It’s been about two weeks.

Like Robinson Crusoe stranded on a deserted island, I marked the date as each day passed.

During these two weeks, I couldn’t leave the mansion, let alone easily leave my room. I could freely enter and exit the dining room or bathroom, but going beyond that was impossible.

‘I’m even tired of studying how to create checkmate with three knights and one king.’

Chess was the only thing that helped me endure this boring time.

Have I ever played chess for such a long time in my life? Yesterday, I devoted all my time to chess except for meal and sleep times.

But now I’m tired of playing chess too.

‘It’s been about two weeks, so wouldn’t Isabel’s anger have subsided by now?’

For these two weeks, I’ve really lived only watching Isabel’s mood. I could have secretly gone out or acted shamelessly, but I didn’t because this incident was clearly my fault.

I knew what would happen if I crossed the line. But now that two weeks have passed, wouldn’t it be okay?

“Hey, Lize! Prisoner number 20601!”

“I’ve brought snacks, so hurry up and open the door. Prisoner number 20601!”

I heard the twins’ voices beyond the door. I went to the door and pulled the doorknob.

“Huh? She really opened it?”

“Yeah.”

The twins’ expressions went blank at my appearance. I snatched the loaf of bread in Silke’s hand and put it in my mouth.

“Li, Lize! No, prisoner number 24601! Where are you going?”

Swel grabbed me as I was about to go down the stairs.

“To atone for my sins.”

“……What?”

“So, why did you come?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For lying to Mother and making her worry.”

I knelt down and clasped my hands. One wisdom I had gained after spending ten years in the Marsen family was that bowing when necessary brings benefits. And now was the time to bow.

“I also regret enticing Roger. Because of this, Mrs. Bakus also worried a lot about Roger. I will never lie to Mother and Mrs. Bakus again. I also want to sincerely apologize to Mrs. Bakus.”

I bowed my head with all my might.

“As for me, that’s fine, but make sure to apologize to Mrs. Bakus in person with sincerity.”

“Then, do you allow me to go see Roger and Mrs. Bakus?”

When I asked with a brightened expression, Isabel shook her head.

“No, you just stay put. They’re coming here.”

“What?”

“Lize, you should know you’re lucky. Mrs. Bakus said she wants to come to the Marsen house tomorrow with Roger.”

Suddenly?

Wasn’t Mrs. Bakus angry with me?

“Really?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

No!

Whatever it is, I’ve been given a chance to make up for my mistake. I can see Roger, whom I thought I might never meet again.

Isabel stared at me, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“Sili hates dirty children the most, so you should change your clothes.”

“Ah. That’s right.”

My clothes looked dull as I hadn’t changed them for three days.

“Light colors suit you well, so you should wear a light-colored dress.”

“Yes, thank you, Mother!”

“……You can go now.”

As I went out of the room, I saw Felicia and Bernard who had just returned from school. Felicia smirked at me, who had appeared in the hallway after a long time.

“Did Mother finally forgive you, Lize?”

“Yes. And Roger is coming!”

“……Roger?”

I heard Felicia’s voice from downstairs asking who Roger was, but I didn’t pay attention. Opening the wardrobe, I pondered what dress to wear tomorrow.

After a day passed, the cold had completely gone.

Things that had started to sprout now unfolded their petals. Like the environment painted in green and the village bustling with vitality, the Marsen mansion also made changes to match the new season.

Flowerpots were placed here and there, and new flowers were planted in the garden to add color.

Swel and Silke often ran around outside playing excitedly, but Felicia and Bernard under the gazebo were holding their heads preparing for upcoming tests.

“Silke, Swel! I can’t concentrate at all because of you, so stop running!”

“Then go inside and study!”

“Those brats……!”

Felicia frowned and then looked at me sitting across from her.

“……Lize, what’s ‘winter’ in ancient language?”

“Ah! I was curious about that too!”

Following Felicia, Bernard, who was also stuck on a problem, asked me for help.

“Are you asking about the pronunciation? Or how to write it?”

“Both.”

And I’m waiting for Roger who will soon come here.

Roger said he would stay at the Marsen mansion for three days.

Looking into the reason for the visit, when his students couldn’t find a practice room due to a suddenly scheduled performance, Roger’s father readily offered the mansion. And Mrs. Bakus and Roger left the mansion for those students.

Upon hearing this situation, Isabel, for whatever reason, suggested staying at the Marsen mansion for three whole days.

“You can’t write it as it’s pronounced. There’s a leaking sound in the middle, so in the middle……”

“Young lady!”

While I was in the middle of explaining to Felicia and Bernard, a maid’s voice was heard.

“It seems Mrs. Bakus and the young master have arrived.”

The maids became busy as those two arrived. I jumped up from my seat and approached the main entrance. My siblings also stuck close to me, curious about the faces of the new people.

Soon, the figure of Roger holding a violin case on his back appeared.

“Lize!”

Roger waved at me happily. Seeing Roger as lively as usual, I brushed aside my worried feelings. I thought he would be very angry at me for enticing him to lie and getting scolded by Mrs. Bakus……

‘Thank goodness.’

I tried to wave at Roger, but Felicia and Silke grabbed my arms.

“Lize, is that kid Roger Bakus?”

“Yeah.”

When I nodded at Felicia’s question, Silke rolled her eyes.

“He’s different from what you said! You said he was a fool who only looked for his mom!”

“You said he was a troublemaker with no tact and an annoying guy! And that he likes to dress up inappropriately for his age, making him weird!”

I, I didn’t say that much.

“Shh. The person in question is here now, so be quiet……”

“But what? He’s handsome!”

“Silke, you think so too, right? Look at those purple eyes!”

Just like Yune, now even Silke and Felicia said Roger was handsome. To my eyes, he just looked like a sensitive and stubborn mama’s boy.

But those two wouldn’t lie. Even when they were wary of Yurik, they praised his looks, saying he looked like an angel just descended from heaven.

“Tch, what’s so handsome? He just looks like he might throw a tantrum.”

“I think so too.”

Swel and Bernard disagreed with their sisters. But then they glanced at Roger warily.

Somehow Isabel was standing next to me, having come out at some point. She gave me a look as if to say I should apologize to Mrs. Bakus as soon as I met her.

She doesn’t need to give me that look, I know well enough.

“Have you been well, Lize?”

Before I could apologize, Mrs. Bakus approached me with a bright smile. I thought she would be very angry with me…… Either she had already forgotten about that incident or her tone and expression were the same as usual, kind. Because of that, I missed the timing to apologize.

“Thank you for inviting us, Isabel.”

“Welcome.”

Even after that, I couldn’t easily open my mouth. Because Mrs. Bakus and Isabel naturally entered the mansion while chatting about various things.

As I was blankly watching their retreating figures, Roger tapped my shoulder.

“Lize, long time no see.”

“Have you been well?”

“Just so-so. I heard you had many siblings, but there really are a lot.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Roger said as he looked over the siblings around me. The siblings secretly gave me looks as if asking me to hurry and introduce them to Roger.

“Actually, there’s one more. His name is Rodney, but he’s at a boarding school now. Anyway, let me introduce Felicia, the eldest daughter, first……”

“Why bother introducing? I can greet him first. Hello. I’m Roger Bakus, Lize’s friend.”

Roger greeted the siblings who were watching him.

“Oh, ni, nice to meet you! I’m Felicia Marsen!”

The siblings also took this opportunity to introduce themselves. They went into detail, starting from their characteristics to their hobbies, when they could have just briefly mentioned their age and name. Roger listened politely, but one of his eyebrows was already crooked.

As soon as Silke finished speaking last, Roger pushed my back.

“Yes. Nice to meet you all. Now Lize, introduce me to the mansion!”

“What? Don’t, don’t push!”

I ended up entering the mansion abruptly. Unlike the Bakus mansion which was lavish and full of art pieces, the Marsen mansion had a simple design.

Roger looked around the entrance hall silently for a moment. His keen eye and sense were evaluating the interior of the Marsen mansion.

“Roger, we’ll introduce you to the mansion. But what’s this?”

Silke spoke to Roger first when he didn’t pay any attention to her.

“It’s a violin.”

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, I heard from Lize that you play the violin well!”

“Ah, yes……”

Roger trailed off, seemingly displeased that Silke had interrupted his appreciation.

“And I heard you’re teaching violin? Isn’t Lize’s playing quite terrible? She’s good at other things, but she’s weak at drawing and knitting.”

“That’s right.”

Despite agreeing, Roger’s expression became a bit scary.

“I knew it! But unlike Lize, I play the violin quite well! Want me to show you?”

“Ah, me too!”

“What are you talking about! I have the best skills!”

“Me, me too!”

Following Silke, the other siblings chimed in. They fought among themselves, and when they couldn’t agree, they immediately reached for the violin case on Roger’s back.

‘Ah, Roger won’t like this!’

Sure enough, Roger’s expression gradually hardened. As I approached to stop my siblings, Roger acted faster.

He snatched the violin case and hugged it to his chest. My siblings and I all paused in surprise.

“Don’t touch it.”

At his prickly tone, my siblings closed their mouths. Roger poured more cold water on the chilly atmosphere.

“I thought you might be a little similar since you’re Lize’s siblings……”

“……?”

“But you’re not alike at all. Don’t touch my violin or Lize.”

……What is he saying now?