TPCM 06

chapter 6

“Good morning, Lady Marie! What a lovely morning it is today! Please, look outside!”

Ah, Helen… what a perfect morning indeed.
Ah, Helen… my angel.

It’s been two weeks since Operation Big Brother Disaster.
Since then, I’ve shared a bed with Helen only once. Of course, I didn’t lay a hand on her. I only kissed her adorable cheek once.
I think we’ve gotten much closer since then. After all, she’s now calling me “Lady Marie” — such a sweet nickname! You can’t blame me if I get a little giddy about it.

“Helen… you shine again today. Your smile outshines even the sun.”

“Oh, Lady Marie… then on rainy days, I must always stay by your side to make sure you can still see me smile, mustn’t I?”

“Ehehe!”

Ah!! Helen!! What is this unbearable cuteness!? I want to press my lips to those blushing cheeks so badly!

“If the rain meant I could hold onto you forever, then I’d wish for it to rain every single day.”

“Lady Marie… that’s embarrassing.”

Helen… I think I might get a nosebleed. Yes, I’m aware I’m a pervert.
And so begins another perfectly normal day.

“Good morning, Marie.”

“Good morning, Father, Mother, Lord Leon.”

Some things have changed since then.
When I stopped calling them “Papa” and “Mama,” my parents looked a little lonely.
They’ve finally allowed me to use the stairs by myself.
The distance between my parents and Lord Leon has softened — the air between them feels warmer now.
Our family bonds have grown deeper, and yet for some reason, Leon told me I shouldn’t call him “Brother” anymore.

Am I… being left out? No, no tears. Marie is a strong girl…

The seating arrangement at the dining table has changed, too.
Before, my parents used to sit on either side of me — the messy, runaway child who couldn’t finish her meals.
Now, they sit across from me, and Lord Leon is beside me.
That’s… probably the “proper” way things are supposed to be.

My parents and Leon still talk slowly and calmly — maybe they’ve always been that way.
Our after-meal chatting time continues as usual.
During the afternoon “happy time” with Helen and Rufus, Leon joins us now, too.
The twins used to be nervous, but lately, they’ve started smiling more softly — so cute.

Now, after lunch, I’m spending some quiet time in Leon’s room… and facing a major problem.

“Hey, Brother?”

“Leon.”

“…Lord Leon.”

“Marie? You need to listen properly. Go on, say it. It’s ‘Leon.’”

“Big brooootheeer~!”

“Are you planning to act like a fool again? I’ll get angry, you know.”

“That would be troublesome.”

“I’m the one who’s troubled here.”

And there it is again. For some reason, Leon refuses to let me call him “Brother,” or even “Lord Leon.”
When I tried to consult my parents about it, they just gave me a warm, knowing smile and told me to “call him however he wants.”
What on earth did this ninja do to them?

Leon may be my brother for now, but eventually he’ll return to the duke’s household and become the head of the family.
There’s no way a mysterious silver-haired chick like me could ever call him by name so casually.
I get that being called “Brother” by a girl he doesn’t want as his fiancée might be inconvenient when he returns home — but for now, isn’t it fine?
If people outside saw a young lady calling her older brother by name, they’d think I was poorly raised!
Can’t he at least allow me to add “Lord” for the sake of dignity?

“Leon… sama.”

“I can’t answer to that. You can say my name properly, can’t you? You’re a fine young lady now.”

“I think a fine lady wouldn’t call her brother by name.”

“Ah, that’s true — if he were her brother. You, however, are hopelessly slow in realizing certain things. I’ll have to keep an eye on you to make sure no weird pests come near.”

He says this while sipping tea elegantly, looking at me like I’m some sort of chick he’s studying.
Lately, his smile hasn’t been a gentle one — it’s kind of scary.
He has this soft aura, but his presence is so overwhelming I can’t resist him.
As expected of my “most beloved” brother. Or… my obsession?

“But if I can’t call you brother, then isn’t it improper for a lady to call a man by his first name?”

“That’s a good question. You’ve seen how Father and Mother call each other by name, haven’t you?”

“That’s because they’re Father and Mother.”

“And that’s the correct answer, Marie. You see, I made a promise with Father and Mother.
I wasn’t supposed to tell you until I turn ten, but… I’d like to tell you sooner — to make you aware of it.”

“What do you mean?”

He’s pretending to act mysterious, but I already know.
He’s going to return to the ducal household when he turns ten.

“Hehe. Then here’s a hint. Right now, you’re hugging a stuffed bear — but two years from now, you’ll be holding something very different.”

I tilted my head and looked at the bear plushie I was hugging to avoid his gaze.
What? What’s that supposed to mean?
What connection could there possibly be between a duke and a stuffed bear?

“Hehe. And after a few more years, you’ll be the one being held. I’m looking forward to it.”

“…Do you mean the bear is going to grow bigger?”

Leon burst out laughing.
I had no idea what he meant.
Maybe he plans to give me a slightly bigger bear every birthday?
Ah, that must be it. He’s just in a Santa Claus kind of mood.
With his ninja skills, leaving a stuffed bear by my pillow should be easy for him.

“Well, I don’t really get it, but I’m glad you’re having fun, Lord Leon.”

“Leon.”

“….”

And again, we loop back to this.

“You’re kind and warmhearted, Marie. You treat everyone equally, without bias. That’s a wonderful thing.”

“Eh? Ah… thank you.”

“But Marie, you’re also very beautiful, and your smile enchants everyone. When people meet your eyes, they’ll all fall to their knees.”

That… sounds awfully similar to something I said to Helen recently.
As expected, even without blood ties, we really are siblings.

“That’s why, Marie… sometimes you need to make distinctions.
Yes — especially with me. I don’t want you to lump me together with everyone else. Do you understand?”

“You mean you want me to treat you specially?”

Leon set down his teacup and smiled sweetly.

“You’re very clever, Marie. Exactly. So you must call me by my name.
That’s an absolute rule — one that can never be overturned.”

“…If I don’t give in, this’ll go on forever, won’t it?”

“Forever, huh…? Yes, that’s right. You and I will be forever.”

Right. He really won’t give up — not just “forever continuing,” but eternally.
He’s incredibly stubborn.
Even if he’s not my brother, maybe I could call him by name just until he returns to the duke’s house — then I’ll stop.

“…Leon.”

“Good girl, Maria.”

He smiled and patted my head, looking more satisfied than I’ve seen him in days.
But… there was something a little frightening in his eyes.

“Big brother.”

“…Did you say something?”

“Nope. Nothing at all.”

“I see…”

That was really scary just now.