Picking flowers in the courtyard and replacing the decorations in the castle is my afternoon routine. According to what I heard from Lady Liu Liu, it is a custom for noble ladies to arrange flowers and entertain guests themselves. I am not yet engaged, and there are no planned visits, so I don't have to do this, but it is also practice. I have almost no experience with flower arranging. The appearance, color harmony, scent compatibility, and the meaning of flowers in different situations are all deeply intricate. While learning from Johan, it is difficult but enjoyable, and I continue at my own pace.
However... today is a bit different.
"This is the 'face' of the vase, so place the most beautiful large bloom here."
"Y-Yes... like this?"
"Ah, that's good. The most vivid one, on the other hand, should be placed to the side to serve as a contrasting color."
"I-I see..."
I nod and arrange the flowers as instructed. I manage to do as told, but I am so focused that I can't think of anything else. My instructor, who is looking at my face, smiles... not the usual Johan, but the lord of Granado Castle, Lord Cyrus.
By the way, he has a beautiful example of flower arranging in his hands, which he created with incredible speed just a moment ago. To my surprise, Lord Cyrus is very skilled at arranging flowers.
"Even thin branches require strength to cut. Be careful not to hurt yourself with the scissors."
"Yes... and, hey!"
With determination, I cut. Oops, I cut it too short. As I panic, Lord Cyrus smiles gently and says it's okay. He picks up the branch and inserts it into the vase himself.
"Place this here, and then add another one to complete it. There, it's finished. Well done."
"Yes, it turned out well. Thank you for teaching me."
"You're welcome. This is the leftover."
He then places a white flower in my hair. Oh my.
Lunch is in the dining hall. In a kingdom where dinner is usually light, this is the most luxurious and time-consuming meal of the day. However, Lord Cyrus does not sit at the table but moves between the table and the kitchen, serving me.
"Today's main dish is beef stewed in red wine. You can also have some yogurt sauce if you like."
"Y-Yes, it looks delicious..."
"What would you like to drink? This is a surprisingly sweet wine, but rosé or sparkling wine would also go well with berries."
I shake my head. I have never drunk alcohol before, and in this situation, I might faint!
If I firmly refuse, Lord Cyrus will never force me.
"Oh, you don't drink alcohol? For non-alcoholic options, there's grapefruit juice, or if you're having bread, lemon and mint fresh water."
I choose the latter, and he immediately fetches it from the kitchen. He pours it into my glass and sits down next to me.
The servant who was serving me—no, the caretaker—seems to return to being the lord of the castle, Lord Cyrus, when it's mealtime. The moment he sits down, Wolfgang, who has been waiting, rushes over and pours wine into his glass. Is it rosé sparkling?
"That's a beautiful color."
Struggling to make conversation during the meal, I comment on it.
Lord Cyrus looks very pleased.
"Yes, I've been drinking this a lot lately."
"Is it that delicious?"
"The taste is not bad, but I like the color. It's a vivid, almost translucent crimson. ...The same color as your hair."
...Oh my.
After lunch, we head to the castle's library. This is also a place I frequent whenever I have free time. The collection of Granado Castle, which was once a border fortress, is breathtaking. The shelves are filled with books from the floor to the ceiling.
I spot the book I want on a high shelf and reach for it.
"Okay, let's see..."
I am taller than the average man, but I still can't reach it. Reluctantly, I decide to get a step stool, but just as I do, a man's hand rests on my shoulder.
"Is this the one?"
From behind me, Lord Cyrus reaches up and easily retrieves the book. He holds the thick encyclopedia in his large hand and smiles down at me.
"Why didn't you call me? I was closer than the step stool."
"S-Sorry. It's not just the height; the book looked heavy."
"Haha, that's when you should rely on me. I could even pick you up if you want."
As he says this, he extends his hands. If I say "please," will he lift me up?
I lean against the bookshelf, shrink back, and freeze. He immediately steps back and says, "Just kidding."
Oh, that's a heart attack.
We move to a table and open the book. As I read silently, Lord Cyrus rests his cheek on his hand and sits quietly. ...I can feel his gaze. He is probably looking at me... I think. But I don't turn to look, so I'm not sure. I keep reading, but nothing is sinking in. Ah, this is frustrating.
"K-Kyros-sama, why don't you read something too? Just sitting there must be boring, right?"
"I'm not just sitting here; I'm looking at Marie's profile."
He was looking at me! Ah, ah, ah, this is too much. I scream inwardly.
When the day grows dark and I return to my room, my hair is braided again to make me more comfortable. While this is happening, I am called to dinner, and we go to the dining hall together. During the meal, Lord Cyrus serves me again, taking the best parts of the bouillabaisse from a large pot and placing them on my plate.
After the meal, we take a break and then head to the bath. He doesn't come into the bath with me, but he sees me to the door.
"Ha... ah..."
"Good work today. I understand how you feel."
As Tunica pours water over my back, she comforts me. Being praised while naked, I sigh sincerely.
"I'm really tired... With Lord Cyrus always by my side, everything is so tense."
"Hehe, the master is just too perfect. He can do anything except for maintaining personal space."
"But, it's not right to say that. I didn't mind when Mio did the same thing."
"But he's a young man, so it's not acceptable. That distance is scary for any girl!"
"...That's true. Honestly, I've been tense all day, and my whole body aches."
"It's bad for your health! You should just tell him clearly!"
Tunica is really, really angry.
"The master may be bad at personal space, but he's not someone who won't listen. If you tell him he's annoying, in the way, scary, and to leave you alone, he won't get upset."
Is this praise or criticism?
But I agree. If I assert myself, Lord Cyrus will change his behavior. It's not that I can't say it, but...
"How about I tell him for you? 'Master, you need to be aware of your physique, gender, and good looks!'"
"Hehe, it's okay."
"It's not okay, Lady Marie! Your shoulders are so tense!"
"It's really okay. I'm not afraid of Lord Cyrus."
At my words, Tunica tilts her head in confusion.
I soak in the bathtub, have my hair washed, and close my eyes. ...Perhaps because I was stared at all day, when I close my eyes, I see his gaze. His emerald eyes, which shine even in the dark, have always looked at me straight.
"...I don't dislike it. I just get nervous."
"Of course, you two have only just met, and to you, he's a scary-looking lord. It will be difficult to maintain that distance until you become closer and less tense."
"That's not it. At first, I wasn't this aware of him."
Tunica tilts her head again. I stretch out my hands and play with the water.
...On the first day, I wasn't nervous in front of Lord Cyrus. I was afraid he might be difficult and scary, but that was something I had expected.
Compared to the daughter of a poor baron, the duke's son, Lord Cyrus, is far superior. But I am at the bottom of the social ladder. I thought I just needed to look down, as I do with my father at home. I assumed I would be sent away soon anyway.
...That day... when I was bathed and polished, and I looked up to face him directly. I thought he was a wonderful person. But he was my sister's fiancé.
Even if we were to be engaged, it would just be a political marriage, and I was certain there would be no love. No matter how kindly he treated me or how many luxuries he provided, I only thought of it as his kindness.
I was just grateful to be welcomed. I had no expectations, so I had no worries.
But... recently, I've been fantasizing. Maybe I am more liked by him than I think? Maybe he has been expressing his true feelings all along...
Instantly, my whole body flushes. I feel lightheaded, and if Tunica hadn't pulled me up, I would have fainted.