TAMWSFB 04

Chapter 4

 The Maid Hates Me

I named the little fluffball Moco.

Because it’s moko-moko (fluffy and round), and just too cute!

Thanks to Moco, I’ve finally stopped having those dangerous magical outbursts whenever I look at Serios-nii-sama’s beautiful face.

Moco, you’re my savior! My guardian angel!

Thanks to you, I can fully enjoy my dear brother’s adorable childhood to my heart’s content.
Ehehehe~

But… maybe because I always sit there grinning like an idiot after my brother leaves, our exclusive maid, Miranda, has come to really dislike me.

Well… I can’t completely blame her.

After all, I was born in a near-dead state and stayed unconscious for ages—and then suddenly I wake up one day, only to sit there staring at my brother’s face with a creepy smile.

My body may be that of a one-year-old, but my mind is that of a sixteen-year-old fangirl.
Of course she finds me unsettling.

But my love for my brother is pure! Totally pure! There’s nothing indecent about it!

I mean, back in my previous life, I was the president of the “Let’s Make Serios Happy Club”!
Sure, it was just a fan group on social media, but it had a lot of members!

That just shows how many people wished for his happiness.

To all the members of that club—don’t worry.
Now that I’ve been reborn as his little sister, I’ll make sure Serios-nii-sama lives a happy life!

“Such a creepy child,” Miranda muttered, frowning as she peered down at me.
I must’ve been caught daydreaming about my brother again.

“You’re over a year old and still can’t talk or stand properly.”

Well, excuse me! I’ve spent almost my whole life unconscious up until now!

But don’t worry—I fully plan to grow up nice and healthy from here on out.

Just as I was thinking that—
suddenly, pain shot through my leg.

“Y-ow…”

What? What just happened?
I can’t even sit up yet, so I can’t see what’s going on.

Then came another sharp sting.

She’s… pinching me.

I froze, too shocked to cry, but Moco suddenly leapt forward and headbutted Miranda in defense!

Unfortunately, fluffball attacks aren’t very effective.

Moco just bounced right back like a soft puffball.

Miranda looked down coldly, picked Moco up between her fingers, and sneered.

“What an annoying little thing.”

(Stop! What are you going to do to Moco?!)

I wanted to scream, but the only sounds that came out were baby babbles—
“Ahh… uuuh…”

No real words yet.

I flailed and kicked, trying to reach her, but my tiny arms couldn’t.

Then Miranda walked toward the window and opened it.

No. No, no—
Don’t tell me she’s going to—!

“AAAAAAHHHH!!”

I screamed as loudly as my little lungs would allow.

Someone—anyone—help!
She’s going to throw Moco out the window!

My crying must’ve startled Miranda, because she suddenly froze, flustered.

“Quiet down already!” she hissed.

“Waaahhhhhh!! Waaaaaaaahhh!!”

She tossed Moco aside and hurried to pick me up.
But I hit her with my fists, squirming and sobbing.

“You little—ugh!”

Her face twisted in anger, and she lifted me as if to slam me down—

—but then, from the hallway, came my brother’s voice.

“Leticia!”

“Ni-ni!! Ni-ni!! (Big brother! Help me, big brother!)”

Miranda froze. Then she quickly adjusted her expression and held me up like nothing had happened.

Let go! Let go of me!

“Waaaaahhh! Waaaaaahhh!”

The door burst open. Serios-nii-sama stormed into the room.

Big brother! You came!

“Leticia!”

“Ni-ni!”

I reached out to him through my tears.

He snatched me out of Miranda’s arms and held me tight.
Even though he’s only six years older, he held me so firmly and protectively that I instantly felt safe.

“Uwaaaaaahhhh… I was so scared…!”

“Ni-ni… Ni-ni…”

I buried my face in his chest and cried harder.

Ahh, his nice clothes are totally soaked with my tears and snot… I’m so sorry.
But my baby body wouldn’t stop crying even if I wanted it to.

My brother gently patted my back, in rhythm with my heartbeat—
thump, thump—and somehow, that steady touch began to calm the wild surge of magic inside me.

Then his voice, cold but shaking with anger:

“Why is Leticia crying so hard?”

His tone was too sharp for a child. Miranda visibly shrank back, trying to come up with an excuse.

But my brother didn’t give her the chance.

“Leave us.”

Just one command—quiet, but absolute.

Miranda bowed stiffly and left the room.

Once she was gone, Serios-nii-sama hugged me tightly again, then gently placed me back in bed.

Then he glanced around the room.

“…There you are.”

In the corner, he found a crumpled-up little fluff—Moco.

He carefully lifted Moco onto his palm and set the puff beside my face.

“Ahh (Moco! You’re safe!)”

Moco wriggled and snuggled against my cheek, his flattened fluff puffing back up to its usual round, fluffy state.

“Ni-ni! (Big brother, thank you!)”

I smiled at him with all the gratitude in my heart.

“Leti, you look happy again.”

Then came that smile—pure, radiant, and utterly heart-melting.

Ahhhhhhh—

Where’s my camera?! Where’s the screenshot button?!

My magic started to swell again from the sheer beauty of his smile, but Moco absorbed it all, saving me from another near-death experience.

Thank you, Moco.
I almost ascended to heaven just now.

So dangerous. I really need to build resistance to my brother’s “cuteness attacks.”

Just when I was finally calming down, basking in the joy of being with him, my brother turned toward the door.

“You might as well come in now,” he said quietly.

Someone was standing there.

I looked toward the doorway—
and saw a man I’d never seen before.

Who… could that be?