Chapter 53
Flower of the legendClaire’s point of view
“Are you worried, Claire-sama?”
The one who called out to me was Rei’s roommate, Misha .
Today is the day of the Amour’s Festival .
Many people gathered in the ceremonial hall, all are dedicating offerings to the scales, feelings swing back and forth between joy and despair .
If I had to say, those who seriously compete for brides are a minority, the most common sights are fathers and sons competing for their mothers and established couples competing with friends for fun .
In such a situation, without being able to retain composure I’m restlessly pacing in front of the scales .
“… No, not particularly”
I bluntly replied to Misha, but looking at my appearance these words aren’t convincing in the slightest .
“Rei has been going out all the time recently . To dedicate the best offering for Claire-sama”
“…”
I heard about the rematch between Onee-sama and Rei from Onee-sama .
With me at stake they’re competing with the love scales .
Please stop doing foolish things, I implored Onee-sama, but she didn’t listen .
‘Don’t you believe in Rei?’
Onee-sama said so .
I don’t understand why she said it about Rei and not herself .
“Who does Claire-sama want to win?”
Misha asked me such a thing .
“I do not care . I do not want to be acquainted with people who treat me as a prize”
I am angry .
Disregarding my feelings and competing for me as they please, there’s a limit to being foolish .
“It’s certainly not something praiseworthy . But, aren’t you lucky as a woman?”
Misha said in an unusual teasing tone .
With her normally unchanging calm manner, I found her using such a tone a little surprising .
“Who do you think I am? I am a daughter of Minister of Finance Dor François, Claire François? I have long become used to other people’s feelings”
I said so to cast away Misha’s words .
But, I thought .
I wonder if those two are different from the rabble that have tried to court me until now .
Onee-sama is my first love .
Even setting aside that I mistaken her for a gentleman, Onee-sama is a wonderful person .
As she grew up, her personality became more and more lovely, even keeping in mind we have the same s.e.x, I believe I am honestly happy about Onee-sama’s feelings .
How does Rei compare to that .
She’s just teasing me with her ridiculous behavior .
Thinking about it, she’s been saying nothing but ridiculous things since we met .
Shamelessly proclaiming her love to me despite our s.e.x being the same, she continuously repeats words and acts of s.e.xual hara.s.sment .
If I bully the impertinent her, on the contrary it results in her being delighted .
Before I noticed, she b.u.t.tered up to father and became my maid .
“Did you recall something pleasant?”
“Eh?”
“You are smiling”
I only noticed when Misha pointed it out, but I seem to be smiling .
I feel embarra.s.sed thinking of it .
To recall that person and smile .
It’s better such a person isn’t here .
I feel truly refreshed not having her as my maid .
“Claire-sama”
“What is it?”
“This time you have a sad look on your face”
That can’t be, I looked in the hand mirror that I took out, and certainly, I look depressed .
I don’t understand myself .
I dislike that person .
Dislike, that’s how it should be .
“I think you want Rei to win”
Misha muttered .
“Why do you think so?”
“Rei is certainly a strange child . She must have caused a lot of trouble for Claire-sama”
“Truly”
“Yes . But, that child’s feelings are straight and pure . Truly… she loves Claire-sama from the bottom of her heart”
Misha said in a voice that sounds as if she was talking about a troublesome younger sister .
“Even Claire-sama, you don’t honestly dislike Rei, right?”
“No, I hate her”
“… You aren’t honest”
Misha giggled .
“Misha, you are being rude?”
“I’m sorry . But, I couldn’t stand watching Claire-sama for the past few days”
“… How have I appeared to you?”
Suddenly I wanted to ask .
“You seemed lonely”
Misha continued .
“Although you were together with an extremely wonderful person like Manarisama, somehow you seemed absent-minded . It was just like after Lene left”
“Although you were together with an extremely wonderful person like Manarisama, somehow you seemed absent-minded . It was just like after Lene left”
“Such a thing…”
I couldn’t finish the sentence with denial .
After Rei lost against Onee-sama in their selfish match, Onee-sama has always been by my side .
Although I’m happy about Onee-sama’s wonderful escorting that’s completely unlike Rei, I feel like somehow I’m missing Rei’s ridiculous behavior .
“I think the one that can make Claire-sama smile the most right now is Rei after all”
“That commoner…?”
“It’s not about her status, but how Rei is as a person . She’s an odd child, but I think she can mysteriously make her surroundings happy”
Even though the person herself would never admit it, Misha laughed .
“That’s why, Claire-sama . If Rei wins, could you make that child your maid once again . If possible, at Claire-sama’s initiative”
“That is… something I cannot do”
I am a n.o.ble, moreover a n.o.ble close to the top of this country .
I could never bow her head to a commoner and ask her to be my maid .
“Is that so… Which reminds me, it was troublesome being a n.o.ble”
“Misha was also like that”
Before the downfall, Misha’s house was an old family that boasted considerable status .
“Then, shall we hope for a miracle”
“A miracle?”
“Yeah . Everything goes well, such a story-like miracle”
“Such a thing――”
There is no way it would occur, when I was about to say it―― .
“Hi, Claire”
Onee-sama came .
In her hand is a mysterious flower emitting light .
“Onee-sama…”
“Seems Rei is still not done”
“Onee-sama…”
“Seems Rei is still not done”
Saying so, Onee-sama presented me the flower she’s holding in her hand .
“That flower is… no way…?”
“Yup . It’s a floss flower”
It was the flower of light from the Amour’s legend .
It’s the best offering to dedicate to the love scales .
“It seems like I’ll win again”
I stared at Onee-sama’s flower of legend, but, somehow I felt lonely .
“I wonder if we can declare my victory a little earlier”
Saying so, Onee-sama fixed her gaze at me,
“The G.o.d’s scales showed what’s within my heart . Here and now I swear to protect you”
It’s a pa.s.sage from Amour’s Poem .
It’s the line of the short man’s confession of love to the shrine maiden after he was chosen by the scales .
Like a line of a hero of a story, it stopped my tears in the past when I was in Count Larnach’s residence
Was it how the shrine maiden from the poem felt .
Onee-sama put her hand on my chin and gently raised my head .
I absentmindedly thought ah, I will be kissed .
I thought it wouldn’t be too bad if it was with Onee-sama .
But―― .
“Waait a moment!”
I feel I’ve surely been waiting for that voice all this time .
Flower of the legend Claire s point of view Are you worried, Claire sama The one who called out to me was Rei s roommate, Misha . Today is the day of the Amour s Festival . Many people gathered in the ceremonial hall, all are dedicating offerings to the scales, feelings swing back and forth between joy and despair . If I had to say, those who seriously compete for brides are a minority, the most common sights are fathers and sons competing for their mothers and established couples competing with friends for fun . In such a situation, without being able to retain composure I m restlessly pacing in front of the scales . No, not particularly I bluntly replied to Misha, but looking at my appearance these words aren t convincing in the slightest . Rei has been going out all the time recently . To dedicate the best offering for Claire sama I heard about the rematch between Onee sama and Rei from Onee sama . With me at stake they re competing with the love scales . Please stop doing foolish things, I implored Onee sama, but she didn t listen . Don t you believe in Rei Onee sama said so . I don t understand why she said it about Rei and not herself . Who does Claire sama want to win Misha asked me such a thing . I do not care . I do not want to be acquainted with people who treat me as a prize I am angry . Disregarding my feelings and competing for me as they please, there s a limit to being foolish . It s certainly not something praiseworthy . But, aren t you lucky as a woman Misha said in an unusual teasing tone . With her normally unchanging calm manner, I found her using such a tone a little surprising . Who do you think I am I am a daughter of Minister of Finance Dor Fran ois, Claire Fran ois I have long become used to other people s feelings I said so to cast away Misha s words . But, I thought . I wonder if those two are different from the rabble that have tried to court me until now . Onee sama is my first love . Even setting aside that I mistaken her for a gentleman, Onee sama is a wonderful person . As she grew up, her personality became more and more lovely, even keeping in mind we have the same s.e.x, I believe I am honestly happy about Onee sama s feelings . How does Rei compare to that . She s just teasing me with her ridiculous behavior . Thinking about it, she s been saying nothing but ridiculous things since we met . Shamelessly proclaiming her love to me despite our s.e.x being the same, she continuously repeats words and acts of s.e.xual hara.s.sment . If I bully the impertinent her, on the contrary it results in her being delighted . Before I noticed, she b.u.t.tered up to father and became my maid . Did you recall something pleasant Eh You are smiling I only noticed when Misha pointed it out, but I seem to be smiling . I feel embarra.s.sed thinking of it . To recall that person and smile . It s better such a person isn t here . I feel truly refreshed not having her as my maid . Claire sama What is it This time you have a sad look on your face That can t be, I looked in the hand mirror that I took out, and certainly, I look depressed . I don t understand myself . I dislike that person . Dislike, that s how it should be . I think you want Rei to win Misha muttered . Why do you think so Rei is certainly a strange child . She must have caused a lot of trouble for Claire sama Truly Yes . But, that child s feelings are straight and pure . Truly she loves Claire sama from the bottom of her heart Misha said in a voice that sounds as if she was talking about a troublesome younger sister . Even Claire sama, you don t honestly dislike Rei, right No, I hate her You aren t honest Misha giggled . Misha, you are being rude I m sorry . But, I couldn t stand watching Claire sama for the past few days How have I appeared to you Suddenly I wanted to ask . You seemed lonely Misha continued . Although you were together with an extremely wonderful person like Manaria sama, somehow you seemed absent minded . It was just like after Lene left Such a thing I couldn t finish the sentence with denial . After Rei lost against Onee sama in their selfish match, Onee sama has always been by my side . Although I m happy about Onee sama s wonderful escorting that s completely unlike Rei, I feel like somehow I m missing Rei s ridiculous behavior . I think the one that can make Claire sama smile the most right now is Rei after all That commoner It s not about her status, but how Rei is as a person . She s an odd child, but I think she can mysteriously make her surroundings happy Even though the person herself would never admit it, Misha laughed . That s why, Claire sama . If Rei wins, could you make that child your maid once again . If possible, at Claire sama s initiative That is something I cannot do I am a n.o.ble, moreover a n.o.ble close to the top of this country . I could never bow her head to a commoner and ask her to be my maid . Is that so Which reminds me, it was troublesome being a n.o.ble Misha was also like that Before the downfall, Misha s house was an old family that boasted considerable status . Then, shall we hope for a miracle A miracle Yeah . Everything goes well, such a story like miracle Such a thing There is no way it would occur, when I was about to say it . Hi, Claire Onee sama came . In her hand is a mysterious flower emitting light . Onee sama Seems Rei is still not done Saying so, Onee sama presented me the flower she s holding in her hand . That flower is no way Yup . It s a floss flower It was the flower of light from the Amour s legend . It s the best offering to dedicate to the love scales . It seems like I ll win again I stared at Onee sama s flower of legend, but, somehow I felt lonely . I wonder if we can declare my victory a little earlier Saying so, Onee sama fixed her gaze at me, The G.o.d s scales showed what s within my heart . Here and now I swear to protect you It s a pa.s.sage from Amour s Poem . It s the line of the short man s confession of love to the shrine maiden after he was chosen by the scales . Like a line of a hero of a story, it stopped my tears in the past when I was in Count Larnach s residence Was it how the shrine maiden from the poem felt . Onee sama put her hand on my chin and gently raised my head . I absentmindedly thought ah, I will be kissed . I thought it wouldn t be too bad if it was with Onee sama . But . Waait a moment I feel I ve surely been waiting for that voice all this time .