CHAPTER 149

The next morning, I woke up early and went to the dining room like I promised the housekeeper yesterday.

It wasn’t very awake, but it didn’t stop thinking. Because, after breakfast, sending the Duke out, it was quite stressful to see Ikris before class.

But anxiously planning, before it was finished, arrived at the dining hall.

“First time here since the maintenance work, miss.”

The butler who came to pick me up greeted me. He was right. Originally, I also just stayed in my room to eat, and never went near the restaurant because of the maintenance works.

“One can look forward to it.”

The butler said something meaningful and opened the door to the dining room. Moreover, the space that unfolded, I don’t know exactly why the repair what, became a completely different look.

‘Oh……’

The splendor and extravagance was amazing. A feast of carvings and gold paint adorned everywhere. At first glance, it was dizzying. But upon closer inspection, it was more harmonious than expected, as if a lot of thought had gone into the design.

Scanning the starry interior, I suddenly saw the conspicuous flower. This is the flower that decorates the interior of the restaurant the most.

It was ……

-Attractive flesh-colored roses.

-Dio Wick rose.

Earlier, the luncheon was enjoyed in the greenhouse because of maintenance work. The Duke cared and answered, to avoid moving on.

Come to think of it, that was the first time the Duke had spoken to me for no other purpose or reason.

‘Just liked the flower, I guess.’

I desperately tried to suppress my embarrassment and tried my hardest to be mocking. Excessive beauty was bound to bring a subsequent storm.

Luckily, I don’t know if it’s because the interior is upside down or because the old nightmare of putting food in front and being forced to starve doesn’t need to be experienced all over again.

Unlike the previous table made of oak, a luxurious marble dining table was set up. The duke sitting at the front greeted me.

“There you are.”

“Good morning, father, brother.”

“Good morning. It’s cold, can’t it be earlier?”

The pink hair was moving again.

It was only a few minutes late.

“Quiet, Leonard.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that either! Che, Dad only says that to me every day!”

The Duke glared, intimidating him into shutting up. Derrick just stared at me in expressionless silence as usual. Having been through this a few times, I’m used to it now, and being ignored in greeting doesn’t feel special.

“Everyone sit down.”

Except for the early hours of the morning, this meal was no different from the usual. There was just the intermittent clinking of cutlery in the luxuriously silent dining room.

“It’s your birthday in a few days, Penelope.”

While enjoying breakfast, the Duke suddenly snapped. I struggled to smile in reply.

“Yes, it already is.”

“How are the preparations for the Bar Mitzvah coming along?”

“Is there anything I have to do? The butler and maid are working hard.”

Really, I didn’t do anything. On top of that, in order to create the most perfect skin and body, the maids massaged me every day while bathing. But it’s also adapted to the point where I can ignore and sleep.

“To welcome the Bar Mitzvah, is there anything you want?”

At that moment, the Duke suddenly asked. I answered without thinking too long.

“Well …… not at all.”

Already in preparation for the Bar Mitzvah, the dress and accessories had been customized in a big way. What I really wanted wasn’t something the Duke could give.

“Hey, don’t refuse, tell me and buy it for you.”

Like usual, this Leonard guy seems to be waiting, and immediately digs in.

“Didn’t you die of envy when you saw the magic yacht given by dad at my bar mitzvah?”

“Ah, that.”

Being with the maid during the daily bath was not an aimless waste of time. There were a lot of ridiculous stories to listen to.

“You took pride in that and towed it up the Altes River, where it tipped over because you didn’t steer it correctly?”

Huma smiled and repeated what she had heard not long ago. The guy’s face turned red all of a sudden.

“Hey, hey! Who said that then? It was just an accident!”

“Heh, poor guy.”

“Huh? Why are you laughing, Dad! Ah, no!”

Leonard yelled at the Duke in a panic, but it didn’t make much sense. Not being an asshole, I took advantage of the confusion to turn to the Duke’s side.

“…… That.”

Then whispered.

“It’s early in the morning, can you say hello?”

“How are you?”

“Yes.”

The Duke looked at me baffled. I spoke slowly.

“…… Say goodbye to your unintelligent daughter.”

“What are you talking about, Penelope. Saying goodbye.”

“I’m an adult now too. I want to forget my shameful past, but after the bar mitzvah, please treat me as mature.”

I hid my final greeting by imitating his mature daughter and finished my sentence frankly.

“When did you do this ……”

The Duke’s blue eyes looked at me strangely, slowly coloring with warmth.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be sure to say hello in the morning.”

The Duke promised repeatedly. Lying was quite an effort this time. Showing an awkward smile and suppressing his feelings, it was hard to turn his head away to avoid it.

Creak-the dining room door burst open. The butler burst in hurriedly. He walked quickly to where the Duke was sitting.

“Duke, I think you should come into the foyer for the moment.”

The old butler’s face looked worse than ever. The Duke showed an uncomfortable look.

“Ahem, it’s rare for a family to eat together, butler. Don’t say anything that isn’t urgent in the future.”

“That’s ……!”

With an embarrassed face, the butler hesitated and immediately bent down to whisper in the Duke’s ear. The Duke’s face stiffened because his meal was interrupted.

Finally, the butler who finished speaking straightened his back. At that instant, clang–! The Duke rose from his seat.

Clang-! The chair tipped over roughly. But he didn’t care about that at all and hurriedly left the dining room. The butler rushed after him.

Of course, Derrick and Leonard were baffled and just stared.

At that point, even Derrick pushed back his chair and rose from his seat.

“I’ve got to get out there.”

Saying those words, he left the restaurant without a second thought.

“Ah, what are you doing during dinner?”

Leonard muttered nervously to himself.

It can’t be …… that crazy crown prince won’t come again, right?

Suddenly, something terrible came to mind. If it was that madman, it was entirely possible. If it was, the Duke of Encounter Passing might have run out of the room panting like that.

Crazy man! What in the world is going on!

Wincing sadly, he winced. Leonard glanced at me with a strange look.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Let’s go too, get up.”

“Uh, uh, uh ……”

Leonard stood up from his seat, goading me to come out with him. I replied with a trembling expression, not really wanting to go. The thought of seeing the Crown Prince’s face gave me a headache.

I walked out of the dining room, trailing Leonard. After passing through the long corridor, I finally saw the central staircase.

As the butler had said, the door to the public house stood open. In it stood a tall man.

Between the open doors, a smell of the outdoors of the early morning air permeated the air.

Wasn’t it an arrest?

I frowned and quickened my pace. Passing the parlor, I reached where the Duke and butler, Derek and Leonard, stood.

In lieu of the expected blonde hair, my eyes widened.

“…… Ikris?”

The man standing in front of the mansion’s foyer was my inner male lead. At my summons, he slowly turned his eyes toward me. The dullness in his gray eyes was swept away.

“Why are you here during class ……”

Suddenly for no reason at all, my heart was pounding. The inexplicable eeriness felt the day before Mom died.

As it swept through his entire body like a bolt of lightning.

“I ……”

A small figure peeked out from behind Ikris.

“…… Dad.”

“Brother.”

Cute pink hair that looked exactly like Leonard’s, and distinct blue pupils that were sure to be Eckhardt’s bloodline.

“I …… am Eben.”

Five mornings until the Bar Mitzvah.

Villains only end in death.