Chapter 85

Alro continued with a dark expression.

"——I'm sorry. I, I can't even understand such a thing... Princess, you're angry, and I—"

"Wait, angry? I'm not angry at all."

"R—really, yes."

Alro closed his mouth.

But he was about to say, "But..." as if he couldn't contradict Marivelle.

Marivelle found that sad.

"I want you to tell me what you're thinking..."

"Huh..."

"Oh, I don't mean to make you say something you don't want to. It's just... I feel sad when you hold back your words out of consideration for me."

There was a moment of silence.

The clock struck two.

Marivelle, though it was a bit improper, sat on the floor.

She intended to stay hidden here for a while.

"That, you're—avoiding me, I thought..."

Alro knelt in front of Marivelle, meeting her gaze.

"Is it... because I did something? I don't even realize it, but I made you uncomfortable—"

"That's impossible! Alro would never do such a thing to me, and I've never once thought that way. How could I think that...?"

That made her sad. But Marivelle thought it was her fault.

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

"Oh, no, that's not it. I'm not blaming you..."

How complicated.

Marivelle lowered her gaze.

"That's not what I meant..."

Marivelle had never felt this way before. She didn't know what to do, just felt confused, and tried to act normal, but it was difficult.

Alro sensed that Marivelle was troubled.

He couldn't let Marivelle be troubled, so he was anxious to explain.

"I thought, Princess, you were... avoiding me."

"Oh!"

Marivelle covered her face.

What a fool.

Alro was so sensitive and lacked confidence, it was natural for him to think that way.

She knew it.

Her embarrassment and such things were irrelevant now.

Marivelle looked at Alro.

Her face might be red. No, this heat was definitely a blush. Her heart was pounding loudly.

Alro's pale skin, which seemed almost unhealthy, his silky black hair, and his beautiful eyes, like the night sky, gazing at Marivelle.

The more she looked, the more her head felt hot, and she didn't know what to do.

"Princess... Are you okay?"

Alro asked, looking worried.

Alro was always like that. Even when he wasn't okay, he always cared about Marivelle.

They met when they were very young, and Alro, even in the middle of summer, wore long sleeves and looked frail. There was a time when Marivelle thought Alro cared for her more than anyone else, even more than family. It was around the time Sophia was born.

So Marivelle clung to Alro. And Alro never once rejected her. He always accepted her.

"It's not me, is it? You're the one who's hurt, right?"

Alro tilted his head slightly.

He was insensitive to his own pain, so he didn't understand when it was pointed out.

But how could Alro understand others' pain so well?

"Why do you ask if I'm okay..."

"——Because Princess, you look like you're about to cry."

"......!!"

Marivelle froze.

Yes, she was about to cry.

Her emotions were a mess, and she didn't know what to do.

Marivelle hugged her knees and buried her face in them.

She couldn't show her face anymore. The fabric around her knees was damp with tears.

She didn't even know why she was crying. Everything was a mess. But she had made Alro sad and worried, and she wondered if they didn't have enough trust yet, and if that was natural.

"Princess... Are you crying?"

"I'm not crying. I'm not sad."

If she admitted to crying, she would worry him.

So she decided to let it pass and have Alro leave.

But Alro didn't leave.

After a moment of silence, there was a rustling sound.

The next moment, Alro gently embraced Marivelle.

It was a bit hesitant, a gentle touch. It felt like being wrapped in warmth.

Alro's scent, which used to be nothing special. She only thought it was Alro's scent, which she liked.

Alro always wore a simple shirt and pants, no different from other servants. The scent of soap mixed with Alro's scent.

Now, just smelling this scent made something rise up inside her. Her body temperature rose suddenly.

At the same time, her chest felt warm, and though she wasn't sad, tears welled up again.

"If you don't mind me, can I, just for a moment, do this?"

Alro desperately searched his memory. This was how he had been healed by Marivelle. It was the only way he knew to comfort someone.

"I don't have the power like Princess, but..."

Until now, it had only made her feel embarrassed and her chest hurt, but when Alro's voice reached her.

Hearing his voice, the uncomfortable flutter in her chest turned into a warm, overwhelmingly happy feeling.

"...Alro"

"Yes"

"Stay with me always"

"Yes"

"Alro... I like you, I really like you"

"Yes. Thank you"

It was a line they always said, so Marivelle said it naturally.

And as always, Alro accepted it.

For Marivelle, it had a slightly different meaning than before, but just being able to say the words made her feel a bit better.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, but suddenly the door opened, and they looked up.

Eidan was looking down at them with raised eyebrows.

"What... is going on here?"

"Oh, this... this is—"

It was an inappropriate posture for a servant. Alro tried to stand up, but Marivelle clung to his body.

Feeling his abs through his shirt.

"Brother, don't get in the way."

"What... Marrie!?"

Eidan took a deep breath to calm himself.

"——Alro. What's going on?"

"Th—this... I'm sorry—"

Alro was frozen because Marivelle was clinging to him.

"You don't need to apologize."

That's right, there's no point in blaming Alro.

Eidan looked at Marivelle.

"Marrie. That distance isn't appropriate for a noble lady. Do you understand that?"

"Alro, what do you call someone who's stiff and inflexible?"

"Rigid?"

"Yes, that. Brother, don't be so rigid."

It seemed friendly to Eidan, but he felt like he was being dismissed.

"You two... I'll recommend to Father that you be dismissed as servants!"

"Who said that only Alro can be my servant?"

"Right, so no more servants."

"I don't want that. I can't study without Alro."

Saying that, Marivelle finally let go of Alro.

"Marrie. Do you understand why I'm saying this?"

"I don't understand. Why can't I be close to Alro?"

Marivelle sat on a chair in the storage room.

"Listen, Marrie. We—"

"Wait, this might take a while. Alro, you can go."

"Eh, but—"

"Alro, you know what Brother is going to say, right? It's fine, go."

"Yes..."

"I don't understand at all, so I'll listen to Brother."

So, during that time.

Alro accurately received Marivelle's gaze and intention, nodded, and left the room as usual.

"Since we're at it, I'll listen carefully. Go ahead."

Marivelle crossed her arms and looked up at Eidan.

"Marrie... why are you being so condescending?"

Even as he said this, Eidan's incredibly long lecture began.

Since Marivelle, who usually never listened, was listening, he got carried away and continued talking.

After a while.

From the corridor, Alro walked in, carrying Sophia.

Marivelle smiled in triumph.