‘Was it a mistake…?’
Charlotte, hugging a teddy bear and wearing an innocent smile.
Looking at her, I found myself in a moment of complicated feelings.
I had promised to buy Charlotte a doll.
She specifically pointed out that she wanted that teddy bear, so I bought it for her.
‘What will Julia think?’
Julia, who originally wanted the teddy bear, might feel very hurt.
Such worries were already starting to overwhelm me.
No, why on earth did Charlotte choose the teddy bear in the first place?
‘Could it be that she doesn’t even like it and chose it just to tease Julia…? No, that can’t be it.’
Facing Charlotte’s pure smile.
I immediately shook off such suspicions.
A child who looks so innocent couldn’t possibly have such intentions.
‘I’ll have to buy Julia another doll later.’
In any case, it’s a situation that could easily upset her.
Even though Julia seems composed and mature, she has an unexpectedly childish side.
She’s at an age where a single doll can make her laugh or cry.
“This is the first time I’m hugging a doll. I thought it would feel similar to dirt, but it’s much lighter than that…!”
Hug. Crunch.
Hugging the teddy bear tightly and shaking it around, Charlotte exclaims in admiration.
The way she plays with it is somewhat…
It feels more like a boy playing with a robot toy rather than a girl with a doll.
“It’s warm and fluffy. I can understand why kids like dolls now!”
“It sounds like you don’t really like it?”
“Oh.”
Shriek.
Charlotte’s eyes widen in surprise.
Then she gives a devilish smile.
“Did I get caught? Actually, I wasn’t that interested in dolls, but seeing you buy one for Julia made me want one. Hehe.”
“Then it would’ve been better to buy you something else.”
“I don’t think it would make much difference. It’s not about what I receive, but that you bought it for me.”
“…”
Hug.
Hugging the teddy bear tightly as if it’s precious, Charlotte.
Just from this scene alone, she looks like a gentle girl who loves dolls.
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
Soon, the carriage stops.
As I get off first and offer my hand to Charlotte inside the carriage, Charlotte lifts the doll high up and cheers.
“Let me down!”
Shout.
Without much effort, I put my hand under her armpit and lifted her.
Her smooth armpits were quite tempting to squeeze unintentionally.
When I let go of her, Charlotte landed on the ground with a huff.
It seemed like she didn’t mind being treated like a child.
It was a moment that clearly showed how different she was from Julia.
“Hmm…”
Just before entering the mansion, Charlotte stops at the door, turns around, and faces me.
After hesitating for a moment, she speaks.
“Mister, Julia might come to you to throw a tantrum soon.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m going to provoke her a lot.”
“…”
Was the teddy bear part of that plan?
She had a surprisingly spiteful side.
Charlotte smiled with a hint of bitterness.
“But please don’t hate Julia too much? She’s more delicate than she seems and just has a clumsy way of showing affection.”
“I understand what you’re worried about.”
Pat.
When I put my hand on her head, Charlotte looked up at me with a puzzled face.
Despite not being able to take care of herself well, she worried about her friend.
Such an audacious yet commendable child.
If she’s worried, she could speak more gently.
Looking at her plan to provoke Julia, it seems Charlotte is also clumsy in expressing her affection.
“But there’s no need to worry. I have a lot of patience.”
It’s not like I don’t know that Julia is a tsundere.
Fortunately, I can exhibit near-infinite patience towards children.
It’s not like I want Charlotte and Julia to earn billions for me.
I just hope they don’t hate me to the point of wanting to kill me.
If I could wish for a little more.
I hope they would speak well of me to Yuri in the future.
Anything more would be… Too greedy.
The most certain way would be to make these two my complete allies.
But that’s probably unrealistic.
‘I can’t raise them and eat them like the maids said.’
Yuri might harbor romantic feelings for either Charlotte or Julia.
Interfering in that situation?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Yuri dismembered me for that.
Ah. If only Yuri weren’t a brat, everything would be solved.
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
Finally, with a relieved face, Charlotte pulls the doorknob.
“Wait. Specifically, how do you plan to provoke Julia?”
“It’s nothing special. I’ll just use magic to make Julia a bit more honest.”
“…?”
“I’ll be the villain!”
Charlotte’s determined eyes.
Somehow, it feels unsettling.
“Hand!”
“…?”
“Hand! Give me your hand! …Please!”
Thump, Thump.
Julia barged into the office without warning, making incomprehensible noise.
When I didn’t respond, she walked over with a shark plushie tucked under her arm.
“Ugh! Grr!”
“…”
She dragged a large sofa next to my chair.
Thump.
Then she flopped onto it, hugging the shark plushie, and boldly demanded my attention.
Her protest for my hand had become quite aggressive.
“Did you sleep last night?”
“Not at all…”
“Do you think you can sleep now?”
“I don’t know…”
Whoosh.
Julia placed the shark plushie on my desk where it was clearly visible.
When I looked at Julia, she turned her head away from me.
It was a very deliberate protest.
“When we go out, I’ll buy you the teddy bear you wanted. On my last visit, I noticed the owner had stocked one of each type of doll.”
“…I don’t need it.”
“Don’t be stubborn and just accept it. You’ll regret it later.”
“No, really, I don’t need it. This one is enough…”
Julia, looking genuinely serious, seemed annoyed at being misunderstood as sulking.
She said it was enough.
It seemed she had grown attached to the shark plushie.
Indeed, nothing can surpass the bond formed over time.
So please, won’t you grow attached to me too…?
I desperately wanted to plead.
‘It smells like Julia.’
Sniff. Hah.
I secretly buried my nose in the shark plushie and took a deep breath.
It smelled so distinctly of Julia that it felt like my nose was buried in her shoulder. It was proof that she had held it often and for long periods.
“Hey, Aslan.”
“…”
She came here to sleep, but she’s quite talkative.
She didn’t come just to sulk.
What was her aim?
“Am I annoying?”
“…”
Damn. She came to throw a tantrum.
“Hmm? Answer me. Am I annoying…?”
“Very annoying. You require a lot of attention.”
I meant it literally.
Whenever Julia sleeps, one of my hands is rendered useless.
“So, what if I can sleep without you? …?”
“It would be very convenient.”
“…”
“And maybe a bit lonely.”
Twitch.
I felt Julia tremble as she clung to my hand.
Aren’t humans creatures of adaptation?
At first, it was very inconvenient, making it hard to handle my work.
Now, even with one hand occupied by Julia, I can work at almost the same pace as when both hands are free.
When Julia falls asleep, I can secretly pinch her soft cheeks.
Thanks to that buffer effect, my efficiency increases.
Overall, it’s actually beneficial.
“I don’t particularly care.”
“…You don’t care? Really? After sleeping yesterday, I realized that if I force myself to close my eyes, I can sleep for a while. Maybe in a few days, I’ll be able to sleep without your hand. Should I stop coming at night?”
Why is she asking me that?
From the way she spoke, it was clear she had lingering attachment.
“Just keep coming.”
“…Okay, I will.”
Julia agreed obediently.
Her posture remained with her back turned to me.
…I think I’m beginning to understand what Julia is thinking.
“You rascal.”
“Ah!?”
Whisper.
I grabbed Julia’s cheek and pulled it.
She jumped up with a high-pitched yelp.
“What are you doing…!?”
“I got annoyed by your nonsense.”
“What do you mean…!”
“Are you afraid I might favor Charlotte? Worried that you won’t be able to save up the 1 billion Lark?”
“N-no… that’s not it…”
I can guess what Julia’s thoughts are.
She’s constantly scheming an escape.
If she feels I’m neglecting her, she’ll worry about losing her source of money.
“Sorry, but I don’t intend to leave anyone behind. I’ll make sure both of you are useful to me. The ones who need to worry are those who have to achieve that, not you. If you understand, then sleep. No more weird talk.”
“…”
Did I hit the nail on the head?
Julia silently lay back on the sofa.
Pulling my hand closer to her cheek.
“Heheh.”
“…?”
I thought I heard a silly laugh just now.
Was it just my imagination?
