As Planned?

Episode 46

‘Carefully. Speak and act with utmost care.’

Celine, after escorting the Duchess to her home, pretended not to notice as the noblewoman quickly scanned the state of her dwelling while seated in the living room. She then excused herself to retrieve the tea leaves.

It should be added that Celine was naturally a tidy person and kept her home clean.

However, knowing her future mother-in-law would be inspecting it, she had taken extra care to clean even more thoroughly, that was also the truth.

Earnestly praying that she would pass muster, Celine brought the Bellaria tea leaves back to the living room.

“Oh my, is it alright to give away so much?”

Celine bowed awkwardly to the Duchess, whose eyes widened at the sight of the tea leaves.

“Ah, yes, it is quite alright. I tend to keep a generous supply of tea leaves, and, above all, compared to the constant favors I receive from the Minister, this is nothing at all.”

While subtly showcasing her abilities as a homemaker, she casually slipped in a high evaluation of Ervin, as naturally as breathing.

The Duchess couldn’t hide her satisfaction.

“Huhu, is that so? Then I shall gratefully accept. Speaking of which, how is working with my eldest son? He can be a bit frustrating, I imagine, which might make things occasionally uncomfortable.”

This was a trap.

To agree when a parent speaks of their child’s flaws is the height of foolishness.

Using the very phrase “frustrating” was no doubt a probe, a subtle inquiry into her true opinion of Ervin.

Truly, a Duchess. Seeing her as a formidable opponent, Celine nonetheless shook her head in a feigned panic, not hesitating for even a moment.

“Ah, no! Not at all! The Minister is always so kind to his subordinates!”

Now, the key here was that instead of pointedly saying he was kind *only* to her, she included all the subordinates.

Highlighting that he was kind *only* to her wouldn’t be terrible, but it would reveal her affections too directly.

It’s not that direct revelation was forbidden.

Just not yet.

‘Mother is constantly observing me, even as we speak. If only to emphasize the accidental nature of that earlier meeting, I must be subtle for the time being.’

The Duchess before her was a completely different sort from the vain, ordinary noblewomen.

According to her investigation, she had learned that, given her position as the mistress of the Barmut duchy, many women approached her with ulterior motives, thus she became remarkably careful when dealing with people.

Conversely, that caution also meant that she would become remarkably lenient with those who passed her tests.

Therefore, now was the most crucial moment.

“Ahem. Certainly, Ervin, contrary to appearances, is a very kind child. But even so, usually it’s hard to realize…”

Opportunity arrived! Celine, thinking she had to strike while the iron was hot, quickly opened her mouth!

“Of course, someone who doesn’t know him might think that, but anyone who works with him would know how kind the Minister is. He even sometimes treats us to meals privately, and when we go grocery shopping together, he always insists on carrying the groceries himself.”

The appeal was exceptionally effective.

Hearing Celine’s words, the Duchess covered her mouth in surprised shock.

“Meals? Just the two of you? And going grocery shopping together?! Fraulein Blasia, are you speaking about Ervin right now!?”

Seeing the Duchess biting hard on the bait she had cast, Celine smiled inwardly with satisfaction, widening her eyes as if she herself was surprised.

“Uh… yes, I’m talking about the Minister…?”

“Tell me in detail. When and where did you have these meals? And how did you come to go grocery shopping together?”

While inwardly pleased, Celine maintained her outward appearance of being intimidated by the Duchess’s fervor, and carefully continued.

“Well, I pack a lunch for the Minister, you see…”

“He eats a lunch someone else made for him?!”

The Duchess’s interest doubled.

“Whenever the Minister accepted it, he would bring me to the Golden Gryphon, as a thank you…”

“Ervin took you to the Golden Gryphon!?”

The Duchess’s interest soared to a height that felt almost inappropriate.

“We even go to the market together sometimes, to shop.”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my!”

The Duchess’s excitement verged on explosion.

Celine, judging it was time to drive the wedge in, allowed the barest shimmer of moisture to gather in her eyes, crafting a wistful gaze.

“Beyond that, Minister always treats me with such warmth. Ever since the day he rescued me.”

“Rescued you? Ervin did?”

The wedge was in place. Now, only to hammer it home.

“…When I was young, I was once kidnapped by a trafficking ring. It was Minister who saved me then. Truthfully, the reason I joined the Intelligence Agency was that I wanted to be of strength to him…”

“Oh, gracious!”

The Duchess, her cheeks flushed a delicate rose, rushed to Celine, clasping her hands.

“Miss Blassia! No, Celine! If it’s alright with you, how would you feel about joining us for dinner at our home tonight? We’ll invite Ervin, too!”

The Celine within drew a deep, satisfied smile.

‘Just as planned.’

—

Upon leaving work, I found a carriage sent from the main family residence waiting before the Intelligence Agency.

“Eldest Young Master, Madam requests your presence urgently.”

“Mother does?”

Why? I had visited her just a few days prior.

Wondering what could be amiss, I boarded the carriage and made my way to the house, only to find my parents engaged in amiable conversation with Celine.

Ah.

Ah, wait a moment.

My brain’s processing power struggled to catch up with reality. I simply returned my vision to its proper focus.

The aroma of Bellaria tea leaves tickled my nose.

I see.

It had been said lately that the distribution of Bellaria tea leaves had become difficult.

I had wondered why she suddenly requested leave. She used it as an excuse to approach Mother at the tea house and orchestrate this situation.

She’s my secretary, but a fearsome woman.

“Ervin! What kind of child are you, honestly…!”

Judging by the scolding I received the moment I arrived, it seemed the charm offensive was already complete.

Celine Blacia. Never would’ve pegged her as such a scary woman.

I let out a long, involuntary sigh and sat down beside Celine, who was currently pretending to be flustered as she looked between my parents and me.

If it were up to me, I’d just go home, but that would embarrass both my parents and Celine.

Sitting across from her was just as bad as leaving, so I had no choice but to sit next to her.

So don’t look so smug.

And you, don’t pretend you’re not blatantly delighted.

“What’s going on here?”

I asked the polite question, and a scenario unfolded from my mother’s lips, exactly as I’d expected.

She’d been lamenting the lack of Bellaria tea leaves, and wouldn’t you know it, the woman who offered to share just happened to be my secretary.

Didn’t anything seem off to her?

Or perhaps I should commend Celine’s impressive research skills and acting prowess.

Even so, she’s not usually the type to take such proactive measures.

It seems she caught wind of Francesca’s meeting with my parents and felt a sense of urgency.

Though Francesca didn’t exactly plan that meeting… but it’s no use saying that now.

“I hear you’re even receiving lunchboxes from Celine? It takes so much effort to make them. A single meal isn’t enough to repay that, is it?”

“Oh, not at all, Madam. I enjoy doing it, and His Excellency initially said it wasn’t necessary, but I kind of forced it on him…”

Celine, and Madam, at that.

This is bad. Her charm offensive is working far better than I anticipated.

I feel a cold sweat coming on, which is unusual for me.

Judging that this was heading towards a dangerous dinner arrangement, I called out to my mother, who was chattering away relentlessly.

“Mother.”

“You’ve always been—”

“Mother.”

“That’s why, even when there are good women, you… Huh? What is it?”

Finally stopping my mother in her tracks, I grabbed Celine’s hand and stood up, as my father watched with a keen interest, eager to see how I’d resolve the situation.

“I came because you said it was urgent. If you have no other business, Celine and I will return to the Intelligence Division.”

“Oh my, Celine too?”

“She’s my secretary, of course.”

The performance of taking her hand and standing, combined with emphasizing that she was my secretary, made my parents not only forgo protest, but happily send us off.

Barely escaping in that state, I boarded the carriage, and tried to release her hand but Celine clung to my arm instead.

“You’re awfully forward today, Céline.”

“…Are you angry?”

“No. Not angry, but I would prefer you kept your distance.”

But she did not keep her distance.

“…Are you really going back to the Intelligence Bureau?”

“There’s no chance of that.”

“Then you *are* angry.”

“I’m not angry.”

He truly wasn’t angry.

He was even marveling at how well she’d brought her scheme to fruition.

“Still, some things are just not possible.”

“Is it because it’s me?”

“It’s impossible for anyone.”

There’s no space for anyone.

“…I can still try, can’t I?”

“That’s up to you. Though I wouldn’t recommend such a futile endeavour.”

“It’s not futile. I’ll succeed, without fail.”

Difficult to comprehend.

“I don’t want to presume to judge another’s feelings, but the emotion you harbour is like a residue left over from the shock you experienced in the past. So—”

“…The past? Are you talking about when I was kidnapped by the human trafficking ring?”

What else would I be talking about?

“…You remembered? Me? Since then, all this time?”

Ah.

Bloody hell.

“No, that’s not… that’s not what I meant…”

“If you were trying to make me give up, you shouldn’t have said something with such the opposite effect.”

Indeed.

There was no room for excuses.

Didn’t I fix my vision earlier? Why did I make such a dimwitted mistake?

While I felt confounded by my own blunder, Céline stared intently at me from beside me.

Somehow, I couldn’t meet her gaze, so I deliberately turned my eyes toward the window.

In that time, the carriage arrived before her house.

Just before getting out, Celine said,

“I will devour you. Without fail.”

Before I could ask what she meant to devour, Celine stole a kiss on my cheek.

Then, she nimbly turned and dashed out of the carriage, disappearing into her house.

Could it be…did I just get marked?

After pondering for a moment, I decided to leave such future matters to my future self and returned my gaze forward.

Let’s go home.