Chapter 10
Precautions
Inside the house I’m usually on edge, but with Louis, I can relax and spend time together in an easygoing atmosphere. The warmth of the sun makes me so drowsy.
「Hey… there’s something I wanted to tell you today, Maria. It’s just that…」
If it’s “Will you be my chair?” I’ll kick him in a second.
But Louis kept his head down, mumbling. With no other choice, I grabbed his chin with one hand and forced him to look at me. This kind of shy fidgeting is only cute when done by a delicate girl.
「What is it? If you’ve got something to say, look me in the eye and say it clearly.」
「Fu…ugh…!」
He tried to avert his eyes, but I locked my gaze onto his so he couldn’t escape. Louis was so dazed he couldn’t even blink, but I didn’t let go until he spoke properly. If he doesn’t overcome this shyness, he’ll grow up to be a real pain someday.
「What’s wrong? You said you had something to say, didn’t you? Or not?」
「…Ah. I wanted to thank you… back then… I…」
「Marie. What are you doing?」
Suddenly a white hand appeared before my eyes, and the next instant everything went dark. A shadow had come up silently behind me, along with a voice. Of course, I knew the culprit instantly.
I grabbed the hand covering my eyes and pulled it away.
「Leon, you’re here. Have you finished your talk already?」
「I have, my beloved goddess. I’d prefer you didn’t pierce him with that fiery gaze of yours. It’s cruel to let him misunderstand when there’s no hope.」
Leon threw a sharp glance at Louis, who was still dazed, then kissed the back of my hand.
Louis, watching this, suddenly wore a furious expression and glared at Leon. In my family, my parents, Leon, and of course I, greet each other like this every day. But for shy Louis, such a custom doesn’t exist.
「Why don’t we go to the place where we always have lunch? Helen and the other maids have already carried the food there. Helen won’t be joining us today since we have a guest, but let’s have lunch together with him.」
「Louis, I understood what you meant. Thank you too, for that time. Thanks to you, the misunderstanding I had about you was cleared up. I think we can be good friends from now on.」
Since Louis said he wanted to thank me, I’m sure that’s what he meant. Yes, the sparkle in his eyes confirms it.
Just as I moved my hand for a handshake, Leon’s hand landed on my shoulder, reminding me of the “Do not touch” rule. I loosened the strength in my hand reaching for Louis, and Leon, satisfied, stroked my shoulder.
「Good girl, Marie. Now let’s go. Louis, you don’t know the way, so please follow behind us.」
With his hand still on my shoulder, Leon strode ahead. The guest was practically being left behind. But instead of trailing after us meekly, Louis proved himself bold. He dashed forward and clung to my arm.
「Louis… such behavior is unbecoming of a gentleman. Let go, won’t you?」
「Not a chance. I’ll let go when you disappear.」
「What an arrogant guest you are…」
Still keeping one hand on my shoulder, Leon used the other to push Louis’s head away, trying to pry him off. But Louis, even while bending back, refused to let go.
A brother trying to keep his sister from straying down the wrong path.
A brat who doesn’t want to listen to anyone.
And a poor chick caught in the middle.
We couldn’t move forward at all.
Then, like a rescue boat—or rather, a radiant archangel—she appeared, bathed in sunlight, walking gracefully like a flower in full bloom. The flower fairy herself: Helen.
「Lunch preparations are complete.」
She stepped aside in the corridor and bowed politely—how lovely she is. Thanks to her daily lessons, Helen becomes more princess-like with each passing day.
「Helen. You’re so beautiful, like a flower, I almost want to lock you away in my private greenhouse forever.」
Seeing the scuffle at my sides pause, I walked up to Helen, who was still bowing, and took a lock of her soft brown hair hanging by her cheek, bringing it to my lips for a kiss.
「…Lady Marie. The guest is watching… such playfulness…」
Her face turned bright red. This innocent maiden, always embarrassed, nearly drives me to the brink of explosion. I won’t say from what.
「Playfulness or not… won’t you confirm it for me later? My red-rose fairy.」
Watching Helen blush and fidget, I heard a voice behind me mutter, “Uh… seriously?” Clearly fed up. For shy Louis, perhaps my antics were a bit too much.
「It’s fine to admire flowers, Marie, but when you’re with me, don’t take your eyes off me. Now, since Helen went to the trouble of bringing lunch, let’s go.」
Prompted by Leon, I left Helen’s side and headed for our usual spot. Rufus was waiting nearby, though Helen wasn’t there.
Warm soup, soft white bread, mashed potatoes, salad, roast beef, and my favorite rose tea steaming gently.
Normally, since we always have a heavy snack later, I stick to salad and tea for lunch. But since we had a guest, a full portion was prepared for me as well. If I eat all this, dinner will be tough.
「Marie, there’s no way you can finish this. Don’t overdo it. Honestly… I envy every bite of food that enters your beautiful body.」
「I’ll eat today. After all, the rose fairy herself brought it. How could I leave any behind?」
「What’s with you two…」
Louis’s mutter earned only a calm rebuke from Rufus, standing by: “It’s always like this.”
No doubt Louis was thinking: What a pair of perverted siblings.
