96 – Secret Love Affair – 3
I quietly looked at Shiraishi in front of me.
He is dressed like this in front of his house. A pretty dress, a careful hairstyle, and a lightly made-up face. She looked much more glamorous and beautiful today.
“…… “Is it because of me that you dressed up like this?”
If that is the case, it will likely be difficult to come next time.
“Yes! How do you feel?”
Shiraishi nodded her head without a single hesitation.
“…… “It’s an outfit that looks like you need to dance.”
She suddenly got up and held her hand carefully.
Looking at it like this, it seems as if this place is a ballroom, and I have to escort Shiraishi to her dance.
Why is there such a thing? She held up her hand and Shirai spun around.
“That’s the outfit for that!”
“Huh?”
Shiraishi responded to my meaningless self-talk and took my hand and led me.
The man who deals with such a gorgeous noble daughter is an ordinary high school boy.
“There is no music, but…” … “Will you dance with me?”
“……… Uh… huh.”
Shiraishi hummed softly and slowly moved her feet. She held her hand and led me to the rhythm, dancing. All I could do was barely respond to her hand and foot movements and watch her struggle.
Such a dance on a moonlit night.
Even though the sum was not right.
“……… hehehehe.”
Shiraishi carefully let go of my hand and pressed her chest, slightly lowering her head.
I followed her, albeit awkwardly, and lowered my head.
Elena was watching us calmly as we sat in the pavilion and ate cookies.
“…… “You were invited to the party.”
“Party?”
That’s… It was exactly how I felt when I saw her.
“Yes. “It is a party where several prestigious families and their descendants gather.”
“……… I see.”
This may be a common occurrence for Shiraishi. It was something I had never experienced before. There won’t be any more.
“…… That day… “Can you escort me?”
“Huh?”
“That Akira Shiraishi… “As an exclusive butler.”
“……… ….”
No, a commoner like me….
I am an ordinary citizen who does not know the etiquette of high society. It may have been a brief conversation at her mansion like this, but it was obvious that being in such a place where others could see her would only cause inconvenience to her.
“Please. “Please come with me.”
“……… ….”
Shiraishi held my hand tightly and gave me an earnest look.
“Why on earth…?” There are many other employees in this mansion, and Elena…….”
“…… “She’s not confident.”
Give firm strength to your hand.
“If you don’t look after me… “I’m not confident I can do well there.”
“……… ….”
Shiraishi spoke with sincerity.
At least to me, it felt infinitely sincere.
“……… “I’m not sure.”
She said with a sigh.
“Is it okay for someone like me to go to a place like that?”
“You mean we’re the same person? Minsu is kinder, sweeter, and more wonderful than anyone else… !”
“No, no, it’s not me that Shiraishi sees…” .”
I am neither a celebrity nor from a wealthy family.
If I went to a place like that, I felt like I would really hear the lowly voices of the common people.
“…… “It doesn’t matter.”
Elena approached us before we knew it and looked at us and said.
“As long as you have the qualifications to be a butler who serves a young lady… “It doesn’t matter what your background or experience is.”
“…… Qualifications of a deacon.”
Why do those words sound scarier than anything else?
“Of course, Mr. Minsu, you have better qualifications than anyone else!”
“…… Me… “I don’t know how to do anything?”
Shiraishi’s eyes widened at those words.
Already, the big eyes were widening even more, giving a puzzled look.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Saying that, Elena stood in front of me.
“Social etiquette, the dignity of a butler, and even the qualities one must possess.”
“Huh… ….”
“I will inject everything in a short period of time.”
Injection… ….
Shiraishi smiled brightly as he muttered those words that had an unsettling resonance.
“Of course, that’s a piece of cake! “Minsu already has the most important qualifications!”
“…… No, why Shiraishi….”
I looked at Shiraishi in bewilderment, who was shouting with all his might instead of me.
“… However… “What is the most important skill?”
I don’t remember having anything like that.
When I asked her out of curiosity, she turned her head and shouted.
“……… Well, that’s… “Here’s a secret!”
“……… ….”
What on earth is this?
I exhaled softly as I looked back and forth between her and Elena, who was giving me unconditional trust without any basis, and her calmly stroking my head.
From noble mtl dot com
***
On the day that the social gathering she spoke of was held, I heard that the chairman of the Shiraishi family would also be attending.
His name is Itsuya Shiraishi.
Her father and the chairman of a conglomerate who does not seem to have a very good relationship with her.
“Then Shiraishi also did that on that day…” Are you meeting someone?”
I didn’t know what to call him, so I ended up speaking in an ambiguous tone.
It seemed like the meeting was not something she was very pleased with either, so she nodded her head without saying a word.
“…… “That too.”
The reason I wanted to meet her was also related to that.
She was placed on probation preventing her from leaving this house until her father returned.
That’s something I can’t change.
In that case, I wanted to know whether Shiraishi could return before the cultural festival.
If he came back after the cultural festival, I had to find a new way.
Anyway, the play wouldn’t even be able to be presented without Shiraishi, the female protagonist.
There is a second best solution, which is to set up a bandwidth, but that is literally the second best solution.
There is no meaning without Shiraishi.
“…… When is that meeting held?”
“After two weeks… “It is.”
Bowing her head, Shiraishi hesitantly gave her answer.
“…… “It overlaps with the cultural festival.”
Does that mean that I cannot go to school during the preparation period?
Only then does a proper play become….
I sipped my tea anxiously.
“I’m truly sorry…” Because of my family’s circumstances, everyone….”
“No… “It’s still too early to apologize.”
There is time.
While she was drinking tea in silence for a moment, she glanced at Elena standing next to her.
She was standing there, munching on cookies like a squirrel.
I would say this is a truly unexpected image.
“I…… “Mr. Elena.”
“Yes.”
Below the moonlit garden.
How did the three of us meet in this mansion?
Of course, it’s because she has permission to oversee all the employees here.
“…… The reason I come here at night like this is….”
When Elena noticed her trailing off, she opened her mouth first.
“Of course, I silenced the other employees.”
“…… That… “Are you okay?”
“……… ….”
She quietly looked down at me.
“No… It’s not that I don’t particularly trust Elena….”
“Don’t worry.”
With a tap, her middle finger touches my forehead.
“I made a promise to all the employees working here that I would never reveal this.”
“Resolution… ….”
What happens if I break it?
I opened my mouth as I glanced at Shiraishi who was anxiously putting down his glass.
“Well, then…” … “Can I come at this time next time?”
“Yes.”
That has already been accepted. I asked again to confirm.
Elena calmly nodded and munched on her cookie.
“Da, can someone else come too?”
“…………….”
Her eyes widened.
She expected to be rejected outright, but surprisingly, the answer did not come right away.
“…… “Who do you mean by other people?”
“You’ve seen it before… Those kids. A half person like Shiraishi….”
“……… ….”
If that happens, preparing for the play….
Shiraishi’s eyes moved as if he was anxious.
“Good.”
“…… Really?”
“Instead.”
As expected, Elena opened her mouth resolutely, as if she couldn’t let it go that easily.
“There are conditions.”
“……… “What is it like?”
“Up to one companion is allowed.”
“Ah… yes.”
“And.”
She continued speaking calmly.
“Staying late is unacceptable. “You must return before ten o’clock at night.”
“Yes, of course…” .”
Of course, I had no intention of being locked in the mansion until dawn like before.
“And you must not reveal anything about your stay in this mansion to anyone else.”
“Yes… ….”
That was what I thought up to that point.
Except for the number of people, everything was what I tried to protect.
“At the same time, we must have proper and moderate relationships.”
“…… Yes?”
I realized something was strange and asked back, but she continued talking.
“I limit myself to two cups of tea because it interferes with my sleep. Consuming too much sugar is not good, so eat desserts in moderation.”
“……… ….”
Something strange….
“It’s night, so don’t make a big fuss so as not to disturb your neighbors.”
“……… ….”
“Do not pick flowers. “The garden should only be appreciated with your eyes.”
However, her expression did not change.
“Finally… ….”
Her hand was placed on my head.
“Please allow me to pet it regularly.”
“……… Me?”
Despite my dumbfounded look, she nodded her head and asked
“…… Do you understand?”
Better than I thought… It seemed like Elena wasn’t a very strict person.
In other ways, it could be said to be strict.