Hooked — that word dances inside my heart.
"Duchess, I believe Lily is older than Your Grace. She is older than Her Majesty the Queen."
At my words the Duchess and the maids held their breath. Did the sound in the room disappear? Did I hear high laughter inside Lily's heart?
"R-really?"
The Duchess says with a face that finds it completely unbelievable, so
"Please ask Lily her age. May Lily approach your side?"
At my question the Duchess, while showing agitation, answers immediately,
"Yes... come."
Receiving that, Lily approaches the Duchess's side with a soso and, beside her ear yet so that the maids can also hear, says,
"I am forty-four years of age."
"""Eh!!"""
The three froze. And they are staring hard at Lily's face. The expressions of the three are strange. The Duchess stretches out a hand and is stroking Lily's face. With her fingertips she is poking the cheek and checking the rebound elasticity of the skin.
