The Hawthorn Does Not Break - 4
I lost track of how long I held Luise and patted her back. I never knew she cried this easily. She was always the one walking around with a smile.
"Have you calmed down?"
"Mm..."
She must have known it was embarrassing; she wouldn't lift her head, face buried against my chest.
"So you really hated that I like Oppa that much."
When I teased her a little, Luise burrowed in even deeper—as if pleading with me not to say another word because she was sorry.
Cute. Strangely, looking at her, I saw the faces of my younger siblings back at the mansion overlapping hers. Normally I was the one being held by Luise.
I wondered when I'd get another chance like this, but if I teased her further she might cry again. Better stop here.
"But you can't really be mad at me. There's a gatekeeper for that sort of thing, you know."
Still, I had to say it. With Lady Margeta the leading candidate for Oppa's first wife, nothing would change even if she hated me. If she wanted to become Oppa's wife, she would have to plead her case with the lady.
Luise hadn't even known it was possible to take multiple wives. She might not understand how important the first wife's permission was, either.
"I already got permission from Senior."
The words Luise mumbled into my embrace made me doubt my ears for a moment. Senior?
If there was a "senior" in this conversation, it could only be the lady. She had gotten permission from Lady Margeta?
"Really? You mean Lady Margeta, right?"
"Yeah. She told me to do my best. Said she'd cheer me on, so hang in there..."
I was left speechless. I had thought I was thrashing around in the wrong place entirely—only to find she had already cleared the most important hurdle.
And it wasn't mere permission. Beyond acquiescence, it was practically an endorsement.
Already?
Astonishing. The lady had only grown close to Oppa during the break. Not even half a year had passed since then, and yet she already possessed this kind of drive to secure permission.
And why had she used that drive on me? If she had the lady's blessing, my liking Oppa should have looked trivial by comparison.
For some reason I felt as if I'd been had, and I hugged Luise tighter. Someone who already had permission was checking someone who didn't?
I felt her squirm, but I didn't let go. Just a little longer. Just a little like this.
Class time was nearly up, so we went back for now, but we agreed to come out again during the break. Luise's jealousy had settled quickly enough, but I still had questions for her.
"Tell me."
"U-uh?"
The instant the break began, I dragged Luise out for an interrogation—no, questions. I had been so distracted by this I could barely concentrate.
"Permission from the lady. How did you get it?"
I had assumed it would be hard. Lady Margeta lacked for nothing, and her relationship with Oppa was already settled—what possible reason would she have to permit another wife?
Of course I would work to earn her permission, but honestly I had thought building a good relationship with Oppa would be the faster route.
I was wrong.
Someone who had negotiated with the lady before Oppa stood right in front of me. What on earth was going on?
When I looked at her with hungry eyes, Luise's gaze darted about. I believe in you. I believe our friendship means you'll tell me.
"Honestly, I don't really know either."
And I began to wonder whether our friendship was thinner than I had thought.
"No, I really don't know! Senior came to me first!"
Sensing my feelings, Luise hastily pressed on.
When she said the lady had come to the classroom first and asked to talk, I was puzzled. I couldn't picture Luise seeking the lady out—but the reverse was rather unusual as well.
When she said she had been warned that the lady disliked people aiming for what was hers, I got chills. Right—why would the lady yield anything?
But when she said she would gladly accept it if her own place was respected, my heart pounded.
As long as it's not the first, it's fine?
The lady doesn't want to be the only wife. She wants to be the first.
Then there was no problem. I had never even dreamed of overtaking the lady.
Hope appeared. I had thought the door was locked tight—but the key had already been there.
"Hey, Irina."
"Yeah. What is it?"
My mood lifted so sharply that a smile came unbidden. Thinking that without Luise I would never even have known this happy news only made me smile harder.
Luise really is the best friend. I had believed in our friendship.
"If it's all right, would you go see Senior?"
Truly the best friend.
Barging in unannounced with such important business would be rude, so we decided to make an appointment first.
No matter how generously the lady accepted other wives, showing up without a word and saying "Let's share a husband!" simply wasn't done. Even if I were the lady, I would have shouted for them to get out on the spot if I heard that.
"I'll make the appointment. Irina, you can go see Oppa."
"To Oppa?"
"Oppa—he's actually under confinement right now."
It took longer than expected to understand what that meant. What did confinement even mean at the Academy?
Whoa...
And once I understood, a sigh of admiration slipped out of its own accord. The world of bureaucrats is rough. I should never go near it.
"Since he's under confinement, you can at least go console him, right?"
I nodded. Honestly, if I couldn't meet Oppa during club time, I had seriously considered visiting after school instead.
But a student had no proper reason to go to the auditors' dormitory, and considering the dignity of a noble young lady, it was difficult to do casually.
Attach the pretext of "consoling an acquaintance under confinement," though, and both obstacles vanished.
It won't look strange.
I can visit Oppa boldly. I can meet him for the first time since the second semester began.
"You never get a chance to be alone with Oppa. You have to seize opportunities like this."
"Luise..."
I nearly teared up from emotion. She must have wanted to be with Oppa herself.
"With this, you forgive me for earlier, right?"
At Luise's giggling face I nodded again and again. I hadn't even been angry, but I decided to forgive her anyway.
I used to not understand people who raised plants instead of animals, but these days I get it.
Peace of mind.
Looking at the kids growing so lushly, I feel so proud. They don't talk back, don't make me grab the back of my neck, leave them alone and they do just fine on their own—and all I have to do is make sure they get water and sunlight.
Where else is there such a perfect companion organism? Maximum happiness with minimum investment.
Pretty.
Setting the hawthorn pot and the lily pot side by side made them look even more beautiful. Both white, so looking at them felt purifying.
I carefully stroked the petals of both. I had only asked for the hawthorn to be delivered—never expected a lily as a freebie—but they were still precious kids I had received as gifts. Let's stay together until graduation. Leave this filthy Academy for the Audit Department...
No, the Audit Department is just as filthy. Is there no paradise wherever you flee?
Sorry your master's such a loser.
My kids should grow up happy in a good place, but of all things their master is a lowly civil servant.
While I was communing with the plants, a knock came at the door. About time for Luise. As always, she was punctual as a knife.
"It's open. Come in."
When it's time for Luise I just leave the door unlocked. No one else would come anyway unless it was Margeta or Luise.
Then the door opened, and a head of blonde hair peeked through the gap.
"Hello, Oppa."
"Irina?"
Well now. Other people do come after all.
My eyes slid toward the hawthorn. The moment it arrives in my room, Irina shows up?
A totem?
It has the effect of summoning people. I thought it was just pretty, but this kid is something else.
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
Curious as I was, I turned my gaze back to Irina. It would be rude not to properly look at a guest who had come all this way.
"I'm doing fine. I heard about you and came to visit."
"Embarrassing news."
A laugh slipped out at Irina's words. She must have heard from Luise or Erich that I was under confinement. So she had come for a consolation visit.
Anyway, I was grateful. Considering how Irina used to avoid me at first, this was truly remarkable progress.
"But where's Luise?"
I had said she could come whenever, but when the girl who always came didn't show, I did worry. Surely nothing had happened?
"Ah, she had other business. Nothing major."
"That's a relief, then."
Irina spoke casually, bright enough that even a passerby would have seen she was in a good mood.
Guess it really is nothing major.
An unexpected visitor arrived.
"Oh my, Young Lady Luise?"
Strange—shouldn't Young Lady Luise be with Karl at this hour? Karl had clearly said she came morning and evening.
"Hello, Senior. I'm sorry for dropping by so suddenly."
"It's fine. Ah, have a seat first. Would you like some tea?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
I rose to serve her. I didn't know what it was about, but she must have had a reason for coming. Young Lady Luise wasn't the type to act frivolously.
While I was steeping the tea leaves, Young Lady Luise's voice came from behind me.
"Senior, I have something to ask."
I hadn't expected her to get to the point quite so quickly.
"Yes, go ahead."
Still, speaking plainly rather than beating around the bush was more to my taste.
When I turned, Young Lady Luise—who had been fidgeting with her fingers—opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.
"Would about three people be all right?"
"Pardon?"
I simply blinked at the sudden words. Three people—of what?
Is she talking about children?
Well, I'd like at least three if possible.