The Kids Have Changed - Chapter 46

“What? You don’t remember? You said that once I grow, you’ll make me a cake as tall as I am!”

“I did?”

“Sharon!”

Would I ever have made that sort of crazy promise…?

I would.

I did.

Ah, darn. My mouth was too irresponsible!

I may have promised Carol a cake as tall as she is so that she would go to sleep and grow big instead of playing at night.

Past me, why did you do that? Are you nuts?

I must have spouted nonsense because I was tired.

“No, Carol, that’s… That’s…”

“What, you aren’t going to do it? You said that promises need to be kept!”

Carol was definitely enjoying this.

This ungrateful puppy!

I glared at Carol, who snickered at me, with all my heart.

“Ah, I don’t know. Logically, how can someone make a cake that big? Hmm? Carol, I’ll make a smaller cake but bake it so that it’s super yummy.”

“No! But it does sound a bit difficult. Right?”

She wanted something else, didn’t she?

I could tell by her cloying smile.

I recognized that look from raising Carol for many years now.

“…Say it. What do you want?”

“Hehehehe. I just want five dresses! There were some that I had my eyes on…”

“Hey, where’s your conscience? I think it might have dropped on the floor, so let’s look for it.”

Five whole dresses.

Of course I could afford it, but Carol was growing so quickly that she wouldn’t be able to wear them for long.

She would give up if I openly said no, but…

Ah, that face was making me weak again.

“That’s unfair!”

“Too bad.”

“OMG. I feel totally betrayed.”

…I should sew my mouth shut.

Why did I always forget to watch my words around the kids? Carol’s tawdry way of speaking made me reflect on myself.

“Excuse me, I’ve brought what you ordered.”

Fortunately, someone came to end our conversation.

OMG… It was Freya.

I gulped. “Ah, Sharon!”

“Two dresses.”

I put forth a condition to resolve our conversation as quickly as possible.

“…Wow. You’re cutting me short.”

“So you don’t want them?”

“Three dresses.”

“…Fine.”

The deal was made.

“Excuse me, Lady?”

“Right, please come in.”

At my words, the curtain was pushed aside, and Freya entered with a tray cart.

Ah. It’s you.

That was my first thought when I saw her.

Freya’s elegant appearance reminded me of a lily.

She smiled brightly and put the cart in front of us like a table.

That must be why the prince loved her.

Because she could smile like vanilla ice cream.

“Everything’s been prepared as you requested. Oh, by any chance, is something missing?”

“…New shoes…”

“Who is it for? I hope it isn’t rude to ask for the size.”

Every word she said was filled with consideration.

She was the typical Candy type of character that I often saw in dramas.[1] She could smile brightly in any situation.

“It’s for me. My size is…”

“Since it was originally 230, I think size 235 should work.”

I replied for Carol, who wasn’t sure.

“Yes, Lady. Do you need anything else… ”

“We’re good.”

“All right. Then, I shall bring you the shoes as soon as they are ready.”

And when Freya returns, I would naturally compliment the lace on her maid clothes and continue our conversation.

Maids’ clothes often had laces sewn by the maid herself on the cuffs.

Also, since Carol had been nagging me for new dresses, I can include her in the conversation.

Then, I’ll ask Freya for lace to put on the dress, and when Freya comes to deliver the lace, I’ll tell her about the workshop.

Good. It was perfect.

Finishing my calculations, I grinned.

“Thank you.”

“It’s no problem.”

Freya carefully pushed back the curtain that led to the hall.

Seeing her neat silhouette made me happy.

Good, good.

Everything is going according to plan.

“Sharon. This is delicious. Try it.”

“You should eat it.”

“Come on, say ‘ah’!”

Despite my refusal, Carol petered me to open my mouth.

Why did kids want so much…?

“It’s delicious, right? It’s even more delicious because I fed it to you!”

“Sure.“

When would this kiddo grow up? Carol seemed to be happy from eating all sorts of food.

No, she was probably happy because she was going to get new dresses.

My eyes cooled as I looked at Carol.

I knew how she was.

“Eh? Julien?”

What? Why did Julien come here already?

My head whipped back with a whistling sound.

Because Julien came here so suddenly, Freya bumped into him. I could see the image of Julien supporting her in his arms.

No! They’d make eye contact and sparks would fly!

I hurried.

So I moved the cart out of the way and helped Freya with my own hands.

I didn’t know I could be this quick.

“Oh? Lady, thank you.”

“You!”

I yelled in order to get Freya’s attention before she looked away to thank the prince.

Look at me!

But, what should I say?

What do I say?

“Y-you’re my type.”

…I messed up.

Seeing her eyes become round, my dumb mouth made things complicated.

Aaaaah!!

Let me rewind just one second!!

***

“Excuse me…?”

Great, how should I fix this?

I was blanking out.

I used to hear often that shutting my mouth would get me halfway, at least.

But… My merit and my flaw is that

I have a short term memory.

Hahahaha…

Thus, I repeat my mistakes.

Julien, his face turned white, grabbed my wrist as I stood there absently.

“Y-you…”

Was I coming out now?

What even is life?
“Sharon, what are you doing? You said that women can’t get married to each other! And if it’s possible, you should marry me!”

Why was she talking about something I told her as a little kid? Talking about marriage…

All right. So what could I do here?

1. Run away.

But I’ll see these kids every day even if I do run away for now.

2. Say it was a mistake.

Looking at their faces, I didn’t think anybody would believe me.

3. Find a loophole.

However, the good Freya held out a hand of salvation.

She must have been taken aback, but when she spoke first with consideration, I almost cried.

Really, thank you. Thank you.

“That… Lady, were you talking about my lace?”

I looked down at my hand that held Freya, not the one the prince was holding.

Ha… Good job, hand!

My hand was holding Freya’s cuff laces.

“That’s right. I was so rushed that I spoke sloppily.”

I swallowed my spit and spoke as smoothly as possible to not get caught.

“Carol said she wanted some new dresses. Your lace was so unique that it caught my eye. I’m sorry if I surprised you, Freya,” I said, glancing at the name tag on her chest.

“It’s all right. Thank you for complimenting my lacework.”

“Ah, did you make it yourself?”

“Yes.”

Her shy blush made her look like a new bride.

Whoever raised her must be so proud.

Behind me, I could hear some other kids jumping about.

Going around with bare feet? What if she gets hurt…!

“Wow! It is really pretty. Sharon, I want Freya to do my lace.”

Fortunately, Carol was on my side.

What a good child.

I patted Carol’s head for being helpful for the first time in a while.

“Right? Freya, could we ask this of you?”

“I’m grateful that you asked!”

Her vanilla ice cream smile was on her pale face again.

How was her smile so gentle?

I felt like I could fall in love.

This was the buff of the female protagonist.

Her ordinary brown hair and eyes looked too beautiful.

“Thank you. Then, please come to the Gratoni duchy and ask for Sharon or Carol.”

“Yes, Lady. I’ll visit sometime tomorrow. Ah, but for now, I shall fetch the shoes.”

Freya’s gaze flickered over Carol’s bare feet, so quick that it wasn’t rude.

She was so kind!

“Thank you again, Freya.”

Freya meticulously closed the curtains behind her to protect our private conversation.

Such thoughtfulness. Wow.

My kids had to learn that, too.

I sighed as I watched Carol leap around like a puppy seeing snow for the first time.

“Why are you frozen stiff?”

I asked Julien, who held my wrist. His eyes were shaking like they were experiencing an earthquake.

Why was he in this condition?

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah…”

Face still pale, Julien let go of me.

How weird.

As the prince’s hand moved away from me, I grabbed it again and put candy from my pocket into his palm.

“Here’s today’s candy.”

Ever since Julien said he would stop smoking, I gave him some candy when I saw him. The prince seemed to regain his senses only after seeing the candy. He smiled a little, and it felt like I was feeding a baby bird.

“What’s going on in your skirt, dispensing candy so endlessly?”

I laughed mischievously when the prince asked his question. He peeled off the wrapper and popped the candy into his mouth.

Hmmmm—?

“You shouldn’t ask what’s in a woman’s skirt.”

“…What?”

Julien turned so red that he seemed like he would have a nosebleed.

I patted his shoulder. He was still a baby.

Just what did I say to make him blush so much?

“In the pockets, that is.”

Julien’s face twisted when he realized I was teasing him.

…He was still handsome, though.

This kid. It made my eyes happy to see him. His appearance played a large role in making my reality feel like a drama.

“Anyway, why are you here?”

“I saw you come in…”

Ah. And if I was here, so would Carol be, and that was why he entered.

Cute.

”…Stop thinking.”

“What?”

The prince shook his head. He pushed me when I rolled my eyes.

“Let’s eat.”

Though Julien was the one who said we should eat, he himself did not eat. While Carol and I were enjoying our meal, Julien seemed troubled.

He suddenly asked a question.

“Sharon… Is that girl really your type?”

I stopped chewing on my salmon.

“What nonsense, Julien.”

“Ha… Should I dye my hair brown…”

Julien’s voice was so powerless and quiet that I couldn’t hear what he said.

What’s up with him?

I ignored Julien and continued eating.

“Carol, this is good, too.”

“Levina Hall really does serve good food. I asked for the engagement ceremony to be here since I know you like their fare.”

“Oh? Who did you ask?”

“I went to see the Empress before the ceremony.”

“Ah.”

“Did I do well? Do you like me?”

“Of course. My cute puppy.”
How could I tell her no when she was being so considerate of me?

I felt proud at how she had learned to think about other people.

She would act like this to people other than me, right?

Her gray hair shook with excitement.

Having departed from the villainess route, Carol sometimes seemed to think she was a puppy.

“Sharon…”

Julien still seemed weak as he called me.

I turned to him.

[1] Referring to Candy Candy, an old-school anime about an orphan girl that was popular in Korea.