Leo also had a suggestion
“All…day!? Oh-oh, but your arms would get… And I…I don’t know if I could…”
“Hmm. It seems that Lady Claire has gone off somewhere…”
Claire was touching her cheeks and muttering to herself. She definitely seemed to be in a world of her own now.
“Well, thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Takumi.”
“Uh, yes… Wait, huh…?”
So it was already decided?
Of course, it’s not that I really didn’t want to. And I had no reason to refuse, but…
Ah, I suppose it was fine then.
“Wuff-wuff!”
“Leo?”
“What is it?”
Leo had been sitting down and listening to us, but she now raised her right paw for attention.
She did that a lot now, which seemed rather human of her.
“Wou. Wuff-wuff. Grau!”
As Sebastian and I watched, Leo barked something and then turned around to show her back.
Then she wagged her tail and moved her feet up and down. As if to show that she was walking…
Of course, I already knew what she was saying. But I suppose the gestures were for Sebastian and the others.
She was saying that Claire and I should ride on her back in town.
“I see. That is one idea. And it will be less dangerous if you two are on Leo’s back…”
“It really will be like a parade…”
Sebastian was quite enthusiastic about the idea.
“…Danderous?”
I wondered why Sebastian had mentioned danger.
Was it because Leo could act as a guard?
Or was he worried that I might drop Claire?
“No…excuse me.”
“Uh, yes.”
Sebastian leaned closed and whispered into my ear.
Apparently, he did not want the others…including Claire, to hear him.
“I thought that some of the men who are in love with Lady Claire might attack you…”
“What!?”
The words were so surprising that I raised my voice in alarm.
Thankfully, Claire was still lost in her own thoughts.
“Wuff?”
“What is it, papa?”
I chuckled and told them that it was nothing.
“Hey, Sebastian. Over here!”
“Yes.”
And so I took Sebastian away from the others so that we could talk in private.
He had an amused look on his face, but I ignored it.
“I do know that Claire is beautiful, with a wonderful personality and perfect in every way, but…are there really that many men who are in love with her?”
“Well, Mr. Takumi. As someone who knows her quite well, she has plenty of flaws… Regardless, she is an exceptional woman. And so many people have seen her during her visits to Ractos.”
“I see…”
“Of course, none have been brave enough to approach her yet… However, you do remember the story about how His Grace would bring suitors over to see her?”
“Yes.”
It was the reason why Claire and Tilura lived in this mansion now.
“He is not one to care too much about rank. And so he went looking in many towns and villages.”
“Is-is that so?”
“Some noble houses would choose suitors based on their family, but this house has always been different. Regardless, the story of Lady Claire spread quite far…”
She was already liked by the people. And if it was known that the duke had been trying to find her a husband…
“And so there are plenty of people who think they have a chance. Well, I have heard the rumors, in any case.”
Thanks for the chapter.