… Huh, perhaps it"s like that?

The afternoon after Crown Prince Maximilian"s failed kidnapping attempt happened.
Having given the permission to my little sister who wanted to stay in the office I worked zealously, but I felt like the type of fleeting glances my little sister directed at Freed changed.

"Oi, don"t flirt in front of your family"

My little sister is gazing shyly yet ardently at Freed.
Aware of that gaze from quite a while ago Freed seems happy, as he"s continuing working while looking down his mouth is slackening over and over again.

Oi oi, how good.

As I was astonished, perhaps unable to endure anymore Freed raised his face and met eyes with my little sister.
Locking eyes with each other… they broke into smiles. As both of them chuckled with an unknown meaning, I, who should have a normal nerve, felt like falling prostrate.

… What"s with this lovebirds s.p.a.ce!

I think I"m absolutely not in the wrong to interject while they stare at each other with such a vigor so pa.s.sionate that it feels their hearts would fly at each other. It"s impossibly difficult to be here!

"Isn"t it absurd. Flirting like this"

My little sister turned her gaze to me as if wanting to say what are you saying. It"s completely different from what she directed at her fiancé, her eyes were so cold I wanted to sigh.

I see, she"s not aware yet.

She can flirt to that extent and not even notice, of course she wouldn"t notice Will"s feelings.
That dull little sister doesn"t doubt Freed"s feelings… Well, being attentively embraced with all his might there"s nothing but to believe. Freed seems to spare no words, when it"s put into words as expected my little sister understands. It"s just making my little sister understand without saying anything that"s impossible.
Besides, with its aim set at her body, Freed"s love is too heavy. They"re hidden well, but the large amount of possession marks that sometimes flicker on her neck makes it clear.
I"ve heard she"s made to try too hard, just how obsessed is he. My little sister is unaware it"s on the level where she would absolutely run away if she didn"t love him.
But it"s Freed. He already has zero intention of letting my little sister go.

My little sister surely didn"t notice the complicated face Will made a while ago. As Will said he"ll send her back, my little sister clearly chose to stay with Freed.
The result is as it looks. A mushy sweet s.p.a.ce that"s tough for the third person was created.

I gave up on saying anything else since it"d be useless and decided to quietly continue my work.
The processing speed of Freed who"s in good mood is almost twice his normal. While thinking it makes sense to place my little sister here for that alone, I decided to not look next to me as much as possible.

… I"ve never felt time pa.s.s so slowly before.

Next day.

I found my little sister hiding behind a pillar in a corridor.

I was suspicious of what was doing, but when I saw it was Freed who was in my little sister"s eyes, I became convinced. It"s obvious she"s secretly peeking at him as to not be noticed. Naturally I suppose Freed noticed, probably he finds my little sister stealing glimpses at him cute. He may be trying to hide it, but his face completely broke into a smile.

Explode.

… For my peace of mind let"s not get involved with those lovebirds. Thinking so, I thought of making a U-turn, when I was discovered by my little sister.
With our eyes perfectly meeting, reluctantly I walked towards my little sister. On that occasion I looked at Freed to see him return to the office with an unamused face.

"Lidi"

When I called out to her, my little sister made a face like she was seen in an awkward place.

"… Older Brother, what might you be doing here?"
"Just collecting some materials. What, you were peeking at Freed from behind a pillar. Perhaps, you"ve finally realized you love him?"

I meant it as a joke. After all I had the same impression yesterday.
I absolutely didn"t think my little sister would become aware of it in a single day. And yet ――――.

"How… how do you know that?"

I was surprised by how my little sister flushed in agitation.

"I meant it as a joke but… Seriously. And? Did you tell Freed?"
"No way!"

My little sister reflexively denied my words.

"This is absolutely a secret! Older Brother, don"t say anything unnecessary!"
"Haa? What are you saying. Even though it"s a mutual love. Confess quickly. You too know Freed has always been waiting"
"Be… because"

I can"t understand my little sister who hung her head while still blus.h.i.+ng.
If she finally realized she loves him, she should tell it to Freed. After falling in love with my little sister Freed has always been desperately trying to win her heart.
If he hears those words, he"ll surely be delighted. Even my little sister should know that.
And yet, why.

"I still… don"t know…"
"Ha?"

I scowled at my mumbling little sister.
She spoke resolutely.

"So I thought I love him, but I don"t know whether that"s truly love. Until I verify it, I can"t carelessly say it"
"Oi wait, Lidi. Why did words "truly love" come out"
"Because, I might be under the wrong impression"
"Wrong impression?"

I don"t understand what my little sister is saying, as I pressed her to explain, she began speaking in a mutter.
The contents are jaw dropping. Honestly, how the h.e.l.l did it come to this.

"Suspension bridge effect? What"s that"

It"s the first time I"m hearing of the effect my little sister is insisting on.
And yet my little sister looks surprised that I don"t know. No, is that really common knowledge?
When I tilted my head, with resignation my little sister started talking about the suspension bridge effect.

"So, when you"re crossing a suspension bridge your heart beats fast, right? When emotions are in such an excited state, it says that people easily fall in love"
"… Haa"

I see. I can understand what she"s saying.
But why does my little sister know such words. That"s the biggest question.

"And?"
"So when I got saved from Crown Prince Maximilian my emotions too were in the excited state… Um, I wonder if that"s not truly love… but just being swallowed up by the atmosphere of that moment"
"…"

I really wanted to sigh.
There"s no way it"s like that. In the first place, she might have just realized, but my little sister fell in love with Freed from the start. Just because she brings up something nonsensical like the suspension bridge effect there"s no way I"d agree.
Even prerequisites are different.

"You… listen"

This talk is too exhausting. Unconsciously I pressed my forehead.
Frankly, I feel a little sorry for Freed.
How did she come up with such a distorted idea. Why can"t she honestly notice she"s in love.

"Ah, I see…"

The timing when she realized was bad for my little sister. Certainly, in a situation when you"re saved from danger it"s easy to fall in love. In my little sister"s case, at that time her unconscious feelings must"ve surfaced in one go.
As the result of the too perfect timing, even if she realized she loves Freed she can"t believe those are her true feelings.
I let out a large sigh.

"And? What will you do?"

When I asked my little sister while growing tired, she returned that she"ll verify it with a serious face.
Apparently until the wedding ceremony she intends to face herself thoroughly.
For the time being, it seems if her current feelings continue until then she"s ready to recognize her love, Freed will be led by the nose like this, in my thoughts I pressed my hands in prayer for him.

Sorry, Freed. I can"t stop my little sister.
The wedding ceremony is in a few months, wait a little more.

"Older Brother, don"t tell Freed unnecessary things"
"Who"d tell him. I don"t want to disturb other people"s romance. So? Until your feelings are settled how will you call Freed in your thoughts?"

As a minor hara.s.sment I asked that my little sister, who despite being aware of being in love acted like she didn"t recognize it.
When I said that my little sister blushed and bashfully spoke.

"… Beloved (provisional)"
"Oi!"

What"s with provisional in parentheses! Provisional in parentheses!
Moreover she showed a satisfied face at the end. I don"t understand anymore.
What my little sister is thinking is really incomprehensible.
How could she come up with such a distorted name for the other party.
Provisional in parentheses…
I got a throbbing headache. This is anxiety, no doubt.
Once again I gave up on understanding my little sister.
Even though I"d wanted to ask my little sister various questions, I stopped feeling like it, drained of energy in one go.

Sorry, Freed. My little sister is like that, but please treat her well…

Freed who can declare he loves such an incomprehensible little sister is really a great guy, I respect the lord I should serve from the bottom of my heart.