As usual, I opened the door to go to work and saw a big flower in front of me. It was a bright red flower that reminded me of everlasting summer.

"Huh?

"Is this the Baumgartner's house, correct?

The flower spoke. The flower spoke, its voice boisterous in the morning.

"Yes, but it's .......

As I answered in a surprised reflex, the flower was moved to reveal a boy who looked close in age to me. He smiled brightly, and his skin was more tanned than mine, and he looked good in his bussouge.

I'm glad. I've got a delivery from Mr. Benno!

"From your grandfather?

When my grandfather's name was mentioned, the reason for the flowers made sense.
Grandpa has retired as the Ernst family's personal gardener and has been touring around the country with Grandma. Sometimes they come back and bring back rare flowers and trees as souvenirs. Buddha's mulberry is a flower that does not bloom around the capital.
But he usually brings them back himself, so why does he leave it to others this time? Grandpa is always cheerful, but I wonder if he got injured on his way there.
I couldn't imagine my grandpa getting injured or sick, and as I was tilting my head, my father appeared from behind me.
It was not because he heard my grandfather's name, but simply because I was stuck in the doorway. My father is on his way to work as well. Well, it's not surprising, since I'm following him as an apprentice.

You're Dennis?

Yeah, but...

For some reason, the delivery boy's eyes widened when he saw my father's face. But you're very energetic this morning. You've been talking really loudly since a while ago.
As soon as he heard my father's affirmation, he dropped to his knees on the ground, put the potted plant aside and got down on his knees.

I'm Yang. I'm here to apply for an apprenticeship with Dennis the gardener!　Please make me a gardener!

My dad and I were stunned. Not because it's been a long time since I've applied for an apprenticeship, but because it's the first time I've seen someone get down on their knees to apply. Grandpa, not only did you send us flowers, but you also sent us your apprentice.
When I looked back at my father, he was silent with a frown on his face. Oh, that's a troubled expression.

"Well, I'm his son and apprentice, Isak. Jan, sir? How old are you and where do you come from?　You look like you're from the south. ......

I've just turned twelve. I'm from a village near the southwestern border.

He was older than me. I'm glad I used honorifics. If you're from the west, you're near the sea. You're a long way from home.

"Even though it's a potted plant with a blessing, how did you manage to bring it here in one piece?

When transporting plants to places with incompatible climates, have the church protect the potted plants with wind magic, engraved with a magic circle. Not all churches have the wind attribute, so they sometimes use magic stones.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try my best.

Grandpa: ......

That's a threat. Also, please don't give out the test without permission. Behind me, my father is covering half of his face with his right hand, wrinkling his brow.
I wonder if Mr. Yang wasn't scared when he was threatened by my grandfather, because my father's strong face is inherited from my grandfather. My grandpa is usually friendly enough to offset his strong face, but when it comes to plants, he is very strict.

"What do you think?

Mr. Yang asked his father, his eyes shining with anticipation. Perhaps because he is not afraid of things, he looks my father right in the eye when he speaks. Previous applicants for apprenticeship have been frustrated by the power of my father's face and height, so I guess I've passed the first barrier. Well, as long as you can get past that, you're good to go. Because my father is not as scary as he looks.
My father picks up the leaves and petals of the flowers that Mr. Yang offers and inspects them.

It's fine.

Mr. Yang smiled as he received his acceptance. I took a quick look at the plant and could see that it was in good condition, as it was fresh without any signs of over-watering or withering.

"Then, will you take me as your apprentice?

If my grandfather sent me, it means that he has the recommendation of his predecessor. There was no particular reason to refuse.

I can't do it right now.

I need to see my employer, so could you please go back to the inn for today?

Just to be sure, I added something to my father's answer, and Mr. Yang's expression turned puzzled. Dad had already picked up the potted plants to take to the greenhouse.

"Inn?

"Yeah. You didn't get it?

No. I spent all my money to come here.

That's not what you say with a smile, Mr. Yang. He's got a one-way ticket.

"...... Well, have a rest at my place. You must be tired from your long trip.



Welcome, Mr. Yang. Will you join me for breakfast?

I said, and Mom invited me in like she knew what she was doing. At the mention of "breakfast," Yang's stomach growled in delight. When she sees you scratching your head in embarrassment, she chuckles.

Bye, Mom. I'll see you later.

"Have a good day.

Have a good day!

I left Yang with Mom and went to work with Dad again. Even before we got to work, my father let out a tired sigh.


As soon as we arrived at Ernst's house, I told the master butler, Heinz, that we would be getting a new servant. He told me that he had finally decided to increase the number of servants. Apparently, he was worried about the fact that my father and I were managing the garden alone. I can't blame him for saying that, since there were few young people who weren't intimidated by my father.
Anyway, I asked him to confirm a date when he could visit the Duke, and we decided on a date for Mr. Yang to start work.
After that, we started to work in the garden, but my father kept looking ashamed. Maybe it was Grandpa's fault.
Because of the low literacy rate of the common people, it is not possible to forewarn them by letter, but it is possible to inform them by asking a peddler on his way to the capital to give them a message. But my grandpa didn't dare to do that. I guess he wanted to surprise my father. Grandpa likes to make fun of my father.

"Zap.

I thought I heard small footsteps, and then something hit me on the back while I was tending the flower bed.

"Flora.

I turned around and saw the owner of the light shock, smiling happily.

"Oh, Flora, don't you dare run.

"My lady. You haven't learned any manners yet.

That's not the point.

The young lady caught up with her, not running, but lifting her skirt lightly and hurrying with her steps. Flora, the three-year-old girl's younger sister, seems to enjoy being able to move around on her own and has been exploring the house and garden a lot lately. I only know what's going on in the mansion from what she tells me, but I know what's going on in the garden because this is how I encounter her.
I know I shouldn't let her out of my sight, but I'm sure there are servants on the grounds of the Duke of Ernst's house keeping an eye on her. At Flora's age, in a previous life, she would have worn shoes that light up and make noise when she steps on them, so she must be eager to move around.

I want to have a lot of fun while I can, because I'm going to have to put up with a lot when I start practicing anyway.

"Yeah...

Flora's gesture of tilting her head in agreement with my words has not changed, I think. Flora's gesture of taking the end of my words and tilting her head with me is unchanged. But I'm sure she will look at me again and scold me.

"But it's still dangerous to run!

"You know what? She's worried that Flora might get hurt.

"Hmm, ......, well, I don't know, Laura.

Flora's sweet. She's a good girl.

After giving it some thought, he decided to take Flora's hand and pat her on the head. Flora seemed to be happy with the praise and her face broke out.
It seems that Flora likes her so much that she can choose the latter between the urge to run around and the possibility that her sister's daughter will be sad.
After a while, when I let go of her hand, her eyelids fluttered open and she stared at me. When I put my hand on her head again, she closes her eyelids and looks comfortable. I'm sure this is a pattern where if I take my hand away, she'll stare at me again. I don't know what to do. I don't know when to stop.

It's not fair.

The lady muttered in a sulky way. You're right, it's better to get a compliment from the daughter of the family than from me.

"Oh. She wants a compliment, too.

"Miss?

I told Flora, and she turned to her with a twinkle in her eye. When I told her, Flora's eyes lit up and she turned to me. She was embarrassed, or maybe she was saying something different, but Flora's expectant look overcame her and she stroked her sister's head. As she began to stroke her sister's head, the young lady's mouth loosened, as if she was not satisfied.
Smiling at how close the two sisters were, I put my gloves back on and went back to tending the flower bed.
I picked dead leaves and flowers while checking the soil condition of the vivid flowers: the peach-colored nine-ring weed, the pale blue lapis lazuli, and the dark orange Calendula officinalis. They all bloom in sunny areas, but they prefer humid or dry soil, so I plant them in different beds.
As I was thinking about watering the nine-flowered plant again, Flora came up next to me and bent down as I did.

Zaku, let's play.

"Sorry. We'll take a break after we finish this, so it'll take a while.

"Lola, let's do it. I'll clean your nose.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't want you to take my job.

See you later.

Flora, if you play with him when he's taking a break, Zaku won't be able to rest.

"Mmm.

The lady bent down next to Flora, imploring her to return without waiting, and Flora snorted in disapproval. The fact that she didn't say "but" suggests that she understands, but her feelings are not convinced.
I let out a small laugh at what the lady said.

"What is it, ......?

"No, I was just thinking that you used to come here to talk.



Yeah, that's .......

She basically came in the late afternoon to talk to me while I was working. I try to be careful, but both my father and I forget to take small breaks, so I've been taking more and more breaks around the time she comes in. Gradually, she started to wait for us to take a break, or she would come at the right time.
She only came to talk to us from the beginning, so she never interfered with our work, but I felt that her initial assault was similar to that of Flora now. It was kind of funny.
The young lady also seemed to have some thoughts, and her cheeks colored, as if she was ashamed of the time when she was a reporter. She looked at me as if she was staring at me, but in that state, she didn't scare me at all.

"Did you ...... find that annoying?

Your voice is complaining, but your eyes are shaking with anxiety.

"No way. I was looking forward to seeing you, and I'm glad to see you now.

When she denied it with a smile, the vermilion that had been staining her cheeks spread across her face.

I'm glad to see your face now.

She turned away angrily, saying that she had always kept her back to me. Unable to deny the point, I turned my attention back to the Calendula to work on it.

I can't do most of the work without looking at my hands. But you have a beautiful voice, so I'm listening to you.

Her voice is clear and easy to understand. If she sounds happy, I can imagine that she is laughing, and if she sounds depressed, I can't help but turn around and check her out.

"Hello?

"Oh, can you listen to Flora's cheerful voice as well ......?

As I replied while working, I felt a weight on my side. I looked over and saw that Flora's center of gravity was resting on me and her eyelids were about to fall down. The warm spring weather must have made her sleepy.

I think I'll ask Flora to help me.

"What?　What?

At my murmur, Flora opened her sleepy eyelids and looked at me expectantly.

It's a beautiful day and warm, isn't it?

"Yeah. It's warm.

"It's warm and I want to sleep, but I have work to do. So why don't you take a nap for me, Flora?

If I get a good night's sleep, is that cool?

"Oh, that would be great.

When I smiled at her, Flora's face lit up like her blonde hair. It seems that she feels like she's been entrusted with a big role, and even though she's about to go to bed, her expression is full of motivation. For the time being, I put my forehead lightly against Flora's, as if I needed to pose to pass on the sleepiness.

"Did my sleepiness go there?

Yes. I got it. ......

Flora yawned, as if relieved to be allowed to sleep. When I looked at her, she had her hands crossed over her mouth and her face was still red.
I thought she had suddenly become silent, but I wondered why she was covering her mouth. I wondered if she was suffering from lack of oxygen and was turning red.
I don't understand her behavior sometimes. Maybe it's a spell or something, girls like that.

"Miss.

"......, what is it?

The girl jumps her shoulders and turns around. It seems that she was concentrating very hard on the spell. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I'll tell her about Flora.

I'm sorry to call on you so suddenly. Flora said she's going to take a nap.

"Oh, ......, I understand. Flora, shall we go back to your room?

"Hmm.

When she held out her hand, Flora rubbed her eyelids but grasped her hand firmly.
I thought she was going to go on, but then she pulled on her clothes.

"Let's play when you wake up.

It seems that the desire to play still remains. I laughed at Flora's insistence while fighting sleepiness.

"Oh, we can play after work.

But you'll be back in the evening, right?

The young lady tilts her head at my approval. But you'll be back in the evening, right?

"Oh. I'm not going home.

Is it going to rain tonight?

Because my aptitude is water, I sometimes stay in a hut in the garden when I feel rain coming. I shook my head at the young lady who thought it would be the same this time.

No, I'm staying at the cabin. There was a guy who wanted to apprentice himself to my father this morning, and he's staying at my house.

As a commoner, I don't have a guest room in my house. There are only enough beds for the family, so my father and I decided that Mr. Yang would have to use my room.
After he officially becomes an apprentice, Jan will be living and working in the cabin. The Ernsts' hut is bigger than the Baumgartners', but that's just the difference in size.

What about the food?

"I could make it, but it's only for me. ...... I'll ask the old cook to share the food with me.

If I'm staying with my dad, I'll ask him to share the food with me, but I tend to make too much because the amount of food for one person is halfway. It would be more luxurious and tastier to get a professional chef's meal. Thinking about this, I'm looking forward to this evening's dinner.



That's not good.

Duke?

Hello, Isak. I heard that my angels are here.

The Duke, his blond hair wavy and dazzling in the bright spring sunshine, appeared with his master. It seems that today was the day he could return early.
Even though it's been a long time since I've seen him, I'm still seriously dazzled by the smile on his face, as if he's carrying a flower on his back and sprinkling its fragrance. In the background, Pome, who had been chasing butterflies until a moment ago, was caught by his master by the scruff of the neck and was still flapping his excess sleeves in an attempt to escape.
The duke pulled back his sparkling smile and raised his eyebrows at what I had said.

All the servants in my house are like my family. I can't see my family eating alone.

"Oh, well, ......

"Come dine with us tonight.

What?

We've had tea together, but we've never eaten together.

Well, we're a nobleman and a commoner, so there's that. The lady muttered as if she had lost track of it, but please notice that it was actually strange when they were having tea together.

"You know, sweetheart. I'm not ......

No.

What?

You don't have to eat with the Duke and the others, you can eat with the others in the servants' dining room and you won't be alone. When I tried to explain that, the young lady scolded me strongly. I couldn't understand what she was telling me not to do, so I tilted my head.

You caught a cold when you stayed alone before. You should never eat alone, Zaku will treat you like crap!

No, it's because he fell into the pond. ......

No!

No!" The lady glared at me angrily. Apparently, I caused her a lot of worry when I caught a cold. I'm sorry that I'm making you worry so much when all I did was screw up.

"Okay. I'll eat with you.

You just have to know.

I nodded my head in agreement, and the lady smiled with relief and satisfaction.

Then it's settled. Heinz, make the arrangements.

"Very well, sir.

The duke, holding the half-asleep Flora in his arms, gave the order, and the master quietly bowed. As he did so, Pome, who had escaped the master's grasp, hid behind the young lady's back.
They exchanged a "see you later" greeting and she left with the Duke. I watched their backs with some dismay.

"I'm no match for you ladies.

I couldn't help but chuckle.
I wonder if I'm weak against the Ernsts, or if the Ernsts are simply strong. Somehow, I felt that I would never be able to compete with them.


How did this happen?
At the Ernst family table, I'm borrowing the Duke's little clothes again.
Before I could put it on, I was made to take a bath, and somehow I managed to put the clothes on myself, but the maids did my hair and tie. The only thing that saved me was the fact that I could borrow a bath, because I didn't have to make a bath.
I thought the only thing the duke had asked me to arrange was more food. I didn't realize he'd arranged for me to get ready as well.
I thought I wouldn't have to wear such nice clothes anymore since I didn't have to dance anymore.
No, I'll still wear it after work, but only when Daniel-sama asks me out to dinner. He said it would make his wife, Annika, happy. I'd like to think it's just my imagination that the number of clothes that only I can wear is slowly increasing in the house of the Marquis of Veit.
The duke is seated next to me, the lady across from me, and Ok-sama and Flora are seated next to them, and it helps that there are relatively few glaring objects in my view.
The Duke and Master Oku are both very smiling, but I wonder what's going on. After the pre-dinner prayers, I said "thank you" as usual, and for some reason, Master Oku smiled at me.

...... Zaku, you can eat normally, can't you?

What?　Oh.

The lady looked at me eating and said strangely, so I thought about it and got the point. I guess I have some table manners.
It's a skill I acquired while working for the Veidt family, so I'm not sure if I should mention it.

Heinz must have taught it to you when you were a squire.

"Oh, yes. That's right.

The duke followed up, and I nodded my head. It's not a lie that I have been taught by a master, though only in the classroom. At that time, it was a standing-room-only lecture that emphasized manners, and I didn't feel the need to memorize it, so I didn't remember it properly.

I'm sorry I couldn't teach you, Dear.

I'm not a .........

Oh, who was so eager to set an example if you didn't understand?

Mother.

The duke's cheeks were slightly red as he protested against her joyful laughter. The duke gave her a loving look, saying that she was a sweet girl. I also feel that she is a good girl, but the Duke's eyes are more like my child's.
From the outside, I think they are a close family.
I don't know how to say this, but I feel out of place surrounded by such a beautiful family. I'm definitely out of place. While feeling this way, I eat my dinner. Yes, it's delicious.



Ma'am?

What is it?　Flora.

Flora, who had finished her meal with Ok-sama's help, stared at the Duke.

"Are you all family?

The Duke had said something like that when he had invited me to dinner. Flora looked around at the faces of those present, including mine, and asked, to which the Duke affirmed with a deep smile.

Yes, I do. Izaak and the servants are our precious family.

"Then, Zaku, ni-sama?

I rolled my eyes at the sudden use of myself as an example.

"That's right.

The duke nodded, saying that if they were close in age, they would be like brother and sister, while I was caught off guard.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the two of you are in agreement.

"Zak, nissama.

"Yeah, .......

I'm not sure how I should react.
Even in my previous life, I have not been called brother many times. I think I was called "big brother" when I was little, but I have stronger memories of my sister calling me that in my previous life. Even now, the little ones call me that.

...... I've never been called that before.

I don't think it's appropriate for me to be called "sama", but I don't feel bad being treated like a big brother by Flora, who has seen me grow up even intermittently. In fact, it made me happy.

"Just me?

Yeah. Flora is the only one who calls me that.

I nodded, feeling embarrassed, and for some reason Flora was pleased. And for some reason, I feel like she's looking at me.

"Isak!

I'm not sure what that means.　What is it?

The duke suddenly hugged me, and I was surprised. I haven't done anything to be thanked, and there's no particular reason for him to hug me. Normally, I would be able to refuse because I would get dirty, but I can't do that either.
Since I don't know the reason in the first place, I can't deal with it. The usual pattern is that when something good happens to the young lady, she's taken by surprise. But when I looked down at her, she was peeling.

What?　Why are you in a bad mood?

Miss?

I don't know what's going on. If I'm treated like a brother, she's not going to take my sister, and she's not that narrow-minded. The duke was just telling his daughter how to take care of her subordinates, and I'm sure she understands that.
As I tilted my head, Ok-sama narrowed his eyes in amusement.

If you're so jealous, why don't you call me big brother?

......

I can't have that.

Before the upset young lady could argue, I refused Ok-sama's proposal. Perhaps surprisingly, both Ok-sama and the lady looked at me.

"She's just a pretty girl to me.

I didn't know how to treat a girl, so I referred to how I treated my sister in my previous life, but I never thought of her as my real sister. After all this time, it feels strange to be acted like a sister.
After realizing that I was in a girl's game world, I first fished through my meager memories of my previous life to see if there was any disadvantage to the daughter of my rival. In the end, there was nothing I could do, not even a mob, but I don't think I would have gone that far if I thought she was my sister.
It makes me wonder if there's anything I can do. That's the kind of girl you are.

I'm not even sure I could do that if I thought she was my sister.

That's what you said.

I didn't say that!

I've been scolded by a young lady who turned red in the face. But I don't know why I'm being scolded. I don't know what was wrong with the same words I said.
Ok-sama laughed uncontrollably as she scolded me. The Duke, who was still holding me, was also trembling, and even though I couldn't see his face, I could tell he was laughing. If you're laughing, please let me go.

I'm not sure what to do.

Flora was the only one to intervene.
I was supposed to eat dinner alone today, but it turned out to be a very lively meal.