CH 94

Brother and Sister

By the time they both calmed down and left the herb garden, it was almost noon. They returned quickly so as not to miss lunch.

Whenever they came across a bump or ditch, Wilfrecht would try to take her hand like a lady, and Sheila was at a loss for a response. Why was he being so overprotective?

When Sheila finished lunch and left the dormitory, there was already someone waiting to pick her up at the carriage stop. Lulu smiled as usual as they boarded the carriage. Her olive brown hair and deep dark brown eyes add warmth to her smile.

“It’s been a while, Miss.”

When Sheila met Lulu, she naturally felt like she was at home. Her tension loosened, and her tone of voice returned to normal.

“It’s been a while, you were at the tournament yesterday, right? I really wanted to talk to you, but I was in most of the competitions. It’s been so hectic that I haven’t had time to talk to you.”

Sheila lowered her eyebrows apologetically.

“Did you notice? I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to greet you, Miss.”

“I don’t mind. I was watching Lulu’s performance, too. I saw you getting pulled into the scavenger hunt.”

Immediately, Lulu looked down with a pale face.

“I am truly embarrassed. As a maid, I have done something unruly and can’t face the young lady….”

“N-No, it’s not true?”

Sheila panicked and shook her head hurriedly at the sight of Lulu’s intense despair.  Although she had said these words in a light-hearted manner, Lulu, with her serious nature, seemed to have taken them as serious negligence. Sheila had no idea what it was that made her feel bad.

“I thought that if I could go to school with Lulu, it would be like this. It was so much fun to be able to participate in something together. I don’t have any girl friends because I live like this.”

“…. Friends….”

“Ah, was it no good? I’ve always thought of Lulu as my friend.”

Sheila scratched her head in embarrassment. But Lulu didn’t laugh at Sheila.

“I’m honored. That…. makes me very happy. I also like Young Miss very much.”

Seeing Lulu smiling so happily, Sheila smiled back in relief. It was like a confirmation of their friendship, and she couldn’t help but feel shy. But this embarrassment wasn’t a bad feeling.

“I remember you and Cody were talking very closely together. I didn’t know you two were that close. When did you two become friends?”

“It was before, when Miss entrusted a message to Cody-sama.”

When Sheila caught a cold after being harassed, she asked Cody to let her attendant know that she couldn’t return home. At that time, they exchanged a few words and became acquainted with each other.

“I was just asking Cody-sama how the Young Miss was spending her time at the academy. I was thrilled to see how well you were doing.”

“It’s not interesting to hear about me, is it?”

When Sheila returned a wry smile, Lulu suddenly became more vigorous.

“That’s not true! I want to know how close Young Miss is with her friends at school, who she gets along with, and anything else! I’m especially interested because it’s from Cody-sama’s point of view, not from the Young Miss’s subjective point of view.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes! I was smiling all the time! If it were possible, I’d watch you from the shadows all the time!”

“R-Right….”

To Lulu, who had a beautiful flowery smile, Sheila wondered, “Is this what friends are like…?”. She had a faint doubt in her mind.

◇　◆　◇

When Sheila arrived at the mansion, Richard guided her to Felix. He said Felix was in his office right now.

‘I didn’t really understand what the purpose of this office was, but if Felix is royalty, it makes sense….’

Suddenly, Sheila turned her gaze to the butler walking in front of her.

“…. Richard knew that Felix was the King’s brother, didn’t you?”

“Everyone who works at this mansion knew about it.”

“Hmm, I was the only one left out….”

“I am terribly sorry. However, Felix-sama kept me from telling you.”

Richard dismissed Sheila’s pouting complaint with a smile. His smile was as if he was trying to soothe a whining child.

“…. Why did you all have to keep quiet?”

Could Sheila not be trusted?

The truth was that she had been feeling a little uneasy since yesterday because Felix hadn’t told her the truth. Was their sibling relationship one-sided?

Looking down at Sheila, who stopped walking, Richard smiled warmly like a parent watching his child grew up.

“If you’re curious, it’s a good idea to ask the person in question now.  You are the only one in the world who is allowed to be selfish toward Felix-sama.”

With these words, he opened the office door. It seemed that they had arrived at some point.

Sheila slowly stepped in.

Felix was at his office desk by the window, as usual.

“――Sheila.”

Through his translucent silver lashes, his gray eyes saw Sheila. He immediately smiled lovingly at her, as usual.

That’s why Sheila, too, returned the greeting in the same tone as usual.

“Felix, it’s been a while.”

Felix’s eyes widened for a moment, but then quickly turned into a charming smile. Sheila had considered calling him by his real name, “Felixian,” but she was glad she didn’t.

“Let’s have a cup of tea together for now.”

“Add a delicious cake, too, please.”

“Of course.”

Felix called Lulu as usual.

Lulu brought out a series of delicious-looking baked goods. White peach tart, buttery sweet potatoes, and a cheesecake. The colorful macaroons that Sheila had previously praised so highly had greatly increased in variety.

Once the tea was prepared, Sheila and Felix sat down at the table.

“Wow~ Is this a chestnut-flavored macaroon?”

As Sheila quickly tasted the crunchy texture of the macaroon, the fragrance of chestnuts from the cream sandwiched between the macarons passed through her nose. When she held her cheeks in excitement, Felix let out a laugh.

“There are also grape flavors and pumpkin flavors. I prepared them all just for you.”

“It’s full of autumn flavors. I’m so happy~”

“You look so happy, so it’s worth feeding you, too.”

In the mountains, she could only eat chocolate vine and chestnuts, but in the city, she could enjoy fresh fruits. Sheila bit into the white peach juice and was filled with happiness.

For a while, she proceeded to eat the baked goods, which were as beautiful as jewels. This was a gesture of apology from Felix, so she ate them to the fullest.

After being somewhat satisfied, Sheila muttered while drinking tea.

“…. Is it because of me that you stopped me from calling you ‘Brother’?”

In response to her question, Felix put down his tea.

“If it is known that you have a close relationship with the royal family, you will attract attention. The word royalty attracts others, for better or worse.”

The reason for his silence was exactly what Sheila expected.

The fact that she was the only one who didn’t know was still frustrating, but she could also understand Felix’s feelings.

“…. That’s why, only in the mansion, I can talk to you as I’ve always done. That’s the best I can do right now.”

Felix raised his eyebrows slightly and laughed.

Was he, like Sheila, afraid of rejection? Because there was no certainty of blood ties between the two of them, if their feelings for each other were suddenly cut off, they would become mere strangers to each other.

Sheila got up from her seat and approached Felix.

She grabbed his hand tightly as if she was strengthening their bond together. The familiar touch, the body warmth that was always there.

“Even if I have to pretend to be a stranger outside, even if I can’t call you ‘Brother,’ Felix is still my precious brother. That will never change.”

Sheila tried her best to convey that their relationship was strong and unshakable.

Felix smiled softly. However, there was a hint of pain in it.

It was a difference in perception that couldn’t be bridged, a difference that would never disappear no matter how much Sheila tried to say. The closer they were, the farther away he was.

Felix stared at her innocent, and therefore cruel, smile and hugged her thin waist. Thoroughly within the scope of brotherly contact. Sheila laughed at the tickle.

Felix closed his eyes and meditated. How bitter it was to swallow his thoughts.

“…. I’ll never cross the line if that’s what you want. I don’t want you to hate me.”

Sheila looked up, blinking her eyes at the quietest voice she had ever heard from him.

“I don’t really understand, but it’s impossible for me to hate Felix. No matter how things change, Felix is still Felix. I’ll always love Felix, no matter what he is.”

Felix laughed out loud again. He tightened his arms around her.

“… I don’t feel so bad. It’ll be fun to use my authority as your brother to get rid of the pests that keep getting close to you.”

“Pests? Do you need some herbs to keep the bugs away?”

“Yes, I do. With Sheila’s cooperation, I’m sure it will be very successful.”

“All right, I’ll take care of it.”

“Miss, you’re making such cheap promises again….”

Richard, who had completely hidden his presence, was baffled by the conversation that was somehow established even though the topic was quite inconsistent.

Hearing the butler’s laments, Felix took a step back from Sheila and made a nobleman-like smile.

“Oh, Richard. It’s odd that you would want to work any longer when you were so worried that you would be even busier now that I had made my presence known to the public, that you were on the verge of losing your hair. Are you pushing the limits of your scalp?”

“Please give me a break. And if you’ve noticed something wrong with my scalp, please be a little more gentle with me.”

“I’ll take good care of it.”

Felix seemed to be enjoying himself wholeheartedly as he took in the cries of Richard’s poor soul. Sheila returned to her seat, grateful to the excellent butler for keeping up with her brother’s true nature.

“Oh, by the way, Felix, you let His Highness Wilfrecht call you by your first name.”

Maybe Wilfrecht sometimes called him ‘Uncle,’ but he seemed to basically call Felix by his first name. It wasn’t strange with their relationship, but it seemed strange now that Sheila knew Wilfrecht’s age.

Felix stopped teasing the butler and shifted his gaze to Sheila.

“I’m sure he is concerned about it, but I just don’t feel comfortable with him calling me ‘Uncle’ because of his appearance.  Since I am younger than him, I asked him to address me by my first name.”

“I see. I thought it was because you didn’t like being called an ‘Ojisan.’”[1]

“――Sheila?”

“I-I’m just kidding. Don’t get mad at me.”

Richard felt his life expectancy shorten when Sheila, without reading the air, smoothly touched upon his anger. Next to him, Lulu was all smiles.

“The only person who can really annoy Felix-sama is the Young Miss, after all.”

Translator Notes:

1. ‘Ojisan’ can mean uncle/old man. ↵