The special gel made by the Shuumatsuban worked very well, but it was just too sticky.
It wasn't easy to remove.
Fortunately, it had a time limit—after a day, the stickiness would disappear and it would come off on its own.
To avoid causing any commotion, before removing it from her chest, little Ayaka could only keep the wig and clothes on for the time being.
So right now, little Ayaka was still in the state of being Lady Ayako.
And in the evening, it was one of the rare relaxed times at the Kamisato residence.
Except for the occasional absence of Father due to official duties, most of the time the family would gather together to do the same things.
Things like playing chess, drawing illustrations, or just lying around letting their minds go blank...
"Tonight, the old uncle should come, right?"
Little Ayako stepped outside the room and saw the old uncle talking with Father.
Lady Ayako only felt that her current situation was a bit strange.
She wanted to go see the old uncle, but at the same time didn't dare to.
Perhaps it could be called a momentary impulse?
But how should she put it...
"The innocence and beauty of a cute child are the most precious supreme treasures in this world!
I will absolutely not allow such a child to sell off the purest part of childhood for the so-called interests of your Kamisato family."
An emotion free of interests, a genuine feeling?
Lady Ayako looked at her mother behind her—who was reading a light novel—and her adorable little sister.
She clearly knew that this kind of emotion existed between herself and her family.
Could such an emotion happen toward someone outside her own family?
If it was that old uncle...
Little Ayako looked at herself in the mirror...
Someone who looks like this...
Should count as a cute child, right?
Lady Ayako began to tidy her hair. Although it was a wig, it actually felt real.
Then she took small running steps out the door.
"Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou, leave the rest to me. You just focus on preparing to advise Her Excellency the Shogun."
"Mm, alright. Don't forget to let Sayu sleep more on normal days—kids grow taller when they get plenty of sleep."
After her own father saw the old uncle out the door and closed it, Lady Ayako finally called out to the old uncle who was about to take off.
"Cid Kagerou-san, wait! There's something I want to tell you."
The old uncle stopped the wind field he had started for takeoff and looked at Lady Ayako—who had a slightly flushed face—with mild puzzlement.
"What is it? Go ahead and say it."
"Actually..."
Lady Ayako let out a sigh from the bottom of her heart, and finally spoke the words that Father didn't want her to say.
"The title of Shura Anyakonsen-shou for you was spread by my father. He told me not to say it, but I still want to tell you."
"Is that so... I was wondering how such a chuuni-sounding title of mine got around."
The old uncle's tone held no anger; instead, there was a sense of relief.
"Then why are you telling me? Didn't you say your father told you not to?"
To this question, little Ayaka didn't even need to think before answering directly.
"Because the old uncle is a good person. I don't want the relationship between you and me to be entangled with too many things related to interests."
After hearing this answer, the old uncle smiled very happily.
"Is that so...?"
But then his expression turned hesitant. In the end, this was what the old uncle said.
"Since you've put it that way, then I can only forgive your Kamisato family, hm...
Also, Kamisato Ayako-san is a cute child too."
Lady Ayako no longer remembered exactly how the old uncle left afterward. At the time, she only clearly remembered the old uncle acknowledging her words...
By the time she came back to her senses, she was already waving goodbye as the old uncle departed.
And her own father was standing right beside her.
"Father?"