C12
Shirone let out a heavy breath. Four minutes felt like eternity.
Reina looked amazed.
Since it was not quite a performance, she could not evaluate the pitch, but she had the insight to realize the essence.
Who was he?
'Why did a child like this become a servant under my family?'
“Seriously?! Shut up, you old hag!”
The emotional atmosphere of the room shattered, and Shirone and Reina turned their heads at the same time.
“If you're here, just wash your feet and go to sleep! Or even play a nice lullaby to listen to! Why the heck are you being so hysterical!”
Frizzy hair, and half-closed eyes.
Rian, still half asleep, came into the room while scratching his washboard abs.
Then after he locked eyes with Shirone, he tilted his head.
“Huh? What are you doing here?”
“Uh, no. I was…”
If it were to be revealed that Rian and Shirone were friends, it would create problems. But fortunately, Reina took the lead.
“So, do you guys know each other?”
“Shirone? Yeah, he's my friend.”
“Rian! What are you saying?”
“Hahaha! It's okay. Although she has a nasty temper, she doesn't really care about things like this.”
Does she really?
He knew she was pretty open-minded, but there was a high barrier between the aristocrats and the commoners that should've been hard to ignore.
“So your name's Shirone. Don't worry about it. Any friend of Rian's, is also my friend. Even though he's a little pathetic, he still takes responsibility for what he says.”
Shirone wasn't looking any less suspicious.
From the receiving end, that could have been perceived as rude, but Reina accepted it rather well.
Genuine trust is born from doubts and suspicions.
“But you are one of a kind. Really, how did you think to play like that?”
“What? Shirone was the one who did it? And here I was thinking it was your hysteria acting up again.”
Shirone frowned slightly.
He couldn't understand how words such as 'witch' and 'hysterical' were used to call such a pretty and friendly sister.
“Rian, why did you lie to me? Your sister is a kind and nice person.”
“Shirone! Don't be fooled! This woman is a witch! She might eat you one day!”
Rian's expression looked really serious, so Shirone could not reply back.
Reina spoke.
“Hoho, I'm sorry. My little brother is extremely immature, but I'm relieved to see that he has a friend like you. Take good care of him for me.”
“Oh, no. I don't…”
Reina's eyes sparkled at the sight of Shirone, who lowered his head shyly.
Despite having an abundance of knowledge, Shirone was still an innocent child in regards to emotion. After all, he is still only sixteen years old.
“You're quite the cutie.”
Rian, who gulped down a cup of water from a table, said while pouring himself another glass.
“If he's so cute, why don't you just take him and live together. I would love to have Shirone be part of my family. Muhahaha!”
Shirone was even more embarrassed at Rian's joke, but what he was feeling didn't seem so bad either.
Reina realized something from her brother's words.
“Oho, it looks like you're close enough to even give your sister away.”
Rian retorted, looking flabbergasted.
“What are you talking about? Of course. Shirone is like a brother to me, but I don't mind giving a witch like you to just about anyone. Rather, Shirone is worth too much. You're not worthy of Shirone.”
“Oh, really?”
As soon as she finished talking, Reina jumped high enough to the point where it could easily exceed a person's height.
While still frozen in surprise, she landed in front of Rian and pulled her brother's ear.
“OWW! It hurts! It hurts!”
“I went easy on you because you were cute, but it seems like you are trying to walk all over me now.”
“It hurts! I said it hurts!!”
Tags:
Infinite Mage (Novel)
