Becoming the Bad Girl (2) #4. That Night’s Dream

It happened at an oddly delicate moment. That night, I had a strange and ominous dream.

“Brother, I just want to be a bad kid.”

In the dream, Amelia stood facing me with the saddest expression the world had ever seen.

“……What do you mean, Amel?”

“Living nicely only puts me at a loss. I can’t ostracize friends I don’t like, I can’t toy with stupid adults, and above all, I have to sit there and watch you fool around with other women.”

“Even as a joke, you shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Joke……? Do my words sound like a joke to you? Ah, so Brother hates Amel when she isn’t good, right?”

“Calm down and listen to me—”

“—Brother is a liar. You always said you’d support me.”

Swish! Amelia pressed a dagger to her throat and slashed it sideways. The moment the gushing blood covered my vision, I jolted awake.

‘……It was a dream.’

My mouth was dry. Cold sweat trickled down my spine. How many times had Amelia appeared in my dreams this month alone? I pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a long sigh.

“This is bad.”

“What’s bad?”

A tickling breath brushed my ear. I flinched hard and shot upright. Amelia, already in her school uniform, was lying across the edge of the bed, staring straight at me.

“Oh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you’re awake.”

“……It’s you, Amel. What are you doing here first thing in the morning?”

“What do you mean……?”

Amelia’s gaze slid toward the wall. The gothic clock pointed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to seven.

“I came to wake the late sleeper? You didn’t come down even though it was time for breakfast.”

A slender white finger poked my cheek playfully. So the cause had been me after all.

I brushed her hand away and smiled bitterly.

“Thanks, Amel. But next time, wake me up like a normal person.”

“Hmm, but you kept making those pained noises.”

“Then you should have woken me sooner.”

“Hehe, it would’ve been a waste.”

……So the kid had been watching me struggle through the nightmare. In moments like this, she really was a true Darcy. When I glared at her with a sour look, Amelia tilted her head with cheerful innocence.

“What kind of dream was it?”

Curious eyes sparkled as they scanned my face. But it wasn’t the sort of dream I could share with anyone—especially not with Amelia.

“Just a silly dream. You don’t need to know.”

When I answered carelessly, Amelia blinked twice.

“Are you getting ready for school now?”

I rose from the bed, straightening my pajamas, and glanced back at her.

“Weren’t you waking me for that?”

“If you’re not feeling well, why not rest for a day? You were sweating so much.”

“It’s not bad enough to miss class. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief, but……”

Amelia’s lips moved silently. Then she looked down at the floor with a lonely expression.

“If you ever feel sick, you must rest. I hate it when someone is ill.”

“……Amel.”

Come to think of it, my stepmother had been frail. I’d heard she passed away only a few years after giving birth to Amelia. Amelia’s isolation within the family had probably begun around then. Her hypersensitivity to illness must have been a defense mechanism formed in that period. Her body had grown, but the scars from childhood remained.

Reaching that conclusion, I stroked Amelia’s hair as an apology. Then I smiled, meeting the crimson eyes she had inherited from her mother.

“When have I ever been sick?”

“Never.”

“And when have you been sick?”

“……It has happened.”

“So who’s worrying about whom?”

They were only a few plain words, but Amelia offered a faint, relieved smile.

“That’s true.”

Her voice had regained some strength. I withdrew my hand from her hair.

“I’ll head down once I’m ready. Go on ahead.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Amelia gave a small bow and left the room with light steps.

#5. A short while later, after finishing my preparations, I went downstairs. For the residence of a duke’s heir, it was surprisingly modest. That was only natural—this was not the main mansion but the detached villa. When I enrolled at Western years ago, the family had built it nearby at my request. Because my preferences had been taken into account, the facilities were kept minimal. Only three people lived here: Amelia, myself, and the maid Chloe.

“You’ve woken up, Master Luke.”

When I finally entered the dining room, Chloe stood quietly beside the table. She had clearly been waiting, yet she showed no sign of impatience as she neatened the utensils.

“I’ve just finished preparing everything. Please eat.”

Her attitude was calm and considerate. That was exactly why I had chosen Chloe from among the many servants. Her competence and impeccable conduct were excellent, but what I liked most was her perfect sense of distance. Even though we had known each other for a long time, Chloe never acted familiar. She simply performed her duties faithfully—like a musician who never strays from the score. She even matched my ideal of a cool-beauty maid. The Victorian-style uniform that reached her ankles suited her perfectly. In the original story she had been little more than an extra……

“……Is something uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll enjoy the meal, Chloe.”

Realizing I had been staring too long, I sat down and began to eat. Even for breakfast the spread was generous: freshly baked white bread, mushroom soup, an omelet, smoked sausage, and salad. Every preference had been adjusted precisely to my tastes.

Normally I would have finished quickly, but today the food was hard to swallow. Amelia, who had already eaten, kept staring at me intently from across the table.

“……Amel, is there something on my face?”

“No. I’m simply observing.”

“Consider the feelings of the person being observed.”

“……? Is that bad?”

It was an innocent question completely devoid of malice. I couldn’t think of a proper reply. Any strange answer would only pull me into her rhythm, so I stayed silent and continued moving my fork.

“I’m done.”

The moment I pushed my empty plate aside and stood, Chloe, who had been waiting nearby, asked softly.

“Master Luke, will you be walking to the academy again today?”

“I will. Why?”

“The carriage is ready, so I thought I should ask.”

“It’s fine. Walking is good for my health.”

I always walked to the academy, while Amelia rode in the carriage Chloe drove. Because this contrast repeated every single day, even Chloe seemed unable to let it pass without comment.

“I see.”

Her reply somehow sounded less crisp than usual. Sensing something odd, I asked directly.

“Is there a problem?”

Chloe hesitated a moment, then answered honestly.

“Not at all. I simply thought once again that you are rather peculiar.”

“……Peculiar, huh.”

In this world, nobles considered walking beneath them. A ducal heir commuting on foot every day was anything but common. I laughed lightly and shot back.

“You’re just as peculiar, Chloe. It’s rare for a maid to also serve as coachman.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. On top of that you cook, tend the garden, manage the accounts…… You basically handle everything alone. It makes me feel sorry.”

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“……”

Chloe stared at me as if lost in thought. I had meant it as praise, but for a second I worried I had offended her. Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Your necktie is crooked.”

Chloe stepped close and deftly straightened it with practiced hands. At that proximity, her signature mint scent drifted over me. I tensed without meaning to and answered awkwardly.

“……Ah, thanks.”

“It’s nothing.”

Chloe smiled calmly. Strangely, even her smile felt professional. She turned neatly toward Amelia, who was still seated at the table.

“Then, Miss Amelia, shall we leave soon? I will escort you to Western.”

Amelia simply smiled.

“No, it’s fine. Chloe can rest today.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

When Chloe blinked in confusion, Amelia continued in a gentle, measured tone.

“Don’t you sometimes want to rest at leisure, Chloe? So today I thought I’d walk with Brother. I’ve been unaware of how much you’ve been working, haven’t I?”

It was the thoughtful consideration one would expect from the Saint of Western, yet Chloe declined humbly.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but there is no need to concern yourself with me. Escorting you to the academy is hardly difficult.”

“I said it’s fine. The weather is nice for once.”

“……? It is rather cloudy today.”

“Yes, I prefer cloudy days.”

“Is that so?”

Once Chloe somehow relented, Amelia sent me a playful glance.

“Besides, Brother, we still have some time. How about another cup of tea?”

I checked my wristwatch. Although I had slept late, I had eaten quickly, so there was a little time to spare.

“Shall we?”

Chloe immediately moved to prepare it.

“Then I will quickly—”

Amelia lightly waved her hand, stopping her.

“No, Chloe, stay seated. This time I’ll bring yours down too.”

“That won’t do. How could I possibly impose?”

“Occasionally receiving service might be good practice for hospitality, right? Consider it a lesson. And today I want to repay Chloe, who has always worked so hard.”

This level of kindness would have been unimaginable from the old Amelia. With no grounds left to refuse, Chloe nodded.

“I see…… Then I will gratefully accept……”

“Yes, wait just a moment.”

Amelia stood and headed for the kitchen. Watching her retreating figure, Chloe murmured plainly.

“She really is as kind as the rumors say.”

“Right……?”

Even in front of Chloe she never drops the mask. What a thorough kid. With that thought, I glanced toward the kitchen Amelia had disappeared into.

#6. At that same moment—in the kitchen where no one’s gaze could reach. The fragrant aroma of steaming coffee filled the air. Amelia hummed a little tune as she ground the beans. Then she scooped white powder with a teaspoon and dropped it into the cup.

“Sugar, one teaspoon.”

This time it’s Brother’s fault. If you’re kind to just anyone, it causes problems for me.

Her hand began to stir the teaspoon gently.

“Cream, one teaspoon.”

Does it not matter who the pretty woman is? So Brother is a man after all.

Her eyes watched the whirlpool spinning inside the cup.

“And……”

Suddenly her hand stopped. She leaned close to the cup. The faint coffee scent tickled her nose. A clear droplet fell from the tip of her tongue into the dark liquid.

Then—

“Done!”

Even a good little sister can play a prank like this, right? Well, there’s no point arguing about it now.

Amelia wore a brighter smile than usual and moved the coffee—now containing “one teaspoon of affection”—onto a tray. Just as she was about to leave the kitchen naturally—

“……?”

Even though the translucent window spouted incomprehensible things—reward, favorability, connection—Amelia didn’t look surprised. She simply let out an irritated sigh.

“Ugh, it’s noisy again.”

How many days had this thing been following her? At first she had dismissed it as a temporary hallucination, but after so many repetitions she could no longer ignore it. Amelia waved her hand dismissively.

“I’ll do what I want. So stop meddling in every little thing, will you?”

Despite her curt tone, the message did not disappear. Instead it displayed even more information.

Amelia already understood, however dimly, what the imbalance between high Favorability and low Connection meant. That was why, even though she usually wore a perfect mask, a sliver of her true feelings slipped out.

“……How annoying.”

A faint sigh drifted above the tray. Breathing in the bitter coffee aroma brought back the day she had first arrived at Luke’s detached villa. Yes—the beginning of this irritating phenomenon had been two weeks ago—