Chapter 62

My sister-in-law stood there for a long time without saying anything.

“Come in, my lady.”

Her eyes went round—clearly not the reaction she expected.

I set the quince tea on the side table and opened my arms to Erica.

With a glance, she asked Mary to leave. Only after Mary stepped out did Erica shuffle toward me, looking a little worried.

“Did you catch a cold?”

“I did, it seems.”

“…Are you disappointed in me?”

Disappointed—so sudden. Erica’s reaction was what felt strange.

“There’s nothing to be disappointed about with you.”

“Don’t fib.”

Erica pouted, then pulled something from behind her back.

“I picked up an umbrella in the garden yesterday.”

Uh-oh. It was the umbrella I dropped on the way to the training yard when I got startled.

“So you saw me and Aaron, didn’t you?”

I only smiled, and she continued—cheeks reddening—even though she’d expected as much.

“Aaron didn’t do anything wrong. If you saw us, you know I was the one who started it.”

She must have thought I’d scold them, the way she rushed to defend him with hands and feet.

I slowly patted her head.

Erica blinked and listened quietly.

“No one did anything wrong. Not Aaron, and not you.”

“…”

“Your hearts connected, didn’t they?”

“B-but…”

“I’m going to cheer you on.”

Her surprise lasted only a moment before her face lit up.

Maybe she just needed to hear, once more, that someone was on her side.

“I wasn’t going to ask this, but…”

“…?”

When I tilted my head, Erica winked.

“Please keep it a secret from my brother for now.”

So, she didn’t want Martin to know yet.

They must have their own plan; all I could do was respect it.

“I’m not very good at lying, but…”

“Ugh.”

“I’ll try.”

“Really? You will?”

Erica clapped, thrilled, even at “I’ll try”—then quickly drooped again.

“But I’m so upset lately.”

What could trouble someone in love?

“What happened?”

“The boys my age think Aaron only got in because of my influence.”

“I can see why they might think that.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong. He first came here as her friend, which led to sparring chances with Martin.

No wonder it was hard for him to get along with the other young knights.

He’d even dined with our family as Erica’s friend. That must have stirred up some envy.

And in the beginning, Erica had practically lived at the training yard—which wouldn’t have helped.

“It isn’t completely untrue. Hm… what if we let Aaron handle Aaron’s problem?”

“You mean I should just watch?”

As expected, Erica protested. I smiled and went on.

“No. You should walk your own path yourself. Then the people around you will slowly change their tune.”

She tilted her head, frowning a little—lost in her own thoughts.

“…I’ve decided.”

It didn’t take long. The firm set of her mouth said it all.

“Starting today, I’m reporting to my brother’s study. Properly.”

“Reporting to work?”

Erica, going to work? My eyes widened. She lifted her chin, triumphant.

“I’ll study while Aaron trains. If I want to start a school someday, I should at least do that, right?”

Then she turned primly on her heel.

Goodness. I covered my mouth with both hands. Was the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?

“That’s wonderful to hear, my lady.”

The thought didn’t last long, though.

‘Maybe books just aren’t for me?’

Or maybe the atmosphere of the study wasn’t. I couldn’t stop yawning.

I quietly closed my book and looked around.

Erica, who had rushed here first, had stacked several thick volumes from the shelves and was reading.

On the sofa. In a very comfortable pose.

So focused—her brow knit tight.

What kind of book held her together so perfectly? I leaned in, curious—

Just then Martin entered the study and greeted me.

“You’re here, my lady.”

“You should catch a nap.”

“I’ve got a lot of work piled up.”

He chuckled, shrugged, and sat down to his documents.

I turned my gaze back to Erica.

Even with her brother here, she didn’t budge. Now I really wanted to know what she was reading.

I leaned in to cheer her on—only to see the title.

“‘How to Become Lovers’?”

Erica jolted and put a finger to her lips.

Martin, buried in work, didn’t notice our fuss.

I checked the other thick tomes on the table. Erica’s sheepish smile only deepened.

They were all romance manuals.

My lady, didn’t you say you were studying to found a school…?

“I thought you were studying?”

To my silent mouth-shape, Erica gave a sheepish little laugh.

Then, as if she’d found the perfect answer, she declared:

“Let’s call it love studies!”

Well, I could accept that Erica—head over heels—would read such books, but…

‘Why are romance manuals in Martin’s study?’

Never mind that the cold-blooded businessman image didn’t match them.

Why was I the one getting hot all of a sudden…?

Leaving Erica’s giggles behind, I snuck a glance at Martin.

He scratched his head, drifted over, and slipped me a stack of papers—like hush money.

“W-what is this?”

Mouth agape, I stared at him. He nudged the stack closer.

“Approval documents?”

And why…?

I tried to hand them back, but he stopped me.

“Please take them. I’m entrusting them to you because I believe in your ability. Hosting parties isn’t my area.”

I took the approvals and skimmed them. Line after line of event items.

Hearing he trusted me with this made my shoulders lift a little.

I thought back to the things I’d managed under my name:

That first time with Erica, selling dresses at a bargain in the busiest district.

Then using that money to throw Erica’s birthday banquet.

‘Erica, Martin—and even the staff—were pretty pleased, as I recall.’

Which led me to dabbling in the purchase of mining rights.

Then holding an exhibition for Baron Gilbert while finalizing his mining-rights contract.

‘I really have been buzzing around doing things.’

No wonder he gave me the event-approval stack.

Seeing me nod, Martin smiled, trying to hide it behind his hand—though the curve of his lips still showed.

He really trusts me now, I thought—and I couldn’t help smiling back, relaxed.

‘So this is what family feels like…?’

The thought flickered through me. It felt like we’d truly become a family.

On any other day, our odd little current would’ve made my sister-in-law narrow her eyes and shoot us a sharp look.

Not today.

The prickly young lady was buried in her reading.

Erica knew nothing, eyes wide, wholly absorbed in How to Become Lovers.

A few days later, Catherine and her family visited the Cloud manor.

Because it was an official invitation, we paid attention all the way from the entrance they’d come up.

It was a chance to firmly show we weren’t a house that lived only in the dark.

“Welcome, my lord count, my lady countess, and Lady Catherine.”

“Thank you for inviting us! The grounds are beautiful.”

At Catherine’s lively greeting, I shifted half a step so Erica could step forward.

“Hello, I’m Erica Cloud.”

“Oh my—”

Even though Erica was a bit prim, when she greeted them with a smile, the count and countess were left speechless—Catherine excepted.

Her manners were softer and smoother than they’d expected.

‘Understandable.’

The Erica they knew was probably a girl who flared up at any hour.

“This is our first time meeting since the royal tea party, my lady.”

“Have you been well, Lady Catherine?”

Erica crossed her arms, taking a defensive stance—but it didn’t last long.

“I brought you a gift.”

Like a knock on the door to Erica’s heart, Catherine launched an unexpected gift offensive.

“I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

“Please consider this paying back the debt from when your foot was hurt because of me. We couldn’t come empty-handed after being invited like this.”

Catherine stuck out her tongue playfully, smiling.

Erica snorted, but she clearly didn’t dislike the attention and warmth.

Before we knew it, those defensively crossed arms had returned to her sides.

“I’ll open it later.”

“Please look forward to it!”

Thanks to a more relaxed Erica—and Catherine arriving with thoughtful gifts—the atmosphere was warmer than before.

There wasn’t even a moment for the warmth to cool.