Masters, Are You Going To Imprison My Sister?

“How what’s it? Are you surprised? Were you impressed? You were supposed to have a farewell party before you left. I prepared it as a surprise party.”

“Right….”

Come to think of it, I think they had a conversation like that with Amy before. I forgot about it because I was out of my mind. When I remember a story that passed by like this, it makes my heart flutter for some reason.

“Thank you everyone, and….”

I approached Yuria and pinched her cheek hard. Soft cheeks stretched out of my hand.

“Ouch…!”

“Yuria, you. Do you know how surprised I was that you suddenly disappeared?”

It almost dropped my heart, really. I might have cried if Amy had been late. Yuria, who does not know my heart, just smiles brightly. The look of her was playful, so I stretched her cheeks once more. She smiled, fiddling with her red, swollen cheeks.

“Sorry. I didn’t originally intend to do that either, but I thought it would be better if I surprise you. Lala, I also wanted to see you panicking…”

“When did you start planning?”

“Yuria just found out today. We stopped talking about the farewell party and we got caught. We should have surprised Yuria with you.”

Bianca said as if regretful. I giggled broadly at her words, then turned my head to the side of a girl. The blonde girl standing on one side of the room had a chubby face that didn’t match the purpose of the meeting.

“By the way, why is Lemon here?”

Lemon. She was a really unexpected member. We’re not on good terms, and  she is not a person who regrets seeing me leaving? She had no reason to attend this farewell party unless someone threatened her. Although she wouldn’t be forced to invite Lemon in the first place. When I think about why she was there, the more I think about it, the more puzzled it becomes.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed by my words, Lemon’s face turned red in an instant. It felt like I should call her Apple, not lemon.

Marie came over and whispered to me.

“I, I don’t know…  Where did she hear that we were planning a farewell party, and she suddenly came to me and asked to join us as well.”

Lemon said she would attend? This was really surprising.

“I was forced to bring her here…! No one knows why she came. Maybe she’s here to get her last revenge on you…? To turn your eyes into nightmares…? Hick! I’m scared…!”

Her voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone else. Before Marie could finish her words, Lemon raised her eyes fiercely and screamed.

“What! Why! Are you dissatisfied with me being here?! Then tell me directly! Don’t be annoyed and gossip like a rat!”

“It’s night now…! You have to be quiet.”

I could see the people around me trying to shut up Lemon’s mouth. She got angry, avoiding her hand approaching her.

“If you have any complaints, tell me directly, Eup!”

“Shh.”

I quickly approached Lemon and covered her mouth.

“No, no complaints. I was just a little surprised because I didn’t think you’d be attending the farewell party. I’m glad you came here, thanks.”

It’s not particularly happy, but at least I don’t have any bad feelings towards Lemon.

I am not a childish person to be angry with a child who has been around for a while, and since I received an apology for the last time she was mean to Yuria, I had nothing to be afraid of. If I had been a bad person, I might have kicked her out.

“… Huh.”

Lemon listened to me quietly, and then immediately took my hand away. I was worried that she would cause a fuss again, but luckily she walked to the bed with her mouth shut and sat quietly.

As the small commotion subsided, Amy began to lift the mood. She promptly blew out the candle and handed the cake to Yuria and me. Cookies and chocolate were placed on top of the creamy cake. It was a dessert that was more appropriate to say that it was sloppy rather than appetizing. It looks like it’s not ready-made.

I asked Amy.

“Is this handmade?”

“Huh? how did you know?”

Amy said that they had saved money together to buy ingredients and make a cake.

That’s right. I would have been impressed by buying a ready-made product, but I was even more impressed by the fact that it was a homemade cake. I bowed my head and put out the candle with my mouth. After that, it was time to eat. I cut and ate the cake and ate it by biting a delicious apple, and then taking a big bite of the bread. We ate, talked about small things, and enjoyed small mini-games. At first, Lemon looked awkward. Hanging out with unfamiliar people can be daunting for an adolescent girl. Could this be the case of being marginalized? Despite such concerns, she quickly adapted and enjoyed playing with the other girls.

Around two in the morning, Aunt Emily, Amy and Bianca went back to their room. Because they have to get up early tomorrow and go to work again. The rest, with Marie’s permission, decided to go to sleep in her room. The maid, who was Marie’s roommate, had moved into another room for the farewell party, so she could use two beds. Yuria and Marie were on the bed on the left, and Lemon and I were on the bed on the other side. I originally intended to lie down with Yuria, but Marie was so reluctant, Lemon had no choice and slept with me.

Marie and Yuria, who were showing signs of exhaustion, quickly fell asleep. As the two fell into the dream world, the room quickly became quiet. There was a heavy silence in the dark, small room. The stillness feels comfortable. After whispering “good night” to Marie and Yuria, I turned my head to the side. Lemon lay with her back turned. I’m so close to the wall that I don’t want to touch it. Why did you try to attend the farewell party while avoiding me like that? What were you thinking about getting caught in the midst of awkward people? I just can’t figure it out. To answer the question, I spoke to Lemon.

“Hey?”

Lemon said quietly.

“… No.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“What?”

“Why are you here today? It’s not that I don’t like you attending, I’m just asking because I’m curious. To be honest, we weren’t that close.”

“I don’t know, just…”

Lemon was speechless.

“Just?”

She didn’t speak any more.

I glanced at Lemon’s back. Did you fall asleep quickly? Or maybe you don’t want to talk to me? For whatever reason, there was no sign that the suddenly cut off conversation would continue. Can’t help it. no choice but to quit. I wasn’t curious enough to forcefully ask, so I prepared well without any regrets.

“I was just sad to hear that you were leaving.”

Just as I was about to close my eyes and enter the dream world, Lemon opened her mouth. I closed my eyes and quietly listened to her voice.

“Usually, I didn’t want to see you, but it gave me a tingle in front of my eyes. That’s why I’m here. Before you leave, I want to see you one last time. Isn’t it strange? We fight every day, and then suddenly we pretend to be close.”

“It’s strange. Things like that happen, too. It’s said that you get affectionate while fighting. Don’t you have a crush on me?”

“I don’t think so.”

A small laugh was heard.

“Still… Don’t be shy and be honest. I won’t be angry. Did you think it was weird to pretend to be friendly? Are you annoyed that you have a farewell party with me? I thought you wouldn’t like me at the party.”

“I didn’t.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

I replied calmly, but on the inside, I was quite surprised. Because I didn’t know that Lemon would have a crush on me. When did she get that feeling?

After taking a deep breath, Lemon continued.

“Layla.”

“Yes?”

“… I thought I’d try to be friends with you.”

“……”

“You… you’re rustic and unlucky, and you’re an ignorant kid who speaks more with fists than words… Still, you’re not a bad kid.”

“What. Is it an insult or a compliment?”

“It’s a compliment.”

After a brief silence, Lemon let out a whisper.

“Layla.”

“Why?”

“Thank you for saving me when I was caught by a thug man…”

And Lemon was quiet again. Even after a long time passed, there was no sound from my side. Raising my torso, I looked at Lemon lying on my side. She was burying her face in her pillow.

I don’t know if she’s sleeping or not, but she doesn’t seem to want to talk anymore. I lay down and closed my eyes.

Lemon, me too. Thank you for treating me that day. You… It was unlucky and bad, but when I think about what happened back then, I don’t think she was that bad. Are you sorry that you can’t be friends with me? But isn’t it okay if we don’t have to be friends? It’s not a bad thing to have a relationship where you can argue like this. I wonder if this can be seen as a friend in a way…?

These words were floating around in my head, but I didn’t dare to say them out.

The last days at the mansion passed like that.

  ****

The next day, Yuria and I got up early in the morning and packed our things. The Duke was kind and called for a carriage to ride, so all we had to do was grab our bags and head out the front door. When I put the gold coins given to me by the Duke, the bag became too heavy to carry. We grunted and dragged our bags until we reached the front of the carriage.

Since we were neither official guests nor nobles, there was no one to see us off. The knight guarding the door just greeted us as a courtesy. I slipped my bag inside and got into the carriage. Soon after, the coachman’s voice called “Hey!” and the carriage began to move slowly. Outside the window, a blue sky with floating clouds and a landscape of a lush forest pass by.

I poked my head out the window and looked towards the mansion. When I saw the mansion getting smaller and smaller, I could feel that I had finally escaped there. And that the end of this novel has arrived.

Okay…. Now ‘The Secret of the Rose House’ is over. There are no more gloomy tales that plunge a girl into an abyss, and no more unhappy female protagonists.

In the future, the story we created will unfold.

And this story definitely has a happy ending.

Because me and Yuria will make it that way.

I looked up at the dazzling sun and smiled.