True, she had skipped over a few things, worrying they would be upsetting for him to hear, but he had listened quietly to everything. She couldn’t put into words how happy she was that he didn’t make fun of her or laugh like everyone else did. She was certain he would listen with the same seriousness if she told him that Joseph had asked her to reconcile—something she had told no one else.
But she was frightened of one possibility—terrified, in fact. What if she brought up Joseph’s name, and Yuri listened as calmly as always, without getting upset? That would prove he didn’t care for her.
What’s wrong with me…
She bit her lip, her shoulders slumping. She plodded along, wondering when she’d gotten so full of herself.
Suddenly, something banged into her rear end.
“Eek!”
She stumbled forward, planting both hands on the ground to keep from completely falling over, and looked over her shoulder to see a grimly frowning child. They must have shoved her. They’d probably aimed for her rear end because they were too short to reach her back.
They look like Yuri.
Maybe it was the delicate child’s brilliant blue hair and blue eyes that made her immediately think of Yuri. Although their eye color was different, she felt like she was seeing his young self. It was uncanny.
But the Duke of Aurealis had four sons, and Yuri was the youngest. This child couldn’t be his sibling. Perhaps they were a relative of the Aurealis family, like Clifford.
…Are they a boy or a girl? I can’t tell…
She wanted to stand and stare out of curiosity, but now was not the time. Instead, she stood up, grabbed the hem of her skirt, and curtsied gracefully.
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Brigitte Meide—”
“I know,” the child interrupted crossly.
Brigitte shut her mouth in surprise.
“I’ve got something to say to you.”
“…M-may I ask what?” she asked nervously, wondering what could make this child so combative when they’d never even met before. The child opened their eyes and mouth wide.
“I bet you think you were invited here today for a date!”
Brigitte stiffened—because that was correct. Despite her cold sweat, she managed a friendly smile.
“W-well, yes…I did think that, but what’s the harm if I did?”
“Plenty. Anyway, I bet the reason your spirit never answers you is because you’re always thinking about frivolous things.”
“Wha—?”
This was too much; her mind went blank.
She’d been mocked all her life, but what had she done to deserve such treatment from a child she’d never even met? Her thoughts must have shown on her face because the child snorted.
“You tramp!”
…For a second, Brigitte didn’t understand what she’d just been called. Her brain refused to process the vulgar accusation.
“T-t-t-t…?!”
This kid was unbelievable. More to the point, just how did the Aurealis family raise its children?! Blushing with anger and shame, she spluttered, “I-I’m not the kind of girl who chases boys around! I mean, I only accepted Sir Yuri’s invitation because I felt like it and I happened to have the time!!”
“In other words, you’re a tramp. He invited you, and you came running.”
“!!”
This rascal is as rude as Yuri!!
No—worse!
I could probably boil water with my mind right now…
She felt dizzy from fury. As she began to tilt, a large hand steadied her from behind.
“Are you all right?”
She sighed in relief at the familiar voice. He must have followed her when she ran off in a panic.
“Thank you, Sir Yur—”
She started to turn around shyly but froze in an awkward position halfway through. She had never seen this man in her life.
That’s not Y-Yuri!
She jumped back. The young man pouted and waved his hands.
“Oh, what a pity. I wanted to take you up in my arms.”
“…?!”
She stared up at the tall young man—his voice was just like Yuri’s!
His appearance, however, was quite different. He was probably around eighteen. His long blue hair was clasped loosely at his neck, and the mole under his right eye was oddly lustrous. She could tell right away his clothes were of excellent quality. It was strange that the slightly messy way he wore them didn’t detract from the elegant impression they made.
He was so gorgeous, she was sure he must be popular with the ladies.
He must be Yuri’s brother…
“I’m Clyde Aurealis. Third son.” He smiled amiably. “Sorry to catch you off guard. Today’s the anniversary of our mother’s death, and we’ve all just returned from her grave.”
Their mother…
Brigitte knew that of the four siblings, only Yuri was the son of the duke’s second wife. She wondered if that was why Yuri wasn’t included.
“My brother doesn’t miss a chance, I see, bringing a pretty girl home when we were all out!”
What a flirt!
She was in shock from being called “pretty” by someone with Yuri’s voice. However, Clyde’s misunderstanding could damage Yuri’s honor, so Brigitte scrambled to correct him.
“N-not at all!”
“No? Not at all what?”
“Sir Yuri’s spirit was the one who invited me here.”
“…His spirit?” Clyde tilted his head, then burst out laughing. “Wow. I suppose they would invite over one of their own.”
“What?” she asked, unsure of his meaning.
He leaned in close to her, and before she could distance herself from his handsome face, he whispered breathily into her ear, “Isn’t that so…Red Fairy?”
“…!”
She gasped, and he smiled.
“So I’m right. Your red hair does catch the eye, Brigitte.” He smiled sunnily, twisting a strand of hair around his finger as he added, “We both know the difficulty.”
She stared up at him uneasily. He must have heard all sorts of unsavory rumors about her. He seemed to be enjoying her reaction as he poked fun at her. She was used to that, but his voice was so like Yuri’s…she couldn’t help feeling a little upset. Anger surged in her chest.
Yuri would never say such a thing…
This felt like ridicule from Yuri himself. A pain shot through her chest.
Clyde gazed intently at her. He was inches away, staring straight at her.
“You’re not at all like the rumors make you out to be. I’m always hearing what a stupid, haughty rich girl you are, but you don’t seem that way, now that I’m meeting you.”
“…”
“After all, I think I see a tear in those pretty eyes of yours…”
His muscular arm reached out casually toward her. She had no time to escape—he was about to touch her cheek.
The second before he did, a voice as cold as ice declared, “Don’t touch her.”
At the same moment, she was embraced—by Yuri Aurealis, the feared Frozen Blade.
“Sir Yuri?”
“…”
He did not answer her surprised exclamation. He simply stepped protectively in front of her and glared at Clyde.
Clyde’s mouth fell open. His outstretched right hand was red—and Brigitte realized that Yuri had slapped it away. He shook his arm, frowning.
“Don’t touch her? She’s not your lover or your fiancée, is she?”
“No, but she is my guest. I have a duty to ensure she makes it home safely,” Yuri declared.
Clyde smiled cynically. “Come now. Are you implying I’m not safe?”
“That was my intention. Did you not understand me?”
His tone was so unlike what a younger brother usually used toward his elder brother that Brigitte turned white.
“Clyde? And Yuri, too? What is going on?” a third voice said.
Brigitte turned in the direction of the voice…and panicked. The men walking toward them down the hallway all had varying shades of blue hair. They had to be Yuri’s other brothers and father. Was the whole illustrious Water Clan now gathering here?