The Girl Who Unknowingly Became Harem Queen! 4 My Weirdo Family

"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 their ojou-sama in a hug.

"Not good, we must cheer-up ojou-sama." s.h.i.+rone'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 looked up towards the sky.

'Is there really no other way I can save the Archd.u.c.h.ess?' Maria mentally asked herself.

"Ojou-sama, how about you try some dessert to cheer you up." The one who made this suggestion was s.h.i.+rone, and upon hearing the word dessert, Maria perked up.

"Sweets are definitely the things I need if I'm going to get through this. Kuroka! s.h.i.+rone! Let's head to the kitchen!" called out Maria, who was already making her way to the kitchen with the two maids running after her. Though, both maids soon found out that what was supposed to be a simple relaxation activity turned into their ojou-sama barging into the kitchen, tying an ap.r.o.n 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 girl reach for the large, sharp knife.

"Ojou-sama! A young girl like yourself shouldn't go picking up sharp items. Please allow me to a.s.sist you." Once the knife was out of her hand, Maria looked up and saw a handsome young man, who looked to be in his early twenties, standing next to her.

"I would like to make S'more Macarons, please," politely asked Maria, whose att.i.tude completely caught the young patissier off guard. He was so used to the young girl demanding for him to make sweets for her. Never, since Lance started working for the Rosendrey family, had the little girl 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 special type of macarons that she had requested. In no time, the two set off to work, and for some reason, Lance was enjoying himself. Adding his a.s.sistance whenever she was having trouble, he was thankful when the little ojou-sama did not snap at him. If anything, she was grateful for his help.

Taking a glance at the little ojou-sama, who stood up 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 little ojou-sama changed so much, but I'm not complaining,' thought Lance, who 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 macaroons that she missed when her father came into the kitchen, only to freeze when he saw the sight before him. His eyes were glued to his daughter who was wearing an adorable pink ap.r.o.n, dancing in front of the oven where they just put the macaroons in. She was chatting with their kitchen patisserie, wearing a wide smile on her face. The man 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 Oto-sama left? Did he maybe want sweets too?' Maria asked herself.

"s.h.i.+rone, does Oto-sama like sweets?" Marisa asked the white-haired neko maid.

"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 s.h.i.+rone.

"The Earl always requests for a dessert after each of his meals," added Lance as Maria soak 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 macaroons.' Maria suddenly felt like sharing some of her desserts with her father. Once the S'more 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 room. Once there, she timidly poked her head inside and saw her father at his desk, going over papers.

Noticing a presence in the room, the Earl 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 completely the opposite, especially 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 t-to give you some." Maria placed the bag of sweets in his hands, before shooting him a small smile. "I-I really hope you l-like them, Otou-sama!" 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 eye, she almost fell backward from shock.

"O-Otou-sama, are you okay? Should I go get okachan?" 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 Marichan 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 macaroons. 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 was her tearful eyed maids, mother, and even her own brother.

"Mommy is so happy that Marichan finally made up with Papa!"

"Now tou-sama can finally fawn over the real Imoto and not the large portrait he has of her that is secretly hidden in his study room."

'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 relations.h.i.+p!" cried Kuroka and s.h.i.+rone, 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 llland, she had this vague feeling that she was forgetting about something.

"Oh well, I'll remember it in the morning," mumbled the sleepy girl.