Published: August 15, 2025
Night.
In my room, just as I was about to go to sleep and had changed into my pajamas, there was a knock at the door. I replied, "Come in," and the maid entered.
Perhaps because it was late at night, she moved more silently than usual.
After closing the door, she spoke.
"Did you call, master?"
"Why did you lie to Marie? Mio."
Mio didn’t answer immediately.
For several seconds—a surprisingly long silence for her—she then casually replied as if nothing had happened.
"You mean about Frühling Schwatz? I apologize sincerely for that. I only wanted Lady Marie to have fun, but I might have gotten a little carried away and ended up being mean—I'm reflecting on that—"
"Don’t lie."
Once again, Mio fell silent.
From her demeanor, I understood, "I knew it." The lie Mio told Marie wasn’t about the existence of Frühling Schwatz. It was a lie that "her previous statement was a lie."
Mio had told Marie something true. It shook Marie more than Mio expected. In regret, Mio hurriedly corrected herself—claiming it was just a joke.
But that "joke" wasn’t something the usual Mio would say. Marie Shadelan is intelligent. She saw through that correction as the lie and knew the original statement was the truth. Realizing this, Mio dredged up some obscure trivia from a foreign culture—that today was the kind of day when people say tasteless jokes to surprise others.
By then, Mio must have sensed I had seen through it. She sighed as if resigned.
"…Master, you seem simple but are actually unfathomable. You look like the easiest person to fool, yet in the end, you see the truth. I still have much to learn."
"You don't need to learn that kind of thing. …So? What did you say to Marie?"
"I told her I’m quitting as a maid and leaving this castle."
Mio said it plainly.
I frowned but said nothing more, just sighed.
—What could I say? I could only nod in understanding.
Of course, there were many reasons I wanted her to stay. For Marie, for my daughter Lisa, and for my own work and personal life, I relied on Mio and wanted her by my side forever. But that wasn’t a reason for Mio to change her decision. Mio’s life was hers to decide.
When I remained silent, Mio smiled faintly.
"Don’t worry. It’s just a possibility, a future event. I haven’t decided to leave immediately."
"…It’s about Ryuu-Ryuu, isn’t it?"
"Yes. If Lady Ryuu-Ryuu returns alone to the duke’s mansion and says she wants to manage the duchy, I intend to support her."
Honestly, as her son, I was grateful to hear that. Naturally, I worried about my mother, and the duchy’s management was originally my responsibility. But as Count Kyros Granado, I also had a business to run based in this castle—overseeing the market in the royal capital. I couldn’t just abandon that.
Currently, I am a titular duke. The actual management is entrusted to relatives and ministers. Still, I needed to check sometimes whether the political policies were sound, or if there were deficits or corruption. If Ryuu-Ryuu took on that role, it would ease my burden considerably—and with Mio supporting her, I would be all the more reassured.
So, there was no reason to oppose it. I couldn’t think of a reason to stop Mio.
Seeing me fall silent, Mio laughed again, this time more clearly.
"It’s not immediate. As I promised Lady Marie, I’ll stay by her side for a while."
"…For a while, huh."
"And nothing is certain yet. Ryuu-Ryuu was deeply discouraged for a time, but she’s taken care of Lisa and regained her strength. If she remains in that state, she can continue to manage the duchy cheerfully, going back and forth between Granado Castle and the duke’s mansion as before."
"…Though there’s also the possibility she might suddenly collapse. She’s trying to look young, but she’s still getting on in years."
"When that happens, I will leave this castle as I promised."
Mio said this and shifted one foot slightly back. She clasped her hands as if praying, bent her knees, and lowered her waist.
…It was the deepest bow one makes when meeting nobility.