The Mimosa-esque Family Head

“Thank you Leonardo.”

“!”

She stretched her hand, and tightly grabbed Leonardo’s hand. And then, while looking straight into her eyes, she spoke to him so.

“I’m happy that you’re always with me Leonardo………Really, seriously, it is a godsend.”

“…….?!”

For a moment, it seemed like even Leonardo gulped.

(………I ended up saying my true feelings out loud accidentally. I was so happy from being able to enjoy this forest trip with him that my emotions peaked.)

Worried that she may have swayed from their original plan, she quickly corrected herself within her mind and then looked at Leonardo again.

(perhaps I should also act more adult and mature-like, like Leonardo does?)

But Francesca worries were completely unfounded.

“…………..Aah………….”

He seemed to sigh and pressed down on his forehead, making an expression that was quite rare for Leonardo.

He seemed a bit troubled, yet he looked at her and smiled as if gazing at something very dear. And then, he whispered, in a tone bereft of any kind of lies.

“………I really am no match when it comes to just you after all.”

“?”

Francesca could only tilt her head in confusion, meanwhile Sofia burst out in a cheerful laughter.

“Ahahaha! Not bad, missy. No wonder Ewald and the members always seemed distraught at the mere thought of sending you away as a bride, the Calvino’s young daughter is truly good girl it would seem.”

“no no, that’s not true at all!”

“fufu.”

Sofia rested her chin on her hands as she looked at her teasingly while smoking her cig.

“——–When you helped one of our little sisters by the riverside, you didn’t just leave it all to your attendant, but you yourself came to the other side as well no?”

“!”

Sofia’s eyes were direct, as the stared at Francesca.

“People who are good at using others will always try to learn more about their surroundings. Of course, when the organization gets too big, that gets a lot more difficult but, they’d still work hard to learn more about everyone and everything involved within the organization. Missy, you’ve been doing that veeeery well as well.”

“!? No, no such thing!”

Francesca shook her head to the sides. But as if amused, Sofia continued to analyze Francesca.

“And even afterwards, didn’t Marquis Savini try to pick a fight with your attendant as well? And you came out to the front instantly, and made sure that the Marquis didn’t come up with some ridiculous complaints and cornered him verbally very quickly as well, or so I heard. Not bad, especially when facing an adult like that, eh?”

“That’s not true at all! I simply thought that considering their positions, Graziano would have difficulty talking and explain to Marquis Savini so I simply………!!”

“The fact that you could make that judgement instantly and acted upon it is what I think is a very important quality. I imagine the members of your family also think that way, no?”

Sofia chuckled, and then continued.

“——[We want young miss Francesca to annul her engagement with Aldini, and become the family head herself] or something like that?”

(Whhaaa, how did she……..!?)

She continued to feign a vague smile, but inside, she was at the verge of tears.

(Even though I did my best to act like a normal girl that didn’t know much about the underworld, just so I didn’t get another comment like [You are a member of the underworld down to your very core] and yet!!)

“Hahah, what now Francesca? Looks like she already saw through that you’re not some ordinary girl.”

“Leonardo, you be quiet……!!”

To the teasing whispers of her best friend, she replied back in a low voice as well. Sofia couldn’t have heard them but, she probably sensed Francesca’s troubles regardless.

“Ahaha, sorry young miss. For a woman to inherit their family, it comes with a baggage of extraordinary hardships after all so it’s not exactly a fun thing to want I guess. And with my existence being a precedent already, I imagine you’ll only run into more problems on the way. I apologize in advance for that.”

(It’s true. The reason why papa and the other hope that I’d take over the family is a lot because of Sofia-san’s existence…….)

In this world, it’s mostly men who inherit the house.

But legally speaking, women could inherit their houses as well.

(That said, cases where that actually happened are rare, and even the families with no male heirs would often adopt a boy to make one instead………)

But even when Sofia, a woman, took over as the head of the Ranieri family, not a single subordinate dared raise an issue or show discontent. It was a rare case with no backlash.

“I hope I’m not putting a bad influence on a young girl from a different family but, the reason why I was able to inherit the Ranieri household without much issue was mostly thanks to our family’s creed.”

“Ranier family’s creed, it is [Elegance] am I correct?”

All the 5 families have their own creed they believe in and follow, and they will stick to it to a serious degree. It’s precisely because they live in the underworld that they created these rules and regulations for themselves to create a semblance of leadership and not devolve into complete anarchy.

Francesca’s family upheld [Loyalty], Leonardo’s family was [Strength], and of course, Ricardo’s was [Traditions].

And Sofia’s Ranieri family valued anything with beauty and grace, and hence theirs was [Elegance].

“And even the flower associated to your family is, if I recall……..”

“The Mimosa. It’s called Acacia as well.”

And fittingly enough, Sofia’s golden hair resembled the vivid yellow Mimosa as well.

(……….It really is pretty……..)

Under the summer sunlight shining in from the window, coupled with her tanned skin, her golden hair sparkled with utmost elegance indeed.

Behind the faint smoke of the cigarette, Sofia’s beauty was there, visible for all to see.

Even though she possessed the alluring charm of a mature woman, she would often show a lot of playful expressions as well, giving her a cute and sweet feel as well.

(Mimosa flowers are adorable yellow flowers. Pretty, dignified, and also sweet in their smell.)

In a way, those words could be very easily used to perfectly describe Sofia herself as well.

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