Chapter 94
I noticed that the shoelace on my foot—propped up on Elber’s left arm—was indeed untied.
“See? I just need to tie it!”
But Elber didn’t hesitate as he continued climbing the stairs.
“Your feet hurt, don’t they? So much that it’s hard to walk.”
“Gah—how did you know? My feet were completely hidden under my dress!”
“I can tell just by looking. ……And also how strangely determined you were to keep Seraphina by my side.”
“W-What? No! She’s just a pretty and nice girl and I wanted to introduce her, that’s all!”
“I want to believe everything you say.”
“Want to?”
“But you never believe what I say.”
Before I realized it, Elber had stopped in front of my room.
The door opened. When we had left earlier, my room was a disaster—cosmetics and accessories everywhere—but now it was spotless, as if it had been waiting to welcome me.
As if nothing had happened.
As if I could just forget the events of the ball and go to sleep.
Elber gently set me down and stepped back. But I wasn’t ready to let him go.
“What do you mean, I don’t believe you? I do! As long as it’s not some obvious nonsense, I believe everything you say!”
“It wasn’t nonsense. It wasn’t a lie. But you didn’t believe me.”
“Oh. You mean when you said, ‘You’re pretty too’?”
“Yeah. What do I have to do to make you believe it? Really, to my eyes, you’re the prettiest person in the world.”
Elber slowly leaned down, lowering himself to my eye level.
Right in front of me—his blue eyes shimmering like moonlight. In that beautiful space like a spring of water, I saw my reflection. Then, almost reflexively, he smiled softly, his long eyelashes folding and scattering stardust with every blink.
……Just from that smile, I could tell. What he meant by “prettiest in the world.”
Like when the tiny cherry tomatoes I planted in the orphanage garden finally bore fruit. Or when the neighbor’s dog wagged its tail because it recognized me. Or when a new kid—who never opened up to anyone—secretly whispered, “Big sis,” to me……
That sparkling warmth that fills your arms so you don’t feel lonely.
“……I get it now, oppa.”
“Hm?”
“I really get it. Don’t you trust your little sister?”
“I-I do!”
“Thanks. While we’re at it—will you take me to school tomorrow?”
“Of course!”
The moment I asked him to walk me to school, Elber nodded so hard his whole head bobbed. Ahh—he’s gonna have to go completely out of the way, so why does he look thrilled?
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll walk you really fast!”
He stood up and walked away with a spring in his step like he was dancing.
I watched his back as he went. I felt like I still had leftover warmth I hadn’t used up properly. Just like that night six years ago during the spring festival. Taking a gamble, I called out quietly.
“Elber oppa.”
If he doesn’t hear me, I’ll just go wash and sleep……
“Yes!”
Elber came running back in less than a second.
“Why’d you call me, Sol?”
“You were cool today.”
“……Huh?”
“When I got kidnapped six years ago, it was my father who came to save me. But this time, it was you.”
He probably still can’t see mana pearls. But just by running faster and farther than anyone else, he found me. My amazing oppa.
Elber, flustered, tried to return the compliment.
“Sol, you too…… this time, you’ve grown enough not to get kidnapped!”
“That’s a compliment?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Don’t underestimate me. If you hadn’t shown up, I might’ve kidnapped that guy instead!”
“That’s not growth, that’s corruption!”
Our pointless bickering naturally mixed with the sound of footsteps. So much for resting. Right now, all we needed was time and space to walk together.
Beyond the hallway window, the world outside was slowly settling down. We were walking upward. Just like that night six years ago, when the three of us danced together on the tower balcony.
When the staircase got narrow again, Elber asked,
“So… what was the real reason you left me behind and got on the carriage the other day?”
“……I didn’t think you and I were that close.”
“You… didn’t think we were close……?”
“Don’t make that crying face. I was wrong. You are the person closest to me in this whole world.”
“Exactly!”
His face brightened instantly. Like a child receiving Santa Claus on Christmas. Ugh. How could I not get attached?
……Until recently, I thought I had to leave the role of Elber’s savior open for a saint.
I was afraid I’d steal the place meant for someone who should love him. So I tried to distance myself, even just a little.
But today, I finally realized.
Seraphina will always go to those who need salvation. Whether there’s a villain beside them or a sister-in-law—it won’t sway her.
And more importantly—Elber will never drift away from me.
He’s someone who always listens when I speak. Who runs to me first even when I don’t call. What’s the point of pushing someone like that away?
More than anything—I don’t want to push Elber away.
He’s the brother I raised, and the one who raised me into someone capable of becoming someone’s family.
Soon, our proud march came to a stop.
The door leading to the tower balcony of the townhouse was blocked completely by piles of junk, as if it had been abandoned for years.
“Wait here, Sol. I’ll get the servants.”
“It’s fine. Maybe it’s heaven’s way of telling us to go to sleep.”
Of course, I was still disappointed. The ball wasn’t fun at all—it was just one annoyance after another. I wanted to at least look at the nightscape and get some fresh air.
I was suppressing that urge as I turned away—
—and nearly screamed.
There was the Duke, standing right behind us, holding an axe.
“Father! You nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here!”
“I sent the servants to bed ages ago, but I heard footsteps.”
“So you brought an axe?”
“I admit it’s excessive. But after seeing how you were nearly dragged away by some stranger, my nerves have been on edge.”
“Ah……”
“What are you two doing here.”
“Wanted to look at the night view. But the path’s blocked……”
While Elber nodded, the Duke stepped forward and pushed the door. It only gave off a creak.
“See? It won’t open. Let’s just go ba—”
BANG!
The Duke kicked the thick wooden door. The hinges rattled. Then BAM!—another kick. The door tilted diagonally. The junk blocking it flew away like tin cans at another couple of kicks.
If he was going to do that, why bring the axe? For emotional support?
“Path’s clear. Go on.”
“……”
Normally, we call that demolition.
But since the way was open, there was no reason to hesitate. Elber and I marched forward into the moonlit path. And the sight that greeted us was……
“Wow……”
Six years ago, the night view of Flogel from the Duke’s estate was beautiful. If that one was like a field of gold marigolds, then Albion was like a fire spirit dancing. Even in the darkness, the city pulsed endlessly with golden light.
Moonlight lay white on every rooftop, like silk across a black stage curtain. Mixed with the scent of early spring and the approaching warmth of summer.
“It’s lovely……”
And then, I remembered what needed to be done.
With a satisfied grin, I turned to the Duke and Elber.
“Would you care for a dance?”
“……What?”
“We all worked hard today. Let’s end it on a good note. Of course, if you refuse—”
“There’s no way I’d refuse!”
Elber grabbed both my hands. The Duke, beaten to the punch, held my shoulder instead.
“I accept. But—who will dance with you first?”
“Just one dance. All three of us together!”
“……What?”
“We’ve danced together before, remember? You, me, and Benen. Right, oppa?”
“Oh—yeah. Though I don’t know if you could call that dancing.”
Father frowned.
“If Sol calls it dancing, it is dancing.”
“……You’ll change your mind once you experience it yourself.”
I stood with the two of them in a corner of the balcony.
“I’m going to take off my shoes. My feet hurt……”
The Duke already had a face that said, “This is too much.” But too bad—I’m not letting them go until I get one dance.
My feet touched the stone floor. Cool and rough. But that feeling didn’t last long.
Just like six years ago, Elber grabbed my arm. The Duke followed suit. And then—the ‘dance’ began as I was lifted into the air.
“Kyah! Ahaha!”
The world spun. My blue skirt fluttered like waves wrapping around the night sky. Wind curled around my toes. Starlight brushed against me.
Sometimes my foot landed on the Duke’s. His brow creased slightly, but the corners of his mouth still curled up.
“……So this is what you kids were doing without me.”
“Kids are allowed to have fun! Even you danced with me one-on-one before!”
The world spun again. Elber gave me a look that said, “Right?!” My foot bumped his shoe. Then I stepped on a gust of spring wind and met someone’s smile again.
How many spins did we take like that?
“Hey, wait! I said one dance!”
“Doesn’t count. There’s no music.”
“Father!!”
I protested while floating in the air—but my voice was so full of laughter that it probably didn’t sound very convincing.
“Ugh, you Schleger men! Elber oppa, stop him at least!”
“Ahahaha!”
There was no music.
But under the endless shower of stars, our laughter rang on like a song.
