The sun was about to set when I arrived at the Lombardy mansion.

  The carriage door was already open, but I didn’t get off right away.

  As I sat down for a while, two familiar faces popped inside the carriage.

  "Tia, aren’t you getting off?"

  "Let’s go quickly and have dinner."

  As promised before I left the mansion earlier, a dinner gathering was scheduled for the whole family.

  "Yes, I will go." I answered, but my body didn’t move easily.

  Then Mairon asked me, tilting his head.

  "By any chance, even Uncle didn’t know?"

  "Is Tia really the owner of the Pellet?"

  When I didn’t answer and looked away, the twins exclaimed "Wow" with their eyes wide open.

  "Even Grandpa didn’t know?"

  "Everyone would be very surprised."

  "What if Grandfather falls down again because of how surprised he is!?"

  "Ah, really! Stop making fun of me, you two!"

  I’m so nervous right now, I feel like dying!

  When I shouted, the twins burst into laughter wearing the same faces. Then they shrugged and said.

  "Is there anything to be nervous about?"

  "Right, it’s Tia anyway."

  "What do you mean it’s me anyway?"

  Gillieu answered my question first.

  "Grandfather or Uncle, everyone will be surprised at first, but in the end, they will be happy for you."

  "Because it’s Tia! Who would think that you can do this?" Mairon said tapping on my shoulder.

  His warm hand wrapped around my shoulders.

  "Because we are happy for you, they will be as well."

  "Although it was a bit sad that you didn’t tell us directly."

  "But we understand. There must be a reason why Tia hasn’t told anyone."

  "You guys……"

  When did you grow up like this?

  It seems like yesterday that I ran away and made excuses saying I didn’t want to play hide-and-seek with them because I want to read books.

  But their playful comfort made me feel at ease.

  "Thanks, Gillieu, Mairon." When I spoke in a slightly weak voice, the twins grinned.

  "If you’re having a hard time, tell us anytime."

  "We will be right next to you and we will protect you."

  I grabbed both of their hands tightly and got off the carriage.

  My legs feel numb as if I had been dragging my feet. So one step at a time, I headed to my father’s room.

  Knock! Knock!

  "Dad, I’m coming in."

  As I carefully opened the door, I saw my father putting books on the bookshelf.

  "Tia!"

  Those are my favorite books.

  My father almost threw the book away as soon as he saw me entering the room.

  "How did the meeting end?"

  Thanks to the twins, my beating heart, which had subsided a little, started to beat fast again. My mouth seemed to be drying out of tension.

  When I didn’t answer, my father looked at me anxiously.

  "Tia?"

  Dad, you’ll cry, won’t you? I’m sure you’ll cry.

  Still, I couldn’t let them hear this through other people. I have to say it myself.

  "If the change of the representative family didn’t go well—"

  "Dad, let’s talk a little bit." I said, leading my father to the center of the drawing-room.

  But my father didn’t sit on the chair. He was just staring at me with green eyes full of worry.

  I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.

  "Dad."

  "Yes, Tia."

  "Actually, Clerivan and I, we’re not in a mentor and student relationship."

  "……What?"

  There was a slight wrinkle on my father’s forehead.

  "What do you mean, Tia?"

  Somehow, my father’s voice lowered.

  "Our relationship isn’t between a mentor and a student but between an employer and employee……"

  I was going in circles without realizing it. No, it’s much better to get it over with and be straightforward.

  I clenched my fists once again and said, "As a matter of fact, I’m the owner of the Pellet Company."

  My father’s eyes blinked slowly.

  It seemed like he was trying to understand what I was saying……No, is it okay as it is?

  I faltered and approached my father.

  "Ah, Dad……?"

  At that moment, my father staggered as if his legs had been loosened and plopped down on the sofa.

  I’m glad there’s a chair nearby. Otherwise, my dad would have collapsed on the floor.

  "……Tia, so you……"

  "I’m the owner of the Pellet Company."

  "Ah, the owner……" My father talked to himself with a blank gaze but soon shook his head.

  "But then, Tia was only eleven years old at that time……Did you take over in the middle?"

  My father’s confused face immediately gave an expression who expected me to say, ’Yes, that’s right.’


  "No, from the beginning, Pellet was mine."

  "Haa……" My father sighed heavily and rubbed his face.

  I’ve been hiding it for more than a decade.

  In order not to earn other people’s suspicion, I sometimes act and lie.

  You must be disappointed in me……

  "Ah, Dad?" My father’s arm hugged me strongly to the extent that we swayed and nearly stumbled.

  I carefully looked up at my father’s face.

  "Are you alright?"

  Confusion remained on my father’s face. It seemed like he was trying to accept what I said.

  But before that, my father seems to have something to say first.

  "……You must have worked hard, Tia."

  That encourages me.

  My father’s warm hands patted my back gently.

  "From that young age up to now, you’ve done a great job."

  "Dad……"

  "I already guessed that the relationship between you and Mr. Clerivan was not that of a typical student and teacher, but I didn’t guess that you were the owner of the Pellet……" My father mumbled with a weak smile.

  "I’m sorry for not telling you in advance." I said, burying my face in my father’s arms.

  "It’s alright, Tia. You must have had a reason for doing that."

  Oh, really.

  My father was also saying the same things the twins told me.

  As I relaxed, my body became a little comfortable.

  Even after releasing me from the hug, my dad kept on patting my head.

  "For a while, every noble that I meet will only be talking about you……" My father suddenly stopped talking and asked me.

  "Tia?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Did your Grandfather know?"

  "……Ah."

  I forgot for a moment.

  The fact that there’s still the final boss left.

  ***

  Before dinner at the Lombardy mansion begins, Clerivan stopped by the dining hall and was packing up a small basket.

  It contained simple food to eat, such as bread and fruit that the dining hall’s employees had prepared.

  "It’ll start soon." Clerivan muttered as he looked over the long table.

  The dining hall was already full of delicious dishes for dinner. But the sumptuous display didn’t give him an appetite.

  Although his house was attacked, it was not enough reason to intervene in the dinner with immediate people, who are taking care of him at the Lombardy mansion.

  Above all, it was because he knew that today’s dinner was going to be an uncomfortable one.

  "Ugh."

  Suddenly reminded of himself in a muddled position made Clerivan nauseous.

  Just imagined it was uncomfortable.

  "I’m going back to my room as soon as possible."

  Out in the dark hallway, Clerivan put a basket on his side and began to speed up his pace.

  He was like that when he turned around the corner.

  "Mr. Clerivan."

  From the other side of the corridor, Gallahan walked over, calling for Clerivan with a fresh smile on his face that has not changed at all even in his middle forties.

  "Ah, Lord Gallahan."

  However, Clerivan wasn’t very happy to see Gallahan today.

  "Uhm…… Did you finish the conversation with Lady Firentia?" Clerivan asked carefully.

  "Hah! Yeah, I was a little surprised, but it ended well."

  "I see." Clerivan said, half relief, but he was still uncomfortable.

  This was because all this time, he had also been tricking Gallahan.

  Clerivan, who made up his mind, opened his mouth.

  "Well, Lord Gallahan, I……"

  But Gallahan cut him off.

  "Mr. Clerivan."

  "Yes?"

  "Thank you."

  Gallahan, who suddenly said so, bowed his head before Clerivan.