"Here you go, please have some tea. And try these pies too."
"..."
"Oh... Melia-san and Ruffie-san aren't here? Did they go back to their rooms? Maybe they ate and got sleepy?"
"..."
I stared at the ceiling, perplexed, as I sat in front of the tea and sweets that were brought to me. The tea cup emanated a delightful aroma of tea, and the pies on the plate looked sweet and incredibly delicious. However, my appetite waned upon seeing the man stuck on the floor. We were just having a pleasant conversation a moment ago, or so it seemed. But the man, stuck to the floor like a character from a gag manga, didn't move an inch. Could he be... dead this time?
"Oh, it's delicious, desu~no. So sweet, desu~no."
"The aroma is lovely."
"Oh, not bad."
Urza devoured the apple pie voraciously, while Aeris and Nagisa enjoyed their tea. They seemed to be avoiding looking at the floor, as if escaping from reality.
"..."
On the other hand, Ciel wore a solemn expression and fell into silence. It seemed different from pitying the man on the floor.
"Aunt, I have something to talk to you about."
Eventually, Ciel mustered the courage to speak, and Anemone tilted her slender neck.
"What's the matter, dear? You have such a gloomy face..."
"I talked with my father at home... If I can't find Leon within a month, my father has decided that I'll marry another man, not Leon."
"Oh..."
Anemone blinked her eyes at the somber news.
"I see... That's why you're so sad."
"...I want to be Leon's bride. I don't want to marry another man. But..."
"I understand. You can't refuse... You're a noble, after all. Ciel, it's not your fault."
Anemone hugged Ciel, pulling her closer and gently stroking her head.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm not angry, and even Leon won't be mad about it. Thank you for caring so much about our son."
"Aunt...!"
"It's alright, it's going to be fine. I promise."
Holding Ciel against her chest, Anemone repeated, "It's going to be fine." Although there was no basis for her words, listening to her maternal voice filled with love, it seemed like everything would truly be okay. Seeing the two of them, Monica's eyes also welled up.
"Mom..."
"...She's a mother, after all."
I said when seeing this heartwarming scene. In Anemone's gesture of stroking Ciel's head, one could sense a compassionate heart that surpassed blood ties. It truly was a beautiful sight. It would have been even better if there weren't a strange man stuck on the floor.
"Monica."
"Huh? Yes?"
Suddenly, Monica blinked her eyes as her mother called her name.
"You want to go search for Leon, don't you? Alright, go ahead."
"Huh!? Really, you mean it!?"
"I mean it... However, there are two conditions."
Anemone's radiant expression shifted from her daughter to me.
"The first condition is to go with Zenon-san. Of course, only if Zenon-san gives his permission."
"I don't mind... But are you sure about this? She's your precious daughter, right?"
"Because she is precious, I also have the desire as a mother to let her go on a journey. Of course, it's also because I can entrust her to someone I trust."
"...I don't remember being trusted that much."
What is this... whether it's the uncle or the mother, this unfathomable trust. Even though they've just met me and don't know anything about me, why do they believe in me enough to entrust their daughter?
"Yeah! As long as it's with Zenon-oniisan, it'll be fine! I'll definitely show you that I can help Leon-oniichan!"
"You too, huh..."
Monica joined in the conversation as well. Her sparkling eyes stared at me, making me feel uncomfortable.
"I think it's an excessive amount of trust... But I promise to answer to the best of my ability."
"Yes, please take care of my daughter."
"By the way, you mentioned two conditions... What's the other one?"
"Oh, about that..."
When I asked, Anemone smiled mischievously. It was a childlike smile that I wouldn't expect from someone who has two children.
"The other condition is for me to go along as well. Please let me work at Zenon-san's mansion."
"What...?"
"Whaaaaat!?"
I froze in response to the unexpected proposal, while Monica stood up and screamed. The other members of our party also wore astonished expressions. It seems... I've not only gotten the hero's sister, but also his mother.
"Hehehe... Please take care of me, Danna-sama?"
Amidst the shocked gazes of everyone, Anemone alone wore a mischievous smile.
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