Chapter 202 - Windsor and Spring
Windsor's Perspective:
A few months after my little sisters' birthdays, spring arrived.
I woke up early, got dressed, washed up, and waited at the dining table for breakfast.
Red Mama isn't here today...
About every three days, Red Mama has one morning where she skips sword practice.
But this morning, Summer Mama is here.
She came out of her room, saw me, and smiled.
"Windsor~ good morning!"
"Good morning, Summer Mama."
Summer Mama smiled and pulled out the chair across from me to sit down.
After the maids finished making breakfast, I noticed someone was still missing.
Where's Dog Sister...?
She usually helps make breakfast in the mornings too.
Summer Mama seemed to notice where I was looking and spoke up.
"Windsor? What are you looking for?"
"...Where's Pursena?"
"Ah~ her~"
Summer Mama made a strange smile.
Then she took a sip of milk and said, "Pursena isn't feeling well, she's resting. Don't go bother her, little Windsor, okay?"
"Oh..."
If she's sick, there's nothing to be done about it.
Father did say Beastmen have very strong bodies, but Dog Sister always seemed pretty ordinary in that department, so getting sick wasn't strange.
I stopped thinking about it. After finishing breakfast, I went to practice swords.
-------
Today's teacher is Aunt Ghislaine.
When I arrived at the yard, she was already waiting.
"Good morning, Aunt Ghislaine."
"Oh! Good morning, Windsor."
"........"
Noticing my gaze, Aunt Ghislaine stepped closer.
Aunt Ghislaine is a cat, so her tail is different from Dog Sister's. It's not as smooth when I touch it, a bit stiff, actually. The ears are about the same though.
After petting Aunt Ghislaine for a few minutes, we started training.
-------
Aunt Ghislaine's teaching is much easier to understand than Red Mama's or Grandpa's.
In sparring she helps me find my weak points, and when she explains things out loud, I can follow along.
Red Mama can only teach through sparring. When she tries to explain, I can't understand her.
Grandpa... I can't understand him either way, sparring or words.
"Hmm. You've made a lot of progress."
"Really?"
"Mm. Be more confident. Your mother hadn't even picked up a sword at your age."
"Red Mama?"
"Mm. She didn't start until she was nine. You're only six now."
"I'll be seven soon."
Aunt Ghislaine nodded and told me to rest.
We sat on the lawn together, the spring breeze drifting over us.
Then, out of nowhere, Aunt Ghislaine said, "Spring has arrived."
"Is something wrong with spring?"
"...How is Pursena doing?"
"Summer Mama said she's sick, resting in her room."
Aunt Ghislaine glanced at me.
Then she smiled. "Mm. Then let her rest."
-------
By noon, my little sisters, Father, and the Mamas had all come downstairs.
The whole family ate lunch together.
...Dog Sister still hasn't eaten anything. Is she okay?
I could see the other two maids had already prepared a meal for her, but they hadn't taken it up...
Ugh. If your body is weak, you should still eat.
After lunch, I caught Father before he left.
"Father."
"Hm?"
"Can Father heal Pursena? If she's not feeling well, couldn't you use healing magic? That should fix it, right?"
"Heal her? Ah... mm, it's not that Father doesn't want to. Her condition is..."
Father started stammering. Then Summer Mama walked over with a smile and patted my head.
"Pursena is just a little uncomfortable. Healing magic can't help with this one."
"I see..."
"Mm. Windsor doesn't need to worry. She'll be better in about two weeks."
Father nodded along with Summer Mama's words.
But still. Something felt... a little off.
-------
"Windsor, you're not coming?"
"I'll practice a bit more."
"Well then, can't be helped!"
I turned down Red Mama's invitation to go into town. My little sisters, the Mamas, and Father all headed out shopping while I stayed in the yard to keep sparring with Aunt Ghislaine.
After another hour, Aunt Ghislaine said, "Time to rest."
"Okay... Aunt Ghislaine, did you eat lunch?"
"I did. Your father treats me very well, I can eat whatever I want."
"Oh..."
I went inside and toweled off the sweat.
When I passed by the dining table, one serving of lunch was still sitting there untouched.
The maids should have eaten by now. Aunt Ghislaine and Aunt Aisha had both eaten.
That only left... Dog Sister.
Hmm.
When your body is weak, eating properly matters even more.
With that thought, I picked up the lunch tray and headed upstairs.
The maids live on the third floor. Guests on the second. We live on the first.
I climbed to the third floor and found Dog Sister's room.
Just as I got close, I heard strange sounds from inside.
Strange, but... that was Dog Sister's voice.
She sounded... like she was in a lot of pain.
Is she really just not feeling well?
I walked to the door and knocked.
From inside came a flurry of panicked sounds.
"Eh?! Uh, who is it?"
"It's me. I brought lunch for Pursena. How are you feeling?"
"Windsor...? Ah... mm... I'm better now, desu!"
"What happened just now, Pursena? Your voice sounded like you were in pain."
"You heard that?! No! It's nothing, Windsor! Y-you... just, just leave the food at the door, desu..."
......
Why is everyone acting so strange today...
Mm. Red Mama always says: seeing is believing.
I pushed the door open.
Dog Sister...
She...
"Wi — Wi — Wi — Windsor?! Um, I-I-I was just changing clothes... th-this..."
Dog Sister had only a single thin piece of clothing on. Nothing below the waist. One hand was still gripping her own tail.
Her cheeks were deeply flushed, and her face looked wet somehow.
There was a strange smell in the room.
I stepped inside.
"Pursena, are you still not better?"
"I, I'm better, desu! Windsor... please... get out, I, I..."
"You look like you're suffering. Can I help Pursena?"
"At least wait until you're older, okay?! I, I, Windsor, get out quickly!"
"...Do you really not need me?"
"I don't need you! Thank you for worrying, little Windsor! But right now... I really don't, desu!"
In the end, Dog Sister chased me out.
...Such a strange feeling.
The Dog Sister just now was completely different from usual. None of that normal cuteness anywhere.
Instead it was another kind... a different kind of...
I didn't know how to put it into words.
Just as I stepped out, her voice came through the door.
"Windsor..."
"Here."
"This... you absolutely cannot tell your father and mothers. They'll send me away, desu..."
"Okay. I won't tell."
"Just... just treat it... as our secret, desu..."
"Mm. What did Pursena mean earlier, about waiting until I grow up? When I'm grown up, will I be able to help you?"
Silence from inside the room.
After a long moment, Dog Sister's voice came through.
"If... if Windsor grows up and doesn't find me... beneath her..."
"I definitely won't find Pursena beneath me. When I'm grown up, if you're suffering, come find me."
"...Understood, desu..."
After confirming that Dog Sister really was just feeling physically unwell, my mood lifted considerably.
➤ Next: By the Pond