My Replacement Fiancée, the Saint’s “Failure” of a Sister, Is Acting Strange – Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Chelsea and the Kind People
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤI feel the soft sunlight through my closed eyelids. As if beckoned, I open my eyes, and another wonderful day begins.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”Good morning, Lady Chelsea.”
ㅤ”Good morning, Maria-san!”
ㅤ
ㅤAfter I reply to the knock, Maria-san, the maid, enters the room and smiles, saying,”You woke up bright and early again today.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’m good with mornings.”
ㅤ”Hehe, then let’s get you ready. And can I ask you a favor again today?”
ㅤ”Yes!”
ㅤ
ㅤMaria-san is one of the few servants working in Lord Oswald’s mansion. Lord Oswald, concerned that I came here without even a single maid, made her my caretaker, telling me to ask her for anything.
ㅤ
ㅤLord Oswald doesn’t like having a lot of people around, so the number of people working in the mansion is kept to a minimum. At first, I felt sorry for Maria-san because she had other things to do, like cleaning and laundry, but she told me,”My master does everything by himself, so it’s boring. Please let me take care of you.”She’s a kind person, like an older sister or a mother, who I rely on for everything.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You’re going out to town today, right? It looks like it’s going to be a little hot, so shall we tie up your hair?”
ㅤ”Please.”
ㅤ
ㅤMaria-san, who efficiently helps me get ready, pats my shoulders as a finishing touch. Taking that as a cue, I leave the room and head off to complete my daily task.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤKnock, knock, two knocks. I call out, and a vague sound, like a sleepy murmur or a reply, comes back,”Hmm.”I slowly open the door to see the familiar bed with a lump under the covers.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Good morning, Lord Oswald. It’s morning.”
ㅤ”……Hmm.”
ㅤ
ㅤSince I only get a vague sound again, I approach the bed, and there he is, the man who will soon be my husband, sleeping soundly. No matter how many times I see it, his sleeping face is so beautiful that it takes my breath away, and I stand there for a while, mesmerized.
ㅤ
ㅤMaria-san told me that Lord Oswald can sense people’s presence through the fluctuations in magical power even through doors, so if she goes to wake him up, he’ll be awake before she even calls out to him. That’s why seeing his sleeping face is a privilege I have because of my lack of magical power. During this time, when Maria-san asks me to wake Lord Oswald up, I can’t help but be glad that I have so little magical power.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll notice, you know.”
ㅤ”Wah!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe bed suddenly tilts, and before I know it, I’ve tumbled onto his chest with a yelp. By the time I realize that Lord Oswald has pulled me closer, I’m completely on top of him, and even when I try to pull away in a panic, his arm is firmly wrapped around my back.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lord Oswald!”
ㅤ”Good morning, Chelsea.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I try to pull back even a little, our eyes meet at close range, and I can feel my cheeks burning.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You really do like my face, huh?”
ㅤ”T-That’s not true!”
ㅤ”It’s not?”
ㅤ”N……It is……But……”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I manage to convey,”I like other things about you too,”to Lord Oswald, who is smiling mischievously, he strokes my head contentedly.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I shouldn’t mess up your hair too much by stroking it. It looks good on you.”
ㅤ”Ah, thank you.”
ㅤ”Hmm, you’re going out today, right? I’ll get up.”
ㅤ
ㅤReleased by Lord Oswald, who says he’ll get ready, I leave the room. My face still feels hot, and I stand there for a moment, lost in thought, when I hear his laughing voice,”You don’t have to wait there, I’ll be there soon.”After he wakes up, I’m sure he can sense even my faint magical power.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤAfter having breakfast together, we came to town. This is Lord Oswald’s first day off since he returned to work, so I wanted him to rest, but he’s accompanying me from morning, like this, because I’ve grown fond of going out.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lord Oswald, you’re so kind.”
ㅤ”Hmm? Well, to you, yes.”
ㅤ”You’re not just kind to me.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I look up at Lord Oswald, who’s walking beside me, holding my hand, he has a puzzled expression on his face.
ㅤ
ㅤThere are many kind people around me. Of course, Lord Oswald is one of them, and it’s true that he’s incredibly kind to me, but when I observe him closely, I think it’s more than that.
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s the same today. Around Lord Oswald, a boy who’s about to trip floats gently, an apple that rolled out of a torn shopping bag stops abruptly, someone’s hat that flew off returns, a child who fell into the fountain while playing doesn’t get as wet as expected, and so on.
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I tell him about the glimpses of kindness I’ve noticed, Lord Oswald laughs and says,”I’m putting on an act, you know.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s just a habit for me to do good deeds to be liked.”
ㅤ
ㅤLooking at his profile as he says that nonchalantly, I think to myself that the reason for Lord Oswald’s kindness isn’t because he’s putting on an act.
ㅤ
ㅤBecause if he’s really doing it just to be liked, it’s meaningless if no one notices. But the boy who almost tripped, the old woman who panicked when her bag tore, the girl who shouted,”Ah!”when she noticed her hat flying off, the little child who was crying because water got into his nose, and his mother, none of them noticed Lord Oswald’s magic. They just look puzzled or smile in relief, no one realizes what he did.
ㅤ
ㅤLord Oswald doesn’t flaunt his kindness. Even today, I only happened to notice these things, and I’m sure there are many other things I haven’t noticed.
ㅤ
ㅤKindness that goes unnoticed can’t be for show or for gaining recognition. Even if it’s just a habit, as Lord Oswald says, I think it’s already become a part of his kindness.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……You’re so kind.”
ㅤ”Well, I’d rather have a good reputation with you.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe person who smiles and says,”Thank you,”is the kind person I love.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ◇
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”Your Highness, thank you for inviting me today.”
ㅤ”Yes, welcome. I think Lily and Oswald will be here soon.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s lunchtime on a certain day. His Highness the Crown Prince welcomes me with a smile at the royal court. He occasionally invites me to lunch like this. It’s always when my sister has business at the court, and Lord Oswald, who works here, also joins us.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Speaking of which, I heard you gave Lily an embroidered ribbon.”
ㅤ”Yes. I’ve given her one before……But this is the first time since I became able to imbue magic.”
ㅤ”She was very happy. She wears it every time I see her, so I’m sure she’s wearing it today too.”
ㅤ
ㅤHis Highness always has a gentle expression, but his face becomes especially kind when he talks about my sister. He loves my beloved sister.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Are the wedding preparations going well?”
ㅤ”Yes. Lord Oswald seems to be having a hard time with the large number of people he has to invite.”
ㅤ”Ah, it can’t be helped, given his work.”
ㅤ”……On the other hand, I hardly have anyone to invite.”
ㅤ”Ahaha! Well, the number will increase whether you like it or not, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
ㅤ
ㅤAs I look down, feeling a little dejected, His Highness continues.
ㅤ
ㅤ”There will be nobles you have to invite because of family ties. Oswald doesn’t have that, so it won’t be that unbalanced.”
ㅤ”Is that so?”
ㅤ”These days, it’s common to group the seats for everyone except royalty and family, so it doesn’t really matter who invited whom. It’s fine.”
ㅤ
ㅤHis Highness’s words ease my mind a little. I’ve never been to a wedding, let alone a tea party, so I’m learning a lot from him.
ㅤ
ㅤAs we’re talking about the wedding, there’s a knock on the door, and Lord Oswald and my sister arrive. For some reason, they both look a little sullen, and when His Highness and I tilt our heads in confusion, they say in unison,”Our ribbons are the same.”Apparently, someone pointed it out to them on their way here. I can’t help but laugh, seeing the two strong and kind people who always protect me making childish faces.
ㅤ
ㅤThen, the enjoyable lunchtime begins. Time flies by as I listen to Lord Oswald talk about his work and reminisce with my sister, and it’s soon time for him to go back to work.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’ll take Chelsea back to our parents’ house after this.”
ㅤ”Okay, I’ll stop by to pick you up after work.”
ㅤ”Father said he had something to discuss about the ceremony, so if you’d like, dinner……”
ㅤ
ㅤAs I wait for my sister and Lord Oswald to finish their conversation, His Highness beckons me, saying,”Chelsea.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes?”
ㅤ”Well, you see……”
ㅤ
ㅤHis Highness covers his mouth with one hand as if to share a secret and whispers in my ear.
ㅤ
ㅤ”About what happened during the meal……”
ㅤ
ㅤHe points out my breach of etiquette.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I-I’m so sorry!”
ㅤ”Ah, no, it’s not something to worry about that much……But even though I was there, it was practically a family dinner today.”
ㅤ
ㅤEmbarrassed by my lack of knowledge, I bow my head deeply, and His Highness speaks reassuringly. Having been a recluse at home, I’m unfamiliar with social etiquette, and there are many things I simply don’t know, or even if I know them intellectually, I haven’t internalized them. As I remain looking down, feeling pathetic, His Highness whispers in my ear again, so that only I can hear.
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s really not something to worry about that much. But if you’re going to be attending social gatherings from now on, there will be people who will nitpick about the smallest details. You’re the Saint’s sister, and you’re going to be the Magic Division Captain’s wife.”
ㅤ”Ah……Yes, you’re right. I have to do things properly.”
ㅤ”Yes. Well, I’m sure Oswald and Lily wouldn’t mind a little mistake from you…….But I thought you might be tired of always being protected like that.”
ㅤ”Y-Yes!”
ㅤ”Sorry if I overstepped.”
ㅤ”No, not at all!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I could protect you too, you know,”he says with a smile. He’s a kind person I respect.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ◇
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”Chelsea? What are you doing?”
ㅤ
ㅤMy sister comes into my room at my parents’ house and looks at me curiously as I space out.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Nothing. I was just thinking that it’s still the same as the day I left.”
ㅤ”Oh, right. You left with almost nothing.”
ㅤ
ㅤLord Oswald kindly granted my selfish request to spend the day before the wedding at my parents’ house. We rushed the preparations because we wanted to get married as soon as possible, but even considering that, it feels like no time has passed since the day I rushed out of this room.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……My sister kept all my precious things for me.”
ㅤ”What are you talking about?”
ㅤ”Everything.”
ㅤ
ㅤMy favorite books, my cherished necklace. That day was the first time I took them outside with me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You took care of my precious things, the things I should cherish.”
ㅤ
ㅤThis room, which is spotless, and myself as well. I know that I’m always cherished. It’s strange how being cherished by someone you love makes you feel like it’s okay to be here.
ㅤ
ㅤI didn’t really like myself, who had little magical power, was shy, and always shut myself in. But I don’t think I ever neglected myself. That’s definitely because I knew that my father, my mother, the servants who are like family in this house, and my sister all cherished me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I love you all so much. I think it’s because I was loved here for so long that I was finally able to walk on my own. There are still many things I need to learn and understand, and I might lose sight of what’s important in the future. But I’ll notice, learn, and pick them up. I’ll live my life cherishing them.”
ㅤ
ㅤI went out into the world, and I gained more precious things. I want to be someone who can cherish them properly. Like my sister.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Chelsea.”
ㅤ”Yes?”
ㅤ”Then, don’t cry too much tomorrow, okay?”
ㅤ”Okay.”
ㅤ
ㅤMy sister hugs me tightly, and her teary, pale green eyes disappear from view. I’ve known for a long time that she’s actually just as much of a crybaby as me, if not more. I’ve never told her, though.
ㅤ
ㅤI’m sure I’ll cry a lot tomorrow, but I think I’ll also be smiling a lot. Because I have people I love.
ㅤ
ㅤ”If Oswald does anything to you, or even if he doesn’t, you can always come back, okay?”
ㅤ”Hehe, okay!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe person who strokes my head over and over again, disguising her tearful voice, is always my precious, kind person.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ(The End)