“Please, wait, Lady Yuma. What do you mean by ‘leave it to me’?”
“I want you to become Laurentz’s wife.”
“M-, me!? Um, that is, it’s too honorable, or rather, I am unfit for such a position.”
“Stop belittling yourself. I have never once thought you were unworthy of Laurentz.”
“…Lady Yuma.”
“I have known you since you were little. I trust you, who have supported Laurentz for so long, and can entrust my son to you with peace of mind.”
Bertha was surprised. She had never imagined Yuma would think so highly of her.
“Besides, don’t you admire my son?”
“–That, that’s…”
“You don’t have to hide it. Your feelings are pure, and as a mother, I am happy.”
“…Yes. I admire Lord Laurentz.”
Truth be told, she had thought Yuma was the one person from whom she had to hide her romantic feelings the most.
She believed it was unforgivable for a retainer of her only son to harbor feelings for the master she served.
She had always worried that if Yuma found out, she would be separated from Laurentz. But she never expected it to be so readily accepted.
“Then it’s fine. I’ve liked you for a long time, you know.”
Yuma smiled gently, as if to soothe Bertha, who was still tense from confessing her feelings.
“I tend to be emotional, don’t I? I know people have been gossiping about me because of it, but I like you because you’ve always treated me with sincerity and respect, and I think of you as my own daughter.”
“…Lady Yuma… I am too unworthy.”
“Therefore, I would be happy if you married Laurentz and became my true daughter.”
Bertha was filled with surprise and gratitude towards Yuma, who was so sincerely revealing her inner thoughts.
She had never dreamed Yuma would say she thought of her as a daughter.
Indeed, as Yuma herself said, there were those among the retainers who spoke ill of her because she was prone to emotional outbursts, especially when it came to matters concerning Laurentz.
Even from Bertha’s perspective, Yuma had her nervous moments, but she was by no means a bad person. For better or worse, her son was important to her. In that regard, Bertha felt the same way about her master, so instead of opposing it, she was in complete agreement.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Bertha and Yuma were compatible. She had been by Laurentz’s side since childhood and had vaguely realized she was expected to be a suitable match for him.
Among the many family members and retainers, it was the household’s understanding that Yuma’s favorite was Bertha, whom she doted on.
However, Bertha herself had only thought she was favored as a daughter of a branch family. Therefore, she was happy to learn of Yuma’s true feelings.
For Bertha, who cherished Laurentz, she equally liked Yuma, who treasured her son.
“If you have loved my son since he was a child, then please become his wife and support him.”
“I am very happy about your feelings. However, Lord Laurentz’s own feelings…”
How happy she would be to be accepted as the wife of the man she loved. But there was also anxiety. It was Laurentz’s feelings. If he liked someone else, the thought of becoming his wife without his knowledge would be nothing but unpleasant. She didn’t want to be hated because of it.
She also felt a sense of guilt for proceeding with the matter without his knowledge.
If she could walk through life with him, she would do anything. Still, Laurentz’s happiness was paramount.
If she inadvertently made him unhappy by marrying him, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Therefore, she wanted at least to confirm Laurentz’s feelings.
“Yes, yes, I understand. After all, you’re a girl, and you’re concerned about the other person’s feelings.”
Yuma read and understood Bertha’s anxiety.
Though separated by generations, they were both women. She knew Bertha would not think it acceptable to be happy solely at the expense of the person she loved, without regard for their feelings. In fact, it was precisely because she knew Bertha wasn’t that kind of person that she liked her and wanted her as her son’s bride.
“Understood. Then, I will ask Laurentz about you.”
“May I?”
“Of course. In any case, I had to talk to him about marriage proposals. I am on your side, so if he accepts you, please accept him wholeheartedly. Wouldn’t you dislike someone you don’t know becoming Laurentz’s wife?”
“That… Yes.”
Realizing it was pointless to hide her emotions now, Bertha replied frankly.
If someone offered a good match for Laurentz, she would willingly step aside. But if not, she wouldn’t lose.
Now that she had Yuma’s approval, Bertha felt a desire for Laurentz flare within her.
