Adel returned to her room.
There was absolutely no need to feel gloomy just because she had been slapped once.
'Because I am now officially an adult recognized by the Kingdom of Selmiria—sixteen years old!'
That also meant she could now enter into real estate contracts on her own.
Fortunately, she had a modest amount of funds that no one knew about.
'I've been secretly doing part-time work since I was fourteen and saving up bit by bit.'
So, this morning, she had gone out to look for a place to live independently.
Adel looked over the list of potential properties she had gotten from the real estate agency again.
There were as many as three places within her budget.
They were all quite… organic spaces.
Each one involved sharing the room with centipedes, spiders, or rats, to that degree.
Just as she was delightedly confirming that splendid list, a servant came looking for her again.
"The relatives are waiting for you, miss."
'An awful lot of people looking for me today.'
Though she could guess why she was being summoned this time.
Following the servant to the front hall, she found the relatives known as the Anti-Clara Faction gathered.
As they had been closely tied to the previous Marquis, they intensely disliked Clara, who had played a part in bringing him down.
"Is it true you were summoned by that old-in-a-child's-body little miss?"
How did they know?
Clara had called for her quietly; no one should have known.
"Surely you didn't agree to become her guardian?"
The relatives' gazes fixed on Adel were sharp.
But there was no reason to be afraid. She had already refused precisely because she didn't want this.
"No, I refused that matter."
"Truly?"
"Do you think I'm crazy? Taking on a position like that?"
"Good. It seems you know your place. It's not a position for an illegitimate child to covet."
It wasn't that she had refused due to her birth status, but it wasn't an incorrect statement either.
Adel shrugged and tried to slip past the relatives.
"You."
But one of the relatives grabbed her shoulder with a rough hand and pulled her back.
"What?"
Turning around irritably, she saw him looking at her with contempt-filled eyes.
"If you ever change your mind and get any useless ideas, know that both you and your filthy mother will be buried in a salt mine."
A strong pain shot through the gripped shoulder.
Adel tried to twist her body to shake off his hand, but it had the opposite effect.
"Do you understand?!"
The crushing pressure grew even stronger.
At this point, even a pacifist like Adel felt like squirming a little.
Adel curled one side of her lip slightly upward.
"If you get me this angry, this 'illegitimate child who doesn't know her place' might just go crazy and change her mind right now, you know."
It seemed they hadn't expected Adel to dare talk back.
It was quite satisfying to see bewilderment flash across their faces.
"You've got some nerve, thinking you're safe!"
However, the immediate, rough reaction made Adel feel a twinge of regret.
This was exactly why getting involved with relatives was such a nuisance.
A bone-crushing pain still throbbed in her tightly gripped shoulder.
They didn't look like they'd let go until Adel apologized and begged for forgiveness.
"Do you need a proper beating to come to your senses?!"
To the man gnashing his teeth, Adel was about to reply.
"Yes, please—"
Before she could even finish saying 'go ahead'.
"So this is where you were."
An unfamiliar voice from above the stairs cut between them.
Adel looked toward the source of the sound.
A man stood at the top of the stairs.
A man with hair like melted sunlight and handsome features.
Even the ordinary action of descending the long stairs exuded an innate elegance.
As eyes turned to him, he smiled a smile worthy of a portrait.
Truly beautiful, yet somehow giving the impression of being crafted.
"How is the task I requested coming along?"
He posed a sudden question.
While looking directly at Adel.
For a moment, Adel almost responded with a 'Huh?', but she quickly understood his intention.
This was help.
A way to extract her from these dreadful relatives.
Adel lifted her head confidently.
"I have prepared everything as you instructed."
Perhaps he hadn't expected her to play along so seamlessly?
A rather intrigued smile spread across his lips.
"Good. Very good."
The man, who had now arrived before them, let his gaze rest quietly on Adel's shoulder.
The relative, who had been staring blankly at him, finally released the hand crushing Adel's shoulder.
"That's not—!"
He tried to offer what sounded like an excuse.
"Of course, I know it's not. Then, I shall see you later."
He wasn't even granted the chance to do so.
Moreover, a clear request to leave was added.
The relatives offered awkward greetings and strange words of apology before hastily leaving the spot as if fleeing.
Soon after, only Adel and the overwhelmingly handsome man remained in the entrance hall.
And only then did Adel realize who he was.
'The Duke of Winchester…'
Traditionally, the title of Duke was held by pot-bellied old men.
But this Duke of Winchester had spectacularly shattered that stereotype.
Eighteen years old this year.
A man whose mere sight seemed to tighten one's heart.
The greatest gentleman of this era, always protecting the weak and kind to everyone.
Had he intentionally chased the relatives away just now?
As befitting his reputation.
"Thank you for your help, Your Grace, the Duke of Winchester."
"Not at all, Miss Adel Merriweather."
How did he know her name?
As Adel looked at him curiously, he held out what looked like an expensive handkerchief.
"I thought you might need it."
She wasn't sure why he judged that Adel needed a handkerchief.
"No, I'm fine."
When she refused, she could feel him looking at her as if she were some strange creature.
Ah, of course.
Perhaps this man wasn't familiar with the situation of being refused at all.
There were even stories that there wasn't a soul in the capital who didn't love him.
Then maybe she should accept it after all.
Quietly conforming to the behavior of the overwhelming majority was a duty of a commoner, after all.
"I see."
But the handkerchief had already disappeared back into his immaculate suit along with his brief reply.
'He's not upset, is he?'
Ah, impossible.
The gentleman loved by everyone, over such a trivial matter…
"By the way, I'm not sure how to interpret what you said earlier."
…He was upset!
"No, I!"
Adel hurriedly tried to explain.
There was nothing crazier than falling out of favor with someone of high status.
"I heard that Miss Merriweather refused the Marquis's proposal."
Ah, it wasn't about the handkerchief.
Unfortunately, it was a more serious problem.
It seemed the Duke had heard the words Adel had used to provoke the relatives.
'The Duke of Winchester is the one who brought down the previous Marquis based on the evidence Clara found.'
And that wasn't all.
He was also the first to recommend the young girl Clara as the next Marquis.
That meant the Duke was part of the 'Pro-Clara Faction.'
He would absolutely not welcome a hollow shell like Adel leeching off Clara.
"I apologize. It was a thoughtless remark made in anger. I have not the slightest intention of becoming the Marquis's guardian."
Adel answered clearly.
She thought he would now be reassured and leave.
"Why not?"
For some reason, he asked for a reason.
His intention was unclear.
But it wasn't a particularly difficult question, so Adel could answer simply.
"You saw the commotion just now. If I stepped forward needlessly, the mansion would be turned upside down, wouldn't it?"
"I saw you splendidly subduing them with words."
That sounded almost like a compliment directed at Adel.
'Could it be… he wants me to become the guardian?'
The thought crossed her mind briefly.
Of course, she quickly realized that couldn't be it.
Adel was illegitimate.
Nobles treated illegitimate children like filth.
And the Duke of Winchester was the man at the pinnacle of those very nobles.
"It was interesting."
"Huh?"
"Perhaps Miss Merriweather might unexpectedly possess quite useful aptitudes."
"…You are mistaken."
"I don't think I am mistaken?"
At his arrogant reply, Adel's face naturally scrunched up.
He probably had never once doubted himself about anything.
So he could confidently utter nonsense like 'I'm not mistaken.'
'The complete opposite of me…'
For some reason, the man before her felt irritating.
"I was certain when you improvised and matched my words on the spot. That sense is probably innate."
Moreover, hearing unfamiliar praise continuously was just uncomfortable.
She hadn't wanted to hear such things from a complete stranger.
"The Marquis also has quite a good eye for peop—"
"No!"
Listening quietly was too agonizing, so Adel quickly cut him off.
"Hmm?"
He expressed his question.
Asking what exactly Adel was saying 'no' to.
"I-I mean, I have no aptitude, nothing innate. Nothing at all!"
"You're being excessively humble."
"It's not humility, it's the truth!"
He looked at Adel with surprised eyes.
And after a long pause, he asked another question.
"So, you're saying I have a poor eye for people?"
Yes, that's it!
Finally, she and this man were on the same page!
"Yes! That's right! Absolutely!"
Adel answered excitedly.