dead.”

“Of course! Hide and seek is my specialty. I used to play it with my nephew all the time.”

I climbed under the tray, and Ed lowered the white cloth over me and gave me a thumbs-up.

He looked way too excited… and when people act like that, things usually go wrong.

I ignored my uneasy feeling.

“Young Miss, we’re going in now,”

Ed whispered in a serious tone, like he was on a secret mission.

A moment later, I heard the door open, and I carefully moved my feet to match the tray’s speed.

The tray stopped, and I felt Ed moving the dishes above me.

Then I heard Dad’s voice.

“I understand the young duke is doing his best for Finessé. But I’m not sure if this kind of temporary fix will work.”

Temporary fix? What kind?

It sounded like the conversation had already gone on for a while.

“If we don’t at least try something temporary, we might not survive the winter. Even the Shatrith trees, our only income source, are all dead. The other trees are sick too.”

The word “dead” made my ears perk up.

Wait—so when he said everything died, he meant trees?

I felt stunned, like I’d been smacked from behind. I didn’t expect that at all.

I had seriously been worrying whether it was a person or an animal.

I even researched it and got all worked up.

Now I just felt stupid. It was so pointless.

No one tricked me, but I still felt fooled.

If there was a mistake, it was mine—for jumping to conclusions.

“It’s too late to plant crops again now.”

“Father, we can’t just do nothing and watch our people starve.”

“In my opinion, instead of supplying this to the people, we should sell it somewhere else.”

“Sell it?”

“When we plow the fields, this product can help and save effort. So sell it and use the money to get through the winter. Then find a new industry that suits Finessé better than farming. I’ll provide the iron from Franteya.”

But just then, the tray started moving again—even though the conversation wasn’t finished yet.

‘No, not yet! I still need to hear more!’

I tried to hold the tray still, but Ed must’ve thought it got stuck and pulled harder.

Our timing was way off.

I barely managed to keep my foot from sticking out and followed the tray.

The voices were getting farther and farther away. My bad feeling was right again.

Once we left the dining room, Ed lifted the cloth, signaling me to come out.

He had the biggest smile, like he was so proud of himself.

I slowly got up from the tray, shaking off my numb legs.

“Aaron! We’re still talking…! I mean, the hide-and-seek game isn’t even over! Why did you drag me out?”

“Um… Miss, I’m Ed.”

“Right, Ed. Anyway, you should’ve just left me there!”