Chương 20: I No Longer Like Michail
After sending off the Histania siblings, I found myself standing in front of Miss Olivia's room with breakfast in hand.
Today's breakfast was Miss Olivia's world-favorite paprika juice and bacon toast, a meal plan I concocted with her health in mind after she had consumed nothing but meat for a whole week.
The juice blended from carrots and paprika, complemented by crisply toasted bacon, was likely to be criticized by Miss Olivia as "not fit for human consumption." But as a butler, considering the health of one's master is an obligation, and thus, I was prepared to inflict this bit of noble suffering.
After a week of expanding on her noble taste, it was time to reduce it.
The mere thought of Miss Olivia's expression when she tasted the juice made a smile curl upon my lips.
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
But there was no answer in return.
Instead, enthusiastic snores emanated from beyond the door.
-Drrrug Kuhl Kkooeuhk
-Kuhl. Kkooeuhk. Heeyo
It seemed Miss Olivia had sunk into a deep slumber, which was understandable since she had been up late talking with Hanna, probably about Michail.
Eavesdropping wasnt my habit, but it was clear that Miss Olivia had well exceeded her usual sleeping hours, which surely explained the loud snoring.
-Drrrug Kuhl Eurrrug Kuhl
Out of consideration for Miss Olivias deep sleep, I waited for about five minutes at the door before I entered.
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Excuse me."
The room with a chill breeze and the window open wide.
Despite my repeated advice to close the window before sleeping, there was Miss Olivia, as always, sleeping with the window wide open.
A sigh escaped from me.
"After suffering from a cold last time Again"
-Hmnya Kkooeuhk..!
All thoughts of scolding her slipped away at the sight of her peaceful slumber. It was my negligence for not ensuring she heeded my advice. I resolved to pay more attention.
I approached Miss Olivia's bedside and spoke softly.
"Air raid alert"
She twitched.
Miss Olivia furrowed her brows.
I got closer to her ear and whispered like a past life's ASMR.
"Miss Olivia, there is an air raid alert."
She attempted to cover herself to the top of her head with the blanket as she was awoken by the noise, but as a butler accustomed to rousing her from thirteen years of sleep, I was easily able to prevent her from doing so.
I held the bottom end of the blanket to prevent her from escaping into it.
"Hwehet! Euuuue"
Miss Olivia scrunched her brows.
"Ricardo The gravity is too strong the blanket won't move"
A laugh escaped me. I felt sorry for waking her from such a deep sleep, but as a butler who believes in the importance of breakfast, I had no choice but to wake her up.
She would surely be fiery, but health is more precious than anything else.
Tap. I gently touched Miss Olivias cheek.
She frowned.
Seeing her cute reaction, I brought my mouth close to her ear and then
-Aahham!
I playfully bit her ear.
"Heet!!!"
Miss Olivia's eyes opened wide, and she screamed.
"Heieeek!! I'm being eaten! Eaten by a slime Eh?"
She woke up with a start, and a familiar blue window began to materialize above Miss Olivia's head.
[Desmond Olivia Lv.0.5]
[Occupation: Unemployed (Neet)]
[Favorability: 82]
[Favorite topics of conversation: Food. Meat. Bath additives. Ricardo's health. Gold coins. Walks (New)]
[Disliked topics of conversation: Michail. Vegetables. Paprika. The past. Debt]
Huh?
Something felt empty.
What was it?
I thought I might have seen it wrong, so I rubbed my eyes. However, one of the keywords that had been there for over a year was missing.
Always the first to be listed among Miss Olivias favorite topics of conversation was the familiar name.
[Michail]
This name had vanished.
I rubbed my eyes wondering what was going on.
It was an old keyword that Id assumed would disappear someday.
I asked Miss Olivia, who was throwing a doll at me, pondering if this might be a dream.
Wondering whether she had finally ended her long unrequited love.
Or whether she had just taken a break from it.
I tentatively asked Miss Olivia.
"Miss Olivia."
She looked at me, irritably wiping the saliva from her ear.
"What."
With sleepy eyes, Miss Olivia rubbed her face.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Ricardo woke me, so I slept poorly."
"It's magic meant to awaken the sleeping princess in the woods."
"Am I the princess?"
"No, you are a pig."
Miss Olivia scowled.
I had to inquire further, unable to contain my curiosity.
"Miss Olivia, about Michail."
"Michail?"
The name Michail caused her expression to stiffen in real time.
I felt as if I had stepped on a mine.
I might have been too abrupt, but getting a confirmation was more important to me.
"Do you still like Michail?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering."
Given my usual disdainful remarks about Michail, Miss Olivia might have been anticipating my typical response.
If she were to say yes, she knew well enough that Lolicon would be my derogatory retort.
And she also knew that the mood would sour.
I contemplated.
If she still harbored feelings for Michail, she would curse me, and if her feelings towards Michail had waned, shed likely remain silent.
I awaited Miss Olivias response.
While accustomed to rebuke, I somehow felt it would pain me a bit to hear that she still held affection for Michail.
The affinity window does not lie.
Everyone was like that, and Miss Olivia was too.
But the idea that the name Michail could disappear from Miss Olivia's heart seemed utterly unbelievable. I wanted to hear it from her directly.
While gripping the tray in my hand tightly, I waited for Miss Olivia's answer.
"Hmm"
Miss Olivia seemed lost in thought. She took a cup from the tray and pressed it against her forehead to cool down.
"There is something, Ricardo."
"..."
"I don't want to talk about Michail anymore."
"I'm sorry."
"Now, I..."
Her lips were dry. Even though I knew what she was going to say, it was frightening to hear it from Miss Olivia's own lips.
The worry that I might have to face another prolonged battle and the disappointment if the answer I had anticipated didn't come made me bite my lip. I waited for Miss Olivia's response, and then she finally uttered the words that I had wanted to hear for the past year.
"I don't like Michail."
"Pardon?"
"I don't like him. He's ugly."
"Didn't you always say he was handsome?"
"No."
Miss Olivia looked at me.
"He's ugly. Too skinny, no muscles, and I don't like that."
It's true.
There was no falsehood in Miss Olivias face.
"Is that really true?"
"Yes."
That won't do. Today, I have to go out with Miss Olivia
-Gulp Gulp
Huh?
Why did that go over there?
Miss Olivia was drinking her juice. She was downing the potion of mixed paprika and carrot like a true man's man.
Ah, disaster.'
After neatly emptying the cup, Miss Olivia looked at me with dulled eyes.
"What is this?!"
"Paprika juice."
"Pap-paprika!?"
Drip. Miss Olivia dribbled the juice out from her mouth.
"Cough!"
She spat out the juice and collapsed.
It was a somewhat successful assassination.
***
It was a good start to the day. It felt as though a weight was lifted from my chest and I could fly, but Miss Olivia's mood was sour.
Miss Olivia glared at me.
"Noble abuser."
"..."
"Noble murderer."
"..."
"Noble assassin."
An unintended assassination had succeeded, and there was Miss Olivia, cooped up in the corner of the bed, glaring at me.
Now, Miss Olivia declared that she would never eat anything I gave her again.
Miss Olivia, steadfast in her anger, would not be appeased even when I offered her three pieces of chocolate; she would turn her head sharply, pouting her lips and demanding at least ten pieces before considering negotiations.
Miss Olivia showered me with grievances.
She scribbled in tiny writing on a piece of paper.
[Paprika is the evil of society.]
Miss Olivia was waging her timid struggle.
I shouldn't laugh, but I couldn't help it.
Miss Olivia yelled at me as I tried to suppress my laughter; her mouth rinsing with spit in frustration. She was so cute it was driving me mad.
"Why are you laughing!"
"I wasn't laughi pfft."
"You did laugh!"
"No Pfft Hahahaha! It's impossible not to laugh. The paprika juice going through your nose Pffft!"
Miss Olivia crumpled the paper in her hand with frustration.
"Eeeek!"
Then, like a baseball player, she got into position and threw it.
-Whoosh!
Drawing a giant arc.
-Thud.
It fell powerlessly to the floor.
Miss Olivia and I awkwardly crossed glances at the pitiful fallen paper ball.
"Pfft!"
"Don't laugh!"
Our shoulders shook. I couldn't hold back the laughter, while Miss Olivia couldn't hold back her anger.
I gave Miss Olivia a thumbs-up.
"That was an excellent throw. With a little more effort, you might actually make it."
Miss Olivia hurled a pen at me.
***
As time passed and 15 pieces of chocolate had accumulated in Miss Olivia's emergency stash, I was finally able to appease her anger.
Observing the chocolate peeking out from between her breasts, Miss Olivia flashed a beaming smile.
She offered me a chocolate as if bestowing a favor, the chocolate warm and melty. It needed to be stored in a drawer.
"I'm rich, so rich!"
"Are you that happy?"
"Yes. Ricardo only gives me one chocolate a day."
"That's for your health, isnt it?"
Miss Olivia turned her head away petulantly.
"That's nobility abuse. I'm going to report you to the Noble Rights Commission."
"Do such things exist?"
"Not really."
It was a comeback for the pranks I had played earlier.
After a long breakfast, Miss Olivia pointed her finger to a corner of the room.
There was an item wrapped in glittering paper with a ribbon on it. It was a birthday present that I hadn't been able to give due to accidental revelations of her scar.
Miss Olivia pointed at the present with her finger.
"Bring that to me."
"The present?"
"Yes, that one."
Rustling, I placed the gift into Miss Olivia's arms.
Clearing her throat, Miss Olivia commanded.
"Turn off the lights and close your eyes."
I complied with Miss Olivia's request with a small smile.
With the lights turned off, Miss Olivia began to stack chocolates on a plate, making a soft click-clack sound.
It appeared she was making a cake.
With my eyes squinted, I watched Miss Olivia contentedly as she pulled chocolates out of her 'pocket'.
"Don't open your eyes."
"Okay."
"Really, don't open them."
"I won't."
Miss Olivia was smiling with satisfaction.
Rustle. Rustle. The sound of the gift wrap being torn came through. It seemed not to rip easily, and with a loud kiai of "Heet! Huaaap!" Miss Olivia was busily tearing into the wrapping.
Sniff. She wiped her runny nose on her dress.
And again, rubbed it off on her dress.
She didn't quite look like a noble lady.
It seemed preparations were almost complete.
A cake made out of chocolate with candles placed on top, and there I caught a glimpse of Miss Olivia clearing her throat, with my eyes slightly open.
Now, she indicated I could open my eyes.
I slowly opened them.
Despite the morning sunlight streaming in through the curtains, the fluffy atmosphere hadn't dissipated.
I saw Miss Olivia holding a glove next to the chocolate cake she had crushed into pieces. Her smile, as she laughed brightly, was more beautiful than ever.
Miss Olivia placed the plate on the bed and held the prepared gift in her hand.
"Are those gloves?"
"Yes. Now that it's winter. Your hands would hurt if they got cold."
They were mittens with a yellow chick embroidery on them, Miss Olivia's thoughtful consideration for the winter.
Miss Olivia began to slip the gloves onto my hands.
Her cool touch was awkward yet somehow pleasantly stirring.
Warm.
And cozy.
Miss Olivia spoke while fitting the gloves on me.
"Happy belated birthday."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you anything expensive."
Miss Olivia said, lowering her head to me.
I shook my head in response.
"To me, they feel more expensive than a million gold."
"They're only worth one gold."
Miss Olivia was being needlessly frank at the wrong time.
The gloves began to warm my hands. A fluffy emotion rose within me, and a corner of my heart felt warm.
Maybe three minutes had passed.
As Miss Olivia helped with the gloves, she made a strange noise.
"Huh?"
She took a stance and looked down at the glove stuck on the back of my hand.
It was too tight to pull up over my hand.
Miss Olivia looked up at me with tearful eyes, her nostrils flaring and her runny nose sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Is it too small?"
I replied with an awkward smile.
"It fits perfectly."
"Don't lie!"
Miss Olivia burst into tears.
Blaming the maid who had bought the wrong size.
"Waaahhh!!!"
She was crying her heart out.
I thought to myself.
How could anyone hate a Miss Olivia like this?
***
At the Royal Academy's training ground.
Michail, with his silver hair fluttering, said to Hanna during their sparring session.
"That sword it looks nice."
Hanna replied with a smile.
"It was a gift."
Thinking about the task that would take place in a week, Michail asked Hanna.
"Can I borrow that sword for a bit?"
Hanna responded with a snicker.
"Get lost."
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