“Why do they have to be so rude to us!”

“We fixed their carriage and got them home safely. They have no manners!”

“Hey Silvio, are you listening to me? It’s your fault! You’re the one who made all these unnecessary remarks….”

After leaving the Leveaux family, his friends came down hard on Silvio. He had gone out of his way to save the daughter’s plight and take her home, only to be chased away like a stray dog or rat scavenging in the street. No wonder.

“Sorry … But thank you …, I owe you ….”

When Silvio returned to the Fontana family compound, he left them early and retired to his room. He was so full of inexplicable excitement that he couldn’t seem to do anything but dabble in his thoughts. All he could think about was the girl he had just met today. Idyllia. What a beautiful name. It suits her like the Goddess of Spring. He wanted to call her again and again.

(What on earth has happened to me? …)

It was so ridiculous that even he wanted to cackle. Even though it had been a long time since he left her, he still felt dizzy with happiness, and his heart was beating loudly. The idea of taking her home was an excuse to look at her for as long as possible. He wanted to speak to her directly – he wanted to hear her voice, so he talked to her persistently, which was not wise now that he thought back on it. She was in front of someone from a hostile family. She must have been on her guard and nervous. He might have made her feel uneasy. When he thought of that, he wanted to tell himself at that time to calm down a little.

(No, even now, I’m not calm at all….)

On the bed, Silvio covered his face with both hands. Even so, Idyllia heartily answered him. Although she was a woman of few words, she listened and responded to Silvio’s story. Perhaps she must be a kind and polite person. Maybe she felt that she should not neglect the person who had lent her a helping hand. It was too frustrating that she was the daughter of a political enemy’s family. Otherwise, he would have courted her right then and there!

(What would she have thought of me? …?)

Because of his birth and the good looks he was blessed with from his parents, he had always been liked by most women. But ────

(Wouldn’t she think I’m a rambunctious, pushy, persistent man who rambles incessantly? … No, I’m sure she thought so!)

At his analysis, Silvio sprang up in bed.

“No, I don’t! I’m usually calmer, more considerate of people’s circumstances, and rarely talk to women …!”

(That was just because the person I was talking to was Idyllia. No other reason.)

“Oh, God! Give me another chance …!”

Just as he was about to cry out to the heavens, the door opened after a light knock, and his sister peeked in.

“Brother, what’s wrong? You’re all alone and yelling loudly: ….”

Like Silvio, she rolled her large moon-white eyes and tilted her head.

“Oh, Eurydice. I’ve had the happiest thing happen to me today…but now it’s the worst thing ever.”

Eurydice, his sister, was five years younger and bright and bold for her age. She must have sensed that her brother, who looked excited on the bed, needed help. She approached him suspiciously and sat down next to him. When Silvio told her everything he had to say, she responded to him very calmly indeed.

“In short, it’s not all Brother’s fault, I suppose. I don’t know if any of this is true.”

“Yes, same. I think so too…. But how do we …?”

“That’s easy.”

In front of her brother, who mumbled helplessly, the younger sister stated matter-of-factly.

“You just have to meet her and find out. Ask that person how she feels about you!”

“Impossible. I’ll be rejected at the door.”

“Then why don’t you sneak off to see her at night? Yes, like the bards do when they try to seduce a lover!”

“That’s….”

Contemplating his sister’s outlandish suggestion, Silvio shook his head.

“A very seductive proposal, …, but if she doesn’t think anything of me, it would be very …, you know, annoying or…… it would rather frighten her, or ….”

He felt like crying as he spoke. His younger sister snorted, seemingly bored in response to her brother’s flippant reaction.

“I didn’t think, Brother, that you were such a wimp. I get it. Then why don’t you just keep on moping around by yourself?”

She jumped off her brother’s bed, where he was sitting, and walked briskly to the door. Then, as she stepped out into the corridor, she hummed and sniffed.

“There’s even a chance that that person who can’t leave the house is waiting for Brother to come. You idiot!”

♔♔♔