478 - The Spring Flower Festival Gift
Once Leonardo's winter travels ended, as expected, the activity of the mischievous fairies also settled down. I was no longer unintentionally transported to the Mandez Residence or the detached palace, and I think Leonardo's mental strain decreased a little.
It is not necessarily in exchange for that, but Salisa's verification of the mischievous fairies is proceeding smoothly. Even I have never succeeded in negotiating with sweets as payment, but although it is limited to once a day, Salisa's requests are always granted.
When I mentioned this, Alf's impression was, "Could Salisa be a contractor for the fairies?" It seems to be an inference from what Leonardo heard from the God King, that "naming a spirit constitutes a contract." Now that it has been pointed out, thinking back, I feel like Salisa was the one who first called Enomena's pot "Kalisa." I sometimes do things carelessly, but since Leonardo told me "not to give them names," I should have been careful at first.
...If Salisa is the master of the contract, then doing things for me is within the scope of babysitting?
After burying Kalisa's remains, Enomena's sprouts became vigorous. It is likely not completely without influence. If we consider that the contract master is Salisa and it is influenced by Kalisa, then from the mischievous fairy's perspective, it means they are transporting me to the Mandez Residence or Aurelia's house as my babysitter. I am not immediately transported when I say I want to go somewhere of my own will, but considering that movement occurs when I become unstable after being separated from Leonardo, it is probably not entirely wrong. Even after death, Kalisa was working as my nursemaid.
...I feel both happy and sorry.
I feel like I want Kalisa to sleep in peace, but thinking that she is still watching over me is also encouraging. It is a very complicated feeling.
As a tentative summary, when I wrote a report stating "Salisa may be the contract master, and it is a fairy influenced by Kalisa," Leonardo seemed a bit relieved. He said that even if it is an invisible existence, if it is influenced by Kalisa, it will not harm me.
While I was making that report, winter ended.
With this year's leisurely life and Leonardo's return, my body finally seems to have remembered that this is a place where it can grow in peace. My first period came, and my growth spurt, which had been delayed, began to make me grow taller little by little. I should be seeing my own naked body every day during bathing, but I noticed that my chest had begun to swell, however modestly.
...Aim for average!
It does not have to be as large as Basilia's or Salisa's, but I still want to grow to an average level. I feel that having breasts, rather than not having them, makes one be seen as an adult.
When my chest began to swell, my undergarments changed slightly. Until now, they were thin sleeveless shirts with ribbons or lace as decoration, but now there is a padding of soft fabric in the chest area. It feels just like the slips I saw in my previous life. Once my chest grows a bit more, I will start using chest guards. I heard that they do not have the same three-dimensional sewing technology as in my previous life, but it seems there are things like bras. When we talked about changing undergarments, I heard that pumpkin pants are mainly worn by children, and fashionable adult women wear so-called "string panties" that are tied with strings on both sides. Then I wondered if Salisa also wears string panties, and asking her while prepared for sexual harassment, Salisa said she is a pumpkin pants person because she has no one to show them to, so they completely cover her stomach. While there is a general tendency for adult women to wear string panties, it seems not everyone wears them. This is probably due to the trend that as long as the clothes one wears suit them, it is fine.
...It was surprisingly unexpected that she became dead serious when I suggested, "Why not use fashionable string panties regularly to appeal to the person you are interested in?"
It seems Salisa's love is facing difficulties. If the person Salisa has a crush on were in front of me, I would want to question them for an hour about what they find dissatisfactory about our cute Salisa.
Since awareness changes with underwear, the fact that my pumpkin pants changed to string panties is, as expected, a secret from Leonardo. Even I, who told a male guardian delicate details like "my first period came" to avoid a lecture, cannot say this. Thinking calmly, I wonder about talking about the first period, but I just said it in the heat of the moment, so it cannot be helped. Words once let out of the mouth cannot be put back in.
...Compared to pumpkin pants, I feel like string panties have a bit lower defensive power.
In terms of shape, they should be almost the same as the underwear from my previous life, but in this life, I have worn pumpkin pants for sixteen years. It is only natural to feel a sense of incongruity with the long-awaited empty and unreliable feeling. Because of that unreliability, I unintentionally put strength into my lower body, but that seemed to be a good thing. Alf, who could not possibly know about my underwear situation, praised me for having better posture.
"It did not bloom this year either, did it?"
"In terms of the number of leaves, it should be sufficient, though."
The Spring Flower Festival came again this year, and as usual, I gave a shirt to Leonardo, and Leonardo gave me a pot where Enomena's flower bloomed. The Enomena pot Leonardo arranged and the Enomena in the garden that Bart is growing are blooming beautiful flowers, but the Enomena in the pot I care for, which is even decorated with a luxurious dollhouse, shows no sign of blooming this year either. Many leaves are increasing vigorously, but that is all. There is no sign of buds appearing.
"I thought this year for sure, but..."
I wonder what the problem is, as I stroke the lush green leaves. Leaves began to grow after I started offering sweets, but it seems something is still missing for the flower to bloom.
There is no point in racking my brain looking at a flower that will not bloom, so since I can finally go outside, I try following Mirshe. Mirshe, who turns fifteen on her birthday this year, is still actively working as a matchmaker (Cupid). When I found that Mirshe received a small box beautifully decorated by Salisa and went out through the back door, it clicked. It has come. If I follow Mirshe, I will find out who Salisa's beloved is.
"...Huh?"
I should have gone out to the backyard slightly after Mirshe left through the back door, but where I, who should have left through the back door, was standing was the entrance hall. If I am not half-asleep, it must be the work of the mischievous fairy.
...That has not happened since Leonardo-san came back, though?
That is strange, I think, but only one thing comes to mind. The mischievous fairy, tentatively named "Kalisa," must be on Salisa's side. It did not let me follow Mirshe, thinking that I might interfere with the matchmaking.
...At least, I wanted to confirm the other person's face...
If I am being blocked by a fairy that I cannot touch, there is nothing more I can do. It was just a bit of curiosity, but as a mischievous fairy, it probably wanted me to leave them alone. I am curious about the outcome of Salisa's love, but I do not want to interfere either, so I decided to honestly give up the pursuit.
"Do you have some business?"
The Spring Flower Festival ended safely without any particular commotion, but a week later, a person who would become the source of a commotion arrived. Saying he was a messenger from my aunt, the one who came to the city of Grenore was my grandfather, Bertrand. I had heard from Leonardo that he had seen him in the Zugari Empire, but it seems Bertrand had also returned to the Kingdom of Ivizia within this past year. I think it is only natural that my voice becomes a bit stiff when asking what his business is.
"...You are completely the old Christina. You used to be so attached and cute."
"I have no memory of that. Bertrand-sama, since you are of a certain age, have you perhaps lost the ability to distinguish between dreams and reality?"
According to Leonardo's story, during the two years when my memory was vague, I was reasonably attached to Bertrand, but if my consciousness is clear, the feeling of dislike is stronger. Speaking of Bertrand, even though he is my grandfather, he is a person who speaks ill of my mother, Chloe. He is not someone I can honestly be attached to.
"Well, fine. Here, it is a delivery from Sofiya-dono."
Telling me to receive it, what was placed on the table was a large round box. Judging by the size and shape of the box, the contents are likely a hat. I heard from Leonardo that even while I was gone, Bertrand came to deliver Spring Flower Festival gifts like this, saying he was a messenger from Sofiya.
"I will honestly accept the gift from my aunt. Thank you for the delivery."
"...You are unusually honest."
"I am not a child forever, either. I can honestly accept a gift from my aunt, and I can say thank you to the messenger who delivered the gift."
The part where I repeatedly say it is only to save my aunt's face is a childishness I still cannot fix, but other than that, I strive to handle things as an adult. Telling myself that I am not a child forever, I closed my mouth, from which a spiteful remark like "If your business is done, go home quickly" was about to fly out. Bertrand is, for now, my aunt's messenger. As long as he does not speak ill of my mother, there is no need to kick him out.
"I will at least serve some tea."
So, my true feeling is that he should go home after drinking it. To save my aunt's face, I will not kick him out, and I will serve tea to say thank you for the long journey as a messenger, but I do not want him to stay long and have another verbal argument.
...Ah, I see.
Thinking that I do not want to have a verbal argument, it clicked. I am aware that I was attached to him before I knew he was my grandfather, but the current me and Bertrand are on bad terms. Or rather, I was unilaterally hating and avoiding him. This is caused by Bertrand speaking ill of my mother, but thinking conversely, if not for that, he is not a person I hate.
...I do not want to get close to Bertrand-sama because I do not want to have a verbal argument with him.
The feeling I had before, that "a distance like a relative I meet occasionally would be fine," is ultimately this. If it is someone I only meet occasionally, there are few opportunities to have a conversation in the first place. I do not want to hear badmouthing of my mother, and I do not want to see Bertrand badmouthing others. Since that develops into a verbal argument with me, he became a person I wanted to avoid even more.
...If it were not for the badmouthing of my mother and if he had not even tried to take me in, I think he would be a good grandpa.
In front of me, who is convinced alone, Bertrand's eyes are wandering. What is it? While I am interested in this rare sight, Bertrand, whose eyes met mine, made an artificial cough.
"Ah, well... what is it. Christina, is there any sweet drink?"
"Something sweet, you say?"
I wonder what he means, as I tilt my head. Bertrand and sweet things are a somewhat mysterious combination. However, if he wants to drink something sweet, I list a few candidates. Tea with a floral scent with honey added, hot milk with honey added, and although I feel it is too early seasonally, I should be able to prepare something like shaved ice.
"...And perhaps cocoa?"
"I see, then I shall have cocoa."
I had avoided cocoa thinking it was too childish, but since Bertrand's expression was not good, I listed it. Surprisingly, it seems Bertrand liked cocoa. Just as I thought his expression brightened visibly, he looked away bashfully.
"Then Salisa, please brew cocoa for Bertrand-sama."
"What? A maid brews it?"
"The cocoa Salisa brews is exquisite."
When I ask back if there is something he is dissatisfied with, Bertrand's mouth curves into a frown. It seems he is dissatisfied, but not to the extent of putting it into words. With a face that swallows the dissatisfaction, thinking it is not worth putting into words, I felt a kind of sorrow from his somewhat slumped shoulders.
"...Ah, look, that. There was that cocoa that can be brewed easily, which I was drinking in the carriage."
"Ah, you wanted instant cocoa."
The fact that he prefers the instant cocoa he drank during his travels means he likes the cheap taste made with only hot water. A surprising person liked a surprising thing, I think, and I correct the instruction to Salisa from cocoa to preparing instant cocoa. At the same time, it might be good to let him take two jars of instant cocoa, which there are still plenty of, as a souvenir.
For some reason, Bertrand's shoulders slumped heavily, but when I asked him to transport something I want delivered on his way back to the royal capital, he surprisingly accepted with a ready yes. I could have normally used the Persewash Church, but the place Bertrand is returning to is the mansion in the royal capital. Since there is a person heading to the destination, it should be fine to entrust the luggage to him.
"Please deliver the Spring Flower Festival gifts to Sofiya-sama and Aristalf-sama."
"...To the two of them?"
"Yes, to the two of them."
When I continue by saying that if he lets Aristalf deliver it to Sofiya, it would become an excuse for the two of them to meet, Bertrand's face freezes again. Bertrand also had an interesting face until the name of cocoa came up, but this time it is an equally pathetic face.
...Huh?
Something is strange, and Mirshe, unusually, pulls my sleeve while I am bewildered.
Since I started working as a maid apprentice, such casual contact from Mirshe has been few.
"Christina-sama, was Bertrand-sama your grandfather?"
"That is how it is, but...?"
"If so, does that not mean that only your grandfather does not have a Spring Flower Festival gift...?"
"...Ah."
Being pointed out in a small, hushed voice, I realize it belatedly. Since I had been receiving Spring Flower Festival gifts from Sofiya for a long time, and since he is her son and my cousin, I normally prepare gifts for Aristalf as well. However, I had not prepared a Spring Flower Festival gift for Bertrand.
"N-no, that is not it. It is not that I did not prepare one for Bertrand-sama."
...I am sorry. That is a little bit of a lie.
To be precise, because I was making a large piece, an embroidered painting, for Bertrand, the idea of preparing a Spring Flower Festival gift simply did not occur to me. I thought that since I already have an embroidered painting planned to give to Bertrand, preparing an embroidery for the Spring Flower Festival as well would be too much.
"I hate Bertrand-sama for speaking ill of my mother, but this is separate from that. I heard from Leonardo-niisama that he seemed to have come to pick me up in the Empire, so I had made something as a thank you."
However, because of the size of the embroidered painting, it has simply not been completed in about half a year.
When I rephrase it as not being completed due to the size, Bertrand's expression brightens slightly. It is a minuscule change, but Bertrand, who showed surprising sides like being depressed by cocoa and being depressed again thinking only he had no gift, is like this. This might be a face that is quite happy.
"...When the embroidery is completed, I will send it to the royal capital around next year."
"Then, I shall look forward to coming to collect it next year."
"You do not have to come."
"..."
To me, who said "you do not have to come" to the person who just secured a promise for next year, Bertrand's eyebrows drop in an interesting way. I feel like he was not such an easy-to-read person before, but now his poker face is completely gone.
"...I-I mean, since you are of a certain age, please live leisurely in the royal capital without making long journeys."
I hurriedly add that I did not mean it as "do not show your face." Although it was not intentional this time, it seems my words are sometimes too sharp.
While I am racking my meager brain thinking about what to say to converse without giving misunderstandings, Bertrand, whose brain finally seems to have absorbed my correction, revived. Understanding that the words "do not come to the city of Grenore" had a meaning other than rejection, Bertrand says that precisely because he is of a certain age, he comes to see his granddaughter's face while he still can. Since she is a granddaughter who hated being taken in and would not even show her face properly, he says.
"The reason I avoid Bertrand-sama is because Bertrand-sama speaks ill of my mother."
"...About that, I shall apologize. To me, she was a woman who snatched away my son, but to you, she was a mother."
Thinking back calmly, I am surprised by Bertrand's words, which continued that his anger was toward the elopement, and that as a maid, Chloe was a very thoughtful and hardworking girl. Somehow, I feel that now I can talk about Bertrand and my mother with slightly more honest feelings.
Tina "---and that is what happened."
Leonardo "(Wasn't that just Bertrand-dono wanting Tina to brew him cocoa...)"
Typos and omissions will be fixed at a later date.