With its extreme sweetness, please be mindful of your surroundings.
"Marie! I'm back! I've brought today's souvenir!"
...And with that, Cyrus-sama placed his luggage on the table in his usual high spirits. The white box, which seemed to contain a brooch shaped like a rose, was neatly arranged. I started by offering words of gratitude to him.
"Welcome back, Cyrus-sama. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you always for the souvenirs."
"...You're using too many honorifics."
When he said that, I lowered my eyebrows and smiled wryly.
"I'm sorry. I can't seem to drop the formal language... I get used to it while we're together, but once the day changes, it's back to this..."
It's been almost four months since I came to Granado Castle—half a month since the engagement ceremony. Although we haven't had the church wedding yet, we are, in fact, husband and wife.
That doesn't mean I'm completely relaxed around him. When he puts on his dignified lord's face in front of the servants, or stands with the grace of the Earl of Granado before the nobility, or when he goes to work, dressed in the splendid attire of the head of the Granado Trading Company... Earl Cyrus of Granado is incredibly impressive.
"Are you not getting depressed again?"
When he asked, worried, I nodded.
"Yes. It's just... you're so wonderful. I get nervous, that's all."
"Huh. S... So, is that it? Haha... I see. Hahaha. I see, I see."
This time, Cyrus-sama blushed and awkwardly scratched his head. I covered my mouth and looked down.
We stood facing each other, for no particular reason.
"Can you believe it? These two have been this close ever since... At this rate, will they even be able to produce an heir?"
"To whom are you speaking? It's far better than a newlywed couple who have already grown cold. Our duty as servants is to quietly observe."
"Hey, you two! What are you talking about, and why are you in Marie's room!?"
Embarrassed, Cyrus-sama raised his voice. But Mio and Tunic always tend to be here. The two who were scolded just looked puzzled.
Cyrus-sama left the room with a stern face... After seeing him off, I suddenly thought of something and asked Mio.
"Hey, Mio, when is Cyrus-sama's birthday?"
When asked, she furrowed her brows.
"Oh... It's coming up soon, isn't it?"
"Coming up soon? Then it's perfect. When is it? Next month?"
"Tomorrow."
I collapsed on the spot.
You must be kidding, tomorrow!? Tomorrow!
I hurriedly looked out the window. It was already completely dark, and the night sky was visible beyond the sunset. There was no way I could go to the market now, and even if I tried to make something, I wouldn't be able to create anything significant in such a short time.
What should I do... As I was wracking my brain, Mio said curiously,
"In this country, adult men's birthdays are not celebrated with much importance. I don't think Lord will have any expectations."
"But I can't do nothing. At least something small, even if I can only do it today... I'll do something more proper later."
"Then, let's storm Lord's bedroom!"
Of course, it was Tunic who suddenly dropped the bomb. She immediately moved behind me and started unbuttoning my back.
"Wh-What are you doing!?"
"Lord's desire is none other than you, Marie. Hurry up and get naked."
"Wh-What!?"
"Wrap a ribbon around your naked body and say, 'I'm your present! Please enjoy me as you like!' Lord will be overjoyed—"
"That's vulgar."
At the same time as Mio's cool voice, there was a loud thud, and Tunic, who had been hit with a candlestick, slumped to the floor.
...Are you okay? This shouldn't become an incident...
While adjusting my clothes, I stroked the back of Tunic's head. Mio was smiling in exasperation.
"However, Tunic does have a point. Don't feel pressured because you've received so much. Lord's greatest wish is for you to be happy and content."
"... ...That's true..."
"A smile and a word of celebration will be enough, I believe."
These are the words of a maid who has been close to Cyrus-sama for about twenty-five years. I couldn't help but agree.
I drank tea and relaxed with Tunic, who had recovered. In the end, I made no arrangements and the night grew deeper... around the time the clock struck midnight.
"Oh... That's right."
I had an idea.
◇◆◇◆◇
I realized it was my twenty-fifth birthday on the morning of the day itself. It was when I was writing the date on a document.
"Oh... Today is my birthday, isn't it? A year goes by so quickly."
I muttered to myself. I feel like time is passing faster and faster each year. A year has passed in the blink of an eye—yet, it has been an incredibly dense four months.
The days I spend with Marie are all shining moments, etched in my memory. From the moment we first met, even before our feelings were mutual. That day—Marie Chedelain's eighteenth birthday... the night I went to look for a political marriage partner with a somewhat dejected heart.
I fell in love with a girl whose name I didn't even know. A tall woman with messy red hair and dirty skin. She had a face that was hard to believe now, so sad. As her expression gradually relaxed, she transformed into a stunning beauty.
Of course, it was her natural beauty. Her intelligence and insatiable curiosity, her bright and friendly simplicity, her admirable and dignified strength...
We, and the servants, merely brought out her best. Her charm blossomed through her own strength. I'm proud to have been of some help, even if it was just a drop in the bucket.
—What a beautiful brooch! Thank you, Cyrus-sama—
Marie, smiling happily... On my own birthday, my thoughts were all about Marie. I bowed my head and sighed. I muttered to myself.
"Happy..."
There was a knock on the door, followed by a cool voice, "Cyrus-sama." I immediately rushed to the door. As expected, there was the girl I was hoping to see.
"Good morning, Cyrus-sama. I'm sorry for coming so early."
"There's nothing to apologize for. Good morning, Marie."
She looked a bit nervous, but when I said that, she relaxed, her fine eyebrows drooping. I can't resist this change in expression.
Marie is quite tall for a woman, but I'm even taller, so I can look down at her from above. Her round forehead and slightly slanted eyes make her look more mature than her age, but when she looks up at me, her eyes are innocent and transparent like a child's—
Ah, every morning... She's unbearably cute.
"Kyaa!"
I suddenly realized that Marie was in my arms. I must have unconsciously hugged her again. I might end up being arrested for some crime one day.
I apologized and released Marie.
"It's rare for you to come here in the morning, Marie. Is there something you need?"
"Ah, well... Today is your birthday, right? Your twenty-fifth..."
"Yes, it seems so. I just realized myself."
"Congratulations. I wanted to give you a gift, but I didn't have enough time—"
When she trailed off, I shook my head. Don't worry, a word of celebration is more than enough. But she didn't leave. Blushing, she fidgeted, but she didn't seem overly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry... Mio and Tunic said the same thing, but... I've received so many things from you, Cyrus-sama... I really wanted to give you something in return..."
"That's fine. If you're happy with my gifts, that's all I need."
"Yes. So... I thought I'd return the favor by doing something that made me happy..."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Um—excuse me!"
For some reason, Marie's whole body turned red as she reached out her hands. She stretched up and put her fingers in my hair. ...What? Is she going to tie it up?
I usually do my morning preparations myself. I only have Wolf or Mio tie my hair for very formal occasions.
But Marie didn't tie it up; she just played with my hair. I tilted my head, wondering what kind of ritual this was, when she whispered in a low voice.
"...Cyrus. You're beautiful..."
...
"Huh?"
When I looked down, confused, she pulled her hand away and blushed, looking down. She was trembling slightly. What?
"Marie, what was that?"
"Ah, no! I didn't mean to imitate your voice! I just naturally spoke in a manly way when I tried to mimic your way of speaking. There's no meaning in my tone!"
"Ah, so you were imitating me. Yes, I do say that often, but why now?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
While deeply bowing, Marie skillfully backed away. I caught her and pursued her intention.
"I wanted to give you something that would make you happy on your birthday. I've received so many things from you, not just expensive or valuable items, but also the things you've done and the words you've said. There are so many things that made me happy.
Thinking about it, I haven't been able to return anything or even say thank you. So, I thought I'd return the favor by doing something that made me happy."
"So, what you just did—was it reproducing when I told you you were beautiful?"
"Not just me, but my hair."
She pinched a strand of her red hair.
"I've always been self-conscious about this hair. Even before it became a mess of knots, I was always told it was inauspicious. ...But you stroked my hair and told me it was beautiful. I couldn't accept it easily, and I never got the chance to thank you...
But I was really, really happy. So..."
At that moment, Marie suddenly gasped.
"I'm sorry, Cyrus-sama, you're different from me. You're beautiful to everyone, and you don't have any insecurities. I'm sorry for doing something so silly!"
"No... That's not true. I've had similar experiences."
It wasn't a lie. I don't think I had told Marie much about it. While I wasn't depressed, I was insulted for my hair, skin, and eye color, which were considered barbarian. I was proud of my mother's heritage, but it wasn't a good feeling.
I was happy that Marie looked at me straight without belittling me.
And I was happy to be complimented again. More than anything, I was happy to know that my words had made her happy.
When I compliment her, Marie usually blushes or stiffens, or dismisses it as flattery or a joke. I sometimes held back, thinking I might be making her uncomfortable...
I'm glad. It reached her and made her happy...
I exhaled and smiled.
"Thank you for the wonderful present. I'm really happy."
Marie lowered her eyebrows and smiled shyly.
I reached out to hug her and kiss her—missed. She had moved away and was very energetic.
"That's good. But this isn't the end. I have four months' worth of things to do, or rather, six months since we first met."
"Huh?"
In front of me, who was stunned, she spread out some notes.
"Um, next—please stay there, Cyrus-sama. Yes... Here we go. 'Excuse me, sir. I'm lost, could you show me the way, thank you.'"
"Um? What's that?"
"The words you said to me the first time we met at the Chedelain mansion."
"Oh, that night... What's so nice about those words?"
"Yes! Because I'm tall, I'm often mistaken for a man in the dark. But you called me 'miss'!"
"I almost fell over. Whether you knew it or not, Marie was bouncing with excitement, like a child talking about a picnic plan.
"I was relieved to be asked for directions. On that night, it was my birthday, and I wasn't being paid attention to, and even when I left the salon, no one tried to stop me. I was feeling useless, so it was nice to be able to guide a guest."
"A, ah... I see..."
"Yes. And this is Mio's line, 'The Granado family has four siblings, three daughters from the first wife and one son from the second wife. You must be the only son, Cyrus-sama.' I was also happy about this. I was worried that I might be an adopted child and not listed in the official Chedelain family tree."
"...I see."
"Yes. Thank you for recognizing my existence. Next—"
Wait, is this level of thing going to continue at this pace!?
I leaned back, feeling a bit threatened. Marie continued to reenact the things that made her happy since we met.
The conversation in Ips, apologizing for mistaking me for a servant, stopping me when I ran away crying, the passionate proposal and treasures, despite the misunderstandings.
Rejecting my rude father and mourning my sister's death. The lavish guest room, delicious tea, pastries, bath, dress, and glass slippers—
I sat on the bed and watched Marie's endless reenactment of the things that made her happy. It was fun to see her do things she usually doesn't do, as she was essentially replacing my actions.
I was surprised when she started doing sound effects for the church bells and fireworks.
Marie, who remembered even the daily things I had forgotten, reenacted them in great detail. When I asked how she remembered so well, she said it was only the things that left an impression. I knew Marie was intelligent and had a good memory, but... with so many memories in just a few months, wouldn't they overflow and spill out?
Marie took my left hand and stroked my ring finger. There was nothing there yet. The red diamond I gave her was an engagement ring, and the matching wedding rings were still being made.
She slid her own finger over the bare one, mimicking the moment I had done it before. This wasn't a rehearsal for the wedding, but a reenactment of when I had done it before.
"...Cyrus-sama, you're stylish, so you must have worn a men's ring many times, right?"
"Yes. But not on this finger."
Marie's lips trembled slightly. She bowed her head and exhaled.
"...I'm glad. No one has taken it from you."
Was that a line from that time, or was it Marie's true feelings at this moment?
Marie didn't say much, took my hand, and stood me up.
"The dance at the engagement ceremony was fun. Let's dance again if we have the chance."
I replied.
"Even if we don't have the chance, anytime, right here."
I put my arm around her shoulder and started the waltz steps. She laughed and let herself be led. This room, which serves as my study and temporary bedroom, is not very large. We danced a waltz that was more like swaying in a small space.
While dancing, Marie said, as if singing,
"Thank you for taking my hand. I was so happy."
"You're welcome. I was, too."
"I'm glad you're tall. It makes me feel like a small, cute girl."
"Even if you grow taller than me, Marie, you'll still be a cute girl."
"...Even if you were a small, weak boy, I would have fallen in love with you