Kays Translations

Chapter 36: Stuffed Toy Craftsman

Miss Hilda and Miss Carolina had to look at the stuffed animals with reluctance because my sister Rosalia had issued a no-touching order. After looking at the stuffed animals while we ignored them, they returned to their seats and said,

“It’s not fair.”

Her sister, Miss Carolina, was also silent, but nodded her head. Why not? How can you come to that conclusion? It’s only natural for me to give my sister special treatment. Why should I be called unfair for that?

Unreasonably, I looked at my brother Alex. But his face was smiling.

What is this feeling? Did he already know this was going to happen? Did he know what was going to happen and invite the two of them to the Margrave Heine’s house?

If so, there is only one answer that can be drawn. It means that I will end up making stuffed animals for the two of them.

I’m not a stuffed animal maker. …… I admit that I was so happy to make Rosalia happy that I made her a series of stuffed animals.

“Julius, can you do me a favor?”

“…… only one per person, sir.”

“Then I’ll have a bear!”

“I’ll have a bunny.”

“I want a capybara, brother!”

Why is my sister mixed in there?　It’s okay though, because I can’t say no to just Rosalia now.

After all that, we got to know each other and played card games, karuta and sugoroku together.

Brother Alex said, “When did you start playing these games ……?” He was surprised. I thought it would be troublesome if he found out that I was the one who had developed those games, so I decided to keep quiet about it.

However, Rosalia revealed everything and got all snippy. Brother Alex and Miss Hilda looked at me like, “It was you after all.”

I don’t know if this is a bad thing in more ways than one.

After Miss Hilda and Miss Carolina left, I got to work on making stuffed toys. As soon as dinner was over, I started working on my needlework, and Mother said, “Why don’t you become a stuffed animal maker already?” She suggested, in a tone that made it hard to tell whether she was joking or serious.

When I looked at her ambiguously, my mother, who knew about the situation, added more work, saying, “Then I’ll have a capybara too.” Why are you trying to compete with your own daughter, you!

I don’t make stuffed animals for fun!

After two days of diligent needlework, I finally finished the stuffed animals. I asked my brother Alex to deliver it to them, and he suggested that we invite the Marquis Mulan’s daughters to the Margrave Heine household.

I firmly refused, but they said they wanted to pick it up in person when it was finished.

Brother Alex, when did you start dating Miss Hilda? We didn’t talk about that the other day, did we? Brother Cain also noticed it and looked at him with half-lidded eyes.

In the afternoon, Marquis Mulan’s daughters visited the Heine family again. They seemed to have some kind of tea cakes in their hands. Without so much as greeting each other, we immediately went to the salon.

There they found the stuffed animal they had asked for sitting on a chair.

“It’s really done already!　I love the feel of this, it’s wonderful!

“The bunny is so fluffy!”

They both seemed pleased. Of course, my sister Rosalia is holding the capybara in her arms. Still, Miss Hilda seems to have lost her ladylike component today. Isn’t it always better that way?

Over tea cakes brought by the daughters of Marquis Mulan, we got into a conversation about recent events.

“It seems that some very noble cousins have come to this Margrave Heine territory.”

“Yes, it seems so. Father and mother were hurriedly preparing to welcome them.”

Miss Hilda and brother Alex were sipping tea as they checked. Come to think of it, he mentioned that there is a princess enrolled in the same grade as him. Maybe they are both acquainted with the princess.

“Who are these noble cousins, Alex?”

Rosalia tugged at my sleeve and asked.

“By “cousins,” she meant kings and princesses.”

“The king and the princess are coming?!”

“That’s right. But it’s a secret, and you mustn’t tell anyone.”

Rosalia put her hands over her mouth and nodded her head. Cute. Miss Carolina nodded with a similar pose. Come to think of it, how old is Miss Carolina?　Could it be that she is the same age as my sister?

While I was thinking about that, I started to hear some noise near the front door. No way. ……. I looked at the faces of my brother Alex and Miss Hilda and they looked like “No way”. I probably would have had the same look on my face. My eyes met theirs.

There was a knock at the salon door and The servant came in in a flurry.

“Master Alex, Countess Daniela Crystal is here. The lady wants you to come and pick her up.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

Hearing this, the servant bowed and left.

“Brother Alex, ……”

“The Count Crystal is the status of the queen’s family. She probably calls herself a count in order to hide her identity.”

After saying this, Alex stood up from his seat. Hilda was staring at him.

This is it. I have a feeling that brother Alex will be stabbed in the near future. I have a premonition that this is going to end in shambles.

After a while, I heard voices coming from the other side of the door. And it was for two people. I have a bad feeling about this.

The servant opened the door and two girls came in with brother Alex. One of them must be a princess who is a classmate of brother Alex. And the other was a girl about the same age as me, Rosalia, and Miss Carolina.

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