My Maid is Cute Chapter 101 : A Flower Crown for You (Patreon)

*A Flower Crown for You*

A tale of certain sisters.

***

A gentle breeze blows.

Flowers blooming as far as the eye can see rustle softly. The scent of grass fills the air like a calming atmosphere. Above, a beautiful blue sky stretches out, creating a scenery almost like a dream.

Soft sunlight filters in, and the breath of life spreads across the earth. In that sunbeam, a young girl sat. She was a beautiful girl with dignified features. Long chestnut hair reaching down to her waist, she was clad in an elegant dress.

—Her eyes were blue as the sea.

With an earnest expression, the girl picked surrounding flowers and was creating something with her white hands, weaving them finely.

"—cess."

At that moment, someone called the girl. But it didn't reach the ears of the concentrated girl.

"Sister!"

Called from nearby, the girl finally looked up as if startled. Unnoticed, a petite figure was standing in front of her.

She was a girl beautiful as if shining. Reddish-blonde hair was artistically braided, and her large round eyes were also blue. She too was wearing a lovely dress. With hands on her hips, she wore an angry expression.

"Sister Irydia, honestly! I've been calling you foreeeever and you didn't notice at all!"

The girl called Irydia smiled softly.

"I'm sorry, Celestina. I was too focused."

Immediately after, as if realizing something, Irydia tilted her head.

"Celestina, aren't you supposed to be in history class right now?"

The girl called Celestina averted her gaze awkwardly.

"Um... well, you see, talking to you is more important today, you know..."

"...You skipped on your own and ran away, didn't you?"

Irydia held her head and voiced her trouble.

"Honestly, you... learning and gaining knowledge constantly is a duty of royalty too..."

Celestina turned her face away abruptly.

"I don't know about that... Unlike you, Sister, I'm not suited for studying. Even though I'm good at dancing."

"Geez, Father will scold you again."

Told that, Celestina puffed out her cheeks adorably for a moment, but immediately made a face as if remembering something.

"More importantly! I heard from Father!! He's going to decide your fiancé soon!"

"Ah..."

Irydia laughed troubledly.

"Yes, that's right... Father and Mother are considering it. Well, Father has been thinking about it for a long time and seems to have decided to some extent, though."

Probably an excellent young man from a powerful domestic noble family would be chosen; she predicted as much herself but didn't say it. Celestina sighed and sat down next to Irydia.

"Marriage, huh... I'll have to do it someday too, won't I..."

"That is true... Unlike me, with your beauty, I think many will propose to you. Surely there will be a charming and wonderful man who will cherish you."

When she said that, Celestina clouded her face and spoke in a small voice.

"Sister, ...I actually."

"Hmm?"

"Actually, I... I hate political marriage... If possible, I want to marry someone I love."

Irydia widened her eyes and looked at Celestina's face. She wanted to think it was a joke, but Celestina's eyes were serious. Irydia spoke up as if realizing something.

"Celestina, do you perhaps have someone you like?"

At that question, Celestina's face turned bright red in agitation. Because that face was so adorable, Irydia laughed unintentionally.

"I wonder who it is? Speaking of men around you..."

"I-It's a secret!"

Celestina said loudly, then buried her face in her knees as if hugging them.

"I really, really like him... enough that I'd do anything to be with him..."

"Oh my..."

Irydia put a hand to her mouth. It was a statement unbefitting of royalty, but it was words typical of her sister who had lived freely and true to herself.

Irydia gently stroked her sister's head.

"Someday, when talk of your engagement comes up, I'll try speaking to Father myself so it goes according to your wishes as much as possible."

Celestina looked up brightly.

"Really?"

"Yes... well, I don't know if I can persuade him though..."

Irydia had an unconfident look, but Celestina hugged her sister happily.

"Sister, thank you!"

Patting her sister's back lightly, Irydia smiled wryly. Her sister was still young and didn't properly understand her position. However, if it was this adorable sister's wish, even their strict father might consider it. Perhaps their mother, who doted on her sister, might support her too.

Irydia separated from her and placed the flower crown she made on Celestina's head.

"Someday, when you marry the person you love, let me celebrate too."

"Of course! Sister, I love you!"

At those words, Irydia smiled softly.

"Yes, Celestina. I love you too."

***

Rieserago looked up with a start, as if waking from a long dream.

It seemed she had fallen asleep without realizing it. Stretching her small body, she muttered in a voice no one could hear.

"Close one, close one..."

Falling from a tree in bird form would be too pathetic to look at.

Currently, Rieserago, transformed into a small bird, was perched on a tree, resting her body. Placing her feet on an unstable branch, she moved her wings restlessly.

"...I had a nostalgic dream."

It was an event from not just hundreds, but thousands of years ago.

For Rieserago, who had lived a long time, it was merely a part of the past, an event she even felt she wanted to forget. Memories of her real family she would never meet again.

Rieserago, lost in thought, suddenly narrowed her eyes into the distance as if noticing something. She saw human figures in the garden of a large mansion a short distance away.

Hurriedly moving her wings, she flew quickly. Perching on a tree in that mansion's garden, she gazed at the people who had come out into the garden.

There was a woman who appeared to be a noble lady and a young girl. The woman's belly was largely swollen.

It seemed they had come out to have tea in the garden. Several people who appeared to be maids and butlers could be seen working around them. A table and chairs were set up, with tea and sweets arranged.

The young girl was sticking close to the woman who seemed to be her mother.

"My Lady, we have prepared your favorite cake."

Even when addressed by someone who seemed to be a maid, the girl didn't answer and just stared earnestly at her mother's swollen belly.

"Fufufu, Rike just can't wait for the baby to be born, can she?"

The woman who seemed to be the mother laughed happily and stroked the girl's head.

"It's almost time, Rike. You'll meet them soon. Your little sister or brother."

The woman continued in a gentle voice.

"When they're born, please play with them a lot."

At those words, the girl nodded firmly and greatly.

***

Rieserago watched that girl quietly from the tree.

"..."

She honestly thought it was a beautiful scene. Even from an outsider's perspective, it was clear the girl was loved, and the baby to be born next would also be deeply loved. That was truly a wonderful thing.

—To me, it's a scene like another world.

Because she no longer had a beloved family. She had no plans to create loved ones, and she would likely never be loved by anyone in the future.

Even her current actions were like that. There wasn't any particular meaning. She was just a little curious about that girl. That's why she transformed into a bird and came to check on her a few times. Because she was curious about what kind of life she was leading this time. That was all there was to it. There was no deep reason.

Rieserago piled up excuses in her heart as if persuading herself. Realizing this about herself, she laughed softly, then flew away turning her back on the parent and child.

While secretly thinking she would come again.

***

The girl looked up as if noticing something. Separating from her mother, she moved her face. She gazed at the sky as if searching for something.

"Rike? What's wrong?"

Her mother asked wonderingly.

The girl didn't answer.