I wil not choose you - Chapter 7
[7]
Since Mireld returned to the mansion, it had been a few days.
Under the clear sky, I walked hand in hand with Noel in the mansion’s garden.
My crush’s hand is so small! Noel is truly an angel. The way her hair sparkles in the sunlight, you can’t fully express it in the two-dimensional world. Live Noel is the best… the best, and yet. Yet, why…
Despite the realization of days with a crush so unbelievably perfect, My heart wasn’t entirely cheerful.
At random moments, I found herself thinking about my brother and feeling disheartened.
A sigh escaped my lips.
my brother, who had been working overnight at the royal palace, had returned home with a somewhat cold demeanor. The usual gentle gaze that hinted at the warmth of the melting snow was no longer directed at Me.
It wasn’t a blatant rejection, but there was an invisible barrier that I keenly felt against my skin. Mireld seemed to have become a different person.
“Come to think of it, the same thing happened when we were children…”
Although they were once close siblings, Mireld had started avoiding Mireille around the time she became an adult. This change was eerily similar to that time.
Even though I thought I had become close to my older brother, maybe it was all in my own imagination. …Once again, a sense of distance has crept in. I can never understand what my older brother is thinking.
After the incident of breaking off the engagement, I had come to trust my brother from the bottom of my heart. When he became a patron and adopted Noel from the orphanage, I thought of him as a god.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I blurted out, “I love you, dear brother,” without any hidden meaning, but it left me feeling incredibly embarrassed.
My brother always used to smile at me warmly. Despite saying somewhat teasing things, he always ended up helping me. He would say, “You’re cute,” and spoil me.
…But.
My brother once again pushed Me outside the walls of his heart.
…It feels lonely somehow.
Sitting on a bench in the garden alongside Noel, tears threatened to spill involuntarily.
“Mireille, you look so sad.”
Noel climbed onto the bench and patted Mireille’s head.
“Do you feel sorry for me? ”
“Yeah. If Mireille is sad, Noel gets sad too. So Mireille being sad is not good.”
…What am I doing, making such a small child worry about me.
I smiled and tried to reassure her, saying, “It’s okay,” but Noel wasn’t convinced.
“It’s not okay at all. Mireld is at fault.”
“Eh!?”
“Noel is starting to dislike Mireld. The one who troubles Mireille, it’s annoying.”
“Wait, wait…”
I broke into a cold sweat.
Noel is really sharp. It’s as if he can see through me thinking about my older brother.
――By the way.
Mireille is unaware that Noel can read minds. There is no mention of mind-reading cheats in the game’s official information or strategy guides.
In the game, Noel is just a “mysterious mob girl” in charge of mini-games, and there is no information about her being a flower spirit.
…Anyway, I must avoid letting Noel develop resentment towards my brother. After all, he graciously allowed Noel to stay in the mansion. I need to be firm!
I said to Noel with a bright voice.
“Noel, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m fine, and there’s no trouble with my brother. Well, the frequency of our conversations may have decreased recently, but that’s because of work. I’m not lonely at all. On the contrary, I’m happy! Because I’m with Noel!!”
Best crush ever!! Shouting this in my mind, I hugged Noel tightly.
“Hey, Noel! How about we go together to see the musical at the Royal Opera Company on Main Street tomorrow? There are top-level singers and actors performing, so it will also be a study session for singing! Besides, going out with Noel in stylish outfits is a dream come true for me!! Right, isn’t it good?”
“…Okay.”
While nodding, Noel still had a somewhat skeptical look.
“I’m happy! I’ll ask the servants later to get us tickets. What color should Noel’s dress be? Since we have the opportunity, I want us to match… Ah, I’m looking forward to it!”
Watching Mireille, who was putting on a brave front with false cheerfulness, Noel continued to stare with sharp eyes.
***
(Mireille, you liar. Even though you look so cheerful and upbeat, you’re actually about to cry.)
Without needing to read her mind, Noel saw through Mireille’s true feelings.
Lying on her bed in her room, Noel kicked her legs restlessly, looking displeased.
“It’s Mireld’s fault. Even though he likes Mireille, he doesn’t say it properly. …What a coward.”
Noel pouted her cheeks.
(Just say we’re not siblings already…. Because Mireld is hiding it, you can’t become a real couple even though they like each other. Mireld, who keeps making excuses in his heart, is annoying. Damn coward.)
Noel, who could read Mireld’s heart, also understood the “reasons for not confessing to being siblings.” However, understanding and comprehending were different dimensions of the issue.
Complicated political situations with neighboring countries and the like were beyond Noel’s comprehension.
Therefore, in Noel’s mind, the equation “Not confessing = Mireld is a coward” held true. He was afraid of being rejected by Mireille, so he couldn’t confess his feelings and the truth. At least, that’s what Noel believed.
And then Noel made up her mind.
(Noel don’t want Mireille to cry! I definitely want her to get along well! That’s why I have to make Mireld, who is such a scumbag, say things properly.)
A direct confrontation was necessary, Noel thought. However, how could she persuade Mireld to confess to Mireille?
(Actually, since they both like each other, if they can convey their feelings properly, everything should go well. …Oh, right. I should just tell them, ‘Noel can read minds, so I knows that both of you like each other.’ That should make the coward feel relieved!!)
The goddess Floren hadn’t said a word about hiding cheats. Therefore, there should be no problem revealing the mind-reading cheat to Mireld and Mireille.
“Alright! Noel will do her best!! First, let’s talk to Mireld!!”
Noel jumped up from the bed and took art supplies from the shelf.
“Then, I’ll have to draw a picture for now. I’ll quickly draw something simple and take it to Mireld!!”
***
―― The time is 8 PM.
Knock, knock.
In Mireld’s study, a young knock echoed. Recognizing the knocking style, Mireld guessed it was Noel.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me, Mireld-sama.”
Noel, holding a large canvas, entered the room with small steps.
“I brought a new piece. I present it to you.”
“Good work.”
Noel is the “official artist” of House Gasstrak, and she has a contract to deliver the paintings she creates to Mireld. As a reward for this contract, Noel is allowed to live in the mansion.
Mireld lowered his gaze to the oil painting of the goddess Floren that Noel had created and nodded in agreement with a satisfied expression.
“It’s a fresh brushstroke, and I can even feel the warmth. To have such skill at your age, I look forward to your future. A friend of mine who’s an art dealer was deeply moved by the painting you delivered last time.”
“Thank you, Mireld-sama.”
“Continue your efforts,” Mireld declared before attempting to resume his paperwork.
However, Noel didn’t leave and continued to gaze at Mireld intently, “Jiiii…” Mireld, still holding the canvas, eventually addressed Noel.
“What’s wrong? You may leave.”
“…………”
“I believe I warned you before, but stop that impolite stare. Staring at others is rude.”
“…………….Mireld-sama. Noel can read minds.”
“?”
“I can understand everything Mireld-sama is thinking. Even now, you’re constantly thinking about Mireille-sama.”
“!?”
Unexpectedly told such a thing, Mireld was left speechless. Internally, he was quite surprised. While he didn’t believe in mind-reading, he thought Noel’s sudden impolite remark was abnormal.
“Believe it. Noel can really read minds. So, Mireld-sama, you should properly tell Mireille-sama ‘I love you.'”
“…What?”
“It’s okay. Mireille-sama actually really loves Mireld-sama.”
“! Hey,”
“Mireld-sama, try your best to say it. You’ll definitely be able to love each other. So—”
“Shut up.”
Interrupted by the icy voice, Noel stiffened.
Mireld standing before Noel was different from the calm demeanor a moment ago. With cold eyes filled with even hatred, he looked down on Noel.
“…What are you trying to say? Are you trying to provoke me with a sickle?”
“!? No, Noel is—”
“I won’t show mercy just because you’re a child. I might consider canceling your contract and throwing you out of the mansion.”
“Guhaa.”
Struck at her weak point, Noel let out a strange sound.
Mireld, with an emotionless voice, continued to reprimand Noel quietly.
“Understand, Noel. You’re merely employed by my mercy. Despite that, your attitude toward me, the master, is completely out of line. Don’t forget that even if you were expelled, you wouldn’t have the right to complain.”
“Uggu.”
Mireld showed no mercy. Overwhelmed by the cold aura, Noel was completely flustered.
“As long as you are employed by House Gasstrak, you are expected to have the education and manners equivalent to a servant. However, you fail to meet the requirements for working in this mansion.”
“Gnugugugu.”
“Normally, I’d like to dismiss you immediately. …However, considering your age, I’ll specially assign you a governess. Ah, I’ll find an outstanding and heartless governess for you to learn properly, even if it means sacrificing sleep.”
“Governess!?”
“Yes. I’ll find the most excellent and ruthless governess for you, so study diligently, even if it means sacrificing your sleep.”
“Hii…!? N-no, I can’t sleep…!?”
“Awaawaawa…”
Mireld looked down expressionlessly at the nearly crying Noel.
At that moment, a knock echoed, and Mireld responded with a “Come in.”
Mireille entered the room, holding documents.
“Excuse me, dear brother. Regarding the financial report that came up from the estate—oh? Noel is here too?”
Noel turned pale. Mireld, still holding the canvas, exuded an icy displeasure.
Seeing the two, Mireille roughly understood the situation.
“Dear brother, did Noel do something disrespectful…?”
“I was considering dismissal.”
“!?”
***
Apologizing and bowing my head, I hastily lifted Noel.
“I will personally ensure she receives proper education! I’m truly sorry.”
“Make sure to teach her so that there won’t be a second time.”
Gestured to leave, I carried Noel out of the office.
Walking briskly down the corridor, I scolded Noel.
“Really! What did you say to dear brother, Noel? What will you do if you get kicked out? He’s surprisingly difficult, and you can never understand what he’s thinking…”
Noel puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction, being carried sideways.
“…I can understand what he’s thinking.”
“Huh?”
“I can understand what he’s thinking, so it’s really annoying! Noel doesn’t like it when Mireille is sad. Muh.”
The meaning of Noel’s words was beyond my’s comprehension.
***
The next morning.
As usual, My brother and I had breakfast together.
Incidentally, Noel, being classified as a servant, had a separate dining place.
Since I return home during my school days, having meals together as a family was a natural rule. That tradition remained unchanged.
However, the lively conversations that used to happen had dwindled recently.
The atmosphere this morning was particularly heavy.
“Dear brother, Noel behaved very rudely last night.”
“If there’s a prospect for improvement in the future, this incident can be overlooked.”
Mireld said in a calm manner. He, who seemed irritable yesterday, had now completely regained his composure.
In his emotionally stable response, I felt a sense of loneliness instead.
“Um, dear brother? Today is not the day to go the castle, right?”
“Ah, that’s correct.”
“If it’s alright, would you like to go watch a play at the Royal Opera House together?”
Mireld looked at me with his ice-blue calm eyes.
“To be honest, today I have plans to go to the Royal Opera House with Noel. I thought, perhaps dear brother might join us… so I reserved an extra ticket just in case. How about coming together?”
I invited him with a cheerful voice.
“Last time, when we went together, it was at a small theater in the common district, so dear brother might have been dissatisfied, right? But at the Royal Opera House, even dear brother would—”
“I’ll pass on this opportunity. Thank you.”
With a quiet voice, he advised me to take care, and I only responded with a smile.
With no further conversation, breakfast time quietly passed.
***
“Now, Noel! Today, let’s go out together!”
As soon as she visited Noel’s room, Mireille’s voice was lively.
“I’m looking forward to it. We need to get ready and head to the dressing room together. The maids have prepared your dress too.”
“Ugh. Mireille… about yesterday…”
“Forget about yesterday. Let’s just focus on having fun today! We’ll watch a musical, go shopping, and enjoy some delicious sweets together. Come on, this way!”
While being pulled by Mireille with high energy, Noel, with a serious expression, continued to gaze intently at Mireille.