Digital Edition Bonus Short Story: A Day of Happiness for Lucienne
My day starts with Lulu's voice.
"Lulu, it's morning!"
I awaken to the soothing and unhurried sound. Opening my eyes, I find Lulu standing by the bed, leaning down to peek at me. Linnea has prepared a drink behind him, and Melty is drawing back the curtains in the room.
The morning sun casts a momentary golden glow on Lulu's soft chestnut hair. I cherish this fleeting color that gives his hair a hint of a chestnut hue.
"Good morning."
As I gaze at Lulu's hair, he gently reaches over to slip his hand under my back, prompting me to sit up. He must have thought I was still half-asleep.
"Good morning, Lulu. Good morning, Linnea, Melty."
"Good morning, young lady."
"Good morning. The weather is delightful today."
After exchanging greetings, Linnea hands me a glass.
It's filled with fruit-infused water.
I sip from the glass, return it empty, and then move to the edge of the bed. Lulu, who has been patiently waiting, extends his hand to wipe my face with warm water. Following that, Linnea applies a soothing lotion to my face. After washing up, I change into my clothes, with Linnea and Melty assisting behind a dressing screen. Lulu stays outside.
The A-line dress chosen for me is slightly roomy but comfortable, allowing easy movement.
After putting on my shoes, Linnea calls out beyond the screen, and Lulu enters. Lulu lifts me due to the wounds on my legs. I'm seated in a chair in front of the dresser, and Lulu takes a brush to carefully comb my hair. Brushing my hair has become Lulu's task.
"What hairstyle would you like today?"
Lulu inquires, and I take a moment to consider.
"Hmm, maybe something cute?"
"Got it!"
After brushing my hair several times, Lulu leaves the lower part down and ties the upper part into a bun at the back of my head. The hair on both sides of my face is braided into delicate strands. I recently noticed that Lulu seems to prefer my hair down, so most of the time, my hair flows down my back.
"All done!"
"Thank you, Lulu. It's cute!"
"You're welcome."
While this is happening, Melty brings in breakfast and arranges it on the table. The meal mainly consists of gentle, soft foods and fruits, and Lulu assists by cutting them into bite-sized pieces for me.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Lulu occasionally makes the food more manageable for me, knowing that I'm still learning proper table manners.
.....Because Lulu wants to, but that's not the only reason.
The subtly seasoned dishes are all delicious.
Considering my previous struggle with meals, the food is designed for someone unwell, yet it's surprisingly tasty. Even though it's considered recovery food, I can eat a lot of it.
"Here, say 'ahh.'"
I eagerly accept the spoon offered to me.
Feeding me seems to bring joy to Lulu.
We might not be able to do this forever, but having Lulu feed me occasionally is a good idea.
"Lulu, I want that soup."
I point to a vegetable-rich soup.
Reaching for the mug, Lulu places the spoon down and hands it to me.
It's quite heavy, so Lulu's hand supports mine, bearing most of the weight.
I bring the mug to my lips, tilt it slowly, and take a sip.
...Mmm, delicious.
The gentle essence of the vegetables permeates through my body.
After Lulu feeds me breakfast, Melty cleans up the dishes, and I'm gently returned to bed.
Being placed back on the soft bed after eating always makes me feel sleepy.
With a yawn, Lulu strokes my head.
"Get some more sleep."
Saying that, Lulu lies beside me.
"...Is Lulu going to stay here?"
It's incredibly unsettling and scary when I wake up, and Lulu isn't around.
Lulu smiles with narrowed eyes.
"I'll be right here with you."
His much larger hand holds mine.
It's a simple gesture, but it brings immense comfort.
So, I spend the entire morning sleeping.
During that time, Lulu stays by my side, while Linnea and Melty retreat to the adjacent waiting room.
I'm awakened just before lunch.
"Lucy, it's almost lunchtime."
When I hear about a meal, I naturally wake up.
"...Yeah."
Still a bit drowsy, I sit up, and Lulu runs his fingers through my hair, straightening the disarray.
Lulu slowly lifts me as I rub my eyes.
"Hmm, you don't seem to get heavier."
Lulu says with a slight hint of wonder.
...Well, calling a girl heavy is a taboo...
But if he says I'm not getting heavier, then I must be light to Lulu.
"Lulu wants me to grow faster, but it's not that easy,"
"You're small, Lucy. Well, I like you cute as you are now, but you're a bit too light. I wish you'd gain a bit more weight."
I understand what Lulu means. Due to the lack of proper meals for a long time, my body is thin, small, and fragile.
There was a time when Lulu put his hand on my neck. Not only were Lulu's hands large, but my neck was too thin, easily covered by his hand.
Since coming to the Fayette mansion, I've been having three meals a day, but that doesn't mean I'll grow immediately.
Lulu's hands, carrying me, touch my body as if checking. I want a healthier body, so I always eat, but my previous lifestyle makes it hard to increase my food intake.
Placed in a chair, similar to breakfast, Lulu watches while Linnea and Melty arrange the meal.
He seems willing to do anything related to me, but unnecessary things aren't on his list. I don't mind, but Linnea once mentioned something to Lulu.
"Please continue working as a servant a bit longer."
However, Lulu disagreed.
"I only do things related to Lucy. Since I'm also her guard, it doesn't make sense if I'm away from her."
That's what he said.
"What's wrong?" Lulu looks at me.
"Lulu, you look cool."
Now that I don't hide my face, his well-structured face is visible. It's a beautiful face. Surely, he's popular.
"Really?" Lulu, not caring much about his looks, responds with a happy smile when asked if he liked his face.
As the dishes are served, we start eating.
... I hope Lulu doesn't become too popular.
"Lucy, lost in thought during the meal?" Lulu calls out, and I snap back to reality. Somehow, he's poking my lips with a spoon.
I instinctively bite into the spoon, only to realize there's nothing on it, and it makes me feel a bit sad. Lulu chuckles softly as he looks at me.
"It's because you're not focusing on your meal," he says as he pulls the spoon out of my mouth. However, he scoops up some soup and offers it to my lips.
"What were you thinking about?"
I eat it and then return the question to Lulu.
"I thought I wouldn't like it if everyone took you away because you're cool."
"What's that, jealousy?"
"Yeah."
Lulu stops propping his cheek on his hand and picks up a napkin, gently wiping my mouth.
"Don't worry. You're my number one, and I'm not interested in anyone else."
Alright, and the next spoonful is offered.
If Lulu says so, I'll believe him. Lulu may be hard to read, but since we met, he has never lied to me.
"I like when Lulu feeds me."
"I like feeding you too."
In the end, Lulu fed me lunch.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
After lunch, we took a short break, and then Lulu carried me for a stroll.
It feels a bit strange to call it a stroll when I'm not walking, but since there's nothing to do by staying confined in the room, exploring the garden like this is becoming a daily routine.
Well, it's only the second day, even if I call it a routine.
"Today, the sunlight is a bit strong, isn't it?"
Lulu looks up at the sky and mutters something. Then, he takes out a cloth from somewhere.
With one hand still carrying me, he covers my head with the cloth and loosely wraps it around.
I touch the wrapped cloth. It seems familiar.
"Lulu, is this the one you always wore around your neck?"
Lulu nodded.
"Yeah, feeling hot, aren't you?"
"I'm fine."
I unintentionally sniff the scent of the cloth.
...Yeah, it's odorless.
Perhaps due to being an assassin, Lulu doesn't have a distinctive smell. Besides, it feels very pleasant with a nice texture.
"Lucy, do you like it?"
Walking slowly with the sun at our backs, Lulu asks.
It seems I was unconsciously gripping the cloth tightly.
Although I quickly let go, some wrinkles appeared.
Even though Lulu should be able to see those wrinkles, he doesn't seem angry.
"Yeah."
Feeling comfortable, I say, and Lulu smiles.
"Yeah, I'm quite particular about this cloth."
"Really?"
"Yeah, because cheap ones can irritate the skin and cause pain. This one is made of expensive fabric, and I even had it dyed."
I see, I think.
When I touch the wrapped cloth again, it does feel smooth, and it doesn't seem to cause any discomfort against the skin.
"Do you like black, Lulu?"
Even though the scarf-like cloth used for wrapping around the neck is red, he remains entirely black, except for his shirt and gloves, even after becoming a servant.
"Hmm, never really thought about it."
Lulu tilts his head to the side.
"No favorite color?"
"Probably not."
Lulu returns his head to its original position.
"Lucy likes gray, right?"
I nod in response.
"Yeah, because it's the color of Lulu's eyes."
Seeing this gray color makes me feel at ease.
Lulu strokes my back as a sign of approval.
"I like the color of your eyes too, Lucy."
After that, we continued exploring the garden.
I haven't walked much inside the Fayette Mansion because my brother said he would guide me when he has time.
... Oh.
As I lifted my head, I noticed my brother standing by the second-floor window.
A bit distant, but I think our eyes met. I give a small wave.
My brother opens the window in response.
"Taking a stroll?" he asks with a slightly raised voice.
"Yes, that's right," I reply.
"Do you like the garden?" he queries.
I nod in response to my brother's question.
My brother glances back in the hallway, exchanges a few words with someone, then turns his attention back to me.
"Could I come to your room during tea time later?"
I nod once again, and my brother smiles, waves his hand once, and closes the window.
"I wonder who was with my brother?" Lulu wonders as he looks up at the window.
"Oh, I think it's a tutor," I explain.
"Tutor?"
"Yeah, a teacher who teaches various things like studies and etiquette. Nobles usually have tutors at home to teach their children. It's probably study time soon."
"I see."
... I wonder if I can go to tea time.
Lulu peeks into my face.
"Shall we go back to the room soon?"
"Yeah."
Upon returning to the building, the cloth is removed.
Lulu puts away the cloth and lightly fixes my disheveled hair with his hands.
After returning to the room, we sit on the sofa and relax.
While we were out for a walk, the room was cleaned, and a breeze entered through the open windows for ventilation.
Taking a nap on the soft sofa is pleasant.
Since coming to the Fayette Mansion, I've been sleeping a lot, but no one blames me for it.
As I doze off, time passes quickly, and Lulu wakes me up.
"Lucy, tea time is almost here."
I get up at his words.
By the time we notice, Linnea and the others are preparing for tea time, and there's a sweet fragrance in the air.
I still can't eat sweets, so the lined-up treats are for my brother, and there are fruits for me.
It's unfortunate that I can't eat the sweets, but the fruits are all fresh, and that's enough.
By the time the preparations for tea time are done, my brother arrives as if he planned it.
"It looks like I made it on time."
Seemingly in a rush, he joined us, his hair slightly tousled.
"Your hair is all over the place," Lulu pointed to his own head, and my brother, appearing a bit bashful, smoothed down his hair with his hand.
"You don't have to wait for me if I'm late," he mentioned casually, taking a sip from his tea cup.
But a subtle smile lingered on his lips.
"However, if lessons run long, Lucienne, feel free to start eating without me."
"Got it," I responded.
...But deep down, I might still wait.
While our relationship remains a bit awkward, I hope we can gradually become closer.
"Lucienne, you should try this too," my brother suggested, breaking a piece of fruit from the top of his cake and offering it to me.
"...Is it okay?" The fruits on his cake looked like beautiful jewels, vibrant and delicious. Plus, they differed from the fruits on my plate.
He nodded. "Yes, having the same fruits all the time can get boring, right? Besides, Lucienne, you need to eat a bit more; you're too thin."
Lulu, taking the offered plate, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Lucy should gain a bit more weight. She's too thin as she is."
"Agreed," my brother added. A plate was placed in front of me, and I began cutting the fruits into bite-sized pieces with a knife and fork.
Recently, I started learning meal etiquette from Lulu. While I won't delve into the other studies Lulu is teaching me, I've also started becoming more proficient in having my meals.
Even though I'm still a bit awkward, I felt a bit tense being watched by Lulu and my brother while carefully cutting the fruits. However, I managed to cut them neatly.
I brought a bite-sized piece of fruit to my mouth. "It's delicious!" The combination of the cake and the fruit is sweet and tangy, providing a perfect balance. It was incredibly tasty, especially since I was starting to get a bit tired of just sweet fruits.
"Want more?" my brother asked. I nodded, and he took more fruits from the cake, adding them to my plate.
The slight touch of cream on the fruits enhances their flavor. By the way, when the cake ran out of fruits, Lulu asked, "Mind if I eat it?" My brother nodded, and Lulu began eating it with his hands.
The tart crust beneath makes a crisp sound whenever Lulu takes a bite. Somehow, the cake looks smaller in Lulu's hands. Despite being evenly divided into portions, Lulu's large hands make it appear smaller on his plate than it does on mine.
My brother scolded him for his lack of manners, but Lulu continued to enjoy the cake without a care. I couldn't help but stare at him. Eating cake with hands might be considered impolite, as my brother pointed out, but for some reason, it looked incredibly delicious.
"Oh, Lulu, you have cream on your face," I said, reaching out to wipe the side of his mouth with a napkin. After a surprised look, Lulu squinted his eyes and smiled.
"Thanks, Lucy," he said before grabbing another piece of cake. My brother looked exasperated but seemed to have given up on scolding him. He sipped his tea, looking unbothered.
Lulu happily devoured the cake. Watching him eat various snacks and cakes without gaining weight felt unfair. After a while, my brother stood up, citing the next lesson. I wished him good luck with his studies. Surprisingly, his blue eyes widened, and he smiled happily, responding, "You too, Lucienne," before leaving.
Well, maybe we did look like siblings just now. It made me a little happy. Afterward, we had a peaceful tea time, studied until dinner, and took a bath. While I bathed, Lulu sometimes stayed behind a partition, occasionally leaving for errands, but mostly staying close.
This routine wouldn't last forever, and once I got more accustomed, things might change. After bathing, all that was left was to sleep, though I wouldn't go to bed immediately.
"Hey, Lulu," I said, sitting on the bed with Lulu behind me, brushing my hair meticulously.
"What's up?" he asked.
"How long do you grow your hair?"
Even now, his short hair suits him well. However, I have a feeling that Lulu with long hair would also look incredibly cool. Once, he expressed interest in having my hair, and when I said I wanted his, he mentioned that he would grow it out.
So, I got curious about how long Lulu intended to let his hair grow.
"Well, I wonder how long I should let it grow," he replied nonchalantly. It seemed like Lulu didn't particularly care about his hairstyle.
"How about growing it as long as mine?"
"That sounds good," he agreed.
"If your hair grows long, we can use the same ribbon," I suggested.
There was a laugh mixed in from behind. "The same ribbon, huh?"
Turning around, I faced the somewhat nostalgic voice. "You... don't like it?"
"It's not that. I just never thought about tying my hair with a ribbon before, so I couldn't imagine it," Lulu explained.
"Has your hair always been like that?"
He turned my head forward again, and from behind, he answered, "Yeah."
"Isn't it inconvenient when your hair is long?"
"Not really. If I'm working as your attendant, having long hair shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Once he finished brushing, Lulu ran his fingers through my hair. "From now on, I'll let it grow, so when I can tie it, shall we use the same ribbon every day and match?"
I nodded in agreement. We chatted about various things, and as I grew sleepy, it was time to sleep.
Lying down on the bed, Lulu sat on the edge, holding my hand.
"Goodnight, Lulu."
In the midst of drifting off, I heard Lulu's subdued voice. "Goodnight, Lucy."
Listening to Lulu's voice and feeling the warmth of his hand, I fell asleep.
It wasn't an extraordinary day, but everything felt special to me, making it a happy day.
"... Sweet dreams."
Lulu's voice was very gentle.
Thank you for the translation. I'll be waiting for the updates.
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