“Eek, really?
This is pretty, but it looks incredibly cheap at first glance.
I hesitated and took out the bracelet with the sky-blue beads.
Winter reached out her hand as if it were natural, and I carefully put the bracelet on her wrist.
Although the only difference between mine and hers was the color of the beads, it seemed like a gem when the owner changed to Winter.
“Hehe, it feels like we went together to match them with Mother!”
Even though there were no dolls, how about some aegyo*, Mother!
*acting excessively cute
“I didn’t give it to you so you could laugh like a fool.”
“Yes….”
It doesn’t work, Knight!
I vowed not to act cute again.
I managed to restore my drooping mouth corners.
I wondered why there was a teacup on Winter’s opposite side, and Menelik suddenly appeared.
“What about mine?”
“Oh, I don’t have one….”
I unconsciously hid the hand with the bracelet behind my back.
Menelik’s face became stern.
The same expression when I called him “Sir”!
“I’ll go out again tomorrow! I’ll give the gift to the Duke at that time!”
“Trust me.”
Menelik sent me a skeptical look.
I shed a few tears.
My Lord, it’s so nice that you treat me comfortably, but I’m a beggar….”
* * *
That evening, the four of us had dinner together.
I don’t know what Menelik did, but there were no more incidents of the temple people causing trouble.
Winter couldn’t take her eyes off Kybrin’s face throughout the meal.
With so much on her mind, she couldn’t easily express anything.
Still, when Winter and Kybrin’s eyes met, he would smile warmly.
During dessert, Winter finally tore her gaze away from Kybrin and turned to me.
“Cheria, come over here.”
Winter pointed to the seat next to her.
My heart pounded.
What’s going on? I feel a slight elevation in status.
I rushed over.
Winter rested her chin on her hand.
“You resemble a wild animal jumping around even for small things.”
I raised my head in surprise.
“Are you talking about a cute creature like a mountain rabbit by any chance?”
“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since you went hunting.”
“…”
Um, excuse me, please spare me. I’m only ten years old…
Winter looked at me, trembling, and raised my chin.
“Why are you so scared? It means I’ll cut you some slack.”
It doesn’t feel like that at all!
Perhaps I shouldn’t have given her the bracelet.
I gently touched Winter’s wrist.
She still hadn’t taken off the bracelet.
Winter smiled mysteriously.
“So, eat a lot next to me.”
Ugh… I feel like I’m going to faint…
* * *
The next day, I got permission to go out again.
I didn’t plan to go to the bustling market.
After all, I didn’t have much money to spend, and buying anything wouldn’t impress Menelik much.
I expressed my gratitude to the knight who accompanied me today with a nod.
He seemed to be aware of yesterday’s events as he was wearing a simple black cloak without any embellishments.
“Little Miss.”
While I was leisurely enjoying the market, someone called me.
Huh?
It was the grandma who sold me the bracelet yesterday.
“Not buying today?”
“….”
“I brought your change.”
…Is this world too harsh on children? Is it okay to let it be like this?
The non-discriminatory nature of haggling was astonishing.
After briefly looking around, I chose some materials for making knots.
I know how to make decorative knots.
Unlike my previous life as Cherrya, I didn’t attend classes all day like my sister, and I didn’t have the opportunity to meet other kids.
So making knots with cheap materials was the best way to spend the free time I had.
“I’ll take all of these.”
Although the grandma was bargaining hard, the price was so low that I had plenty of money left.
Not wanting to leave just yet, I walked slowly.
The smell of bread wafted in from nearby.
“Sir Knight, how about going to that dessert shop this time?”
The shop had a mint-colored sign and was decorated like a fairytale cookie house.
The interior design showed attention to detail.
Since it didn’t seem like the kind of place nobles frequented, they probably wouldn’t bother us.
Besides, they seemed too preoccupied to care about customers.
“There are so many people.”
While waiting in line, I pondered over apple pie and animal-shaped bread.
Hmm, this teddy bear looks even cuter, resembling Kybrin more.
With a touch of personal preference, I made my selection.
It was another gift for Kybrin.
We’re… we’re not married, but, well, since we have that kind of relationship, I should treat him specially.
The desserts from the duke were excellent, but they seemed to prioritize health over taste.
Not too sweet. Not much cream.
On the way back after purchasing the bread, I diligently made knots.
When we arrived at the duke’s residence, Kybrin was organizing the book he was reading.
It seemed he had been listening for my arrival.
“Your Grace! Can you spare a moment?”
Kybrin nodded several times in quick succession.
That was cute too.
I quickly placed the bread on the tea table.
The face of the teddy bear, too cute to eat, glistened with a glossy finish.
“Isn’t this bread cute? I bought it because it resembles Your Grace!”
“W-what do you mean by cute?”
Huh?
Wasn’t this a question one would ask if they had never thought something was cute before?
“Um, like, you’d want to take a bite…?”
To my answer, Kybrin chuckled and poked the bread with a fork.
The bear’s head split open, revealing a stream of rosy cream and bright red strawberry jam.
…Huh?
I didn’t want something gory!
Although the taste couldn’t be bad with such a combination, the visual was completely ruined.
“W-wait!”
Kybrin’s pupils shook.
“I-it’s okay. C-cute enough…”
Why are you stumbling over your words more than usual?
I spread the dripping strawberry jam with my fork.
The problem was that the more I did that, the more grotesque the bear’s face became.
Maybe the reason why the place was crowded was that they sold unique concept desserts…
I put the fork into my mouth.
Fortunately, the taste was good…
While shedding tears inwardly, I took out the second gift to revamp the image.
“This is another gift.”
It was a decorative knot made on the carriage.
The duke’s carriage was so stable that it was much better than the marquis’s attic.
Kybrin examined the knot with round eyes.
“I can only give you something like this for now, but I’ll buy you something more expensive when I grow up!”
“I-it’s fine. I’ll cherish it even if I die. No, I mean, even after I die.”
Isn’t that too extreme?
“You can wear it a couple of times and then throw it away. I won’t mind.”
“But… Father also, uh, said the same thing, but he was deeply disappointed for a long time…”
Suddenly, I remembered Menelik’s face when I called him “Father.”
Menelik is quick to get upset, and it seems to last. I should keep that in mind.
“I’m different from the Duke. I promise.”
“Oh, yes…”
… I don’t believe it at all.
With no income from this outing as well, I chewed on the fork with a sulky expression.
Despite an unintentional minor incident, preparations to leave the capital proceeded diligently.
“Congratulations, Lady Chersea. It seems you’ve recovered at least as much as a cat’s whisker.”
Yelena spoke cheerfully.
I made a skeptical expression and asked, “Is it something to congratulate…?”
“Well, yes. Considering you had practically no stamina, even a slight improvement is a positive sign.”
Perhaps because it was the day before departure, even after Yelena left, my mind remained unsettled.
Can’t sleep…
Tossing and turning, exhausted, I went outside.
Thinking of taking a light breath of fresh air, I unexpectedly spotted someone on the terrace overlooking the garden.
I admired the flowing platinum hair.
It’s Mother!
Winter, sensing my presence, slowly moved her eyelashes.
With the sound of rustling leaves in the moonlight and the white walls surrounding her, she seemed like the winter queen covering the whole world in frost.
I ran over.
“Mother, aren’t you sleeping?”
“I should be asking you that.”
The frost on her eyelashes contradicted her gentle voice.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Me neither.”
Winter was fiddling with something round and thin.
My chest tingled slightly.
That… it’s a truly sacred item.
Winter remained silent.
Ignoring the pain, I observed her.
I had been pondering for a while. Why, while needing a saint, didn’t she use me, the saint’s sister?
It can’t be pride.
She bowed in the temple.
Then why?
“…Kybrin will be obsolete again. I asked what she wanted, and she just said she’d stay that way.”
“…”
“Even the marquisate is just another snake pit.”
Winter said self-deprecatingly.
Suddenly, I asked, “Would it be okay for you to leave without meeting the saint? Maybe I could try…”
“Mayol Marquis scolded you for attacking the saint.”
“Haha…”
It was self-defense.
