Chapter 87

"Lord Adi, what kind of things would you dislike?"

When asked this by Parfait, Adi raised a question mark above his head.

This young lady, who resembled a small animal, was for some reason asking about "disliked things." If it were something like Mary's favorite food, Mary's favorite books, or what Mary usually did, he could understand the reason for the question and answer it immediately. However, this question left him at a loss.

He didn't understand the reason. Why... When he looked at Parfait with a questioning gaze, she averted her eyes, looking uncomfortable, and then said,

"I want to do something terrible to Lord Gainus!"

She said this with a determined expression, as if a child had made up their mind.

"Why are you asking me?"

"I asked others too. But Lady Mary teased me, and Lady Margaret was too bold... L-Lady Karina... Lady Karina...!"

Recalling Karina's words, Parfait began to tremble slightly. She even teared up, saying, "I can't believe anyone could do such a thing!" This made Adi panic.

What did she suggest? When he thought of Karina, she only smiled cruelly. Her beautiful smile was terrifying, and just imagining her suggestions made Adi shudder.

"So, you came to me! I understand!"

"L-Lady Karina... Lady Karina, Hiaaah!"

"I understand! Please, let's talk with me instead of the memory of Lady Karina!"

Adi calmed Parfait down, and she bowed her head, still trembling slightly, saying, "Please, I beg of you." Adi took a deep breath.

It seemed that when she heard Karina's suggestion, she turned pale and shook her head in denial—how terrifying must it have been?—and Karina then suggested Adi. As a servant, Adi might know what "terrible things" a "capricious young lady" would do.

Hearing this, Adi nodded. Indeed, he had knowledge of the "terrible things" that young nobles might do.

"The Albert family is very kind, so I've never experienced anything terrible, but I often hear stories from friends who work in other families."

"That's it! I want to hear those stories!"

"Sure, for example, terrible things like being hit or kicked, or having things thrown at you."

"M-Marchioness family wouldn't do such things...!"

Parfait began to tremble and tear up. Adi quickly corrected himself, "Just examples!"

It seemed too intense for Parfait. He thought of the complaints he had heard from friends, trying to think of something softer.

Not all noble families were as kind as the Alberts. Some allowed violent behavior, and some treated servants like objects because they paid for them. There were even cases of unscrupulous heads of households or their children abusing their power with maids, but he couldn't tell Parfait such stories. She might cry or even faint.

...No, if she used these stories to attack Gainus, it might not be a problem, and Gainus might even be happy. But that was a different matter.

Anyway, Adi recalled his memories.

"For example, being hit with a wooden stick by a mischievous young master."

"T-That much, I... I can do..."

"Then, how about being hit with something soft?"

"...Would a fluffy cushion be okay? A stuffed animal?"

Parfait asked hesitantly, and Adi narrowed his eyes. Her idea of "terrible things" was too mild.

Where in the world would throwing a fluffy cushion be considered "terrible"? Even a stuffed animal was too soft, and she gave up, saying, "It's too soft."

It was clear that she had been raised in a gentle and kind environment, free from violence and cruelty. This made the task difficult.

After all, Parfait's desire to do "terrible things" to Gainus was just a playful act of affection... Adi thought and then said, "I see."

In the Eldland family's courtyard, there was a long bench.

Behind it, a street lamp provided just enough light to enjoy the view of the courtyard, which was dyed red at dusk.

Gainus spent his pre-dinner time here, reflecting on the day and planning for the next. If there was still daylight, he would read a book. It was a peaceful and reflective time.

Of course, this was only possible on days when he could meet Parfait without issue. On days when she wandered off, he had no time for his routine. But today, he had the leisure to enjoy the courtyard.

As he recalled the day, he blushed. He had had tea with Parfait during the day and served her a cake with Eldland flowers preserved in sugar. Preserving flowers in sugar without losing their shape was a difficult task for Gainus, who was not good at detailed work, but with the guidance of the family's pastry chef, he managed to serve it to her.

Parfait's delighted expression was unforgettable. Her eyes sparkled, and she praised the cake, saying it was beautiful and cute. She saved the last bite, savoring it slowly. The sight of her soft, well-shaped lips nibbling on the sugared flower petals made Gainus lose himself in admiration.

Thinking of this, he could even appreciate the hard work with the pastry chef and the failed attempts that became snacks for the maids. As he thought, the sound of footsteps on the leaves and grass reached his ears. He looked up to see his beloved young lady.

"Parfait, what's wrong?"

"Good evening, Lord Gainus. Lady invited me to dinner. May I sit next to you?"

"Of course."

He moved to the side of the bench, brushing off her dress to keep it clean. He gestured for her to sit, and she did so.

For Gainus, it was a peaceful pre-dinner time, but for Parfait, it was the start of her "special terrible thing."

Despite their different perceptions, a silence settled.

At first, they chatted about trivial matters, but since they had already had tea together during the day, there was nothing new to talk about, and the conversation naturally fell into silence.

Seizing the moment, Parfait leaned closer to Gainus. She closed her eyes, rested her head on his shoulder, and let out slow, steady breaths.

"Parfait?"

Gainus's voice contained a question: "Is she asleep?" Parfait knew this without being told.

So, she kept her eyes closed, leaning her weight on him. It was her first time pretending to sleep, but the dim light of dusk helped, and Gainus didn't notice. He smiled lovingly at the sleeping young lady and opened his book.

Parfait felt relieved; this was the first step of the "terrible thing" Adi had taught her.

"First, lean on Lord Gainus's shoulder and pretend to sleep."

"Is that a terrible thing?"

"Yes, there's nothing more painful than having the person you're talking to fall asleep. You can't wake them up, and you can't get up... Oh, how terrible!"

"I see! I understand!"

She recalled their conversation.

With the first step complete, she anticipated the next. Gainus began to shift slightly.

Parfait thought, "Already!" and mentally reported to Adi, "Lord Gainus is moving! It's the second step!" Of course, she didn't say it out loud.

Gainus moved, gently guiding Parfait back to her original position. She leaned into his supportive arms, continuing to pretend to sleep. When she was back on his shoulder, something was draped over her shoulders. A warm, familiar feeling.

Recalling her conversation with Adi, she nodded.

"He will probably drape his coat over you, but it's a trick to wake you up. Don't fall for it, keep pretending to sleep."

"I see, a sophisticated strategy!"

"He might stroke your head or play with your hair, but don't wake up."

"Yes, Master Adi!"

She recalled their conversation and nodded.

Indeed, everything was going as Adi had said... but a part of her thought, "Why isn't he stroking my head? Why isn't he playing with my hair?" She waited for the next move.

For a while, only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the occasional page turn from Gainus's book filled the air.

Parfait, with her eyes closed, felt the slow passage of time and the warmth of Gainus, thinking, "Is it time yet?" She was almost dozing off, feeling enveloped by the warmth of his coat.

She had been invited to dinner, so she couldn't stay too long.

So, Parfait decided to make a move. She let out a small sound and leaned closer to him. Despite her embarrassment, she felt a sense of comfort and the sweetness of the sugared flowers she had received earlier. Compared to that, this was nothing! She leaned her forehead against his chest.

"Parfait, are you awake...?"

She didn't respond to his confirming voice.

Recalling her conversation with Adi, she remembered the next step.

"When you lean against Lord Gainus's chest, look up slightly, as if you're turning towards him... of course, with your eyes still closed."

"Why is that a terrible thing?"

"Because... he's a man."

She didn't fully understand, but decided to follow his advice. She leaned against his chest and naturally looked up.

She knew where his face was, even with her eyes closed. She had leaned on him many times before, and he had done the same.

So, she leaned against him, looking up at the imagined Gainus. His voice, calling her, had a hint of confusion, but it was as Adi had said.

"Parfait..."

He called her again. His hand gently touched her cheek.

When he stroked her, Parfait's heart warmed, and the touch of his fingers on her lips reminded her of the sweetness of the sugared flowers.

At the same time, she felt his body move, and her heart tightened. She clenched her fists to stop herself from trembling.

In the midst of tension and excitement, she recalled her conversation with Adi.

"What's next, Master Adi?"

"The last step. Listen, Lord Gainus will probably... "

The moment she heard this, Parfait blushed. No way!

—Adi, too, had blushed but insisted, "It will definitely happen"—

Anyway, she imagined the next steps and waited.

Gainus would probably kiss her, and she would wake up just before that. That was Adi's suggestion.

He said, "If this happens, he won't recover for a while," and Parfait, blushing, nodded.

She would open her eyes just as he leaned in to kiss her, disappointing him...

But in her heart, she thought, "Just like this..."

Struggling with these conflicting thoughts, she felt his hand on her cheek tremble and his finger trace her jawline...

"Did that happen?"

A few days later, in Adi's room, Mary, lying on the bed, said this.

She had been listening to the story while hugging a cushion, but the sweetness was too much, and she started rolling around.

Adi, blushing, fanned himself, but still encouraged her, "I think it will work." After all, Parfait's desire to do something terrible to Gainus was just a playful act of gratitude for the sugared flowers. When she talked about the flowers and then cleared her throat, saying, "I want to do something terrible to Lord Gainus," there was no need to question her motives.

So, he had given her advice, and Mary, buried in the cushion, gasped, "I see," her expression slightly dazed, showing that she, too, enjoyed the sweetness.

"So, the flowers were blooming above her head when I saw her today."

"Yes, but I advised her to open her eyes at the last moment to disappoint him. It's the worst thing for a man to be left hanging. But probably, at that rate..."

Mary sighed and smiled gently.

When Parfait visited the Albert family that day, she was in high spirits, with sugared flowers floating above her head.

Adi, guessing that she had opened her eyes at the last moment, said nothing, but when Mary asked, he explained. That's how it came to this.

Recalling this, Adi smiled gently at Mary and poured her a cup of tea. He whispered, "It worked," feeling satisfied.

Parfait had said she wanted to do something terrible to Gainus.

So, he had advised her to do just that.

If she opened her eyes at the last moment, it would be a terrible disappointment for Gainus.

If she didn't, he would probably kiss her. And then...

"Adi, let's go on a trip tomorrow."

"Where to?"

"I want to visit the Eldland family. I just want to hear a little. We'll leave early, so prepare the carriage."

Mary laughed and sipped her tea, and Adi bowed exaggeratedly, saying, "As you wish."

He stuck out his tongue as he looked up, which was a "terrible thing." Unfortunately, Mary didn't notice, and Gainus, sneezing, shivered, while Parfait, sitting next to him, looked worried.

Bonus

"So, for a man, being left hanging is an indescribably painful experience."

Adi said this seriously, and Mary, who had been pushed down by him, nodded, "I see."

It seemed to be quite painful. His serious expression made her respond seriously. They were on the bed, with Adi pushing her down, but their eyes were serious.

If a third person were there, they would probably be bewildered. But with a third person, they would act more normally, and Adi wouldn't push Mary down. So, this was a unique action for the two of them.

—What others might call the playful antics of a lovey-dovey couple, but they knew... they were fully aware of it—

"I see, that's true."

"That's how it is. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Mary smiled and wrapped her arms around Adi's neck.

"Adi, we need to change our plans for tomorrow."

"What's the matter?"

"Let's cancel the early departure and leave around noon."

Mary giggled and leaned closer, and Adi, laughing, said, "As you wish."