Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter: Volume 9 [Parts 1 to 7] by Riku Nanano

Author:Riku Nanano
Language: eng
Format: epub

After the toast, we settled in for a convivial party. The three younger girls arrayed themselves before the griddle.

“Ellie, Lynne,” Tina remarked, “these meats and vegetables are delicious! What varieties do you think they are? I must ask mother la— Ah! I...I wanted that piece of meat!”

Lynne retorted, “First come, first— Th-That fish was mine!”

“You said it yourself—first come, first served!”

“P-Please, d-don’t fight!” Ellie wailed while her friends butted heads.

“Take your time,” my dad chided them. “There’s plenty to go around.”

“Okay,” the girls chorused obediently.

A short distance away, a nervous-looking Stella sat chatting with my mom. “U-Um...” she began. “You see, mo—ahem, M-Mrs. Ellyn!”

“Yes, Stella dear?”

“O-Oh, well... Th-This dish certainly tastes lovely!”

“Thank you,” my mom replied, letting out a musical laugh. “It’s been one of Allen’s favorites since he was a child, and...”

The two of them ought to get on splendidly. Lydia and Caren, on the other hand, were glaring at each other over Ellie’s fish platter.

“I hope you’ve done some soul-searching after all the anxiety you caused,” the latter was saying. “And remember: we won that fight at the Algren mansion.”

Lydia expertly cut a slice of fish. “Is that any way to speak to your sister-in-law, Caren?” she asked, offering the portion to my sister on a small plate. “And was gaining a momentary advantage over me when I was at my absolute weakest really enough for you?” She paused to sigh. “What a shame.”

“I don’t have a sister-in-law!” Caren snapped, letting sparks fly as she accepted the plate. Then, in a more subdued tone, “Are you feeling all right?”

“Silly.” The scarlet-haired noblewoman answered my sister’s genuine concern with fearless confidence. “Why wouldn’t I be? But I see you’ve finally learned some respect for your sister-in-law. You’re so much more lovable when you open up and admit these things.”

“I-In your dreams, maybe! Allen is mine, and you can’t have him!”

“Yes, yes.”

“One ‘yes’ is enough!”

I took a seat, grinning ruefully, and Lily sat down beside me. Atra, who had been frolicking with the griffin chick under the table, clambered up the maid’s skirt and curled up in her lap.

“When did you two become such fast friends?” I asked.

“Since you took to napping with Lady Lydia in the afternoons,” Lily replied, with a lilting laugh.

I immediately raised my voice to drown out her words. Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed.

“Don’t put too many strange ideas in Atra’s head,” I warned her for good measure.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?!” Lily fumed.

“Exactly what it sounds—”

“Allen?” she asked, nonplussed, as I surreptitiously reached down as low as I could.

I felt a slight weight on my palm, and when I raised my hand again, a tiny black kitten rested in it. An envelope appeared from thin air.

“A message from Anko?” I murmured.

“Alleeen?” Lily whined, but I opened the envelope regardless and ran my eyes over its contents. The kitten leapt out of my hand and made for Lydia.

The letter came from Teto Tijerina, who had been Lydia’s and my underclassman at the university.

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