There is a little girl. She looks like a honey and oranges.
The hem of her dress is fluffy and her eyes sparkle with curiosity.
Such a girl asks me, “Who are you?” …I’d like to ask her who she is first
“…I’m Tougo Uezora. A guest… I guess? Well, I signed a contract with someone here and I’m here in this room…” (Tougo)
When I answered this while bending down to meet the girl’s eye level, her face lit up.
“Is that so…? That’s… amazing!” (Girl)
The girl jumped up and down… And then she looked as if she realized herself that it was bad manners to be this excited, and then she quickly adjusted the hem of her dress and changed it. It seems that she is a bit of a mischievous girl.
Then she asked me again.
“Hey, hey. Are you Brother Santos’ summoned beast?” (Girl)
…huh?
“No, I am not?” (Tougo)
“Oh, really? Then are you father’s? You made a contract with him, didn’t you?” (Girl)
…Huh? Wait, what… There’s a huge discrepancy here.
“Um… I’m a person who summons a summoned beast, not a summoned beast.” (Tougo)
“Forgive me! I thought you were a Fairy or something! I apologize!” (Girl)
And the girl was in a panic and apologized desperately.
“It’s alright. I’m not angry.” (Tougo)
Perhaps for this girl, the word “guest” meant something like “a living creature before being contracted as a summoned beast”. Perhaps they had summoned creatures in this room before.
“I said something rude…” (Girl)
The girl was so completely devastated, it was almost pitiful to watch. It’s not nice… To let a little girl make this kind of face.
“…Do I, um, look like a ‘Fairy’ that much?” (Tougo)
So, in an attempt to distract her a bit, I asked her to talk about it.
“You look just like the Fairies in the picture book. …… Are you sure you’re not a Fairy? Are you really human?” (Girl)
“Yeah. I’m human.” (Tougo)
“Is that so? But I’ve never seen someone with an air like yours. You look like a Fairy after all.” (Girl)
What kind of creature is this “Fairy”? I can’t imagine it at all.
A few moments later, the girl looked up with a start.
“Speaking of which, I asked for your name, but I forgot to tell you mine!” (Girl)
Yes, that’s right.
She furtively picked up the hem of her dress and bowed.
“I’m Carnelia Lily Dioren!” (Girl => Carnelia)
She smiled and looked up, the big ribbon fluttered on her head.
“Dioren? You’re a daughter of the Dioren family?” (Laocles)
Laocles asked the girl before I did. Yes, as far as I can tell from her last name, she is…
“Yes, I am. I’m a daughter of the Dioren family! I’m nine years old this year!” (Carnelia)
I see. So, he has a little sister like her? No matter how you look at it, Santos looks older than me. Probably around 19 or 20 years old. Maybe. …That means that she has a younger sister who is about 10 years younger than him.
…Their colors are certainly similar. Although this girl has a lighter and brighter color overall.
But I don’t think their facial features are that similar. Her eyes are bright like candied kumquats, her hair is a light honey color, and she doesn’t look like her father or brother.
“I see. Mr. Santos, he has a sister.” (Tougo)
“Yeah! On the surface, we’re supposed to be siblings! Though we’re only half the blood of normal siblings!” (Carnerlia)
…eh.
For a moment, I felt like there was a very heavy conversation about to start, but Carnelia didn’t seem to care in particular and was smiling, so I didn’t worry about it either.
“Thank you very much! Brother is like a fairy!” (Carnelia)
Carnelia was smiling as she said that, but then she called me… something amazing. I’m not sure if it’s Fairy, or if it’s Brother…
“Um, Tougo, is fine, because that’s what everyone calls me.” (Tougo)
“Is that so? Then Brother Tougo. Nice to meet you!” (Carnelia)
I realized that I haven’t been called by the “Uezora” name once since I came to this world.
…Mainly because of Fay, or rather, thanks to Fay, or rather, well. Because he called me Tougo since from the beginning.
“Um, Brother Tougo. Can we talk for a moment? I don’t have many people to talk to, so if there is a guest like Brother Tougo, I don’t want to miss the chance!” (Carnelia)
“…Um, Carnelia. Calling me Brother… Is a bit too much.” (tougo)
Now then, Carnelia talked to me with her eyes shining, but I’m still a little worried, so I stopped.
I mean, it’s “Brother”. …That’s not what we are, right? I do think it is better since “fairy” is off the table.
…But Carnelia said with a slightly embarrassed look.
“Really? If it bothers you, I will stop. Tougo, I understand. …I have just never called anyone like this before. I call all older men ‘Brother’ or ‘Uncle’ so you don’t have to worry about whether or not Brother Santos is my ‘real brother’.” (Carnelia)
…yes.
Is this going to be a heavy subject?
It wasn’t a heavy conversation. She also seems to have perceived that “she shouldn’t talk about things with people she shouldn’t talk about it with”. However, she doesn’t seem to mind the other things at all, so I can only say that she must have adapted to a complicated family environment.
I don’t want to ask such a question to a 9-year-old girl whom I have never met before, so I won’t ask her now.
“Hey, Tougo. Can I stay here a little longer?” (Carnelia)
“If your father and brother don’t mind, I don’t mind.” (Tougo)
“Yes! Good, then! Oh, I don’t think your father or your brother Santos would mind if I stayed. They leave me alone. I think Intarlia is the only one in the house who cares about me.” (Carnelia)
Carnelia looked a little sad when she said that.
…Come to think of it, Ms. Intarlia said, “I was originally Lady Carnelia’s escort.” When she entered the entrance. Really. Ms. Intarlia, what are you doing as this child’s escort?
So that means… Maybe this time, the lord of the Dioren family, who saw Laocles’ face and remembered him, decided, “Well, then, he must have a former colleague among those we originally hired, so let’s use them as a hostage.”
If so, it can either be bad luck, or good luck. …I’m not sure which case it is.
…Then Carnelia left after making small talk.
She seemed to enjoy having someone to talk to. She asked me if she could come back. I said yes.
Then she said, “Next time I come back, I’ll bring my treasures! I’ll show them to you!” and left quite happily.
She seemed to have enjoyed herself, so I was a little happy for her.
“…about her.” (Laocles)
“Yes.” (Tougo)
And in the basement after Carnelia left, me and Laocles pulled out the drawing paper again. I have to start preparing the painting.
“…Probably an illegitimate child.” (Laocles)
“I see.” (Tougo)
Laocles said and let out a small sigh.
An illegitimate child. I know what that means. It means that she is not the child of the rightful wife. Probably. That’s why she and Mr. Santos are “only half the blood of normal siblings.”
“That’s why she is being left alone. If they had any use for her, it would be as an instrument of a political marriage at best.” (Laocles)
“…I see.” (Tougo)
I wonder if that’s why she looked a little lonely. The first time I saw him, I thought I should not poke my head into other people’s families.
“I’m worried about the circumstances of this house.” (Laocles)
So, I was a little surprised by Laocles’ words because I was just thinking that I shouldn’t stick my head into other houses.
…But after hearing his next words, I was convinced.
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