Chapter 19 - Meeting a strange girl (2/2)

Katarina Claes smiled at Sophia as she said so.

“As such, I’ll be very happy if you could continue coming over to play with me. And if it’s alright with you, won’t you be friends with me?”

She was smiling kindly while holding Sophia’s hands.

It was just as Jared said. This girl would never hurt my precious sister.

And so, I noticed it while looking at Katarina smile towards my sister. It was definitely this girl that changed Jared and Alan.

A strange girl with a unique atmosphere. The princes are probably visiting this mansion so often in order to meet with this girl.

And so, after meeting Katarina, Sophia changed as well. She escaped from the cage of her room, and began actively going out on her own. Her formerly gloomy face became lively and bright, and smiles returned to her expressions.

I’m deeply indebted to Katarina Claes.

★★★★★★★★★★★

When Sophia began to venture out more often instead of staying inside her gilded cage, vicious slandering by gossipmongers increased as well. However, now that my sister had finally recovered her smile, there was no more returning to her dark room for her. I did my best to silence those that spoke ill of Sophia. I decided that the way I did things before wasn’t sufficient, so I silenced them as thoroughly as possible this time.

And so, those second-rate worthless fellows decreased gradually……

“I feel very sorry for Nico-sama who’s burdened by working so hard for the sake of his imouto-sama.”

“Even though Nico-sama is so outstanding, it’s pitiful that there’s so much being said about the siblings.”

“The Ascarot family is so unfortunate to have so many bad things being said about their daughter.”

People were no longer looking down on us as much, it was more purely pity and sympathy now. Since I had desperately worked so hard for Sophia’s sake on this matter, those voices increased.

There was no malice present in those voices. But, unfortunately, it was nothing but pity.

However…… Those words were stabbing me mercilessly in the heart.

I’m not burdened in any way. My family isn’t unfortunate at all.

I’m actually very proud of my splendid parents, and my gentle, lovely sister, and consider myself to be a very lucky person……

It’s not that I can’t understand why they think that.

If I say I’m very fortunate then I’m always told “you’re amazing for being so patient and working so hard.” It’s very frustrating to hear that.

Even though I’m so lucky…… Why does everyone arbitrarily decide on their own that I’m supposed to be unfortunate?

Don’t decide on your own that my precious sister is a burdensome existence! Even though I think that I’m extremely fortunate to have Sophia been born as my little sister……

Before long, I had gotten very tired of hearing all these disagreeable thoughts. I thought that it would be best if I didn’t bother with hearing them anymore.

Right now, my precious sister is smiling so happily. That’s enough for me.

Even if people think that it’s unfortunate and pity us…… There’s nothing I can do about them not understanding. I thought it was fine like this, but……

“Your parents are so wonderful, and your sister is so cute as well, Nico-sama, you’re a really lucky person.”

The girl before me, Katarina Claes, was smiling as she said so. It’s the same gentle smile that’s been directed at Sophia before.

“……Lucky person……”

That’s right, that’s what I’ve always been thinking. However, nobody ever understood that until now.

“Yeah, er……”

“……You think I’m a lucky person?”

I stared straight at Katarina.

“You have such a wonderful family…… Isn’t that so?”

Her light blue eyes were looking directly at me as well.

“……That’s right. I have great parents I can respect, and I’m very lucky to have such a gentle, lovely sister.”

I thought that it would be fine even if nobody understood. I’d already given up.

And yet……

This girl…… Katarina understands……

Ahh, in truth I always wanted for someone to understand this feeling of mine.

I felt as if all the frustration I’d ever felt in my heart was subsiding.

I looked over the girl in front of me once more. The duke’s daughter, Katarina Claes. The strange girl that managed to completely change the twin princes and my sister.

When nobody ever understood what I was thinking, she’s the first to ever understand.

Why the princes and my sister would visit Katarina’s place almost every day, I finally understand the reason now.

And so, I’m sure that I’ll be joining them in going over to her place frequently from now on.

Not in order to accompany my sister, but in order to see Katarina.