It’s been a while since I laughed so hard I held my sides.
Watching Malik dance with such a serious expression made Hanna hide her face while also looking serious herself.
Laughter kept escaping despite my efforts to hold it back.
Even though he wore a mask, obscuring his facial expressions, I imagined he was intensely focused, his face stern.
He danced really well, no joke.
The mask covering his face only added a dreamy effect, and the unique powerful dance moves a man could produce reminded me of idols from my previous life—splendid and sharp.
Made me wonder if he learned swordsmanship just to dance like that.
I was able to stay focused on the performance until the end, marveling and laughing at Malik’s different side.
As time flew by quickly, I couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. Turning to Hanna, whose face was as red as a tomato from embarrassment, I spoke.
“Are you alright?”“…”
“Hanna?”
“Yes!? Oh, yes, I’m fine.”
Hanna, whose spirit seemed to have wandered off, looked at Malik giving a farewell bow on stage and sighed deeply, shaking her head.
“No…”
Pride and embarrassment mixed within Hanna. She always thought of him as an unpredictable person, but didn’t expect him to be this wild.
She didn’t know what kind of person her brother was until he apologized to her.
She always thought he only cared about the sword and family honor, with no affection for his family. But she realized there were many hidden sides to him she hadn’t known.
In reality, he cared for his family more than anyone.
He loved things other than the sword, something she learned after he apologized.
It was a strange emotion.
An emotion she wouldn’t have felt if he hadn’t apologized, and she only found out his secret as an adult.
Seeing her brother’s smile behind the mask, Hanna started to smile slowly.
-Thank you.
“No… really.”
-Thank you too.
Seeing her brother bow gallantly like a gentleman to the audience, Hanna lifted her head slowly and joined in the thunderous applause for Malik.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
She shyly raised her hand and started clapping.
“What are you doing…”
Hanna disliked her brother.
At the same time.
She was proud of him.
*****
On our way back to the mansion after the performance.
In the pouring crowd, I held Hanna’s hand tightly as we left the theater.
Hanna looked pleased.
With a gentle smile, she kept glancing back at the theater, showing she still felt a lingering attachment to the performance.
I had thought she’d feel bad after watching her brother dance, but thankfully, my prediction was wrong.
Feeling good seeing Hanna’s gentle smile, I looked at the sky, glowing with a setting sun, with contentment.
Stretching in the warm, dusky light of the late afternoon, I spoke to Hanna.
“It was fun.”
“…Indeed.”
Hanna chuckled softly and said.
“It was really fun. I didn’t expect much…”
Despite her calm tone, I detected a hint of excitement as if she were proud of her brother.
“It was really fun.”
Hanna squeezed my hand and spoke.
“It’s all thanks to you, Mr. Butler.”
She smiled as she brushed back her hair, glistening in the sunset.
“What did I do?”
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had such a good time.”
“You flatter me.”
“No… truly.”
Taking a deep breath, Hanna hesitated to speak.
Maybe it was the sunset stirring her emotions or Malik’s new appearance that triggered her feelings.
Hanna’s gaze, filled with gratitude, sadness, joy, and various emotions, was directed at me. Accepting her sincere words without fuss, I listened quietly.
I didn’t think I was the remarkable person Hanna described. I believed that everything she overcame was due to her own strength.
Though I had helped as a third party, I only gave her a push. It didn’t warrant any boastfulness.
Being humble wasn’t typical of me.
Looking at the fading sunset, speaking honestly, I sensed it wasn’t my doing.
“I think it’s because Hanna has done well.”
Hanna walked quietly, holding my hand for a long time. Her footsteps, dragging her shoes on the ground, echoed irregularly.
ways.
Hanna’s elongated time of regret.
She didn’t want to spend this time meaninglessly.
She wanted to express her gratitude.
She wanted to stay longer.
She wanted to hold this hand for a bit more.
Not wanting to burden the butler who had to return to the princess, she hid these feelings. As the time flowed away, she couldn’t help but feel regret.
In a quiet voice, Hanna initiated.
“Mr. Butler.”
“Yes, Hanna?”
Hanna called out to me once more, like a baby asking to have her name called again.
“Mr. Butler!”
“Yes, why are you calling me?”
Hanna laughed bashfully and bowed her head. I matched my steps to her awkward, uneven pace, smiling gently at her.
Looking at the sunset, Hanna spoke.
“Do you know?”
“I know I am handsome.”
“Pffft! Not that.”
Dragging out her words, Hanna spoke.
“Do you know that you are very, very precious to me?”
“Very precious? That’s quite the compliment.”
“Very, very, very precious.”
Hanna squeezed my hand and spoke.
“Really.”
Then she slowly began to share what was in her heart.
“Mr. Butler… even though you might not think so, I’ve always received so much from you.”
“Awakening my aura at an early age.”
“Improving my relationship with my brother.”
“Being able to speak firmly to my father.”
“It was all something I couldn’t have done without you.”
Hanna’s smile slowly faded from her lips. She bit her lip, feeling overwhelmed, not with sadness but with gratitude, unable to express herself properly, smiling bitterly.
“Why am I like this…? I must be boring you, right? It just felt like I haven’t thanked you properly yet, so I wanted to say it today…”
As always, I responded to Hanna with sincerity.
“I don’t think so.”
Speaking plainly.
Having seen her efforts all along, I could say this sincerely. If not, I would’ve bragged, but the Hanna I knew never ceased to strive. Enjoying a moment of silence, I spoke slowly.
“I just gave you a push.”
Hanna shook her head.
“No, I…”
Vigorously shaking her head in denial, Hanna. I held her hand gently and spoke.
“Hanna.”
“Yes…?”
“Please sit here.”
I guided Hanna to a bench. Taking off my jacket, I covered her skirt and knelt on one knee, looking at Hanna.
Startled, Hanna looked at me with trembling eyes.
Seeing Hanna’s awkward smile, I said to ease the atmosphere, “Why cry when we had such fun?” throwing out a light comment.
Crouched in front of Hanna, I pulled out a band-aid from my pocket and showed it to her.
“Tada.”
A band-aid with a rabbit drawing.
Seeing the hand-drawn bunny, Hanna burst into a laugh.
“What is this…”
“Isn’t it cute?”
“It is cute.”
Gently taking off Hanna’s shoe, I carefully placed the band-aid on her heel.
As the band-aid neared the red wound, Hanna, startled, looked at me.
“I’m not hurt.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
Hanna fidgeted with her finger and mumbled softly. How did I know if she didn’t show it?
“How did you know?”
“I know everything.”
“Liar.”
Hanna giggled shyly, lightly swinging her foot. Holding Hanna’s gently swaying foot, I carefully placed the rabbit band-aid on her other ankle. Hanna, now with a slight smile, stared at the cute bunny band-aids on her ankles.
Gently massaging her tired feet, I spoke.
“You may not believe it, but I think you’re an incredible person, Hanna.”
“No, I’m…”
“Someone who works hard without recognition.”
“…”
“Someone who doesn’t give up and keeps trying, even when the results don’t come easily, and rises again as if nothing happened, despite falling sometimes. I know it’s not easy. Though I’ve never experienced it myself.”
Hanna’s legs, swaying softly like a swing, came to a halt. I couldn’t see her face, but I knew she wasn’t smiling.
I heard a sniffle above me.
“Sniff. Ah… what’s happening? Is it pollen? My nose keeps running.”
“Indeed. The pollen…”
Even in a street without flowers, Hanna’s excuse, mentioning pollen, was transparent to anyone.
I simply smiled gently and massaged Hanna’s feet.
“So, Hanna.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t say you’re nothing. You’re an amazing person, and others will get jealous if you keep saying that.”
“What are you saying? If you keep talking like that…”
Slipping her shoes back on for her, I slowly raised my head and saw Hanna’s eyes were moist.
Hanna rubbed her eyes with her hands and shook her head.
“Don’t look at me…”
“Why?”
“It’s embarrassing.”
A small laugh escaped as I brushed the dust off my knee and turned my back to Hanna.
Hanna, looking at me in surprise, hesitated and glanced around. I whispered quietly to her.
“I’ll give you a piggyback ride, secretly from the young lady.”
“…”
“It’ll be our secret from the young lady.”
Hanna giggled shyly and spoke.
“Yes…”
On my back, Hanna murmured softly.
“I like you…”
Although I couldn’t hear the tiny voice clearly, Hanna continued to whisper her feelings.
“This is why… I like you…”
In a quiet, bashful tone.
“I like you.”
Hanna whispered.
End of Chapter
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