Please Show Off

“In that case, be sure to give it your all, and keep her safe at all costs. I’ll be sure to tell all my executives to warmly watch over you two youthful lovebirds from afar. And to Lord Savini as well.”

“Thank you very much. By all means, be my guest. If possible, having everyone cheering for me from the side would be greatly reassuring.”

“Now now, I’m not going to do anything that boorish. A battle for love should be done fair and square, right?”

(Oh right, even Sofia-san probably hasn’t fully believed Leonardo’s words either.)

But, when it comes to high society, this was still an important exchange to have.

(What’s really necessary is simply [an excuse that is convincing enough] that’s all. Sofia-san knows Leonardo well so I doubt she truly believes that Leonardo is actually jealous or anything……..but Marquis Savini or the members of the Ranieri family will simply laugh it off as something childish and won’t pay much attention to us from now.)

Of course, Sofia wasn’t going to be completely relaxed with either Leonardo or Francesca and would still remain slightly cautious.

That’s why she openly brought it up in front of them, to emphasize [The Ranieri Family is always watching you]. A warning but nothing more.

“Do your best, missy. If you ever get tired from being surrounded by these boys, you can always come and hang out with us okay?”

Sofia stood up, and grinned while looking at Francesca.

“And especially when you’re in the mood to dress up. I’ll be sure to make you look cute.”

“…….Yes!”

Sofia really was just so cool. And once again, Francesca looked at Sofia with an admiring gaze, aspiring to one day be like her as well.

***

After leaving Sofia’s villa, and hour had passed.

Sitting on top of wooden boat floating on the lake, Francesca exclaimed loudly while being captivated by the surrounding scenery.

“Amazing amazing, as expected of Graziano!! You’re able to move the boat so fast even without using any skill!”

“It’s not really that amazing. If it’s just you on the boat, anyone that’s slightly trained could do it.”

Graziano, who was sitting opposite to her, had been rowing the oars in a consistent manner. He had rolled up his sleeves and his well shaped biceps were popping veins for everyone to see.

“I’ll have to thank Sofia-san later. For lending us such a nice boat.”

The boat was owned by the Ranieri family as well, and was a rowing boat about 4m long.

It’s hull had been painted a vivid turquoise blue and the seats had been covered with a fluffy carpet. There were cushions on those seat, wrapped in silk covers, making the interior seating of the boat to be quite the pleasant experience as well.

There were a bunch of lower decorated all around the boat, and there were even a bunch of fruits laid on the table. While enjoying her seat under the open parasol, Francesca shifted her attention to look at the glittering surface of the lake.

“You can even hear the birds chirping from the forest. And the lake has an emerald coloured tinge yet so clear and transparent. It’s beautiful!”

“Young miss, please don’t get too excited and fall into the lake okay? The way you’re leaning is a bit dangerous.”

“I’m fine. I learnt how to swim with clothes on during my self-defence classes I’ll have you know!”

“That’s not really the problem. I’ll be killed by the boss regardless. Haah, seriously, I have to babysit you through everything eh…..”

His way of talking was awfully impertinent but that was simply how Graziano always was. While she felt relieved seeing him like that, Graziano soon began to speak again.

“Are you sure it was okay to come here, just the two of us?………In truth, you wanted to invite Aldini and Serranova as well, right?’

“………”

It was just the two of them that had come to the lake. Hearing her little bro’s question, Francesca shook her head.

“……….nope, I wanted to talk about something with Graziano, just the two of us.”

The reason they had come to the middle of the lake like this was in truth to talk in secret about something. There was no better place to confirm that there was nobody around them to hear anything after all.

On the vast still surface of the lake, it was just the two of them on the boat and no one else.

“I mean, you didn’t look very fine, Graziano.”

“…….”

As for what she wanted to talk about, sure Graziano had already guessed it as well.

(After accepting the order from Luka-sama, he said not to be worried about his father but..)

In the end, these things were not so simple that one could cut off that easily.

(When talking with the Maruqis, Graziano was………just like when I first met him as children. His eyes had the same look to them.)

“……….young miss.”

Graziano stopped his rowing hands, and then looked directly at Francesca.

“Are you planning to order me to withdraw from here and leave?”

Graziano seemed to frown painfully as he spoke those words.

He was not the type to change his expressions much so it was rare to see such vivid emotion on his face.

Even more so, when in front of Francesca.

“Even if so, I……..”

“That’s not it, Graziano.”

Francesca quickly interjected, as Graziano opened his eyes in shock.

“I know very well. Graziano, you are both strong and courageous. You are a child that has always been able to face his fears head on.”

“……..!”

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When he was small, Graziano had been deeply wounded, both mentally and physically.

And yet, he was able to oppose the adults, and never gave up, and that’s why he was able to survive and get to here.

“When you were 10yrs old, seeing me almost get kidnapped, you even awoke your skills and saved me.”

“……..”

“I already know, Graziano, you’re not the type to run away from any kind of situation. In that case…”

What Francesca wanted to tell him was not an order to go against the orders of the king and the family head, and run away from his father.

“All I can do is give you a push to your back, that’s all. I’ll become both the reason why you can challenge anything, as well as become your protective charm to ward off your fears.”

“……….young miss.”

“After all, you are the strongest when you’re working hard for my sake. That’s why, Graziano…”

She closed the umbrella.

“Don’t lose to that father of yours.”

Under the shining sun, Francesca stared directly at Graziano.

“——-Protect him, and don’t let him die, and show off to him that the boy he threw away and abandoned, lived up to become my best and strongest servant.”

“——-!”

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