3 Family and Experience

"Young Lady, please hand me your sister." Rachel looked at me calmly as usual but the maids that gathered around us seemed to be quite frantic. Well... I do understand why they would react that way.

A six-year-old carrying a person on her back isn't what people usually consider safe. But I had no choice, I don't want this little girl to keep sleeping outside without a blanket so I just gotta do what I gotta do.

"Don't worry Rachel, I can handle this." I gave her a confident grin. "Besides… my sister is sleeping on my back so I'll be the one to carry her to my room so she could properly rest." It seems what I've said just now made the maids even more concerned.

I guess a child carrying another child truly is a problem in their eyes. In my case though, even if my arms feel numb and tired, I still want to carry her.

"Young Lady Alianne, the Viscount has already prepared a room for our Young Lady Helen. It would only burden your back if you keep trying to act tough." Rachel has a fair point but that doesn't matter just like the sudden shaking of my arms.

I gently shook my head. "I'll let her stay in my room." The other maids started to object me and so I took a deep breath and tried my best to give out a stern look. "As a Young Lady of this house, I'm telling you all that I'm fine and there's nothing to worry about." The maids flinched and could only submit as I already used my name and authority.

Good. It seems the lesson I had earlier with Miss Plineut paid off.

I didn't expect to apply that just to carry my sister… but oh well, whatever works I guess.

As I walked it felt as if I started to feel the weight increase in each step. Luckily, Rachel silently stood by my side and opened the door of my room for me so all I had to do was make sure I wouldn't let Helen crash on the floor. It was tough so I thought of asking Rachel to help me but she already did before I could ask her... I smiled at her kindness and consideration.

When the kid was properly on my bed with a blanket on her I felt as if kilograms of feathers that weighed on my back were finally gone. It was relieving for my arms, to say the least. "That surprisingly took a lot of my strength."

"I would've helped you but you were too stubborn about it so don't complain Young Lady."

"Huh? I wasn't complaining!" I accidentally raised my voice a bit and got shushed in response. My hands covered my mouth in reflex and glanced to my right. A relieved sigh escaped from my lips when Helen was still sleeping peacefully.

"Young Lady… are you fine with this?"

"Huh?" Such a weird question. "Are you asking about the sudden new family member?" I'll take Rachel's silence as a yes.

"Did you think I'll be furious? Because in all honesty, you aren't wrong about that." Before she could retort, I raised my right hand and shook my head to stop her. "It did feel very unfair to know that no one told me I'll have a new sister and that I'm no longer the only lady you'd serve… but," I took another look at Helen who seemed to be having a nice dream.

My lips curved to a smile.

"After thinking properly and spending my time with her, I couldn't help but forget the anger I felt. No one told me I'd have to share my everyday life with a stranger but I'm more irritated that no one told me she's such an angel. If only I've been told beforehand then maybe I could properly give her a good impression of me and this household."

"Young Lady..."

Ah, I didn't realize I was already rambling my bottled up frustrations. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself and my thoughts. "And it's embarrassing to say but I'm happy to finally have a friend from my age. Being around you all is nice but I feel like there's no one here that can play with me and do random stuff so..." I suddenly feel my face getting hot. "So yeah, I'm grateful she's here. I feel less lonely now."

Tsk. I can't believe I'm getting all emotional just because I got a new friend to play with me. How embarrassing…

"I'm glad that you're happy with Young Lady Helen." Rachel's voice sounded softer and I couldn't help but give her a smile that reached from eat-to-ear.

"I'm glad too."

"Though it's not the best time to say this, I have to tell you that it is time for dinner, Young Lady."

"...It seems I have to wake Helen up." I don't want to disturb her sleep but I don't want my father getting angry at me either so I had no choice. Rachel nodded in agreement and so I lightly shook Helen's shoulder to wake her up.

"Mh..." The kid groaned softly as I called her name. It didn't take a while before she sat up from my bed with a yawn.

Rachel seemed to be very pleased. "Perhaps I should attend to Young Lady Helen instead. She seems to be more alert and attentive rather than a certain someone I personally serve." I glared at her in annoyance while Helen simply tilted her head in confusion. Well, she did just wake up after all.

We all headed to the dining room together. As usual, my father was seated in his mini throne which was the middle seat. I stayed in my usual seat as well but there's an additional person sitting in front of me... it felt odd yet I wonder why I don't mind it. Helen seemed to be enjoying the food a lot and my father's strict face actually loosened up.

Wow.

The heroine really does have amazing charms. To think that my serious father could smile at Helen so easily… It made me a little jealous. But I understand because this kid in front of me already managed to get my favor too anyway.

It wasn't long before our dinner was over. It was actually quite lively that I forgot I was supposed to be a graceful daughter of a Viscount. I hum to myself as I offered my sister to take my hand. Helen seemed to be taken aback by it but she better get used to it soon because we'll only grow closer to each other.

"I think it's finally time for us to take a bath. Together." I do admit I might've sounded a bit too demanding but I've somehow wanted to experience such a thing. The short story books given to me by my father said that a family should be close to each other.

A bath doesn't only make us feel close but I'll also experience taking a bath with someone so that's two birds with one stone!

"Young Lady Alianne, it's time for your bath."

My lips were curved into a grin as I looked at my caretaker. "No need to remind me, Rachel."

Usually, Rachel would be the one to accompany and bathe me but now that I'm with my sister, my father appointed a personal caretaker for her as well. I was fine with it though I somehow wish the two of us would be alone.

Well whatever, an experience is an experience.

When we finally got in the bath, Rachel was washing my hair on one end while Helen was currently hugging her knees on the other end of the bathtub. I chuckle at how nervous she seemed as her personal caretaker, June, washed her hair. She's such a shy kid.

The little girl slowly sank her head down until bubbles appeared. She seemed to be happy and more relaxed, well, breathing underwater just to see bubbles popping out is really satisfying so I ended up imitating her.

Helen noticed me and showed me a toothy grin. Oh no… that was so cute. Heroines really are dangerous, I'm so glad she's just a child, or else I might've fallen for her charms. I better make sure that boys would stay away from her in the future!

We chatted the whole time and Rachel ended up telling us not to move a lot or else the shampoo will get in our eyes. After fully bathing, we got out and I grabbed a clean set of pajamas. Since Helen just came here so suddenly she and June still had to look around my other pajamas and find one that'll fit her.

As I was waiting, I quietly listened to the daily gossip of some maids. We don't have a lot of maids so I bet they're the usual group that usually talked about new fashion trends for commoners or fantasies of having a better life though today sounded different. The tone and mood they had made me curious so I tried my best to listen closely without being caught.

I know it's wrong to eavesdrop on people but my curiosity reached its peak when I heard the mention of the new lady in our household. It sounds like they tried to lower down their voices but I could still hear what one of them said: "Young Lady Helen… do you think she might be an illegitimate child of the Viscount?"

Huh? What the hell are they-

"Oh no, if that's true then Young Lady Alianne would definitely feel furious!"

Of course I would be... how dare you all talk behind my family like that!? I grit my teeth and my legs moved just to jump right in front of them. "Stop your useless talk and assumptions about my family. How dare you talk behind the master of this household so disrespectfully? And Helen is an innocent girl so don't even think of her as if she is a mistake that my father had. That wouldn't even happen considering that she's only two years younger than me and my father loved my mother more than anyone else in this world." I'm sure about that because he never gave his attention so much to anyone else except my mother.

"If you got nothing good to talk about then do something else and never talk about my family that way… or else..." I glare at the woman who mentioned my father having an "affair." She seemed to be growing even more nervous by the second. "And you-" I point at the second woman- "there's no way I'll ever believe such obvious lies even in the next lifetime."

The two of them were speechless and the other three that were beside them started to shake as well. "I'll repeat this once again: you don't deserve to speak ill about my family. If I hear such nonsense from you all then I'm sure it wouldn't just be a little girl yelling at you!"

My heartbeat was fast and I just realized how furious I became. Never have I ever scolded maids before when they would talk behind my back but this topic went across the line. "Why aren't you saying anything? You know it's rude not to respond back to your lady when she's speaking." I hope I'm using the correct use of my name this time?

"Y-yes Young Lady, this would never happen again..!" One of them squeaked out.

"We apologize for our foul mouths so please forgive us!" The other pleaded with a horrified face.

With united bows, the five lousy maids quickly ran away. I still felt my brows slanted tightly but the tension I felt in my heart slowly faded away. I started to feel better seeing the regret and horror on their faces so I guess it was worth it.

That would never happen again. Not on my watch.

I was about to call Rachel to tell her about those maids but I stopped when I saw pink hair strands standing out. Helen was holding on the edge of the door frame as if it was her lifeline. That kind of reaction… I started to worry.

D-did she hear all that?

"Are you okay? Did you not enjoy the bath or do you not like my pajamas?" I try to ask her random things but it seems like she didn't feel like answering them. When I took slow and small steps towards her, I saw her small hands trembling as she gripped the edge tightly.

She definitely heard that.

I somehow felt guilty knowing that my loud voice probably echoed in the hallway and may be the reason why she heard it. My body was reluctant to move but my mind made me place my hands on hers and slowly pulled her hands away from the door frame. "I'm sorry that you heard that… but don't worry, you don't have to listen to them."

Her wavering eyes didn't seem convinced at all.

I gently squeezed her hands. "They were fake rumors for sure. The real thing here is that we're now sisters; not by blood but by heart. If anything happens, I'll do my best to protect you from annoying bad people. Believe me."

The look on her face was just the same in the garden but it appeared to be even sadder. Oh no. Knowing what would happen next, I hugged her just like earlier and felt her arms embrace me. My hand touched her hair again yet this time it was damp and it smelled like shampoo.

I can't believe I've witnessed her pained face twice in one day. Seeing the joyful and sad expressions on this child's face, I tell myself to never let tears roll down her cheeks for as long as I live.

This is my oath - not as another character charmed by her - but as her sister.