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158 Homesick.
“Um... Gerard, Sir...?”
Calling out timidly, Gerard frowned.
“...Were you crying?”
Recalling her current state, her cheeks flushed fiercely.
...He'd seen her at her most embarrassing.
Bowing her head to hide her face as much as possible, Ortansia mumbled an apology.
“I-I'm terribly sorry for the spectacle…”
GĂ©rard said nothing.
Ortansia broke out in a cold sweat, fearing she'd deeply displeased him…
“Why were you crying? Are you being bullied?”
“Eh...?”
Stunned by the unexpected GĂ©rard uttered, Ortansia froze.
Whatever he thought of her reaction, GĂ©rard's expression grew even more serious.
“Improving the working conditions of servants is also the duty of the main household. For a newcomer to be in such a state suggests a deplorable working environment. It is a disgrace to the House of VĂ©ritĂ©.”
“N-no, that's not it...!”
Realising GĂ©rard must be labouring under some colossal misunderstanding, Ortansia panicked.
“It's just... well…”
But she couldn't possibly say, ‘I wanted to see you, my former foster brother from my previous world.
After hesitating, Ortansia decided to cover it up.
“It's... homesickness…”
Knowing GĂ©rard would instantly see through a complete lie, she mixed in a grain of truth.
After a moment's thought, GĂ©rard spoke.
“...I hear you're from an orphanage?”
‘oh my! That's right!’
In this world, this version of Ortansia was supposed to be from an orphanage.
But she couldn't very well say, ‘Actually, that was a lie,’ so she had no choice but to press on.
“W-well, yes... It's just... the orphanage really is home to me... So I've felt a little lonely.”
Hesitantly, Ortansia uttered those words.
Surprisingly, GĂ©rard didn't press her further.
“…I see.”
That was all he said.
A momentary silence fell between them.
‘He didn't scold me... but I really shouldn't trouble my brother any further…’
Having reached that conclusion, Ortansia stood up and bowed deeply.
“...My apologies for disturbing you so late at night. I shall return to my room.”
“Ah.”
At that terse reply, no different from GĂ©rard in her original world, a sharp pain stabbed through Ortansia's chest.
Finding it too painful to remain by Gerard's side any longer, Ortansia quickly left the room.
But…
‘Wait, he's following me!?’
For some reason, Gerard was following right behind Ortansia.
‘Is this surveillance? Am I being watched…?’
Was he suspicious that she might do something strange again?
Well, she was the one who'd committed the questionable act of sneaking out of her room in the middle of the night, so Ortansia advanced tentatively, feeling rather awkward about the whole situation.
Managing to reach the building's entrance at last, Ortansia quietly glanced back over her shoulder.
GĂ©rard remained right behind her as ever, staring down at her intently.
Beyond this point lay the servants' passageway. Surely GĂ©rard wouldn't follow that far.
Though she didn't quite grasp his true intentions for coming this far, she felt awkward about leaving him behind without a word. Ortansia softly addressed him.
“Well then, um... good night.”
Only after the words left her lips did she realise.
‘Oh no, I am done for! To my current brother , I'm not his foster sister, just a servant! Saying “good night” is far too familiar...!’
Imagining the cold rebuke from GĂ©rard that would surely follow, Ortansia trembled violently.
He would undoubtedly condemn her, just as he had during Pamela's wrongful accusation case: ‘How dare a mere servant speak so insolently to a member of the VeritĂ© Ducal House?!’
GĂ©rard stared intently at Ortansia, whose legs were shaking violently.
Then, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Ehhn”
Saying only that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Ortansia gaped, watching GĂ©rard's back disappear into the darkness.
‘……Huh? He didn't get angry?’
For some reason, GĂ©rard had departed without condemning Ortansia.
This was so completely different from the GĂ©rard Ortansia was familiar with that she was thrown into confusion, wondering what could possibly have occurred
‘Perhaps in this world, big brother... isn't quite as stern as he was in the original world?’
Considering his relationship with the Duchess wasn't hostile, he probably hadn't frozen his heart like he had in the original world.
The GĂ©rard she had encountered since arriving in this world seemed outwardly unchanged from the original one, but perhaps his inner self had shifted significantly.
‘That makes sense... In this world, my brother is happy.’
If he lives happily, surrounded by a loving family, without his heart growing cold, that is what is most important.
...Yet, despite that, sensing his difference from the original Gerard, her chest ached sharply once more.
‘...My brother's happiness lies here. So I too... shall try a little harder.’
Speaking with Gerard made her deeply sunken heart feel as though it had risen just a little.
For the sake of everyone in the House of Vérité.
Convincing herself this way, Ortansia returned to the room where she and Pamela slept.
◇◇◇
The following day dawned with Marguerite in a state of great commotion from the morning.
“Oh my, I'm definitely wearing this dress! Find me accessories that suit it!!”
Today, she was scheduled to attend a concert hosted by a certain noble.
They had decided beforehand, ‘Let's go with this dress,’ but apparently her mood had changed come the morning of the event.
Ortansia and Pamela desperately finished arranging an outfit to satisfy Marguerite and managed to send her off successfully.
Pamela would be accompanying Marguerite today.
Ortansia remained at the mansion to attend to other duties.
‘Right then, today's tasks are…’
Just because Marguerite herself was absent didn't mean she could slack off, of course.
She was about to get started when…
“Ortansia!”
Startled, Ortansia's shoulders jerked at the sudden call from the head maid who had appeared out of nowhere.
‘Oh dear, have I done something to deserve a scolding? Could word of last night's incident have reached her...?’
GĂ©rard hadn't publicly reprimanded Ortansia at the time, but perhaps he'd later informed the Head Maid of what happened, indirectly chastising her with ‘What about the training of the servants?’
Yes. That must be it.
Ortansia shrank back, trembling, awaiting the Head Maid's thunderous reprimand.
But the words that came from her lips when she approached were unexpected.
“I trust your duties today are limited to basic menial tasks?”
“Y-yes…”
“In that case, you will be assigned to another task. Change into your outdoor attire immediately.”
“Eh...?”
As Ortansia stared blankly, the Head Maid cleared her throat... then lowered her voice to say.
“...Master GĂ©rard has specifically requested you to accompany him on an inspection. See to it you conduct yourself impeccably throughout the escort and follow Master GĂ©rard's instructions.”
“Eh!?”
Ortansia looked up at the head maid in shock.
But her own face betrayed an unmistakable look of bewilderment.
‘Wh-what on earth…?’
Though confused by this sudden turn of events, Ortansia changed into her outdoor attire and hurried to meet Gerard.
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