Regarding Her Love -9-
-Splashhh...
"Hm?"
A familiar sobbing echoed from the women's restroom.
-Sniffle.
-Snort...!
-Kkhheeeerrrgh!!
-Hiiik! Hoo! Ohohot...
It was so thunderous for a delicate girl's cry that I wondered if I'd misheard.
-Huuuwaaaahhh!!!! I don't knooow!
Recognizing the familiar tone, I turned off the faucet and let out a hollow chuckle.
"No way, it's only been a few minutes since you went in..."
I had no idea what to say.
-I have no idea what to saaaay...
"Hm?"
As if she'd heard my thoughts, Shuen voiced them aloud.
"What."
-I have nothing to sayyy...!
"Pfft..."
I couldn't help but laugh at Shuen's classic whining. The reason behind her teary, sorrowful sobs was just too funny.
-What's thisss! Isn't the commoner supposed to lead the conversationnn?! Nooo... such twisted ideas are wrooong. Shuen.
"Ah, I shouldn't laugh."
But Shuen, facing a massive hurdle right from the start, was so amusing that the laughter burst out anyway. She wasn't even rejected; she was crying over lacking the words—and it made me pity how much she must like Mihail, while her timid reaction cracked me up.
"Haa... expression control... expression control."
-You bastard! Totally!
"Puhaha...!"
Shuen was spouting hilarious lines in her depressed voice. I had no clue why she came all the way to the public restroom to cry when the restaurant had its own, but since these "wicked women" held such incomprehensible views, I just chuckled dryly and dried my wet hands with a towel.
"Haa... time to head out."
I checked the mirror, composed my face as best I could, and slowly sat on the bench near the restroom to wait for her.
About three more minutes passed like that.
"My life's ruuined..."
Shuen's shuffling figure emerged from the women's restroom. Notebook in one hand, handkerchief in the other, she stared intently at the notebook, seeking life's wisdom.
-Flip.
"Nothinggg...!"
-Fliip flip.
"The commoners didn't teach me thiiis..."
"..."
"Uuuu..."
I pressed my lips tight, watching Shuen frantically flip through her notebook, deciding now wasn't the time for teasing.
"My makeup... it's all smudged."
From a distance, Shuen's face looked like a mess. Her amateurish heavy eyeliner had smeared from tears onto her cheeks, and her shoulders still heaved with unrest.
"...."
She looked so pitiful it was heartbreaking.
"Uuu..."
I waved cautiously at Shuen.
"Shuen."
But the distraught girl didn't notice, too focused on her notebook. I sent her a worried glance and muttered softly.
She's gonna trip walking like that.
And sure enough, Shuen hadn't gone far before she caught her foot on a protruding stone.
"Whoa?! Girl... am I finally done for?!"
Off-balance, flailing her arms wildly, Shuen clutched her notebook like her life depended on it even as she tumbled.
"O... I defied gravityyy!"
Her enlightened pose in the midst of it all made me grimace as I rushed over.
-Grab.
"Huh?"
"You almost fell, Shuen. You got all dolled up pretty—imagine if your dress got dirty."
"Com...moner!?"
Shuen's eyes widened in shock before she flung her arms wide and hugged me tight, as if she'd never let go. I chuckled dryly and gently patted her head.
"You have a lot to say, I bet, but you'd probably cry if I said anything now, so I'll hold back."
"Hic!"
"I'll scold you later, so brace yourself."
"A commoner scolding a noble is blasphemousss!"
"I'm lowly-born, so it's fine."
"...Smart-mouthed for a commoner."
Shuen peeked up at me, her trembling lips parting heavily as she asked,
"Um, commoner..."
"Yes."
"Am I... really that weird?"
I shook my head with a smirk at her quivering eyes.
"No. You look like the most beautiful woman in the world. Well, not quite as much as the Young Lady I serve, of course."
"...Really?"
"Yes. The dress suits you, and your makeup turned out way better than I expected."
"Ohoho... Commoners do have an eye for this. Worth waking at five to prepare."
"Y-You spent six hours on makeup?"
"Yes!"
Her vigorous nod drew another dry chuckle from me as I shook my head. Was God truly fair? I'd seen plenty of life's unfairness, but Shuen and the Young Lady seemed equally "blessed" in all the wrong ways. Otherwise, results this disastrous wouldn't happen.
I nodded awkwardly and told her,
"Impressive."
"Naturallyyy."
Before she could cause more trouble, I pointed to the bench and sat her down.
"Uh... why don't you sit here for now?"
"Huh?"
I pulled makeup tools and a hand mirror from my clown costume bag and showed her.
"Huh."
Seeing her reflection, Shuen touched her face and scowled seriously.
"Um... commoner."
"Yes."
"Who is that? That hag?"
"That's you, Shuen."
"Gasp! Don't lie!"
Shuen hiccuped, then yanked her cheek and peered into the mirror.
"Whaaat?"
"..."
"Why's she... mimicking me perfectly? Ugly?!"
"Because it's you."
Shuen stomped, pointing at the mirror.
"What do I dooo! I was gonna confess todayyy! Ruined! No way he'd accept with this face!"
"I'm not picky, though."
"Huuuwaaaah! My first love is doooomed."
"It's fine."
I chuckled dryly, dipping a brush into the clown makeup remover and starting to fix her face.
Shuen flinched at the approaching brush and pulled back.
"What're you doinggg? Gonna use my ruined face as a canvas?!"
"No."
"You are! Might as well make Mihail-senior laugh!"
"Whoa... that could be fun, but I am good at makeup."
"How's a commoner good at maaaakeup?!"
"I'm good. Professional level."
"Annoyinggg!"
"Trust me, Shuen. Time's short, right?"
"Ah..."
She glanced at Mihail checking the clock inside the restaurant and bowed her head.
"...Yeah."
"You came out for good food, got all prettied up—wouldn't want to waste it."
"Trueee..."
I brushed her face gently, reassuring her with a calm tone and a flashy backstory.
"I've fixed the Young Lady's makeup since I was a kid."
"Don't the servants do it?"
"Well..."
I smiled sheepishly.
"She causes so much chaos that one fix isn't enough. Turn away for a second, she's grabbing hair and fighting; back from the bathroom, dunking her face in a chocolate fountain. Naturally, I learned makeup."
"You serve quite the lady."
"Right? Haha... Anyway, I'm decent at it. Better than most servants."
"Commoners are more versatile than I thought!"
"Of course. I'm an elite butler, unlike the average ones. Oh, right—don't you have a personal butler, Shuen? A marquess's daughter should."
"I... do."
Shuen blinked wide, her voice heavy and reluctant.
"But he's not capable like you commoners. Told me not to do nothing in my free time, scolded me for talking to commoners—'nobles don't mingle with them.'"
"Stuffy guy."
"Yeahhh. Fired him when I came of age. Told them no more butlers after."
"I see. You're kind, Shuen."
"Huh?"
"The Young Lady would've ripped his hair out. Heard she actually did once."
"Whoa..."
I nodded sympathetically at her story, then tapped her moving jaw lightly.
"Shh now."
"Gasp!"
"Don't hold your breath. You'll pass out."
"Hnn..."
As her nostrils twitched from the ticklish brush, I said shortly, 'Don't move,' bit my lower lip, and focused on the finish.
"Chin up a bit."
"Okay."
"Good."
"...Nod."
Switching to a fine brush for her lips, I said casually,
"Oh... too hectic earlier, but I heard you crying in there."
"...Pervert."
"Didn't wanna, but it was so pitiful."
"Embarrassing—don't say more!"
"Pfft... you're fun."
I blended her lipstick lightly with the handkerchief and asked softly,
"Worried about talking to Mihail, right?"
"..."
"Don't know how to start, wanna share what you've learned from... observing him, but scared he'll hate it."
Shuen nodded faintly in agreement.
"Yeahhh."
I brushed lightly, murmuring low.
"Must've been tough."
"...Sniff."
"No crying. It'll smudge."
"Ohoho... I-I'm not!"
"Good girl. Hm..."
I leaned close.
"If I may overstep, how about starting light? Like when we first met."
"...Call you a lowly commoner?"
"Did you say that when we met?"
She nodded heavily.
"...Don't do that. Start with weather. 'Nice day out.' Something."
"Isn't that cliché? Anyone can see outside—why ask?"
"Are you a T-type?"
"Huh?"
"Just kidding. Anyway, it's good. Open with pointless questions to break the ice, shift topics naturally."
"Then what?"
"Then 'What'd you do yesterday?'"
"Too prying?"
I smirked, packing the makeup.
"Share first. 'I did this yesterday.' He'll follow."
"Ah..."
"Shuen."
I held up the mirror carefully.
"Don't be scared. Don't overthink."
-Smirk.
"Got it?"
Shuen stared dazedly, eyelids fluttering.
'Eh...?'
She gasped, then pressed the mirror to her face in awe.
"How in this short time... I look like a different person!"
"Just evened your tone. You're a natural beauty."
Shuen beamed and stood.
"Got it!"
"You got this."
"Yes."
She skipped toward the restaurant where Mihail waited, paused, then turned back.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"For the weird disguise too."
"I wanted to."
She smirked.
"Liar. You're bad at it, commoner."
"..."
I waved awkwardly as she went.
*
The warm atmosphere continued. Stiff Shuen chattered like a motor mouth, and even Mihail, enjoying a training break, began smiling.
A vibe totally unlike the original— not Mihail's "hospitality" to extract a confession from the theft suspect, but genuine person-to-person talk. I smiled lightly.
But Shuen...
'...'
Flashing awkward smiles, searching for me. Heart arrhythmia incoming.