Chapter 102.

There was a knock on the door. I lay back on my bed and turned my head toward the door. Whoever was coming to my room was coming anyway.

“Miss, it’s Fanny.”

As expected, it was the obvious one of the stewards “Come in.”

I don’t know if it was because of the low voice, but after a short while came the sound of clamping together and opening the door.

I just lay like that to greet the steward.

”…… Hmm. Are you resting?”

The butler who just came in stared wide-eyed when he saw me like this.

“I’m sorry. I came here because I heard from Emily that I came back from my walk.”

Suddenly, the butler lowered his head and apologized, making my head spin. I glanced at him and answered him

“No, I just came in. Resting. Not lying completely relaxed. Can I help you?”

“Mr. Duke ……”

The steward came and went a little late and said what was to be done

He said, “…… invite the lady to dinner?”

I immediately frowned a little. It wasn’t long ago that I was still participating in that dinner rudeness, but there wasn’t any particular reaction on the Duke’s part. So to think it’s over like that…

“Why do I even have to participate? I want to dance and rest in my room today.”

“Said there’s something to say to you, and I want you to participate in it.”

“Ugh!” I sighed, not letting the steward hear

I didn’t want to go any further because my family was simply talking.

“The Duke” and “Leonard” were not only to be seen a second time, but also to be seen without pulling the “first bitter face.”

“Now get me something. Simple bread, you know how to make it…”

“I don’t want any more raw, hard food.”

“Ah, miss.”

In the midst of the words, the deacon turned the color of thought and called out to me

He said, “It won’t happen to us again.”

The butler looked as if I had made some kind of mistake that made me laugh. I snorted and asked again.

“How can you be so sure?”

He said: “When we attended the hunting convention, we changed the people in the kitchen.”

This was shocking news. Revisiting it, the deacon went on. Without realizing it was a bit sad.

“And it wasn’t the dining room, but the lady.”

“What?”

“The Duke has given special orders for a meal to be prepared in a glass conservatory.”

“A glass . Greenhouse?”

“Yes. The fall flowers are blooming so beautifully. So I hope you must see this.”

My eyes went wide now. There were a few off-limits areas of the mansion that I couldn’t go to. That’s because the Duke has cordoned off areas filled with memories of the dead Duchess and the lost little daughter.

One of them was the huge glass conservatory located on the side of the back garden. In the past few times, it had only confirmed its existence from a distance, not once having been there.

“Why are you suddenly eating in the greenhouse?”

“Maintenance work is about to begin on the dining room inside the mansion.”

“Maintenance work?”

“Well, we can’t use it yet.”

The deacon answered my question while staring at me with an inexplicably intense gaze. I don’t know why the repairs are suddenly needed, but I nod my head.

Is it good for me? In fact, if I eat at the cafeteria, I might just find all kinds of excuses not to go.

Doesn’t it hurt? Having to eat hard meals one after another in a space full of unlucky memories. I thought you understood it well.” … Once you know.”

But I ended up giving an affirmative answer. It wasn’t because the dinner venue had changed, but because I wanted to confirm the changes on Derrick and Leonard’s heads.

“Got caught in the rain, washed up, will be at the greenhouse on time!”

Hearing my words, the butler’s face brightened up.

“Then call me when I’m ready.”

After a deliberate acquiescence, the steward left the room.

With the deacon’s steps, he stepped onto the glass greenhouse once. The huge glass conservatory was warm and fragrant. The green vines and plants on the ceiling and pillars had melted and blossomed.

The dinner table was set in the center of the densely blooming greenhouse. Three men with courageous faces that did not match the romantic background sat together.

“Coming?”

The duke sitting in the upper seat saw me who was approaching and pretended not to see me.

I bowed my head and opened my mouth.” Sorry for being late.”

“Heh, well yeah! Too late.”

Leonard outright mocked, suddenly mute. Looking up I was surprised. Because all he knows how to do is express satisfaction with the fluttering nostrils he uses, never blaming him. :

“That’ll do. Sit down quickly, Penelope.”

That duke said as I noisily looked at Leonard, turning his head as if nothing had happened.

I expected him to say a word about being late as well, but I didn’t expect to do so. Derrick was also shocked and dumbfounded.

I don’t know what came over me, but this time I sat on the Duke’s left again. As soon as he sat down, he started confirming from the top of the heads of the male protagonists who originally had a purpose.

[Confirmation of favorability]

“O” As expected, the favorability values were all covered. Plus the ones dyed in various colors.

…Derrick’s own head looked like a signboard turned bright orange.

Nodding his head in agreement, “Hmm. Sure as hell ain’t that.”

I turned my head impassively and suddenly looked at the pink hair angrily.

‘What the hell is peach’ Leonard’s on top of his head had turned close to the color of that damn hair.

Referring to the color instead, right?

In that moment, unintentionally met a pair of blue eyes.

“What are you looking at?” The guy wearing a napkin around his neck quirked his eyebrows and cocked his head.

“Not what you’re looking at?”

“I’m looking at the flowering trees behind you again.”

“Are you staring at me that hard?”

Leonard asked me rhetorically as he swung around in front of me, seemingly feeling ridiculous. I couldn’t help but stare at him with contempt as well.

I coughed awkwardly and dryly, then offered a defense.

“Because there are flowers ……”

That’s when the answer suddenly appeared next to me. I felt puzzled, the duke looked at me seriously and said.

“Is it pretty?”

I was mesmerized by the flowers and trees behind Leonard that I hadn’t even seen before. Brightly colored roses were in full bloom.

“It’s pretty nice. No, no problem.”

I immediately shook my head.

“It’s the best way to see the branches in full bloom.”

“Yes.”

Happily, the Duke was fooled by me. The Duke rattled the clock that was set in front of him. Soon food was brought in.

The ones who had done the water didn’t seem to be vernacular. They were all first-time underlings.

Shortly afterward, the table was neatly set with serving platters. After a brief look, the menu was passed around. Although there was a wide variety, a simple lunch set, bread, celery, and condiments made up the menu.

For me, the meal was delicious. It was done quickly, in which case I could pick it up and eat it with my hands.

But this time luckily cutlery was provided. I looked down at the cutlery set in front of me and fiddled with the toys as if nothing had happened. The Duke, who was only drinking black tea, stopped and spoke again.

“Why don’t you eat.”

“I was just about to eat.”

Embarrassed by his encouragement, I picked up my spoon. Why are you watching me extraordinarily today

Aside from ignoring everyone involved last time, there was nothing wrong done. When it came down to it, I clearly didn’t want to care if I was eating or not. If he was an attentive person, he would have realized it immediately.

“Is it because the dining table is small?”

Soon the Duke would be able to immediately detect the reason for my immobility. The dining table prepared in the greenhouse is much smaller than the one at home . As a result the distance to the seated people became very close. Even if you don’t want to, you can only go to the place where it is arranged.

I started slowly trying to taste from a spoon in the air. A peaceful meal began in the fragrant greenhouse.

After some time, my stomach got a little full and I put down the utensils I was holding immediately.

“Don’t want to eat anymore?”

Hearing the manner of walking, the Duke was the first to respond.

“Yes. This is enough.”

“Shall we order dessert? ”

I shook my head. No appetite, no desire to eat more.

“Can we eat this much? Make some more sandwiches to keep in the room.”

“No, Dad. It’s okay.”

I hurriedly dissuaded the Duke who wanted me to eat a lot.

He said : “More than that, if you don’t want to look around after eating? Feeling a little tired after walking since morning

He said in a roundabout way. Quickly tell me the purpose of your calling me here.

“…hmm.”

Fortunately, probably hearing her voice, the duke opened his mouth heavily.

“Today is to convey that – soon an artist will be invited to paint our family’s portrait.”

The sudden news stunned everyone. Not only Leonard, who asked rhetorically, but even Derrick, who was hearing such news for the first time, felt a bit baffled.

“What family portrait, Dad?”

“Isn’t it Penelope’s birthday in a month?”

I skimmed the duke as strangely as someone who heard the first word.

‘Birthday…?’

The mind cleared up all of a sudden. What kind of day is a birthday? …The day of coming of age.

‘So soon?’

The poorly situated Duke was cruelly sentenced.

“I want to paint a family portrait to hang on the center staircase before the coming-of-age style party.”

‘It’s the day the heroine returns.’