Then, a big hand rubs my back. Gently, as if wanting to make sure of something. As if he really cherishes me.
“Hn….”
My heart fluttered wildly. I panicked and tried to push Yuria’s chest.
“I miss it. When I was a kid, my mother always held me… like this.”
Instantly I clenched my hand against his chest. My reaction was too vulgar.
“….Then it should be the other way around.”
“Eh?”
I exhaled through my nose and looked up at Yuria.
“You don’t want to squeeze, but you want to be squeezed, right?”
I put my hand on his back.
Come to think of it, Hal said he wants me to love him.
….I wonder how long this guy has been like this? In an old mansion, surrounded by lots of maids… Perhaps, feeling hopelessly lonely.
I stroke back his big back. He trembled for a moment and gradually put strength into his arms to hugs me back.
“I’m sorry. I behaved like a kid.”
“I’m a caretaker. I feel much more comfortable doing what I can for you than being well treated. That’s why, act like a spoiled child as much as you like. ”
Yuria almost cries. He buried his face in my neck to hide it.
I, at least, had my brothers and sisters. My work was hard, I had no money, I was hungry, and every day I was feeling discontent.
But I wasn’t alone.
“Thank you, Ban-san.”
“Nah, I really don’t mind it.”
I wonder how lonely you actually are until you end up acting like a spoiled child to someone you have only met for less than a day? I have no idea.
“….Right. I think I have a job for you.”
“What?”
“Please help me take care of the roses in this garden.”
“Tending the roses? That’s surprising. It seems like there’s enough manpower to handle the gardening.”
“There are many gardeners. But I’m the only one who takes care the roses.”
“Really? You are doing this all by yourself?”
I look over the roses in the garden again. I remember ever hearing that it was very difficult to grow roses. Maintaining this space alone would be a lot of work.
“Yes. After all, this place is also my important secret base.”
“Secret base?”
“Hehe. Actually, this place is a treasure trove of junk I’ve accumulated since I was a child. I also dug an underground passage so that I could sneak in any time from one of the room in the mansion.”
“For real!?”
“Pretty cool, right? I reinforced it so it won’t collapse. Well, I’m bigger now so I can’t get through it anymore.”
While saying that, Yuria smiles a little proudly.
The secret base I was shown later was a masterpiece and the underground passage was still intact. And the treasure that Yuria cherished were a cane made by dried branches, and shiny mud ball. I suddenly thought that aristocratic children were truly just like us.
Hi guys! I’m sorry for the late update because I have to do something before ><
I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Please don't forget to take care your health! ( ^ ♡ ^ )/