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Chapter 76

Two hours later.

Princess Astra arrived on the precise appointed time. I sat on the backyard tea desk ready by the Duke, and smiled at her as I watched her approaching me guided by the servant.

Even once I didn’t rise up from my seat, she bowed her head to me.

“It’s been some time since I’ve seen you, Duchess Leona Petri.”

It was so awkward that I even questioned if I ought to return her greeting or not. Nonetheless, she was the one who got here to ask me a favor, so I didn’t need to be so courteous.

I checked out her quietly and shifted my gaze to the tea desk.

Nonetheless, in the present day was my first exterior exercise as Duchess, so I promised myself to observe my manners, not like my habits on the celebration final time. To not point out, she spoke formally this time.

“Please have a seat.”

Astra up to now would’ve screamed from the highest of her lungs already, however now she got here to the tea desk quietly and sat down.

It was nonetheless awkward for me to see this aspect of her. For the reason that one who used to deal with me decrease than a bug now had such a mild gaze towards me.

“What brings you right here in the present day?”

“Are you telling me to get all the way down to enterprise as quickly as I sit down? It’d be good if we may discuss over a cup of tea.”

“Our relationship isn’t that good for us to be all pleasant and revel in a cup of tea collectively. Pretending to be good won’t change my thoughts about you.”

If the Duke was trash that couldn’t be recycled, Princess Astra was that trash’s lovely cockroach-like mate.

I may always remember all the things she did to Rere.

An unforgivable act.

The worst human being who used violence in opposition to a baby.

I had not the slightest want to be near her.

Nonetheless, I had agreed to this association as a result of I needed to alleviate the stress attributable to that trashy man.

“…I feel that’s primary courtesy, Duchess.”

“As you already know, I’m not from a distinguished household, so I’m not that educated about etiquette and such.”

You stepped into my territory, the Petri Dukedom.

In brief, it doesn’t matter what you do, don’t count on to listen to nice issues right here.

Maybe she was conscious of how I considered and meant to deal with her, so she compelled herself to smile.

“…Then I can’t assist it both.”

“So what introduced you right here realizing that you simply wouldn’t hear good issues?”

As if ready for me to ask, Princess Astra raised her hand. The 4 maids that accompanied her approached us carrying a big field of their arms.

“I nonetheless suppose we have been a bit of nearer than all of the individuals you met on the celebration.”

“Hoo…”

“No have to be near them. They fake to be shut however will abandon you straight away if one thing goes fallacious.”

“How intelligent of you to explain your self like that.”

I smirked and took a sip of tea.

“Intelligent…?”

“Ah, am I mistaken? I believed you have been speaking about your self.”

I smiled innocently as if my head was solely a reasonably ornament.

“…Did you simply curse at me?”

“No manner! I didn’t imply to do this in any respect~ So, what’s it that you simply wish to focus on with me?”

“…Since we share a particular bond, I hope to get alongside effectively with you sooner or later. I feel I used to be impolite to you final time.”

So I leaned nearer to her.

“Are you saying this since you wish to, or since you have been pressured by your loved ones?”

“…After all, that’s….”

“To let you know the reality…I’m undecided if our relationship will get higher from this level on. I hate liars essentially the most, you see.”

I ponder how a lot she was burning inside?

As she needed to face the one who stole her place.

“…It’s each. It’s due to my household and I additionally wish to get alongside effectively with you. I’m positive that my presence will profit you numerous.”

“Hoo..profit me? How so? I’m shocked that there’s one thing to realize from Princess Astra. If I recall, I feel I misplaced a number of issues due to Princess Astra.”

As I fiddled with my teacup, Astra appeared to step by step lose her mood.

“…Aren’t you capable of sit in that place due to me? If it wasn’t for me….!”

“I earned this place, not due to something you declare to have completed. Princess Astra is such an amusing particular person. I didn’t know you have been pondering like that. I believed you got here right here so that you could be of use to me.”

I checked out Astra’s face. Her face darkened as if her thoughts and coronary heart have been at odds. A bitter smile rose on her face.

“…I feel I made a mistake. I should have performed myself poorly as a result of I used to be sick lately. So if I offended you in any manner, I hope you may go straightforward on me. I used to be pondering deeply about what you mentioned final time, so I introduced quite a lot of items this time.”

“Items?”

“You mentioned {that a} present that the opposite particular person didn’t need isn’t a present.”

Come to think about it, I did say that in the course of the celebration final time.

You mentioned it was a present for me, so I’ve the correct to reject it. And how will you name it a present whenever you don’t even care in regards to the recipient’s coronary heart?

“I’m positive you’ll like at the very least certainly one of my items.”

“What’s your motive to bathe me with items like this? Let’s simply get to the purpose. I’ll determine whether or not to obtain the items or not accordingly.”

Simply in time, my teacup emptied. With a relaxed smile, I tilted the kettle and poured sizzling water into my cup.

“Effectively…It’s as much as you whether or not you say it or not. I’m simply saying that possibly having an in depth relationship and having fun with tea collectively is feasible in spite of everything.”

A tea set was already put in entrance of her. Sizzling steam escaped from the kettle’s lengthy spout.

“…Because you like sincere individuals essentially the most, I’ll let you know honestly. Please persuade Duke Ian Petri for me.”

“Persuade?”

“If this continues, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Arvida Dukedom collapses.”

“Hoo…”

“I feel the three duchys exist to maintain the Empire. Nonetheless, Duke Ian Petri didn’t intend to soak up our household, and froze our household’s funds as an alternative.”

Astra was very hostile and cussed, however in the present day she acted like an actual noble girl. Particularly when she spoke in an orderly method.

“I hope you may set us free. His Majesty mentioned he trusted Duke Petri and granted him permission to analyze my household. My household actually labored so exhausting as a ducal household who supported the Empire.”

I’m positive you probably did your greatest to embezzle cash.

“If we collapse like this, it will likely be an enormous downside for us all.”

She was good at threatening.

“Since Duke Petri treasures the Duchess very a lot…”

“In conclusion….”

“In order that we will get by means of this safely….”

“You gave me a bribe.”

“N-No, it’s not a bribe.”

She waved her hand, however the field subsequent to Astra appeared to show that it was certainly a bribe.

“I’ve no sick intention.”

“Ah, I see. However what ought to I do?”

I smiled and positioned the heavy kettle to the aspect.

“He actually cares about me. He was attempting to offer me one thing unimaginable.”

“That’s why I ask you a favor. In case you can remedy this downside effectively, I’ll sincerely help the Duchess.”

I’d reasonably consider {that a} canine can discuss like a human than her phrases.

“Princess Astra.”

“Sure.”

There was a glint of hope in her eyes.

“Sadly, he cares about me, however I actually hate the Duke.”

“Pardon…?”

“I don’t wish to discuss to him.”

“B-However…! W-Wait a minute. You simply want to speak to him as soon as!”

She raised her voice once more.

A voice that was near a menace. She lastly returned to the previous Astra that I knew so effectively.

“Don’t power me.”

“I’m not forcing you, however you may at the very least try this a lot! It’s not that arduous. You simply have to ask him to go straightforward on his investigation of my household! I’m being sincere proper now such as you at all times needed!”

“Did you simply lash out at me?”

“No, you’ve acquired it fallacious. I simply ask you to do one factor! I’ll do something for you in return!!!”

She seemed determined.

The identical one that acted arrogantly and handled me like a bug earlier than. Astra, who used to deal with me lower than a human, freaked out in entrance of me.

I had snicker due to her.

“So what if you are able to do something for me now? Do you even bear in mind what you probably did to me and Rere?”

“T-That! Again then, I used to be the Duchess…and it was an inevitable scenario.”

“It’s best to’ve considered apologizing to me first earlier than bringing such a present.”

Astra shook her hand at my phrases.

“…I’ll apologize. Will you discuss to him if I apologize? To the Duke?”

“Are you going to apologize for a reward? How is {that a} correct apology?”

At that second.

“What sort of attention-grabbing dialogue you’re having right here that you simply preserve elevating your voices.”

The Duke appeared out of nowhere.

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