Chapter 5: Similar Siblings and Moderately Similar Siblings
There was a knock on the door.
When Vivian said, “Come in,” the door opened and her brother Ernest entered.
“Ah, Lady Claudia, youâre here. Perfect timingâI bought some sweets, so please have some if youâd like.”
“Thank you for having me, and for the sweets.”
Ernest handed the paper bag to a maid and gave her instructions before approaching the table.
“May I join you?”
“Of course, we donât mind, right?”
Vivian said, and Claudia nodded in agreement.
“Yes, of course. Werenât you working today?”
“I was kicked out of the office for working too much.”
He worked as a civil official at the royal castle, a place that was always busy, and yet he was still thrown out for overworkingâtruly the mark of a workaholic.
As soon as he sat down, tea was promptly served.
He thanked the maid before taking a sip.
They really were similar siblings.
With their hazel-colored hair and amber eyes, they had a gentle color palette, and their facial features were soft as well.
Perhaps their hair texture was similar too, as both had softly wavy hair.
Their slightly drooping eyes added to their gentle atmosphere.
Standing side by side like this, it was immediately clear they were siblings.
In contrast, Claudia thought about her own siblings.
Their eye colors were all different.
Her brother Robert had blue eyes, Claudia had violet eyes, and her younger sister Sylvia had purple eyes.
Their hair colors were different tooâher brother and sister both had straight black hair, while Claudiaâs was a deep dark brown with a slight wave.
Her brother had somewhat sharp eyes, but his androgynous features softened the impression.
Her sister had long, narrow eyes that gave a cool impression, and a voice like the ringing of a bell, resulting somehow in an overall impression of cuteness.
As for Claudia, she had similarly narrow eyes, but hers were slightly upturned, giving others the impression that she was strong-willed.
When any two of them stood together, they didnât look very alike, but when all three stood together, they somehow clearly looked like siblings.
Perhaps the similarities and differences between them fit together in a strange harmony when all three were present.
“Claudia, is something wrong?”
Vivian tilted her head slightly as she asked.
“Oh, Iâm sorry. I was just thinking how similar you two are. Compared to that, people donât really say my siblings and I look alike.”
When she said that honestly, Ernest looked puzzled while Vivian nodded in understanding.
“Not alike? Is that so? If you say that, Robert might cry.”
“When all three of us stand together, we somehow look like siblings, but when itâs just two of us, we donât resemble each other much.”
“Thatâs true. When itâs just two of you, the contrasting features stand out more.”
“I see, now that you mention it. Itâs probably because each of you is so distinctive that those traits draw attention.”
He complimented them so naturally.
It wasnât flatteryâit was simply his nature.
“Thank you.”
“Itâs the truth.”
“Brother, how is it that youâre not popular?”
Vivian said with a sigh.
“Someone this charming isnât popular?”
That was strange.
“Exactly.”
“I had a fiancĂŠe, so there was no need to be popular.”
Ernest said with a wry smile.
“Your workaholic nature must cancel everything else out.”
“Or perhaps itâs because you donât attend many parties, so few people get the chance to see your charm?”
“Ah, that might be it. Just like Claudia?”
Vivian smiled mischievously.
“It would be rude to compare me to him.”
“No, it would be rude to compare me to you. Lady Claudia is charming.”
Vivian burst into laughter.
“You and Claudia are more alike, Brother. The only thing we share is our coloring.”
“What? Thatâs not true at all. Your features and atmosphere are alike, and youâre both kind and wonderful.”
Surprised, Claudia spoke her thoughts aloud without thinking.
“Youâre the only one who calls me kind, Claudia.”
“Iâve never been called kind either.”
That was strange.
Both Vivian and Ernest were kindâperhaps people simply hadnât noticed.
What a waste.
“Then everyone else is missing out.”
“Iâm satisfied as long as you think so, Claudia.”
“So am I.”
“You truly are similar siblings after all.”
They were nothing like Claudiaâs own siblings.
Their appearances only somewhat resembled each other, but their personalities were even less alike.
Well, perhaps the intensity with which they focused on something when interested was quite similar.
In that case, perhaps their personalities were somewhat alike after all.
“I canât win against you, Lady Claudia.”
“Indeed.”
The siblings wore identical smiles.