A few weeks have passed since then.
"Please look, Lord Liam. I made flowers with magic."
The delicate rose she'd conjured hovered between her small palms, its petals shifting from pale pink to deep crimson as she concentrated. The magical construct caught the afternoon light streaming through the parlor windows, throwing prismatic reflections across her face.
"Lord Liam, would you like some tea cakes?"
She held out a silver plate laden with tiny confections—each one perfectly arranged, dusted with powdered sugar that sparkled like fresh snow. The scent of vanilla and butter wafted between us, sweet and warm.
"Hehe… the stars are beautiful tonight, Lord Liam."
Liam-sama, Liam-sama, Liam-sama…
Erica has grown remarkably attached to me.
Her expressions are still on the subtle side, but compared to when we first met, she's far more emotional and expressive.
It was a bit surprising that she would actively invite me to play and such, but well, it's a happy development for me.
After all, ever since I reincarnated, I've done nothing but swing a sword or mutter over magic tomes. I don't remember how old I was in my previous life, but I'm certain I wasn't this young. So the idea of playing with kids my age never appealed to me.
On that point, Erica while the same age is exceptionally mature, and more importantly, her face is so unbelievably beautiful that simply being near her is satisfying.
"…Are you listening, Lord Liam?"
The sharp note in her voice cut through my reverie. While I was lost in thought, I noticed her staring at me with narrowed, accusing eyes. Those blue irises had darkened to something closer to storm clouds, and her lips—usually soft and neutral—pressed into a thin line.
She doesn't show many expressions, but I can tell. This is the angry look.
The temperature in the sitting room seemed to drop a few degrees. Even the dust motes suspended in the sunbeams appeared to slow their lazy dance.
"Ah— y-yes, of course I'm listening. Umm…"
I scrambled for purchase in a conversation I'd completely lost track of. What had we been talking about? Magic? Tea cakes? The weather?
"I asked you what kind of clothes you like, Lord Liam." Her voice was precise, each word enunciated with the careful control of someone restraining themselves from something far less polite. "You really weren't listening, were you?"
"M-my apologies… I was just thinking about something."
"Is it something more important than my question?"
She stepped closer, her movement fluid despite the layers of her pale lavender dress. The fabric whispered against itself—silk on silk—and I caught the faint scent of rosewater and something darker, like burnt incense. Her rose-gold hair, today adorned with tiny silver pins shaped like stars, swayed with the motion.
Her sapphire eyes came near, and I felt as though they'd swallow me whole. They reflected my own face back at me, distorted and uncertain.
…No, no, that won't do. If I space out again, she'll get even angrier.
I took her hand—soft and cool as always, like touching fine porcelain—and smiled as charmingly as I could. I deployed what I privately called "maximum charm offensive": the slight head tilt, the warm eye contact, the gentle squeeze of her fingers.
And she went BOF!!—as if a sound effect exploded in the air between us—her face turning bright red.
The transformation was instantaneous and total. The angry storm clouds in her eyes evaporated, replaced by something flustered and overwhelmed. Even the tips of her ears turned pink, visible through the silk curtain of her hair.
Heh. I, Liam , am actually quite handsome.
Perhaps because this is an otome-game-style world, the average face score around here was already high. But I think I rank pretty high even among them—I'd caught more than one maid sneaking glances when they thought I wasn't paying attention.
It sounds slightly narcissistic, but hey, no reason not to use what I've got.
Even a seven-year-old girl is weak to a handsome face.
"S-stop that…! J-just answer the question!"
She snatches her hand away and jumps back a few steps.Looks like it was too stimulating.
Now then, clothes preferences…
She probably means what she wants me to wear, but honestly, anything she wears looks good.
But if I say that, she'll get flustered and mad again…
Best to keep it neutral—
"Excuse me, Liam. May I have a moment?"
Just as I was about to answer, a deep, resonant voice came as the door opened.
"Lord Adelbater!?"
Standing there was… her father!?
Count Adelbater filled the doorway with his presence—tall and broad-shouldered, with the same sharp features as his daughter but none of her delicacy. His hair was a practical brown, already showing threads of silver at the temples despite his relative youth. The afternoon light from behind cast him partially in shadow, making his expression difficult to read.
I reflexively stood up in surprise.
In all the weeks I'd visited this mansion, I rarely encountered him. He was probably buried in work; while I'd grown familiar with several servants, the number of times I'd spoken with him was countable on one hand.
"…Father."
Erica's voice dropped several degrees in temperature. If her earlier anger at me had been a summer storm, this was the deep cold of winter settling over a frozen lake.
"Sorry, Erii . I need to borrow him for a moment."
Erica radiated a very not pleased aura.
No amount of apology from him will calm her; she looked ready to curse her own father to death. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and I swore I saw the shadow beneath her feet darken and writhe.
"It's fine. It seems Lord Liam isn't interested in me today anyway."
She turned away with a sharp huff, her rose-gold hair whipping around like a curtain falling.
Ahh… she's pouting.
Honestly, Father, couldn't your timing be any worse?
I know very well what he wants to talk about, but still…
I should soothe her first.
"Lady Erica."
I lean close to her ear, quickly.
And whisper—
"Anything you wear is beautiful on you."
A surprise ambush whisper.
She froze completely, and before she could recover, I let the Count lead me out of the room.
And behind me, I feel—rather than hear—the silent scream she releases.
"…It seems you two have grown quite close."
"Yes, of course we have."
Despite the complicated feelings he couldn't quite hide, I answered him boldly.