11. A Rose Dedicated to Dio (11)

Today was a truly extraordinary day for Jonathan Joestar. A few days ago, his father had received a letter and subsequently departed on a trip. This was quite common for the Joestar household, as his father was frequently away on business.

However, by dusk, the rhythmic clatter of their carriage echoed as it returned home. Before JoJo could even revel in his excitement, he saw his father helping two children down from the carriage.

Both of them were strikingly handsome. The golden-haired boy with red eyes was around his own age; his features were beautiful yet eerie, and when he looked over with a cold gaze, his expression seemed somewhat cruel. JoJo pursed his lips, sensing that he and this boy would not get along well, but his long-standing refined upbringing prevented him from showing any coldness to a guest.

Following behind was a younger child who appeared to be a little girl. Or, at least, he assumed it was a girl—JoJo wasn't entirely certain. She was dressed in boys' clothing, yet her face was exquisite and adorable. He lacked the eloquent vocabulary to properly praise others, but he felt that the little girl before him was more delicate and moving than a freshly bloomed flower.

She possessed a classic Eastern face, soft and sweet. Her long, straight black hair, which contrasted sharply with their own, had not been trimmed in quite some time and reached nearly to her chin. Her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink and slightly plump, clearly soft to the touch. When she turned her head, she offered them a soft, shy smile.

JoJo smiled back at both guests with genuine friendliness, particularly at the girl, doing his best to show his utmost kindness. Perhaps his demeanor was too enthusiastic, for the blonde boy immediately stepped in front of the girl, a smile playing on his lips that did not reach his eyes. JoJo was taken aback.

His father, George, unaware of the subtle currents passing between the children, introduced them to one another in a leisurely manner. He explained to JoJo that these two children would be living with them from now on and expressed his hope that they would all get along. In front of the adults, all three children nodded obediently and agreed.

At first, JoJo felt uneasy, especially hearing his father say they would be living in their home permanently. However, he was a warm, generous, and kind-hearted young man. He surmised that the two must have encountered some misfortune to end up at his home, so he quickly comforted himself. Moreover, the thought of having companions by his side to make the house livelier and more joyful lifted his spirits.

Behind him, Dio was whispering stern instructions to Mukumino: "That boy’s smile is full of ill intent. You’d best be on your guard against him. These aristocratic heirs are always full of themselves and love nothing more than to toy with and deceive simple girls like you."

Mukumino felt flattered and replied, "Dio, thank you for the reminder. I’ll be careful." He didn't bother to argue with Dio that JoJo was actually a good lad—after all, compared to a villain like Dio, no one would dare call JoJo a bad person.

George instructed the maid to show them to some suitable rooms; since they hadn't known of Dio's preferences in advance, nothing had been prepared. Furthermore, as the Joestar family had not anticipated Mukumino's arrival, they were placed in the guest wing.

It was an estate, after all; even the guest rooms were far superior to the place they had called home. Mukumino was dazzled as he walked through the house. Outside the estate lay a vast lake, flanked by eye-catching sculptures and fountains. While the architecture could not be called gaudy, it was incomparably beautiful. It stood in the most prominent spot in the countryside, captivating anyone who passed by at first glance.

It was said that the Joestar family was a long-standing noble house, possessing immense wealth and capital passed down through generations. Even during the Age of Discovery, they had not clung to their status but had eagerly jumped onto the ships of the new nobility, frequently traveling for business. They certainly had more than enough wealth.

Dio walked beside Mukumino, unnervingly quiet. Mukumino knew perfectly well that the boy was up to no good. Inside the house, the floor was laid with black and white checkered tiles, and the windows were made of stained glass. When the sunlight poured in, the rays were cast in brilliant, kaleidoscopic colors.

George Joestar made it clear to the butler and the servants that they were to treat Dio and Mukumino exactly as they would his own child. The two of them followed the maid upstairs, initially heading to wash up and clean themselves.

Perhaps fearing they might be reserved, or for some other reason, George did not have JoJo speak with them, instead assigning a maid with a gentle personality and a kind face to accompany them. "Would you like to bathe first and change into clean clothes? Please do not misunderstand; I do not mean to imply anything, but you will feel more comfortable for dinner after washing up, and it will reduce the risk of illness," the maid said in a kind and peaceful tone.

Mukumino was fine with whatever, and Dio didn't pay much attention either. These were trivial matters, except for one thing...

During dinner, Dio looked at Mukumino, whose hair had been trimmed short, and froze. "Why did you cut your hair?" he asked, his brows knitting together involuntarily.

Aren't delicate little girls obsessed with beauty? Even when they were living in poverty, Mukumino had never thought to cut that soft black hair. Now that they were about to live a life of luxury, why had she chosen to cut it?

It was clear that George and JoJo were also surprised, their puzzled gazes shifting toward the maid.

Mukumino said earnestly, "This hair suits me better. It's easier to manage, and boys are supposed to have hair like this anyway."

Dio: "?"

It seemed as if some strange configuration had entered his mind.

The maid couldn't help but step forward to explain: "Yes, while I was helping the child wash, I discovered that the little one is actually a boy. It was only because he looked so cute and pretty that he was mistaken for a girl. Good heavens, you men are truly careless when it comes to raising children."

Dio had perhaps never encountered such a drastic reversal since birth; he froze again. But after two or three seconds, he narrowed his eyes and glared at Mukumino with a look of hostility. He avoided the adults' notice with this look, and even JoJo missed it, as everyone else was too shocked to speak.

Mukumino knew that his gender would be hard to hide from the Joestar family, so it was better to just get it out in the open. Besides, now that his gender was restored, he would be able to go to school with Dio and the others in the future, rather than staying at home learning useless things. He was a master at slacking off in school! A school without exams couldn't do a thing to him.

He even defended Dio: "Because I hadn't been at Dio's house for long, and I hadn't mentioned it at the beginning, they didn't know my gender. It wasn't a very important matter; for us, getting enough to eat was the most important thing."

Well, this reason satisfied the adults present. The maid still looked disapproving, but she opened her mouth and said nothing.

The group began to eat. JoJo couldn't help but steal several glances at Mukumino. A moment ago, she had been a cute, frail little sister; now, after a haircut and a change of clothes, she had transformed into a well-behaved, refined little brother. Such a dramatic experience made him very curious about them both.

Dio had been lost in his thoughts, but noticing JoJo's undisguised gaze, he coughed twice as a subtle warning, sweeping a sharp look toward JoJo. George also noticed JoJo’s lack of composure and sternly said, "JoJo, focus on your meal; don't look around." JoJo blushed, feeling guilty, and replied, "Yes, Father."

Mukumino ate happily with his spoon, oblivious to the undercurrents between them. He only thought that the villain loved to stir up trouble; he hadn't expected him to assert dominance the moment they arrived at someone else's house. His methods were truly not to be underestimated!

However, the rest of the meal was calm. Looking at Dio's expression, one could tell he was somewhat distracted, no longer as comfortable as he had been when they first arrived at the estate. He was likely still reeling from the shock of Mukumino's revelation.

There were no strict rules about silence during meals; even though George appeared strict with JoJo, he possessed the love of a father and did not demand that JoJo's manners be overly elegant. It was just that, in contrast to Dio's deliberate affectation, JoJo's posture looked a bit unrefined.

Fortunately, Mukumino was a drag on Dio's side, so George did not judge JoJo's slightly improper movements too harshly.

After dinner, they did not retire immediately. The maid had already lit the fireplace, and a small silver kettle hung above it, bubbling and emitting the pleasant aroma of black tea. They sat in the sofas around the fireplace. The Joestar family's sofas were far softer than anything in the Brando household; as Mukumino sat down, he felt as if he were sinking into cotton, melting into a puddle. He sat without poise, stood without grace, and ate without decorum.

Dio stepped over and whispered a reprimand: "Look at yourself; you are completely improper. You are in someone else's home now; at least try to look presentable. Don't make such a disgraceful spectacle of yourself!" He was being blunt, clearly holding a grudge over Mukumino's concealment of his gender.

Mukumino pouted and said unhappily, "You're one to talk. When did you sneak off to learn aristocratic etiquette behind my back? You do everything so elegantly and perfectly, even better than the real nobles, making me look like a fool. You're awful."

Dio's face darkened, and he looked at him gloomily. However, the remark was a compliment of sorts, which made him feel a little better.

The two whispered to each other for a while before the Joestar father and son joined them. George first asked if they were adjusting to the food and the customs of the house, telling them to stay for a few days and to speak up if there was anything they weren't used to.

Mukumino’s personality was still somewhat introverted; he lowered his long lashes, fluttering them from time to time, his clear, bright eyes making him look particularly innocent and well-behaved. George didn't disturb him much, and even when he spoke to him, he used a soft tone. It was mostly Dio who answered, saying that everything was fine and they were adjusting well.

Children from the slums who had managed to survive this long naturally possessed a tenacious vitality; how could they not adjust?

JoJo also chimed in enthusiastically: "Father, don't worry. I will definitely take good care of my two younger brothers. I will treat them like family so you won't have to worry."

George smiled gratifiedly: "You are a good boy."

Mukumino watched the father and son with wide eyes, but Dio stepped directly in front of him, blocking his view, and shot him a cold look.

The small silver kettle was taken from the fireplace, and the maid, wearing gloves, poured a cup for each of them. It appeared to be tea, and she added a few sugar cubes. They rarely had the chance to eat sugar, and being young, they could have drunk two cups in one go—even JoJo, who was used to it, couldn't control his craving. However, to avoid too many trips to the washroom at night, the maid didn't dare pour them too much.

The evening chat by the fire ended shortly after. George arranged for the children to rest. He personally saw Mukumino and Dio to the guest room, while having the maid take his own son, JoJo, to bed. JoJo looked a bit disappointed but said nothing.

*George really is a good man,* Mukumino thought. He was grateful for the kindness of such a generous man. Lying on the comfortable, cozy bed, he obediently wished George a good night, acting like a perfectly adorable and obedient child. George, having neglected none of the children, watched them settle in before leaving with peace of mind.

As he left the second floor, he had no idea that shortly after he departed, a certain golden-haired boy slipped out of his own bedroom and snuck into another.