"I'll meet you."
"Really?!"
"Yes. I'm a little worried, but I want to see you too."
Aen's face, which had been anxious at my answer, instantly brightened.
"Thank you, Miss."
"But will I be able to go out?"
I had accepted his request, but a practical problem bothered me.
'I haven't had a proper outing since coming to the Duke's mansion.'
I didn't try to go out because I had nowhere to go, but even if that wasn't the case, the Duke wouldn't let me out.
If he created a variable and I ran away, he would lose his sacrifice.
"I'll request it."
Aen said as if telling me to trust him.
I gave him a small smile.
'Well......'
It's not that I don't trust Aen. However, I was skeptical because I believed in the Duke I knew.
'Should I take the initiative?'
I wondered how to get the answer I wanted from the Duke.
Now that I had made up my mind, I really wanted to go out with Aen.
'Friend......'
The thought that maybe, just maybe, I could have a true friend made my heart flutter.
After parting with Aen, I met Marin in the middle and returned to my room.
Fortunately, Ligrin hadn't visited in the meantime. It was thanks to Marin who had said in advance, "The young lady has just fallen asleep."
I left in the afternoon, and by the time I arrived at my room, it was already night.
After taking a shower with warm water and changing into my pajamas, I went straight into bed.
I felt naturally drowsy in the cozy and warm bedding.
I was so tense all day that I felt relaxed and was about to fall asleep soon.
"You know, Marin."
"Yes, Miss."
Marin replied softly, lighting a sleep-inducing scent next to the bed.
"I have a problem, can you listen?"
"Of course, of course. What's the matter?"
Marin pulled up a chair and sat beside me, patting the blanket lightly.
I hesitated and carefully opened my lips.
"I want to give a gift to someone I want to be friends with."
I had been worrying about it all the way here.
It's our first meeting, but shouldn't I give her something?
I wanted to be seen as likeable, even a little bit.
The problem is......
"I don't know what to give."
I've never given a gift to anyone before.
Especially to a girl my age.
I was worried that if I gave her something weird, it would be worse than not giving anything at all.
"Hmm, well......"
Marin, who had listened to my story, touched her lips with her finger.
"I haven't given many gifts either, so it's difficult to give helpful advice, but......"
Marin smiled, looking at me.
"Wouldn't a gift with sincerity be enough?"
"A gift with sincerity?"
"Actually, I was very worried when I gave you the scarf. It was too insufficient and shabby for you to wear."
Marin smiled embarrassedly as if recalling that time.
"But I was so happy that you were happy to receive it. How did you feel at that time? Were you upset to receive a poor scarf?"
I recalled that time at Marin's question.
I could answer right away.
"No."
When I received the scarf, I didn't notice that it was insufficient and lacking.
Just.
"It was good. I was happy."
I was grateful and happy. The gift itself was meaningful.
"Then isn't that enough? If that person is uncomfortable receiving your gift, they won't be satisfied with anything you give them. So I think a gift with your heart is enough, I do."
Marin's calm voice flowed in like a lullaby.
"A gift with my heart......"
Perhaps it was thanks to the analogy of Marin's scarf.
My anxious mind calmed down.
"But if you're still uneasy, why don't you find out what that person needs? Or what they like."
"Uhm......"
That would be good.
'I should ask Aen.'
What she likes. Then......
'I can be friends, right?'
I'm excited. Just the thought of getting closer to her seemed to melt away the jealousy and envy that had been lingering below.
What kind of child is she?
Because she's Aen's daughter, she must be a lovely and kind child.
'I want to meet her soon......'
The impatience soon turned into anticipation.
Feeling that pleasant change, I fell asleep.
I think I had a happy dream that day.
I don't remember what kind of dream it was though.
"Miss!"
The next day, Aen came to see me.
I was about to go see Aen, so I looked at him with a surprised expression.
"How are you feeling? Sorry, I should have asked you earlier."
I shook my head at his question and answered.
"I'm good. I'm fine."
More than good. Thanks to a good night's sleep, my condition was very good.
Above all, I felt refreshed just knowing that Aen was no longer avoiding me.
"But where were you going?"
Aen asked, looking at me dressed in my going-out clothes.
Instead of answering, I stared at Aen.
Aen, who was tilting his head, soon realized something and said carefully.
"Don't tell me you were coming to see me?"
Nod.
His expression turned troubled at my nod.
"Oh, it overlapped. I should have contacted you in advance if I knew this would happen. I'm just bothering you, Miss."
"It's okay. Rather, I actually have something I want to ask you, Captain."
"What is it?"
"That, Cherish...... I mean."
I felt shy saying her name.
"Yeah."
"Um, so......"
Was I originally such a frustrating person?
It wasn't easy to start talking.
I twisted my hands and feet. Aen waited quietly for me without urging.
After a while, I managed to speak.
"It's our first meeting, so I want to give her a gift...... What would she like? Like, what she likes or what she needs......"
"What? A gift?"
Aen's eyes widened at my words.
The bigger his eyes got, the smaller I became.
I felt the urge to hide somewhere.
Am I saying something unnecessary? Will he be burdened after all?
Since the answer didn't come back right away, timid thoughts peeked out.
Eventually, just as I was about to open my lips to smooth things over, I shrank endlessly.
"Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, Aen laughed like a firecracker.
Momentarily startled, I lifted my head, and a large hand ruffled my hair wildly.
"Miss, aren't you just too cute?"
"Ugh!"
"A gift, how did such a small head come up with such a thought? Oh my, how admirable, our Miss."
"Ugh......"
A different kind of embarrassment washed over me.
I'm being treated like a child openly.
I am a child, but still......!!
"Actually, your very existence is a gift."
"B-But still."
I pushed down the hair that Aen had fluffed up with both hands and retorted.
"I want to."
I was embarrassed when I first brought it up, but after facing it a few times, my voice became quite strong.
"Umm."
"Is there anything she likes...... or anything like that?"
"There is one thing she likes."
Aen, who rubbed his chin, glanced at me and said.
"I told you. She's a lot like you, Miss."
"Yes."
"She likes to read books."
"Books?"
Aen nodded.
"Yeah, once you buy her one, she devours it until it's tattered. So I buy her books by the bundle every time I go home, but it's never enough."
"Books......"
It was unexpected, but I thought it could be possible.
'She's not free to move around.'
Books are becoming her world.
'It would be good to give her a book as a gift.'
But what kind of book should I give her?
I asked Aen for an answer again.
"Does she like any particular books?"
"Well...... she likes most books. Ah, there is one she especially likes."
"What is it?"
My eyes sparkled as I got closer to the answer I wanted.
Aen smiled ambiguously and answered.
"Romance novels."
"......!"
"Haha, unexpected, right? I'm always surprised too. That mature child's favorite genre is romance."
As Aen said, it's unexpected, but I think it's also possible.
Because that's her taste.
"Especially these days, there was a series she liked even more. She said she wanted to read the sequel to it. What was it......"
Aen rubbed his chin and pondered.
Soon, he remembered and said.
"Arista and El something, I think. She said she wanted to read the sequel to that."
"......Pardon?"
Wait, that's.
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