Chapter: 10
But I had expected this.
Marquis Corel was an extreme hypochondriac. He couldn’t tolerate anything that threatened his health.
He was the kind of person who genuinely feared every single day that he would catch a disease and die.
In the original story, if a servant carrying garbage accidentally bumped into him, he would fly into a rage, insisting they had tried to murder him.
His reasoning was that rats might have chewed through the trash, spreading germs that could infect and kill him.
In short, he was obsessed with illness.
And now there was someone coughing after coming from a region devastated by an epidemic…
“Of course the child belongs to the Forest! The nerve of you! This trial is over!”
A look of deep despair spread across Viscount Putterio’s face.
The outcome of this trial would determine whether his life would recover or plunge into ruin.
Besides, he must have arrived completely convinced of his own victory.
As pale as someone who had just been sentenced to death, Viscount Putterio cried out,
“M-Marquis, please reconsider!”
The viscount crawled across the floor and grabbed the hem of Marquis Corel’s trousers.
The marquis reacted as though he had just seen a cockroach.
“Let go! Release me at once!”
“How can you be so heartless? We’ve been business partners all this time—cough—haven’t we…?”
“Our dealings are over forever. I was reluctant to meet someone from an epidemic-stricken region to begin with, and now you’ve actually brought disease here!”
Marquis Corel’s face turned bright red. His fury was obvious.
“If this isn’t an attempt to murder me, then what is it? Viscount Putterio, I sentence you to exile and a fine of 1 billion gold for attempted murder!”
“One… one billion gold?!”
“If you fail to pay the fine, you’ll be tortured and sentenced to hard labor for the rest of your life until every last coin is repaid!”
The viscount screamed in despair.
“Marquis! You can’t do this to me!”
Marquis Corel shouted in disgust.
“Guards! Throw the viscount out immediately!”
The marquis’s guards rushed in and dragged Viscount Putterio outside.
“Marquis, please…! Spare me! Aaaah! Let go of me, you fools!”
“Lulu, we did it.”
Humming happily, I left the scene.
With his personality, Marquis Corel would probably be traumatized for months.
As for Viscount Putterio, he would finally pay the full price for all the cruelty he had committed with his sharp tongue and ruthless hands.
Most importantly, Sisrain no longer had to be sent away.
That alone made me happier than anything.
Now all that remained was to keep my promise to Lady Mimosa.
That evening.
The three-day deadline Lady Mimosa had given us finally came to an end.
I visited her room together with Sisrain.
“We’ve come to keep our promise, my lady.”
Lady Mimosa carefully examined Sisrain from head to toe with her stern golden eyes.
I swallowed nervously.
By my standards, Sisrain looked absolutely spotless.
“Sys, that viscount who kept tormenting you can never come back here again. So now there’s only one person left for you to overcome.”
“…Who?”
“Yourself.”
The part of yourself that’s afraid of water.
It was no longer about the viscount.
Now the problem belonged entirely to the boy himself.
Sisrain seemed to understand what I meant, and determination filled his expression.
A little later.
When Sisrain came out of the bath, he looked fresh, clean, and positively radiant.
His black hair smelled wonderful.
His fair skin was smooth.
Even his little hands and feet were perfectly clean.
Is this what royal blood looks like? Or am I just imagining the elegance coming off a little kid…?
It’s definitely the handsome-male-lead buff.
Sisrain looked unbelievably beautiful to me, but what would Lady Mimosa think?
After silently inspecting him with her emotionless gaze, Lady Mimosa lowered the switch she had been holding.
“Perfect.”
Yes! We did it!
I couldn’t hide the joy on my face.
“As promised, there will be no punishment.”
“Yes, my lady!”
“But if you break the school rules again…”
Her golden eyes shone sternly.
“I won’t show you any mercy next time. Remember that.”
The moment we stepped out of Lady Mimosa’s room, I hugged Sisrain tightly and bounced on my feet.
I was just that happy.
“Sys, you don’t have to hide anymore! Let’s make friends, eat lots of delicious food, and enjoy living here!”
“…”
For some reason, Sisrain’s ears turned red.
“Anette… thank you.”
I smiled brightly.
“You don’t need to thank me. None of this would’ve been possible if you hadn’t found the courage yourself.”
I couldn’t stop reaching up to touch his soft, freshly washed hair.
My heart was filled with satisfaction.
Looks like I’ve finally accomplished my first goal.
I had originally set two goals.
First, to help Sisrain live comfortably in the Forest just like the other children.
Second, to help Heinrich and Sisrain become friends.
Now that Sisrain could finally live here freely, all I had left was improving the relationship between those two little troublemakers.
After that, this extra can quietly exit the stage.
I’d just watch from afar and cheer for their happy ending.
Hehe… just imagining it felt peaceful.
But before that…
“Sys, your hair’s gotten way too long. It’s poking your eyes. I’ll cut it for you!”
“…Huh?”
“I’m going to borrow a pair of scissors. You go wait at our hideout first.”
Leaving those words behind, Anette hurried off down the hallway by herself as though she were in a great rush.
Left alone, Sisrain watched the corridor where she had disappeared before placing a hand over his chest.
His heart was pounding violently.
…What is this feeling?
The scent of the girl still lingered at the tip of his nose.
A soft, warm fragrance like lilacs.
Even though she was gone, it felt as though her scent still filled his lungs.
“…”
As his gaze drifted toward the sunlit window, a gentle spring breeze swept past, brushing through his long hair.
It was the first time he had ever felt this kind of excitement.
The moment he pictured her round light-green eyes, it almost seemed as though her cheerful voice was carried to him on the wind.
“From now on, you’ll stay with me, Sys.”
The boy quietly repeated those precious words to himself.
“Stay… together.”
Before he realized it, his ears had become as red as ripe summer apricots.
I’ll make you a promise too, Anette.
No matter where you are, I’ll always come back to your side.
The boy softly spoke her name.
It was a name that lingered on the tip of his tongue before gently falling away.
A name that filled his mouth with sweetness every time he said it.
“Anette…”
“Alright then, please have a seat, dear customer. How would you like your hair cut?”
Holding a pair of silver scissors, I sat Sisrain down and asked.
Quit blinking and answer the stylist, sir.
“What’s that? You’d like these bangs that keep poking your eyes trimmed first? You want a handsome and adorable hairstyle?”
“…I just…”
“Of course! I’ll make you unbelievably cute and handsome!”
While I enthusiastically played the role of a salon owner, Heinrich sat atop the railing nearby and spoke.
“Just hack it off. No matter what you do, he’ll still look like some wild animal.”
“…Heinrich.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly in warning.
Heinrich immediately turned his purple eyes away in obvious annoyance.
“You’re only supposed to cut my hair.”
“Hmm? But I’ve cut Julien’s and Shasha’s hair too.”
His arrogant silver-haired eyes narrowed.
“That’s different.”
“Ohhh.”
I nodded as though I understood.
Different how?
Kids and their jealousy.
Licking my upper lip absentmindedly, I focused on cutting his hair.
I’d wanted to trim those shaggy bangs for so long.
Snip.
Snip.
The room was quiet except for our breathing and the sound of scissors slicing through hair.
For some reason, it made me happy.
Watching the black strands fall to the floor.
Watching the boy’s face framed by thick black eyelashes.
“Open your eyes.”
I whispered softly.
The boy slowly opened them.
His lashes lifted, revealing crimson eyes looking straight at me.
It was the first time I’d seen his uncovered eyes from so close.
My own reflection appeared in them.
“Beautiful.”
At that moment, Sisrain whispered.
Then, smiling faintly, he gently cupped my cheek.
“Anette.”
I stared at him blankly.
Good grief… look at that smile. Once he grows up a little more, he’s going to charm the entire world.
Half amazed and half flustered, I stumbled over my words.
“…Huh? I’m not pretty at all.”
“Hey!”
Crash!
Right then, Heinrich shoved himself onto the chair Sisrain had been sitting in.
Sisrain was bumped aside, while Heinrich crossed his arms arrogantly and looked down at me.
“Move over. It’s my turn now.”
“…But Heinrich, you just had your hair cut not long ago.”
“No, look! My hair’s gotten so long it’s messy.”
It didn’t look that way at all.
Still, this little chihuahua who constantly craved my attention needed to be pampered.
“Alright, Heinrich.”
Snip.
Snip.
Sisrain watched me with a puzzled expression as I pretended to cut hair in midair.
Without making a sound, I pressed a finger to my lips, silently telling him, Shhh.
Then I carefully made snipping noises all around Heinrich’s head.
“All done, Heinrich.”
I held up a mirror with a smile.
“So? What do you think?”
The silver-haired boy with violet eyes quietly studied his reflection.
Did he notice?
I waited nervously.
Then Heinrich curled the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.
“…Now I finally look decent.”
Sob… you silly little fool.
