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“The shopping I’m talking about here doesn’t mean Madam goes shopping for herself. It’s to naturally develop kinship between you two by picking out something the Young Master can use.”

“…….”

“Something like clothes and accessories that would look good on the Young Master. I heard that earrings are popular among men these days. Then, I don’t think Young Master will like it… let’s discard this. Anyway, you can buy him gloves, or a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. You should embroider it yourself. Oh, come to think of it, isn’t this a great idea? Madam isn’t really good at embroidery but you can practice. We need to prepare a soft, plain cloth and silk thread. Well, and what else is there? There are many things Madam can buy him like hats, party-wear, casual clothes, shoes, etc. Madam should definitely buy Young Master some clothes. It’ll be good to appreciate his good-looks while he tries on different clothes.”

“…….”

“Don’t just think about it, make sure to compliment him. Then it’ll look like a friendly mother-son relationship to anyone.”

Lianne smiled brightly, speaking in a continuous stream of thoughts while imagining it. Ercella, who had to embroider her son’s handkerchief, buy him a hat, shoes, and clothes, and compliment him, struggled to pull up the corners of her mouth.

“That would be nice…”

“Are you sure? I’m usually energetic so I’m burning up with motivation. Madam should watch a play or performance together. You can watch ballet. Or maybe you could go on a trip together? Well, I think it’s too early. What else is there…”

“Stop, stop!”

Ercella hurriedly interrupted Lianne’s words. Lianne still had a lot to talk about but paused with a puzzled look.

“Let’s do it step by step. I can’t do it all at once.”

Ercella seemed regretful at her logical words, but Lianne nodded meekly.

“Then, first, let’s have breakfast together tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

With that compromise, Ercella waited for tomorrow.

* * *

Ercella got up 30 minutes earlier than usual and entered the dining room. The table with a red cloth with golden embroidery on it was for big families, but at most only three people sat on it, except for occasional guests.

Even then she mostly ate alone or with Harsen without Vicente. The desolation had Ercella feel lonely in her heart.

“Madam, you’re early. I’ll prepare a meal soon.”

“Okay. What about Vicente?”

“After he finished eating, he headed to the training ground.”

Clifton answered, looking puzzled at Ercella, who just asked about the whereabouts of the Young Master. Her face was filled with disappointment when she heard the butler.

“Tell him we’ll have a meal together next time.”

Clifton looked surprised when she seemed disappointed.

“The Lord will object. If the Young Master’s meal is delayed, his schedule may be disrupted…”

“Then I’ll start eating early. Call me in time for Vicente’s meal.”

“What about the Lord…”

“Tell him to suit himself.”

She usually ate with Harsen, except when he was busy. But now she couldn’t afford to think about her husband. I have to improve my awkward relationship with Vicente somehow. So it doesn’t matter if I’m having a meal with Harsen or not.

“…Yes?”

Ercella always maintained her dignity so she was embarrassed at her rather dumb retort. She said without caring.

“I’m going to eat with my son from now on.”

“Well, did you fight with the Lord? Take it easy, Madam…”

Another maid nearby, Beth, asked her that. She was another maid she brought from the Marquis estate. Ercella complained in her heart that she treated her too casually, and smiled softly.

“Do you want to quit?”

“N-no!”

Beth reflected and shut her mouth. Her reactions were always cute. Ercella smiled and kindly added.

“Also, we didn’t fight. Anyway, when is Vicente having breakfast? At 7 a.m.?”

“At 5 a.m.”

“… What?”

“He doesn’t have a proper meal. He’ll just have a slice of bread and immediately head to the training grounds.”

Ercella’s mouth shut for the first time. She always ate around 8 a.m. She was not busy so she came earlier, thinking he would eat around 7 a.m., but was shocked hearing that he barely eats and goes for training at 5 a.m.

Before long, Ercella ordered with a cold face.

“Get Vicente right now.”

Ercella couldn’t believe what Clifton had just said. I can’t believe Vicente’s been doing that. And I can’t believe I didn’t know that at all.

I knew my husband was very interested in Vicente’s education, but I didn’t know it would be this much.

From her point of view, it was ruthless. She wanted to go and argue right away.

But did she deserve to blame him when she didn’t know how Vicente had grown up so far? She was never interested in him.

Sadly, Ercella realized that she didn’t deserve it. She was ashamed of herself for not knowing anything about Vicente. She was angry at all that.

Ercella bit her lips.

“From now on, lock the training grounds until 8 a.m.”

“Then Young Master can’t train.”

“Do as I say!”

What’s wrong with Madam?

At Ercella’s anger, everyone including the butler, stomped their feet.

As per her order, a maid went to call the Young Master, so he should be arriving soon, but if she encountered him in this condition, something bad might happen.

“Keep Vicente out of the training grounds before 8 a.m. in the future.”

“What have I done wrong, Mother?”

Sure enough, she heard Vicente’s cold voice that just appeared.

“Vicente?”

When Ercella turned towards the door, Vicente bowed his head. He was impeccably polite with flawless manners, but his face was colder than usual.

“I’ve been told that Mother called for me. But what were you just saying?”

“What you heard. I can’t believe you wake up so early in the morning to train. That makes no sense…”

“It’s nothing Mother should be concerned with.”

Vicente cut off Ercella’s upset words without mercy. It was as if she was interfering with something.

Ercella was aghast by his coldness and without changing her tone, she said.

“Vicente, what do you mean? No one in this country, not even His Majesty, spends his day like that.”

“It’s a matter of course for a knight in training. It’s nothing strange. Mother, why are you doing this-?”

“Vicente!”

The surrounding air chilled at Ercella’s angry yell. Only then did she realize she was too agitated. She collected her breath and spoke softly with a different tone than before.

“Don’t you see anything wrong with it? This… this is abuse. You’re a kid that needs to grow up.”

Vicente’s face was slightly distorted at her words. He said with a sharper chill than before.

“If someone else had just heard that remark, it would have been a disgrace to the family and Father would have been angry.”

So cold. Ercella muttered blankly in that cold, freezing air.

“… A disgrace to the family.”

Of course, if someone else heard it, it would be a disgrace to the family name, but that’s not what’s important now. Vicente’s mouth corners were slightly twisted, as if he had read Ercella’s thoughts.

“Wasn’t that the most important thing to Mother?”

It was subtle, but it contained ridicule towards her in its own way.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this today.”

Ending the conversation, Vicente turned his back towards Ercella and went outside.

* * *

“Madam, don’t be upset. I’m sure the Young Master will regret his words.”

She didn’t feel like eating after what happened earlier. Ercella skipped breakfast and came back to her room. Lianne comforted the sullen Ercella, but she could not hide her sorrow.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you beforehand, but I forgot…”

Lianne expressed guilt for forgetting her duty, but it was not really her fault. Lianne was Ercella’s exclusive maid. Since Ercella usually had no exchange with her son, there was no need for Lianne to know Vicente’s schedule. Ercella had no intention of blaming Lianne anyway and recalled what happened earlier.

“I can’t believe Harsen would do that.”

Vicente is still a growing boy, but he trains even by skipping meals. He probably doesn’t even sleep properly.

Does he have any friends? He should be having fun outside with his friends.

Even if Vicente is the heir of the family, the fact that her son is not enjoying a single thing that his peers take for granted remains unchanged.

Why would you do this..?

What do I do now? Ercella’s heart sank as she resented herself. And even though she knew he didn’t deserve it, she eventually resented Harsen.

She knew he was sincere as Vicente was his only son, but his method was cold-hearted. He didn’t give his son any time to rest.

“The master always seeks perfection.”

I can’t believe my husband pushed Vicente this hard. I knew his schedule was tight, but I didn’t know it would be this much.

“How many tutors does he have?”

“Young master is studying geography, history, society, diplomacy, economics, political law, philosophy, literature, basic culture, piano and so on. He has at least about 10 tutors.”

“That many?”

“Yes, the Lord looks only for the best in each field of education. They are mostly academic professors.”

“…You mean Vicente takes all of that?”

“The Young Master is doing well enough.”

“Oh, my God.”

A short sigh came out of her mouth.

It’s a tremendous schedule, but he pulls it off. She admired his intelligence but felt suffocated by his physically and mentally exhausting schedule.

“… a child.”

“Madam.”

She calmed down her nerves and calmly vented.

“I never thought we were in a family that abused children.”

Words that lingered in her mouth popped out easily. Lianne looked at Ercella nervously.

Abuse? While she was anxious about who might be listening to such radical words, she also felt sorry for Ercella, who was distorting her expression .

“Lianne.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Tell the butler to cut down all but four tutors.”

Instead of asking, ‘Only four?’ Lianne followed her words faithfully.

“Which subjects should I exclude?”

“Geography, history, society, and political law for now, and then he can slowly study the rest after completing these. And he doesn’t need to learn how to play the piano. Philosophy too. They just teach useless things like why I live, why I exist, where I come from, where will I go!”

“Yes, yes, you’re right… it’s really useless.”

She must have had a hard time studying philosophy.

Lianne didn’t say anymore and did what she said.

I’m sure the Lord will say something, but he can’t deal with a mother… She expected a chilly air to flow soon in the mansion and vowed to stay away for a while.

“And tell them to lock up the training grounds until 8 a.m. If you hear a report that Vicente entered the training grounds before 8, tell him it’s my order.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Tell Vicente that we’re going to have a meal together at 7:30. Make sure he attends.”

“…Wouldn’t he refuse if you ask for too much?”

“Will he listen to me if I don’t do this?”

That’s true. The Young Master is stubborn. Madam is a bit overbearing, but it can’t be helped this time. Above all, she was so angry that I couldn’t help but get along as much as I could.

“Yes, I’ll inform the Young Master right away. But since you’re both angry with each other, why don’t you have lunch and dinner separately today and have a calm morning tomorrow?”

“… Right. Today… I got carried away without realizing.”

“…….”

Lost in thought, Ercella nodded a couple of times.

“Yes, that would be better.”

Instead of making the relationship better, she made it worse. She should have been patient, but she couldn’t help but be mad at the fact that Vicente grew up like that, and that she had no idea either. Ercella wasn’t going to let this go.

“When will Harsen arrive today?”

I have to talk with my husband to solve this issue.

* * *