Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Sister's Romantic Request
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"Can you make just one dress for me?"
"Oh..."
The words that slipped from Hayes's lips were music to my ears.
After all, I'd been pondering what to tackle next following the maid uniforms.
But it wasn't entirely welcome.
There was no reason for her to come to me specifically just for one dress.
I shrugged and pointed to the tea table in the corner of the room.
"First, let's hear the reason."
"Sure... Letisha? Would it be alright if you left my brother and me alone for a moment?"
"Of course, Lady. I'll be waiting in the next room, so call me whenever you need me."
"Alright."
"Emily, could you prepare some tea for us?"
"Yes."
Seeming to have something sensitive to discuss, as she sent Letisha away, I used the tea as an excuse to dismiss Emily from the room as well.
The clever Emily would surely take her time, bringing it leisurely.
That bought us about thirty minutes alone.
"Come on, spill it."
"Fine, just don't rush me."
After sending the two away and plopping down at the tea table, the moment my butt hit the chair, I pressed her, and Hayes shot me a sharp glare with an irritated snap.
She seemed to be organizing her thoughts, her lips twitching a few times, before swallowing hard and cautiously speaking up.
"...In a few weeks, the Bravebrook Viscount Family is hosting a small banquet, and I'm planning to attend."
"Yeah."
"Lately, things have been getting a little friendly between me and their second son, you know?"
"Second son?"
Unfortunately, I knew exactly who she meant.
A few months ago, Viscount Bravebrook's second son—Lord Lennox—had been appointed as an imperial office clerk, which was why Mother had subtly been nudging me about it, and the name had stuck in my mind.
Personally, I didn't like him.
He was around my age and talented, which made me catch flak for no reason.
But objectively speaking, he had a good personality and ability, so if she could bring him into the family, both Father and Mother would be thrilled.
"Lucky you. So, what's the problem?"
"This is my chance to get closer to him—or maybe drive a wedge into this ambiguous relationship that's not quite friendship or romance... You know what I mean."
"Hoo..."
A love consultation from my little sister.
Interest bubbled up out of nowhere.
"You called it ambiguous—what exactly have you two done?"
I suppressed a rising smirk and asked as casually as possible.
Her cheeks flushing pink, my sister bowed her head slightly and murmured in a trembling voice.
"Hands..."
"Hands?"
"We... held hands..."
"Oh... And?"
"It was so warm..."
Hayes cradled her flushed cheeks, lost in the memory of Lord Lennox's warm touch—it was adorably innocent.
"Uh-huh..."
But for someone expecting more than hand-holding from her talk of a "good atmosphere," it fell flat.
I'd hoped for something sweeter, like interlocking fingers or slyly linking arms—teetering on the edge without crossing the line.
This hadn't even left the starting gate.
"That's it? Just holding hands? Nothing else?"
"Yeah..."
"Uh-huh..."
Hayes nodded slightly, avoiding my eyes.
No episodes beyond hand-holding.
This was a good atmosphere?
I had to wonder if it wasn't just Hayes's one-sided crush rather than some budding romance.
"So... you're both into each other, right?"
"I'm sure about my feelings, but he's a bit ambiguous."
"Hand-holding alone isn't ambiguous—it's practically nothing."
"That's not it!"
Narrowing my eyes and snarking at her, Hayes shot up from her seat, glaring and shouting.
Her voice brimming with injustice, she continued.
"We had tea time together once, and we stepped out onto the terrace alone for some air... Anyway, there was definitely a good vibe!"
"Hmm~"
It did sound like there might have been something there, from her words.
I wanted more details on what had happened between them.
"Calm down first. Tell me more about what happened on the terrace."
"It was at His Majesty the Emperor's coronation anniversary event..."
Her face visibly brightening—clearly something good had happened there—Hayes plopped back down and eagerly recounted the tale.
"I felt dizzy during the banquet and went to the terrace for some air. Letisha had stepped away to fetch a blanket, and I loosened my corset a bit and was crouching down to rest, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then suddenly the curtains parted, and some unfamiliar man walked in. I was so startled I yelled, 'Who are you!?', you know?"
"And it turned out to be the lord?"
"Yeah, he locked eyes with me, panicked, and stammered an apology. Then he turned to hurry back out."
"And that was it?"
I frowned skeptically at her story.
Shaking her head solemnly, Hayes put on a determined expression.
"I called out to him as he was leaving and stopped him."
"Whoa..."
"Perfect timing—we were alone, no one else around, and the wine gave me a bit of courage... When else would I get to be alone with him?"
"True."
"So I said, 'The terrace is plenty big—if you're alright with it, why don't we share it?'"
"And? What did he say?"
"He hesitated at first, but soon let go of the curtain and quietly walked over to the railing. Then he said, 'Thank you for your consideration, Miss Hayes.'"
"Miss Hayes—not Lady or anything formal?"
"Yeah! He knew my name! When he said 'Miss Hayes' in that deep voice, my heart nearly exploded."
Still caught in the lingering emotion, Hayes closed her eyes gently and clutched her chest.
"Haa..."
Steadying her quickened breath, she continued dreamily.
"But I couldn't act all giddy in front of him, so I suppressed my racing heart, stood up casually, and chatted while standing side by side. I wanted to talk more."
"Yeah."
"But then dizziness hit me hard. I'd been crouching, my heart pounding, the air chilly—it all made my vision go dark. I couldn't even speak properly and started to collapse, but suddenly strong hands gripped my waist and hand.
A moment later, the dizziness faded, my vision cleared, and there was Lord Lennox's face right in front of me, looking worried. He said, 'Are you alright?' Kyaa~!"
Hayes let out a girlish squeal, flapping her hands near her chest.
Then she clasped them together, pressed them to her cheek, eyes sparkling as she relived Lord Lennox's image.
"He was so dashing! I could barely breathe, his face filling my vision. We were lost in our own world—me in his eyes, him in mine.
We stood there staring blankly for seconds—or maybe dozens—actually, I was in his arms. His hand around my waist, mine lightly on his chest.
Then I noticed his gaze drifting from my eyes... elsewhere."
"Where?"
"My lips... He stared at them blankly, lips parting a few times. That's when I thought, 'This is my chance.'
Worried getting too forward, I cautiously placed my hand on his waist and watched his reaction, fidgeting. But his hand tightened around me, like it was okay to come closer. So I slowly tilted my head toward his face."
"......"
"Our breaths mingled on each other's skin, so close I couldn't tell whose ragged breathing it was. Our lips were all that was left..."
"And? What happened next?"
Hayes trailed off at the crucial moment, staring blankly into space.
Then, with a dejected pout, she hung her head and muttered glumly.
"That's when Letisha came back..."
"Ah......"
It was such perfect timing, I felt annoyed on her behalf.
I recalled that their progress had ended at hand-holding.
"It fizzled out that night, and while he was in the capital briefly after, we had tea as an apology and held hands a bit... but that's it."
"Ended on an awkward note, huh?"
"Yeah..."
"Letisha being too competent is part of the problem."
"Letisha did nothing wrong, but I resented her a little."
"Can't blame you."
"Right?"
With my agreement, Hayes's expression brightened slightly.
In my mind, I apologized to the overly capable Letisha for being resented by her lady.
"I can't keep things awkward forever, so this time I want to flip the atmosphere."
"Hmm... So you thought of a dress?"
"Yeah, maybe changing my image? Or showing a bolder side to ease his awkwardness..."
"What style are you aiming for?"
"Not a specific style—what kind of dress would men like? He's around your age, and you've been making clothes lately, so I figured you'd know... That's why I came."
"Hmm..."
"Can't do it?"
I let out a small groan, rubbing my neck.
Hayes fidgeted with her fingers, peeking at me cautiously.
"It's not impossible..."
Since it was my sister's request, I'd brainstorm with her, but I wasn't confident.
I'd never even dated myself...
"Haa... Let's talk after Emily brings the tea?"
"Yeah..."
First, I needed some time to think.