Chapter 22
After requesting Viscount Raviole to make a wise choice, I went on a picnic with Chloe as promised.
The location was a small hill near Florence.
It was a place I often visited with my parents and family, including my brother who inherited the Medici barony, when I was young after transmigrating to this world.
"The place we're going to is where I often came to play with my parents and brothers when I was young."
"Is that so?"
"Even though I say we came often, because father and mother were busy, we only came about once a year."
Chloe looked at me with sympathy after hearing those words.
In Korea, it's considered natural for parents to travel far with their children at least once a year and often play with them.
If fathers didn't play with their children even on weekends, they're pointed at as bad dads.
In the Tuscan Empire, such noble fathers couldn't exist.
Since most fathers and mothers married without love, it's natural to treat children as tools for the family.
So even playing like this once a year was already in the top 1%.
'Most of a father's love usually goes to the children of concubines he fell for due to their appearance or personality.'
The family's wealth goes to the children born to the legal wife, while the concubine's children get some wealth and a father's love.
Even I think it's absurd.
"That's how all noble families are. My father treated me really well by those standards."
"Still, you must have been very lonely."
For me, since I had already transmigrated with an adult mind, it didn't have much impact.
However, our Albert was very lonely from a young age.
His obsession with power and suspicion of me might have been influenced by that.
"I was lonely, but it was okay. After all, both of them did love me."
In other families, it's said that fathers routinely treat their children coldly, as if handling subordinates.
"How was it for you, Chloe?"
At those words, the corners of Chloe's mouth turned down.
"No, I'm sorry."
What on earth was I saying to someone who lost all their parents and siblings to an epidemic caused by famine.
Even so, there are things you shouldn't say...
Chloe smiled bitterly.
Then she looked outside with eyes full of longing.
"We were poor, but we were happy. Father was a bit strict, but he often played with us, and mother always told us stories before we went to sleep."
I can roughly imagine what kind of family it was.
A sturdy but affectionate bear-like father and a gentle, kind sheep-like mother.
Children following such parents around.
It must have been a poor but quite happy family.
"Then last year, when the lord changed and the crops failed, everyone died due to the epidemic, but still, we were happy."
Tears were slightly welling up in Chloe's eyes.
"I see."
"But now I'm really happy that I can be with you, young master."
Hearing those words, I stroked Chloe's head.
Since you can't change the past, you can't turn it back.
The most important thing is to be happy now.
"Young master, we've arrived."
Hearing the coachman's words, I immediately got out of the carriage.
A hill with colorful wildflowers blooming, not easily noticeable by people.
"Shall we spread out a mat and have some lunch then?"
Just as I was about to spread out the mat and enjoy the picnic, Sebastian approached me.
"I have something to tell you briefly."
Work talk in the middle of trying to rest.
"Chloe, spread out the mat for us to sit on and wait. Everyone must be hungry, so feel free to eat the food we brought and rest."
This is somewhat in the suburbs, so everyone walked for about 2 hours.
They must be hungry.
"You think even of the servants, young master."
I may be a noble in this other world, but in Korea, I was just a worker.
I understand their feelings to some extent.
'It's sad to be hungry on top of working hard.'
"What's the matter?"
"Viscount Raviole suddenly died of an acute illness."
To those who don't know the inside story, it will be known as a 'sudden death', but in reality, it's obviously 'suicide'.
"He died honorably to at least protect his family."
Sebastian nodded at my words.
"The Raviole family barely avoided ruin, and the viscount title was safely inherited by his eldest son. However, from now on, they'll have to live as quiet as mice."
Although the Duke didn't make a big issue out of it and allowed the family to continue existing despite betraying the faction, they will continue to be kept in check.
So they'll probably have to live on pensions for the rest of their lives, unable to attend social circles and stuck in their rooms.
"It ended well."
"Yes, that's right. No, actually..."
"What did you want to say?"
"Baron Medici asked what you think about marriage."
I'll have to get married someday.
Right now, I'm increasing my value at an unbelievable speed.
"In a year, I could probably marry into a much better family than now, so is there any need to rush?"
This era is so male-centered that.
Even if a woman is of high status and wealthy, once she passes a certain age, marriage to a noble is virtually impossible, but there's no such restriction for men.
'In extreme cases, a 60-year-old man marries a 20-year-old lady, right?'
"I understand."
And as Sebastian was about to withdraw, he asked.
"But what do you think about Chloe?"
"In some ways, she's like family. She's always with me, and she's cute and kind, isn't she?"
Sebastian was saying that if I cherish her that much, I should make her my woman.
Chloe has opened her heart to me, but we've only known each other for just over 2 months.
There's no need to rush, we can take it slow.
Sebastian sighed looking at me.
"Being too kind can sometimes be a cruel act, young master."
**
While Fabio was talking with Sebastian.
Chloe spread out the mat and opened the box containing the lunch.
"Sandwiches with thin ham, lettuce, cheese, and milk. And the cake I like."
Among these, she could eat sandwiches and milk even during her serf days on special festival days.
However, she thought cake with lots of milk and sugar was precious food she could never eat in her lifetime.
Fabio often bought it just because Chloe liked it.
'Even though you're a bit clumsy eating sweet things, you always eat them with me.'
There's probably no young master anywhere in this world who treats a mere maid this well.
"If it weren't for the young master, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this happiness, right?"
Though she didn't want to think about it, she would surely have been sold at a fairly high price to some unknown man.
A miserable future where she would have been sold to a man, forcibly lost her virginity, and had to hope for that man's favor for the rest of her life.
Chloe once again pondered her situation where she could have become a sex slave if things had gone slightly wrong.
At the same time, anger welled up towards the villagers who tried to sell her to survive after her parents died.
Even though it was for themselves and their families to live, they had all lived closely like one family in the village.
"Now I have no one I can trust except the young master."
The despair she felt when she was betrayed and about to be pushed to the bottom of the bottom.
The prince who saved her from that.
"So I have to do my best to be loved by the young master. Even if I can't become the legal wife."
It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed that she couldn't monopolize Fabio because of her status.
Still, it was enough if she could be by his side.
Because being next to Fabio made her feel safe, comfortable, and happy.
Just then, she heard Fabio calling.
"Are you hungry? Let's eat."
"Yes, young master."
Chloe naturally sat down close to Fabio's side.
Then she deliberately made their bodies touch slightly.
The warmth transmitted faintly through the clothes.
The reassurance that she could feel at ease next to this person.
"The sandwich you made today is really delicious too, Chloe."
"Is it?"
"Yes, it looks pretty too. It's almost a shame to eat it."
Usually, the young master eats much better food made by chefs who are far better at cooking than her, rather than things like these sandwiches.
He's a kind person who always praises the servants, saying it's delicious no matter what dish he's served, but...
"I want to eat it again tomorrow. Can you make it again?"
He always praises the food she makes, saying he wants to eat it again tomorrow.
Even if the food is a bit clumsy.
Just seeing Fabio eat with enjoyment made Chloe feel warm in a corner of her heart.
Unlike other nobles, she felt that he genuinely cared for her, a mere maid, or rather, practically a slave.
Fabio stroked Chloe's head as he always did.
While doing so, occasionally his gaze would turn towards her chest.
From a young age, men in the village kept glancing at her, and some even stared quietly.
Back then, she just felt unpleasant, wondering why they did that...
'I don't dislike it when the young master looks.'
So Chloe decided to pretend not to notice when his gaze turned that way.
If she showed signs of noticing, Fabio would try hard to avert his gaze.
However, if she relied only on her appearance, Fabio might leave her someday.
"Young master, there's one thing I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"I want to study a bit. I want to be able to help you even a little..."
It's a request that a mere maid shouldn't dare to make.
"Really? Then I'll buy you any books you need. You can study by my side while working, and I'll hire a suitable teacher for you."
Chloe felt grateful to Fabio for doing so much for her.
At the same time, she felt deeply.
'I can't live without the young master now.'
"If you study diligently from now on, I'll give you rewards. So study hard."
At that moment, Chloe decided.
She would ask for the reward to be allowed to stay by her master's side continuously, to be given a chance to get a little closer.
And Sebastian, watching this from afar, sighed.
"...... The young master is really shy. Is he really the one who rose this far in just 4 months?"
Not long after that, Fabio formally set up his own trading company.
As soon as the trading company was established, he immediately moved to make Bio village his base.