Volume 3 Extra Story (2/2)

When I said that, the boy cocked his head again, keeping silent as if he was wondering about something. I know that boys think very little of the stuff like that, but I was also sure that he wouldn’t refuse the plea of such a beautiful young maiden like myself. So even if it wouldn’t make him happy, I would very much like for him to accept that crown from me.

「Edi, by any chance, is it possible that Uncle hasn’t told you anything about the festival? Nothing in the slightest?」

「…… Recently, my foster father has been quite busy with his work. That is why I came here alone today.」

Saying that, the boy took the crown off his head and turned back to me.

「That is why I’m returning it. I don’t have anything that I could give you in return.」

Having said that, the boy handed me my flower crown back. However, something was wrong about him. His face wasn’t adorned with his usual expressionless expression. There was something more to it. I could tell, because it’s been more than a year now since we’ve started to hang out together. No, I was sure that the words he spoke right now weren’t his true feelings.

It is exactly because of this twisted sense of morality that he was so difficult to deal with sometimes.

「In that case, why don’t we replace it with a substitute?」

「…… Replace?」

In reaction to my words his big eyes blink a few time, as if he didn’t quite understand what I was getting at. I then leaned over to him, since he was slightly smaller than me, and lift his bangs from his eyes. Then I give him a gentle kiss to the forehead.

「Yes, replace. Now hurry up and let’s get on with it.」

Even though I told him to hurry it up, the boy didn’t seem to get what I wanted from him. Honestly, sometimes this kid could be so clueless and dull that I had no idea what to do with him anymore.

Apparently confused by my actions, I stood up and smiled at him, and the boy did the same.

In the first place, this festival was created in order to imitate the blessings that the Goddess was bestowing on her faithful children, and since the symbol of the Goddess was a flower, hence the flower crown. Now, before that custom came to be, my nanny told me that the people used to exchange kisses to the forehead in similar fashion. It was the perfect replacement for the flower crown.

In order to give the boy a clue, I lift my skirt up a bit and do a slight bow in front of him. As per custom.

「Thank you so much for the crown. I am really happy.」

Hearing my words, the boy turned his face away from me, his pale cheeks dyed crimson red. That reaction made me laugh, which in turn ruined the boy’s mood and I had to spend the rest of the day trying to fix it.