PLMYP 33

Chapter 33

The little girl had long, shiny silver hair tied up high like a ponytail. Her blue eyes peeked out from behind a wooden pillar.

She looked about six or seven years old.

‘Is she from the Marquis’ family?’

Though her dress was messy with dirt and leaves, it still looked expensive. And the fact that she was walking freely around the guest annex’s garden said enough.

Janice knelt down to match the child’s eye level and smiled gently as she held out the ball in her hand.

“Hello, young lady. Were you looking for this ball?”

The girl, hugging the tree trunk tightly and glancing around with wary eyes, slowly nodded her head.

“Then… may I come over and give it to you?”

Shake shake.

“Hm?”

Instead of letting Janice approach, the little girl stepped out from behind the tree and quickly ran over, holding out her hands.

Ah, she meant she’d come to her.

Janice smiled unconsciously. She dusted off the ball a little more and gently placed it in the girl’s small hands.

The girl lightly tapped the ball a few times, just like Janice had done, then placed it on the ground. She reached into the cute bag slung diagonally across her shoulder.

She pulled out two candies wrapped in luxurious paper.

“Oh… is this for me?”

Nod nod.

“Hm, thank you. Since there are two, we can each have one, right?”

Smile.

‘Oh my gosh… too cute.’

Janice held back the strong urge to squeal. The late Countess would’ve been shocked by such a blunt reaction.

There were two candies: one red, one yellow.

The wrappers had simple fruit pictures—strawberry and lemon.

Janice, who liked strawberries, naturally reached for the red one. But then the girl’s expression slightly dropped.

‘Oh, does she like strawberries?’

So Janice passed over the red candy and picked up the yellow one instead. The girl’s face lit up immediately.

‘Yup, she must really like strawberries.’

Fighting the urge to laugh out loud, Janice picked up the lemon candy.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it, young lady.”

The girl unwrapped the strawberry candy and popped it into her mouth with a big smile.

Then she looked up at Janice, clearly expecting her to eat the candy too.

So Janice unwrapped the lemon one and popped it in her mouth.

The sourness of the lemon made her salivate, but the sweetness that followed was delightful. She smiled, and the girl smiled even brighter in return.

“It’s really delicious.”

Big smile!

‘Ugh, seriously… too adorable.’

Janice’s hand twitched, wanting to pat the girl’s head.

As if reading her mind, the girl leaned forward and tilted her head toward Janice.

Was she really offering her head to be patted?

Still unsure, Janice gently patted the round little head.

The girl looked so pleased and let out a cheerful giggle.

“Oh my gosh…”

If only I had a little sister like this!

‘Mom, why didn’t you give me a younger sister?’

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Janice stood up and brushed her skirt. Then, realizing her manners, she gave a polite bow.

“I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Janice Elpheus. I was invited to stay at the annex by Marquis Blair. May I ask your name?”

The girl’s eyes widened, and she fidgeted nervously.

It was just a simple question, so why was she acting like that?

Then—

“Charlotte! I told you to wait a moment. Where did you go again?”

The girl flinched and quickly grabbed the ball from the ground.

She was about to run off, but then pointed in the direction the voice had come from.

“Hm?”

“Charlotte! If you can hear me, come back! I’m in the greenhouse!”

At the sound of the name Charlotte, the girl pointed again firmly.

Wait…

“Charlotte?”

When Janice murmured the name, the girl smiled brightly and tapped her chest.

That was her name, it seemed.

“Charlotte! If you don’t come right now, no lemon candy for you this week!”

Gasping, Charlotte took off running toward the voice but didn’t forget to wave back at Janice.

Janice waved back, watching the little figure run off.

Then she muttered to herself,

“Could it be that she… can’t speak?”

---

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Janice’s guess turned out to be true.

“These are my younger sisters. This is Elizabeth Blair, and this is Charlotte Blair.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Elpheus.”

Elizabeth gave a graceful nod. Charlotte also followed her sister’s lead with a neat bow and a sweet smile.

Her expression was just as bright and adorable as earlier. Janice felt like reaching across the wide table to pat her head again.

“Just so you know, Charlotte can’t speak. It’s not that she refuses to, so I hope you understand.”

“Oh, of course. I would never misunderstand. How could anyone think that when she smiles so sweetly?”

Janice shook her head firmly, and Irenea smiled warmly at her.

“Thank you for saying that. And just call her Charlotte—she prefers that name. Right, Charlotte?”

Big smile.

‘Ah… she’s dangerous. Too cute for this world.’

An angel like her really existed?

While Janice absentmindedly stirred her soup, Charlotte met her gaze and smiled again, munching on a piece of bread with both hands.

Then Charlotte pointed at the bread on the table while glancing at her sister, Elizabeth.

“Hm? Oh, right.”

Elizabeth quickly understood what Charlotte wanted just by her gestures.

“Lady Janice—ah, may I call you that?”

“Of course. Whatever’s comfortable.”

“Then you can call me Ellie.”

Elizabeth smiled expectantly at Janice, but Janice didn’t understand what she was expecting.

So she just blinked, confused. Elizabeth then pointed at the bread again with a knife.

“Lady Janice, try this bread.”

“Huh?”

At her signal, a servant brought the bread to Janice’s plate.

It was soft and white, filled with little walnuts.

“Mmm, it’s delicious.”

“I’m glad you like it. It’s Charlotte’s favorite.”

Janice looked over at Charlotte, who clapped softly with joy at seeing her enjoy it.

Irenea, watching the scene fondly, set down her spoon and said with a laugh,

“She loves watching people eat the things she likes. So don’t be surprised if she suddenly gives you something.”

“Oh…”

That reminded Janice of something.

She hesitated, then asked,

“Does Charlotte like lemon candy?”

“It’s her favorite. Did she give you one already?”

So it wasn’t strawberry, but lemon that she liked most.

No wonder someone had shouted earlier that she wouldn’t get lemon candy.

How could such a sweet child exist?

Janice blushed slightly and looked at Charlotte fondly. She sliced a baguette, spread some apple jam and cream on it, and offered it to the girl.

“This is how my late mother taught me to eat bread. It’s my favorite way.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she quickly took the plate. She sliced the bread into bite-sized pieces and popped one into her mouth.

She didn’t even notice the cream on her cheek as she clapped happily.

Janice smiled at the sight.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Suddenly, Elizabeth cleared her throat loudly.

Janice turned toward her, confused, and Elizabeth gave her that same expectant look from earlier.

‘…What is it?’

What does she want?

To be honest, Janice felt a little awkward around Elizabeth, who was about her age.

‘Janice, be real.’

‘You think you’re on her level?’

Even the daughter of Viscount Schultz had sneered at her name in the jewelry shop—until she found out that Janice was with a Blair knight.

The Blair name clearly held immense power.

‘Maybe this girl is waiting for me to embarrass myself…’

Is she hoping to see me act like a poor girl so she can criticize me?

Tap tap

While nervously sipping her water, Janice noticed Charlotte tapping the table.

She looked up and saw Charlotte pointing at the baguette Janice had made earlier.

“You liked it? Want another one?”

Janice picked up the knife again, but Charlotte shook her head.

‘Then what…?’

Janice frowned slightly, confused.

Charlotte looked toward her sister and motioned with her hands again.

‘Ugh… I don’t know what she wants.’

Before Janice could stress further, Irenea spoke up.

“Ellie, why the long face? You don’t like today’s menu?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“Hmmm… Damon, bring a bottle of Ruilt Mountain apple wine.”

“Ruilt Mountain apple wine?”

Elizabeth instantly brightened. Irenea smiled knowingly.

“Today’s a special day, so just one glass. Lady Janice, would you like some too?”

“Oh… sure. One glass is fine.”

“Let’s toast, then. Though Charlotte will have to settle for apple juice.”

The two almost-adults had a bit of wine, and Charlotte had a sweet glass of juice.

“Welcome to the Blair estate, Lady Janice.”

As Janice took a few sips of the cool wine, her nerves began to ease.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth quickly emptied her glass and looked longingly at Irenea.

“Just one more? Please?”

“Hmm… alright. Since apples are your favorite, just one more.”

“Yay! I’ll really drink it slowly this time.”

But of course, she finished it quickly again.

Now staring at her empty glass with longing eyes, Elizabeth looked utterly disappointed.

‘She must really love apples…’

Then it hit Janice.

‘Wait. Was she hoping I’d give her one with jam too?’