TLWFL 08

Chapter 08

*You can do this, Roseil.*

I hurried down to the first floor and greeted Reston.

“Oh my, Reston. The clothes you’re wearing today are truly…….”

“Good heavens, Duke Reston! The clothes you’re wearing today are truly splendid. They suit you wonderfully, Your Grace.”

Oh dear. The Countess Roteroa beat me to it. Fine, then I’ll move on to the next compliment.

“Reston, thank you for coming to see us today. Your hairstyle today is also very hands…….”

“Oh! Duke Reston, you look absolutely perfect from head to toe today!”

This time, I was stolen from by Count Roteroa. I bit my lip hard. Reston was looking at me with amused eyes. What? Why are you smiling like that?

Still, I suppose this conversation isn’t too bad.

“Rather than standing around, it might be better if we all sit down and talk. Since it’s been a while since you’ve visited, I made sure to prepare a nice meal.”

“Thank you, Count.”

Reston followed my father. The Countess also chuckled, *ho ho ho ho*, and took the seat next to Reston.

I followed after them.

The meal continued in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and before I could even get a word in, the three of them were already engaged in a cozy conversation.

Reston spoke about the effects that could be brought about by donating wood from Muteso.

Just as Count Roteroa was hesitating to give a definitive answer, Reston drove the point home.

“My grandmother also takes a deep interest in this matter. If Roseil were to take charge of this, my grandmother would also like to participate.”

“You mean the Dowager Duchess?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good heavens! If that is the Dowager’s will…….”

The Count and Countess exchanged glances and nodded. They must have seen hope in my meeting with the Dowager Duchess.

“Excellent! Let us proceed as the Duke wishes. Is this not all the will of God! It shows just how deep the bond between our two families is! Hahahaha! Ah, dear me. This is no time to be loitering. My wife and I have a prior engagement. Duke, please spend some more time with Roseil before you leave.”

The Count and Countess sent me signals with their eyes and chins. They were telling me to spend time alone with him. After barely letting me say a single word the whole time.

“Yes, I’ll take care of Reston for the rest of the time.”

“Good, good.”

The Count and Countess quickly disappeared. Only Reston and I remained in the dining room. The tension drained from my shoulders.

“……Um.”

Alright. From here on, I need to restart the conversation myself.

“I’m glad things worked out well, Reston. It’s all thanks to your efforts.”

“Indeed. I did put in some effort. To keep our promise.”

What a show-off.

He has no idea what a polite empty compliment is. I shot a slight glare at Reston.

“Do you have more to say?”

“Oh, yes! Reston, would you like to take a walk with me? The weather is nice today, and the flowers are in bloom too. I thought it might be nice to stroll along the river and talk.”

“……Alright.”

Fortunately, Reston agreed. Now, onto my next plan.

—

As expected, the nice weather meant there were many families out on outings. There were also many couples spreading out picnic blankets and sharing lunch, and plenty of young children. And among them were ‘good fathers,’ ‘good husbands,’ and ‘good boyfriends.’

The reason I brought Reston here was to show him exactly those sights.

I glanced at Reston.

“How is it? Nice, isn’t it?”

“……I suppose.”

“Ahem. Reston, in my opinion, you are a truly good person.”

I said softly. This was one of the compliments on the list Lindberg had given me. Reston glanced at me and then burst into laughter.

“Heh.”

What? Did I just give a funny compliment? Why are you laughing?

“In what way?”

“……In every way? Um, you take good care of your grandmother too…….”

“It’s the servants who take care of her, not me.”

……Huff. Just bear with it one more time.

I glared daggers at the back of Reston’s head.

“Anyway, you seem to have a family-oriented side. I think you could truly become a good husband and a good father, just like those people over there.”

Now! Look at those people! Seeing things like that should make you realize something!

Reston looked at them and clicked his tongue softly.

“I don’t know what kind of non-constructive activities they’re doing on a weekday. What a waste of time. They’d be better off spending that time earning even a single extra coin to build up a bit more inheritance to leave behind in the future.”

I think my patience has finally reached its limit.

Maybe I should just push him into the river. That seems faster.

Reston had a will as impenetrable as a diamond-tipped awl.

Looking at the people swimming in the river, even if he fell in, he probably wouldn’t be in mortal danger, and he certainly wouldn’t change as a person. I managed to restrain myself.

“I’m truly sorry you think that way, Reston. Spending time like that with children is how you build emotional bonds. The same goes for a wife. Do you want to get divorced? Do you want to end up alone and lonely, having neglected your wife until she divorces you……? Do you want that kind of ending?”

Reston glanced at me.

Seeing him smirking crookedly made me uneasy again. What was he going to say this time? Before Reston could speak, I quickly opened my mouth.

“I think you could be a good husband and a good father. Reston, the reason you want to earn even a single extra coin to leave behind for the future is ultimately for your children, right? Look at it from a broader perspective with that heart. Don’t those people look happy?”

“Are people like that your type?”

“Huh?”

“People who devote that much time to their families and become good fathers and good husbands.”

Reston pointed with his chin toward the seemingly happy family. If he’s asking about my type…….

“Yes. I like family-oriented people. Raising a child alone would be lonely. A child needs a father too. I’ve heard that a child’s emotional exchange with their father during childhood determines their life.”

“I see.”

“What kind of woman is *your* type, Reston?”

When a question comes, a question should go back.

Reston’s type must be Aileen, right? Though he ends up following the path of a regretful male lead, it was said that Reston fell in love with Aileen at first sight. He said that the face she showed, smiling brightly like a wildflower, was imprinted in his heart and never left.

However, as Reston was being driven by the Dowager Duchess Cheskant’s death, he said he couldn’t trust or look back on anyone.

“A woman who takes good care of her own plate. A woman who is quick on the uptake and doesn’t lose out. A smart woman. Isn’t that the minimum requirement for managing the household of Cheskant?”

“Oh ho, is that so? So you like that *kind* of woman, do you?”

Oh my, how amusing.

He says that now, but soon, when Aileen appears, his taste will change completely. Knowing Reston’s future, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I can’t wait to see Reston’s dazed face when he falls for Aileen at first sight.

This time, the Dowager Duchess Cheskant won’t die either. I will make sure of it. So Reston and Aileen’s married life will be filled with sickeningly sweet affection.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking it’s a good time, that’s all.”

You two, I sincerely support you.

I feel a little sorry for Aileen, but still, she’ll be happy. After all, you two are the main characters.