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Chapter 43 Part 7 – We will once again challenge the nightmare ball that has driven mother to the brink of abandonment. Without realizing that Solomon is present there in the dark.

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Aquilegia

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I experienced a lot of hardships because of them when I was a queen in my previous 「108 times」.
But now they have become my allies, you really never know what will happen in life.
All of this started when Bradd stumbled into the Duke’s mansion that day.

Bradd, the person in charge of the event, was still dressed in his maid’s outfit, sitting on a seat covered with a decorative cloth, looking like a doll in a case.
His height and hair had grown a little since three years ago, but other than that, he looked almost the same. He looks more feminine than before, with an added grace to his gestures. Tonight he is also dressed up, wearing a riding jacket over his shoulders like a cloak, but he looks like a girl wearing an oversized shirt to emphasize her cuteness. I wonder when this guy will turn into a strong, slender, macho man.
Is it really okay to have him become the next chief of the 「Lawless Crew」 ……

「Yeah, I already told you right. My older brother will take over, so I can do whatever I want.」

Bradd laughed at me, his mind-reading ability more acute than it had been three years ago.
Perhaps because I’ve been talking to Bradd since I was a baby with Auau language, so we know what the other is thinking about. Bradd can’t read other people’s thoughts that accurately either, no matter how many blood cheats he has.

I guess I’m the only one that has no privacy ……
Well, it’s a little late for that. I’m totally used to it.

「Other than that, aren’t you getting too worked up over this? Don’t carry all the burden by yourself, share it with me as well.」

His carefree smile sometimes makes my heart throb though.
I think it’s unfair for him to be so attentive and unexpectedly kind in the strangest of ways.
Only the way he smiles is not that of a girl, but that of a cheerful boy.

That carefree smile sometimes makes me sure.
I think the kindness of surprises that can be taken care of in strange places is cowardly.
The only way to laugh is not the girl’s, but the shining boy’s smile.

「…… Mrs. Cornelia, that green dress looks great on you. The color of the forest looks very beautiful on you. …… Of course, Scarlet’s dress is pretty too. After all, red is your color.」

Yes, yes, anyway I’m just a child, unlike my mother. Right when I thought about that and was sulking, Bradd casually followed up and complimented me as well. Seriously …… his compliment for me was only an afterthought, but well I’ll let him go this time.

This kind me turned around and showed him the dress from all angles.
You may admire my appearance for as long as you like, I have no objection.
A man’s life ~ of 50 years ~ is as minute ~ as a dream or illusion ~ when compared with ~ the earth and the sky ~
Since I have a folding fan in my hand, I performed a little bit of a war dance ……
To finish it off, I stuck out my tongue and pulled down my lower eyelid with my finger.

「…… You were just about to say that anybody can look good with the right clothes right. Then your next line would be, 「While I’m the one who plays the role of the coach」, right? …… Why are you trying to end this conversation with a punchline?」

「You’re the one who’s trying to end the conversation with a punchline. You’re the only young lady who would open a fan and start dancing a war dance before going to a ball. You’re smart, but also really foolish. Little kid.」

「…… Arghh!! I was called foolish by a fool!! Don’t call me a little kid!! Aren’t you also a kid!! I’m in my growth period!! Just look!! I’ll definitely overtake your height in a year!! That’s right, just like a butterfly magnificently coming out from her chrysalis!!」

「 …… If you got taller than me in a year, you won’t be like a butterfly, but rather a monster. Also, if you’re going to call yourself pretty, don’t go on a rampage while wearing a dress. You’re probably the only one who’d say things like 「Arghh」.」

「Arghhhh!! How dare you call this Jewel of Hydrangea a monster!! At least rephrase it to a twinkling star!! How can you not understand this long-standing manga expression!!」

Bradd was stunned as he looked at me stomping my feet on the ground.

「That’s why I told you to not go on a rampage. Your underwear is in plain sight. Rare Stone of Hydrangea.」

「J・E・W・E・L!! Don’t make a mistake on purpose!!」

You’re taking advantage of the fact that you’re sitting a little higher and talking to me from a higher position!!
You’ve made me angry!! I don’t care if they see a piece of cloth or two. I was exposed to the public eye in diapers when I was a newborn, and now I’m not going to flinch from having my underwear seen!!
Watch me!! I’ll climb to the top of the carriage right now and look down on you!

I was about to roll up my skirt and climb onto the carriage in a fit of anger, when Mary, who had come to see us off, stopped me.

「…… Young lady, if you don’t get going soon, you’ll be late for the ball.」

I was kicking my feet in the air while shouting, 「Let go of me」, as Mary lifted me up with her hands under my armpits.
Indeed, this is not the time to be distracted by that idiot Brad.
The valet, who had jumped down from the rear step, quickly opened the carriage door and set the ramp in place.

「…… Let’s go. Mother!!」

I regained my composure and reached my hand out to mother, her expression had softened and a smile appeared on her face at the quarrel I had with Bradd. Mary quickly retreated and whispered softly so only I could hear her.

「…… Thank you for relieving madam’s tension. Please take care of madam. Young lady, Bradd.」

Mary had seen through everything and smiled at us, I hid my blush with the fan so that it would not be noticed. She found out. Bradd was awkwardly scratching one of his cheeks.
I’m no match for Mary. As expected of the spiritual pillar of our family.
When we received the invitation to the ball, it was Mary who supported mother, who was in a state of confusion.

It still pains me when I recall her condition at that time.
She turned pale and the letter fell from her hands.
She fell down on the floor like a doll falling with a clatter, curled up, and gritted her teeth as if she were having a seizure. It was a shocking sight for me, who was used to seeing her resolute appearance. Bradd and I rushed to the house at the noise, then both of us were speechless and petrified at the sight of that scene.

The venue of the ball, Countess Rosenthal’s mansion, was where the scene of the abuse that had once shattered mother’s heart had happened.
The nightmare that had kept her shut away for ten years was still deeply traumatic, and it was still eating away at the depths of her heart. The letter triggered the eruption of this trauma.

My beloved dignified mother was spasming, tearing her hair, and screaming.

「…… Mrs. Cornelia ……!!」

Bradd couldn’t bear to look at her state and ran over to put his hands on her back, but then he sorrowfully shook his head.
Even Bradd’s blood cheat technique could not stop mother’s delirium.
Her nerves were so agitated and panicked that she lost control of herself.
Her symptoms were the same as the one I saw when I had flashbacks one after the other of the last memories of the previous 「108 times」.
Mother’s consciousness had regressed to the midst of the horror of the mass bullying she experienced at the hands of the 「red nobles」. She kept crying out the names of Melville family’s grandfather and my father, calling for help, while shaking her head in denial and continuing to shed tears.

「…… Mother!! Please calm down!! This is mother’s home!! There is no one here that will hurt mother!!」

I couldn’t help but cling to her and shake her.
But it was no use. Her eyes were unfocused.
My voice can’t reach mother.
Tears overflowed in my eyes.
I rubbed my cheek against mother’s. Our tears mixed together.

Of course, I knew the story of how she had been bullied.
But I had thought that she had long since gotten over it.
I had no idea that the emotional scars had remained so deep ……!!

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