2-2 - Clairelidil Holds Nothing Back!

To start with the outcome, the influenza outbreak was successfully brought under control.

Michelle and all the other maids survived as well. That was probably thanks to the favorable conditions at the detached residence, combined with their physical strength.

However, across the territory affected by the outbreak, there had apparently been a fair number of casualties. There were even cases of people becoming infected while caring for patients.

Even so, it was undeniable that we had saved more lives than we would have by burning everyone who became infected.

As a result, word spread that the knowledge I’d provided was genuine—and Father summoned me.

Surprisingly, though, his questions were extremely brief, and I was released almost immediately. His attitude practically suggested that he either had no intention of investigating further or was willing to turn a blind eye.

—However, as if to compensate for that leniency, Milly was dismissed.

The one consolation was that she received no further punishment and was simply sent back to her hometown… But once her dismissal had been decided, I wasn’t allowed to see her again, and we never even got to say a proper goodbye.

A new maid named Marie arrived to replace Milly, but she also served as my minder. She was unfriendly and barely spoke to me.

Consequently, there were days when I didn’t speak to anyone at all. I’d become desperate for some human conversation, but—

“Little broooother! I’ve come to see how you’re doing!”

One afternoon, about a month after Milly left, Claire-nee came to visit while I was sitting around bored in the reception room.

“You’ve come to see how I’m doing…? There’s a maid here who’s supposed to keep an eye on me, you know!?”

She wasn’t nearby at the moment, but I panicked at the thought of what might happen if we were discovered. Claire-nee, however, seemed completely unconcerned and sat down beside me on the sofa.

“It’s fine. I’ve already persuaded Mother.”

“Huh? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. But let’s put that aside for now. First, I want to apologize.”

“Apologize…? For what?”

“About Milly-san. I’m truly sorry things turned out this way!”

“Oh, that. I told you back then, didn’t I? Milly and I both knew what we were getting into. You don’t need to apologize, Claire-nee.”

“But being separated from your mother must have been a terrible shock, right?”

“Well, it was upsetting, but—huh? …W-wait a minute. Hold on. What do you mean by ‘mother’?”

“What else could I mean…? Huh? Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Milly-san is your birth mother.”

“…You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m not kidding. Everyone knows. That’s why I always called her Milly-san instead of just Milly, remember?”

“B-but Milly told me she wasn’t my mother…”

“That’s… I’m sure she must have been made to promise not to tell you. Apparently, Mother wasn’t even happy about letting Milly-san raise you.”

“That… can’t…”

The shock left me speechless. But it had to be true. After all, countless times over the past six years, I’d thought that if I had a mother, she’d probably be someone like Milly.

“Damn it!”

I slammed my fist onto the table.

Someone precious to me, someone I should have protected, had been right in front of me all along! How could I have failed to realize it until someone told me!?

“I’m sorry. This is my fault, isn’t it…?”

“…Huh? Oh, no… You haven’t done anything wrong, Claire-nee. I’m the idiot who never noticed. And even if I’d known, I still would have helped you.”

I didn’t regret saving Michelle and the others for Claire-nee’s sake. I was simply saddened by the thought that if I’d known Milly was my mother, I might have been able to give her a more meaningful farewell.

“I really didn’t know anything about Milly, did I? I wish I’d at least asked where her hometown was.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. I asked Michelle to secretly check whether she was safe.”

“…Huh? Really?”

“Yes, really. She’s living in her hometown village now. There might be people watching her, so bringing her back isn’t possible, though.”

“O-ohhh! That’s more than enough! Good job, Claire-nee!”

“G-good job? I’m not sure what that means, but I’m glad you’re happy.”

Oops. In my excitement, I’d accidentally slipped into an expression from my previous life.

Still, this gave me hope. It wasn’t possible right now, but once I’d secured a reasonable amount of freedom, I’d go and bring Milly back.

“Hey, little brother. Is there anything you’d like me to do for you? If there’s anything you’re struggling with now that Milly-san is gone, I’d be happy to help.”

“Anything I’m struggling with?”

“Isn’t there something? Whatever you ask, little brother, I’ll do it for you.”

That’s why you shouldn’t go around promising to do anything so casually. Sure, we were siblings, so there was no chance of any perverted requests, but what if someone asked her to do something unreasonable?

She hadn’t learned a thing from what happened last time.

“Hmm. Let’s see… Oh, there is one thing. I’ve been incredibly bored without Milly around. I’d also like to study various subjects, but there isn’t a single book in this place. Could you bring me some if you manage to get hold of any?”

“Books, huh… Hmm. Let’s see. It might be difficult with someone watching you, but I’ll think of a way to manage it.”

“Oh, thanks, Claire-nee!”

“Don’t mention it. After all, I only have a little time left to do things for you, little brother.”

“…Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

At my question, Claire-nee averted her eyes.

“…You see, I’m being made to attend another marriage meeting. I don’t think I’ll be able to escape this time.”

I see… A political marriage. I’d known this day would eventually come, but I never imagined it would happen so soon…

“What kind of person is he?”

“He’s a capable marquis, twenty-seven years old. Apparently, he’s not bad-looking either, so I think he’s a much better match than I’d imagined.”

“That’s…”

I had no idea how to respond. Under ordinary circumstances, he might have sounded like an excellent marriage prospect, but Claire-nee was currently nine years old. That made their age difference eighteen years. Was I really supposed to call that a good thing…?

“Don’t worry. Even if the marriage is arranged, the wedding itself won’t happen until I turn twelve. I asked Mother to let me do as I please until then.”

“I see… So that’s why you were allowed to come here.”

“If I’m going to be married off anyway, I want to spend what little time I have left with you, little brother.”

“Claire-nee…”

So that was why she’d come to see me. I desperately wanted to do something to save Claire-nee, but… there was nothing I could do with the power I had now.

The one consolation was that we still had about two and a half years before Claire-nee’s twelfth birthday… But could I possibly find a way to save her in that time?

I didn’t know. I really didn’t know… No, perhaps it was precisely because I didn’t know that I wanted to shoulder at least some of the burden Claire-nee was carrying.

“Claire-nee, is there anything I can do for you?”

“Huh? What’s brought this on all of a sudden?”

“I wish I could do something about the marriage itself, but that’s beyond me right now. So if there’s anything I can do, I’ll do absolutely anything.”

“…Really? You’ll really do anything for me?”

“Yeah. I promise.”

Claire-nee had become just as precious to me as Milly and Saya. No matter how unreasonable her request might be, I intended to grant it as her little brother.

And so—

“Then… will you be my first?”

“……………………Huh?”

I couldn’t comprehend what Claire-nee was asking.

“I’m saying that if my first time is going to be taken by some middle-aged man I’ve never even met, I’d rather give it to you, little brother.”

“…O-oh! I see! So that’s what you mean by your first—WAIT, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?”

“Whoa, that reaction… So you really do know about those things, little brother.”

“Huh!? Ah, no, that’s… I’m only eight years old! I have no idea what you’re talking about!?”

“…Do you actually think that’s going to fool me?”

Oh no. Claire-nee was giving me an utterly exasperated look.

“W-well, you know, there are things you’ve heard about without really understanding them, right?”

“Are there? Well, even if that’s the case, you don’t need to worry. As part of my bridal education, Michelle has been teaching me about those things too, so it’ll be fine. Your big sister will take the lead.”

Before I knew it, Claire-nee, who had been sitting beside me, was slowly inching closer.

Being guided by an older girl sounded like an enviable situation in theory, but the girl in question was my own sister, and we were only nine and eight years old.

I didn’t even know where to begin pointing out what was wrong with this.

No, by “where to begin,” I didn’t mean anything sexual… Wait, no, that wasn’t the point. Why was I correcting myself?

Claire-nee was the one I needed to straighten out! And by “straighten out,” I didn’t mean anything sexual either! AAAAAH, MY THOUGHTS WERE GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES!?

“Hehe. You’re so cute when you get flustered, little brother.”

“W-wait, Claire-nee! Do you even understand what you’re trying to do!?”

“Of course I know what I’m trying to do. Though since I’ve never experienced it before, I suppose I don’t really understand it yet.”

“I’m not trying to play word games with you! Can’t we calm down and think this through!?”

“Hmm? But didn’t you tell me the other day, ‘Even if it’s something you don’t want to do, you still have to listen to me. That’s what promising to do anything means, right?’”

“………………………”

“You did say that, didn’t you?”

“…………….Y-yes, I did.”

Incidentally, I’d also thought, “You shouldn’t go around promising to do anything so casually. What would you do if someone made a perverted request?” And I’d thought it twice, both last time and this time.

…………….I-I couldn’t help it, okay!? How was I supposed to know my own sister would be the one making a perverted request!?

“So there you have it, little brother. You’ll be my first, won’t you?”

Claire-nee grabbed both my shoulders and leaned closer.

“W-wait, Claire-nee! Your face is too close! What are you planning to do!?”

“What else? Naturally, you start with a kiss at a time like this.”

“Don’t give me that ‘naturally, you start with a kiss’ nonsense! Can’t we calm down and think about this!? There are all kinds of problems!”

“Problems…? Like what?”

“W-well, that’s…”

Calm down. Calm down, me! I needed to think rationally.

Accepting Claire-nee’s request was impossible for all sorts of reasons. However, after making that grand promise, I couldn’t very well break my word when it was my turn to follow through.

So what could I do? There was only one solution. I had to persuade Claire-nee to withdraw her request of her own accord.

But how could I make her reconsider?

For example… In Japan, a relationship between siblings would cause serious problems, but in this world, even marriages between blood relatives weren’t particularly unusual. Claire-nee probably wouldn’t care if I brought up social appearances.

In that case, maybe I could persuade her by explaining that children born to close relatives had weaker immune systems—no, that wouldn’t work.

Having children wasn’t the point of her request. I didn’t know whether Mr. Condom existed in this world, but with magic around, I couldn’t afford to make assumptions.

Actually, given my age, I probably wasn’t even capable of fathering children yet.

But Claire-nee had made her request fully aware of what she was asking. Even if I pointed these things out, she probably wouldn’t change her mind.

…Huh? I couldn’t find a single convincing argument. Could it be that giving Claire-nee a precious memory really would be the best thing for her? …No, no, that was ridiculous.

Doing something like that out of pity would only lead to regret. I had to persuade her properly. But, um, the problem was… the problem, the problem…?

—That’s it!

“They say it’s difficult when it’s the first time for both people!”

YOU IDIOOOOOOOT! THERE’S NO WAY SHE’D ACCEPT AN EXCUSE LIKE THAT!

“That’s… certainly true.”

—SHE ACCEPTED IT!?

“Since it’s such an important first time, the idea of having you take the lead is rather appealing too, little brother. But for that to happen, you’d need to gain some experience first…”

H-huh? Why was she suddenly saying something strange? Something felt seriously wrong. I had a terrible feeling I needed to stop this immediately!

“U-um, Claire-nee?”

“—That’s it! And if I do that, I can grant your request too!”

Whoa, that startled me! Claire-nee suddenly sprang to her feet, clenching her tiny fists. Under normal circumstances, I might have found her adorable, but right now, all I felt was an overwhelming sense of impending disaster.

“Little brother!”

“Y-yes?”

“I just thought of something wonderful, so look forward to it!”

Before I could stop her, Claire-nee dashed away. Left completely behind in more ways than one, I stared at the door she’d left wide open and became absolutely certain of one thing.

…Oh, this was definitely going to end badly.