--Yoru. Futa's room.

　Ruri was very happy after eating so much steak.

　Futa is also sitting on the sofa, feeling the passage of time.

　In short, he is bored.
　He had heard that Lilac was busy with visitors today.
　In other words, there were no plans for a meeting.

　That's why I thought it would be a good idea to talk to the Lord Treasurer, but when I visited him just before noon, he already had a pale face and was pointing at a ledger with a lot of white space left.


　He said he had to finish everything by the end of the day.


　Futa doesn't have the skills to help him with his work.

　Unable to help him, he left Richter's office.
　Futa left Richter's office, unable to help him. He didn't care about the diapered Lancaster, who ran into him in passing, saying, "Richter-kun, play with me!


　In fact, I have a feeling that retrieving her was the best thing I could have done for her, although I don't think that's the case now. It was an after-party.



"Well, Ruri, I think I'll take a shower...
"Oh... I'm with Coro!
Yes, yes, yes.
"Yes, yes, yes!

　"Yes, yes, yes!

"So, Master Futa. Please have mercy on Ruri.
"What kind of room owner is stingy with the shower room? I don't even know if I have the right to do that in the first place.

　I'm a pimp.

I'm going to take a shower, Ruri.
Oh.

　Corona tried to back out, but was met with unexpected defiance.
　I'm going to take a shower, Ruri.

"Do you want to join us?
"Well, I'm going to wash Ruri.
"Yeah. You're coming too.
"Hmm.

　A distracted, troubled voice.

　Is there any reason for such reluctance?
　Because it's cold?　That doesn't change much when you put Ruri in the shower. She'll probably curl up in front of the fireplace later anyway.

　I thought about it and suddenly realized.

"Uh, ......, do you want me to go in with Ruri?
"Huh?
Huh?
Oh, even the voice there is the same.

　The timing of the nodding of the head was also the same.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. There is no deep meaning to this.

　--I'm sure Corona was just... I'm sure Corona was uncomfortable with the idea of her skin being seen.

　Her body was covered with scars, even if they were only visible from her neck on the execution table that day.
　She wondered if it would be good for her children to see her like that.
　I'm sure that's what Corona's problem is.

"Why are you looking away?
"Well, uh, .......

　It's a good thing I suggested that.
　But it's a little embarrassing. It's not only the suggestion itself, but the fact that it was made with her body in mind that makes it even more embarrassing.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　If it was really a proposal with no deep meaning, Futa would have declared it straightforwardly and honestly. Ruri and I will go in together. This could have been a misleading statement.

　Even Corona trusts Futa. She didn't think he would be so careless as to suggest bathing with Ruri.

　No, but... But I can't help but feel suspicious when he turns away from me like that.

　Do you have such a hobby by any chance?

　But I don't think he was paying that much attention to pasta.

　If you're not sure what to make of this, you can always ask your doctor.

"Uh, no, I mean...

　Because .

　It doesn't matter if your body is covered in scars or how painful your appearance is.

　It didn't matter to Futa.

　It's just her (Corona's) body.

　That's all that mattered.


"When I think of you...
"......


　The room fell silent.
　The only sound was the occasional crackling of wood.

　Ruri, bored with her work, threw a pine cone into the fireplace and began to play with it, making a loud noise.

Whoa. ......


"Oh?

　Corona's cheeks gradually blushed, and her lips trembled as she spun a small word.
　When Futa tilted his head at that which made no sense at all.

What's the time?
What time is it?

　What time is it?" With a swoop, Corona jumped into Futa's bed and covered him with a blanket, disappearing from sight. After that, her shoes were thrown out with a poof.

"...... Well...

　He scratched his cheek and called out to Ruri, who was playing with pine cones in the fire.

You want to come in with me?
Yes!










"Rump, rump, rump, rump. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.

　I rinse off her beautiful cherry-red hair. The water is cold this time of year.
　With the hot and cold water I had prepared, I now washed her body.

"Brother Fou?　What's wrong?
"Oh, nothing. It's nothing.

　Every family has its own situation.
　As long as Wind didn't explain it, there was no need to mention it.

　The black pattern on her back. It looks as if it was drawn with a single stroke, and it looks like a tattoo, but it could be magical, and that's something Futa can't tell.

　It's just that the letters are reasonably large.
　If you're careless, you might be able to see it through your neck, just like Corona.

　Oh, and remember.

　That's why Wind was making her wear heavy clothes.

"Okay, that's it.
That's it!　I'll get you cleaned up too.
"Oh, oh. Thank you.
Daddy loves it when I do that.
...... He seems to be happy with anything Ruri does.

　With a small chuckle, I let Ruri take a shower for me.
　The shower was extremely cold, but it wasn't so painful if you thought it was like being hit by a waterfall.

　I didn't want to tell her that I had already taken a shower in the afternoon.

　That's fine, because Ruri is doing her best to wash me.

...... I wonder if this is what I'll be like when I have kids.
"Huh?　Brother Fou, are you going to have a baby?
I don't know if I can have a baby.
If I had a baby, Ruri would be my sister Ruri.
You can't have a baby.

　I could have told him that it was impossible for a man to have a baby, but I couldn't disagree with him on education policy.
　I laughed it off, but then I thought.

　Having a child means that you have a partner.

　A partner, a partner.

　Thinking about this, I smile a little.
　It's too convenient for me.

　I want you to be happy, but...
　But I'm not foolish enough to let my own greed get in the way.

　So if someday.
　I'm not foolish enough to add my own greed into the mix. So, if someday there comes a man who is crazy enough to think that being with me is the best thing for him, then you can think about it again.

　In any case, my priority is still low.

　Seize the happiness of your benefactor.
　"Aim for a world where you can live a decent life without a job.

　At least, later than those two.

"Sorry, Ruri.
"Huh?
It'll probably be a while before I'm Luli's big sister.
Oh, yeah. That's sad.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'll let it slide.

　Ruri mercilessly poured a large amount of water over Futa's laughing head.










"Sleepy......

　I held hands with Ruri, who was drying her hair, and we slouched in front of the fireplace for a while.

　I looked at her rubbing her eyes and suddenly thought.
　Now that I have her, I should take care of her until she goes to bed.

Let's go to bed.
Hi.
"No.

　Ruri shakes her head, "No, no.
　Maybe she doesn't want to leave the fireplace, or maybe she still wants to play.

　Before I could even think about what to do, Ruri gave me the answer herself.

"My sister Koro is with me. ......
"Oh, Koro-sister...

　She threw her gaze to the bed.
　The blanket is still heaped up, and she hasn't moved a muscle.



She's asleep.
I'm not asleep!
Oh, you scared me.

　Her face popped out of the blanket.
　She had messy bangs and slightly flushed cheeks. You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.

I'm going to sleep with you, Koro sister,.......
I'm not sure what to make of that.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

You're coming with me. ......
"Hmm?　Yeah, he's right there.

　On the couch.

Hey.
Hi.

　It seemed that Futa himself had become unexpectedly attached to her.
　He grabbed the hem of her dress, but it didn't seem to let go.

　You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.

"...... is fine.
What?
It's a big bed, you know. It's a large bed. Even though Futa-sama's body is unnecessarily large. There's room for three people.
...... No, but...
If only Futa-sama hadn't looked at me!　If only Futa-sama hadn't looked at me!
"Oh, yeah. Okay, okay, okay.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I think it's a good idea.
Let's all go to bed.
Yeah, right. Let's all sleep together.

　I stroked Ruri's head and waited for a while.

"...... Tadema.

　A girl dressed in a white negligee appeared with the usual voice.

　Her untied golden hair flowed down her back like a beautiful waterfall, and her frizzy hair spread out in beautiful waves, creating a magnificent silhouette.

　Perhaps it was because of the fluffy maid's uniform, but the body line of her negligee was feminine, completely at odds with her image.

　If Lilac is slender, her body shape, which emphasizes feminine roundness, could be described as glamorous.

　She was playing with her hair by her ear in an absent-minded manner, leaving Futa, who had been caught by surprise.

　Ruri said.

Who's that?
It's my sister!
No, you're lying.
Why would you lie to me?

　She grabbed Ruri and started to tickle Ruri's side in a big way.

　As he watched the scene, Futa thought to himself.

　The day she had been taken prisoner, she had been dressed similarly.
　Her current charm is incomparable to that day.

　It's partly because Futa's mind was not on that.

　Even if you put aside the frustration of the past, the Corona of today was beautiful.

"Help me, Brother Fou!　My sister Corona, my sister Corona, hahahaha.
You know it's Corona, so forgive her. ......
I can't help it. I'll leave it at that for today.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

I'm sure you'll be glad you did. ......
If you're going to joke around in a situation like this, you're already Maid No. 2.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

I'm sure you'll agree.
"......, yes.

　It's not easy to make eye contact with each other.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

　The bed was surprisingly spacious even for this many people, but that was not the point.

"Ehehe.

　Ruri smiled, looking happy to be sandwiched between them.

"Ruri, I had a great time today.
That's good to hear.
"My dad can't be with me all the time. So, thank you.

　Ruri rolls over between them.

I'm so happy!

　Father is busy. Her mother is away.
　Her father is busy, her mother is away, and Ruri is under the care of a group of attendants.
　I'm sure that's not too inconvenient.

　However, she still lacks the love and affection that is due to her.

　It would be harsh to ask Beatrix, an abandoned child, to arrange it.

　The only thing I can say is that today was a day full of happiness for Ruri.




Coro, is there anything you want?
What?　Why?
Well, I want to ask you something!
Well... Then why do you live?

　Ruri gave me a very difficult look.

"Hey, hey, hey. ....... What do you want, Ruri?

　In fact, asking Corona what she wants is a very difficult thing to do, but Ruri has no way of knowing that.

　I'm not sure what you're talking about.

"Hmm... What I want in exchange for my life.
Where did you learn to say that ......?

　"Where did you learn that word, ?" Ruri's words were serious even though she was mumbling.
　Futa would never mock a child for being a child.

　That's probably why Corona was so reckless in her response.

Is it something you really want?
"Yes.
That the person I love is happy.

　So it's sincere.

　That's what I was thinking while taking a shower.
　Whether it's her lying next to me with her back to me. Whether it's the lilac I've spent my life on.
　The best thing for Futa is for them to be happy.

...... It's hard.
That's right.

　I'm sure there's someone out there you like.

　I'm sure that the person you love includes Ruri.
　So...


I'll be happy if you smile a lot, Ruri.
"......?

　I don't think she really understands.


　She nodded earnestly and muttered to herself, repeating.


"Okay. I'll be happy if Ruri smiles a lot!
"Yes, yes.


　He smiled and nodded.

　I still don't know why she asked me that.