What?

“You want to… Like you?”

“Yes, I do. Why don’t you compliment me? I think I did well.”

The man said, lifting the ointment jar in one hand.

Laughing softly, he continued.

“My hair is also quite soft.”

“….”

As the man willingly bent his head down toward me, I reflexively raised a hand. When I ran my fingers through his hair, it was as if I could hear a pleasant rustling sound.

“Indeed.”

I muttered under my breath.

“Really, it is.”

Knowing I should stop, I found it hard to let go. Now, the man gently caught my hair, which fell to my collarbone, and softly touched it. He even kissed the strawberry blond strands lightly. Despite the hair having no nerves, my heart started pounding.

As I slowly withdrew my hand, the man slyly pulled it towards him, intertwining our fingers and resting them on his knee. I could feel his firm thighs.

With the other hand still caressing my hair, he said in a sweet voice.

“It smells like strawberries.”

If voices could carry a scent, surely his would smell of strawberries. I wiggled my fingers held in his hand and opened my mouth.

“Actually, it’s rose. I used a rose-scented oil during my bath earlier.”

At my words, the man let out a pleased laugh.

“I think I’m going to start liking the scent of roses.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, truly. I wish my body would emit such a fragrance too.”

The man was clearly flirting with me. With a voice dripping with allure, he parted his pretty lips to speak.

“May I have the pleasure of smelling it a bit closer?”

For a moment, I almost nodded.

But no way!

“Absolutely not.”

As soon as I spoke, Popo on my lap barked fiercely.

“Woof!”

Indeed, so smart.

I parted my lips triumphantly.

“Didn’t I tell you? Popo really understands my mood.”

The man, unable to hide his disappointment, straightened up.

“There’s nothing wrong with that the Lady said. But by any chance, is Popo male?”

“I believe so.”

At that moment, the man clenched his teeth, but when I looked up again, his expression was calm, as though nothing had happened.

Perhaps I had heard wrong.

Popo, almost as if mocking the man, snorted in his direction and then pranced across the room. It settled down in front of a pile of gifts that I hadn’t unwrapped yet. It was my birthday present, untouched and piled high.

As we both watched Popo, the man asked.

“Are these gifts you received, my lady?”

“Yes. Speaking of which, I need to check the gifts from important people and send thank-you notes…”

It felt too burdensome. Considering I might not eat for the next few days, I didn’t want to exhaust myself with such tasks.

Well, if I get really hungry, I guess I’ll just tear open the boxes that seem to contain food.

Nonchalantly, I walked over to Popo and sat down on the floor by the gifts, starting to sift through them. That was when I spotted a very familiar name.

[ Elouise ta Bartholi ]

“….!”

The troublemaker, my sister Elouise! She sent me a package! Excitedly, I ripped open the packaging as the man asked curiously.

“Whose package are you tearing into like a wild beast?”

“It’s Ellie! Ellie!”

“I’ve never heard such a beastly roar.”

“Ah, it’s from my youngest sister, Elouise ta Bartholi!”

Inside the packaging was a not-so-heavy box tied with a pretty ribbon, and a letter was attached to it. Just when I was planning to write to ask about Arne, Elly timed it perfectly by sending a letter along with my birthday gift.

I tore open the letter right there and began to read its contents. The letter said:

[ Dear Sister Sophia,

Sister, it’s me, Elouise. I hope you’ve met the son I sent. Just in case, I thought I should tell you that your son is currently at Duchy Glentino.

How does Sister have a child you never had? Sister promised me a long time ago that you would become my child’s godmother. Somehow, I ended up with a son, and as you know, being the wandering artist I am, raising a child isn’t easy, so I sent him to you.

I suggest you visit Duchy Glentino as soon as possible to check on him. He’s very smart and cute, you’ll like him. I’ve explained to him that you’re his mother, so don’t worry.

Sister’s forever adorable Ellie.

P.S. I’ve even picked out your husband. Try raising him together. ]

…Utter madness.

Utter, complete madness.

I was seized by the urge to rip this absurd letter to shreds.

Any faint hope that someone impersonating my sister had sent Arne vanished completely.

Only Elouise in this entire world would pull something like this. If there were two such people, it would truly be the end of days.

The contents of the letter were outrageously absurd.

First off, the godmother story doesn’t make sense. Elouise would never have proposed such a thing. Even before my return, Elouise had boldly declared to our father that she had no intentions of marrying until the day she died.

The context I could guess about the godmother discussion goes like this: perhaps during an etiquette class when we were very young, the tutor explained, ‘Affectionate sisters often become godmothers to each other’s children,’ and then said, ‘Let’s agree to do the same!’ and that was probably all there was to it.

And then this business about having a son.

Elouise, only sixteen, couldn’t possibly have given birth to a ten-year-old son herself. That means she must have adopted him. But if she knew she couldn’t take care of him, why take him in the first place? Don’t just dump him on me!

And lastly, the climax about choosing my husband. Elouise doesn’t even know that Arnold has died! Although it was true, she always said that jerk was no good and urged me to break off the engagement whenever she could!

How am I supposed to handle this if you’re sending me a child?!

“That irresponsible troublemaker!”

“What did your sister say?”

Oops.

Realizing I had spoken out loud, I quickly pursed my lips.

“…It seems that my sister really did send Arne.”

“I see.”

He nodded lightly as if he had expected as much. Looking at Lord Glentino, I remembered the postscript in Elouise’s letter.

[ I’ve also chosen your husband. ]

And Elouise had sent him a letter asking him to take care of my ‘son.’

‘…Ellie, what are you thinking?’

It felt strange.

I refolded the letter and placed it back in its envelope. The man quietly sat watching my actions, with Popo sitting just as quietly beside him.

“You seem very close to your younger sister.”

“Well, we have an informal relationship.”

She was four years younger, so it was hard to really fight seriously.

It seemed like Ellie knew I gave her a pass on a lot.

Shaking my head, I untied the ribbon on the gift box sent by Elouise. I’d already opened the letter. It seemed right to check the gift as well.

What had Ellie sent before?

Once, it was a light, small string instrument from a far-off land, something like a ukulele. Maybe it was another instrument this time? With my guard completely down, I confidently opened the gift box in front of Lord Glentino.

Inside… three see-through slips were neatly folded. Three sets!

“Gasp.”

I quickly closed the box again, but I definitely saw the man turn his head hastily, and his face turned red.

He said bashfully.

“Lady Elouise really seems like a benefactor to me.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“I like white, but of course, you’d look good in black and red too.”

Get lost!

“You sure took a detailed look even when I opened it for just a moment!”

My voice pitched embarrassingly high.

“What can I do if my eyesight is good? I should probably get matching underwear in the same colors.”

What! Though part of me was admittedly curious…. Seeing such a handsome man in sexy underwear might not be so bad after all.

I hesitated for a moment before teasingly saying.

“I like garter belts.”

The man nodded seriously.

“Yes, I’ll take that into account.”

“And calf garters and sleeve garters, too.”

“I’ll consider those as well.”

Emboldened, I added.

“If you’re doing it, add a choker too.”

“Do you prefer leather for the choker?”

“Yes, in a belt style.”

“Belt style.”

We both closed the box, satisfied with our exchange.

I should have checked the other birthday gifts, but right now, it felt too bothersome. Plus, I was really starting to feel hungry. The sudden appearance of the man had momentarily distracted me from my hunger.

I got up to grab the jerky I had seen earlier on the tea table.

As I turned around with the jerky in hand, the man, who had been sitting on the floor, suddenly stood up as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, I almost forgot why I came here.”

“For what purpose?”

“Yes, yesterday was your birthday, wasn’t it?”

My birthday?

“Well, yes, but why do you ask?”

Without answering my question, the man walked up to me and then suddenly knelt on one knee.

“….?! What is this all about—”

Before I could say more, I saw him pulling something out of his pocket. It was clearly a ring box. He opened the small black velvet square case, and as expected, inside was a ring.

“….”

…My goodness.

__