Chapter 7. Also a shorter one. Enjoy!
Kelvin sighed and fixed his posture. Klaus still had a difficult expression on his face as he glared at the documents.
To Kelvin’s question, Klaus present the papers to him.
Giving just one look at the documents he received, Kelvin shook his head.
Kelvin again lowered his sight to the documents. He tried to roughly do some calculations, but using only mental arithmetic turned out to be quite undoable in the end.
What’s more it was self-study. According to Alisa, it seemed that she was using a huge quantity of paper to write on, but other than the maid no one else appeared to have ever entered Lilia’s room.
Ascha laughed happily. Certainly if their daughter was heading in a bad direction they must do their best to set her straight, but change for the better should be welcomed.
Kelvin also shared Ascha’s worry. However you put it, she had secluded herself in her room for two whole weeks after all. She might have shown improvement during the second week through doing things like raising flowers and coming out for meals, but even so some worry remained.
To Kelvin’s question, Klaus boasted with an unsettling smile. Confirming, a smile also floated onto Kelvin’s face. The secretive smiles plastered on their faces were indeed somewhat creepy. One wouldn’t be able to imagine that they were fighting just earlier.
Despite saying this or that, these two really care about Lilia.
Ascha, regarding their awkwardness, simply quietly asked to the side for a maid to bring more red tea.
Lilia requested for Alisa to have the luggage in her room loaded onto the coach, while she herself went for a walk in the garden with Theo. She didn’t remember ever having much proper conversations with this little brother of hers before. This was because, Lilia herself had always kept a distance from him.
After all this little brother could do anything. A bona fide genius. Therefore the reason for staying away from such a brother, was simple jealousy. But even so for some reason, this little brother would always seek out Lilia himself and speak to her with a smile as if somehow enjoying it all. It was troublesome to no end.
Today as well, Theo was walking along beside Lilia with a delighted smile.
While thinking it odd, Lilia showed Theo to the back of the estate.
Among the many flowerbeds, was one with plants just starting to sprout. This was Lilia and Alisa’s flowerbed. Though she had just a tiny suspicion that he may have come to mock it, the words Theo breathed out next were completely outside of her expectations.
Lilia’s eyes went round at Theo’s request. “Why” was the first question to pop into her mind. Certainly if it’s Theo, he would be able to quickly learn all he needed to know about gardening, so it should be fine to leave it to him. However, Lilia couldn’t fathom if his intentions were all pure.
It was too much for her to comprehend. So much so, her eyes ended up changing to stare at Theo as if he was a strange animal. Receiving such a look from Lilia, Theo lowered his gaze. And then came back with upturned eyes as he pleaded.
While thinking it completely unfair to wield such a tear filled expression, Lilia kept this thought from her mouth.
—You might as well just leave it to him.
—Well I suppose that’s fine but… Do you know what Theo’s trying to accomplish here?
—Rather than a goal I do know his reason. You don’t get it, Lilia?
Why was it, that even though Sakura’s figure couldn’t be seen, a young girl’s mocking expression floated into her head. While holding onto some irritation, Lilia felt that continuing to respond to this will just end up in her defeat, so she discontinued the conversation there.
Theo said so with a smile radiant like flowers in full bloom. Even relatives would see it as exceedingly charming. Just how many women would be taken captive by this smile.
—Lilia. You should go teach Theo on how to do gardening.
—Even without my help, wouldn’t he just learn from one of the maids.
With how Sakura was insisting, perhaps this was also a step in getting people to like her.
Theo stood straight up. Lilia gave a nod of satisfaction, and continued.
—I think you’re being a little too careless about this!
Not realising when she appeared, a little bit away stood Alisa who spoke out at the same time with her eyebrows hanging in sadness.
With Theo’s bewildered eyes and Alisa’s pitying gaze, Lilia looked away as if escaping from their sights.
After that, together with Alisa, Lilia taught Theo in the ways of gardening. That said, Lilia’s knowledge was somewhat limited, so the teaching was mostly through Alisa’s assistance here. Even so Theo was for some reason very fixated on the teachings he received from Lilia, while giving little heed to the things Alisa said to supplement Lilia’s explanations.
Even now she did not really get what kind of situation that was.
Jostled around on the coach headed for the academy, Lilia thought back to what happened that time. Having given up on thinking about it she tried to get an answer from Sakura, but was only met with a cold refusal.
—You should really try to better understand other people’s feelings, Lilia. How about you give it a good thinkin’ until we reach the academy?
I just picture shadows coalescing in the shape of kneeling men while the Lord of the manor commands them to protect her. The shapes, having received their orders, dissolve into crawling shadows and skitter away into the corners of the room.
Hah look forward to future chapters then, I’m sure it’ll exceed your expectations.
I take interest in this serie but, i’m still feel sorry for “at the northern fort”.
And as luck would have it, the playlist I was listening to on shuffle just jumped to Schizophrenia by Jukebox the Ghost. Not that it’s particularly relevant to the story, just a neat coincidence.
Thanks for sharing and lol siscon little brother.
Lilia has never been malicious, just very naive about people skills. I see her family treasures her at least. I hope she becomes a splendid person under Sakura’s guidence! I wonder how long Teo has been a siscon with Lilia just totally not noticing haha.
Thanks for the chapter Joan!
Does that means that we will end up accusing you of witchcraft and burn you on a stake?
And that you’re a virgin?
it’s obvious that Joan of Arc had some blood links with the nobility, or even the royalty.
The one that got executed was probably a poor girl that was unlucky enough to look like her.
Thanks for the chapter Sheep-chan! Regarding that restaurant. Why, did they exchange a 15lb bag of flour for just a half tub of butter?! Oh well at least I can…why is the flour red?!
I’m sorry Jaon-chan! I meant to type your name. I blame auto-correct !
Every time I read your continuation of the pantry adventures I have to pause to remember what I am reading. Always a nice surprise in the comments section, thanks.
Thank you, dear. By the way it seems like the portal opened up to a cave this time. There’s a large turquoise glowing oval thing….huh on closer inspection it looks like an egg…Nope not touching this.
She’s intelligent, but has no social skill. Or maybe no empathy?
Teo… is so adorable… I WANT TO SQUISH HIS FACE!!!! But I won’t, because that family is scary.
Also he’s somewhat of a genius. Who knows what they’ll do to people who like to temporarily deform their faces.
So apparently the genius younger brother is a siscon, and the rest of the family also cherish her.
I really wonder if she will create a new revolutionary magic with that knowledge.
Aw, an adorable otouto-kun! When i first read about him I thought he would be at middle-school age tho. Now he’s like, 8? He might’ve been described and i just forgot about it tho lol.
lol… I wonder just when will our mc be tactful, ehem, I mean sensitive enough to read about her cute little brother ‘Teo’s intention.
Looks like father and elder brother are tsunderes, Lilia is well on the way to becoming one, so her mom and Theo must be…yanderes?