The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 48

Come to think of it, the Duke was the same kind of person as Nick when he was young.

He was reserved in front of other people, but he was the kind of person who could be infinitely relaxed in front of his own people. A man who only moved clearly when he was sure of his own mind.

The only difference was that Nick is a little more timid.

“Even when you were staying with me in Lawrencia, I felt that you and His Excellency were very similar. So if that’s a concern, I don’t think you have to do it at all.”

“But that’s not what I’m worried about.”

Cassia looked at Nick.

Nick was particularly hesitant and couldn’t keep up with his words, and it was only after a while that he blushed and finally got his words out.

“Actually, there is someone I like.”

“…!”

“I’ve been close with her since attending the academy, but after graduating, I’m worried because I can’t be as close as before.”

Nick, who blushed and talked about his troubles, was so cute that Cassia couldn’t help but smile.

However, she didn’t make it obvious that she was smiling because she knew it was an important problem in his life.

“Well, do you think she avoids you?”

“Yes. If I think about it, it seems a little like that.”

Nick answered. Cassia nodded.

Hmm, avoid…

Somehow she remembered someone.

That was her when she was young.

It reminded her of her younger self who used to become timid in front of Michael and run away from him.

Come to think of it, was Michael doing well?

Since he had been given a brief vacation, she thought he should try contacting him.

“…Hmm. Nick. I want you to know that what I am saying from now on is my personal opinion.”

“Yes. What do you mean, mother?”

“I don’t know what kind of girl she is.”

Nick looked at Cassia with curious eyes.

“If it were me, I think I might run away from the person I like, not knowing what to do.”

“Running away in front of someone you like?”

Nick widened his eyes.

“So you’re saying she likes me?”

“Of course. It may not be, because I don’t know her.”

“…Did mother do that to the person she liked as a child?”

At Nick’s words, Cassia stopped talking and then laughed.

“As expected, you are sharp.”

“…”

“That’s right. When I was young, I was always busy avoiding people I liked. At that time, it was the best way I could respond to that person, so I don’t regret it much, but thinking about it now, I wonder why. If I get a chance to go back, I will never do that.”

“I never thought that there might be a chance she liked me…”

Nick muttered blankly, lost in thought. Then, he suddenly shook his head.

“But, for some reason, I don’t think that’s the reason she is doing that.”

“Why? Is there a reason?”

Cassia’s words were only speculation based on thorough analysis from her own point of view. Nick had seen the girl from the side, so he should know better.

Nick thought, then he said.

“Somehow, I don’t think…”

“…”

“I feel like there are a few more personal reasons why she avoids me.”

“But I still don’t know what it is…”

Nick muttered and seemed lost in thought. He seemed to be caught in something. It was a difficult feeling.

Nick said immediately.

“Thank you, mother. I think your advice helped.”

* * *

After that, Nick and Cassia talked more about this and that.

The child, who had now become very friendly with her, poured out words like a rapid-fire cannon in front of her.

Interesting episodes while receiving successor training, fun things that happened in the manor…

She had tea time with Nick and sometimes laughed like her stomach was going to fall off.

It must have been somewhat uncomfortable since it was the work of Duke Whidrian, but surprisingly it wasn’t.

It was just fun.

More than anything, Cassia didn’t know that Nick was such a talkative person.

After they became comfortable with each other, they began to see things that were invisible.

They were starting to show each other things they hadn’t shown before.

After two more cups of tea, they finished their tea time.

Nick looked outside as the sun was starting to set, then stood up.

“I need to go back to the Duchy soon.”

“Okay, Nick. Even to me, it would be better to leave right now. Please go home before it is too late.”

Nick and Cassia were both in high spirits after chatting all afternoon.

Cassia stood up with Nick to see him off.

Nick put on his coat and looked at her as if he remembered something.

“Ah, mother.”

“Hmm?”

“The debut ball will be held in the capital soon.”

At Nick’s words, Cassia looked at the child.

Nick looked at her carefully and asked.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come for a while?”

“…Ah.”

“I want to show my mother the image of a dignified adult and debut in the social world. Actually, I was hesitant about making this proposal, but my mother lives near the capital. Sojust in case, I asked.”

Debut ball.

It was a proposition that could not be answered immediately.

Nick waved his hand as Cassia hesitated.

“I have no desire to force you to come. But just in case, I’m asking… I don’t know if you’ll be attracted to it, but if you come, you’ll also see the friend I told you I liked.”

“Just think about it,” Nick said, grinning.

* * *

Cassia seriously contemplated the two proposals that fell in front of her.

About what kind of pictures to draw before the debut that Adolf proposed. About whether or not to participate in the social debut.

As she continued to worry, her head became complicated. The day for horseback riding had arrived.

While riding hard, Cassia thought she should think about the two suggestions.

Even without Sophie, she was able to go all the way to the riding area by herself.

It has always been fun going to the riding arena.

She could clear her head, and there were horses and people to give her a break.

Agatha, her beloved horse, and an unknown friend who was always with me.

As a result, Cassia was always full of anticipation when it came time to go horseback riding.

She and the nameless friend did not divulge personal details, but sometimes they talked about their worries.

If you talk about this and that and organize your thoughts, won’t the answer to the two suggestions come out?

With such thoughts in mind, it was during Cassia’s carriage ride that she arrived at the horseback riding course on the outskirts of the capital.

“The person you always ride with said that she can no longer come horseback riding.”

Sad news awaited Cassia. The owner of the riding ground handed her a piece of paper.

“She asked me to give this note to you, my lady.”

“…Thank you.”

‘Suddenly she disappeared.’

When Cassia thanked the owner of the riding course in a bewildered mood, he also said he was sorry and walked away.

Cassia went into the dressing room, changed her clothes, and opened the note she left behind.

[Hello, this is me. The friend you always ride with. Even if I say this, will you remember me?

As you may have guessed, I am actually a young lady from an aristocratic family. When I was stressed, I would go to the horse riding rink without my father’s knowledge and ride a horse. It was the only breakaway I could make…

Unfortunately, my father recently found out that I was going back and forth alone. So I don’t think I can go to the horseback riding course anymore.

I’m so sorry to leave like this.

But I’d be ashamed to ask you one more favor. You said you came from an aristocratic family, right?

If possible, would you please come to this debut ball for me?

I don’t want to cut off contact with a sister like this. I want to continue to have friendly exchanges between us.

Even if it’s not at the horseback riding course, I hope we can meet in another way.

I’m Adela Green. It was really nice to meet you.]

Adela Green.

Cassia looked at the name written on the note.

* * *

A few days later, toward the end of Sophie and Mrs McKenna’s vacation.

Michael came to Cassia’s house.

When she communicated that the house was vacant, he came to see her.

“Michael!”

Cassia was exhausted from drawing until dawn and fell asleep in bed, then woke up as soon as she heard a knock.

She ran to him and hugged him in a flimsy pyjama dress. As soon as Michael entered, he hugged her tightly.

“Cassia, how have you been?”

“I have been well.”

He stroked her messy black hair a few times. His body temperature was very warm.

What she missed the most about Lawrencia, in the past now, was his warm embrace and body temperature.

His embrace, his body temperature, his smell.

Cassia missed everything about Michael very much.

She felt relieved as she buried her face in his arms.

“I really missed you, Michael.”

“Me too.”

He removed Cassia from his arms, looked down at her face, and began to examine her closely.

“It seems that you have become emaciated somehow. Did you have a hard time studying?”

“What do you mean emaciated? The maid Adolf saved me and worked so hard to cook food for me.”

At her words, Michael burst into a small laugh.

“On the contrary, I gained weight. I gained more muscles after horseback riding.”

“Everything about you is pretty.”

Michael seemed to want to see Cassia a lot. She could feel it in the eyes looking at her.

“I wanted to contact you more often. You look so busy that you couldn’t even contact me.”

“That’s why I contacted you as soon as I had a day off like this. To come and see me.”

Michael was considerate of her and didn’t try to communicate often. Sometimes she couldn’t understand it.

They always wore matching rings under the same sky.

“I’m sorry. I wish I could have contacted you more often. I was too busy learning how to draw, more than I thought.”

“Spend time with me today.”

“Of course, all right.”

Today, she was really going to stay home alone without going out of the house.

She laughed and hugged Michael tightly. Again.

***

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