Chapter 52
Thud!
Crack—
Somewhere, the sound of bones breaking echoed. My brother silently pushed his dislocated shoulder back into place.
“H-Heavens, are you hurt? Does it hurt?”
“…You’re heavy.”
“…No way…!”
“My shoulder popped out because of you.”
I didn’t quite get it, but I was sure he was teasing me.
For someone claiming I was heavy, he carried me so easily. I unconsciously wrapped my arms around his neck.
Maybe because I was realizing how weak I truly was, my hands looked especially small.
There was a faint scent coming from his chest. Bitter, yet cool. The smell of medicine—tainted, faintly sinful.
He must’ve taken a painkiller.
To endure the “Curse of God.”
His shoulder had clearly been dislocated—it should’ve been agonizing. But his face was calm, so that had to be the reason.
The wind spirit had already disappeared.
If it were Khan, he’d have stayed.
Come to think of it, spirits and the men of the Ducal House didn’t seem to get along.
“Why were you hiding in the tree by yourself? Were you pretending to be a squirrel?”
I just shook my head.
“You’re no squirrel—you’re a dog. Barking suits you better.”
“…Woof.”
With such meaningless conversation, Blake carried me up the hill. Since I’d made him dislocate his shoulder, I barked once as payment.
He set me down before the hill. The breeze that brushed past was cool.
“I’ll come pick you up in the morning on Founding Day for the escort. Dress nicely.”
“Dress nicely…?”
“At least don’t look like a wild thing with your hair all over the place, my ugly little sister.”
He pressed my head down, making me bow a little.
Every time he patted my head, I realized again—his hand was way too strong.
I struggled and raised my head again.
Maybe it was because the wind had lifted me up earlier, but my hair was quite messy.
I brushed it down and looked up at him with wide eyes. No matter what he said, I wasn’t ugly.
As I kept staring up, Blake suddenly turned bright red and looked away.
“Anyway… how’s your archery practice going?”
“I’m working hard!”
“Why do you keep switching between polite speech and casual?”
“Um, it’s just a habit…”
I’d even spoken formally to Khan earlier.
“Our precious little sister needs her big brother to hang around more often before she’ll drop the honorifics, huh?”
This time, I was sure.
He was teasing me.
“I’ll speak casually!”
“You’ll speak casually~?”
“Yeah!”
The words came out a bit tangled.
I’d meant to sound assertive, but it didn’t seem to work on Blake—he just laughed.
“Well, honestly, I don’t mind when you talk politely to me. It’s kind of nice.”
So unpredictable—whatever he felt like, whenever he felt like it.
“Hmph.”
When I started sulking from all his teasing, he poked my cheek with a finger.
“Anyway, nobles will come to greet you on Founding Day. Are you ready for that?”
“…Nobles? Greet me?”
“You didn’t know, huh.”
I really didn’t. Nobles would be greeting me?
But I don’t even know court etiquette…
No, more importantly—
Why would they come to the ducal house instead of the imperial palace on Founding Day?
Founding Day was the day celebrating the creation of the nation.
And the one who founded the nation was the Emperor—the one who ruled it, too.
But my brother’s expression was so matter-of-fact that I just kept my mouth shut.
He looked down at me as if the conversation were over.
Come to think of it, Blake was always the quiet type. Everyone said it was just his nature.
“…Um, when do I get to see His Majesty again?”
“Who knows. For now, focus on getting through your entrance ceremony.”
The entrance ceremony was after Founding Day, so first, I had to get through Founding Day itself—receive greetings from nobles without panicking.
That’s what he meant, basically.
“And if anyone bothers you, tell me. I support overthrowing the regime.”
…Overthrowing the regime.
That ominous statement, delivered in the same casual tone as ‘Let’s have steak for dinner,’ made me shiver.
He sounded so confident—like someone who could replace the country’s name, “Haspelt,” with “Alkibiades,” if he wanted.
I swallowed hard. Truly a dangerous man.
Sometimes, there are mornings when you don’t dream at all—no nightmares, no thoughts—just a clean awakening.
For me, Founding Day was one of those mornings.
“Good morning, my lady!”
“Mm, morning!”
Sarina greeted me brightly.
Sunlight I could never imagine at the orphanage, and at least five adults fussing over me alone—that was how mornings began now.
I’d gotten used to sleeping alone, and to Sarina’s lullabies before bed.
Soft blankets. A huge bed. Curtains that felt nice to touch.
I even picked up the habit of washing my face every morning.
Back in the orphanage, staying clean was hard. I must’ve smelled bad. Now, I smelled like… flowers, probably.
The water in my basin steamed softly, shimmering, filled with fragrant things—fruit-like pieces, natural soaps.
Having grown up where food was scarce, it all felt almost sinful.
After washing in the soft, clean water, it was time to choose my clothes for the day.
“That one.”
“This one, my lady?”
“Mm. It looks just like what the teddy bear’s wearing.”
“Oh my, even your reason is adorable.”
The maids—no longer shunning me, at least not to my face—cooed affectionately as they helped me dress.
Outside, the world was at war. But I, in my safe little mirror room, didn’t even brush my own hair.
I chose jewelry to match my dress from one of Father’s many gifts—the maids seemed to love that part most—and pressed red-tinted paper to my lips.
“All done! You were so patient, my lady. Such a good girl.”
The outfit like the teddy bear’s was a soft yellow uniform, like forsythia in bloom.
A white diamond hairpin, twin braids tied with yellow ribbons.
What I really wanted to ask was, “Is it my birthday today too, here?”
Back at the orphanage, I’d always counted down the days until Founding Day.
It wasn’t just my birthday—it was everyone’s. And even so, the warmth and joy of it had always felt special.
Orphans don’t know their birthdays.
But maybe it was different now that I was a noble lady.
Honestly, I want to ask.
But… it felt greedy.
I already had so much. Everyone treated me like I was precious.
And still, I wanted more.
“Sarina.”
“…?”
I called her timidly. She blinked in surprise.
Then, as if realizing something, she gestured to the other maids.
They sighed playfully—“So jealous,” “Unfair,” “If only she’d hug me once!”—and quietly left.
Only my guards, Tera and Chopin, stayed.
Sarina knelt before me, smiling proudly.
“Something worrying you, my lady?”
I shook my head silently.
No.
“Remember what I told you about the Public Servants’ Club?”
“…?”
I nodded.
“I’m an honorary member.”
She whispered it as if sharing a great secret.
“There are paid members and invited members, but very few honorary ones. Of course, Lord Tera himself made me one—he has excellent taste, you see.”
My head started spinning.
“By the way, the chairman of the club is Lord Tera.”
I couldn’t even lift my face, my cheeks burning.
It’s like something out of a lie.
It didn’t feel real at all.
Was this love? No… more like admiration?
“My lady?”
I hugged Sarina tightly.
Some feelings don’t need words. Or maybe… I just didn’t have the courage to say them.
I want someone to wish me a happy birthday.
Or really—I want to have a birthday. Of course, I must have one, but I wish I knew it. If I hadn’t been an orphan, I would have.
Is it greedy, to wish I hadn’t been one?
When I’ve already been given such wonderful parents?
“You seem nervous. You’ll do great today.”
“Even if everyone likes me, Sarina’s still my favorite.”
“…?”
It came out suddenly, but I meant it.
For some reason, Sarina looked touched.
She met my eyes—beautiful eyes.
Even if she hadn’t been pretty, I think I still would’ve thought she was.
“For me too, my lady—no, Adelle. You come first.”
“Are you flirting with girls in the morning now, little sister?”
I turned my head quickly.
I hadn’t sensed a thing—maybe because he was too strong.
My brother stood there, evaluating me briefly.
“You’re dressed like a cute little puppy.”
He always called me a dog—but the problem was, I didn’t mind.
“The next master of Crimson Flame.”
Sarina stood, bowing formally.
I just watched as Blake approached.
“Hand.”
“…Hand.”
He offered his hand like one would to a pet, and I obediently placed mine on his.
That was how an escort worked—I’d read it in a book.
“A matching set, huh.”
He picked up the teddy bear dressed like me and handed it over.
I held it close, then looked up at the hand holding mine.
“You don’t seem like a person.”
“…Did you just insult me?”
“Hm. You’re like an animal. But I forgot which kind.”
“Ha, unbelievable—rebellion from an eight-year-old?”
He did resemble something dark.
Something with black fur and sharp eyes—a predator that killed even its tamer.
Yeah… you do look like that.
Even as he gave me an exasperated look, Blake didn’t mess up my hair—probably because we were about to meet the Duke.
As we walked down the corridor, servants and maids glanced and squealed.
“Look at her! Matching the teddy bear—ahhh, I’m dying! So cute!”
“Eeeek!”
Maybe they weren’t talking about me. But no—they definitely were.
“You’re popular, little sister.”
His teasing made my ears burn.
I didn’t know what to do.
A “Public Servants’ Club”? Seriously…
It still didn’t feel real. And everything he said sounded like teasing anyway.
…
After walking for a while, we stopped.
We stepped out of the corridor into a vast, bright space—
Knights bowed low, surrounding one man who looked down at them with the arrogance of someone born to rule.
I didn’t need to be told who he was.
The strongest. The one with absolute authority. The ruler himself.
He was dressed in the most formal, exquisite attire I’d ever seen him wear—his hair neatly black, eyes sharp and red.
I didn’t want to swallow.
The Duke was looking at me.
Even from this distance, his gaze locked on mine.
