Published at 12th of November 2020 10:16:45 AM
Chapter 43
When he returned home, he heard happy voices coming from the living room .
Once inside, he saw that it was Agnes, his mother Oceanne, his sister-in-law and her children, all of them playing a board game .
“Surprisingly, it seems that Agnes has won the most matches so far . ”
Hector came near Bernard and explained it .
“Your mother decided to play with Agnes and your sister-in-law to teach her the rules… Even so, she couldn’t win, no matter how many times she played, and now, she’s still trying . ”
“… That is a problem . My mother doesn’t like to lose . ”
The match was showing a strange excitement . Every time someone moves one piece, a cheering voice pops out .
Ingrit thinks about a strategy as if her life depends on it, and Agnes move the piece calmly like it’s something usual for her .
Oceanne was excited, following the board pieces movements with her eyes .
Marie was devoting herself to cheering, but she made a short break after saying “Ahhh, fluffy” to the pillow next to her and Agnes noticed it .
“Oh, it’s already time . ”
“Yes, they have to go to bed soon . ”
“Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up . ”
“Thank you, Agnes”
Saying so, Ingrit lifted a sleepy Marie .
Oceanne took Hector’s hand and left the room .
Agnes was packing the last pieces from the board in a leather case .
Bernard talked, more to himself than for her to hear, but since in a room were only two people…
“… surprising”
“Uhmm, what is surprising?”
“Oh”
She started telling him that in the past, her family used to play board games .
“When I was a kid, my father wasn’t always so busy at work…”
“Really…”
Bernard felt awkward, like that was something he should not have said .
He was still looking for the correct words to apologize, when he looked up and met unexpected eyes… Her expression was bright .
“I had a lot of fun today! Remember those times when I used to play with my family, it made me so happy”
He was told that but Bernard had noticed something different .
Since you came here this house become so happy and lively .
I lived quietly with my servants for many years, only when I was visiting my parents’ house, or my brother’s, it was a little noisier .
Agnes put her hands together and talked like dreaming .
“I only thought that… it’s great to have a family . ”
Agnes was pleased to say that she was his fiancée, even with various guilt feelings still on her chest, and this was one of the good things of it .
――Bernard’s chest is feeling strange for some reason while watching her saying that .
He feels a sense of mission – I have to create a family for her!
However, when he thought that she will be able to have one if she becomes the wife of someone, a complicated feeling started spreading through his heart .
There’s no need to think hard about the reason, I already noticed it… the true nature of this feeling is…
――This is the feeling of a father who has to let his daughter become a bride knowing she’ll go away!
My Agnes won’t go anywhere!
Bernard decided that the correct explanation for such feelings was that .
I don’t want her to become the wife of someone and go away, I want to protect her from now on!
However, that does not solve the underlying problem .
… What to do .
Since the other day, I’m at the mercy of my incomprehensible feelings .
I don’t understand, no matter how much I think about it, so decided to consult with Gigille .
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After confirming that Agnes has fallen asleep, he called Gigille to a private room .
He ordered her to sit in a chair because he had a consultation .
Since his eyes had a really serious look, Gigille was a little nervous because she could not imagine the content of his worries .
“Consultation–“
Gigille listened to Bernard’s story to the end, and when it finished she almost fell off her chair .
“Master”
“what?”
“The problem is very easy to solve . ”
Bernard asks her to tell it .
Gigille’s mouth opened to say something he never thought of .
“It’s easy, but I can’t say it . It’s meaningless unless my master notices it for himself . ”
“!?”
Making a mistake is something… bit to think in this kind of wrong direction!
“Master’s feelings … Like those of a father who doesn’t want his daughter to marry and go away… No… You misunderstood it really really– . ”
“Then, what is it?!”
“Please listen to your heart and think carefully . ”
“What?”
“It’s a special feeling . A precious thing that only one person in the world can make you feel . ”
Bernard had a question mark on the top of his head .
“… I wanted to watch over the situation and let it slowly progress, but my Master is soo — dummy…”
“Well, tell me! What do you know that I don’t !?”
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Gigille understood that she couldn’t say out aloud that his head seems to be empty, so she replied .
“I know my Master since he was born! How will I not notice all these any minor changes in your personality?”
“… Ok, I get it!”
“The advice doesn’t end here . ” Gigille started talking about Agnes .
“I’ll tell you, playing the role of a fiancée of someone is a hassle, and ordinary people won’t do it . ”
“Is that so?”
“Yes . Even if I’m told, I would refuse to sleep on a bed together with someone, if it’s not for… . ”
She hoped that he can read his own feelings from there on .
When he was telling her the story about his mysterious feelings, there were moments when she had an immense urge of yelling about how dummy Bernand was .
“Please notice it quickly . Then, be a real man and make a decision . It must be really painful for Miss Agnes lie to Master Oceanne and Misses Ingrit . ”
“That was what she said, too . ”
“There are various kinds of special feelings that can make you want to take good care of someone . ”
“!”
Bernard suddenly felt strange, but part of the identity of the mysterious feeling in his chest became clear .
He thanked Gigille and told her “Thanks, you can go to sleep . ”
… I haven’t put together all of my thoughts yet . Anyway, I’m tired today, so I’ll head to my bedroom to rest .
However, before reaching the bed, Bernard fell from his knees .
“–Is it being tempted?”
For some reason, the curtain, which should be dividing his bed into two, by Miel’s mischief was pulled and dropped over the bed, ripped from it support .
Miel was defenseless sitting on the laying curtain, as if to show it was his doing .
When noticed that someone glanced to him, the cat responded with a amicable “meow” .
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“No, nothing of meow!”
Bernard stood looking at the bed and then, tried to put the curtain again on its place, but he could not attach it again since he didn’t understand the structure .
Miel, who misunderstood that he wanted to play, started interfering with his work .
“–Oh no, again!”
After all, Bernard gave up and decided to sleep like this anyway .
…
But yesterday’s image of Agnes appeared on his mind… so he decided to sleep holding his sword against his chest to unify his mind and spirit .
When he lied down, remembered what happened in the morning – I thought that it was Miel and grabbed Agnes– .
“~~~!!”
Bernard made an effort to sleep while screaming for inside .
Every time the covers or Agnes move, he froze, listening to every little sound in the room, hugging the sword against his own chest tightly and trying to close his eyelids strongly .
In the morning, Bernard woke up on the carpet, still firmly hugging the sword .
He was trembling with delight since he managed to get over that trial .
… No, I was just shivering in the cold of the morning .
He got up and scratched the back of his head .
At the place where Bernard is supposed to sleep, Miel slept with his fluffy belly up .
“… why are you–?”
Complaining to the sleeping cat, who was moving its fluffy stomach up and down, he looked at the bed .
Agnes’ image, who was still sleeping became clear… he regretted seen it .
An angel-like sleeping face in white clothes… Neat and clean nightgown .
――This is hell… Bernard murmured .
Translated by Djurasico (dot) home (dot) blog