Chapter 25: The Rosegarden Family Is Peaceful Today As Well! (2)

“Hey, everyone. Want to hear something amazing from your master?”

“Woof!”

Sitting in front of the grand piano, I raised my hands high in response to the eager looks from the dolls and wolves.

Then, I folded my hands, leaving only my index fingers extended.

Dun dun dun, dun dun dun, dun dun dun, dun dun dun♪

Using just my two index fingers, I began to play a marching tune.

Kiriel and the doll sisters twirled mid-air, while the wolves wagged their tails vigorously.

As expected from a timeless masterpiece that transcends generations, it not only united genders and ages but also bridged species differences.

Who knew that just two fingers could create such a bouncy harmony?

Honestly, I might be a genius pianist—this conviction welled up inside me.

“Hehe… Even I think that was a flawless performance.”

The grand finale concluded majestically.

The wolves howled in awe as if they’d just heard a performance worth paying for.

Clap, clap, clap.

Suddenly, I heard clapping from the doorway.

The rhythm was so obviously mocking that I couldn’t help but turn my head in irritation.

There stood a blonde boy, smirking smugly.

“That was truly the most pathetic performance I’ve ever heard.”

“……”

“Even if I played with my tongue, it would sound better than that.”

The boy, who seemed like a miniature, even more arrogant version of Leonard, was none other than Rio Rosegarden.

As his surname suggested, he was technically my second older brother… well, it’s hard to call him that since he was just a brat born a year before me.

“Then go ahead and play!”

“…What?”

“You said you’d play better with your tongue, right? Show me!”

Caught bluffing, Rio averted his gaze awkwardly.

Come to think of it, in the original story, this brat often acted cocky and ended up humiliated.

Yeah, since we’re family now, I might as well fix his attitude from a young age so he doesn’t embarrass himself later.

“Neener neener! You said you could play better with your tongue, but you actually can’t~.”

“I-I can do it!”

However, my mission to be his teacher faced challenges from the start.

Rio, too stubborn to admit his bluff, stomped his foot and pushed me roughly off the piano bench.

“……”

He sat next to me on the piano bench, but it was clear he had no idea what to do, so he just froze like a statue.

“Aha! Look at this. I have two fingers, but our arrogant little brother only has one tongue!”

I made sure to return the mocking laughter he had given me earlier.

And just to clarify, I’m not doing this just to mess with my younger brother.

It’s a lesson—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

I’m merely demonstrating how his behavior appears from the other side.

Absolutely.

Definitely not enjoying teasing a younger brat.

“Take this!”

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Rio slammed his head down toward the piano keys.

Tilting his head slightly, he began playing with his tongue and nose, one note at a time.

What the heck…

How stubborn can this brat be!?

Our eyes met.

Seeing my shocked expression, Rio smirked as if to say, “See that?”

“Hmph…”

With an even more smug grin, he lifted his head slowly and looked down at his little sister triumphantly.

“Did you see that?”

…Yeah, I saw it.

I saw your drool-covered mess all over the keys, you idiot.

Even though his competitive spirit was strong, my mental age was far more mature, so I couldn’t help but feel pity for my little brother.

Still snorting in defiance, Rio’s mouth was so shiny with drool that I had no choice but to take out a handkerchief.

“Wha… What are you doing?”

I wiped his lips clean and then polished the piano keys, which made a chaotic, discordant sound under my pressure.

“Ahem…”

Only then did Rio realize how embarrassing his actions were, and he coughed awkwardly.

“Young Master, Young Lady, lunch is ready.”

“Is it that time already?”

“We’ll be right there.”

Time had flown, and it was already lunchtime.

We continued bickering as usual, following the maid’s guidance to the dining room.

Inside, Father and Leonard were already seated.

Father, despite his stern demeanor, looked at us properly, while Leonard greeted us with his usual gentle smile.

“Did you two enjoy playing? I could hear the music from here.”

“It was fun, but this idiot ruined it all.”

“What? You couldn’t even play properly…”

“Are you okay, Rio? Did you just drool while talking again?”

“You…!”

Bonk!

Unable to contain his frustration, Rio gave me a light smack on the head.

Though it was just a brat’s flick, it hurt way more than I expected since I was still a little kid myself.

“…Dinavel!”

“Yes! I’ll give him a zap!”

But I had Dinavel.

Unlike the overly strong Kiriel and Exia, Dinavel could deliver just the right amount of shock.

“Ouch! It stings…!”

“How dare you hit my master? Dinavel’s zap shall punish the insolent brat!”

“Hehe, good job, Dinavel.”

Rio shook his hand, looking pained.

His gaze briefly turned sharp, but when he glanced at Dinavel, he surrendered and sat down.

“Hmmm…”

Leonard watched our quarrel with a faintly arched brow.

Since I wasn’t a complete idiot, I quickly took my seat, following Rio’s example.

Leonard seemed satisfied with our swift reaction, and I silently breathed a sigh of relief.

The Rosegarden family, known for strict discipline, especially at the dining table, was surprisingly lenient today.

Considering the family’s usual strictness, this was indeed fortunate.

Clink.

Soon, delicious-looking dishes were served.

Despite the stereotype in the original story that westerners didn’t appreciate good food, at least our family didn’t fit that description.

Though the variety was limited—mainly thick beef steaks—the quality was undeniably excellent.

Sometimes, they served large fish fillets or traditional curry, but the steak always remained the signature dish.

No complaints, though—the beef was always grilled to perfection.

I grabbed one of the many forks on the table and stabbed the thick steak in the center.

With a suitable knife in my other hand, I sliced a big chunk and popped it into my mouth.

As I bit down, the juicy, fatty flavors burst forth, spreading through my mouth.

“Mmm!”

A smile naturally formed from the sheer satisfaction.

The chef definitely deserved 100 points for this masterpiece!

As I savored the steak with great enthusiasm, the maids and butlers around seemed bewildered.

‘What’s with that savage eating style…?’

‘Young Lady…?’

‘The usually elegant and refined Miss Lin is eating so… barbarically…’

‘Ah… Lin must have suffered so much during the incident… how tragic…’

My unrefined use of the fork and knife must have seemed completely out of place.

At first, everyone thought it was just an unusual mistake.

However, it didn’t take long for them to realize that this was no mistake—it was simply how I ate.

‘They said she lost some memories from the accident…’

Leonard glanced at me, a complex expression crossing his face.

Turning his gaze subtly, he noticed that even Father, Edwin, though outwardly stoic, was carefully observing me.

That unspoken concern was unmistakable.

Meanwhile, Rio was snickering, finding it amusing that his younger sister couldn’t properly use her utensils.

“…Father.”

“Yes.”

Eventually, Leonard made a decision.

Considering that Lin had gone through a traumatic experience, they had been very lenient, refraining from scolding her about minor things.

However, the thought crossed his mind—if left unchecked, their precious youngest might grow up to be an unruly troublemaker.

A few days later, Edwin called the head maid, who had just returned from her vacation, into his study.

“You summoned me, Master.”

“Can you drop the ‘Master’ title? At this point, it doesn’t really fit.”

“No matter how much you insist, to this old servant, you will always be Master.”

Despite her hair turning completely white, the head maid stood with perfect posture, an embodiment of living discipline.

Though she now wore her glasses on the bridge of her nose due to age, it only added to her dignified aura.

Addressing Edwin as “Master” was something she only did when they were alone.

In public, she never crossed that line, so Edwin never really pressed the issue.

“You came back earlier than expected. You could have taken more time on your vacation.”

“My home is with the Rosegarden family. Besides, there’s no one to properly take care of Miss Lin right now. I felt it was better to return early.”

“I apologize for the trouble. Next time, I’ll make sure you get a longer break.”

“I would prefer some quality tea leaves over a vacation.”

“…Understood.”

“By the way, it’s truly unfortunate that we lost such a valuable person. If she were still here, I’m sure she would have properly educated Miss Lin.”

“According to Lin, that maid protected her until the very end.”

The head maid bowed her head, paying silent respect to the maid who died protecting Lin during the airship crash.

It was particularly saddening since that maid had been one of the few who met the head maid’s strict standards.

“Then, I will start educating Miss Lin tomorrow.”

With a deep bow, the elderly head maid left the room.

The very next day.

“Your grip on the knife is incorrect, Miss.”

“Ugh…”

“Again.”

It was said that Lin’s cries of frustration filled the entire mansion.