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162 He's My Brother Yet Not My Brother
Several days had passed since then.
Ortansia continued her life as before, spending her days with Pamela searching for Marguerite when she fled from lessons, placating her when she was in a bad mood, and generally being pulled about by her every whim.
Even now, she was running about the mansion searching for Marguerite, who had escaped from her history lesson.
‘Where has the young lady gone?’
Marguerite was so skilled at escaping one might call her a specialist, and even the experienced Pamela had difficulty finding her, let alone the novice Ortansia.
Thinking there was no way she'd be in such a place, Ortansia peered behind a beautifully trimmed hedge... when suddenly someone addressed her from behind.
"What are you doing?"
"Aahhh! ...Master GĂ©rard!?"
Startled, Ortansia spun round and was even more astonished by who stood there.
GĂ©rard was gazing steadily at her with his usual mysterious eyes that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
"Er, well, um..."
Ortansia hesitated over how to explain.
She was reluctant to answer honestly that she was "searching for Lady Marguerite, who has fled from her lessons," as it felt like informing him of Marguerite's misdeeds.
"...Lady Marguerite seems unaware it's time for her lesson, so I'm searching for her."
Wrapping it in euphemism, Ortansia offered this explanation with a forced smile.
But from that phrasing alone, GĂ©rard seemed to have accurately grasped the truth.
"She has run away from lessons again, hasn't she?"
"Ah..."
At Ortansia's downcast expression, GĂ©rard gave a small sigh.
"She was a repeat offender even before you arrived. That girl lacks awareness that she's a member of the Vérité ducal family."
At GĂ©rard's words, Ortansia could say nothing.
...Even if she lacked that awareness.
She was still a legitimate member of the Vérité ducal family.
...Unlike a fake duke's daughter like Ortansia.
Perhaps wondering what to make of Ortansia's silent, downcast demeanour, GĂ©rard naturally changed the subject.
"...Since then, have you had any difficulties with life here?"
At the words directed at her with concern, Ortansia looked up in surprise.
In GĂ©rard's eyes as he looked down at her, there was definitely a hint of worry.
‘Big brother... he's still concerned about me.’
Just being conscious of that made her chest grow so warm she nearly wept.
Each time she encountered his kindness, she wanted to cling to him, forgetting her position.
But that wasn't allowed.
In this world, the one permitted that position wasn't Ortansia but Marguerite.
Ortansia forcibly suppressed the surging emotions and managed to smile.
"Thanks to you showing me the orphanage, Master GĂ©rard, I was able to shift my mindset. ...Truly, thank you."
GĂ©rard gazed at the grateful Ortansia with his usual inscrutable expression.
"...I see."
Gerard muttered this quietly.
...Had this satisfied him, then?
Would he now think of Ortansia as just another servant and stop concerning himself with her?
Ortansia had expected as much, but—
"...To me, you still seem to be forcing yourself."
"Eh..."
At GĂ©rard's words, Ortansia's heart gave a loud thump.
...He'd seen right through her.
That she hadn't completely shifted her mindset.
That she couldn't sever her attachment to her former life, her original world, GĂ©rard had perceived that too.
As Ortansia’s expression instantly crumbled, GĂ©rard took a step closer.
"You…"
Just as he was about to continue speaking.
"...!"
A sudden, sharp headache struck.
At the same time, she thought she heard someone's voice in her head.
A voice, as if calling to someone...
As Ortansia swayed unsteadily, GĂ©rard hastily supported her.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"I-I apologise... just a slight headache and dizzy spell..."
She had worried him again.
Since the headache immediately subsided, Ortansia frantically waved both hands to demonstrate she was fine.
"I'm all right now! I'm so sorry to have troubled you..."
"If you're unwell, rest. If we have a system that works servants to the point of collapse, it needs correcting."
"No! Really! It was just momentary! I'm truly fine!!"
As GĂ©rard continued trying to make her rest, Ortansia resisted desperately.
She didn't want to be thought of as a useless servant who only caused problems when she had just started.
"...Very well."
Whether GĂ©rard was convinced by Ortansia's attitude, or simply tired of the fruitless exchange, he finally nodded.
"However, if you're searching for Marguerite, stay inside the mansion. Despite everything, she's usually somewhere within."
"...Thank you, Master GĂ©rard."
As Ortansia bowed her head, GĂ©rard moved to pass by her.
But he paused, gently placing his hand on Ortansia's shoulder.
As Ortansia held her breath in surprise, GĂ©rard brought his face close to her ear and whispered softly.
"If you have any more troubles, tell me."
Leaving behind those words, GĂ©rard departed, leaving the frozen Ortansia behind.
Hortensia stood dazed for some time... before eventually sinking down onto the spot.
"Haa..."
The cheek she gently touched with her hand was noticeably flushed.
Though GĂ©rard had told her to search inside the mansion, she didn't feel able to face anyone until she'd cooled down a bit.
‘How shall I put it... he's my brother yet not my brother…’
Since GĂ©rard in this world wasn't Ortansia's brother, it was natural enough, yet she couldn't help but feel a different kind of flutter in her chest than when interacting with her big brother GĂ©rard.
‘I'm strange, aren't I... Even though we're not blood-related, and in this world we're not even step-siblings, Brother is still Brother, yet…’
This warm feeling towards GĂ©rard, slightly different from before.
Ortansia couldn't help but feel confused by this emotion she was experiencing for the first time.
...Never knowing she was being watched.
"...What was that? What's going on?"
From above where Ortansia sat collapsed... watching the entire exchange from the balcony of the guest room where she'd been hiding, Marguerite murmured in astonishment.
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