NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
“Really?”
With her eyes wide open, Liliana looked at Anriche, who shrugged her shoulders lightly.
“I want to see you looking plump and chubby.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Liliana nodded vigorously with a shy expression.
Only then did Anriche’s face turn satisfied.
With her cheeks blushing a rosy hue, she finally looked a bit more like a child.
By the time Liliana finished her meal, the stars had already started to twinkle in the night sky.
“It’s still a little early, but I think it’s time to go to bed.”
“Yes, it’s already this late.”
As they walked while chatting, Anriche noticed Elliot peeking out from behind the dining room door.
He seemed to have been lurking around, wanting to be close to Liliana…
Anriche smirked mischievously.
“Come to think of it, Liliana is different from others; she eats tomatoes quite well.”
At Anriche’s exaggerated praise, Elliot, who had been peeking out, made a grimace.
He absolutely detested even the thought of tomatoes.
Meanwhile, even though the topic had suddenly changed, Liliana diligently nodded her head.
“Yes, Mother said that being picky about food is not good for you.”
In fact, Liliana had never lived in an environment where there was enough food to even be picky about it.
While she tucked away her true feelings, Liliana looked up at Anriche with bright eyes.
“Right, that’s true. So what do you think about people who are picky eaters?”
At Anriche’s question, Liliana fell into deep thought for a moment.
Well, a picky eater…
She had never really thought about it until now, but…
“Um… if someone is doing something that you say is ‘not good,’ Mother…”
Liliana’s eyes shone resolutely.
“I don’t like it either.”
As soon as she made that declaration, Anriche stole a glance at Elliot from the corner of her eye.
Elliot now looked as if the ground beneath him was about to crumble.
You little brat. Who said anything about being a picky eater?
Just then, while Anriche was barely holding back her laughter,
“Um, Mother…”
Liliana took a small breath and called out to Anriche.
Quickly hiding her wicked smile, Anriche turned her head toward Liliana.
“What is it?”
“Um… today, you and Duke Valua… you’re sleeping together, right?”
“Uh? No, that’s…”
Unable to say, “I haven’t shared a room with the duke in ages!” Anriche could only shed silent tears in her heart.
Liliana bit her lips tightly for a moment, then shook her head.
“No, it’s not that. I was being too greedy.”
“Greedy? What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
But having opened the topic like that, Anriche wouldn’t let it slide.
After several prompts, Liliana cautiously opened her lips.
“Um, actually, I…”
“Right, actually?”
“Uh, um, with you…”
With me? What about me?
Anriche narrowed her brows.
After hesitating for a long time, Liliana flushed bright red and lowered her head.
“I’m scared of being alone…”
Ah, so that was it.
Anriche couldn’t hide her sympathetic gaze.
After all, Liliana was only seven years old.
At an age still in need of an adult’s care, she had never been loved by anyone.
That child had just experienced being cared for by someone for the first time.
In such a situation, it was understandable to be afraid of being alone.
Feeling pity for her longing for human warmth, Anriche bit her lip.
‘…Wait a minute?’
In that instant, her violet eyes glimmered ominously.
Turning her head sharply, Anriche scrutinized the innocent-faced Liliana.
After all, “Anriche” hadn’t shared a room with the duke in ages.
So, if that were the case, sleeping in the same bedroom as Liliana wouldn’t matter at all, right?
Alright, points should be earned in moments like this!
“Okay, let’s sleep together.”
“I’m sorry! I was being too greedy… wait, what?”
Liliana, who had been hurriedly trying to make excuses, widened her eyes in disbelief.
Seeing her expression of disbelief, Anriche nodded her head enthusiastically.
“I said, let’s sleep together.”
“R-Really?! Is that okay?!”
“Of course! Let’s do that until your room is ready.”
Anriche readily answered, and added a suggestion that would surely perk up Liliana’s ears.
“Shall I bring up a cup of cocoa too?”
“Yes, I’d love that!”
Liliana’s bright smile faded slightly.
It seemed like something was bothering her.
“But, um… what about the young Duke Balua…?”
“Hmm? You mean Elliot?”
Nodding her head, Liliana looked downcast.
“I’m worried that he might feel sad if I sleep with you, Mother.”
“……Ah, I see. Well, that boy…”
Unsure of how to respond, Anriche rolled her eyes.
While Liliana’s concern for Elliot was genuinely sweet, Anriche imagined what it would be like to suggest to Elliot, “Do you want to sleep with your mother tonight?”
…Elliot would probably be horrified.
‘But in the long run, I need to earn points with him too.’
Then how about stopping by Elliot’s room on the way back?
She could make up an excuse about bringing cocoa.
It would be nice if they could exchange a few words.
Having finished her calculations in her mind, Anriche gently patted Liliana’s shoulder.
“Then how about you go to my room first?”
“…By myself?”
“Yep, I’ll call for a maid to come.”
“Um, I’d like to go with you, Mother.”
Liliana’s eyes started to glisten with tears.
Anriche glanced back.
Elliot, who still hadn’t stepped out from behind the door, was looking at them with a wary expression.
‘Mother, please don’t bother Liliana!’
…That was the kind of look he had.
It seemed that since they were at a distance, he hadn’t heard their conversation.
Taking a deep breath, Anriche whispered in Liliana’s ear.
“I was thinking of bringing Elliot a cup of cocoa before going back to the room.”
“Oh, is that it? But why are you whispering?”
“Um, I want it to be a surprise…?”
Anriche smiled awkwardly.
‘In fact, my son dislikes me coming to his room, so it has to be a secret.’
She couldn’t say that out loud, of course.
Liliana seemed to agree with her words.
Taking the opportunity, Anriche gestured to a maid.
“Please take the young lady to my bedroom; I will be up shortly.”
“Understood, milady.”
The maid nodded her head.
Liliana looked back several times as she followed the maid.
Watching the child’s distant figure, Anriche finally moved towards the kitchen.
***
The silence was so profound that one could hear a pin drop.
As Liliana walked carefully, trying not to make a sound, she lifted her gaze slightly.
The maid walking in front of her looked oddly resolute.
‘…This is awkward.’
Liliana subtly observed the situation.
On the way to Anriche’s bedroom, neither the maid nor Liliana spoke a word.
One would expect at least some casual conversation.
‘Should I be the one to break the ice?’
Right, they say the thirsty should dig the well first.
If the awkward atmosphere became unbearable, Liliana could just start talking herself.
Swallowing hard, Liliana opened her mouth.
“Um, I was wondering if our mother…?”
“It would be best if you refrain from speaking carelessly about the lady.”
At that cold reply, Liliana instinctively shrank her shoulders.
…Is it not okay to ask about my mother-in-law?
However, the maid’s stern voice was too frightening.
At the same time, the maid glanced back slightly.
A chilling gaze scanned Liliana from head to toe.
“Are you aware that because of you, we had to work late today?”
“W-Well…”
“I would appreciate it if you could have your meals on time from now on.”
With that, the maid sealed her lips.
…Am I really being disliked here too?
Liliana’s heart sank.
***
Anriche felt a bit proud of herself.
In the original story, Anriche used to boss the maids around, but here she was, personally going to the kitchen to get cocoa!
“Yeah, I’ve come a long way!”
Anriche felt a sense of pride and was about to walk into the kitchen.
“Is that girl who came today from the Everitt Count family?”
That was until she heard the hushed voices of the maids through the half-open door.
“The Everitt Count family?”
“That one, you know. The family that was engaged to Young Master Elliott a long time ago.”
“Oh, the one that went completely bankrupt?”
Their tone was overtly dismissive of Liliana.
Look at these girls.
Anriche narrowed her eyes.
“Earlier, that kid suddenly came, and we had to set the table for food even though it wasn’t mealtime.”
“Right, how annoying…”