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Chapter 4
By the time the meal ended, the servants had cleared the table and brought out sweet desserts.
For drinks, Father had coffee, Kizef and I had tea, and Werner…
…Just looking at it makes my teeth hurt.
It was a cup of thick chocolate milk so sweet that my tongue seemed to ache just from seeing it.
“Ah… This won’t do…”
But after Kizef announced that he would be skipping a grade, Werner had suddenly lost his appetite. Even with his favorite dessert right in front of him, he looked completely dejected.
His fork moved slowly, and the chocolate milk hardly went down at all.
“At this rate… Big Brother will get to stay with the youngest more than I will…”
Muttering something too quietly to understand, Werner eventually stood up without even finishing a single slice of cake.
“Father, I’ll head upstairs first. Eat well, Lowell…”
Normally, Werner could easily finish four or five slices whenever he felt like it.
But before anyone could stop him, he had already left.
The reason was obvious.
His mood had clearly changed ever since hearing about Kizef skipping a grade.
“…I think Big Brother Werner is feeling discouraged.”
I couldn’t help mumbling it, and Kizef let out a sigh.
The Imperial Academy accepted students starting at the age of twelve.
Which meant that Werner, who was eleven this year, would be old enough to enroll next summer.
But Kizef had entered two years early, ranked first in everything, and now was even about to skip a grade.
Anyone would feel down in that situation.
“He’s not discouraged. He just doesn’t like that I’ll graduate from the Academy so early. My goal is to finish in four years and graduate ahead of schedule.”
“…Huh?”
Wasn’t that basically the same thing?
When I blinked in confusion, Kizef explained further.
“He doesn’t like the idea that while he’s still attending the Academy, I’ll already be home monopolizing your attention.”
“Ah…”
The explanation was so unexpected that I completely forgot to hide my expression.
Surely… that’s not really the reason, is it?
After finishing our meal, Kizef and I started walking upstairs together.
Then I suddenly stopped.
“I don’t think this will do.”
“Lowell?”
As I let go of his hand, Kizef looked at me curiously.
“You go ahead. I’m going to stop by the kitchen for a moment.”
“The kitchen?”
“Yeah. Big Brother Werner couldn’t even finish one slice of cake earlier.”
The reason was a little ridiculous, but remembering Werner’s gloomy face kept bothering me.
Normally I would have ignored it, but I hadn’t seen him in two months.
Besides, today’s dessert was chocolate cake—his favorite.
Kizef smiled softly.
“Yeah. If you’re the one bringing it to him, Werner will be really happy.”
“You think so?”
“Of course.”
“Okay! Then I’ll go first!”
I waved goodbye to Kizef and headed straight for the kitchen.
Peeking inside, I saw everyone busy cleaning up.
They all look busy…
I didn’t want to interrupt anyone.
While I was wondering who I should talk to, someone’s face suddenly appeared right in front of me.
It was the head chef, Hugh.
“Hugh!”
I smiled brightly, glad to see him.
Hugh awkwardly smiled back and straightened himself.
“Well now. Young Lady, you never get startled, do you?”
“Why would I?”
“Well… I look a little scary, don’t I? You’re probably the only child who doesn’t get frightened when they see my face.”
As he spoke, Hugh rubbed his smooth chin awkwardly.
Apparently everyone else heard him too.
The servants behind him immediately shouted,
“‘A little’? You’re way scarier than that, Chef!”
“That’s right!”
“You little brats!”
Hugh burst out in mock anger, making everyone laugh.
Hmm. Really?
I looked at Hugh carefully.
If you judged only by appearances, he certainly looked rather rough and intimidating.
But…
“I’m not scared of you at all, Hugh. I actually think you’re pretty.”
“…What?”
“I said you’re pretty.”
The moment I said it, Hugh froze with a blank expression.
The cooks looked horrified.
The servants helping in the kitchen stood there with their mouths hanging open.
“Y-Young Lady… did you just say Chef Hugh is… pretty?”
“Mm-hmm.”
When someone managed to ask, I nodded without even a second of hesitation.
The shock spread through the room once again.
But Hugh really is pretty…
To be more precise, it was the fire spirits fluttering happily around him that were beautiful.
The spirits laughed cheerfully as they flew around him.
Spirits, beings that were practically nature itself, loved people with pure souls.
In other words, those loved by spirits usually possessed clean and kind hearts.
Of course, even if spirits adored someone, they couldn’t become a Spirit Master without an affinity for spirits.
Flutter…
Perhaps they noticed my gaze.
The little fire spirits circling Hugh flew toward me.
The tiny red lights rubbed affectionately against my cheeks as if greeting me.
Heehee… Heehee…
The warmth that touched me told me they were delighted.
After dancing around me several times, they happily returned to Hugh’s side.
“Huh? Why do I suddenly feel so warm…?”
Hugh blinked repeatedly while looking around.
“Are you just that happy because the Young Lady called you pretty?”
“No, that’s not it… Or is it?”
Still puzzled, Hugh eventually cleared his throat.
“Ahem.”
Only then did embarrassment seem to catch up with him.
Watching him with satisfaction, I finally spoke before too much time passed.
“Hugh, could you put three slices of that cake from earlier onto a plate? I want to eat them with Big Brother Werner.”
“Of course! Just wait a moment, Young Lady!”
Answering energetically, Hugh strode into the kitchen.
As someone watched him leave, they muttered,
“I think Chef Hugh got really motivated because the Young Lady called him pretty.”
“Oh, no way.”
“…But, Young Lady. Do you really think the chef is pretty? I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
“Haha. So you all don’t think so?”
“Um… Objectively speaking… I don’t think anyone would call him pretty.”
“Well, everyone has different standards of beauty.”
With a shrug, I ended the conversation.
Not long afterward, rumors began spreading through the Valentine Ducal household that the youngest young lady had a rather… unique sense of beauty.
After leaving the kitchen carrying the tray Hugh had prepared, I saw Brillin waiting for me.
“I’ll carry it, Young Lady.”
“I can carry it myself… But thank you, Brillin.”
“It’s nothing.”
Since I didn’t insist and simply thanked her, Brillin smiled faintly.
Thanks to her carrying the tray, we reached the third floor, where Werner’s room was, in no time.
“I’ll take it from here!”
“Please be careful.”
“Sigh. Brillin, you really treat me like I’m too little.”
I deliberately let out an exaggerated sigh, making Brillin laugh quietly.
Even so, she didn’t deny it.
Which basically meant she agreed.
She and my nanny, Basha, had been by my side ever since I was born.
There was nothing strange about them treating me like a child.
Still, mentally speaking, I was much older than they were.
But no matter how mature my mind was, my body was still only six years old.
Being treated like a little kid couldn’t really be helped.
“Then I’m going.”
Confidently carrying the tray, I arrived in front of Werner’s bedroom door.
It was only when I raised my hand to knock that I realized there was a slight problem.
…I don’t have a free hand.
Even though I had lived as a child for almost seven years now, moments like this still happened occasionally.
My grown-up way of thinking sometimes clashed with my little body.
There was no way habits and common sense built up over more than a hundred years would disappear in only seven.
The solution came quickly.
If I can’t use my hand, I’ll just use my foot.
After looking around to make sure nobody was watching, I lifted my foot.
Knock. Knock.
“Big Brother? Are you in there?”
Fortunately, one kick was enough.
A loud thud! came from inside before Werner hurried over and opened the door.
“Lowell?”
He peeked out.
Whether he had been pulling at his hair or rolling around on the bed, his curly silver hair was even messier than usual.
Instead of pointing it out, I slightly raised the tray.
“I brought this so we could eat together. Can I come in?”
“Y-Yeah. Of course… Ah, I’ll carry that.”
“Okay.”
Despite sounding dazed, he quickly took the tray with practiced hands.
I followed Werner into the room.
Judging by the books scattered across the messy bed, he had been reading there just moments ago.
“Lowell, would you like something to drink?”
Werner asked after setting the tray on the table.
I thought for a moment before shaking my head.
“I’m okay. Actually, I brought the cake for you. You barely ate any earlier.”
“Lowell…”
In an instant, Werner’s eyes turned red with emotion.
