Chapter 10
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Inside the house, I’m usually on edge, but with Louis, I can relax and spend time in an easy, comfortable atmosphere. The warm sunlight even makes me drowsy.
“Hey… Maria, there’s something I wanted to tell you today. It’s, um…”
If he’s about to say ‘Will you be my chair?’, I’m kicking him out immediately.
But Louis looks down, fumbling for words. With no other choice, I pinch his chin and lift his face toward me. Fidgeting like that is only cute when you’re a dainty girl, you know.
“What is it? If you have something to say, look me in the eye and say it clearly.”
“Uh… h–huh!”
I lock eyes with him, not letting him turn away. He’s so dazed he can’t even blink, but I won’t let go until he stops mumbling. If he doesn’t overcome his shyness now, he might grow up to be one of those awkward guys.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you have something to say? Or not?”
“…U-um. I wanted to thank you… for that time…”
“Maria. What are you doing?”
Suddenly, a white hand appeared before my eyes, and in an instant, everything went dark. A shadow approached from behind without a sound, along with that familiar voice. Of course, I knew who the culprit was immediately.
To clear my vision, I grabbed the hand covering my eyes and pulled it down.
“Leon, you’re here. Have you finished your talk already?”
“I have, my beloved goddess. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t pierce him with those fiery eyes of yours. Poor boy might get the wrong idea when there’s no hope to begin with.”
Leon cast a sharp, fleeting glance toward Louis—who was still frozen in place—before taking my hand and kissing the back of it.
Louis’s expression hardened instantly, glaring at Leon. In my family, both my parents and Leon—and of course me—exchange this greeting daily. But it seems the shy Louis isn’t used to such customs.
“Why don’t we go to our usual lunch spot? Helen and the maids have already brought the meal. Since we have a guest today, Helen won’t be joining us. Let’s all eat together.”
“I understand what you wanted to say, Louis. And I should thank you for that time. Thanks to you, the misunderstanding between us was cleared up. I think we can be good friends from now on.”
Since Louis had mentioned wanting to thank me, I was probably right. Yeah, his eyes lit up—definitely right.
I was about to offer a handshake when Leon’s hand landed on my shoulder, reminding me of the rule: No touching.
I relaxed the hand I’d been about to extend, and Leon, satisfied, gently stroked my shoulder.
“Good girl, Maria. Let’s go. Louis, since you don’t know the way, please follow behind us.”
Leon kept his hand on my shoulder as he walked ahead briskly—completely ignoring our guest. I thought Louis would quietly trail behind, but surprisingly, the boy had guts. He ran up from behind and clung tightly to my arm.
“Louis… that’s hardly gentlemanly behavior. Would you please let go?”
“No way. I’ll let go once you’re gone.”
“What an awfully rude guest…”
Leon, still keeping a hand on my shoulder, tried to pry Louis off by pushing on his head with his other hand. But Louis only leaned back, refusing to release his grip.
A protective older brother trying to keep his sister from going astray.
A bratty boy who doesn’t like being told what to do.
And a helpless chick caught in the middle.
We couldn’t move forward at all.
Then, a savior—no, a great angel—appeared, bathed in sunlight and walking gracefully like a blooming flower. The flower fairy herself: Helen.
“Lunch preparations are complete.”
Avoiding the tussle, she bowed her head politely. Oh, how graceful she is. Thanks to her daily lessons, she’s becoming more and more like a princess with each passing day.
“Helen, you’re so beautiful, like a flower in bloom. I feel like locking you away in a greenhouse just for myself.”
Seizing the moment when the two on either side had stopped bickering, I stepped in front of Helen, took a lock of her soft brown hair hanging by her face, and kissed it.
“…Lady Maria, the guest is watching… such teasing is…”
Helen’s face turned bright red. Every time she blushes like that, I feel like I might explode. I won’t say what kind of explosion, though.
“Whether it’s teasing or not… you can find out later, my crimson rose fairy.”
As I happily watched the flustered Helen, a faint “uh…” came from behind me—clearly the sound of someone uncomfortable. For shy Louis, a pervert like me might be a bit too stimulating.
“It’s fine to admire flowers, Maria, but when you’re with me, don’t take your eyes off me, alright? Come, Helen’s gone to all the trouble of preparing lunch for us.”
Prompted by Leon, I reluctantly let go of Helen and went to our usual lunch table. Rufus stood by as usual, though Helen wasn’t there.
Warm soup, soft white bread, mashed potatoes, salad, roast beef—and my favorite rose tea, steaming invitingly.
Normally, since I have a big snack every afternoon, I only have salad and tea for lunch. But since we have a guest, my portion’s been properly prepared too. If I eat all this, dinner’s going to be tough.
“Maria, you won’t be able to finish all that, will you? Don’t force yourself. Honestly… I envy the food that gets to enter your beautiful body.”
“I will eat today. The rose fairy brought it, after all. How could I possibly leave any behind?”
“What is wrong with you two…”
Louis muttered under his breath, but Rufus, who was standing beside him, simply told him not to mind it—this was normal.
He’s probably thinking: What a pair of perverts, that brother and sister.
