Childcare Diaries

Chapter 116

Appearance of the Female Lead (2)

The four of them went into a nearby secluded cafe and sat down.

Marie watched in amazement as Barry and Vianna chose the menu sweetly.

‘When did he grow up and start dating like this…’

Barry, who had been a small boy when she first met him, was now of a similar build to Kentrail. His hand, which used to find it difficult to hold the longsword, was big enough to protect someone.

“What would you like to drink, sister?”

His words made her press her stinging eyes, and Marie chose a coffee from the menu. Kentrail also ordered from the same menu.

Vianna glanced curiously at the two in front of her eyes.

‘This is Barry’s older sister… so is this the famous Count next to her?’

The Count, who had served as the chancellor of a country and was instrumental in changing the King, had an extraordinary atmosphere. As she was in the world of swordsmanship, she thought she was immune to most people’s energy, but she wasn’t.

“Did you say your name was Vianna?”

A sweet voice flowed from her boyfriend’s older sister, who was sitting next to the Count.

“Yes, yes!”

Perhaps because she was nervous, her words stuttered. Vianna bit her lower lip with her teeth.

‘…I want to look good.’

As time went on, she liked Barry more and more, so she wanted to get along with his family as well.

“I told you not to.”

When Barry quickly pulled her lips, Vianna’s face turned red as she was treated by him in front of Marie.

“…Don’t.”

She stopped Berry in a voice so low that the two in front couldn’t hear it.

‘Cute.’

Marie laughed at Vianna.

As she heard a laugh, Vianna looked in front of her and she saw Marie’s eyes.

‘Huh? Similar…’

In her eyes, there were similarities between Marie and Barry. The corners of their eyes folded into crescent curves as he and his sister laughed.

‘So cute…’

Vianna, who liked Barry’s eye smile the most, liked Marie even more. Meanwhile, Just when they thought each other was cute, Kentrail opened his mouth.

“Was it because of your girlfriend that you didn’t come back to the mansion last vacation?”

Barry had never returned to the mansion during vacation, so Marie was worried that maybe something was going on.

“Yes…”

He had to be separated when he returned to the mansion, as Vianna lived in the Capital after staying in another province. That was why he stayed in school.

“I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Marie.”

When Kentrail’s question seemed to freeze the atmosphere too much, Marie changed the subject.

“You’re dating Barry, right?”

“Yes…”

This fresh couple, who seemed to have just been dating, made her blush and she was at a loss. This kind of question seemed unfamiliar.

“May I ask how long you have known him?”

“That… well. About ten months old.”

Marie was surprised by the time that was longer expected because her brother had never said anything like that in the letters. He had hidden it thoroughly like this. As she felt betrayed for nothing, the feelings disappeared soon after.

“You were at the same academy, so… you had known each other all along?”

“No.”

This time, Barry answered Marie.

“It’s not…?”

“Yes. I took a long break from school. That’s why I don’t know about people in other classes, and if our classes don’t overlap, I don’t pay much attention.”

At those words, Marie put on an even more questioning expression.

So, how did the two of them meet? In the first place, it was strange and surprising that Vianna had a relationship with Barry, not Siege.

“I…I fell for him first.”

When Vianna confessed with a blushing face, Barry blushed just as much. Hers had been red before, but now it was more.

Seeing that, Marie wondered how a person’s face could turn so red.

“Where have you seen Barry?”

With Marie’s question, the girl in front of her nodded her head although the answer came from Barry.

“A long time ago, I accompanied Lord Taylor to help with security.”

At the request of the capital guard, several knights were hired from the Count’s family. It wasn’t that dangerous, so Barry, who was just an apprentice knight, followed.

“At that time, a little child was being threatened by his brother, so I saved him.”

“No way…”

“That’s right, that’s Vianna.”

Marie was startled.

Even though she didn’t remember it anymore, it reminded her of how the heroine in the original story had a depressing childhood because of her family.

“At that time, thanks to Barry who rescued me and told the guards, my mother’s family found out that I was being abused by my parents’ family, and they took me to my mother’s family.”

As far as she knew, Vianna lived in her parents’ house. Then, just as she changed Brielle’s fate, Barry also changed Vianna’s fate.

“I see…”

“Yes, but my first confession was rejected.”

“What?”

Marie asked, her eyes widening.

“No, why was that brought up… forget it.”

Barry held back Vianna, but she continued to speak her mind. It seemed that she was quite resentful that her first confession was rejected.

“I went with the Knights with him to get help, and when we parted ways, I asked if I could keep in touch. I was very courageous… Then, well, he said he wanted a woman stronger than him, so he rejected me. Because of that, I thought, if I surpass him with my skills someday, will he accept me?”

After hearing the two of them talk, Marie slapped Kentrail on the arm and laughed. These were words they could only say because they were young.

“I will never forget the day I entered the swordsmanship academy and saw Barry… I vowed to one day overwhelm him with my skills. I passed him by in the hallway a few times, and he didn’t remember me at all.”

Listening to Vianna’s story, Barry bowed his head like a guilty person.

“I was afraid that he would be wary of my skills, so I devoted myself to swordsmanship training while hiding my real skills.”

“Why are you hiding it?”

Barry grumbled.

“And just when I felt like I was going to surpass Barry, I challenged him to a duel.”

“…I thought the letter was a confession letter.”

Kentrail, who was listening to the two’s story with interest, asked.

“So, who won?”

“I did. So, I told him to keep his promise.”

“And then?”

Marie looked at the two, her eyes shining.

“He can’t even remember the promise.”

At Viana’s words, she looked at her brother in disappointment. If Kentrail and her had made such a promise, she would have been quite upset if she hadn’t remembered.

“It was too much, Barry.”

“Sister, it was when I was very young… but I remembered it later.”

“You have to be very nice to Vianna from now on.”

Marie sided with Vianna and berated Barry.

“I was going to…”

Looking at the depressed Berry, she smiled happily.

“Then, will you allow us?”

Vianna asked, gazing at Marie just like a squirrel’s black eyes twinkling in front of an acorn.

“Of course. I have no reason to object.”

“Wow…”

Vianna must be in a good mood, she stared at her at a loss. Marie looked at her and smiled once, then turned her gaze to Barry.

‘I’m glad you met a nice person, too.’

The four of them drank tea happily.

* * *

The graduation hall was crowded with many people. Marie stood looking at Barry, surrounded by his friends. He must have made many friends, and there were many who exchanged greetings with him.

“Suddenly, he’s graduating like this…”

“I know.”

Kentrail said, thinking of little Barry when he used to stroke his hair.

It seemed like it hadn’t been long since he couldn’t head to the academy easily because he was worried about Marie and Ellie. But now, he was already having his graduation ceremony like this… It was fortunate that Barry was able to graduate safely like this.

“I can’t even stroke his hair anymore.”

Kentrail felt both admirable and regretful about having Barry as big as himself, just like Brielle’s growth.

Marie laughed at his words.

“Still, he’ll be waiting for the Count’s praise the most. Barry respects you very much.”

At those words, Kentrail averted his gaze when respect was mentioned from her mouth. It was because he was embarrassed.

He was more of a shy person than she thought.

Marie smiled at him and turned her head to look for Siege. It seemed that he was also celebrating his graduation with Barry’s shoulder to shoulder. When she met Siege’s eyes, she waved her hand, and he also nodded his head and greeted her.

He was holding a flower he had given her.

‘…His face shines brighter than flowers.’

As expected of the male lead, Marie admired him inside. Through Barry, she heard how well Siege was doing, so she was no longer worried as he was heading down another path of his own.

“Sister!”

“Marie…!”

Even Ellie and Brielle, who had a belated departure from the mansion, arrived to congratulate Barry’s graduation.

Marie looked at the children anxiously to see if they were motion sick.

“Did you ride the carriage too long?”

“It was fine. We deliberately chose a carriage with less impact.”

That was the reason the children came late was because the carriage was too small for everyone to ride together.

“I’ll say hello to brother.”

After talking to Marie, Ellie led Brielle to the place where Barry was. When she called Barry and Siege, the two of them walked towards her and Brielle. Ellie put on a mischievous face, and she patted Barry and Siege on the shoulder once.

“Let’s have a family picture after Barry’s graduation ceremony.”

Kentrail also talked to Marie while watching the children.

“A family picture?”

“Yes, we used to do that. After graduation, we all get together and take a picture to commemorate it.”

“I see.”

“Yes, so that we can look at it whenever we miss this moment in the future.”

“That’s great.”

Marie and Kentrail gazed at each other and smiled. Now, it was a smile that resembled each other, full of happiness.