NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 607
He questioned me as a father
“Now, Mr. Takumi…”
“Yes.”
He looked as the wine was poured into his glass… He seemed very thoughtful.
As the air had grown a little serious, I nodded cautiously.
What was he going to say?
“…”
“…”
“Claire…”
“Yes?”“What do you mean to do…in regards to your relationship with Claire?”
“Huh?”
“Wuff?”
I was quite surprised by this.
This was all about Ms. Claire then?
Even Leo was surprised.
“Umm… Your Grace?”
“Mm… I got ahead of myself. I am sorry.”
“No…”
“Wuff…”
Sebastian had coughed, and Mr. Ekenhart apologized.
He had practically shouted it. Perhaps he was a little drunk then.
“Phew… And so, Mr. Takumi.”
“Yes.”
Mr. Ekenhart emptied his glass again in order to calm down.
Perhaps he should pace himself a little?
But Sebastian refilled his cup calmly, so perhaps he was fine.
“So, I wanted to ask you about Claire…and if you have any plans.”
“Uh, well… My plans are to go to Range village with her, and work on the fields…”
“That is fine. I have my permission. Your idea was good… Instead of hiring her, managing it together. However, that’s not what I meant…”
“Well, I thought of it on a whim… What did you mean then?”
“It is just that…with Claire. You seem to have come rather close.”
“…Ah… Well…”
Apparently, Mr. Ekenhart was concerned with how close we had become.
“Of course, I care about her opinion, and so just hearing from you alone does not mean much. Still, if both of you choose the same thing, then I will allow it.”
“His Grace wished to see his grandchildren.”
“Grandchildren!?”
“Sebastian! I did not say that!”
“Indeed? But it seem like you were pushing Mr. Takumi to…”
“No, I did not push anyone…”
Grandchildren… But we weren’t even dating…
“Uhh… In other words, you want to know if I like Ms. Claire?”
“Mmm… That is what I’ve been saying.”
No, you were using vague expressions… Well, I suppose the meaning was mostly the same.
“It is obvious, even when viewed from a distance, that you do have feelings for Claire. And she knows that as well. But I am not sure how deep it is…”
Obvious. So even people aside from Mr. Ekenhart knew…?
Both Sebastian and Leo were nodding, so I suppose it was plain to see.
After all, I had…well, Leo had rescued her. And then she let us live in this mansion and took care of us.
I learned so much from her and Sebastian. And she treated me equally in spite of her position, which gave me a good impression.
There was no reason for me to not like her.
However…
“…I’m sorry. As for how I feel. I cannot answer it.”
“What…? In other words, you know how she feels, and yet you want to just continue to toy with her?”
“Your Grace…use this…”
“No, no, no! Not at all. And Sebastian, don’t give him that sword right now! Where did it even come from!?”
The moment that I refused to answer, Mr. Ekenhard glared at me angrily.
It was very scary!
Not only was I no match for him in skill, but I had never seen him look so intense before, and so I denied it frantically.
Besides, Sebastian was handing him a sword. That was not funny!
Aside from Mr. Ekenhart, everyone in the mansion adored Ms. Claire, so I really had to tread carefully here…
“…No. But just in case, it might have to be used.”
“Might have to… No, that won’t happen!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“But you cannot answer the question about Claire… Does that not mean that you are toying with her?”
Sebastian put the sword away…somewhere.
And so I ignored him. Still, why was Mr. Ekenhart jumping to that conclusion…