Ch.4: My Weirdo Family

The next day Kuroka and Shirone found their young miss in the garden, crouching down on her knees, plucking flowers with a dark cloud hovering above her head as they heard her murmur, "I'm screwed. I'm screwed." She kept repeating those words, causing both maids to become worried.

"Ojou-sama has been like this since this morning. Even during breakfast, which made the madam burst into tears," whispered Kuroka, recalling when the countess rushed over to her daughter, tears bursting from her eyes, engulfing her daughter in a hug.

"Not good, we must cheer-up ojou-sama." Shirone's face grew serious as if this was a grave emergency. Meanwhile, Maria was unaware of everyone's concern for her wellbeing as she sighed and pointed her big emerald eyes towards the clear blue sky.

'Is there really no other way I can save the archduchess?' contemplated Maria.

"Ojou-sama, how about you try some dessert to cheer you up?" The one who made this suggestion was Shirone, and upon hearing the word dessert, Maria’s sour mood instantly began to dissipate.

"Sweets are definitely the thing I need if I'm going to get through this. Kuroka! Shirone! Let's head to the kitchen!" announced Maria, making her way to the kitchen with her two maids running after her.

Only what was supposed to be a simple relaxing activity turned into their young miss barging into the kitchen, tying a pink frilly apron around her waist, and piling ingredients on the counter. Her actions not only stunned her two maids but also the kitchen pâtissier who was only brought out of his stupor when he saw the young miss reach for the large sharp knife.

"Ojou-sama! A young girl like yourself shouldn't go picking up sharp items. Please allow me to assist you," the man pleaded, removing the knife from the young girl's hands.

Turning to look at the person who removed the knife from her hands, Maria saw a handsome young man, who looked to be in his early twenties, standing next to her. "Okay, but could I please help you make macarons, please?" politely asked Maria.

This complete change in attitude completely caught the young pâtissier off guard. He was so used to the young miss demanding for him to make sweets for her. Never, since Lance started working for the Rosedrey House, had the young miss been so polite to him. Instead of a haughty sneer, she now smiled cutely up at him.

"U-Umm... Sure. Let's get started." The young man was still wary, staring at all the ingredients that were laid out on the counter. Each was necessary for making the macarons that she had requested.

In no time, the two set off to work, and for some reason, Lance was enjoying himself. Adding his assistance whenever she was having trouble, he was thankful when the young miss did not snap at him. If anything, she was grateful for his help.

Taking a glance at the young miss, who stood on a stool next to him, he found her adorable; no matter what task she was doing, she was always humming some type of song while wearing a cute smile on her face. 'I don't know when the ojou-sama changed so much, but I'm not complaining.' Lance definitely did not miss the bossy and arrogant little miss who used to order him around like her personal slave.

Maria was so engrossed with her macarons that she missed when her father peered into the kitchen, only to freeze when he saw the sight of his daughter. His eyes were glued to her small figure, wearing an adorable pink apron, dancing in front of the oven while they waited for the macarons to finish.

When he saw her chatting with the kitchen pâtissier, wearing a wide smile on her face, a part of him couldn't help but scowl a little. Earl Rosendrey stood there silently for a good couple minutes, scaring the two maids who were late to take notice of his presence.

Just as they were about to inform their ojou-sama, the man shook his head before walking back to his study. Though, Maria caught a glimpse of his back as he was leaving. 'I wonder why father left? Does he like sweets too?' Maria asked herself.

"Shirone, does father like sweets?" asked Maria.

"Why yes. The master is known for his infamous sweet tooth. The madam is always joking that you inherited your sweet tooth from the master," answered Shirone.

"The master always requests for a dessert after each of his meals," added Lance as Maria soaked in all of this information.

'Who knew that such a cold man had such a sweet tooth... Maybe I should give him some of my macarons.' Maria suddenly felt like sharing some of her desserts with her father.

Once the macarons were finished, Maria placed some in a small plastic bag, tied it with a ribbon, and made her way to her father's study. Once there, she timidly poked her head inside and saw her father at his desk, going over papers. Noticing a presence in the room, Earl Rosendrey set down the stack of papers in his hands and saw his daughter timidly making her way over to him. "Maria, is something wrong?"

The man suddenly grew concerned, seeing how Maria never sought him out. Which was all due to his daughter's fear of him, something that brought pain to his heart. Even though the earl was seen as a strict and harsh man, deep inside he was the opposite when it came to his lovable wife, his smart son, and his adorable daughter.

Though ever since his little girl caught him at a bad time, harshly scolding one of their workers, she grew afraid of him, and his stern expression did not help him win any trust back.

Seeing his only daughter fear him broke his heart, a reason why he kept a safe distance away from her, unable to bear the sight of her being so afraid of him. "I-I made sweets and wanted to give you some." Maria nervously placed the bag of sweets in his hands, before shooting him a small smile.

"I-I really hope you like them, P-Papa!" Even though the original Maria was afraid of her father, the new Maria right now wanted to at least give the man a chance. As she saw the man sitting there, blankly staring at the sweets, she grew nervous. But when she saw tears escape from his eyes, she almost fell backward from shock.

"Papa, are you okay? Should I go get mom?" worriedly asked Maria, who was about to get her mother when she was suddenly engulfed in a tight hug by her father who sobbed like a child.

"This is the first time my sweet Maria has ever given Papa sweets! Papa... is so happy!" Maria stood there dumbfounded; never did she believe there would be a day when she would see a grown man bawl like a child over a few macarons. The image she had of him before shattered into pieces. No longer did she feel any fear directed towards her father.

Turning her head blankly towards the door, she saw peeking their heads into the room were her tearful eyed maids, mother, and even her own brother. "Mommy is so happy that our little cub finally made up with Papa!" cried her over dramatic mother.

"Now father can finally fawn over the real Maria and not the large portrait he has of her that is secretly hidden in his study," smiled her big-brother as this statement caused Maria to whip her head in his direction.

'He has a portrait of me?!' mentally exclaimed Maria, who didn't know how to feel towards this sudden revelation.

"Master, we're so happy for your success! We wish you and ojou-sama a long and happy relationship!" cried Kuroka and Shirone, holding a handkerchief to their teary eyes.

'Oi, you're implying something dangerous there! No matter how hot he is, this man is still my father! Please, don't make it sound so incestuous!' Maria ranted in her mind. As she took notice of her strange new family, she couldn't help but think, 'I'm surrounded by weirdos...'

Later that night as Maria got ready for bed, drifting off into la-la-land, she had this vague feeling that she was forgetting about something. "Oh well, I'll remember it in the morning," mumbled the sleepy girl.