Summer Is For Falling In Love
6. Doubt

"Congratulations, Mr. Holland."

The only words Miel spoke when Holland opened his eyes in the morning were safe.

Holland looked at Miel with a clear frown imprinted on his forehead, his red bead looking at Miel in disgust.

"Oh, Mr. Holland, don't look at me with such a disgusted look, dong."

Miel handed over a silver container for Holland to wash his face and further tidied up Holland's bed.

"I know everything from my lover," Miel said proudly. On his lips imprinted smile sucks—if said Holland. "And if you don't know yet, my lover is Hanah."

"Oh, I don't want to know" Holland said. "Hurry, get my clothes ready."

Miel bowed her body as a professional servant. "I'll prepare clothes that will captivate Miss Esther."

Turning around to prepare Holland's clothes, Miel rambled, "Later Mr. Holland no longer suffers from loneliness and can get a lover."

Holland did not reply and only sighed. Although upset by Miel's careless attitude towards Holland, Holland knows that his servant is also thinking about Holland's future. Unlike others, Holland considers Miel a friend rather than a servant.

Given how Holland's love statement at midnight was, Holland's face was invaded by a red hue that spread so quickly. The hot summer seemed to raise the temperature until Holland dropped his body and went back to lying on the bed.

Shame, thought.

In all likelihood, the future Duke confessed his declaration of love so shamefully. Especially when his memory twisted the sensation when his lips kissed Esther. That's so embarrassing.

"ah! Mr Holland! Get up and don't lie down! I've tidied up your mattress," said Miel with pursed lips.

Holland did not listen and was busy arranging his messy heart. It was really embarrassing, but Holland did not regret it.

Miel only gave a small smile when she saw Holland's highlight soften. As a servant of Holland since they were children, Miel could tell just how big Holland's life was and so curbed him every temple of rule that locked Holland in. However, one existence of a girl was able to make her heart soften.

As childhood friends who care for each other, Miel is also happy.

...***...

Breakfast ended as usual, excluding the hue on each cheek when the two beads collide.

As if clumsy, the two colliding gazes were turned back, in contrast to the beating of the heart clashing in the chest cavity.

"What should we do this time, Miss Esther?" holland asked, venturing out to open the conversation in this silence.

After breakfast tea is a daily routine, but this time there is a different atmosphere where the two souls there have become one part.

Esther flinched when Holland opened the topic. A stiff laugh slid down his lips. "Well, what about the coastal streets, Mr Holland?"

Holland smiled awkwardly. "Yes, Miss Esther. That's a good idea."

Esther straightened her body. "Then, I'll change my clothes" she said before running off to leave the room, followed by Hanah.

Meanwhile, Holland hid his face behind a palm.

"You suck, Mr. Holland," said Miel, who never left the side of the employer he served.

Holland flinched, but nodded without a fight. "I suck, I'm useless in this, I suck."

Miel sighed. "Right, why can't you act like you used to before you expressed love?"

Holland lowered his palm and looked at Miel sharply. "Do you think it's that easy to do it?"

Miel shrugged both of her shoulders and grinned. "I think it's very easy. You can see how I behave with Hanah, right? We behave like lovers without awkward."

Holland growled. "You think what kind of experience I've had with women, huh?"

Miel laughed a little. "Nothing."

"seen? So, what hope are you trying to pile on me, Miel?"

"That's right, too" continued Miel. "You have absolutely no experience with women. For the 21 years you've lived, you've only ever held the hand of Duke Riquetti's daughter, it's just a couple dancing at a party."

Miel also sighed.

"I told you, didn't I? Even though I do know how lovers should behave from the novel, I still don't know how to do it in real life."

"Give me a suggestion" Holland murmured.

"Yes?" Miel gnashing.

Holland hissing. Although reluctant to seek advice from his servant, Holland had to do so.

"Aren't you very famous in front of any woman? How many lovers have you had in your life? Give me some advice."

"Pff." Miel held back her laughter, knowing that laughing at her employer was very disrespectful. However, Holland in Miel's eyes was so cute.

"Miel," growled Holland with a cold face.

Finally, Miel's laughter broke out. He even hit the table because his sense of humor was so low. Meanwhile, Holland stared at Miel with some considerations such as firing him or lowering his salary this month.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Holland." Miel wiped away the tears in the corner of her eyes and re-enforced her body. Miel cleared her throat once, then opened her mouth, "In my opinion, you've done everything well. Isn't just expressing your feelings, already a very good first step? So, what kind of advice do you need from me?"

"Don't you see it? After expressing my feelings, the atmosphere between us turned awkward. I don't want this to happen."

"Ho? If in my view, the woman is a creature that has a high ego and easily feel embarrassed. So, if you do not take a step for the first time, then there will be no next step. The thing you have to do is easy, Mr Holland."

Holland stared intently at Miel's bead, reluctant to mishear a few words coming out of her lips.

"What does your heart want?"

"Eh?"

"What do you want to do with Miss Esther?"

Holland frowned.

"What words do you want to say to Miss Esther?"

Holland bit his lip. Feeling weird about his own feelings.

"I'm sure you know the answer, Mr. Holland."

"I ... I want to stay with Miss Esther, I want to be by her side, chatting about what we like."

Miel nodded her head.

"I also want to touch her, I want to hold her warm and pretty fingers, I want to hug her body and share the warmth, I want to kiss her."

Miel pulled both corners of her lips into a calming smile. "You know the answer, don't you? Then it's okay, do what you want to do. However, don't forget to ask Miss Esther for permission in advance for a more intimate physical touch."

"However, what if Miss Esther doesn't like it?"

"What do you mean, Mr Holland? Isn't your first kiss under the full moon so spectacular? What makes you think that Miss Esther doesn't like it?"

"Just .., I haven't asked Miss Esther for her opinion on our first kiss, and I feel guilty for kissing her without her permission."

"Then ask Miss Esther, Mr. Holland. If Miss Esther also has feelings similar to yours, then you don't need to be confused anymore. Women only want men who take steps and initiative for the first time. If you've taken the first step and Miss Esther doesn't refuse, then it's okay, Mr. Holland. Even I feel that this relationship will go very well."

Holland stared at the teacup where the tea had cooled. His feelings were strange by the various emotions gushing forth. Things are confusing, but Holland enjoys it.

Holland remembers how she felt when she kissed those friendly red lips. Happy, happy, happy. Those emotions were not emotions that Holland could feel so easily. Because, as the Duke's successor, Holland can not carelessly show his emotions. Therefore, to feel the emotions that are quite foreign behind his chest cavity, make Holland feel comfortable.

"Come, Mr. Holland," asked Miel, cutting off Holland's reverie.

"Where?"

"To your room. I'll decorate you so that Miss Esther will be very captivated and feel lucky to have you as her future husband."

Miel planned things that made a smile crack on her lips.

Meanwhile, Holland sighed. "Fulfill this request first."

...***...

I like Miel's slightly brash character here, wkwk. That means Holland and Miel are close, isn't it?

July 2nd, 2023