34
「I wanted to meet Okaa-sama, but if I cannot meet her, I give up
already. Besides, my new maids, Eva and Rose, treat me like older
sisters, so I am not lonely.」
When
she brought up Eva and Rose's names, the two had clasped their
hands in joy, but Duke Radziwill glared at them as if to say, "Do
not do anything unnecessary".
The
two gave a large start, their shoulders trembling, and looked at Candice
pleadingly.
Candice continued talking as if to deflect Duke Radziwill's attention.
「If I cannot be praised directly by Okaa-sama, there is no meaning in my
trying my best, so the instructors Ojiisama prepares are unnecessary.」
「Wh-What did you say!?」
She
looked at Duke Radziwill, who seemed ready to fly into a rage at any
moment, but he didn't seem likely to back down easily.
Here, Candice
played a certain trump card.
「I am thinking of consulting Otou-sama regarding everything about
instructors and personal matters.」
「His Majesty the Emperor……?」
Duke
Radziwill's bright red face returned to normal in an
instant.
（Well, relying on Otou-sama would be absolutely impossible, though!）
Just
remembering those cold eyes looking at Candice gave her goosebumps. She
felt as if a sharp pain pierced her neck.
Even
if it was a lie, she thought this was the only way to make Duke Radziwill
back down.
Candice stood up with a child-like, sweet smile.
She
didn't need to meet her mother. She would ask the Emperor for
instructors. With this, there was no room left for Duke Radziwill to
exploit her, and Candice was highly satisfied.
「Is that all you have to say? I am busy, so I shall excuse myself here
for today.」
「Wait, Candice!」
「……What is it?」
Candice cast a fleeting glance backward.
Duke
Radziwill must be dissatisfied that not a single thing
went as he pleased. Compared to when he entered the room, his face was grim and
he looked like he would burst into anger at any moment.
It
wasn't something Candice could say, but Duke Radziwill was also
quite short-tempered and got angry quickly. Looking only at that, she thought
they were exactly alike. However, just when she thought he would burst into
anger, perhaps he remembered he was dealing with a child. He cleared his throat
and then faced her.
「If you can meet your mother, you will try your best, will you not……?」
「I wonder. If I could meet her, I might have felt motivated. However,
did Ojiisama not just say earlier that it was impossible?」
When Candice
said so, Duke Radziwill showed signs of contemplating.
（Don't tell me…… he intends to say he will let me meet my mother now of
all times?）
As Candice
waited for his words, he spoke exactly as she predicted.
「Understood. In that case, I will let you meet your mother!」
Candice glared at Duke Radziwill.
Wasn't
he just planning to say her condition worsened right before they met, and not
let them meet again? For the time being, he would probably spout any lie as
long as Candice did as he pleased.
Or did
he think that if he said this, Candice would rejoice and start listening
to him again? Such thoughts were transparently visible from his lips that
twisted into a smirk. However, Candice thought.
（As I thought, I must not trust Ojiisama. He only tells lies to make me
obey and use me. I am no longer the stupid me from back then…… you can just go
ahead and regret this.）
Candice had to make him realize that she would no longer do as he pleased. Candice
took a deep breath before answering.
「───I decline!」
At Candice's
words, Duke Radziwill opened his mouth wide in shock. However, he
immediately asked Candice in a loud voice.
「Why is that, Candice!」
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