TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 113
That evening, on the day we returned from the Capital City.
After having a hearty dinner, I looked at the Young Lady lying politely on the bed. With her white sleeping cap on and both hands neatly folded over her stomach, the Young Lady was counting the Glow-in-the-Dark Stars on the ceiling with her Bright and Sparkling Eyes.
“One star. Two… Three… I’m hungry.”
-Blink blink.
“Please go to sleep quickly.”
“I’m not sleeping.”
“It’s getting late.”
“I’m not sleepy.”
The Young Lady firmly declared her intention not to sleep. With her Bright, Shining Eyes, she announced her breakup with drowsiness, claiming that my efforts to put her to bed tonight were insufficient.
The Young Lady, who had been blankly counting stars, turned her head to stare intently at me, who was awkwardly standing there, and asked.
-Broadly.
“Is there something on my face?”
“You’re ugly.”
At the Young Lady’s impudent personal attack, I gave her White Forehead a light flick that made a soft “thwack” sound.
The Young Lady let out a scream, “Ack!” Her reaction was so satisfying that a smile crept onto my face.
Rubbing her forehead with her fingers, the Young Lady shouted, “It feels like I’ve grown another head!” I let out a sigh and demanded she retract her earlier statement.
“Where in the world is there a Butler as handsome as me? Apologize.”
“There are plenty. So, no apology.”
“Haha. Your forehead looks particularly wide today. It’s nice to have so many places to flick.”
I held up my finger, ready to flick again, right in front of the Young Lady’s face. At the threatening gesture, the Young Lady tightly shut her eyes and screamed.
“Eeeek! Save me!”
The Young Lady frantically covered her face with the blanket, and seeing her flustered demeanor, a Small Smile escaped my lips.
“Pfft…! Please don’t make a kind Butler look like a Bad Person.”
When the Young Lady was younger, I used to threaten her by saying she’d stay short like a yodeler if she didn’t sleep. But after realizing the harsh truth that the growth plate is a limited-time offer for teenagers, such threats no longer worked on her.
‘I just want to put her to bed quickly.’
I had Cold Symptoms and wanted to rest.
An imbalance in sleep isn’t good for health, after all.
With a drowsy Voice, I whispered into the Young Lady’s ear, telling her to sleep quickly.
“Aren’t you tired? You were nodding off in the carriage too.”
“Mmm… That wasn’t me.”
“Then who was drooling on my shoulder while sleeping?”
“A ghost.”
“If you keep joking, a Maiden Ghost will appear in your dreams tonight.”
“Eek.”
It seemed the Young Lady was indeed afraid of ghosts. She furrowed her brow and pulled the blanket over her head. Seeing the outline of her face sticking out from under the blanket, a small chuckle escaped me.
I had been struggling with a throbbing headache earlier, but seeing the Young Lady’s adorable demeanor made me feel as though my fever had subsided a bit.
The Young Lady peeked out from under the blanket and glanced at me.
“But what can I do if I still can’t fall asleep?”
“Even if the wardrobe slowly opens at night and a ghost comes out?”
“That’s…”
The Young Lady broke into a cold sweat and avoided eye contact. Then, with a shy smile, she spoke to me hesitantly.
“Ricardo, you’d catch it for me, wouldn’t you?”
“I’m afraid of ghosts too, you know.”
“Ugh… Ricardo, you coward.”
“Puhaha…! Still, I’ll do my Best Effort to catch it. If I can’t, you’ll have to sleep with me.”
“No way. Ricardo, you snore.”
“Isn’t that better than a ghost?”
I gave a Gentle Smile as I patted the Young Lady’s head. Her fluffy Hair filled the spaces between my fingers, and the soft sensation brought a warm smile to my face.
“Ugh… I’m not a Puppy.”
“It’s so fluffy; it feels nice.”
“Eeeek! Stop it…!”
Despite the Young Lady’s fierce resistance, frowning and waving her hands, she told me to pet Gomtangi, who was sleeping next to the bed. Ignoring her protests, I playfully ruffled her Hair.
“Ugh… I shouldn’t have worn the cap.”
The Young Lady sighed as she looked at her sleeping cap, which had fallen to the floor, with a pitiful gaze.
“That’s why you should sleep now.”
“Hmm…”
The Young Lady Shook Her Head, refusing to sleep. It seemed she was in a good mood since it had been a while since she didn’t feel drowsy after eating.
“I’m not sleepy. I feel like I could stay awake all day.”
“Please refrain from saying such dreadful things.”
“Why?”
“Overtime is a social evil.”
“…”
Pouting her lips, the Young Lady grumbled.
“Is looking at my face, the prettiest in the world, considered overtime?”
The Young Lady, true to her Villainess nature, shamelessly uttered such words.
But I had no rebuttal, so I kept my mouth shut.
Because it was true that the Young Lady was beautiful.
Even without the bias of being enamored, the Young Lady was an extraordinary Beauty. Her dignified appearance and the Treasure Pouch that enhanced her charm made it undeniable. Although her self-praise was annoying, it was hard to disagree with the obvious truth.
However.
“I’m handsome too, you know. Handsome enough to make a living off my face.”
“Pfft.”
“What’s with that unpleasant laugh?”
The Young Lady, with a Villainess-like smile, covered her mouth with her hand. Chuckling “hoho” and opening her crescent-shaped eyes, she shook her head.
“Ricardo. Drawing lines on a pumpkin doesn’t make it a watermelon.”
“Where did you learn such refined vocabulary?”
“It was in the scene where the daughter-in-law, who had been seduced, said it to the cold-hearted Mother-in-law in ‘Father, You Can’t Do This!'”
“…?”
“Why? It’s a wholesome Philosophy Book.”
“…?”
After the incident on her Birthday this year, I had thoroughly censored her books, but it seemed there was still Inappropriate Content left in her favorite reads. I shook my head as I picked up the Forbidden Book from the bedside table.
“This is being confiscated.”
With a despairing expression, the Young Lady spread her hands wide and shook her head.
“No…! That’s my Mentor!”
“You don’t need such a Wily Mentor.”
“Ugh… Taking back something you gave is the worst thing ever.”
“Did you learn that from this book too?”
“Yep.”
“Alright. Incineration it is.”
The Young Lady clenched her Fist and let out a dejected sigh.
“Don’t burn it… It’s precious to me.”
“You have other books, don’t you?”
“But this one was a gift from Ricardo.”
Wow… That’s cheating.
The Young Lady fidgeted with her fingers and made a sullen face. Her sweet whisper made a smile escape my lips.
“Oh… Gosh.”
As if the Cold Symptoms weren’t enough to make me feel feverish, hearing the Young Lady’s bashful confession made my head feel like it was about to burst. It reminded me of a sigh from my Previous Life that went, “Hawawa…”
I couldn’t control the corners of my mouth and ended up smiling foolishly.
“Fine. But you have to sleep now.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
The Young Lady, who closed her eyes tightly and lay down at the same time as making the Promise, turned her body away with her lips slightly pouting as if sulking.
“Are you upset?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t sulk. I’m pretty good at sulking too.”
“Hmph!”
As if she intended to broadcast her sulking to the entire neighborhood, the Young Lady puffed and huffed with a defiant attitude. To soothe her disappointment, I quietly sat by the Bed and whispered softly.
“Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tour of the Estate.”
“I’m sulking.”
“You’ll be surprised when you see the Renovated Estate. I even made a room with things you might like.”
“What is it?”
With a mischievous smile, I pressed my lips together.
“It’s a Secret.”
“Ugh…”
“If you don’t sleep now, I’ll show you a week later.”
“That’s unfair.”
“Unfairness is the way of ugly people, after all.”
“Eeeek… Well, that’s true. I’ll forgive you.”
Seeing the Young Lady’s curious expression, now willing to converse, I smiled and gently stroked the Young Lady’s Hair.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Okay. Goodbye.”
“Sweet Dreams, Young Lady.”
As I stood up with a Shout of Spirit, “Uht-sha.”
-Grab.
Suddenly, the Young Lady grabbed my Sleeve, stopping me in my tracks.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes?”
Partially hiding her eyes with the Blanket, the Young Lady spoke to me.
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“What?”
“Your face is really red.”
Touching my burning cheeks, I maintained a nonchalant expression. I reassured her not to worry, saying it would get better after some sleep.
“It must be because I saw the most beautiful Young Lady in the world.”
At my playful response, the Young Lady smiled and repeated her question.
“You’re really not sick, are you?”
“My eyes hurt a little.”
“Why?”
“Because your Halo is shining too brightly.”
“Hehe…”
The Young Lady gave a Pleasant Smile and waved her hand at me.
“Don’t get sick.”
“I’m always healthy because I don’t have Picky Eating habits like you.”
“Eeeek!”
“Sweet Dreams.”
After turning off the lights in the room, I touched my burning forehead and walked toward my room.
“I feel dizzy.”
Thinking I’d be fine after some sleep, I trudged along with heavy Footsteps.
***
And so, the next morning arrived.
Olivia, as always, Blew the Reveille Toward the Sky. She imbued it with the wish for Ricardo, who was sleeping in the next room, to hurry and come to her.
And with the hope that her curiosity about today’s breakfast menu would soon be satisfied.
As Olivia greeted the morning sunlight, she shouted toward the ceiling of the Estate with a Pleasant Smile.
-Air Raid Alarm!!!
Olivia’s Voice reverberated throughout the Estate like an Air Raid warning.
Now, if she waited for about a minute, Ricardo would open the door.
Hiding the twitching corners of her mouth, Olivia stared at the door.
‘When is he coming…?’
Even after a minute passed.
Even after three minutes passed…
Even after ten minutes passed, the door didn’t open.
Flustered, Olivia muttered.
“Huh?”
No one came to find Olivia.