CHAPTER 7: CAFE

When we returned to the estate, I gave Ruby her present. She seemed to really like the teddy bear. She didn’t let it out of her arms, even during dinner.

As we sat at the table, I smiled as I watched Ruby still holding it in her arms.

"Do you like it that much?" I asked.

"I do! I love it!" the girl replied happily. "No one has ever given me a present before!"

I was embarrassed.

"Not even your mother...?"

Ruby’s expression clouded over for a second.

"Mother..." she stammered, "Mother doesn’t even remember my birthday. Why would she do something like that..."

I sighed heavily. As expected, Magrit didn’t care about her daughter at all. I really felt sorry for this child. But at the same time, I was glad that she had fallen into my hands. Now, in this new life, I will definitely try to make her childhood happier.

"From now on, you’ll get presents every year," I promised, "and if you need anything, you can tell me anytime."

From the moment we first met, Ruby became more cheerful. She had been expressionless before, but now she was smiling. I was glad that she was adjusting to her new surroundings so quickly.

"Of course! Thank you, Auntie!"

I laughed when I saw how genuinely happy she was. Ruby and I were having dinner together for the first time, but there was no awkwardness. It was truly fortunate that we had found common ground so quickly.

I cleared my throat, deciding to talk to her about it.

"Ahem... Ruby... Would you mind going somewhere with me this week?"

The girl nodded immediately.

"You’re not even going to ask where?" I asked in surprise.

"If it’s with my aunt, I’ll go anywhere!" Ruby smiled back at me.

Good kid! I stroked her hair, and Ruby snuggled up to my hand like a little puppy. My niece is a real sweetheart.

"Thank you," I said. "Don’t worry, it won’t take long."

"What are we going to do?" the girl asked.

"We’re... um... going to sit in a coffee shop with an uncle."

"An uncle?"

In response to Ruby’s puzzled expression, I nodded.

"A casual acquaintance of mine... He invited me, and I accepted."

I didn’t go into details, but she didn’t ask.

"I see," Ruby smiled. "If he’s Auntie’s friend, then he’s mine too!"

"Ha... I wouldn’t say ’friend’," I joked.

In general, I didn’t insist. It was good that Ruby took it so easily. I was afraid she might be nervous about meeting a stranger. But surprisingly, despite the environment she grew up in, Ruby is a very friendly child.

We continued our dinner, and I felt completely at peace. My sweet niece was still smiling radiantly at me. I thought it wasn’t so bad to be reborn as the villain’s aunt.

***

Ruby and I arrived at the cafe at three o’clock in the afternoon as agreed. Roger was already waiting for us inside and waved his hand. I smiled, and we joined him at the table.

The guy stood up to say hello.

"This is my niece, Ruby," I introduced her, "and this is... my friend Roger."

"Nice to meet you."

They shook hands and we sat down. Considering that we barely knew each other, there was an awkward pause. I decided to break the ice and place our order.

"Ruby, what would you like?" I smiled, showing her the menu.

"Um..." The girl thought for a moment.

"You can order whatever you want," Roger explained immediately. "I’ll pay for everything."

"Oh... No, don’t," I said, embarrassed, but deep down I wouldn’t have refused such an offer. The prices in this cafe made my eyes dart around involuntarily. And in the current situation, every cent counted in my efforts to save money.

Fortunately, Roger Dickens turned out to be a decent gentleman and insisted on his offer. It would have been a sin to refuse. My boyfriend and I ordered two cups of coffee, and Ruby ordered ice cream. It was the most expensive ice cream I had ever seen. Was it made of gold?

Oh, it’s hard to be a poor aristocrat...

We chatted a bit, and in the course of conversation, the heroine’s love interest asked:

"So you’re from the Weinstein family?"

"Heh... That’s right. You’ve probably heard a lot about us."

The ducal family’s unfavorable reputation was known throughout the empire. And if Magrit tried in any way to improve the situation, I could hardly do so. The real Grace tried hard: now people whispered about me and pointed fingers at me even on the street. "The fallen woman of the empire" — that was the opinion of me held by all commoners and aristocrats alike.

Of course, Roger couldn’t help but hear about it. But he just pretended not to know.

"They say you’re having financial difficulties right now."

I didn’t try to deny it.

"That’s true..."

"You must have a problem with your servants too."

I sighed.

"If you don’t even have security on your estate... Haven’t you thought about how dangerous that is?"

"Dangerous?" I asked.

"Criminals and robbers could break in at any moment," the guy said. "It’s not safe for a young lady like you to live alone."

When Roger said that, I smiled. Robbers...? I wonder what they could possibly steal from us? Even the tiny baron’s house probably has more riches than ours.

Meanwhile, Roger brought up this topic for a reason. Judging by the expression on his face, it was not just simple curiosity. I decided to ask him about it.

"If you don’t mind..." He cleared his throat. "I can send my men to guard you."

I choked on my coffee.

"What?!"

"I mean... You seem like a good person. I intend to become a knight in the future, so I would be delighted if my first task were to ensure your safety."

This proposal came too suddenly. I didn’t even know how to react. Who would have known that Roger Dickens was so pious in his youth! He was going to protect an aristocrat he knew nothing about.

And yet I couldn’t agree to it right away. The stigma of the heroine’s romantic interest wouldn’t leave me alone for a minute. I have to be careful with each of the four of them so as not to get myself into trouble.

"I... I need to think about it," I said as gently as possible.

The guy nodded.

"Of course. Let me know as soon as you decide."

"Hmm."

I was so surprised that I didn’t notice the drink spilling on my dress. Damn... Why am I so unlucky?

I sighed.

"I need to go to the ladies’ room," I said awkwardly. "Please wait here."

The two nodded.

"Ruby, behave yourself while I’m gone," I reminded her.

"Yes, Auntie!"

I smiled and left them. At that moment, there was a pause at the table. Ruby was eating her ice cream and had not been involved in the conversation until then. Like an obedient girl, she behaved in such a way as not to disturb the adults. Roger coughed awkwardly.

Grace lingered in the bathroom and did not return for a long time.

In the silence, the young man decided to do something and turned to the child:

"Do you like ice cream...?"

Ruby didn’t answer him. Maybe she didn’t hear him?

Roger decided to try again and gently touched her shoulder. The girl recoiled from him strangely and looked at him with hatred in her eyes.

"Don’t touch me."