The smiles gradually faded from the brothers’ faces.

At this rate, the atmosphere would truly become unpleasant.

“Roger, even if you’re shy, that’s too much! How could you say such insincere things?”

So I stepped in.

“What are you saying? I’m not shy at all… mph!”

I hurriedly covered Roger’s mouth.

“Besides, Roger doesn’t like others touching his instrument. Elder sisters, elder brothers, you’ve learned violin too, so you know. Even a slight touch can loosen the strings and make the sound strange. Right, Roger?”

“Even if that weren’t the case, I don’t like anyone touching my instrument… mph.”

“See, you heard him? He doesn’t like his instrument being touched. Anyway Roger, I’ll show you my room now, so let’s go upstairs.”

Before Roger could say more nonsense, I forcibly grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.

As we went up the stairs, I could faintly hear my siblings whispering behind us. They were surely looking at Roger with disdain. I resented Roger for saying unnecessary things and making everyone dislike him.

“Why did you cover my mouth?”

“Be quiet. I barely restrained myself from sewing it shut completely.”

He was still frowning, unable to grasp the situation.

“By the way, are those really your siblings?”

What? Those?

My siblings may have touched the violin without permission, but until then they hadn’t done anything to particularly irritate Roger. Rather, they had subtly tried to make a good impression on him, but Roger had pretended not to notice.

“Let’s go into the room first.”

“This is your room? It has everything you need. Not too cramped either…”

Roger looked around the room. Seemingly surprised by how well-organized it was, he tapped the desk.

“No flaws at all.”

He was also amazed by the sturdy desk, and exclaimed at how soft the bedding was. I can assure you, the desk in Roger’s room would be even sturdier, and the bedding would feel even better.

I blocked Roger as he went around touching the furniture while talking nonsense.

“Roger. What’s wrong with my siblings?”

“What’s with those siblings?”

Along with Roger’s words, I firmly stepped on his foot.

“Hey! What are you…”

“Who are you to insult my siblings?”

He flinched when he saw my furious face. Though my siblings could be mischievous and full of pranks, they weren’t bad enough to deserve such harsh words from others.

“…Hey, it’s not good to like people that much even if you do. Why are you defending siblings who treat you badly?”

Roger, who had been hesitating, spouted strange words instead of apologizing.

“Treat me badly?”

“You think I don’t know how they bully you? Oh, they don’t hit you, do they?”

Roger had mistakenly thought I was being bullied by my siblings. He sincerely suspected I was being ostracized, examining my arms and legs. He was checking for bruises or scars.

I was so dumbfounded I could hardly speak.

“It’s not like that at all! My siblings and I are quite close.”

“Then why do they insult you in front of you? Saying your skills are terrible.”

“That’s just teasing!”

“Teasing? But they’re siblings?”

Roger tilted his head. Do siblings always have to get along perfectly?

Perhaps it’s because he has no siblings. He viewed our relationship, where we freely said mean things like friends, negatively.

Come to think of it, the siblings Roger had been close to recently were the Penton siblings. After seeing Yurik and Yune, who were rarely close and considerate of each other, he might think our siblings were strange.

“Really, Roger. We may say mean things to each other, but we also protect each other. Like that time before.”

“What’s that?”

“Siblings don’t have to be as nice as the Penton siblings. Besides, Yurik and Yune fight often too, unlike what you think. Just like the Marsen siblings.”

Roger’s expression softened at my sincere defense of my siblings. It seemed the misunderstanding was cleared up. Roger, who slightly lowered his head at my gaze, put down the violin case he had been holding.

“I’m sorry.”

Roger apologized to me. Since it was due to a misunderstanding, my anger had subsided as well.

“It’s fine. By the way, I don’t know what your mother was thinking in having us meet, but I’m glad to see your face, Roger.”

“Did your lady mother scold you a lot?”

Ah, I see.

I realized that Roger knew about my birth. Then I understood why he had been examining my room and furniture for flaws earlier.

‘He must be worried.’

Roger had a picky and sensitive personality. Also, coming from a family of perfection-seeking artists, I thought he would naturally have prejudices against illegitimate children.

But that wasn’t the case.

“No, I wasn’t scolded much. I just lived very lazily, playing around and eating.”

Roger looked at me sitting on the bed, then rummaged through his violin case. He reached deep into the outer pocket of the case, as if he had put something in there.

His empty hand emerged holding a crumpled piece of paper.

“Here, take this.”

I took the paper Roger handed me. I thought it might be trash, but looking closely, it was a chess notation.

“What’s this?”

“I went to the Penton mansion a few times, thinking you might be there.”

“Really?”

“But you weren’t there when I expected you to be, and I met Baron Kito a few times.”

Roger put his hand back in the pocket, as if there were more papers to give me. Two more crumpled papers, even more wrinkled than the first, came out of the pocket. Roger carefully smoothed out the creases, fidgeting with his hands.

“And these are notations that Baron Kito asked me to give you when I met you. I told him I was going to the Marsen mansion to see you. I received three sheets in total, but I lost one, so there will be a gap in the middle. Is that okay?”

“Roger, you’re really one of a kind!”

I put down the papers and hugged Roger tightly. I thought he would tell me to let go immediately, but unlike his usual self, Roger stood there awkwardly.

I was already tired of playing chess alone. But now that I had new notations, I wouldn’t be bored for a few days. I pulled away from Roger and carefully examined Baron Kito’s notations.

“…If you want more, I can bring them. Next time, I’ll make sure not to lose any.”

This adorable thing!

“You’re the best, Roger!”

“Ahem, more importantly, the Baron has returned to town. He said he wants to see you.”

Roger changed the subject to hide his reddening face.

I had known for a few days that Baron Kito had returned to town. Because of that, I had tried to send letters to the Baron several times, but failed each time.

The longer I couldn’t meet the Baron, the more anxious I became, wondering if he might have taken on a more capable and talented disciple.

“By the way, did Baron Kito say anything about me?”

“…Duke Penton and Baron Kito did praise you a bit. Yurik Penton did too, but he likes you so much anyway.”

“So you visited the Penton mansion often.”

“Well, yes. I thought I’d be trapped in our mansion since my mother was angry with me, but Lady Penton came to our mansion. She apologized for taking me to the beach several times.”

When I should be the one apologizing.

My heart felt heavy hearing that Lady Penton had personally gone to the Bakus mansion to apologize.

“Lize?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Roger didn’t respond to the sudden apology.

“About taking you to the beach. You got scolded by the lady because you followed me, and suffered because of the storm. I sincerely apologize, Roger.”

“What, that’s all? I thought it was something serious. Don’t worry. It was fun.”

He smiled slightly.

“…It was fun?”

We almost got blown away by the storm, though?

Roger chuckled, reminiscing about that time. Seeing that face, it doesn’t seem like he’s lying about it being fun.

I put down the papers I was holding and approached Roger.

“Anyway, as an apology, let’s do whatever you want today.”

“Whatever I want? There’s nothing in particular…”

“Really?”

“Hmm…”

Roger silently pondered, then glanced at the violin case on the floor. At that look, I wondered if I had misspoken.

As I expected, Roger took out the violin and bow from the case and grinned.

“You’ve been slacking on your violin lessons, haven’t you?”

“…”

“Shouldn’t you be able to play at least one easy piece? If you want to perform with me, that is.”

“…How about playing with my siblings instead?”

“Don’t try to avoid it, Lize. Today we’ll catch up on all the progress you’ve missed.”

My big mouth was the problem.

“Lize. Can we come in?”

I heard Silke and Felicia’s voices from outside the door.

I had been holding the violin bow for two hours already.

Whenever I played even a slightly wrong note, Roger would sharply say “Again,” making my arms ache and jaw sore. Just then, hearing their voices, I seized the opportunity to put down the bow.

When I opened the door, I saw my two siblings. They noticed Roger behind me and their faces turned slightly red. I thought they would have lost all affection for Roger after what happened earlier, but it was unexpected.

‘Is he really that handsome?’

Enough to forget the harsh words they heard?

Roger’s purple eyes were unique and pretty, I’ll admit. His face shape was sharp and distinct, with clear contours even from afar. Though he was still a child now, when he grows up and his features become more defined, he could become quite handsome.

But that was all.

“Mother says the meal is ready and to come down.”

“Um…”

As soon as Silke finished speaking, Roger cut in. Felicia and Silke gulped at Roger’s close proximity.

Roger looked them straight in the eyes and opened his mouth.

“I’m truly sorry about earlier. If possible, I’d like to become closer with you elder sisters and elder brothers.”

“Uh… oh.”

When Roger spoke politely, Silke and Felicia’s faces turned even redder. Worried they might get too excited, I pushed Roger’s back.

“Roger, go to the dining room first.”

“Ah, okay.”

Seeing no response from the two women to his words, Roger seemed embarrassed and quickly left. Felicia and Silke’s gazes followed Roger’s retreating figure.

‘Fine, I’ll admit he’s handsome.’

Having acknowledged Roger’s good looks, I put the violin in its case and tidied up my appearance. I was about to head to the dining room when Felicia and Silke, who were still standing there, suddenly grabbed my arms.

“We heard from Mother. Is Roger really your fiancé?”

“…Mother decided that on her own.”

“Why did she choose such a handsome nobleman as your fiancé when she didn’t arrange fiancés for us?”

Silke asked with genuine confusion.

“I know, right?”

I wondered about that too.

Even if I had many complaints about Roger, the truth was he was too good for me.

Far too good.