Episode 10: I Gave Her a Goodnight Kiss.
“You know! Boing! And then! And then, Mommy! Boom! And then, Sere… Sergios? Sermios? Sere…! It was amazing!”
I thought we could lie in bed together as usual and have a little chat before falling asleep.
But today, Ati just wouldn’t stop talking.
She was endlessly chattering about what happened during the day, still excited.
Even as she lay in bed, her face was flushed as she explained everything to me with wild gestures.
I nodded with a smile.
Yes, an angel. The way she flutters her short limbs is the best. It’s like she’s about to sprout wings and fly away. You can fly if you want! I’ll catch you!
But I’m glad.
I was worried that today’s events might have traumatized her, but thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m really glad about that.
In the Otome Game, the villainess Ati, when dealing with Eric, her fiancé and a Capture Target, would obsessively talk about the scar on her back, almost reveling in her misfortune, over and over and over and over again, naggingly, naggingly, naggingly.
Probably, along with being traumatized, she felt that the scar was like a “bond” connecting her and Eric. She wanted Eric to understand that, to remember it, so she kept harping on it.
Ati has a weak relationship with her father, the Marquis. And it seemed that she was not only treated coldly but even despised by her Stepmother in the Otome Game.
I would never do such a thing. Because Ati is an angel. A treasure, a treasure. A supreme treasure.
Now, the problem is what comes next.
Since the incident ended in failure, many things will probably change from here on out.
It’s very different from the settings in the Otome Game.
Ati doesn’t have a scar on her back.
Also, because of that, the engagement with the Duke’s family didn’t become rock solid.
Now, how will that tutor (Samuel) and the Head Nanny (Maggie) react…?
I have to be careful from here on out.
Until Ati becomes a wonderful, independent woman, I won’t let my guard down!
As I clenched my fist in my heart and raised it to the sky, Ati touched my face with a puzzled look.
“Is Mommy Sergios?”
…Ah, that’s right. Ati always looks at my face up close.
I guess Ati would notice.
But. If the truth were to be revealed from Ati’s mouth, it would be troublesome.
“I’m Selene. Sergios is… I wonder who that was.”
I whispered gently and stroked her head softly.
Ati looked like she didn’t understand.
I’m sorry. I lied.
But you know.
I will protect Ati, no matter what lies I have to tell.
“Was Sergios cool?”
“He was cool!”
“I see!”
I’m glad if I could become Ati’s hero.
Okay. From now on, when I protect Ati in the shadows, I’ll become Sergios.
A hero in the shadows. Isn’t that cool?
“Then, I hope Sergios appears in your dreams.”
“Yeah!”
Ati is more excited than usual. There’s no sign of her going to sleep at all. Tonight is going to be a long night.
But I’m happy. She’s usually quiet and doesn’t express her emotions much. I’m happy to see Ati being so childlike.
Oh, man. Awesome! I welcome nights like this! Let’s party all night, just the two of us, yeah!!
Knock, knock, knock.
What poured cold water on my excited feelings was the sound of knocking on the door.
…Who is it at this hour?
Along with my voice telling them to come in, the door opened, and standing there was—
“Father?”
Ati stiffened suddenly because she didn’t expect to see that person standing there.
Yes, it was Ati’s father, Marquis Karamanlis.
The Marquis has never visited when I’ve been in this room. Judging from Ati’s reaction, he probably hasn’t come here much at all.
Ati froze, unsure of what to do.
I gently stroked Ati’s head.
“It’s your father. He came to say goodnight.”
I explained.
“Goodnight… greeting?”
Ati looked at me and the Marquis with wide eyes. He’s never done that before, so of course she’s surprised.
“That’s right.”
I gently parted Ati’s bangs and softly kissed her forehead.
“Right, Marquis-sama?”
Then, I slowly turned to the Marquis and nodded slightly.
At that moment, the Marquis flinched.
“Isn’t that right, Marquis-sama?”
It’s your turn.
I told him with my eyes.
The Marquis hesitated for a while, then came to the side of Ati’s bed with stiff, awkward movements.
But then he stopped moving again.
Ati was also waiting with her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding.
I kissed Ati’s forehead again, as if to show off to the Marquis.
“Goodnight, Ati.”
Then I got out of bed.
I stood up smoothly and stared intently at the stiff Marquis.
Go. Now. Don’t miss the chance.
I put all my thoughts into my eyes and slammed them into him.
Receiving that, the Marquis put his hand on Ati’s bed.
The bed creaked.
With slow movements, he put his hand on Ati’s forehead.
And then.
Slowly, he kissed Ati’s forehead.
“G… goodnight, Ati.”
Raising his body, the Marquis muttered.
Alright. You can do it if you try.
“Good night, Father.”
Ati replied with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
I understand. She’s happy.
Ati, overwhelmed with emotion and about to burst into tears, covered her head with the blanket as if to hide it. What a cute gesture. Is that even allowed?
The squeezing sensation spreading in my chest. Oh! If I were shown that, I would hug Ati with the blanket and roll around in the bed!!
I won’t do it now. Because the Marquis is here.
If he wasn’t here? I would. In a second.
In response to Ati’s reply, the Marquis slowly stroked Ati’s head once over the blanket.
The Marquis’s face, when he raised it, was as red as Ati’s.
“Well done.”
I whispered those words to his back.
＊＊＊
I was summoned to the Marquis’s bedroom.
Well, I know very well that it doesn’t mean that in that sense.
Is this the first time I’ve come here since the day I made the Marquis cry?
Since then, he’s been avoiding me thoroughly.
I was led inside and entered the bedroom.
Ati is waiting, and I had no intention of taking my time, so I walked to the middle of the room and then slowly turned around.
The Marquis, who closed the door, sighed heavily and slumped his shoulders, which had been tense until just now. He must have been very nervous.
Well, it can’t be helped. He’s never really interacted with Ati before. It’s rehabilitation, rehabilitation.
I want him to interact with Ati properly from here on out and make her feel loved.
However.
Being called here means that I’ll be given an explanation about the matter from this afternoon.
I don’t know anything other than the fact that I saved Ati, so I’d really like to hear the details.
I was waiting for him to say something, but he took off his jacket and unfastened his cufflinks, showing no sign of speaking.
I had no choice but to start the conversation myself.
“What happened at the Andreu Estate today? I believe it was a meeting for the engagement, wasn’t it? What happened to Ati’s hair and her cheeks?”
Of course, I started the conversation as if I didn’t know anything.
The Marquis was there, but he probably didn’t realize it was me. My cross-dressing is undetectable to anyone! Whyyyy!!!
I tried to ask gently, not in an accusatory way, but my voice might have become a little harsh.
Well, I hope he just thinks I was impatient.
At my words, the Marquis glanced at me.
He put his hand in his vest pocket once—and then took it out without grabbing anything.
Then, he turned his body directly towards me, looked straight at me, and opened his mouth.
“Do you recognize the name, Sergios?”
I didn’t expect that name to come out of the Marquis’s mouth first, so I couldn’t help but stiffen my body.