“Father, welcome home,” Claudia said, joining her brother and the other servants outside to greet him.
Her father was temporarily dumbstruck. Although his daughter was still a child, she conducted herself like the duchess of the household. His gaze absently wandered to the other faces present, as if seeking affirmation.
Hah, look at him. He’s so surprised. The same children he treated with such cold indifference came all the way out here to give him a warm welcome. Of course he was shocked. Virgil’s expression betrayed no emotion at all, but the atmosphere around him was softened by Claudia’s presence at his side.
Claudia had some none-too-flattering thoughts about her father and his neglect of their household, but all the same, she found this farce entertaining.
“Dinner has been prepared. Come,” Claudia beckoned.
“R-right.”
The butler had already informed her and Virgil that their father intended to eat with them, then rejoin his lover at a separate residence. His lack of luggage indicated he planned to stay no longer than absolutely necessary, which was why she ushered him into the dining hall.
Claudia’s father obediently followed behind her. Once they were all seated at the table, the servants brought out the appetizers. The help were nervous at the master’s long overdue return. Naturally, the air around the dining table was tense.
“How did I do?” Claudia asked, purposefully breaking the awkward silence with her cheerful voice. “Was my welcome adequate?”
“Oh, yes. I barely recognized you.”
At least he answered when she asked him a question. She flashed a genuine smile, pleased her father wasn’t entirely disinterested in her.
It’s as I suspected, then. Father was merely running from Mother’s severe and unforgiving nature.
He’d kept his distance from her and her brother, but he didn’t hate them—though his behavior as a parent was still questionable. Nonetheless, Claudia saw some hope of yet bridging the chasm that divided them. She was far beyond thirsting for her father’s love, but if she was going to go head-to-head with Fermina, her father’s trust was indispensable.
“Thank goodness!” Claudia said. “That’s such a relief to hear.” She pressed a hand to her chest. She was cautious to keep her every gesture childlike, hoping to leave her father with the impression that her flawless manners were a result of strenuous effort. Mother never did learn how to separate business from private matters.
Etiquette was to be observed out in public, yes, but it was unnecessary in the privacy of one’s own home. There was a saying that encapsulated men’s desires perfectly: men want a lady during the day and a sex worker at night. Her mother failed to realize that. She took what she was told at face value and tried to brute force her way through her marriage.
Perhaps I inherited my mother’s simplistic way of thinking. Even so, it was up to Claudia whether to let herself become a fool. She resolved once more not to tread that same path.
As Claudia nodded to herself with renewed determination, the men at the table watched her fondly. She appreciated that their misunderstandings were to her benefit. Still, as a duke’s daughter, she couldn’t help feeling a little apprehension. I know it only now that I can better read people, but my father and elder brother are far too gullible. I’m sure it’s partly because I’m family that they let their guard down.
Recalling how easily Fermina pulled the wool over their eyes, she now found their gullibility painfully obvious. Alas, Claudia suspected their trusting natures had the unfortunate downside of making them susceptible to the machinations of other women. The issue with Fermina was a prime example. She wanted to warn them ahead of time, but it would defeat the purpose if they became suspicious of her. This precarious balance she had to maintain made her head ache.
“Dee really has been devoting herself to her lessons and studies,” Virgil said. “Surely you’ve heard the evaluations of her private tutor for yourself, haven’t you, Father?”
“Indeed. I have received the reports. I decided to drop by today to see for myself.”
Claudia studied her father. So that was the reason he’d returned. She decided it was prudent to proceed with her countermeasures against Fermina little by little. At present, my elder brother already treasures our relationship, so I should work on maintaining that.
In her previous life, Virgil had been wary of their father’s mistress and their illegitimate daughter when they first arrived at the estate. Fermina had gradually won him over, but if Claudia could steer him to maintain his wariness, he wouldn’t abandon her to become Fermina’s staunch ally, at the very least.
The duke noticed her gaze. His lips thinned into a line. “Claudia, you are to attend a tea party with His Highness, the crown prince.”
Wait, what?
“Given what a fine lady you’re growing into, I have every bit of faith you’ll be selected as one of his bridal candidates. I’ll make sure you are briefed on the details later.”
She hesitantly bobbed her head. “V-very well then.”
This didn’t happen last time! Beneath the table, she clasped her hands. This had to be the real reason her father returned.
Picking up on her anxiety, Virgil offered her a comforting smile. “With the way you are now, Dee, you’ll be just fine. You may be a little nervous in front of His Highness, but he’ll understand that and take it into consideration.”
“Judging by the marks you’ve received in geography and history, you’ll have no trouble finding common discussion topics,” her father added. “His Highness is such a wise and benevolent young man that he even inspects the orphanages himself. Provided you don’t do anything too careless, you’ll have no issues.”
It was rare for her father to reassure her like this. She had no choice but to agree to do her best, telling herself this was an opportunity. With her wealth of experience this time around, she wouldn’t be easily outdone by noble ladies of the same age.
“In the past, you could hardly sit still, remember?” her father went on.
She nodded. “Yes, I have only been able to move past that thanks to Martha’s—ahem, that is, thanks to the head maid’s help.”
I think this may be the first time Father has spoken to me this way.
Claudia carefully schooled her expression, but on the inside, she was reeling. Maybe she was only being forgetful, but as far as she could remember, the only conversations she and her father shared were impersonal and businesslike.
“Isn’t she strict with you?” her father asked, referring to Martha.
Claudia nodded vigorously. “Oh, she most definitely is. There were many times I thought I might completely lose heart…but that’s also what makes it worth it.”
There was no point in denying it. Her father knew that Martha equaled her mother in sternness. Still, she made a point of emphasizing the necessity of Martha’s disposition. She couldn’t risk her father firing her.
“You know I have a bad habit of being too self-indulgent, don’t you, Father? Our head maid is the whole reason I’ve learned some self-discipline. And whenever I feel I’m at my wits’ end, my elder brother is there to support me.” She beamed at Virgil, and his gaze softened.
The atmosphere had grown warm and inviting by the time the two siblings displayed their affection for one another. Unfortunately, their father immediately returned to his mistress’s abode once his business was finished—just as he’d originally planned—but she thought the chasm between them had shrunk a little, thanks to the smooth conversation they could enjoy as a family at last.