I Met an Angel
When I first laid eyes on that person, the only thought in my heart was a simple impression: how beautiful.
"Looks like you've lost your way."
A dark, freezing basement where not a single ray of light could reach. I had been locked away in that place, slowly dying, merely waiting for the day my second life would come to a pitiful end — I even thought an angel had come to greet me.
"If you still have the will to live, I could get you out of here. What do you say?"
And that is why, when this person extended her hand to me...
"...Yes. My angel."
"Angel? ...Kuh. That's a first."
I resolved to live this second life for her sake. Gripping her outstretched hand tightly, I swore it to myself over and over and over again.
.
.
.
"Lady Renoir! How many times have I told you? Everything you use goes back where it belongs! Your room is my responsibility, so if you keep making such a mess of it, I'll never have enough hours in the day!"
Six years have passed since that first meeting.
"Lily, bring me that book too. You remember where I always keep it, don't you?"
"Ughhh..."
Far from growing into a noble lady who could serve as a model to others, my lady grew up to be a lady shunned by everyone but me.
...How on earth did it come to this?
For the first year, she was undeniably someone I could proudly call the finest noble lady in the land, but as the years went by, she grew more and more unruly. Well, it would be a bit unfair to blame it all on her, though...
"Haah... My lady. If you keep living like this, you'll never be able to marry properly."
My own heart is neither man's nor woman's — something in between — and I gave up on romance long ago. All I ever wanted was for my lady to have a happy marriage of her own... Was that asking for too much?
"Marriage? Me?"
"Yes, you! You're a duke's daughter, after all. You can't spend your whole life alone, can you?"
"...Hmm. Who knows? If I just have Lily by my side, that's more than enough for me."
"Ugh... Uuu..."
A casual, idle joke tossed out over her leisurely cup of tea. It was the same mischievous teasing I'd heard countless times before, and yet somehow I still hadn't gotten used to it.
How wonderful would it be, truly, if I could spend the rest of my life by her side? Sometimes I let myself imagine it, but I knew better than anyone that it was a dream that could never come true — so it never amounted to more than a fleeting fantasy.
"You know, Lily."
"Hik! D-don't just suddenly hug me like that!"
"Still can't figure out why I keep making a mess of my room?"
My melancholy daydreaming was brought to an abrupt end by my lady's sudden skinship. I was glad it spared me from feeling all gloomy, but... now what strange thing was she about to say?
"...What do you mean?"
"It means you'll stay in my room a little longer, of course."
Fwoooosh—
"Hyah! S-stop! Stop that already!"
Kikik— my lady's lovely laughter tickled my ears.
Ordinarily I would have laughed right back and carried on the conversation, but right now my head was spinning so hot it felt ready to boil over, and all I wanted was to flee the room as quickly as I could.
"Uuu... I'm going back to prepare dinner! I'll call you when it's ready, so wait patiently like a good girl!"
"Yes, yes. Something with noodles today, please? Lily."
Leaving my lady behind as she waved me off with a breezy little flutter of her hand, I hurried out of the room. Broom in hand, I toddled down the corridor — but I hadn't even made it a few steps before I slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.
...This is bad for my heart, my lady.
My angel, whom I revere with all my heart. The poor soul branded with the name of the Cursed Young Lady, half-secluded in this dark and lonely mansion. With not a single soul to serve her but me... living a life utterly unfitting of her station.
Come on, Lily. Pull yourself together.
Part of me wanted nothing more than to give in to those sweet, constant temptations she loved to spring on me at every turn — but so long as my ultimate goal was to make my lady happy, I couldn't let myself fold so easily.
Tap, tap — I gave my own cheeks a little slap and set my steps toward the kitchen once more, imagining as I went: what should I cook today, what could I make that would bring that smile back to my lady's face again?