Chapter 10
— — —
But I had expected this.
Marquess Corel was a severe hypochondriac who couldn't stand anything that threatened his health.
He was a man who lived in daily fear that he would truly fall ill and die.
In the original story, if an employee bumped into him while carrying trash, he would go on a rampage, claiming they were trying to murder him.
His logic was that if a rat had nibbled on that trash, couldn't the rat's germs transfer to him and kill him?
In a word, he was "sick."
And yet, here was a human being who had come from a region where an epidemic was rampant and was coughing...
"Naturally, the child belongs to The Forest! You truly have no shame. This trial is over!"
A deep sense of despair washed over Viscount Puterio’s face.
This was a situation where his entire life—whether he would recover or fall into the abyss—depended on the outcome of this trial.
Besides, how confident must he have been to come here so sure of his victory?
Looking as if he had just heard a death sentence, the deathly pale Viscount Puterio shouted.
"M-Marquess, please reconsider!"
Viscount Puterio crawled across the floor, grabbing the hem of Marquess Corel’s trousers.
The Marquess recoiled as if he had seen a cockroach.
"Let go! Will you not let go!"
"How can you be so heartless? We have been business partners for so long, *cough*, have we not...!"
"My dealings with the Viscount are over forever. I was reluctant to meet you from the start because you are from an epidemic-stricken region, and now you have gone and brought the disease to me!"
Marquess Corel’s face turned beet red. I could feel that his anger had reached its peak.
"If this is not an attempt to murder me, then what is it! I hereby sentence you, Viscount, to exile and a fine of 1 billion gold for the attempted murder of me!"
"1 billion gold?!"
"If you do not pay the fine, you will be tortured and forced into labor for the rest of your life until it is paid!"
Viscount Puterio cried out in despair.
"Marquess! You cannot do this to me!!!"
Marquess Corel shouted in disgust.
"Guards, throw the Viscount out at once!"
The Marquess’s guards swarmed in and dragged Viscount Puterio out by force.
"Marquess, please...! Spare me! Aaaargh, let go of me, you ruffians!"
* * *
'Lulu, it was a success.'
I hummed a tune as I slipped away from the scene.
Given his personality, Marquess Corel would probably suffer from trauma for months. Viscount Puterio would pay dearly for the sins he committed with his sharp tongue and cruel hands.
Above all, I was most happy that I didn't have to send Sislein away.
Now, it was time to keep my promise to Mrs. Mimosa with a light heart.
That evening.
At the end of the three-day limit Mrs. Mimosa had set.
I visited her room with Sislein.
"I have come to keep my promise, Madam."
Mrs. Mimosa scanned Sislein from head to toe with her sharp, golden eyes.
I gulped, feeling nervous.
By my standards, Sislein was in a very clean state right now.
"Sis, the Viscount who tormented you can never come here again. So now, there is only one person you need to overcome."
"…Who is that?"
"Yourself!"
You, who are afraid of water.
It was no longer a problem with the Viscount, but a problem for the boy himself.
Sislein seemed to understand my words, his expression filled with resolve.
A short while later.
Sislein emerged from the bathroom, looking truly soft and sparkling. It was moving.
His black hair smelled pleasant, his skin was smooth and white, and even his small hands and feet were the definition of clean.
They say he has royal blood, but is it just my imagination that he exudes such elegance for a child...?
'It must be the Obsessive-Maniac Buff.'
Sislein looked so beautiful to me, but what did he look like in Mrs. Mimosa’s eyes?
After finishing her emotionless, sharp scan, Mrs. Mimosa lowered her rod and said.
"It is perfect."
Yes! We did it!
An irrepressible joy flashed across my face.
"As promised, I shall consider the corporal punishment null and void."
"Yes, Madam!"
"However, if you break the school rules again..."
Her golden eyes shone sternly.
"Keep in mind that I will not show any mercy then."
As soon as we left Mrs. Mimosa’s room, I hugged Sislein and hopped up and down.
I was just so happy.
"Sis, you don't have to hide and live anywhere anymore! Let's make friends, eat delicious food, and live well!"
"..."
Sislein’s ears turned red for some reason.
"Annette, thank you."
I smiled brightly.
"You don't need to thank me. It would have been impossible if you hadn't found the courage, Sis."
I kept reaching out to touch his hair because I loved how clean and soft it was.
My heart was full of pride.
'I think I’ve finally achieved my first goal, right?'
I had set two goals in total.
First, to let Sislein live comfortably in The Forest like the other children.
Second, to help Heinri and Sislein get along well.
Now that Sislein could live in The Forest to his heart's content, I just needed to focus on improving the relationship between the little ones.
'After that, the extra gets to exit.'
I just needed to watch from afar, wishing them a happy ending and enjoying myself.
Hehe, just thinking about it makes me feel cozy and wonderful.
However, before that...
"Sis, your hair is too long, so I need to cut it. It keeps poking your eyes. Let me cut it for you!"
"…Huh?"
"I'll go borrow some scissors. Sis, you go to the hideout first."
Annette left those words behind and scurried off down the hallway, looking as if she were in a great hurry.
Left alone, Sislein watched the hallway where she had disappeared, then placed a hand over his chest.
He could feel a violent thumping.
…What is this feeling?
The girl’s scent lingered at the tip of his nose. A soft, warm fragrance that resembled lilacs. Even though she wasn't there, he felt as if her scent was permeating his lungs.
"..."
Suddenly, as he turned his gaze toward the window where the light was pouring in, a ticklish spring breeze blew past, swaying the boy’s long hair.
It was his first time. Feeling such a flutter.
As he thought of her round, light-green eyes, her lively voice seemed to be carried on the wind.
"From now on, you're staying with me, Sis."
The boy moved his lips, repeating those precious words.
"Staying… together."
Before he knew it, his ears had turned as red as summer apricots.
I promise you too, Annette.
No matter where you are in the future, I will always return to your side...
The boy called her name. The name where the tip of his tongue touched the roof of his mouth twice before falling away softly.
A name that made his mouth feel sweet all over once he said it.
"Annette..."
* * *
"Alright, customer, please sit down. How would you like it cut?"
I asked, holding silver scissors while Sislein sat in the chair.
Don't just blink, answer me, sir.
"Huh? You want me to cut these bangs that keep poking your eyes? So you want a handsome and cute hairstyle!"
"…I, just."
"Yes, I will make you look incredibly cute and handsome!"
In front of me, who had possessed the body of a hair salon owner, Heinri spoke while sitting on a high ledge.
"Just cut it roughly. No matter how you cut it, he'll still look like a beast."
"…Heinri."
When I narrowed my eyes and gave him a look, Heinri’s violet eyes turned away as if he were thoroughly displeased.
"You’re only supposed to cut my hair, Sister."
"Hmm, I’ve cut Julian’s and Shasha’s hair too, haven't I?"
The arrogant and rude eyes beneath the silver hair narrowed.
"That’s different."
I nodded, saying "Ah," as if I understood.
'What’s so different?'
The jealousy of little kids.
Then, I licked my upper left lip and focused on cutting his hair.
I had really wanted to cut these shaggy bangs at least once.
*Snip, snip*—
In the quiet, only the sound of breathing and hair being cut could be heard.
For some reason, I felt good. Seeing the jet-black bangs falling in heaps.
Seeing the boy’s face, where his black eyelashes were spread out like a fan.
"Open your eyes."
I whispered softly, and the boy opened his eyes.
His eyelashes lifted slowly, and his red eyes looked at me.
It was my first time seeing his uncovered eyes from this close.
My face was reflected in the boy’s pupils.
"Pretty."
At that moment, Sislein whispered. Then, he smiled faintly and cupped my cheek.
"Annette."
I stared at Sislein, dazed.
…My goodness, look at that smile. If he grows up just a little more, he’ll be able to charm everyone in the world.
With a spoonful of surprise and a spoonful of embarrassment, I babbled a bit.
"…Umm? I’m not pretty at all."
"Hey!"
*Clatter!* Just then, Heinri shoved his bottom into the chair Sislein was sitting on.
With Sislein suddenly bounced out of the way, Heinri crossed his arms arrogantly and looked down.
"Move, it’s my turn now."
"…Heinri, you just got your hair cut not long ago."
"No, look! My hair has grown a lot and it’s messy!"
It didn't look like that at all.
Still, I had to coddle this Chihuahua who was an attention seeker only for me.
"Alright, Heinri."
*Snip, snip*—
Sislein looked puzzled as he watched me cutting the air, but I went "Shhh" without a sound, asking him to play along.
Then, I made the sound of scissors cutting thoroughly in every corner.
"There, all done. My Heinri."
I smiled brightly, showing him the mirror.
"How is it?"
In the mirror, the boy with silver hair and violet eyes stared blankly at his own face.
Did he notice?
I was feeling a bit nervous, but Heinri curled the corners of his lips in satisfaction and said.
"…Now it’s finally worth looking at."
'Sob, you silly little fool.'
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