My Childhood Friend is Like a Stone - Chapter 5

Episode 5. Chapter 2. The Little Kid and The Little Kid (3)

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

The silence lasted for a long time. Cyril, who was leaning against the head of the bed with his arms crossed, opened his mouth annoyingly.

 

“What?”

 

“Can I come in?”

 

“……”

 

Cyril let out a sigh. Why are you asking me if you can come in when you already are? It was a question that Cyril couldn’t understand.

 

“You’ve already come in.”

 

“No, I’m still here.” The girl pointed to her feet. At a glance, it seemed that she was standing on the threshold. So she wanted to say that she hadn’t come in yet.

 

It was unthinkable behavior in the Duke.

 

Cyril recalled that anyone entering the room, including the Duchess, had to first obtain permission before opening the door. But it was Jerome, not the girl, who opened the door in this case.

 

To be precise, it is difficult to say that the door was opened to leave, but—

 

“First, come in.”

 

Cyril granted her permission to enter. The girl, who was standing like a tree at the time, then went inside. The fluttering steps appeared to be very light.

 

‘It’s amazing how you walk.’

 

Cyril, who had been caught in the eye at the moment the footsteps fell, paused.

 

“—Why are you coming up?”

 

“I’m going to talk to you.”

 

The girl, who he expected to stop moderately, tried to climb onto the bed. Cyril was dumbfounded and asked again.

 

“This is my room, isn’t it?”

 

“This is my house—”

 

Still, she thought something was odd, so she paused and went back down. The maid was clearly waiting outside, as evidenced by her appearance.

 

“…..”

 

“…..”

 

Then there was silence once more. Slowly, the blue-glittering eyes blinked. Shouldn’t the person paying the visit usually give a reason for their visit first?

 

Cyril had a brilliant mind, but the girl was undefeatable.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

Finally, unable to overcome his frustration, Cyril inquired once more. The girl drew the words “Uhm—” in response to that question.

 

The eyes flew upward with Cyril’s words, as if thinking carefully. He asked her after she showed up, so think about the reason—? Then, what brings you here?

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“What?”

 

“Name, don’t you know?”

 

The girl repeated the word slowly, as if Cyril were an idiot.

 

“Na.me.”

 

Cyril was irritated by the voice’s kindness.

 

“What are you going to do when you find out?”

 

“So I will know what to call you?”

 

“Why do you call me?”

 

“Because you’re in my house?”

 

He was just being irritated and grumpy, but the girl didn’t say anything. Cyril shook his head, thinking he’d be a fool if he kept going at this rate.

 

“Cyril.”

 

“Cyril? It’s a very short name.”

 

“Cyril Valentin de Thesar.”

 

“It’s long—”

 

The eyes glistened with joy and quickly became depressed. Is it sad that my name is long?

 

“—Just call me Cyril.”

 

“I will.”

 

With that in mind, Cyril suggested a better choice. The girl was pleased with the offer.

 

“How about me?”

 

“Adrianna.”

 

“Oh.”

 

The girl briefly admired. The big eyes have already grown round. Her mouth gathered round along the eyes.

 

“Wrong.”

 

“What?”

 

Just as he was about to think it was a little cute, everything that was round disappeared. The girl, with a solemn look, put her index finger together to make an X.

 

“It’s not Adrianna. It’s Adrienne.”

 

“—It’s the same thing.”

 

“It’s different.”

 

Reading was the only thing a child who rarely got out of bed could do. Cyril exaggerated a little bit and even began writing before she did. Cyril’s mind was full of random knowledge, and the random knowledge told him that ‘Adrianna’ was the same name as ‘Adrienne.’

 

However, the owner of the name argued that it was significantly different with a determined look.

 

It’s a nickname anyway—.

 

Cyril had a twisted thought, but he didn’t want to be persuaded unnecessarily, so he agreed roughly.

 

“Cyril.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll go.”

 

Adrianna, no, Adrienne, who appeared out of nowhere and after introducing herself, left the room as if she had completed her task.

 

Fluttering. The fluttering look of the back disappeared like a miracle. Cyril thought, feeling a little tired.

 

‘She’s a really weird kid.’

 

As a result, Adrienne was labeled as a “weird kid” by Cyril.

 

******

 

He’s been at the Cassinel estate for three days now. Cyril was enjoying a relatively peaceful day. He still has the cough he’s always had, but it’s a lot better than it used to be compared to his overall condition.

 

Above all, he slept soundly. He even snored without having a seizure. That’s really encouraging. Was it right? Cyril, who had been eating in the room the entire time, reacted impulsively to the Count’s invitation.

 

“Oh.”

 

Adrienne, who was the first to sit at the same table, greeted Cyril and pretended to know him. Cyril wondered whether he should pretend to know her for a while, but he did it anyway.

 

“If you have a favorite dish, please tell me.”

 

“Thank you so much.”

 

It was the most serious words to say to a 6-year-old, and the response was far too calm for a 6-year-old. Adrienne returned her gaze to her father and Cyril, then nodded.

 

Cyril felt uncomfortable with her head nod, but instead of paying attention, he turned to the table. Roasted mushrooms, pumpkin pies, cooked meat for easy digestion, steak with salmon sliced into bite-size pieces—.

 

The meals were mostly of the types that Cyril could easily eat. It is possible that the Duke’s cook left a remark to him. To think about it, every meal he takes into the room is to Cyril’s liking. Cyril, seeing the attention to detail, listened carefully to the table.

 

A quiet mealtime followed, except for Adrienne’s occasional slamming of the meal on the plate. Cyril, who was gently fiddling with his hands, had not touched the food at all. Adrienne, who had observed the fact, patted her father on the shoulder.

 

“Doesn’t it suit your taste, Young Master? Then I’ll try to prepare another dish right now.”

 

Count Cassinel, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, inquired gently.

 

“No, it’s not a problem. I—.” Cyril mumbled and shrugged. His white, tired face didn’t appear to be in good shape. Cyril jumped up from his seat, his fists clenched as if holding something back.

 

“Ugh.”

 

But, in the end, he vomited on his way back. Cyril raised his head after a long struggle. Cyril’s tired face had turned pale.

 

Then, “……”

 

Adrienne’s eyes met his. For some reason, Cyril reeled up and began to run straight.

 

“Bring the Young Master!” The butler’s voice followed.

 

Adrienne cast a glance at Cyril, who had vanished in a hurry across the filthy floor. She remembered the golden eyes trembling with fear, as if they were terrified.

 

*******

 

The seizures began with vomiting, as they usually do. Cyril gasped and took a deep breath while lying on the bed as if collapsed.

 

Jerome, who took action quickly after encountering the disturbance, did so skillfully. It was all about taking medicine and rubbing hands and feet to keep the body from hardening. After a long time, the trembling limbs regained stability.

 

When Cyril came to his senses, Jerome, who had been standing by and taking care of himself the entire time, stepped aside. Cyril suffered from a lot of self-hatred after becoming ill because he didn’t want anyone else to find out about it.

 

He was in bad shape in front of Count Cassinel and his daughter, which must have made it even more painful.

 

‘Why so suddenly! Why again!’

 

And, as Jerome had predicted, Cyril was having a hard time.

 

Adrienne stood in front of him, her eyes wide with surprise.

 

‘It was okay, it was okay this time, but why—’

 

His thoughts wandered when he remembered the vomit that had covered the clean floor. Anyone who saw such a thing would be offended.

 

Cyril remembered his parents sighing in a similar situation when he was younger than he is now. As a result, Cyril began to prefer eating alone at some point. So that no one notices his hideous appearance.

 

So, how did he come to the decision to eat together—.

 

Cyril rubbed his face helplessly against the pillow, his embarrassment mounting.

 

‘From now on, I’ll have to say I want to eat alone.’

 

Cyril stood up, struggling to clear the image from his mind. His mind was dominated by the idea that it was necessary to say it, even if it did not need to be said right away.

 

Cyril, who was attempting to pull the string, chose to walk instead. It was because he wanted to show a little of his normal appearance.

 

Despite being a weak Young Master in the Duchy of Thesar, he supported a very small wish, at least in Cassinel, to be regarded as a mistake.

 

“……”

 

Cyril stiffened as he took a heavy step and opened the door. The cause was the small body sitting next to the door. The red hair was strewn about the white dress, and the child rolled up in a circle with her head down.

 

It was Adrienne.

 

Later, a maid appeared in Cyril’s eyes, standing with a puzzled expression. She was a maid serving Adrienne the first time he saw her.

 

“Huh.”

 

Adrienne raised her head and made direct eye contact with Cyril. She was relieved to hear only a few words but Cyril was not in the mood to face Adrienne. Looking into her eyes reminded Cyril of his earlier mistake, and he was embarrassed enough.

 

The child was a child, no matter how gentle Cyril was. In other words, he is not mature enough to communicate peacefully with the person who has been caught in a bad situation.

 

“Cyril!”

 

Cyril, who was walking blindly, came to a halt. Cyril wasn’t mature, and he wasn’t particularly ambitious. His mind told him to ignore her, but his body was stuck and refused to move.

 

Cyril ended up half-twisted and dazed.

 

“Here.”

 

The white hands approached at that point.

 

Something new to him, perhaps hidden in her arms, was on the small palm of his hand. It was a strawberry with red and yellow seeds that were gradually inserted—.

 

Adrienne, who was still seated, raised her hand, on which the strawberry was placed. Cyril couldn’t even look down because he lacked the courage to make eye contact.

 

“…You eat it.”

 

Then she turned around, but this time another hand appeared. A ripe pomegranate was placed in his hand. Unconsciously, Cyril cast a glance down. Adrienne’s dress was dyed red in the area around her stomach. The outcome of carrying the fruit with care was obvious.

 

“This is delicious.”

 

“……”

 

“This is really delicious.”

 

“……”

 

“I didn’t eat it and brought it—”

 

Her red hair glistened in the sunlight coming through the window. Cyril, who was hesitant, moved his eyes slowly. She looked at Cyril with innocent eyes, as if to say, “You still don’t eat?”

 

“If you’re full, just eat one. You don’t have to eat both.”

 

“…..”

 

“It’s delicious, really.”

 

Adrienne made that gesture with her hand. Cyril chewed his lips as he watched the movement. His throat was a little hot. Even though she knew he wouldn’t be full after seeing all the disgusting scenes, the girl’s eyes were sincere.

 

Looking into her eyes, it seemed as if nothing had happened. Cyril eventually got his hands on the fruit. Adrienne didn’t seem happy, and she just stared at it. Then she added,

 

“My legs hurt.”

 

“…Then get up.”

 

“I can’t get up because my legs hurt.” Her sullen posture supported that statement.

 

Stupid—.

 

Cyril muttered something like that before approaching her. Adrienne took a light grip on the hand. Despite the fact that the fruit’s sweetened hands were sticky and normal only when they were unpleasant, Cyril was not uncomfortable.

 

It had to be because the strawberry he received was extremely fragrant. Or perhaps the pomegranate was too appealing.

 

Cyril simply decided to believe so.