Hearing the commotion, the other servants gathered hurriedly.
"Lady! What happened!"
"Is Lady Marie alright? Who? An enemy!?"
Seeing me covered in sand and the unknown intruder, they looked alarmed. I hurriedly explained the situation to calm them down. Tunic and Mio helped remove the leaves from my hair.
"Oh, we just got you all clean. Do you want to take another bath?"
"No, I'm fine..."
When I declined, Tunic glanced at Anastasia.
To blend in with the craftsmen's district, her short, unkempt hair was even dirtier with soil, and her work clothes were covered in mud. Tunic looked her up and down rudely, as if she could only see a boy.
"Is this the famous Lady Anastasia? Hmm, she's not as beautiful as they say. Lady Marie is much better..."
"Tunic, stop it."
I immediately reprimanded her. It wasn't out of self-deprecation or modesty, but simply because I didn't like her saying bad things about my sister. Tunic understood and apologized.
Meanwhile, Lord Cyrus, who had been crouching, was being scolded by Johan and Wolfgang. They told him it wasn't right to speak so bluntly to the person involved, and that Lady Marie would be embarrassed in front of her family. Lord Cyrus also apologized properly.
Anastasia looked around, tilting her head and blinking her eyes.
"...Is that really Cyrus Granado? Are all these people servants...?"
I remembered that before her marriage, Anastasia had heard bad rumors about the Count of Granado—how he hated women, was stubborn, and treated his servants like demons.
—Ah, I see. That explains her behavior. I couldn't help but laugh.
Lord Cyrus, who seemed to have regained his composure, stood up.
"Let's have a talk then. It seems there are many misunderstandings on both sides. I'd like to hear about the Shadaran family and how you spent the past three months."
"…Yes, I also have questions for you. Depending on the situation, I will do whatever it takes to take Marie back, so be prepared..."
Anastasia glared at Lord Cyrus. I clapped my hands.
"Wait! I want to give Anastasia a tour of the castle. Let's enjoy Granado Castle before we talk."
"Wh-What!?"
Anastasia screamed. The men looked bewildered, while Mio and Tunic looked excited.
"Great idea! I'll make it up to her by giving her the full treatment I usually give Lady Marie."
"I'll bring some clothes. Lady Marie's won't fit, so I'll find something from the castle's stock."
"Topo will make delicious food! You must be hungry, right?"
I stopped them.
"Everyone, you've been up all night. Please rest. I'll give Anastasia the tour."
"That goes for you too, Marie."
Lord Cyrus scolded me, placing his hand on my head and stroking it.
"Indeed, both Anastasia and we need rest. Even if you feel calm after a sleepless night, your mind and mouth don't work properly. Let's have the talk after a nap. ...It might take some time, but we'll talk properly. ...To ensure such misunderstandings don't happen again..."
Lord Cyrus... I nodded deeply.
My sister was confused for a while but whispered, "Then, let's do that..." The servants dispersed, returning to their work or rooms.
Anastasia, led by Tunic, went to the bath quietly. After a while...
"Wow, Lady Anastasia's chest is so flat and cute!"
"Marie! What's wrong with the servants here!?"
I couldn't help but chuckle. Lord Cyrus pulled me closer.
"Let Anastasia rest in your room. It's the day you finally reunited, and she might not be able to sleep alone in a new castle."
"...Yes. That was my intention."
I nodded and glanced at his face. He turned away, looking somewhat sulky. I asked him.
"Lord Cyrus, don't you feel lonely sleeping alone?"
"I do. That's why I woke up so early."
He answered immediately. I laughed, feeling relieved. Lord Cyrus kissed the corner of my eye and gently pecked my cheek. We leaned into each other, whispering sweet words as if sharing a secret.
"Of course, I miss you. I haven't even seen you sleep yet."
"Really? Didn't you see me when I was sick?"
"That's not the same. I haven't slept next to you."
"Hehe, I've had plenty of time to admire you."
"That's not fair. I wanted to wake you up by tickling you with my arm in the morning."
"...We can do that in the future."
"When?"
"...Tomorrow, the day after?"
Lord Cyrus grabbed my chin and pressed his thumb to my lips, then to his own.
"Then it's a reservation."
His playful gesture was serious, and something warm welled up in my chest. I shivered with a sweet tingling. I wanted to hug Lord Cyrus tightly, to press my forehead against his.
As soon as I thought that, he hugged me. I buried my face in his chest and rubbed my forehead against him, and he said, "That tickles."
I interlaced my fingers with his, and it felt like they belonged there.
Ah, I've been searching for this for so long. I've been floundering in the darkness, scratching my own throat, searching for this.
His hand, which had been extended to me all along.
I just needed to take it.
After bathing and changing, my sister looked adorable in a white silk robe with silver embroidery that sparkled with every movement. Her hair, which had been cut short, was now styled into a cute short haircut. She looked like an angel, but the dirt and poison seemed to have been washed away, making her more docile.
She sniffed her arms and nails, and whispered, "Amazing..." as she shook her sleeves.
I led her to my room in the mansion. Along the way, Anastasia stopped multiple times.
"A large mansion... Water pipes inside a building... Such transparent glass... Wow, that chandelier, is it all crystal...!?"
"Sister, this is my room now."
I opened the door and led her in. Anastasia stepped in, then backed out.
"What is this room! Do I need to pay an entrance fee!?"
"Don't worry. Please relax on that tea table."
But Anastasia didn't sit down.
"Wooden, yet so shiny...?"
Well, she'll get used to it eventually. I opened the closet to change out of my sandy clothes. Inside were over a hundred dresses hanging.
"Marie, how many people use this closet?"
"Just me."
"...By the way, is that candelabrum made of pure gold?"
"Um, I don't know. I've never heard that."
"The vase looks like it's made of jade."
"Really? It's a gemstone!?"
Sometimes I was surprised too, wasting time exploring the room.
Eventually, the door was knocked on, and Mio arrived with a cart.
"I've brought tea and light snacks before bedtime. There are six types of canapés made with seafood. Here, tapenade is a paste of salted anchovies and black olives, smoked salmon with sour cream, avocado and shrimp with lemon sauce, crab cream, basil-sautéed escargot with butter, and fried flounder with fresh cheese."
"...So many little fish friends..."
Anastasia muttered absentmindedly.
After eating and warming up with tea, both of us started yawning. I intended to talk a bit more before resting, but Anastasia stopped me.
"I understand now. Marie, you are very important here..."
I smiled and nodded. I thought it was better for her to experience it firsthand rather than me defending Lord Cyrus and the others.
We got into the bed together. It was a very large bed, so even with my small sister, there was plenty of space.
"Please tell me your story when you wake up."
"...Yes. I will."
"Goodnight, sister."
"...Goodnight..."
My sister turned her back to me. I noticed her slender shoulders trembling slightly and hugged her. When I held her hand through her back, it was cold and trembling.
"Sister, if you don't want to talk, you don't have to."
"...But... I have been unfaithful to the Count... and to Marie... I have an obligation to speak..."
"It's okay. Lord Cyrus and I are happy."
"That's just the result. If the Count had been the man I thought he was, and I had run away, Marie would be..."
"It's okay. That was just a nightmare, not reality. It's okay, sister. I'm just happy you're alive and back."
"I've known for a long time... that Marie was hurt... and as an older sister, I couldn't do anything..."
"It's okay. I love you. I've loved you ever since the day I was born, and I still do."
My sister, curled up like a fetus, was sobbing. I held her and whispered, "It's okay, I love you," over and over, just as the castle's residents and Anastasia had done for me.
Anastasia's body didn't warm up quickly, but her sobs gradually quieted, and the tension in her back eased. I started to feel sleepy, and my hand, which was stroking her, slowed down.
When I noticed, she was facing me, her face buried in my chest. I stroked her still wet cheeks.
For so long... so long, my sister has protected me.
Now, I might be able to protect her.
—I want to protect her. She is one of the people I cherish.
Listening to my sister's peaceful breathing, I closed my eyes.