After the small fish scooping, it's about to get dark, so we meet up with Brother Silvio and Bram and head back to the house in Alecia's carriage.

　When we walked in the door, we were greeted by many maids and Mother Erna.

　While Aleysia and Luna are somewhat contentedly chatting with Mother Erna, only Ra-chan is not in the mood.

　Perhaps she hasn't gotten over the shock of scooping small fish earlier.

''I'm sorry, Luna-sama seems to be tired, so I'm going to go ahead and rest.

'Oh, I hope you're tired of being out there.　I'll be happy to help you with anything you need, so please take care of yourself.

Thank you for your concern.

　Loretta thanked her politely and then headed towards her bedroom, hand in hand with Lah and the others.

'I'll stay in my room and rest until dinner, too.

　When I mentioned my impressions of the harvest festival to Mother Erna, probably because this one played as much as she wanted, she moved on with Rim with a glossy face.

　What's more, it's Alecia who was having the most fun today.

Luna, can we have a little practice until dinner?

'Yeah, I was going to say that too.

Okay, grab your wooden swords and meet me in the courtyard.

　Sister Elinora and Luna, who may still have some energy left over, made such a promise and scattered to their respective rooms.

　I don't understand how their physical strength is going to be affected. And the way they promised to do it is like junior high school boys.

I'm going to be able to read the book of Princess Merlin that you told me about earlier, Silvio-dono. Can you take me to it?

'Yes, that's fine. Then I'll show you to the study.

　It was probably because Bram and Brother Silvio had been together all day. Surprisingly, they were making progress. Apparently, Brother Silvio recommended a book for them to read.

''We're both the one challenging the duel and the one being challenged, but what is it that they're so close?　Bram's demeanor is noticeably different than it was with me...

'You'll know it when you look back at your actions, won't you?'

　As I'm tilting my head, Eric says to me in disgust.

　There was a tussle in lieu of sister Elinora's duel, and then he shrugged off the first duel and used Shelka to defeat her with magic... yeah, they were too badly impressed with each other in the beginning.

　Compared to that, Brother Silvio has that gentleness, knowing that Bram is a troublesome guy, but he talks to him and takes care of him.

　Yes, it's no wonder that Bram misses you.

''No, maybe he's filling in from the outer moat to capture Elinora sister...!

　The sisters in their previous lives had said sourly that in order to win the opponent, it was a fixed rule to break it down from around it.

　Since it's difficult to break down Elinora sister, I'll cut down from the good-natured Silvio brother.......

I don't think so.

Eric snickers at my concerns.

　Yeah, I thought so too.

　If you're such a schemer, you wouldn't be challenging him to a head-to-head duel to get engaged to sister Elinora, would you?

　Bram doesn't get along in the world that way.

　Yes, if those two get along, Bram will have less to do with me. You can get along with them to your heart's content. I don't have many male friends, you know, Silvio brother doesn't have many male friends.

　As I was thinking about this, Mother Erna was looking at me as if she wanted to say something.

''Eric, if you want to have a cup of tea--''

Sorry, Alfried. I'm going back to my room.

　I guess he realized that Mom Erna wanted to talk to me, and Eric left with the air.

　Shit, if you know what I'm talking about, you're my friend and you're going to help me.

'So, Al. Why isn't Lady Lana feeling well?　Did you do something weird?

　I can't help but wonder why you're assuming I did it.

　There's no way I would do anything wrong to Ra-chan.

　I tell my mom, who looks at me with some suspicion, about the incident at the scooping event.

'What?　That's not - but that's why you weren't feeling well.

　Hearing the words that seemed to fly out of Mother Erna's mouth, I felt like I could guess her purity.

　Well, despite being a merchant's daughter, Mother Erna is a hardy woman with a history of becoming an adventurer and slaughtering numerous demons.

　She probably couldn't keep up with Ra-chan's too delicate and too pure heart.

''Should I cheer her up at a time like this?''

Oh, you're so sweet for an Al.

　Mother Erna reacts with a heartfelt surprise at the suggestion that comes out of my mouth.

'Wait a minute. That doesn't make it sound like I'm not usually nice to you.

Because you're not going to bother getting involved in these things, are you?

　Mother Erna has a point in her line, but even I have a point to make.

'Maybe so, but there's no such thing as a pure child like Ra-chan around me--nothing.

　The moment my true feelings flashed out, Mother Erna's smile turned black.

　I thought I made a vow not to say anything unnecessary just a moment ago.

''Well then, Al should do his best to cheer up Rana-sama. Because if it wasn't for the Misfed family's daughter who returned from the Slowlet territory, if the Misfed family's daughter wasn't in good spirits, then there would be something wrong with her.

　Geez, if that happens, the Syscon Sherka must be getting in on what he did to our sister.

　Even if it's just for that, Eric and I are hated by the haters, but it's going to cause even more anger.

　I'm not going to be able to stand it when word gets out that I've fallen out with the duke family.

........well, okay.

　When I said with a bitter smile, Mother Erna nodded in satisfaction.



　■



　The second day of the harvest festival. Maybe she hasn't recovered from yesterday's shock, but she's still a little low on energy after breakfast.

　Yesterday, she would have been so excited about the new breakfast and the harvest festival, but this change.

　There is an air of concern for Ra-chan from everyone.

　I felt as if Mother Erna, who was drinking her after-dinner tea, was telling me to do something about it with her gaze.

'Hey, Eric. What do you think I should do to make you feel better, Ra-chan?

'I don't know if that's what you're talking about. I'm used to being in your sister's good graces, but when it comes to a younger woman....

　That's the thing. Maybe it's because we have an older sister, we're used to taking care of her, listening to her selfishness, making her feel better, etc.

　But I've never done that to my sister, so I'm not sure how to handle it.

'Miss Rana was looking forward to living in the village of Coriat. Wouldn't it be better to let her play outside rather than gee in the mansion?

'Yes, but I have a feeling it's going to be hard to cheer Ra-chan up while Alecia and Bram are around.

　It's difficult to cheer Raa up while looking out for Alecia and Bram.

　I'll leave Bram to brother Silvio, but the problem is Alecia. Also, Elinora's sister is also a dangerous factor and should be eliminated.

It would be nice if there was something that could conveniently eliminate only women. And yet you can take out Miss Lana...

　When I heard Eric's line of dialogue as he crossed his arms and thought about it, I had a flash of inspiration.

I see it!

'What?　Is there such a convenient way?

　There is. A standard event for the nobility and a good cause.

　While everyone is engaged in conversation, I sneakily move over and approach Mother Erna.

"Mother Erna, I need your help to make Ra-chan feel better.

I'm gonna ask you something. What is it?

　What about the attitude of not taking a cheap shot and not letting her son take the pledge when he asks for it? He rolled his tongue at Mother Erna's alertness and whispered in a whisper.

'Do you want me to hold a tea party for women only?'

Why do we need a tea party?

　Mother Erna did something dexterous, like making a very uncomfortable sound while smiling at me.

　That's right. Mother Erna doesn't like this kind of nobleman's events.

　It's so bad that she and I planned a plan to remember to wear formal attire when heading to a noblemen's social gathering, so that she couldn't attend.

　I'm not a fan of tea parties, and I hate tea parties.

　But this is the most peaceful way to do it.

　If you ask Alaisia to do it, she'll likely do it for you, but you'll owe her a debt, and you'll have to use your duke power to force Mother Erna to do it, so the rest is too scary.

''I can leave Bram to Brother Silvio, but it's hard to focus on Ra-chan and cheer him up when Alecia-sama is around.

'I understand the logic, but I'm sure there's a better way,'

　Does Mom Erna's brain have other ideas, or does she hate the tea party so much that she doesn't want to knead it? I have a feeling it's the latter.

　But I can't think of any other good way to do it at this stage.

''But this is a chance for sister Elinora to learn the taste of being a daughter-in-law, okay?　Sister Elinora always runs away from the party instead of showing up, but now that she has her daughter in the mansion...

''You can't run away and we can get them to attend the tea party. Rather than going to the trouble of having them practice here rather than having me accompany them to a party held in another territory....

　As expected of Mother Erna. She quickly realizes what I'm trying to say and avoids the trouble - but instead, she's trying to solidify her sister Elinora's education policy.

'Wait a minute. I'll talk to Natasha-san and Alecia-sama about it.

　Mother Erna thinks for a while, then sobers up and calls out to Natasha and Alecia.

'Good. I was just hoping to have a leisurely conversation with just the ladies myself.'

Chan, who makes Luna look ladylike - no, I'd love to join you and your daughter!

　Alecia's response is familiar, and Natasha's true feelings are spoiled.

　It seems that your daughter is also in trouble.

You know, I have a bad feeling about this, but what are you talking about?

　Perhaps sensing the disquieting atmosphere, Sister Elinora stops talking to Luna and asks.

'We're having a tea party today, just for the ladies. Elinora, you should join us.''

'Yeah!　How could you?　I was supposed to be practicing swords with Luna today!

'You could do that after the tea party, couldn't you?　Or do you want to go all the way to a party held in some extraneous territory?

　No wonder it's easier to get it done at the mansion than the hassle of being forced to attend a party.

　Sister Elinora can't help but moan at Mother Erna's threats.

''Luna,''

''It's a shame I can't train with Elinora. I'll be training alone.

　Luna busts off her sister Elinora who asks for help.

　The friendship here is more fragile than I thought.

'Luna, you're going to join us, aren't you?

I don't understand.

　Luna-san stood dumbfounded at the decision to Natasha-san.

''Um, then Luna-sama........''

　Perhaps it's because there's a women-only tea party going on, but Loretta, Ra's maid, tries to ask her to join.

　However, it would be difficult for her to be accepted.

　But it's impolite for Mother Erna, who has a low knighthood, to refuse. ''Oh no, what should I do?

''Ra-chan rarely gets to go outside of King's Landing, right?　It would be a pity to make her join the tea party, as usual. It would probably be more fun to look around the village.

　Hearing Alecia's words, Ra-chan's face looked a little happy.

　She was complaining about the many tea parties and lessons in the royal capital as well.

''........I understand. It's a pity that I can't participate in the tea party, but if there's another opportunity, I'd appreciate it.''

Yes, of course.

　Loretta easily pulled back, probably realizing that it was out of concern for Ra-chan.

　Then, Alecia smiles at me.

　Oh, they know I'm trying to cheer Ra-chan up. Aleixia has been able to see that and go with the flow.

　Either way, I feel like I owe her a favor.

'Well then, Ra. Why don't you come to the village with us again today?

Yeah!

　I'm still not as energetic as I was yesterday, but we can cheer him up in the village.