CH 17

Skating for the first time was a very fun and exciting game.

According to what one hear, sportsman sometimes compete in speed on this skate. It must be even more fun if you can skate well and be able to race.

After Miriella came home, she caught up with everyone and talked about skating. However, the servants who are close to her have come to remember their errands just by hearing the word "Ska".

During February, Miriella only talked about skating, but in March, when the cold weather subsided, she gradually became quieter. In early April, the new semester of the Royal Academy will begin, but just before the new semester, at the beginning of April, there will be Miriella's birthday.

Leon, who has decided to become a teacher at the Royal Academy from this year, sent a letter saying that he would return home on Miriella's birthday, although it was almost the same as a day trip from there to here.

Around the time when the smell of the air changed and the voices of spring birds became audible, Miriella's 14th birthday came.

Melisa had known about Miriella's restless attitude and the reason for it for a long time, so she started preparing with the same enthusiasm as her master.

Miriella is growing year by year. Slowly and surely, like a red rose slowly blooming. Inside, she was still pretty, but her features were becoming more and more like her father's, with an elegant appearance.

As usual, she tied a red ribbon around her head and put on a red dress for the moment. Both Melisa and the Duchess wanted Miriella to wear dresses of various colors, but she herself was fixated on red no matter what.

"Shall we go then, Ojou-sama. It's almost time for Leon-sama to return."

"Yes!"

When they arrived at the entrance, her parents and Edmont, who had returned home the other day, were all there. She rushes inside and waits for the door to open. Miriella liked this time to welcome her family who were returning home after a long absence.

"I have come late. It has truly been a while, I am back now."

The door opened, and Leon's voice resounded in the sunlight that had already passed noon.

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"Oji-sama, welcome back!"

"I'm home Miriella."

Miriella ran up to Leon first. The Duchess complained, "It's disrespectful."

Leon gently caresses Miriella's head.

"Every time I came to see you, you keep growing up."

"I will lose to my Onii-sama however." [Tl note: it was my mistake. last chapter is describing her brother so she didn't use Onii-sama. sorry for that.]

Edmont is already as tall as Leon, and his body is stronger than Leon's. When Leon glanced at him, he unusually silently waved his hand in greeting. Anessa stands next to him.

Leon had met Anessa only a few times, but she seemed to be on good terms with Miriella. Every year she is the only one invited to her family's birthday.

"Nee, Oji-sama. May I be in your room until the party started?"

"I don't mind you know."

Making a smile like a flower blooming, Miriella put her hands together in front of her chest. Behind her, Anessa smiles and pulls the hem of Edmont's clothes.

Only the butler, who had been here from the beginning to see how things were going, knew what Anessa had asked Edmont to do in advance.

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She has an uncle.

When she think about it now, she realize that being able to spend everyday with her uncle when she was young was a very happy thing. Being able to meet people you like every day is very precious.

But it wasn't so anymore. That's why there are so many things she want to talk about and ask, but when she's in front of him, she ended up not knowing what to say.

Besides, Leon, who turned 25 this year, was more mature than she thought. In comparison to him, she seems like a child...and suddenly anxiety floods in.

Such Miriella sat in front of Leon with her mouth closed.

"something's the matter. Even though you've always been so talkative."

Leon asked with a mischievous smile that she doesn't often see.

"I wasn't that talkative."

"Is it so? The letters are always very long, and the last time I came home, you were talking until I couldn't stay awake."

"the last time, but that was a long time ago! Its also because My Oji-sama won't come home at all."

Leon laughed as if he had become unbearable. When she saw Leon laughing happily, Miriella couldn't help but smile.

"Miriella, happy birthday. This is from me."

She was handed a small box and a book. This book must be her Oji-sama's manga.

"Thank you Oji-sama. I'm happy."

Miriella sat down comfortably on the sofa while holding the book carefully as usual. She is overwhelmed with the desire to read, but for now she wants to spend time with Leon himself.

"Oji-sama, I wish you could become a manga author. There are novelists and painters. I'm sure manga will soon become popular and make a living."

"Well, let's see."

With a wry smile, Leon brushes his red hair.

“Becoming a god of manga, will be too heavy a burden for me I think.” [TL note: he's seriously saying it that way.]

"God, it sure is a heavy load I also think." 

For some reason, Miriella, who returned it seriously, was laughed at by Leon again. But if Leon laughs happily, she won't get angry even if she is laughed at. Maybe this too is because I like him. and so Miriella thought.

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The birthday party with her family and Anessa, who is scheduled to be only with close relatives, went smoothly.

The party was held after, with talks of how Edmont confessed that he had repeated a year, and after that, how moments Miriella and Anessa became friends while he endured the three-hour sermon. How busy Leon was at teacher training school. This year, Edmont will be in high school for the first year, and Leon will also be working in high school, so there will be more opportunities to meet.

There was no end to the stories, no end to the laughter.

Miriella, who had been waiting for this day for the past month, seemed happy, and the maids who waited on her were watching warmly.

Leon, who is busy as a new teacher, will return home by night carriage for work after this dinner party.

Even though she was wrapped in happiness, Miriella couldn't help but think that it would be nice if this time could last forever.

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Miriella asks her maids to take off her dress while lowering her slightly sleepy eyes. Put on her nightgown while letting her loose hair flow to the side. She was absent-minded, but she looked at the books and boxes on the table.

“Melisa, can I open it?”

"I don't mind, but Ojou-sama looks very sleepy. Wouldn't it be better to do it tomorrow?"

Judy, who is briskly moving behind her, nodded. She is Judy, the girl who entered last month as a new maid appointed to Miriella, who has been with one lady's maid for a long time since Maille retired after marriage. She was 15 years old, the same age as when Melisa became a maid, and Melisa was also taking care of her. She is young, energetic, and also has a good memory.

"Then Melisa, Judy, please leave the rest of Oji-sama's present there tomorrow."

"Good night, Ojou-sama." (Melisa)

"Please do have a good night" (Judy)

When will I see my Oji-sama again?

Lying down in the soft bed, the curtain of sleep immediately fell on Miriella.

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She woke up early in the morning to make sure no one was in the room yet.

Miriella gently got off the bed and headed for the table, while also feeling frustrated for she must put her feet in her room shoes first.

And so, she pick up the manga that Leon gives her every year and sat herself on the sofa. She opened the page gently as usual and started reading.

“Black Cat's Big Adventure”

"Oh my. The cat is the main character!"

A cute cat is talking.

He always dances and laughs for the owner's daughter, and talks while looking at the outside world for the weak girl. Every time the cat goes outside, it picks flowers and brings back acorns, which it delivers to the girl along with the scent of the outside. 

The girl travels with a black cat in her heart. Fairy lands, pirate ships, and many other lands.

The weak girl is encouraged by it and gains the courage to cure her disease.

This is a manga about the bond between a girl and a black cat.

“I wonder if Melisa and the others will come soon.”

She want to share her impressions as soon as possible. she want Melisa and Judy to read it and talk about this and that. She want to boast of a kind-hearted cat that can talk.

Miriella, who was immersed in the afterglow, suddenly raised her face. That's right, another gift from her Oji-sama.

She pick up the small box that was placed next to the book.

Then, untie the glossy ribbon hanging from it and open the lid.

What came out was a silverwork cat brooch.

The brooch with the shape of a supple cat is small enough to be tied with a ribbon, and emits a subdued light. And the cat's eyes are filled with deep blue stones. It was a color that reminded her of Leon's eyes.

After carefully wrapping the brooch with both hands, Miriella returned to the bed and lay down. Until Melisa came to the room, Miriella kept flapping her legs on the bed.