TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 166
It feels like it’s been a while since I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.
Watching Malik dance with a serious expression, and seeing Hanna hide her face while saying, “Why is he doing that?” Watching Malik dance so seriously as well.
I couldn’t help but let out bursts of laughter.
Even though he was wearing a mask, so I couldn’t see his expression, he was surely concentrating with a stiff face.
Still, his dancing was good. It wasn’t just flattery; it truly was.
The element of the mask covering his face actually created a Dreamlike Aura, and the unique, powerful Dance Movements that only The Man could produce were so dazzling and sharp that it reminded me of a Former Idol.
I even wondered if he learned swordsmanship just to dance…
Thanks to the Proprietress’s outstanding dancing skills, I was able to stay focused until the performance ended.
I found myself laughing at the Proprietress’s different side while also being impressed, which helped me focus on the performance.
As I lamented the fleeting time, I spoke to Hanna, whose face had turned as red as Tomatoes out of embarrassment.
“Are you okay?”
“…”
“Miss Hanna?”
“Yes!? Ah, yes, I’m fine.”
Hanna, whose soul seemed to have left her body, shook her head and let out a Deep Sigh while watching Malik say his final farewell on stage.
“No…”
Hanna felt both pride and Shame at the same time. She had always thought of him as a lively person, but she never imagined him to be so unrestrained in this way.
Until she received an Apology from her Older Brother, she hadn’t known that he was this kind of person.
Only focused on swords.
Only caring about Family Honor.
She thought he had no affection for his family, but it seemed there were many hidden aspects of her Older Brother that she didn’t know about.
In truth, he cherished his family more than anyone.
And he was someone who liked things other than swords, which Hanna realized too late.
Because on the day he apologized, her Older Brother had shared his True Feelings.
It was a strange Emotion.
An Emotion she wouldn’t have felt without receiving the Apology, and a Secret about her Older Brother that she might never have known her entire life if she hadn’t become an adult.
At the sight of the Brother’s Smile visible behind the mask, Hanna slowly began to smile.
-Thank you.
“No… really.”
-Thank you too.
Seeing her Older Brother step back with his left foot and bow gracefully like a Gentlemanly Pose to the Audience, Hanna slowly raised her head, which she had lowered out of embarrassment, and listened to the thunderous Applause directed at Malik.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
She shyly raised her hand and began to clap.
“What are you doing…”
Hanna disliked her Older Brother.
At the same time.
Hanna was proud of her Older Brother.
*
On the way back to the Estate after the performance.
Amidst the pouring crowd, I was holding Hanna’s hand tightly as we exited the Theater.
Hanna’s expression looked good.
With a Subtle Smile, she kept glancing back at the performance venue, as if she felt regret.
I thought she would be upset after watching her Older Brother’s Dance, but I was relieved that my assumption was wrong.
Seeing Hanna’s Subtle Smile, I felt good as well, and with a satisfied smile, I looked up at the Sunset Sky.
Stretching under the afternoon Sunlight that greeted us with a soft orange glow, I said to Hanna.
“That was fun.”
“…Indeed.”
Hanna let out a Small Smile as she spoke.
“It was really fun. I didn’t even expect it…”
In Hanna’s calm Voice, there seemed to be a peculiar excitement, as if she were proud of her Older Brother.
“It was really fun.”
Hanna tightened her grip on my hand as she spoke.
“It’s all thanks to you, Butler.”
As her Brown Hair swayed gently in the Sunset, Hanna smiled.
“What did I do?”
“If it weren’t for you, Butler, I wouldn’t have been able to experience this moment.”
“You’re too kind.”
“No… really.”
After briefly catching her breath, Hanna hesitated to speak.
Was it the Sunset stirring up her Emotions, or had Malik’s new side triggered her feelings?
Hanna’s gaze, filled with gratitude, sorrow, and joy, was directed at me. Her honest words, carrying a mix of Emotions, were something I accepted calmly without overreacting.
I didn’t think of myself as the amazing person Hanna described, and I believed that all the Hardships surrounding her were overcome by her own strength.
Of course, as a third party, I had helped, but I had only given her a push, so I couldn’t take credit for it.
Despite being someone far from modest.
I looked at the fading Sunset and spoke. With modesty and honesty, I conveyed that it wasn’t my doing.
“I think it’s because Miss Hanna did well.”
Hanna remained silent for a long time, holding my hand as we walked. Quietly walking down the Street, Hanna dragged her Shoes along the ground.
The unfamiliar sound of her Shoes echoed irregularly in my ears.
-Click.
-Click.
-Click.
The longer Hanna’s awkward Shoe sounds lingered, the closer we got to the Distance to the Lodging, and the time for farewell gradually approached.
Hanna’s Time, stretching out her regret.
Hanna didn’t want to spend this Time meaninglessly.
She wanted to say thank you.
She wanted to stay longer.
She wanted to hold this hand a little longer.
But not wanting to burden a Butler who had to return to the Young Lady, Hanna kept these feelings hidden inside, though she deeply regretted the passing of this Time.
Hanna spoke in a quiet Voice.
“Butler.”
“Yes, Miss Hanna.”
Hanna called me once again. Like a child seeking attention, she was calling me as if asking me to call her name once more.
“Butler!”
“Yes, why are you calling me?”
Hanna let out a Shy Smile as she lowered her head. Watching her walk with her awkward, uneven Footsteps, I matched my pace with hers, smiling slightly.
Looking at the Sunset, Hanna said.
“Do you know?”
“I know that I’m handsome.”
“Pfft! Not that.”
Hanna dragged out her words as she spoke.
“Do you know that you’re a veeeery important person to me?”
“A very important person, huh? That’s quite the high praise.”
“A very, very, very important person.”
Hanna tightened her grip on my hand as she spoke.
“Truly.”
And then, she slowly began to share the thoughts she had been keeping inside.
“You might not realize it, Butler, but I’ve always just been on the receiving end with you.”
“Awakening my Aura at an early age.”
“Improving my relationship with my Older Brother…”
“And even being able to speak firmly to my Father.”
“All of it… If it weren’t for you, Butler, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
Hanna’s smile, which had been lingering on her lips, slowly began to fade. Biting her lip with an expression that seemed unsure of what to do, Hanna wore a bittersweet smile, not from the weight of sadness but from the emotion of gratitude.
“Ah, why am I like this…? I must have told such a boring story, right? I just felt like I hadn’t thanked you enough until now… I wanted to say it today…”
I spoke to Hanna, as I always did, with sincerity.
“I don’t think so.”
It was an unadorned emotion.
Having witnessed all the effort she had put in until now, I could say these words. If it weren’t for that, I might have spoken with some sense of self-importance, but the Hanna I had seen was someone who had endlessly worked hard. Enjoying a brief moment of silence, I slowly opened my mouth.
“I merely gave Miss Hanna a little push.”
Hanna shook her head.
“No, I…”
Shaking her head vigorously in denial, Hanna. I gently held Hanna’s hand and spoke.
“Miss Hanna.”
“Yes…?”
“Please, have a seat.”
I guided Hanna to sit on a bench. Taking off my jacket, I placed it over her skirt and knelt on one knee to look at her.
Hanna, startled, looked at me with trembling eyes.
Seeing Hanna’s awkward smile, I lightened the heavy mood by saying, “Why are you about to cry? You had so much fun.”
Squatting in front of Hanna, I pulled out a bandage from my pocket and showed it to her.
“Ta-da.”
A Rabbit Bandage with a rabbit drawing on it.
Looking at the rabbit I had drawn myself, Hanna burst into laughter and said.
“What is that…”
“How is it? Isn’t it cute?”
“It’s cute.”
Carefully removing Hanna’s shoes, I gently placed the Rabbit Bandage on her heel.
As the Rabbit Bandage approached the reddened wound, Hanna widened her eyes in surprise and looked at me.
“I’m not hurt though…”
“You’re not very good at lying.”
Fidgeting with her fingers, Hanna mumbled under her breath, asking how I knew when she hadn’t shown any signs.
“How did you know?”
“There’s nothing I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
Hanna shyly let out a laugh and lightly swung her feet. As her gently swaying feet moved, I carefully placed another Rabbit Bandage on her other ankle, and Hanna, gazing at the cute rabbit drawing on the bandage, smiled softly.
As I gently massaged Hanna’s tired feet, I spoke.
“I don’t know how you’ll take this, but I think Miss Hanna is an incredibly amazing person.”
“No, I’m not…”
“You work hard in places where no one notices.”
“…”
“Even when you don’t achieve results, you don’t give up. You keep trying, and even when you fall, you get back up as if nothing happened. I know how difficult that is. Of course, I’ve never done that myself, so I wouldn’t know firsthand.”
Hanna’s legs, which had been swaying like a gentle swing, came to a stop. Even without looking at Hanna’s face, I could tell she wasn’t smiling.
Above my head, I could hear the sound of a sniffle.
“Sniff. Ah… Why am I like this? It must be the pollen. My nose just keeps running.”
“Indeed. The pollen…”
Hanna’s excuse about pollen on a street where no flowers bloomed was something even a fool could see through.
I simply smiled softly as I continued to gently massage Hanna’s feet.
“So, Miss Hanna.”
“Yes?”
“Please don’t say you’re nothing special. You’re an amazing person, and if you keep saying that, others will get jealous.”
“What is this… If you keep saying things like that…”
As I slipped Hanna’s shoes back onto her feet, I slowly raised my head and saw her face, her eyes glistening with tears.
Hanna rubbed her eyes with her hands and shook her head.
“Don’t look at me…”
“Why not?”
“It’s embarrassing.”
Letting out a small chuckle, I brushed off the dust on my knees and turned my back to Hanna.
Hanna, looking at me with startled eyes, hesitated and glanced around nervously. I softly whispered to her.
“I’ll give you a ride without the Young Lady knowing.”
“…”
“It’ll be our little secret from the Young Lady.”
Hanna shyly smiled and said.
“Alright…”
On my back, Hanna murmured softly.
“I like you…”
Her voice was so small that I couldn’t hear it, but Hanna kept whispering her feelings.
“That’s why… I…”
With shyness and embarrassment in her heart.
“I like you.”
Hanna whispered.