Chapter 36: Happy Warmth

On a winter evening as it approached, while having tea with Nadia in the hall, I noticed Ralph’s fidgety behavior as he stared at me intently.

“What’s wrong, Ralph?”

“. . .Well, actually, Lisette-sama, I have a favor to ask.”

It was rare for Ralph to ask me for a favor. Since I had been indebted to him, I replied, “If there’s anything I can do.”

Upon hearing that, Ralph’s eyes sparkled, and his cheeks blushed slightly with joy.

“Actually, I would like you to finish knitting this.”

Saying that, he took out a sock made of yarn, with only one side completed, and it looked incredibly familiar.

Upon closer inspection, it was the one I had been knitting in the forest cabin when I ran away from Ralph’s place.

I had thought it was lost when I lost consciousness and was taken away, so I was surprised to see that it had remained.

“After that, I made sure to collect it and keep it safe. I was planning to ask you after Lisette-sama forgave me for that day.”

“Oh, I see.” 

“Also, this color is the same as my eyes, so maybe you made it for me.”

“W-Well. . .”

At that time, I thought I was going to die soon, so I hadn’t intended to give it to anyone. But the fact was, I unconsciously chose Ralph’s color.

When he said that to me, I felt somewhat embarrassed.

However, even though he could buy any luxurious item, he cherished the sock that I had knitted, which was only one side. It was so like Ralph that I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s my fault for not consulting with Ralph, and I’m not angry.”

“Is that so?!”

“Yes, it is,” I nodded. But just as I was about to nod, Nadia, who was sitting next to me, hugged my arm tightly and glared at Ralph.

“Onii-sama, it’s also the color of my eyes! Maybe you made it for me!”

“Huh, it must be a misunderstanding.”

“That’s my line.”

“Alright, I understand. Let’s make matching ones for both of you!” 

As they were about to start a fight any moment, I hurriedly called out to Ralph and Nadia, and they both said in unison, “Thank you!” and directed dazzling smiles towards me. The radiant smiles of the beautiful siblings were blinding.

Eventually, Nadia called me “Lisette-sama” and looked up at me with upturned eyes.

“Uhm, can I be a little selfish and ask for something?”

“Of course.”

“Since it’s uncomfortable for Onii-sama and me to have matching ones, I would like you to make a pair for Lisette-sama as well.”

“I also prefer matching ones with Lisette-sama, not with you.”

“Fine, I get it! Let’s make it matching! for all three of us!”

Once again, trying to calm down the two who seemed about to argue, I said that, and Ralph and Nadia both had similar delighted expressions on their faces.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

A month later, I nodded approvingly as I looked at the three completed socks in front of me. They turned out quite well, even if I say so myself. 

If I just called the two of them to the hall and handed them over, Ralph and Nadia would receive the socks with great excitement, looking at them as if they were treasures.

“Lisette-sama, thank you so much! I will wear them until I die, no, even after I die, I will have them put in my grave and wear them.”

“Yes, every day regardless of the season.”

“But really, just for this winter is enough.”

As soon as they tried them on and frolicked around like children, they were so adorable that a happy smile escaped me.

“But, you went through all the trouble of making them. . .”

“In return, let me make them for you again next year.”

“Is that okay?!”

“Yes, of course.”

Being able to casually talk about the future as if it were a given made me happy and warmed my heart.

“Lisette-sama, thank you so much!”

“I love you!”

“Hehe.”

I wondered if Ralph and Nadia would be delighted if I made and gave them gloves next.

With such thoughts in mind, I smiled at the two beloved ones and said, “Thank you for everything as well.”

―END―

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