“We are truly blessed with such fortune, aren’t we…?”

Wendy’s father, Henry, muttered in a half-dazed voice. He had just heard the news yesterday that Count Ruelberta, Tristan, had chosen Wendy as his fiancée. Even now, a day later, he was still in a daze.

“Yes, dear… It feels like I’m dreaming…”

Wendy’s mother, Ellie, had tears in her eyes.

The family, who had once been poor peasants from the countryside, knew just how fortunate their current life was.

Thanks to the mercy of Wendy’s master, Tristan, they had left their rural life behind and were now able to work in the mansion. Compared to the life of a peasant, where they had to work tirelessly all year round and still went hungry, the work of a servant was comfortable and easy.

And that wasn’t all. Tristan had even given them a separate building on the mansion grounds. To them, who had lived in straw huts in their hometown, it felt like a palace. A place to sleep, a job, and wages that were incomparable to their peasant days—everything felt like a dream.

And now, their eldest daughter Wendy was engaged to the head of the Count’s family. The day had come when they would become relatives of the Count’s family.

Wendy’s family couldn’t help but feel like they were dreaming.

Except for one person.

“Honestly, I’m not too pleased about Wendy’s engagement.”

“Peter?”

“Wendy’s only 12 years old. Isn’t it too early for her to be married off to the Count’s family?”

Peter clicked his tongue.

Having lost his memory and lived like a vagrant on Mojito Island, he was now living with his family in the annex thanks to Tristan’s mercy.

At his eldest son’s words, Henry scolded him.

“Don’t say such things, Peter. You and I both owe a debt of gratitude to the Count. Shouldn’t we be happy and congratulate her?”

“Gratitude is one thing, but this is another. I can’t accept Wendy’s engagement.”

In Peter’s memory, Tristan was an unforgivable enemy who had driven Wendy to her death. Even though he now knew it was a big misunderstanding and a memory error, Peter still couldn’t bring himself to like Tristan. He knew in his head that he should be grateful to Tristan for his mercy, but he couldn’t help it. The sense of loss and hatred he had felt at that time was too great. Moreover, having become Tristan’s slave, albeit formally, Peter felt a deep sense of humiliation.

Understanding her eldest son’s feelings to some extent, Ellie gently reasoned with him.

“Peter, the Count also drew the line at engagement, not marriage, all for Wendy’s sake. He made it so that if Wendy changes her mind before she becomes an adult, the engagement can be called off at any time.”

“Engagement or marriage, it’s all the same. Mother, think about it. From Wendy’s perspective, how could she refuse someone like the Count if he proposed?”

“I heard Wendy confessed to the Count first.”

“……Even so, the Count should have refused. Accepting a proposal from a 12-year-old…”

“I heard the Count kept refusing at first but eventually accepted.”

“……No, Mother. How do you know all this?”

“Oh my, it would be strange if I didn’t know. The mansion servants are very perceptive. They pretty much know everything that happens around the Count.”

Even Wendy herself didn’t know this, but among the mansion servants, especially the female ones, there was a supportive atmosphere for Wendy’s feelings.

A commoner girl in love with the young head of the Count’s family. It was like something out of a romance novel.

The news that Tristan was planning to marry Bella, Helga, or Blanshe was also a big topic among the servants, but not as much as Wendy. As they say, blood is thicker than water. The servants were even happier about Wendy’s engagement since she was one of their own.

Ellie, Wendy’s mother, had also become close with the mansion servants and naturally learned of her daughter’s feelings. But at the same time, she was worried. It was a love that could never be.

The reason Wendy’s love was supported among the servants was likely due to the difference in status and age between the two. People tend to be more passionate about loves that seem impossible.

Ellie worried for Wendy. She hoped she wouldn’t suffer from unrequited love. Or rather, even if she faced disappointment, she hoped Wendy wouldn’t be so heartbroken. Wendy was that tender and kind-hearted.

So when Ellie heard the news of their engagement, she was so moved that it felt like she was dreaming every day.

Peter, too, felt like he was dreaming. Except, for him, it was a nightmare.

“Ellie!”

“Huh?”

At the voice from outside the window, Ellie approached and opened the door. A cheerful-looking maid was waving her hand. Ellie immediately recognized her.

“Miss May?”

“When are you going to drop the ‘Miss’?”

“Ah, no… But still…”

“Anyway, I heard the news. Your daughter is engaged to the Count, right?”

The talkative May was a relatively new maid who had joined the mansion shortly after Ellie.

With her natural affinity, May had quickly blended in with the mansion servants. She held the position of exclusive maid to Helga Wolfbert, Tristan’s bodyguard knight. Known among the servants as a strong-willed woman who could even scold Helga… Ellie had recently learned her true identity through May’s own words.

The woman called May was none other than the infamous pirate, Maible, who had attempted to assassinate the Emperor, and the hidden wife of Gale Wolfbert. In other words, she was Helga Wolfbert’s mother.

Since learning this, Ellie had found it difficult to interact with May, or rather, Maible.

“Ah, no. It’s not an engagement yet, just planned…”

“Eh. Then marriage is just around the corner, right? Kids grow up in the blink of an eye. You look away for a moment, and suddenly they’re all grown up.”

“Is that… so?”

“Of course. But today’s a day off, right? Can I hang out here?”

“Of course. You’re always welcome, Miss May.”

“Drop the ‘Miss,’ will you? Huh? Is this your son?”

“……This is Peter.”

Peter unconsciously bowed his head in greeting. She was someone he couldn’t treat lightly.

No, he quickly realized the woman before him was no ordinary maid. Despite his senses being dulled by alcoholism and a vagrant lifestyle, Peter had been a mercenary for a long time. Just by observing someone’s posture, he could roughly tell what kind of life they had led.

‘A warrior? Or a martial artist?’

Mayble’s stance was flawless.

“Is she a colleague of yours, Mother?”

“Well, you could say she’s soon to be a relative of yours.”

“?”

Mayble, who had spoken incomprehensibly, smirked. Her smile made him feel like she was treating him like a child.

“Then… Mother, I’ll go get some fresh air.”

“Ah, okay. Go ahead.”

Feeling awkward, Peter left the annex and began wandering aimlessly through the vast mansion grounds.

Peter thought carefully.

Wendy becoming Tristan’s fiancée was indeed a blessing for the family. Though it was still uncertain, it was the Ruelberta family. Even becoming a concubine would be an excessive honor.

“Thinking about it…”

He recalled Wendy’s behavior on Mojito Island. She would constantly blush in front of Tristan. The way she looked at him was like a girl in love. It seemed the story of Wendy confessing first wasn’t a lie.

“But he should have refused…”

She was so kind she wouldn’t even hurt a bug, so pure she had never hated anyone. She was a precious younger sister. It felt like she was being taken away by Tristan.

While their parents, Henry and Ellie, might be grateful to Tristan, Peter found it hard to celebrate Wendy’s engagement. Moreover, he couldn’t stop it.

Feeling frustrated, Peter sighed as he walked. The more he walked, the more powerless he felt.

The land he was standing on belonged to Tristan. The Ruelberta family was the only one who could build such a grand mansion on such vast grounds right next to the capital. It made him realize just how much power Tristan held.

Then it happened.

“Peter?”

“Huh?”

When Peter turned around, he saw fluttering golden hair and blue eyes. A girl who looked about Wendy’s age or younger. Judging by her maid uniform, she seemed to be working at the mansion…

Wait. How did she get so close without him noticing?

But Peter’s doubts were short-lived as the girl asked a strange question.

“…Why are you here?”

“Huh?”

More than being addressed informally by a young girl, Peter was more concerned by her question.

“You don’t recognize me?”

“Me? Watch your words. I’m Michaela. The Absolute God.”

“Absolute… God?”

“Yes. Have you heard of the Lord of Paradise?”

“Ah, um… I think I have…”

Peter had heard of it too. The paradise strictly managed by the Izakhel family, descendants of heroes. There was a story of a god who had bestowed the power of light upon Alonso, the first head of the Izakhel family, long ago.

“But… why is that god here?”

“…Gods have complicated reasons that humans can’t understand.”

“Kid. You shouldn’t impersonate a god.”

“Impersonate? Ha! Watch this. If I just snap my fingers, lightning will…”

Michaela’s finger swiped through the air pointlessly.

“…That would have worked in Paradise.”

“……”

Of course. It’s just an impersonation. A noble god from Paradise wouldn’t be working as a maid here.

“Right… I believe you.”

“Hey! Don’t look at me with those pitying eyes and say you believe me!”

“No, I believe you.”

“Don’t lie!”

Peter smiled kindly at Michaela.

‘Did he take in such a pitiful child too…’

On the other hand, he saw Tristan in a slightly different light for hiring a mentally troubled child as a maid. He had thought Tristan was a cold man, but it seemed he had some humanity.

‘Wait. Wendy too… Could it be that he has a thing for young girls?’

Thinking like that, he couldn’t quite figure out what kind of man Tristan was.

“Anyway, how did you get out?”

“Huh? Get out?”

“You’re supposed to be asleep in Paradise… Was it your sister’s doing? Did a girl who looks like me help you?”

“What are you talking about…”

“Ugh… I guess not. Ugh… I’ve been away from Paradise for too long. This is troublesome.”

It was Peter who was troubled. He had been rambling on, making it hard to keep up.

But that didn’t last long either.

At the sound of footsteps in the distance, Michaela flinched.

“Ugh!? Did they catch up already?”

“Who’s catching up?”

“I’ll tell you later. Don’t go anywhere, stay in the mansion. Got it?”

With that, Michaela hurriedly left to avoid someone. And shortly after, who came running from that direction was none other than…

“Wendy?”

“O, older brother?”

Wendy’s eyes widened when she saw Peter.

“Why are you here… No, more importantly, have you seen Lady Michaela?”

“Huh? She was here just a moment ago, but she went somewhere.”

“Ugh… How mean. She’s always running away…”

Wendy panted heavily. Seeing her like that, Peter spoke up.

“Wendy, you’re getting engaged, right?”

“Y, yes? Ah… Ah!”

At the sudden question, Wendy flinched. Peter, with a serious expression, asked.

“Wendy. You can be honest with me. Were you… coerced?”

“H, how did you know…?”

“Huh?”

“I, I hadn’t told you yet…”

“Everyone in the family is happy about your engagement. It would be strange if I didn’t know.”

“Ugh… I was going to tell you later…”

Wendy, embarrassed, covered her face with her apron. Even that was adorable. To send such a sister off to Tristan…

“Wendy… Do you… really want to marry the Count?”

“Y, yes…?”

“Be honest with me.”

“Honest?”

“Yes. I can’t understand. What do you like about the Count?”

Peter decided to press Wendy. If Tristan had coerced or tricked her into the engagement, he would expose it.

“T, then… O, only to you, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You won’t tell anyone else…?”

“Okay.”

“Absolutely. Absolutely?”

“I promise.”

Depending on the content…

“T, then, lend me your ear…”

Though there was no one around to hear, Wendy whispered into Peter’s ear in a mosquito-like voice.

“E, everything…”

“Huh?”

“E, everything… is good…”

“I can’t hear you. Speak up.”

“U, ugh……”

Wendy, her face bright red, shouted.

“……I, I like everything about him……!”