Chapter 27
“……You said you had no friends, but you had quite a lot.”
Ah. Since the two of them came together, he must know that this bracelet was a gift from Darius.
Honestly, just because it was given by Darius, the value of this bracelet was almost infinite.
It became my number one treasure that could never be replaced even if someone offered me a huge fortune, and I decided to keep it on my wrist forever like a tattoo.
But I couldn’t be that honest.
I was also deeply touched that Kyle worried about what I would like and personally bought the gift himself. He even ran to the duke mansion with wind flying through his eyebrows.
“Both are good.”
“What do you like more?”
“Really, I like both! I can’t choose which is better!”
“Still, there must be something you lean a little more toward.”
A vertical line appeared between Kyle’s eyebrows.
Seriously… why are you competing with your brother over something like this?
“Kyle, when is your birthday?”
I asked, trying to change the topic and also prepare a birthday gift in return.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m telling the truth. I really like both so much that it makes me tear up.”
“Pick only one.”
“….”
His glare felt like laser beams were burning my skin.
I had no choice but to answer the question he wanted.
“…Kyle, what you gave me is the most satisfying. It was the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep!”
Only then did Kyle relax the muscles on his face, looking satisfied.
Seriously, this guy would be nothing if he didn’t have pride…
“More importantly, tell me your birthday! I want to prepare something small for you too. When is it?”
“…You don’t need to know.”
“Why? It’s not like it’s a secret if it’s just a birthday.”
“You don’t need to know.”
What is this? Is he feeling burdened?
“I won’t make you feel pressured. It’s only right to return a favor after receiving one.”
“Forget it. Don’t prepare anything.”
“Tch, why are you being so cold again? I guess I’ll have to ask someone else.”
Hearing the words “someone else” made Kyle’s face suddenly darken.
Ah, I understand now. His family probably doesn’t celebrate his birthday properly.
Well, the duchess probably wouldn’t throw a party for Kyle on the same scale as Darius’s birthday.
Even if Kyle didn’t want a noisy party, being compared to his brother must make him hate birthdays. I felt a wave of pity and realized I had asked something careless.
“Ah, no. I won’t do that. If you feel like it later, you can tell me, Kyle.”
I quickly corrected myself and shook my head.
Gifts didn’t have to be given only on birthdays anyway.
“So, is there anything you want?”
“No.”
The answer came back immediately even before I finished asking.
So cold…
I should think slowly about it later.
After that, when the business was finished, silence filled the slightly awkward space while the second hand of the clock moved.
I felt embarrassed that I had been talking excitedly beside Kyle earlier.
‘Come to think of it… what is our relationship now?’
Kyle only said words with a sorry nuance. He never said a single word about returning to being friends.
Maybe he just realized his mistake and reflected on it, without any intention of going back to how we were before.
No, for Kyle, I might just be someone who disturbs his training. In a way, that would be natural.
He had also repeatedly said he didn’t need friends until I got tired of hearing it.
Then in the future… maybe we should be neighbors who greet each other when we pass by and occasionally ask about each other’s well-being.
After reaching that conclusion, I felt my swelling heart suddenly deflate.
I realized I liked Kyle more as a friend than I thought.
‘Still, at least we ended things properly.’
We apologized to each other and reconciled. That was enough.
Next time we meet, we won’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
I wouldn’t be able to fulfill Darius’s request, but there was nothing I could do.
Then… should I just say goodbye and go home now?
“Um, Kyle. I’m going back now. It was fun meeting you after a long time.”
“….”
“Thank you sincerely for the celebration and the gift. This will be an unforgettable birthday.”
“….”
“Then… if we have a chance, let’s meet again. Take care.”
I gave a clumsy farewell and stood up awkwardly.
‘He still won’t say goodbye.’
With a bitter feeling, I stepped away and left the mansion. The sunset was already coloring the world red.
I couldn’t help but feel a small expectation that Kyle might respond differently this time, but it faded helplessly.
‘But it’s already beautifully resolved.’
I forced down the rising sense of disappointment and curled the corners of my lips.
After meeting Brant Count Family again, I headed to the gate to return to the carriage after meeting Millie who had been waiting nearby.
When I was about to get into the carriage, footsteps quickly approached from behind.
“Hey! Wait!”
I turned around and saw Kyle running toward me in a hurry.
I waited until he stopped in front of me and caught his breath before asking.
“Kyle. What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”
I quietly watched him while he scratched his hair nervously.
Kyle, who had been groaning like someone who urgently needed to say something, finally spoke after a long time.
“Um, sometimes… you can come play at our house… as you said, it seems like resting your muscles is also necessary…”
“Good heavens. There may come a day when he says something like this.”
I covered my mouth in shock.
This was basically asking me to be friends again!
It was as touching as a stray cat that had always hissed at me finally opening its heart.
Probably too embarrassed to say it directly, Kyle’s ears and neck were completely dyed bright red.
‘Seriously. Anyone who saw this would think it was a love confession.’
I couldn’t stop the laughter spilling out and nodded strongly.
“Okay! I’ll come visit again!”
“….”
“Don’t worry! I’ll only come sometimes so I won’t disturb you! Once a month!”
“…Once a month?”
“That way it won’t take too much of your time, right?”
It sounded like a reasonable compromise.
Kyle frowned deeply and bit his lips in dissatisfaction.
“If that’s too much, once every two months?”
“…No, once a month… is… fine.”
Kyle answered slowly, breaking his words into pieces, still looking somewhat unhappy.
Yes, two months would be too long anyway! I might forget his face!
“Okay. Got it. Then I’ll go. See you next month!”
“….”
After fixing the meeting interval firmly at one month, I climbed into the carriage.
When the door closed, I looked out the window and met Kyle’s eyes.
I waved my hand, and he flinched in surprise before stiffly raising his palm.
His half-open fingers moved hesitantly.
“Wow. I finally get a greeting.”
I laughed involuntarily and waved more enthusiastically. The back of his head as he hurriedly turned away looked adorable.
Even looking at the slowly fading Dierne Duke Mansion, my heart no longer hurt.
If before I was a one-sided “friend applicant,” now it felt like we had finally become equal friends who acknowledged each other.
It was a big and small, grand and trivial first fight and reconciliation between us.
After the guests left, I returned to the Brant Count mansion.
I unpacked the new novel series my brother left as a gift and met the foal my father brought for me for the first time.
The foal, with shiny white fur, was even more adorable and intelligent than expected, shocking me.
I named the foal “Baekseolgi” because of its white fur.
The long, eventful birthday day, where my emotions swung dozens of times, finally ended.
Two days after the chaotic birthday ended, it was the memorial day of the Countess of Brant Countess (Ries’ mother).
Today the mansion was unusually quiet.
All the servants of the Brant Count family spent the day as usual, but followed mourning etiquette with soft voices and light footsteps.
After finishing my morning schedule, I went to the study because I wanted to see the countess’s dignity in life.
On the study wall hung a family portrait.
Six-year-old Ries sat on her mother’s lap inside the painting.
Staring endlessly at the face that was exactly like my current self — golden hair and emerald eyes — warm scenes and her voice slowly came back to me.
It wasn’t my own experience, but now it felt like my own precious memory.
I had not yet told Millie that I had recovered my memories.
I also hadn’t told my father and brother because things had been hectic.
Looking out the window, I saw my father and brother walking across the distant backyard.
It seemed they were going to perform the memorial ceremony without me.
‘It’s okay to say it now.’
For another sincere confession, I clenched my fist tightly and walked down the stairs.
