# 62
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There was food on the table that was plenty for lunch but close to dinner.
The staff, knowing that the head of the family and his family were upset due to the events of the previous day, prepared it much more carefully than usual, but Lucio was upset.
Someone must have been sick all night and could barely eat the soup, but it was a very nice table.
Then the words that remained stuck in my throat the whole time: “Is the child awake?” They almost came out without me realizing it.
Naturally, with amazing f-control, I didn't spit it out in the end.
Given the circumstances, it was almost certain that the entire family came out after seeing the child wake up. However, I wanted to see it with my own eyes, so I planned to go back up after eating.
“Lucio, please follow me to the office for a moment.”
". …where?"
But as soon as the meal was over, the Duke spoke. The Duchess also nodded.
“Well, since there is a patient in my room, it would be best to move the tea time location.”
Lucio, who had no reason to refuse, entered the Duke's office by force.
The Duke's rather gentle mood in front of the children changed in an instant as soon as the office door closed.
“Are you finished cleaning everything?”
“Yes, according to the report published in the morning, not only the maids who caused the problem, but also everyone involved, including those who sympathized even a little, packed their bags and left the Duke’s residence in the morning.”
“What about the backlash?”
“We have taken all measures to prevent such words from being uttered.”
The Duke, who was swallowing hard, narrowed his eyes.
“Then the only thing left is Leia's mana explosion...”
“All the witches who were usually hiding came out, they didn't come out of the laboratory, and there were a lot of people that I saw right in front of my eyes. Of course, I could have made them watch their mouths, but... I didn't feel the need to do that, so I left them alone.”
Lucio then added briefly that the legislators and magicians were spreading rumours.
“This is a good thing. Perhaps it will be more beneficial for my future life in the palace.”
The Duke lowered his head, looked at the Duchess who was sipping her tea in silence, and opened his mouth again.
“How long was the head maid’s probation supposed to last?”
“There was no specific time period.”
“Are you sure you're not planning to reinstate her?”
asked the Duchess, who had been listening to the conversation, in surprise.
There was a question in her eyes as to whether the Head Maid was trying to get her to give up her position.
Lucio answered in a slightly sharp voice.
“Her greatest duty is to manage maids and servants. However, she allowed her subordinates to break the rules and escape chaos. Not being able to lead them properly was a clear dereliction of duty. It is clear that there was blatant harassment, but it is difficult to understand that the person in charge of affairs within the palace did not notice the situation.”
“So Lucio, are you saying that the head maid approved of bullying Leah?”
“There is no solid evidence that he claims she did not know about Leah's bullying, but under the circumstances...”
“No matter the circumstances, she is still a person even though she is capable and comprehensive. How could she know everything that happens in this grand palace? And anyway, she is someone who has dedicated her life to our Duchess.”
The Duchess was late.
She remembered that when she entered the Duchy of Elad, the vassals were very resistant and the atmosphere in the palace was not welcoming to her.
In many cases, those who worked as maids left their jobs because they did not want to serve a fallen nobleman as a duchess.
Because of what happened back then, you can hardly find any maids in the Duke's house now.
Unlike maids, maids are originally from lower-class nobility, and are like parties that stand by and help high-ranking noble women.
It was a shame that she was a duchess and had no maid.
At that time, Viscount Barion's daughter, Helen, of the unnamed duchy, volunteered to become a maid.
The current Duchess has given birth to a worthy heir, and her attitude has changed based on Duke Ellard's unwavering affection, so there are many who want to accept her as a servant, but the Duchess remembered the gratitude she felt at that time.
When no one volunteered.
Moreover, even when she went to the Grand Duchy due to his inadequacy in the capital, Helen was there and was able to leave the capital palace peacefully.
In particular, he tried to host an arranged marriage for her several times as a token of gratitude for his hard work in caring for young Lucio, but Helen flatly refused, saying that she wanted to devote her life to Duke Ellard.
In this way, the Duchess had something of a debt in her heart that she could not repay to the head maid who had been loyal to the Duchess all her life.
but.
“There is no need for a servant whose heart goes against his master’s will.”
Lucio spoke casually with a cold and serious face.
Then he stopped and asked again.
“If you think you're going through a tough time...”
“Excuse me?”
“However, it would be a good idea to leave her under observation for at least a month. She had a lot of power while running the palace. It would be helpful to ask the butler to find someone to take care of the maids in the palace in the meantime.”
“Okay, thanks for thinking.”
The Duchess finally softened her harsh expression and smiled softly.
She was very happy to see and talk to her eldest son, whom she had always considered distant, and to see respect and kindness despite his rudeness.
However, as if he was not aware of these feelings, Lucio calmed his voice.
“Then can I get up?”
“No, wait, we still have something important to talk about, so sit down.”
The Duke caught Lucio as he tried to stand.
Then the Duchess looked at the Duke and shook her head.
“Dear, let’s think about it some more and then talk about it.”
“What more should I think about? I thought deeply all night and made a decision.”
“That's right, it's only one day, it's an important matter, so we can't rush it.”
“Hmm, if you don't want...”
“No, not at all, I think the same as you.”
Then the Duke raised his eyebrows as if to ask what the problem was.
The Duchess lightly tapped the back of the Duke's hand as if to calm him and spoke to Lucio.
“Go out and see.”
Lucio, who had been listening to the conversation between the two with a puzzled look, nodded and walked out.
Normally, I would have tried to figure out what was important, but for some reason I didn't feel like it now.
“Anyway, if it's really important, you'll find out soon.”
And with that Lucio left, leaving only the two men in the office, and the Duke frowned.
“Why did you stop me, you really changed your mind?”
“Even if you don't.”
The Duchess immediately denied this and spoke as if to appease her husband, who had a rough face.
“It's not about deciding what's good for us alone.”
“That's why you want to ask Lucio what he thinks.”
“Then, it's our family's business, why would you tell Lucio first? Even if you are young, you should ask when Allen and Diana will be there?”
“I'm sure Diana would approve.”
“Hmm, that's true...”
The Duchess also smiled as if she acknowledged it.
“But even if we're all good, you never know.”
“I understand what you mean.”
The Duke, who had lost his temper, nodded.
“And what's more, Lucio is amazing, isn't he?”
"What?"
“Well...I thought you and Helen were very friendly.”
“I thought you weren't ridiculously jealous?”
When the Duke hit the nail on the head and smiled mischievously, the Duchess rolled her eyes.
The Duke burst out laughing and shook his head.
“I seem to be doing my best with you these days.”
The Duchess's expression immediately brightened and she smiled at these words.
“That's right, I was surprised when you suddenly came to see me for tea, did you see that earlier? Were you worried that I might have a hard time...”
“Ha.”
“I thought he was just as indifferent as you, but he has a kinder side than I thought.”
"Am I indifferent? This can't be true."
When the Duchess saw the Duke frowning and denying it, she burst into laughter as if it were ridiculous.
* * *
I think I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them, but it seemed like it was already afternoon.
She blinked and looked at everyone in the room.
Allen and Diana came in after finishing their meal.
Jack and Tice are in their training uniforms.
Then I found the maids standing in front of the open door.
When they made eye contact with me, they lowered their heads.
It's time to roll my eyes in shame.
"Leah, are you feeling okay? I was on patrol with the D.C. guards last night. ...If Jack hadn't told me, I wouldn't have even known you were sick."
Tice furrowed his eyebrows and said gloomily.
“I had no idea it was about you even though the wizards and wizards were making noise outside.”
“...Witches and doctors, why?”
Is it possible that they were gossiping about me and saying that they were teasing me last night?
I finally escaped the staff's harassment, but I was afraid, wondering if a new evil eye had struck me.
“Haha, well, they were fighting to make you their apprentice.”
Tice said with a bright smile.
“Witches say that you will become a great witch who will surprise the world in the future, and doctors say that you will definitely become a medic who will save countless lives, after all.”
My cheeks turned red before I could help them with the unexpected words.
Embarrassed, I noticed Diana's cheeks twitch as she lifted her chin and smiled beside me as if she had just heard a compliment.
“Hmph, everyone doesn’t know that Leia needs to learn how to use a sword.”