WYDM 28

Sana’s family home wasn’t far away, and since Sehera gave her permission, she could visit her parents at home whenever she wanted. But that didn’t mean there was no longing that came from living separately.

Three years ago, until she got married, Sehera had never lived apart from her parents, and only after going to her husband’s house did she realize how precious the time with her parents had been. That’s why she told both Sana and Romina they could freely come and go from home.

Rabo, of course, lived alone since he had no connections in this Planer territory.

Fortunately, he seemed to feel comfortable with the people here.

Today as well, when they said they were preparing for a party, he’d cut and brought loads of various branches and flowers needed for decorations.

She was looking forward to it since he’d said he’d participate in the party with them soon. It would be nice if they could stand together, even in a corner, and share food.

“Where’s Rabo! That boy who’s all flash and no sense! It’s a party—he needs to wash up and come out properly!”

Traver started looking for Rabo with a hearty laugh. Sehera, who’d been thinking about him anyway, jumped in surprise and caught up to Traver’s wide strides as he headed straight for the back door.

“He said he’d come when he’s ready later. Later. Okay?”

“Oh no! That won’t do, my lady! He needs to come help greet guests, you see? And guide the carriages for those arriving by carriage. Ah, is Mr. Fredil the only one who’ll come by carriage? Hahaha.”

Traver seemed to have high expectations for this party, probably because he was the second person she’d met after Sana.

She remembered how disappointed he’d been when she said she’d leave the preparations to Sana and wouldn’t need Traver’s help.

He was someone who thought of the county estate’s affairs like his own and helped accordingly.

That’s why lately she’d been constantly thinking about hiring all three members of Traver’s family to work here.

It was a thought she should have had earlier, but in the beginning she’d been so busy, and after that, his helping with her work had seemed so natural that she hadn’t thought to change him to being part of the county estate staff.

One day, while setting aside his share after receiving help each time, the thought had suddenly occurred to her.

If she was going to receive help from the whole family like this, couldn’t she just hire all three so Sana wouldn’t have to cling to her mom and dad almost tearfully like that?

“Right. Fredil will be coming from the capital, so he’ll definitely come by carriage. So we don’t need to call Rabo right now. Now that Traver and Ranshu have arrived, he’s probably trying to come out about now.”

Whether this was for Rabo, who was probably hesitating in front of the door to enter this main building, or for Traver, who couldn’t even sit still and was looking around everywhere trying to find something to do.

“Haha! Is that so! Rabo does follow us quite well. Then should we wait in the reception room?”

Ranshu was carefully looking around from beside her booming-voiced husband, her face flushed with embarrassment.

In Ranshu’s case, this was only her second time coming to the county estate due to her introverted personality.

If she hadn’t known the meaning of today’s party, she probably wouldn’t have thought of coming at all.

“Mm… since Ranshu probably doesn’t know our house well yet, how about showing her around?”

To satisfy Ranshu’s curiosity as she glanced around carefully, Sehera said this. She was definitely full of curiosity.

“W-would that be all right? I wouldn’t want to pry too much around the estate…”

She asked Sehera very carefully, but Sehera just rolled her eyes completely unconcerned.

“Sana’s always poking around here and there in the estate anyway, so don’t worry. Thanks to that curiosity, I even found out there were spaces in the estate I didn’t know about, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, my lady.”

At her answer, Sana quickly linked arms with her mother and bowed to Sehera.

“Please call us right away if you need anything!”

“Sure. Give her a proper tour!”

Sehera’s bright voice made Sana even more excited. After the excited Sana and gentle Ranshu disappeared, now it was time to go to the door.

“Then, Traver.”

Sehera spoke to Traver, who’d been watching his wife and daughter walk away together. When he turned around slightly startled, Sehera smiled somewhat awkwardly.

“Could you check on Rabo? Don’t drag him out by force, just go see him and come back. Whether he’s getting ready, or maybe struggling and tearing his hair out trying to force himself to come out.”

“In that case, I’ll grab him by the scruff…”

Listening to Sehera’s words, Traver rolled up the sleeves of the shirt he’d dressed up in and snorted like he was about to charge toward the back door any moment.

He looked like a buffalo ready to charge, which made her laugh.

“I don’t want to pressure Rabo, you know? Just check on him and come back. I’m worried he might be agonizing too much.”

Sehera hoped he wouldn’t struggle too much. Of course, it would be nice if he lived a life mingling with others, but he was already doing his work well enough, so she had no intention of pressuring him about that.

“Understood. You’re too soft on Rabo, my lady. I’ll be right back.”

Traver didn’t charge off immediately but walked with large strides and opened the back door with a somewhat determined look, heading to the backyard.

The spot swept through by the meaningful first guests was like a typhoon. In the estate that had finally quieted down, Sehera suddenly found herself alone.

“Three more people from the village will come now… and once Fredil arrives, that’s everyone, right?”

“My lady! We’re here!”

Just then, a welcome voice came from beyond the front gate she hadn’t managed to close. It was one of the village people she’d been waiting for.

The farmer who cooperated with her most after Traver, the ‘field tycoon’ who grew most of the vegetables that went to the capital.

People continued arriving at the estate at intervals after that.

Since there were people visiting the estate for the first time, she let them look around freely, and everyone set off on their own explorations, giving Romina time to comfortably set the table.

“Ah! I forgot. There’s one more person than planned, right, Romina? How is it? Will it be okay?”

After confirming that everyone except Fredil and his secretary had arrived, Sehera came into the kitchen and only then realized one thing.

Himoph, whom she hadn’t met often since there’d been no illness, had now become someone she owed a great deal to. He’d even been living at the county estate for almost a week.

Romina smiled leisurely at Sehera, who’d frozen with her hands clasped together in surprise.

“Oh, my lady, that’s hurtful to say. When you need to prepare for ten people, you prepare generously enough for about eighteen people to eat. Adding one Himoph is nothing.”

Big-handed Romina declared confidently. Like adding one or two more people was nothing at all.

Combined with her build, it was a very reassuring statement. This was why she needed to be here.

Unlike running a merchant company, her parents had always been passionate about giving something to others. So Sehera didn’t find such things wasteful or anything either.

If food was left over, they could keep it from spoiling and eat it for another day tomorrow. It was even more forgivable because it was an idea she wouldn’t have thought of without Romina’s cooking skills.

“That’s a relief. I’ll go up to get Himoph once everyone’s gathered.”

“Is there still someone who hasn’t arrived?”

Romina responded to her words while scooping a ladle from the large stock pot and transferring it to another pot.

“Mm, Fredil and his secretary haven’t come yet.”

“Can’t be helped since they’re coming from far away. But is that secretary really coming?”

She asked in a way that suggested she might fill Himoph’s extra portion to make it exactly ten people.

Sehera immediately caught the hidden meaning and laughed out loud.

“I’m a bit worried about that too, but I think she’ll come.”

“Let’s see if her face softens today.”

She was famous not just in the office but also when going around outside. Unlike Sehera, who thought she might have the same personality as Rabo, there were some people who found her a bit uncomfortable.

The anticipated party day began very harmoniously.

Sehera was in the kitchen with Romina helping with her work. The first thing they’d do together was have lunch, and there wasn’t any other work that would be difficult.

When she heard signs of people arriving one after another, she was thinking she should go out and guide them.

Bang!

“Lady Sehera!”

Though various noises were definitely continuing in the kitchen, both Sehera and Romina jumped in surprise at the voice that suddenly invaded the kitchen.

“Oh my, what a shock! What’s the matter that you’re shouting like this? Are you all right, my lady?”

She was too surprised to think for a moment, but even Sana, who’d shouted while opening the door like it would break, had her eyes wide open, startled by the noise she’d made.

“Ah, my lady, I’m sorry! Were you very startled?”

Then she approached Sehera, who’d recovered quickly. If her heart had been small enough to worry about being startled by this much noise, it would have been impressive that she’d survived until now.

“Goodness, really. Sana, so what is it?”

Sehera looked at Sana with a helpless smile. Even with so many people outside, there must be a reason she’d run here and rushed to where she was without even knocking once.

“Mr. Fredil is arriving!”

She must have discovered him while chatting with Himoph upstairs. And moreover…

Sehera quietly looked at the girl. If she herself found him that beautiful, how beautiful must that man have looked to a girl from a small county territory?

Sana knew Fredil, who visited the county estate quite often, and didn’t hide her fondness for him. It was probably so pure that she didn’t even properly recognize that her feelings were showing plainly on the outside.