"Damn it. At this rate, it really feels like I’m on the same wavelength as Aslan Vermont..."
Yuria quickly cleared her throat, feeling as though she wanted to hide in a mouse hole.
She had been thinking to herself that it was just a silly competition between similarly cute people, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud...
But since Aslan Vermont had said it for her, she found herself absentmindedly agreeing.
"Aslan Vermont. At least he seems to have some basic manners. Hm, hm..."
Charlotte’s pure innocence and cheerful personality were her strengths, and sometimes her intelligence would soar, making her cunning, which was also part of her charm.
Yulia had an infinite confidence in specific areas, which was an asset, but when she stepped outside of those areas, she became timid and dependent, her protectiveness being her ultimate charm.
These were things Yuria had noticed after observing Charlotte and Yulia for years.
But Aslan Vermont... had figured all of this out in less than four months?
Yuria found herself reassessing him.
She had thought Aslan Vermont was just a shameless, perverted man who liked little girls blindly, but now she saw he was actually a cultured person who could appreciate the true value of Charlotte and Yulia.
It seemed Aslan Vermont had been closely watching Charlotte and Yulia...
If he were just a man who prioritized the benefits of marriage and didn’t care about the individuals, perhaps sending them to him wouldn’t have been such a bad idea...?
"Wait!? What am I thinking?"
At that moment, Yuria was startled by her own thoughts and immediately pulled herself together.
There was no way she could send Charlotte and Yulia to Aslan Vermont...!
He was a wicked, despicable man trying to insert himself into the perfect Charlotte x Yulia combination!
No, it was impossible!
She couldn’t let Aslan Vermont marry Charlotte and Yulia, not ever!
Yuria swallowed her tears, and once again steeled herself.
"First, you two need to calm down. The human perspective is often more limited than we realize, and sometimes the strengths and weaknesses that aren’t visible to me are clear to others. From what I hear, both of you are saying things that make sense, and both have qualities that can’t be ranked. So there’s no need for a fight."
"Eh? So, you’re saying that, just like Yulia, who’s as pretty as a princess, I could be more attractive than someone like me, who’s so scattered...?"
"What? You think my annoying and dishonest personality is part of my charm...?"
"..."
In response to the returned question, Aslan had to keep his mouth shut.
It was true, and he obviously thought that way.
But hearing it from them made it sound like he was a pervert, thinking such things about the children.
"Anyway, it’s fine to praise each other, but I won’t allow you to put yourselves down. If you want to fight, at least fight over who’s more beautiful. Got it?"
"Mm..."
"Yes...!"
After exchanging glances, Charlotte and Yulia shared a somewhat awkward smile, realizing how foolish their argument had been.
Usually, people only notice their own good qualities, and often fail to see the strengths of others.
But these two were the opposite.
They could clearly see how great and beautiful the other was, but couldn’t recognize it in themselves, which frustrated them enough to fight.
It was heartwarming, really, to see how much they cared for each other.
If only Charlotte and Yulia became a little more self-centered, they’d be perfect.
Aslan thought to himself, secretly smiling.
"What’s this? Why does it feel like everything is ending on such a warm note?"
The once tense atmosphere dissipated, and Yuria couldn’t hide her embarrassment.
How had Aslan Vermont managed to skillfully resolve the tension between Charlotte and Yulia?
It was clear he was no amateur at handling children.
Aslan Vermont was skilled, yes, but the real surprise was how much Charlotte and Yulia trusted him.
Was this really not brainwashing?
"Well... when I think about it, he was the only one who stood in front of that monster at the palace, even after everyone else was exhausted..."
A sudden realization hit Yuria, and she clenched her lips, mentally settling down.
That day, when the monster at the palace wouldn’t fall despite all the attacks...
While everyone else collapsed from mana exhaustion, Aslan Vermont stood alone against it...
Back then, he had said it with confidence—“There’s always a way.”
But now, looking back, it seemed that was a lie to reassure us.
If the Emperor hadn’t recovered from exhaustion in time, Aslan’s face might have been the last thing we saw.
"If I had seen him like that all along... I might’ve followed him blindly..."
Although Yuria had first witnessed Aslan Vermont’s sacrifice at the palace, Charlotte and Yulia must have seen it many more times.
Perhaps they trusted him so much it might seem almost blind at times.
"Ugh. Why do I keep seeing only the good sides of Aslan Vermont..."
This felt wrong.
She had come to the mansion to uncover Aslan Vermont’s true nature and expose the ugly side she believed he had hidden away.
But Yuria found herself repeatedly looking at Aslan in a new light.
Yuria, sulking and pouting, lifted her mask slightly to swallow the remaining soup.
"Hmm? Why is the soup still warm?"
She had expected the soup to be cold by now after glaring at Aslan the entire time.
But surprisingly, it was still warm.
No, it was the same temperature as when it had been served.
How was that possible? Just as she wondered about it...
"?!?"
When she sensed Aslan’s gaze shifting toward her, Yuria froze in surprise.
His smile was cunning, almost like a demon watching from behind a well-laid trap.
But based on her experience of observing Aslan, she was 99% sure that smile meant 'pride.'
"What’s so proud about this... Ah? The pet bowls!?"
Suddenly, it hit her—Aslan’s gaze was focused on the pet bowls.
Could it be... the soup had remained warm because of the pet bowls?
Was there some functionality to them after all?
It wasn’t just some weird desire to feed them in pet bowls?
With the shock hitting her like a punch in the back of the head,
Yuria froze completely.
"Maybe the cruel, shameless man I had imagined in my head was just a misperception, a fantasy I created..."
At that moment, it became clear.
The rumors about Aslan Vermont building an evil army to rebel against the Empire had definitely been false.
Back then, Yuria had laughed at those who believed such absurd rumors.
But now, she wondered if she had been the one who was wrong all along.
Charlotte and Yulia, too, had different opinions about whether Aslan Vermont was raising them to marry them.
Even the two people who were closest to Aslan didn’t fully understand him.
Perhaps her rash judgments had been premature.
Suddenly, Yuria began to doubt whether her perception of Aslan Vermont was based on facts and experiences, or merely preconceived notions.
"Was it all just my misunderstanding...?"
He wasn’t trying to make Charlotte and Yulia into his brides,
and he wasn’t giving them pet bowls for any sinister reason.
Was Aslan Vermont really just a good-natured Count, and had she been mistaken all along?
Just as a wave of guilt was about to overwhelm her...
"Wait!? No! I can’t give in now!"
Yuria snapped back to her senses, forcing herself to clear her head.
Today was just the first day at the mansion.
There was still a long break, and plenty of time ahead.
But I can’t let myself conclude that Aslan Vermont is innocent just like that, without any suspicion!
If this is all part of Aslan Vermont’s act,
trusting him completely now would mean falling right into his trap!
I won’t miss a single expression, glance, gesture, or movement.
I’ll expose his true nature to Charlotte and Yulia!
With her wariness heightened again, Yuria fiercely glared at Aslan Vermont.
"What is this? Why does he keep staring at me? Is it because of the pet bowl? If I tell him I designed it myself, will he fall in love with it instantly?"
Aslan, lost in strange anticipation, couldn't help but smile secretly to himself.