Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 76
Lin hadn’t quite reached the point of unrequited love, but whenever she passed by, she found herself pretending not to notice while stealing glances at him.
And now Aiden was supposedly involved with Duchess Papiope?
Camilla glanced around like a meerkat to confirm no one was nearby, then got to the point.
“Well, apparently someone working with the Knight Order saw Aiden carrying a flower ring in his breast pocket…!”
“But anyone can make a flower ring, right? Connecting the two of them based on just a flower ring seems like a leap.”
“No, think about it carefully. It’s October now, but a flower ring made from clover that only blooms in early summer?”
“Gasp, you’re right. So Aiden must have cast that expensive preservation spell on it?”
“Exactly! Who would cast a preservation spell on a flower ring? It would be far cheaper to just buy a proper one. There must be something deeper to it.”
Lin suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering something.
“Come to think of it, didn’t the two of them share the first dance at the New Maid’s birthday gala last year?”
“Right. I was confused about that at the time because the New Maid wished to see the two of them dance together using her wish token….”
“If the two of them were already lovers back then, doesn’t the puzzle come together?”
“So the New Maid already knew about their relationship?”
“There’s no other explanation for it. Even though it looked like a scrap of paper, it was still a wish token after all.”
“Well, our New Maid has incredibly sharp intuition. She sees the two of them more closely than anyone else—how could she not know?”
“If the two of them were to marry, the New Maid would be absolutely delighted. She was so fond of Aiden.”
“Aiden took in the New Maid when she was wandering the streets. Of course she would be devoted to him.”
Lin let out a wistful sigh.
Of course, she had never even dreamed of becoming involved with Aiden in that way, but that was how the human heart worked.
“I thought the Duchess had no interest in men whatsoever. This is quite unexpected….”
“The two of them are such a handsome pair that they really do suit each other.”
“When do you think they’ll marry?”
“Who knows. Based on how long he’s been carrying the flower ring, it seems they’ve been dating for about a year. Perhaps he’s starting to consider it?”
“Well, both of them are well past marriageable age, so they’ll probably hurry along.”
In the middle of their conversation, they heard someone approaching and quickly returned to their cleaning as if nothing had happened.

✦ ✦ ✦
Rumors were spreading through Duke Papiope’s Household.
None other than the rumor that Aiden and Duchess Papiope were engaged in some sort of office romance!
There were even fan theories pairing them together, with whispers that they’d been dating for nearly a year.
“Romance? That’s nonsense.”
I exhaled a deep sigh that seemed to emerge from the depths of my chest.
Since my birthday celebration last year, the two of them hadn’t made a single step forward—hadn’t even had any meaningful contact.
How did I know this, you ask?
Aiden stays glued to my side all day except when I’m sleeping; there’s no way I could miss it.
“How should I put it… they’re lukewarm.”
Duchess Papiope clearly has feelings for Aiden, but she doesn’t seem to be making any bold moves.
Aiden acts as though he has no interest, yet sometimes he does something that makes me think, “Wait, what?”
Thud.
“Such wishy-washy people.”
I buried my head on the desk in frustration and forced myself to calm down.
Elysion and I exchanged our first kiss at our fourth meeting.
Of course, I was the one who initiated it, claiming it was repayment for his birthday gift, and there’s been no progress since then.
Still!
How could adults be moving slower than a child like me?
I wanted to witness a proper adult romance unfold.
“At this rate…”
Moreover, when they were around each other, both of them acted strangely unlike their true selves.
Duchess Papiope, normally bright and cheerful, became somewhat stiff and formal.
Aiden, usually taciturn but occasionally smiling, moved about like a wind-up doll that had forgotten how to laugh.
“Could it be that they’re conscious of each other?”
Personally, I thought Duchess Papiope was far more charming in her true eccentric nature.
It was truly lamentable.
That’s when it happened.
I heard the sharp click-clack of footsteps from outside, and then someone burst through my door without knocking.
“Tania!”
There was only one person bold enough to enter my room like this without so much as a knock.
I’d already guessed who it was from the sound of those footsteps, so I rose from my seat with a bright smile.
“Welcome back, Duchess Papiope. I heard you were attending the Nobility Council today—you’re home early.”
“It was more of a hearing than a council. It was boring, so I left halfway through.”
Hmm. Duchess Papiope can be reckless at times, but…
She’s not the type to abandon an important council meeting midway just because it’s dull.
“What happened? Did the nobles say something about your foresight ability?”
“…Don’t worry. Mommy will protect you, sweetheart!”
The fact that after a moment of silence, her response was “I’ll protect you” told me everything I needed to know.
No doubt they’d spouted the usual nonsense—information monopoly, putting personal gain before the Empire’s welfare, and all that.
“I was more worried that the Duchess might have heard some unpleasant remarks.”
“My dear, do you think I’m the sort to be intimidated by those fools? I turned the tables on them instead.”
The Duchess’s face glowed with satisfaction, as if she’d just had a troublesome tooth extracted.
Well, our Duchess was hardly the type to be cowed by anyone.
“That’s a relief, then.”
“You should have seen the stunned silence on their faces! Oh, my beautiful daughter! Where on earth did such a blessing come from?”
She suddenly pulled me into her arms and began showering my face with kisses.
“Stop, that tickles!”
I raised both hands in surrender, though I was already thoroughly covered in affection.
The Duchess chuckled and spoke again.
“You know what happened when I mentioned selling surplus grain at a discount?”
“What was their reaction?”
“Even though I left the Nobility Council meeting early, so many nobles followed in my wake! It reminded me of my debutante days.”
The Duchess wrinkled her nose with an impish smile.
“I was quite the sensation back then.”
“You’re still popular now, I’d say? You’re far more beautiful than any of the young ladies in their prime!”
“Oh, you flatterer!”
She laughed heartily at my words and patted my shoulder affectionately.
It didn’t hurt—if anything, seeing the Duchess so pleased made me smile involuntarily.
It had been a year since I was adopted into Duke Papiope’s Household.
Now I truly felt like family.
I couldn’t imagine my life without the members of the Papiope household anymore.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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