He Likes Me a Lot More Than I Thought!

After leaving the corridor and entering the garden, a green hair child was spotted swaying about in the middle of the field.

Rieta, who had been waiting for us, trembled while avoiding our gazes.

“…Sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

“Go on. Hug each other and apologise.”

Flinch. At my words, their eyes shook simultaneously.

They mumbled for a moment before their reply was heard.

“I don’t want to….”

“That’s a bit…..”

These kids.

Afraid that they’ll be scolded for refusing my sudden request, they avoided my gaze again.

I sighed before spreading my arms out to these little kids, who couldn’t make eye contact with me.

“Come here.”

Shuel and Rieta frowned, displaying their dislike for each other, but they quickly ran and hugged me.

Since my body was not that big, it felt like the children were embracing each other.

When their hands touched each other, Shuel and Rieta objected instantly.

“Go away.”

“You go away.”

These blockheads. I thought this was already over.

It hadn’t even been 10 minutes since both of you said you wouldn’t fight.

“If you guys fight again, I won’t hug you.”

The children’s mouth instantly shut simultaneously from my statement. I felt their hands fumbling behind their backs before holding each other’s hands.

“W-We’re not fighting. We’re very friendly. Right, Rieta?”

“….Yes, Shu.”

When you say that while squirming as if you wanted to let go of your hands as soon as possible, the size of your credibility doesn’t even reach a fingernail. But, I won’t waste this opportunity. 

“We have to play together now. Got it?”

Nod nod. The little kids immediately nodded. As always, they responded well.

The sun was starting to sting, so I sat on the mat that was laid out under the shade of a big tree. It was a little struggle to sit properly since Shuel and Rieta sat on both my sides.

It was summer, but it felt cool beneath the shade.

The children felt warm in my embrace. After soothing and reconciling the crying children, I began to get tired.

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Perhaps it was the same case with the children as they had also fallen asleep and their bodies began to tumble towards me. It was funny to see both of them unconsciously frowning as their heads touched each other.

I lent them each a leg. I was planning to stroke their hair, but my eyes closed within the next second.

We ended up all taking a nap.

The birds were chirping and the wind had a gentle breeze. It was a perfect day.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Rwen. What are you going to do today?”

That was the first question the children asked after waking up from their nap. I rubbed my numb legs where they slept to bring it back to life. 

Since there were no children of the same age as Shuel in the duke’s residence, Shuel spent his time reading books or playing with toys rather than running around. His physical health was handled through training.

But after Rieta and I arrived, Kendrick and Marius kicked us out and told us to run around the garden. So we needed to do something outside.

I, with the help of the memories from my previous life, had to come up with something.

“Let’s play hide and seek today.”

“Hide and seek?”

Shuel asked in a curious tone while Rieta’s silver eyes glistened beside him.

Mmm…cute.

They were like angels who didn’t cry, whine, get angry, or were very stubborn. It was a sight you don’t see often. I patted the children’s head with satisfaction and continued.

“One person will be the seeker and the other two will be the hiders. If the seeker manages to find the other team within a certain period of time, then the seeker wins. If they fail, the hiders win instead.”

“Okay!”

“I want to play it!”

As usual, the children never refused. Now that we’ve had our lunch, we were very energetic.

I had a gut feeling that in the future, I would have to play hide and seek for at least three hours from now on.

“For the rules, the seeker will seek for 30 minutes. Go and find a hiding spot within 30 seconds and after that, you can’t move from that spot. The area is limited to the garden and the first floor of the mansion. Also, don’t hide inside closets.”

The last request included my own selfish desire.

I was fed up with them because of Jeffrey. The smell of moths kept wafting inside the closets where things like winter clothes were kept.

A closet was a great hiding spot, so I was worried that they would reject it. But fortunately, the children nodded their heads without any objection.

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We decided the roles with rock, paper, and scissors. I became the seeker.

After I tied a pocket watch on each of the children’s wrists, they ran away to hide. It was nice to see them run side by side, as if they had never fought.

Those kids will become a couple in the future. Though, I wasn’t sure when they’ll fall in love.

Will they fight and cry as much as they do now? Anyways, they will love each other very much.

Maybe even get married.

I became a little worried as I thought about the future.

‘There will be a lot of gossip regarding Rieta being a commoner. What should I do?’

It would have been better if she had been adopted by Marquis Schrider like in the original story, but it’s already impossible. She would likely have a hard time as the Duchess.

It would be hard for Shuel too, so I hope I can help.

If only we could stay together until then……

‘Huh?’

I froze in place at the sudden thought.

The corners of my mouth went down. As though it was proof that I had been smiling all this time without realising it.

It was very hard for me to imagine a future that was not filled with happiness.

Previously, I had assumed that even if I did attempt to escape from my own house, I would either be kidnapped and sold again. Or live in poverty for the rest of my life.

But just now, it was evident that it was no longer the case…..

I was no longer afraid of someone barging into my room suddenly.

There was no need to fill my stomach with just a small amount of food during dinner and I no longer needed to attend difficult classes on days I am not feeling well. 

When I closed my eyes, the sun felt warm. It felt good to hear the clear laughters from time to time.

Before going to bed, someone would always read me a bedtime story. During breakfast, someone would greet me with a smile even if I came down late.

I was not used to being treated well, but it felt good enough to make me tear up.

I was so used to a terrible life since it was no different than my previous one, but now it has all changed…

If I had to choose between the darkness or the light, the choice was obvious.

I don’t want to leave…

I lowered my head and buried my face in my hands. I took a deep breath, in hope that I would not cry.

I knew that feeble goodwill doesn’t last long.

I was neither a child of this family nor the beloved heroine, so someday…I must leave.

I felt like I was going to cry, but it was not from sadness or from holding my breath, so I endured it.

Lifting my head, I clenched my fists tight with a determined face.

“It’s alright!”

When have I ever lived on a smooth path? If there’s no way, then I’ll just make one!

It’s not like there wasn’t any room for me in this spacious mansion.

If I compared the benefits of staying in the dukedom to another place, the former would win.

I’m sick of trying to prove my worth all the time.

It’s not easy to trust them blindly. But at least, among the many people I’ve met, the people of the Duke of Sebrirua were the warmest.

Of course, it could all be fake. The children may reject in the future and the duke’s favour may wither.

But up until now, I have nothing left to lose so I choose to stick to the safest option. Therefore, it was alright to gamble just this once.

The feeling that this might be an outrageous idea did not leave me. But strangely enough, I didn’t feel bad about my decision.

As I stood still in the sunlight while counting, I burst into laughter.

Here, I could breathe freely. Fresh air circulated deep within my lungs.

Ah, I think I’ll survive.

＊ ＊ ＊

After counting over 30 seconds, I slowly set out to find the children.

Although it was a pretty unfair condition for me to be the seeker, my footsteps were still awfully slow.

The places where kids would hide were all the same.

In extreme cases, they would hide behind a curtain and leave their feet sticking out.

Even if I heard a giggle underneath the coffee table or behind a pillar, I should just pretend I didn’t hear them.

But, what if I find them too quickly?

‘Wow, Rwen! How did you find us? I thought I hid really well!’

‘….I thought Rwen would find him first.’

I imagined the children’s response in my head.

There were times when Shuel and Rieta admired me, since I knew a lot of things. So I thought it would be the same case this time as well.

Before I knew it, the corners of my lips rose happily. I stopped grinning and glanced around.

No, it’s fine. It’s good to be praised. Yeah, the kids were adorable.

…What am I doing when I am already this old?

I walked slowly while fanning my face with an abashed expression.

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Where are they? I decided to not look inside the closet. We played a lot in the garden earlier, so I don’t think they’ll go there.

Were they behind the curtains? Or behind an open door?

I slowly began to search all the spots I could think of but unexpectedly, the kids were nowhere to be found. 

‘Maybe because the house was so big.’

This time, I searched for the harder spots to guess.

Behind the main staircase or between the drying sheets the maids laid out under the sun.

But the kids weren’t there either, and the time was running out.

‘Where are you guys?’

When only 10 minutes were left, I dumped my dignity and started to rummage through the first floor and the garden like a mouse.

Yet, not a single hair of the children could be seen anywhere.

Based on the children’s character, they wouldn’t break the rules. That must mean they had hid incredibly well.

The pocket watch on my wrist continued to tick and tick.

There was only five minutes left and I still haven’t seen an inch of the children’s clothes.

Right…it’s a big blow to look down on a child.