Chapter 242

The meal took place in a really comfortable atmosphere.

Originally, aristocratic table manners were tricky, but the Schnarpe family’s maids acted very comfortably. Perhaps they were trying to be as considerate as possible, so that we, the guests would not feel uncomfortable.

“Oh, honey. You eat really well and beautifully. Do you want to try this?”

“Un.”

“Wait a minute. I’ll cut it for you.”

As if she had really become Speranza’s mother, Zaina carefully took care of Speranza’s meal while sitting next to her.

Thanks to this, Speranza, who was not familiar with this kind of grand lunch, enjoyed the meal comfortably, and since I didn’t have to take care of Speranza’s meal, I was able to focus on the food.

When the meal had progressed to some extent, Esbern spoke to me carefully.

“Does the food suit your taste, Sihyeon?”

“Yes, I’m really enjoying it. There were so many foods that I’d never seen before, and they taste fantastic. If possible, I want to learn the recipe and want to try it myself.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Esbern smiled faintly seeing my reaction.

“The chefs started the preparation a week ago because they heard an important guest was coming.”

“That’s very thoughtful of them. I’d like to thank the people who prepared the food.”

“Ho-Hoho! I’ll make sure to deliver it to them. The chefs will be quite happy to know that Lord Cardis enjoyed the food they prepared. If you need the recipe, I’ll tell them to organize it separately and let you know.”

“Thank you, Zaina.”

The meal continued in a friendly atmosphere along with the in-between conversations.

Zaina looked at Speranza lovingly, who ate food like a baby bird.

“Darling, isn’t Speranza so cute? She sings so well, too. You should’ve heard it earlier.….”

Esbern nodded with a slightly awkward expression at the appearance of Zaina, who was very excited. Then she twinkled her eyes with an expression that she had an idea.

“Darling, shall we have another baby?”

“COUGH, COUGH!”

“Huh…”

Shocked by her jaw-dropper, Esbern stuttered, while embarrassed Andras coughed and looked around in an awkward way.

On the other hand, the tactless Lilia agreed with Zaina’s words with excitement.

“Ah! Am I going to have a younger sister? I’m all in for it!”

Esbern, who quickly came to his senses, asked me for my understanding.

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Sihyeon. I suddenly got flustered, so excuse me…….”

“It’s all right, I understand, my lord.”

Hearing my answer he turned and looked at Zaina, whose eyes were still glistening. He calmed his wife down in a low voice.

“I think we’d better talk about that later, dear.”

“Why? Brother Kaneff and Lord Cardis are like a family, so it’s fine.”

“Of course it is, but…….”

“Shall I make preparations today?”

“……?!”

A series of bombshells kept dropping one after another.

Not only me who got embarrassed by the turn of events, but Esbern, the person involved also could not manage his facial expression.

On the other hand, Kaneff continued his meal while giggling as if he was watching a soap opera.

But, as if he had gotten used to this kind of situation in his long marriage, Esbern calmly broke free from the current situation.

“Hmm. If you want to see a cute baby. Wouldn’t it be faster to expect it from Andras or Lilia? It’s not a strange age for them to have one or two children, right?”

He changed the subject of the conversation very naturally.

Andras, who now became the center of attention, looked at his father with an expression of unfairness, while Lilia, who had been talking excitedly until a while ago, quickly became calm.

“You are absolutely right. The new child of the Schnarpe family should be from our son and daughter. You two, you should start looking for your partners.….”

Zaina’s eyes turned to her two children.

Andras and Lilia turned their heads hurriedly to avoid her gaze somehow.

“Ugh… How long are you two going to avoid it like that? If you close yourself in the workshop every day how are you going to meet your life partners.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

All three looked uncomfortable with Zaina’s sighing. Personally, I’ve had a similar experience recently, so I couldn’t just watch it comfortably.

“Sihyeon, listen to me.”

“Um… Me?”

“Yes. Originally, I was going to throw a big party for inviting you here.”

Ah.

Come to think of it, Andras said something similar when he handed over the invitation.

“Sihyeon is so popular with nobles, especially young nobles.”

“Me? Me?”

“Didn’t you know? You received a lot of attention when you were granted Ester status and Cardis estate by the Demon Lord himself. You’re the one who made the Cardis strawberry jam that aristocrats are crazy about these days.”

I knew to some extent that it was famous among the nobles, but it was the first time I heard that it was popular with young nobles.

“Of course, it was meant to thank Sihyeon by holding a big party, but…… In fact, I was going to use Sihyeon as bait to bring many young aristocrats here.”

“……?”

“I was wondering if I could find a partner for my children at the party.”

“Ah…”

Now, I understood why Andras said his mother felt disappointed for not having a party.

She seemed to have tried to set up her children with prospective partners by attracting young nobles under the pretext of thanking me.

‘What? Then is it my fault… Huh? Wait a sec.….’

“But, is that necessary for Andras? There already Am….”

“Sihyeon NO!”

I was about to say something unintentionally but got quickly interrupted by Andras. I stopped talking, but Zaina’s eyes were already gleaming with expectations.

“Oh my. Sihyeon, Please continue. Don’t mind Andras.”

“…….”

She spoke softly, but her eyes put immense pressure on me. And not just Zaina, Esbern, and Lilia also looked at me with a look of great curiosity.

In a desperate situation where I couldn’t think of anything, I turned my head toward Kaneff and asked for help with my eyes. But, he shrugged and smiled as if it had nothing to do with him.

‘Oh! That meanie guy…….’

With my last hope getting shattered, I couldn’t think of a way to break out of this situation.

I got a cold sweat looking at all the eyes of the Schnarpe family directed toward me.

“Everyone, please stop. Sihyeon came here as a guest. Don’t make him feel uncomfortable.”

Andras stepped up and stopped his family. Thanks to that, the questioning eyes of the Schnarpe family became a little less evil.

But that didn’t mean they completely lost interest. They still couldn’t give up their lingering feelings and kept glancing at me.

Eventually, Andras sighed loudly and opened up.

“As Sihyeon said, I’m dating someone right now.”

As soon as Andras finished speaking, the people of the Schnarpe family spoke at the same time.

“Oh! Who is it, brother? Where did you meet her?”

“How long have you been dating?”

“Which family’s girl? Have you made plans for an engagement?”

Even the silent Esbern quickly asked a question and showed interest.

Andras responded with a calm face to the pouring attention.

“I thought it was too early to let my family know that and we are not serious enough to talk about engagement yet. I’ll tell you when our relationship becomes more clear. So please wait a little longer.”

Andras had already sorted out his thoughts on the matter in advance, and he blocked his family’s attention with a determined attitude.

The people of the Schnarpe family were itching to hear more details, but they didn’t bring it up anymore in respect of his will.

I looked at Andras apologetically for the slip of my tongue, but he smiled and nodded as if saying it was okay.

As the attention that was focused on Andras’ girl fizzled out, Zaina opened her mouth again in a slightly cluttered atmosphere.

“I guess that’s enough for my son. Now, all I’m left is my bigger hurdle, my daughter.”

STARTLE!

Lilia, who tried to fade out quietly, trembled and her face quickly got clouded when she realized that she couldn’t get away with this subject.

Zaina is really persistent.

Is this what it is supposed to be like when you’re born into an aristocratic family?

While I was looking pitifully at the restless Lilia, suddenly Esbern spoke to me.

“Sihyeon, do you have a fiance?”

“What?”

“I don’t know exactly about human customs. But, Sihyeon, aren’t you at the age to find a partner? And, it’s even more important considering the position as a Lord.”

“Um…… yes, that’s true.”

I nodded with a slightly uncomfortable look, and Zaina’s eyes, which saw that figure, once again lit up.

“Oh my! Sihyeon! You didn’t have a fiance yet? You’re so popular that I thought you would have had one. I must have mistaken.”

“Ha…… haha. I’m flattered.”

“Come to think of it, you said earlier that you think of Lilia as a family, right?”

“Ah! I don’t think I said it like that…!!”

Esbern raised his eyebrows briefly at Zaina’s words, and soon some kind of signal got transmitted between the couple.

I instinctively felt something was wrong and quickly opened my mouth.

“It doesn’t mean to have a deeper meaning when I said, family…It can also be a si….”

“Now that I see it, Sihyeon and the Schnarpe family seem to have a lot in common. In addition to the close relationship with our children, you’re also trusted very much by the Demon Lord like our Schnarpe family.”

“That’s right, Darling. It’s also good to have a deeper relationship with Sihyeon…… What do you think, Lilia?”

Zaina asked Lilia’s intentions in a subtle voice.

Lilia, who blushed at the question, lowered her head and murmured in an unusually shy voice.

“If it’s Brother Sihyeon…… I don’t think it will be bad…….”

After seeing the reaction, a smile appeared around Esbern and Zaina’s mouths.

On top of that, Andras poured oil into the small sparkle.

“SIHYEON is a very reliable person. As a person who has been watching him for a long time, I can vouch for him.”

‘STOP, Andras!’

It would have been very touching if the situation was normal, but right now it’s a total bummer.

Cold sweat once again started welling up on my back in an atmosphere where everything seemed to be going against me.

How did it end up like this?

Is this what it means to be getting trapped like a rat?