Published: September 6, 2025
“As you know, Foster Father…? To me, Lord Ferdinand is my guardian. I consider him my protector. Is there anything else you wish to ask?”
I tilted my head, unsure what I was being asked. It was troublesome to be questioned about my relationship with Ferdinand now. How else was I supposed to answer?
At my response, Foster Father and Father, who stood behind as Guard Knights, seemed to get the answer they hoped for and their expressions softened slightly.
“For you, that may be so, and for Ferdinand, you are his ward.”
“Yes, that's right. What else could it be?”
When I asked, Foster Father hesitated with a troubled “Hmm,” then slowly looked around at the close aides.
“From the nobles’ perspective, it seems you two are… perhaps too involved with each other.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I nodded vaguely, but didn’t understand at all. I clearly didn’t grasp the nobles’ standards. Seeing this, Foster Father and Father exchanged looks and reluctantly spoke.
“Actually, there is a rumor that you harbor romantic feelings for Ferdinand.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it, and I have no such recollection.”
“…Huh?”
For some reason, the people around us murmured. To be honest, I didn’t understand why even the close aides reacted that way. I trusted Ferdinand more than anyone among the nobles and cherished him like family. I could say, “I like him as much as Tulli and Lutz,” but when it came to romance, I only shrugged and denied it.
“Why would such things be said?”
“Well, you see… as guardian and ward, it’s not unusual for you to inherit the estate, but it’s rare to keep using the servants or furniture without change. Above all, preserving Ferdinand’s room as is, managing his valuables, and sending his belongings to Arensbach on request… I heard that might be considered… overstepping.”
Father said this with a bitter look. Managing the estate, safeguarding valuables, and preparing on request is the role of female family members, not others’.
“Wait…? But Justox and Brother Eckhardt left valuables in Ehrenfest, and Richarda and Mother send things as requested, right? Since Lord Ferdinand has no mother to manage or send his things, I ask the attendants managing the estate to prepare them. Is that a problem?”
It’s not me preparing Ferdinand’s luggage. Razafam manages it; I’m just the Ordnance passing messages. I couldn’t understand why this was suddenly an issue. It’s been nearly two seasons since Ferdinand left, yet no one said this before.
“Ferdinand was summoned urgently and couldn’t prepare his luggage in time, so it was sent after the season changed. But normally, those marrying into another territory don’t leave luggage behind—they take everything with them.”
Now that I think about it, Clarissa said when she received her luggage at the boundary gate between Ehrenfest and Froebelthark that all needed items were packed. It’s trivial, but because clothes are tailored to trends, she had fewer, while unrelated underwear was prepared in abundance.
“Leaving luggage at home is said to imply one desires divorce, which is frowned upon.”
“Is that so!? Then will Lord Ferdinand’s marriage be all right? We sent some luggage in spring, but only what was requested, so some still remain in his room.”
Though I didn’t mention that Razafam, who was to be summoned once the environment was ready, waits patiently too, both Foster Father and Father widened their eyes at the luggage’s presence.
“Perhaps I should take over managing Ferdinand’s luggage. I can’t entrust it to you any longer.”
“Why?”
“The biggest problem with your management is that Ferdinand left for Arensbach, and the general perception is that he’s no longer your guardian. Enough time has passed for the seasons and the general view to change. You should consider yourself no longer Ferdinand’s ward.”
It seems it wasn’t a problem until inheriting the guardian’s estate, but it became so because the relationship hadn’t changed afterward. Father said they hadn’t noticed the shift in others’ recognition until advised by people around.