By Zephyria 
Ruben kept only sipping the tea, Hestia chattered, and I answered the questions with a grimace.
Because Lady Yeldidus was a young lady of a ducal house around Ruben’s age, I had heard she had met Ruben a few times. So I had expected her relationship with Ruben to be a distant and awkward one, where they barely knew each other by sight.
But her unreserved demeanor made her seem like more than just a casual acquaintance. It seemed this Young Lady was a close friend to Ruben, much like Marianne was a mischievous but good friend to me.
I couldn’t fathom why Ruben had downplayed his relationship with her.
She mentioned that she had heard about me from that Nereid who had helped us in the Indus Bay. She also thanked me for the help back then. When I asked her to call for Nereid, thinking I might greet her after so long, she said Nereid was currently out on another errand and not present.
At that time, I also learned that lower-ranked spirits like Undine or Sylph had to stay close to their masters, but higher-ranked spirits like Nereid or Sylphid could roam freely without much issue.
She showed great interest in my spirits. When I showed her my Sylph and Undines at her persistent request to talk to the children, she was overjoyed.
Hestia also recounted many stories from the social circles, charity events, and tea parties she had attended with Ruben’s escort. Whether intentionally or not, she seemed to boast about the benefits the Second Prince Faction gained from her own achievements rather than her friendship with Ruben.
Now I understood why she hadn’t left immediately upon Ruben’s arrival and was chattering so familiarly with me.
It seemed she didn’t want me to misunderstand her relationship with Ruben. Her confident attitude and mischievous smile gradually dispelled the wariness I had felt towards her.
She also revealed her aspirations.
“Once I become Duke, the first thing I’ll do is adopt Lady Poplar Kiadris.”
“…What?”
I was so taken aback that I couldn’t speak.
What nonsense was this?
As far as I knew, Lady Kiadris was a year older than Lady Yeldidus. Not a difference of ten years or so, but just one year. Moreover, what reason could there be to adopt an older woman?
Hesitantly wondering why she would tell me such a thing, I suddenly looked up with a thought.
Perhaps, just as Ruben and I seemed to be in love… were these two Young Ladies also showing signs of something? If so, wouldn’t changing the marriage system be better than adoption?
I worried it might be impolite, but since she had brought it up first, I thought mentioning it would be acceptable. Carefully observing her expression, I asked, “Do you perhaps… have feelings for her?”
“Feelings? Yes?”
“No, I mean… like, as lovers.”
“Oh? Ah, no, that’s not it.”
Hestia laughed heartily, fanning herself vigorously. After cooling down, she snapped her fan shut with a sharp sound and tapped it against her delicate chin.
Though both gestures seemed insignificant, seeing Ruben move a little closer to me, I figured she must have said something.
“Honestly, I don’t think I like her that much. I just want to pull her out of that household. It’s just… she reminded me of myself, perhaps?”
“Ah.”
“It wouldn’t be difficult for me to take in one more person, and I’ve been wanting a sister too…”
“…Mm.”
She gave me a knowing smile, as if to say, ‘You understand, don’t you?’ I stared blankly.
Both Hestia Yeldidus and Poplar Kiadris were in situations where their marriages were being forced by their families. I tried to recall the face of the woman who had twirled around the main hall, dressed like a vibrant cockscomb flower, but I couldn’t remember anything. Only a flushed appearance remained in my memory.
I had heard Poplar Kiadris had a fierce disposition, so I thought that must have been a lie.
“…Yes. Having a close sister? …A daughter? That would be nice…”
“Ah. I’m not close with her.”
“What?”
“How could we be close? After all, she was competing with me for the same fiancé with the goal of social advancement. Our Poplar gets so angry just seeing me, she practically jumps up and down.”
“…Then, why?”
Hestia unfurled her fan again. Covering half of her small face, she smiled with her eyes squinted, like someone eating something very sour. Perhaps it was because her fan and hair were both bright gold, her mischievous eyes stood out even more.
“I find that cute. I like people with bad tempers.”
“…What?”
“That’s why I’m friends with the Second Prince, too.”
…Suddenly?
Whether it was lingering intoxication, a hangover, or simply not having fully recovered from fatigue, Ruben, who had been sitting with his face buried in his hands, listening to the conversation, let out a deep sigh and mumbled with slurred pronunciation.
“…I’m just teasing Mika. Don’t mind me.”
“Ah… Was the adoption talk just a joke?”
“Ah, that was sincere. He’s just upset because I called him ill-tempered just now.”
Then, was Poplar’s dislike for Hestia also true?
I couldn’t tell which was worse: becoming the child of someone you disliked, or remaining an illegitimate child of a ruined family and being married off like chattel. Moreover, she was currently trapped by someone like Edwin. It was the first time I had ever felt such pity for someone I barely knew.
After that, Hestia Yeldidus continued to chatter for nearly an hour before getting up. I now knew her face, birthday, hobbies, food preferences, favorite clothing brands, as well as her strange and mischievous personality, boisterous speech, and loud laughter.
Yet, somehow, I wasn’t as anxious as before. Perhaps it was because Ruben had only sighed repeatedly without lifting his head the entire time. Ruben… seemed to like quiet people. At least, as far as I knew.
As the teapot became completely empty, Hestia adjusted her rustling skirt.
“Ah, that was fun. But I really must go to bed now.”
“Ah. Are you leaving…?”
“Yes. If I linger any longer, the Prince might really get upset.”
“…”
“No need for a farewell. See you next time, Lord Ernhardt.”
I awkwardly stood up, but Ruben grabbed my sleeve and pulled me back down.
From the first meeting to the final farewell, there wasn’t a single moment that wasn’t peculiar. My sensitive ears caught Hestia’s laughter echoing down the corridor. I didn’t know what was so amusing, but at least someone had fun.
As soon as Hestia’s presence disappeared downstairs, Ruben slumped onto the sofa.
I now realized he had been sitting up straight, putting effort into his posture, while the other person was present. He sank deep into the plush backrest, slightly lower than his shoulders, and tilted his head back, revealing his flushed jawline and the prominent curve of his neck.
His shirt, pulled up over his unguarded knees, caught my eye. The buttons were fastened incorrectly, starting from the fourth one down. Hesitantly, I gently touched the buttons. Ruben flinched for a moment but remained still.
I unfastened them, then refastened them.
After correctly fastening all the misplaced buttons, I withdrew my hand. Ruben leaned towards me, and I embraced him with my shoulder. The child buried his forehead against my neck and shoulder, whispering softly. It sounded like he was sulking, or perhaps trying to melt my heart.
“…I thought you wouldn’t come back after going there.”
“…That’s because.”
“I did wrong, so I thought you wouldn’t want to hear my excuses. You didn’t even look at me, didn’t give me your presence… I thought that without my knowledge, you, you had stopped liking me again, just like before…”
“It’s not that. I didn’t think it was a mistake. So…”
“So?”
Ruben wrapped his arms around my waist, urging me to continue. He rested his chin on my shoulder and scratched my lower back with his index finger. I had chosen the wrong outfit. Because I was wearing a vest with an open back, I could clearly feel Ruben’s scratching sensation through my thin shirt.
“…I was just worried. I worried alone.”
“What were you worried about?”
“…”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again without saying anything.
If it weren’t Ruben’s birthday today, would I have been able to come like this?
I knew myself well. While I wished for Ruben to not end up with another woman, I would have probably just watched from afar. I would have tried to suppress my feelings, which refused to be contained, and agonized over misunderstandings.
Hestia Yeldidus had talked for over two hours without ever mentioning a future with Ruben. Yes. Today, Ruben’s side was mine from beginning to end. Vile as it was, I felt joy at that fact.
The only words I could finally utter were an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Why are you?”
“I was narrow-minded. I thought I was okay, but now I realize I treated Ruben coldly.”
“…”
“And for showing up suddenly without prior arrangement…”
Ruben sat up, looking directly into my face.
“You don’t have to apologize anymore. I’m the one who should be sorry. I too, if you had said you were escorting another woman… another person, I would have acted worse than you.”
“That would never happen.”
“Yes, I know… but still. It’s something I didn’t get your prior permission for. If you weren’t angry, I would have been even more scared.”
“…”
So, he had been afraid for the past few days. What was I, anyway? I took a deep breath and gazed at the boy’s upright face. His tired expression was so lovely. When I acted meekly, following his lead, the boy took my hand and placed it on his own.
I slowly stroked and caressed his cool fingertips.
The hollow between his thumb and index finger, and the calluses on the inside of his middle and ring fingers were firm. As I calmly traced and caressed the marks of him not letting go of his sword even in my absence, I suddenly felt I should give him his gift.
“Happy birthday.”
I took out the jewelry box I had brought with me and handed it to him. It was a box made of layers of red paper. Ruben brushed his thumb over the box for a moment, then opened it with a click.
Ruben took out a bracelet studded with blue gems and handed it to me, then offered his left wrist. I meekly fastened the bracelet onto the boy. I worried the gems might be too large and cumbersome, but Ruben’s wrist wasn’t that thin, so it fit perfectly.
Then the boy smiled bashfully. I could hear his heart pounding nearby.
“You went to pick this out with your friends yesterday.”
“…Mm.”
Let’s go with that. I obediently nodded.