Chapter 29

Raphael didn't respond to Catherine's question right away. Instead, he asked her, "Have you eaten dinner yet?" "Not yet, but I'm not hungry at the moment. I'll probably eat a little later." Raphael didn't agree with that, though. Even if she wasn't hungry now, it was already time to eat. "Even if you're not hungry, it's important to eat dinner. What do you want to have?" Catherine thought for a moment. Since her parents were leaving tonight, she realized she'd need to inform the butler and housekeeper about what she wanted to eat. "How about some risotto? Is that okay? And Uncle, have you eaten yet? Maybe we can eat together. I noticed you looked pretty tired when you arrived," Catherine chattered. It was normal for children to take time to warm up to strangers, but they had a tendency to feel an immediate fondness for people they find attractive. Catherine, feeling comfortable around Raphael, showed her childlike innocence and friendliness. Raphael was momentarily surprised by