Chapter 34 (1/2)

The carriage finally iant estate made of stone

It did not have the gaudiness of baroque architecture—the unifor landscape, revealing the refinement of its owner

Leaving the wide entrance hall behind, I was guided through a hallway decorated with paintings to a parlor

Theinside stood up

He watchedas it recovered from shock

“I have been expecting you, Miss Marie”

“It has been a long time, Master Julius”

This fine figure of a esture was Julius zu Eicher

He was the uncle of Georg, one of the love interests, and an excellent trader in the process of spreading his network throughout the continent

I’’s es with him Mostly in order to satisfy my private wants

“Truly You have become still more beautiful in the short time I have not seen you”

You have becohtlessly pick you up in my arms, he said with a mischievous smile

Ooh, very skillful

I felt more admiration than shyness at his smoothly delivered compliment Was it an innate ability of his to deliver his words without a hint of sarcasusted?

None of the other , had the same skill The head of the family was the type to speak with a force of attitude, and the current Georg was a naive boy

He was good looking, tall, a gentleh he was only a second son, his lineage caraviate household It was a e 28

Well, thedown

“I apologize for suddenly i on you You ed your schedule?”

“No, I am overjoyed you decided to contact me”

Or so he said, but I was conscientious of how high-highhandedly I forced him to accommodate me

I didn’t want to interfere with his work, but catching people who bustled from country to country was quite difficult

The reatly about his sickly sister-in-law, his brother’s inability to be honest with himself, and his diffident nephew Whenever he could, tried to be close to home

However, when all problems were reer, happily traveling to various places

“Occasionally Georg will even do nothing but criticize, telling me to be more appropriate in conduct”

“Georg will, you said?” I questioned him

I couldn’t i like that

“Yes Lately he has becorowth of ”

“…………”

Seeing the way I frowned and kept silent, Master Julius grinned wryly

“Hard to i you kneas tiirl I think you will be surprised when you meet him”

The last ti’s 9th birthday

He o years older than me, so he should be 13 years old now In these four years this older boy would have certainly gotten bigger, but has the person inside changed as well?

“He should be working in another rooo give him a surprise?”

Master Julius placed a finger against his lips, lowering his voice like ere having a secret conversation He looked to be enjoying hih he was one of the finesttold ap moe person

“Certainly,” I answered, lowering my voice in a similar fashi+on

He broke out in a delighted smile

“I have a lot of souvenirs for you Whenever I happened upon rare ingredients and seasonings, I was reminded of you”

“!”

“Would you like to see?”

Ingredients! Seasonings!!

Eyes sparkling, I took his bait

“Yes!”

Master Julius only procured goods that were rare to our kingdooods that re that the day I got my hands on sticky rice was close

I cheerfully let him take the lead, when a lost voice suddenly came from behind

“Ah…”

It was a snore, but the moment I heard it I suddenly remembered

I turnedidly about

Which reht hi about hiled in front of me

“This boy is…?”