He Likes Me a Lot More Than I Thought!

Rieta’s eyes were blazing red and her cheeks were puffed up. I answered her with a calm smile.

“Is that so? But I still like Rieta?”

Hic. Rieta hiccuped.

Those wet silver eyes became quite round.

The cute child became shy from that single word, but that wasn’t the point here.

“Rieta. What did I say just now?”

Rieta flinched from my low voice.

I watched as she wriggled her fingers and her eyes became restless.

Okay. Did she realise her mistake now?

“D-Don’t hit your friend…..but, he’s not my friend!”

“Then, can I hit you if I’m not your friend?”

“He hit me first!”

“Yes, I understand it hurts because you got hit. But Rieta, Shuel must have been just as hurt as you.”

Rieta clenched her hands and shook her head vigorously like a furious cat.

Her silver eyes, now coated with anger and betrayal, stared at me.

“W-Why aren’t you taking my side?”

Tears welled up in Rieta’s eyes, indicating that she was sad once again.

I dabbed gently at Rieta’s eyes with a handkerchief and took a deep breath.

I could vaguely understand what Rieta was feeling.

Shuel, who grew up with unconditional love from his parents, was an object of envy.

No matter how much the people of the dukedom loved Rieta, they did not place Shuel behind Rieta.

Children can notice the amount of attention they receive from others with frightening accuracy. Rieta wanted me to prioritise her over Shuel. To take care of her as if I was the parent, as someone who was older than her. 

But I can’t love the child alone unconditionally.

It was not just me, but everyone else as well.

Even if Rieta were to go to the Marquis of Schrider like in the original plot, would she be loved more than the two sons in the household?

Please do not repost. Read only at Dropped Inks.

On the surface, Rieta, who was younger than the two young masters, would receive more attention. But would the Marquis really choose Rieta over his sons when they were placed on the scales together?

She was never going to be the first choice to anyone.

That is the fate of a child without parents.

“I’m telling you this now, not because I hate you or that you are bad. It’s because the act of hitting someone is wrong.”

I don’t hate Rieta. No, in fact, I quite liked Rieta.

But I can’t take responsibility for the child’s entire life.

“However Rieta, I will side with the right person.”

It was the loneliness that Rieta would have to carry for the rest of her life. A pain that she had to undeniably face.

Therefore, I am showing her this truth now to put my conscience at ease.

Unlike before when I spoke softly with a hint of affection despite acting nonchalant. This time, I spoke in a cold tone without fluctuating my voice.

I wasn’t just using words to describe this situation.

I don’t treat you any more special than anyone else. I drew the line very clearly and sharply.

Rieta opened her mouth slightly.

Her eyes trembled, perhaps due to shock or anger.

But in the end, the emotion in Rieta’s eyes was fear.

“I-I was wrong…”

I felt a little guilty as she stuttered her words while trying to hold back her tears.

“I’m sorry. I won’t fight. I won’t scream, I won’t do it again…”

Rieta didn’t scream or cry like before.

She just quivered and her small body stiffened.

I bit my lip. I was not happy with her appearance in the slightest.

I was too rash with my actions.

Rieta was too young to know that she had to face the world without anyone supporting her.

The moment I spread my arms wide, Rieta rushed in and hugged me tightly. Rieta and I were similar in size but Rieta was smaller.

I looked at the child and gently patted her soft hair.

“I’m sorry I said it so fiercely. I’m not angry at you.”

Rieta’s shoulders trembled in my arms. I regretted that I unintentionally stimulated the child’s trauma.

You are a beautiful and lovely child with no room for hate.

It was heartbreaking to see you, who deserves to be loved, recoil from even the slightest hint of coldness.

However, I also knew that it was not a trauma that could simply be solved with just a few words.

Instead of a clumsy comfort, I changed the subject to something lighter.

“It’s actually fun to play with Shuel, right?”

Nod.

“But you get annoyed when you have to play continuously and when you get angry, Shuel starts to talk a lot. And you don’t like that, do you?”

Nod, nod.

“But you were sad when Shuel said you weren’t his friend.”

Nod……Hingg.

Rieta burst into tears again.

The child cried foolishly and her face contorted itself like a dumpling.

While wiping the corner of Rieta’s eyes, I smiled.

“But…I’m proud that you didn’t say bad words. Good job.”

When Rieta and Shuel first fought, Rieta used some brutal curse words that even I had never heard of before.

It was a foul and alarming curse words that had even me, who knew all kinds of curses from the memories of my previous life, surprised.

Many of the Duke’s servants had heard it, but no one scolded Rieta.

Instead, they merely advised Rieta that those words were very bad and should not be used.

After that, no matter how angry Rieta had gotten, she did not swear.

Of course, the word ‘idiot’ was also not very kind, but wasn’t it cute that the word she shouted while crying was ‘idiots’…..

Now that she was feeling less sad, Rieta stopped crying.

I caressed the cheek of the child whose face had turned red.

Maybe it’s a little different for you.

The world that I have always known has been cruel…but for you it is different.

This world was full of opportunities, and so it is possible that they might really become a family to you.

Because you are the main character and a child who deserves more love than I do…

“Rwen?”

Rieta raised her head with a puzzled look.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Huh?”

“You made a weird face.”

Dismissing her sister’s anguish and worries for a ‘weird face’. You brat.

But instead of complaining, I laughed.

“You won’t understand even if I told you.”

“I figured.”

I laughed loudly at her blunt response. So, I answered her as she had wished.

“I was thinking that one day, you will definitely have parents and a loving home.”

At those words, Rieta made another baffled face. I smiled without explaining it further.

I hope there will be more people by your side who would love you more than I do.

Maybe someday, when you’re old enough, you’ll understand what I’m saying.

Because for now, you are still growing up. Simply crying, laughing, and fighting just like other children.

Still…fight in moderation, you punks.

Your older sister is going to have back pains at the age of 9 trying to stop your fights every time.

Pretending to be calm and mature as they fight is a terrible position to be in.

I got annoyed again, so I stretched her cheeks wide without hurting them. Rieta grimaced, but remained calm.

“Go and apologise to Shuel later. I have to talk to him first, so can you go and get Shuel?”

“Okay.”

“Don’t fight.”

“Okay. I’ll be back.”

I smiled and waved at Rieta as she ran away.

What a good response…

＊ ＊ ＊

I could see the children from afar.

After hearing the message from Rieta, Shuel turned his head towards me.

Then, he ran excitedly but froze when he noticed my expression.

He instantly had a look that displayed a strong desire to turn around.

I almost laughed at it.

“No, that…I accidentally hit her, but Rieta hit me harder so I…..”

Shuel, who had been hesitating, finally stood in front of me and gave me excuses.

“Then, did you apologise for accidentally hitting her?”

Shuel turned his face away and slowly stopped muttering.

Please do not repost. Read only at Dropped Inks.

After a subtle pause, Shuel glanced back at me and shook his head.

“If you didn’t say it was an accident, Rieta would think that you hit her on purpose. That’s why Rieta got angry too.”

Shuel didn’t say anything. As if a cat had got his tongue.

He seemed to realise his mistake.

“No, that…..”

“You like Rieta. You can’t be mean to the girl you like for no reason.”

At my words, Shuel stubbornly closed his mouth again in a pout.

I tilted my head at his sullen reaction.

“You don’t like her?”

Nod nod.

“Hmm, you’re lying.”

“It’s true!”

Shuel, whose cheeks had turned red, shouted loudly. I simply laughed. Yes, yes…you’re just being shy, aren’t you?

Shuel muttered shyly, wriggling his hands as he glanced at my smiling face as if he was revealing a secret.

“I-I like Rwen….”

Huh?

“Not Rieta. I like Rwen.”

Those shy words were like a slap to the back of my head.

I opened my mouth stupidly.

Only one word came to mind.

‘No.’

That’s impossible. You really can’t, Shuel! That’s not right.

How large was the age difference between you and I? It was at least twenty years difference.

I was about to seriously hold the child and express that, but I was startled when I saw his small hand stretched out to me.

Small. It was very, very small.

It felt like someone had slapped me in the back of my head once again.

Oh, yeah. That’s right. He was only an eight years old kid now.

It’s very common for young children his age to like good looking seniors.

Only then did I laugh in relief.

“I like you too, Shuel.”

It wasn’t a lie. I like Shuel. I just didn’t like him as a man.

I thought it was a bit deceiving, but when Shuel gets old enough to realise my deception, the childhood confessions will become but a faded memory.

Shuel’s face brightened distinctively at my answer.

“T-Then, let’s get married when we grow up!”

Watching Shuel’s eyes sparkling, I smiled.

Ten years. No, I’m sure he’ll forget about it after five years, but he sure has a big dream.

“Okay. If you still like me then, I will marry you.”

“Yes!”

Shuel smiled brightly, even after I added the slight clause…just in case.

I smiled and held onto the small hand that was holding onto mine tightly.

“So, does that mean you can fight?”

“No, that……”

You brat. You thought you had succeeded in changing the subject. 

Shuel took a quick glance again. Then, he raised his head in determination.

“But at this age, you’re supposed to fight and grow up!”

I admired that a little. That is quite right. Where did he hear that from?

“Yes, we can argue with each other over conflicts of interest. But, what about violence?”

“…We should not do that.”

“So you know that then?”

“Yes…..”

I gently stroked Shuel’s hair, who instantly became obedient, and added on a few more words.

“When you get angry, talk about what made you angry first and then figure out what you want to do about it. Fighting with each other will only make each other feel bad.”

Shuel nodded his head.

“I’ll apologise to Rieta first and I’ll tell her that I was wrong.”

In the end, he said he will apologise first as the older brother.

I smiled and grabbed Shuel’s hand.

“Come on, then. Let’s go.”