It Doesn’t Help 3

“By the way, Brother Theodore, Sister Yuria. Were your classes today alright for both of you?”

“Yes, they were fine.”

“There was nothing difficult.”

Reina nodded at their answers, but Theodore noticed her gaze was directed at his attire.

He was still in his Minst Academy uniform, which had the form of a formal outfit.

Though it was close to a formal suit, the uniform suited him exceptionally well with his tall stature and handsome features, and he was well aware of how many female students had reacted.

“Brother Theodore, your uniform looks really cool and suits you well.”

“Thanks, I’ll serve you some stew first, so why don’t you take a seat?”

“Yes!”

Watching Reina immediately take a seat, Theodore also spoke to Yuria.

“Lady Yuria, please sit down too.”

“Yes, Lord Theodore.”

She, who had been watching Reina, could be seen sitting next to Reina.

Both of them thanked Theodore as he set out various tableware, including bowls for the stew.

“Ah. Brother Theodore, Sister Yuria. I brought some sandwiches too, would that be okay?”

“Sandwiches are fine.”

“Yes, I quite like them.”

At Theodore and Yuria’s responses, Reina smiled brightly as she placed her basket on the table and opened the lid.

Inside were sandwiches in enough quantity for the three of them to share, and one could easily see that quite fresh ingredients had been used.

“Wow~ They’re made so beautifully?”

Yuria expressed admiration while looking at the sandwiches Reina had made.

Even to Theodore, they looked quite well-made, and she seemed to have considerable dexterity in food preparation.

“You seem to have good dexterity? Reina, would you be interested in learning to cook?”

At Theodore’s suggestion, Reina blinked and looked at him as if she hadn’t expected it at all.

“Cooking?”

“Yes. I was thinking of teaching you various things whenever you have free time in the afternoons, what do you think?”

“I’d love to!”

Seeing Reina’s happy response, Theodore felt a smile naturally forming.

‘The more I see, the more I realize she’s a good child. To make such a good child unable to endure and force her to run away, William, you truly are nothing but a pile of waste that doesn’t help anyone.’

Yuria sincerely loved and cherished her younger sister, Lilia.

She had felt that her sister, who used to follow her well and call her ‘sister’ in childhood, had begun to treat her coldly at some point, and even looked at her with eyes full of love and hate, containing a strange resentment.

Though she thought it might be due to adolescence, she still felt bitterness every day.

‘A child even younger than my sister is suffering from emotional wounds today as well.’

And for some reason, her gaze kept going to Reina.

Apart from the fact that she was likely Theodore’s blood sister, it was probably because she felt heartbroken over the misfortunes experienced by a girl younger than her own sister Lilia.

As she watched Reina eating the stew Theodore had made with enjoyment, Yuria took a bite of one of the sandwiches Reina had made and spoke in a slightly admiring tone.

“This is delicious.”

“I’m glad. I’m really happy that Sister Yuria says it’s delicious.”

Seeing Reina’s bright smile, Yuria felt her own mood brightening as well.

“You made them well.”

Theodore also evaluated after trying one of the sandwiches.

“With Brother Theodore saying that too… hehe~ It was worth the effort.”

Reina, who had been giving off a gloomy atmosphere, was now smiling brightly and showing happiness like a girl her age.

Yuria felt that Theodore’s gaze towards Reina seemed complex.

However, she considered it fortunate that he felt affection for Reina.

‘Unlike the people of House Artin… especially that William, Reina has done nothing wrong.’

It was painful to see an innocent girl suffering and being tormented because of the sins and atrocities of her family members that she herself had not committed.

Therefore, Yuria wished for Reina to always smile brightly and be happy, and also hoped that the relationship between Theodore and Reina would continue well.

“Um, Sister Yuria.”

After finishing the meal, Reina carefully asked Yuria.

“Yes, Reina. What is it?”

Yuria made an effort to use the kindest tone she could manage.

Though Yuria, who wasn’t particularly sociable with others, only had Ashley who had approached her first as a close friend, she had treated her younger sister Lilia with affection and adoration since her birth, so it wasn’t difficult for her to speak in a kind tone towards Reina as well.

“Were you not wearing your uniform today, Sister Yuria?”

At Reina’s question, Yuria looked at her own attire somewhat embarrassedly.

She was still wearing her usual white t-shirt and black leather hot pants.

Today, being the first day of classes at Minst Academy, she should have worn the uniform, but she had continued to wear the clothes she had changed into for her duel with Owen Lawrence, the top second-year student of Minst Academy’s Swordsmanship Department, from the first class.

“I did wear it. But it was uncomfortable to move in that outfit, so I changed into this.”

Reina nodded at Yuria’s words.

“I see.”

Though she didn’t speak at length, she seemed to understand well what aspects Yuria found uncomfortable.

“Still, it’s just my personal wish, but I was hoping to see Sister Yuria in the Minst Academy uniform, so it’s a bit disappointing.”

Seeing Reina’s disappointed expression, Yuria unconsciously glanced at Theodore.

‘Ugh.’

At this realization, Yuria felt a rush of embarrassment.

Though there was nothing particularly to be embarrassed about, what was the cause of this sudden embarrassment?

It felt like she was thinking about what clothes he might want to see her in…

“Sister Yuria?”

“Ah, Reina. Sorry. I was just thinking for a moment. Yes, you said you wanted to see me in the Minst Academy uniform, right?”

Yuria quickly emerged from her thoughts and smiled kindly.

“Yes, but if you don’t like it, you don’t have to force yourself…”

“No, it’s fine. I wore it this morning, and I’ll have occasions to wear it in the future anyway. I’ll go put it on right away.”

Yuria immediately stood up and said to Theodore.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

“Alright.”

With Theodore nodding lightly behind her, Yuria hurriedly ran towards her lodgings. Then, after changing back into the uniform she had taken off earlier, she felt that the emptiness of the short skirt still seemed unfamiliar and returned to Theodore’s lodging.

“Wow~”

Reina exclaimed in admiration at the sight of Yuria in her uniform.

Having seen countless reactions of people admiring her appearance, Yuria was both indifferent to and accustomed to someone expressing admiration while looking at her.

But now, Reina’s admiration seemed to be thinking of something beyond just admiring her appearance.

“It really suits you well, Sister.”

“Thanks.”

Yuria was curious about what Reina was thinking as she looked at the uniform, but she helped her observe quietly.

“As expected, Sister Yuria seems too precious for any man other than Brother Theodore.”

“Pardon?”

“Brother Theodore, you’ll continue to take good care of Sister Yuria like this, preparing meals and always looking after her, won’t you?”

“Of course I will.”

Theodore could be seen nodding and giving her his attention.

“I’d feel uncomfortable if I didn’t take good care of Lady Yuria.”

“Yes, that’s all I needed to hear.”

Yuria sensed what Reina was thinking and felt awkward.

Right now, she seemed to be thinking of Yuria and Theodore as a perfectly matched couple, wishing for their happiness.

It seemed that her request to wear the uniform was to see them standing side by side with Theodore, who was also in uniform, giving off the impression of a second-year student couple.

‘Lord Theodore has only recently become kind…’

As Reina smiled brightly and thought of her and Theodore’s relationship as a harmonious, loving couple, Yuria couldn’t bring herself to mention that until they came to Minst Academy, they had disliked each other and had an indifferent relationship.

‘W-what should I do?’

She remembered all the romance books Ashley had given her, saying they would help with her engagement.

She had reluctantly read some of them at Ashley’s pleading, but the content that came to mind now was all useless for the current situation.

‘It doesn’t help…’

That reading experience wasn’t helping her at all right now.