“No matter what, there should be courtesy between people. Since we’re on the topic, Carol. What’s with that outfit? Even if it’s at home, haven’t I repeatedly said that appearance is the mirror of the heart? How upset would Masa be if she saw this state?”

As if genuinely worried, the man sighed deeply and furrowed his brows.

Asha turned her head to look at her friend’s profile. There had never been a moment when she felt more frustrated about not having glasses. Her blurry eyes couldn’t clearly detect what kind of light was cast under those silver eyelashes.

“Goodness, you’ll be twenty this summer and you’re still like this at home. Masa and Luke are kind so they don’t say anything, but you should take care of your own affairs. You have duller aspects than your brothers, so shouldn’t you work twice as hard?”

[That’s why I’m afraid of that person, Asha.

That person makes me, makes me disappoint the people I love.]

For an instant.

In that instant, Asha recalled the letter where she had bitten the inside of her mouth and gotten angry alone. She remembered the time when she had been lost in worry about what kind of reply to send.

She had wanted to burst out with ‘Why does that bastard say such things to you?’ She couldn’t act on it because she couldn’t, because she wasn’t sure if they were close enough for that……

Asha shook off her friend’s hand that was holding her wrist and then placed her hand on top of it again. The girl who had precisely interlaced all five fingers opened her mouth faster than Carol.

“Mr. Caprun.”

“Excuse me.”

At the overlapping calls, the man’s eyes widened slightly. Before Carol could assess the situation, the following words came quickly.

“So Mr. Ca, prun?”

“Th, that’s right?”

The round eyes drew a gentle curve. A build smaller than both the northern average and peer average made people strangely let their guard down.

They couldn’t even read the ominous signs in those two eyes.

“Um, why do you say such things?”

“What, what?”

The gentle tone of speech concealed the chill within it.

Those innocent eyes were purely Caprun’s mistake. Asha wasn’t skilled enough to freely change her expressions—the ‘guest’ who tilted her head continued peacefully.

“Carol is a kind and good kid. Surely you don’t think he should have left me collapsed and come back? Is that this household’s family tradition?”

“What are you saying……! That’s not what I meant……”

“Then what? He said he got permission from all the family members. As Carol said, I’m weak and have been going through sad events one after another, so I couldn’t greet you immediately.”

“No matter what, even so!”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet. Please listen until the end first.”

Eyes much deeper than Carol’s.

A surface whose depth was as unknowable as the winter sea churned violently. At the sharp and resolute response, the man was unconsciously overwhelmed in momentum.

“As I said before, Carol is a kind and sincere kid. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t be managing this vast mansion. If he were truly lazy, he would have lain down saying he didn’t want to do it. If he were immature, he would have ignored what his father told him to do and gone out to play.”

Sha, she felt a small tugging force, but Asha was firm.

The child who had been walking unsteadily even to the bathtub in the bedroom due to the fever remaining in her body until the day before was now as upright as a tree that had taken root for a thousand years.

Eyes not covered by glass lenses were clearly directed at one person. It was rather good that she couldn’t see clearly.

“But Carol did everything. He didn’t throw tantrums saying he wanted to go to city academies like his other brothers or that he wanted to see other regions.”

“It’s family business, what do you know to act like you know?”

“Because I’m Carol’s friend.”

Swoosh, the gaze that had been alternating between the one and only friend and the hated relative pierced down to one spot.

Asha, who didn’t notice the gaze dropping from above, remained calm despite the scolding from the ‘adult’ she was meeting for the first time.

“Cas, Carol, at least the Carol I know has no reason to hear such words. He’s not as dull or unsightly as you say, Mr. Caprun.”

No, she wasn’t calm.

The heat that spread to her neck reached all the way to her ear tips.

“And even if Carol were such a dull and pathetic kid, why should he hear such words from you, sir?”

Though not loud enough to raise her voice in anger, nail-shaped marks had formed inside the fist she clenched tightly because she couldn’t bring herself to strike.

“That’s not justified.”

“What, what?”

“Whether Carol is better or worse than his brothers, whether he meets your standards or not, the excuse you’re giving is wrong.”

“Now, what does a young child know……”

“Apologize.”

As if it wasn’t worth responding to, Asha only said what she had to say and then closed her mouth.

At the persistent and cold momentum, the man reflexively pushed out his belly and tried to raise his voice.

“Carol, Caprun.”

The plan to show adult authority was wrecked before it even started.

“Mom!”

“Masa!”

With the appearance of the mansion’s highest decision-maker, the atmosphere changed anew.

“What are you doing standing on the stairs like that? You too.”

Caprun smiled brightly like a general who had gained reinforcements before a crisis, and Asha bowed her head with a slightly awkward smile.

“Hello. I’m Carol’s friend, Asha.”

“This is the first time I’m seeing you awake, Asha. Won’t you have a cup of tea with this lady for a moment?”

“Then I’ll also come—”

“You go see your dad. He was looking for you.”

At the clear order to leave, the youngest son obediently nodded.

The ‘relative elder’ went down below the stairs without ever apologizing. Asha was quite displeased with that sight.

※※※

“Do you have a favorite tea?”

“I don’t particularly choose.”

“Then let’s go with this. It’s good for cold symptoms too.”

The mansion’s owner, who had suddenly suggested having tea, opened purple tea leaves and put them in the teapot. As hot water poured in, a bitter fragrance filled the room.

The mansion’s reception room was incomparably more magnificent than Asha’s house.

Asha, who had been feeling the engraved patterns on the armrest with her hand, straightened her back and stared directly at her friend’s mother.

Very fortunately, because she couldn’t see clearly, her tongue moved freely.

“It suits you well.”

“Pardon?”

“That skirt. I wore it when I was a maiden. Is it a bit long?”

“Yes. No, it’s comfortable so I like it. Thank you.”

The skirt that covered her insteps was the thickest among the skirts Asha had worn. Her small hand lightly gripped and released the soft hem.

“The top is Carol’s. He wore it until a few years ago, but kids that age grow rapidly.”

“Yes……”

Asha, who had always been smaller than her peers, agreed ambiguously and looked into the teacup. The empty teacup shone blindingly under the chandelier light.

The teacup was filled, and Masa, who had been looking over the girl who was half her son’s size, opened her mouth casually.

“So, do you want to marry my child?”

“Pardon? Marriage?”

Clunk.

The sugar cube dropped from a high place created a small stain. While Asha cleaned up that stain, Masa raised her eyebrows and asked back.

“Why are you so surprised? I heard you’re almost twenty, did I hear wrong?”

“No, that’s right.”

“Everyone gets married around that age. If you’re going to do it anyway, starting a family early isn’t bad either. Though Carol is still immature……”

“No.”

The thought that she should make a good impression since this was her friend’s family clashed fiercely with ‘but.’ Naturally, the latter won.

Asha, who had been busy nodding appropriately and avoiding eye contact when facing unfamiliar adults, clasped both hands together and spoke forcefully.

“I’ve never seen a child as deep-hearted as Cas.”

“Hmm?”

“He’s not immature. He always considers how others will receive things, has a good memory, and is thoughtful. ……Even if I say this, you probably won’t trust me.”

“Hmm, my son must have put on quite a cool act?”

“It’s not an act……!”