Our Appearance

The day had arrived for the annual social gathering of the Heavenfield ducal house. Following a tradition that had endured for decades, the heads of the ancient noble families who governed the surrounding territories, along with their heirs, gathered together to discuss the safety and prosperity of their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠houses. On the surface, it was a lavish affair filled with elegant banquets and dances, but beneath that veneer, subtle power struggles and tense mind games unfolded every year. It was, in every sense, a tedious and suffocating place.

I hated all of it with a passion.

I had entered the conference room early and taken my seat. As always, a mountain of territory reports awaited me, and this time I had also been tasked with greeting the family heads before the meeting began. Just what was Father thinking, putting me in a position like this? He must have decided to throw me away on pointless tasks. That old man.

Yua stood beside me. She looked quite competent in her formal maid uniform with its neat lace-trimmed apron. She offered me a calm smile.

The conference room doors opened, and the heads of the other noble families entered one by one, accompanied by their children. I forced the corners of my mouth upward and exchanged the usual greetings. They all either ignored me, openly sneered, or looked at me with pitying eyes. Among them, the one who directed the most contemptuous gaze my way was Marquis Albus.

In this tedious and murderous masquerade, I had never once felt at ease.

But this year was a little different.

Because standing beside me like a shadow was Yua, dressed neatly in her black maid uniform.

Thanks to her status as the duke’s adopted daughter and her position as my exclusive maid, she was the only irregular presence permitted to attend this gathering. Her hair was neatly combed and pinned up, and her deep, unfathomable eyes still brimmed with curiosity about the world. Yet the anxiety and wariness that once lingered there were nowhere to be found. In their place was something solid and resolute that I didn’t yet fully understand.

“Welcome, Leonardo.”

Father—Duke Ricardo’s voice rang out. Seated at the far end of the long table, the very seat of authority, he greeted me with a cold gaze. His eyes as they swept over Yua beside me remained icy. Mother, seated next to him, offered me a small smile, and her gaze soon shifted to Yua, sending a brief but unmistakable warmth her way.

I took my assigned seat, and Yua quietly positioned herself behind my chair, standing as still as a decoration.

The meeting proceeded exactly as expected—utterly boring. Endless reports on territory conditions, subtle clashes over each family’s interests, and flowery rhetoric that sounded impressive but meant nothing. I twirled my pen, nodding occasionally or furrowing my brow to prove I was still present. The faint scratching of the pen tip against old paper echoed thinly through the air.

That was when it happened.

“Ahem. Sir Leonardo.”

The languid way my name was spoken snapped me back to attention. The one calling me was Count Albus, a distant relative. Today, his blade was aimed at Yua.

“I hear it’s the child you picked up off the streets… The Heavenfield family’s charitable works are truly impressive. She seems to have stayed by your side for quite a long time, hasn’t she?”

“When exactly do you plan to send her away? Even unearned kindness has its limits.”

His words were laced with thorns. ‘A child picked up from the streets,’ ‘a useless being’—that’s what he was implying…

I could feel Yua trembling behind me. She was probably thinking something self-deprecating like, ‘I shouldn’t be participating in a place like this…’ or ‘As expected, I’m only a burden to Leo…’ Yua sometimes spiraled into deep pessimism like that.

While those thoughts raced through her mind, I turned to face Count Albus with an openly mocking expression.

“I am deeply moved by Your Lordship’s profound interest. Yua is the pride of the Heavenfield family.”

I answered quietly but firmly.

“She helps with the family’s affairs more devotedly than anyone at my side. Her insight often leaves me astonished.”

“Hmph…”

‘Insight…?’

His praise made my whole body flush with heat. It felt as though my entire existence was shining brightly again from a single word from Leo.

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation or impure motive in Leo’s voice. I could only feel his steadfast determination to protect me.

For my sake, Leo… always took every blade the world aimed at me.

His back looked as massive as a towering mountain…

A flicker of bewilderment crossed Count Albus’s eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected me to respond with such confidence. He let out a forced, booming laugh and changed the subject.

“Haha, as expected. The young master’s discernment is truly exceptional.”

Hmm… That’s right! Our young master is that outstanding!

The meeting continued. Leo turned his gaze back to the documents, but his attention remained fixed on Yua. With the hand holding his pen, he ever so lightly brushed the back of her hand where she stood behind his chair. A fleeting touch.

!!!?!! Our fingertips… touched! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠They touched!!

“Eep!”

A faint warmth spread from his cold fingertips.

“Huu…”

The silent message of ‘It’s okay’ from Leo sank deep into my heart.

I gently, ever so gently, squeezed his fingers before letting go.

It was a vow. A silent vow.

That I would always remain by his side.

When the meeting paused for a short break and the surrounding nobles began gathering in small groups to chat, I rose from my chair. Yua immediately walked over and stood beside me with quick, light steps. Her gaze was fixed on me. Those eyes were incredibly serious, sometimes so deep they felt almost overwhelming.

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Yua’s wooden board displayed calm, polite formal speech. In public settings, she always addressed me as “Young Master” and used respectful language. This small distinction was proof of how perfectly we performed our “roles.” And now, I could sense the subtle emotions hidden within her silent, respectful words.

“No, it’s fine, Yua. I was thinking of stepping outside for some fresh air. This stifling atmosphere really doesn’t agree with me.”

I let out a small sigh as I answered. At my complaint, Yua’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She seemed to have noticed my discomfort and lifted her board again.

It was a sincere comfort that captured all of my worries. I let out a soft chuckle at her words.

“It’s okay. I can handle it. I’ll be back soon.”

‘But I want to stay by your side…’

Though the words were meant to show concern, they were really a desperate cry of how much she simply wanted to remain beside me.

I looked at his broad shoulders as he walked ahead, saying he was fine. He always walked one step ahead of me. I quietly followed his pace. His profile was as beautiful as ever, and the small fluttering that bloomed within that beauty had become the most secret and precious part of my life.

I just want to become your shadow and silently protect your side…

The sun had already begun to tilt westward. The red glow of sunset stretched long across the inside of the ducal residence. I left the cold, solid stone building behind and walked toward the warm light of the setting sun. My shadow and Yua’s shadow overlapped side by side.

That afternoon, while I sat on a garden bench reviewing territory reports, Yua quietly approached from behind and this time held out a transparent glass bottle. Inside were shimmering droplets of blue liquid.

Curious about the words written on the board, I accepted the bottle.

“What is this? Is it soap water or something?”

At my question, Yua said nothing and simply opened her board. A small drawing was sketched there. When the bottle was shaken, blue droplets burst upward into the air, and behind them was my face, smiling brightly. Yua pointed at the drawing with her finger, her eyes sparkling.

I carefully shook the bottle. The blue droplets soared into the air, sparkled in the sunlight, and burst apart. The moment the transparent droplets touched my face, a cold, refreshing sensation cleared my mind.

“Hmm, this… is pretty refreshing.”

When I muttered sincerely, Yua’s eyes sparkled as she wrote something new on her board.

I chuckled softly. She seemed to enjoy it whenever I reacted to small things.

“Yeah, yeah. Good job, Yua. That’s enough now, right? I need to look at these documents.”

Yua emphasized the word [No!] on her board and pointed toward the large fountain in the center of the garden. Then she took my hand and led me toward the fountain.

In the middle of the fountain was a statue of a dancing fairy. Yua sat on one of the protruding stones around the statue, poured the blue liquid from the bottle into her hands, and carefully gathered the droplets together. It looked like she was trying to make something.

I watched Yua’s actions. Her eyes were serious. She flicked the gathered droplets lightly, attempting to form some shape. The way she concentrated on those tiny hand movements was adorable.

Then suddenly, she splashed the droplets onto my face.

The cold, refreshing droplets hit me, and I flinched without thinking.

“Yua! What are you suddenly—! Pffft…!”

When I looked flustered, Yua burst into bright laughter as if she had been waiting for it and held out her board.

She pointed at the small fairy drawing on her board. Then she splashed more of the liquid from the bottle at me.

Laughter burst out of me before I could stop it. The absurdity of being caught off guard with no chance to dodge, combined with Yua’s innocent mischief, made me keep chuckling… I gladly played along with her prank.

Whenever she splashed water at me, I exaggerated my reactions, pretending to wipe my face in shock. Yua’s laughter grew even louder. The gardener looked like he was clutching the back of his neck at the sight, but I paid him no mind.