The two of them walked out of the room side by side and entered the living room.
After Roman sat down, he could clearly feel that the manor was much quieter tonight.
Of course, he knew the reason.
As he lowered his head and fiddled with the fork on the table, Luo Xiya’s face, as well as everything she had done for him, replayed in his mind from time to time.
If she were still here, just now she probably would have dragged him to her side despite his protests, carefully introduced what they’d be having for dinner, and then walked behind him to tie his napkin.
As Roman lowered his head, he happened to see the spotlessly clean plate, reflecting his current expression.
His brows, the tip of his nose, the corners of his lips—everything revealed a sense of loneliness.
Elise personally brought the dinner to the table while secretly glancing at Roman’s exquisitely beautiful, lonely profile.
She spoke up as a reminder, “Lord Roman, would you like me to help you with your napkin?”
“Ah?”
Roman snapped out of his thoughts and nodded at Elise with a smile.
Even he himself wasn’t sure just how charming he had become to those around him after growing so lively and cheerful.
Seeing Roman’s genuine smile, Elise seemed to be under some kind of spell.
Even though she was probably the first person in the manor to interact with Roman, she couldn’t help but stare at him in a daze.
“I’ll do it.”
Lady Catherine’s voice came from the side, breaking Elise’s daydream.
She quickly lowered her head and stepped aside.
“Yes, Noble Lady.”
Coming up behind Roman, Lady Catherine wrapped the spotless napkin around his Adam’s apple, brought it around his neck, and only after tying a beautiful bow was she satisfied enough to sit down next to him.
“So… shall I start?”
Roman tapped his finger on the dinner knife as he asked.
“Please, go ahead.”
Elise replied respectfully from the side.
Dinner passed as usual.
The only change was that the atmosphere had grown much quieter after Luo Xiya’s departure.
However, Roman didn’t find it uncomfortable.
Even though those present weren’t as lively or talkative as Luo Xiya, in Roman’s heart, both Lady Catherine and Head Maid Elise were important to him now.
So even though there was less conversation at the table, he could still feel a silent warmth.
For example, Head Maid Elise was especially good at reading people.
In just a few days, she had clearly figured out Roman’s preferences, silently removing all the dishes he didn’t like from the menu.
Looking at this table full of delicious, fragrant, and colorful dishes, Roman even felt as if he’d been transported back to a restaurant from his previous life.
As for Lady Catherine, there was no need to say more.
Like a real mother, she paid attention to Roman at every moment during the meal.
While personally preparing his food, she also liked to watch him eat, observing his puffed cheeks, his lips moving as he chewed, and the way his brows and eyes lit up with pleasure at the taste of the food.
No matter how much she watched, she never grew tired of it—she even forgot to eat herself.
Unknowingly, Roman finally finished all the food Lady Catherine had put on his plate.
After putting down his knife, he couldn’t help but let out a burp.
In the quiet room, Roman’s burp sounded especially loud.
Even Elise, who usually wore a frosty expression, couldn’t help but show the faintest hint of a smile.
Lady Catherine smiled as well, rubbing his stomach and channeling some magic to make Roman feel more comfortable.
Roman, his cheeks flushed, cupped his face in his hands, wondering if eating like this would make him gain weight.
Thinking about how his cheeks might gradually become rounder in the future, Roman couldn’t help but pinch them, suddenly worrying about his weight.
He had never had such worries in the past, since he’d almost never eaten his fill before.
Now, even though he was worrying about it, the very next moment the worry turned into an indescribable happiness.
“Elise, I’ll be helping Roman with his studies in a bit. If you need anything, just knock on the door.”
Lady Catherine put down her knife and, while elegantly wiping the corner of her mouth with her napkin, spoke to Elise.
“Huh?”
Roman looked at Lady Catherine in confusion, wondering what studies she was talking about—he had no idea.
Elise explained from the side, “Every Extraordinary who wants to become stronger needs to accumulate experience and knowledge. You can either rely on yourself or have a Tutor to guide you. Lady Catherine is a renowned Scholar on the Continent—you should be happy.”
“How could I not be~”
Roman immediately took Lady Catherine’s arm and smiled, “Being able to study with Aunt is my honor. I’m more than happy to.”
His sweet words made Lady Catherine a little embarrassed. She poked Roman’s forehead and, pretending to be strict, said, “Flattery won’t work. Go wait in my room for a bit, I’ll be there soon.”
Watching the mother-and-son-like intimacy and the exchange of looks between the two, Elise at first frowned slightly, but then gave a self-mocking smile.
After relaxing her brows, she nodded in agreement.
Leaving the living room, Roman arrived at Lady Catherine’s room, pulled out a chair at the table, and sat down with his hands obediently resting on his thighs.
After a while, Lady Catherine still hadn’t arrived, so Roman took the opportunity to look around her room.
The environment was clean and tidy, the decor low-key yet luxurious.
Lady Catherine and Luo Xiya really were like mother and daughter, even their personal habits and styles weren’t much different.
When he looked toward the wardrobe, Roman’s gaze suddenly paused.
Perhaps Lady Catherine had forgotten, but her wardrobe was half open.
Out of kindness, he walked over and placed his hand on the wardrobe handle, just about to close it when he suddenly caught sight of the clothes hanging inside.
Slamming the wardrobe shut, Roman closed his left eye, his lips moving slightly from time to time.
If he hadn’t seen wrong just now, the wardrobe was full of Lady Catherine’s various undergarments, close-fitting stockings, and nightgowns.
He could clearly see Lady Catherine’s preferences—most of the underwear was in shades of violet and rose. Inevitably, he thought of books he’d read in his previous life, analyzing a person’s heart through the color of their underwear…
Just thinking about such things felt disrespectful and sacrilegious toward Lady Catherine. Shaking his head, Roman sat back down.
Not long after, the door finally opened. Lady Catherine walked in, habitually patted Roman’s head, and asked with concern, “You didn’t wait too long, did you?”
“No, I just sat down.”
Lady Catherine then took out the prepared teaching materials and set them aside, telling Roman to look through them as he liked.
She then walked over to the bed, doing who knew what.
Roman flipped through the materials Lady Catherine had prepared for him.
Being fond of reading, he now read them with the enthusiasm of Columbus discovering a new continent, skimming and reading in detail where appropriate.
“Don’t turn around.” Lady Catherine reminded from behind.
At the same time, behind him, Lady Catherine had her back to Roman as she slowly reached for the hem of her robe, sliding it upward along her graceful curves.
Snowy peaks appeared—majestic and awe-inspiring—waiting for someone to conquer them.
Opening the wardrobe, Lady Catherine immediately fell into a dilemma.