Happy Friday!!
There are some things that I want to make a note of before we start:
ojisama/obasama vs ojiisama/obaasam the first pair means uncle/aunt while the other means grandfather/grandmother, but to make it not as confusing, as it is only a difference of a single letter, I just left ojisama/obasama as is and translated ojiisama/obaasama as grandfather/grandmother. Also, along the same lines, I would leave okaasama , as is when Mira is directly addressing her and use ‘Mother’ when she’s not. anesama is the more polite version of oneesama, for those who didn’t know For all the various Houses, like the Viscount House or the Duke House, they will be capitalized when people are referring to them in their official capacity as a titled noble house. If it’s not capitalized, then they’re referring to the actual house/mansion/estate that the family of the Viscount/Duke/Count live in. Hope that’s not too confusing…Ok, with all that said, here’s chapter 12. Enjoy!
Mother's family is a Viscount House. The current head of the household is my mother's older brother, Colt-ojisama, but ojisama is a broad-minded person and his wife is someone who understands him, so they are taking care of my grandparents who are living with them and Mother who ran away from home.
Truthfully, I'm not a match for this married couple. My grandparents were, somehow or another, being manipulated by my uncontrollable mother and I can't apologize enough for that.
Whenever I go to meet her, I go to the childhood home of my mother, the Viscount Mayford estate, thinking that we would chat outside, but this kind couple would invite me inside sometimes. I admire them a lot.
Even though he was a viscount, he had many great achievements and compared to our count peerage, he held much power.
The massive mansion was located within the closest town near the school and due to its size, it stuck out like a sore thumb.
「This was Mother's childhood home.」
「This building is quite charming.」
「Maa. Does Yurii-sama have an interest in architecture as well?」
This small child's arrogant attitude was so adorable and wasn't taken seriously. It was unexpected that he would give a polite explanation using difficult words about this and that and how it turned out like this, summing up that the building was magnificent. As expected, this child is a genius.
「My Yurii is indeed smart!」
「I'm not yours. Don't call me by my nickname. It's disgusting.」
He was still scathing towards His Highness Prince Alan. When I saw them like this, it reminded me of when my cousin had his rebellious phase. But it was after he was a lot older when he was in his rebellious age.
Unlike him, Dia was taciturn. Even though he still hasn't recovered from the damage he had just received from Mother a few days ago, he still came because I brought him here. Although she was ill-tempered, the overwhelmed Dia who was being pressured by Mother was pleasing to her, so she quite liked him. That's why although I unreasonably brought him along, let's do something for him later as an apology.
「Welcome, Mirchan.」
「Eek…..」
A charming voice was suddenly near my ear, so I screamed without thinking.
「Okasama…, please stop.」
Because I'm still carrying Yurii-sama right now.
I turned around and Mother was standing right there, as beautiful as ever. She was so beautiful that I don't understand why she was so fixated on father. Even though there are so many good people out there.
Her beautiful black hair was tied up prettily and her awe-inspiring eyes weren't too intense, leaving an elegant impression on people. Her legs were long and slender, and although she had some wrinkles, if she wanted a young lover, she could get as many as she wanted.
What I inherited from Mother was just my slightly wavy hair. Even the color of my hair was chestnut brown like Father's, which is completely different from Mother's. And then, Mother's features and and Father's unique, or quite possibly, unfortunate features cancel each other out, resulting in my normal appearance. There have been times where the ordinary me was embarrassed to be walking alongside Mother.
As if she was a girl who successfully played a prank, Mother giggled, with a huge smile on her face.
「Maa, how cute. You guys are at that age now, huh.」
When Mother saw Yurii-sama, she took him from me and started to rubbing their cheeks together. It wasn't like when His Highness Prince Alan did it, but Yurii-sama was troubled by it.
When she said 'you guys', she was referring to me and Dia. Dia forced a wry smile and just gave a small bow.
「Okasama, Yurii-sama is a prince. His Highness Prince Alan also came, so please give your greetings.」
「Oh dear, you did well, my daughter.」
Slightly pouting, Mother was sweetly smiling and laughed and then gave a simple greeting to Yurii-sama and His Highness Prince Alan. She was still conforming to etiquette, but she was holding Yurii-sama, so her form was not as good.
His Highness Prince Alan nonchalantly took Yurii-sama back and Yurii-sama was once again violently struggling to escape. Then, he hid behind me.
「It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame Claire. You are as beautiful as they say. Miss Mirabell looks just like you.」
His Highness Prince Alan kissed the back of Mother's hand. Mother didn't seem like herself, which gives me mixed feelings as her daughter.
「Maa! Maa～! I wouldn't have thought that you and Dia were the same age, such a wonderful person.」
Please stop teasing Dia.
「Ufufu. Isn't she? Mirchan is the child of me and Will. So cute and adorable…You are so lucky, Dia.」
「I have, no complaints.」
She has always said this to Dia ever since he was young, as if imprinting it in him, so he was slightly pitiful. Once again, Mother was needlessly pressuring him like this, so we weren't able to bring up the topic of canceling our engagement. The married couple too, should you be troubling Dia this much?
Behind me, Yurii-sama pulled on my arm and gave me a 「bend down」signal. And so, I bent down and he asked the question that I expected he would ask.
「Is she really William's wife?」
「That's right.」
「Does Mira's mother…have bad eyesight?」
「No. Her five senses are just as sharp as anybody else's.」
Well, they say that love is blind, but I sometimes have doubts that Mother had considerably misjudged Father's appearance.
「It's the end of the world…」
「Yes. Yurii-sama is ve–ry honest.」
In other words, this mother of mine was too good for that father of mine. I am well aware of that. It wasn't a mystery anymore when I found out the answer. Just how did my beautiful mother whose name was known even in foreign countries and the good-natured, foolish count of a father become a married couple?
No matter who I asked, they both said that it was love at first sight. Aside from Father, I always thought that Mother was definitely lying.
「Ara ara, I wonder if I have scared Yuriel-sama.」
Although we were whispering, my mother noticed us and she crouched down so that she could look Yurii-sama in the eyes.
His cheeks stiffened, which was probably because he had recently become more aware of females who were going to be hard to deal with. While standing behind me, Yurii-sama was murmuring his greetings. His earlier haughty attitude was settling down.
My mother and His Highness Prince Alan tried to hug Yuri-sama, but the person himself stubbornly refused. In the end, he continued to hold my hand. It made me feel superior.
「Where should we go today? But that cafe on the next street…Dia, are you going to be ok?」
「No…yeah… Yeah. Can I go back?」
「I don't think so…」
I don't talk with His Highness Prince Alan that much, and Mother is full of energy. Only Yurii-sama and I would be left and if he went back, they won't be happy about it.
「It'll be fine. I'll protect her.」
「I don't think you're very reliable today.」
As expected, it might not have been a good idea to have brought him to meet her so soon because she complained a lot a few days ago.
「Let's just chat at the mansion today!」
「…yes?」
「Colt-niisama and sister-in-law both said that it would be fine for us to do so.」
Even if they said it was fine, for you to not hold back! We can't always trouble them.
「But the weather is nice, so why don't we walk around outside?」
As expected of Dia.
「You've become a boring man, haven't you, Judias? That's why the person you're longing for is not looking your way. An ordinary idea and an ordinary proposal! Isn't that idea unremarkable and below average?」
「…」
Dia's eyes were saying that he wanted to go home. No way, so cut…no, I need to back him up.
「Okaasama. Dia came up with a very good idea.」
「Aren't you two close? What does Mirchan like to do on days when there's good weather?」
「On days with clear skies? I don't like sunlight, so…」
I stayed indoors.
「What about guys who unreasonably ask you out on a date just because the weather is nice outside?」
「That's a little messed up…I hope you're not talking about me personally.」
Ohoho, with her hand near her lips while laughing, Mother raised her chin, as if looking down on Dia. DIa being Dia, with a slightly bitter look on his face, timidly looked over to me. No way, so cut… not.
「We shouldn't make trouble for ojisama.」
「Hanna and Reiss both wanted to see Mirchan and Dia.」
「It's probably a lie that they wanted to see me.」
「Ara, you got me.」
Please don't confess that you lied, okaasama. Hanna and Reiss are fraternal twin cousins who will turn seven years old this year. I used to hold them in my arms a lot, but they were such good kids, I wasn't able to fawn over them much. That made me sad, I want to fawn over Yurii-sama for their share too.
「They might be able to become friends with Yurii-sama.」
「That's…」
Certainly, it may be necessary for Yurii-sama to interact with children that were close to his age, but…
「Ojisama, obasama, grandfather, and grandmother all want to see Mirchan.」
「That's…I'm honored, but…」
Especially ojisama and obasama, I don't have the face to meet them, so naturally, there's no need to go.
「Come now, go inside. Everyone is eagerly waiting for you.」
This was what it meant to be swept away. Dia who can't go against Mother and His Highness Prince Alan who doesn't understand what's going on quickly went ahead. Yurii-sama and I couldn't just stay here by ourselves.
Bring along one of the king candidates, this time, I felt really bad, but I brought His Highness Prince Alan, so let's call it even.
The married couple told me to not worry about it, but that's impossible.
「It's been a long time, since my last visit, Colt-ojisama, Lydiobasama.」
My excited obasama hugged me, who was giving a formal greeting, tightly. She had on a rose fragrance.
「It's been a while, Mirabell. Have you been well? There are a lot of things that I want to talk to you about. Aah, I wonder if you've read the new work from the usual novelist.」
I am reading buddies with obasama. The surprisingly youthful obasama whose age was unknown was a wonderful lady, the one that ojisama, whose beauty was on par with mother, fell completely in love with. Before she had children, she would give me baths.
「Yes, obasama. Your letters too, thank you for always writing them.」
But, that's a story for later.
Seeing His Highness Prince Alan, ojisama;s eyes widened. It was normally impossible for the candidate who was most likely going to become king to visit a viscount house, despite being excellent.
There's probably many things he wanted to talk about. That being the case, I needed to sit next to obasama too, so I sacrificed His Highness Prince Alan, and joined mother's mini tea party. Dia said that he would rather stay behind with His Highness, but that was rejected. There's no way I would let go of Mother's favorite Dia that easily.
「Obasama, I'll come back later. I need to give my greetings to grandfather and grandmother.」
「If it's father-in-law and mother-in-law, aren't they on a trip right now?」
Maa, thank you for the valuable information, obasama. So in other words, Mother added a few embellishments so that I wouldn't leave. It's too late to question my mischievous mother now.
All things considered, my grandparents are doing well. Grandfather is eighty years old this year. Grandmother should be seventy-three years old. When I asked, they would tell me things like how they went swimming towards the south for seven days and nights. Nobles who were more than seventy years old were swimming in the ocean. They are completely different from me who is a teeager and a shut-in.
「Excuse me.」
「Excuse me.」
Just when obasama left, two high-pitched voices sounded. They spoke at the same time. The twins have come. The lovely older sister Hanna had platinum blonde wavy hair and large bright eyes, just like obasama.
The quiet younger brother Reiss had straight black hair like ojisama and mother, with intellectual features.
When they noticed me, they gave their greetings to Their Highnesses and Dia and then came right in front of me, the two of them smiling sweetly.
「Hello, Miranesama.」
「It's been a while, Miranesama.」
Without thinking, I clapped because of their good manners and greetings.
「I haven't seen you in a while and both of you have grown so big. Was the last time I've seen you half a year ago?」
「Yes. Hanna has missed Miranesama.」
「I wanted to see Miranesama too, but I thought that I may be bothering you if I went uninvited.」
Mou! So adorable! If you want to, it's fine even if you come flying though!! Even though it's fine even if you act more spoiled!!
When I beckoned them over and hugged them with all my strength, after widening their eyes in surprise, the two of them started giggling. Aah, as expected, the mental age of these two children is definitely much higher than mine.
「Mira!!」
Araa? I fell backwards. The clothes on my back were being pulled by Yurii-sama. With that momentum, I separated from the twins.
Puffing out his cheeks and pouting, Yurii-sama reached out to me with both hands. That was the signal for a hug.
Restraining my laughter, I did as he wanted and hugged him.
「Are you jealous?」
「N…no!」
How rare of him to stutter.
「Mira is, my Mira.」
「Fufu… That's true.」
The twins stared at Yurii-sama, looking like they wanted to say something, and Mother was somewhere happily not saying anything.