“Good morning, Ethel. And Titania.”
“…?”
“Jar oppa…!”
I froze as soon as I came down to the dining room for breakfast.
No, it wasn’t as though I hadn’t expected this at all.
‘Again… here?’
Two mornings ago, I’d made up my mind—if I wanted to keep Tani safe, the best thing I could do was remove myself from the picture. Ever since then, I had faithfully avoided both Tani and Jar.
Of course, I couldn’t avoid my little sister entirely. I still spent time with her, eating and playing together from time to time.
But every time—
“Hello, Ethel. And Titania.”
Jar would appear.
Like a ghost.
And more often than not, he brought Tani, who had been playing alone, straight to me.
Just like I used to do.
“I came because I wanted to eat together,” he said naturally, sliding into the seat beside Tani.
I tried to keep my gaze fixed only on my sister.
But Jar wouldn’t stop talking.
“Ethel, did you know that at the very end of the world called Suoelm, there is eternal darkness?”
“…”
“They say there’s a place where unending cold and eternally boiling heat coexist.”
“…”
“I once—”
Suddenly, I couldn’t take it anymore. I jumped to my feet.
“Oh my, Father called me! I completely forgot…!”
“…?”
Both Jar and Tani blinked at me in surprise, but I turned quickly, refusing to meet their eyes.
“Sorry, Tani! I’ll be back soon—!”
What I meant was: I’m not coming back.
They probably realized that too.
I knew my behavior was awkward, but this was the only way I could manage right now.
Truly.
Meanwhile, Jar and Tani remained in the dining room.
Ethel’s behavior hadn’t changed drastically from a few days ago, but her feelings were clearly different.
If before, her goal had been to keep Titania away from Jar—
“…”
“Hmm…”
Tani, fidgeting, looked back and forth between the door her sister had vanished through and Jar. At last, she spoke first.
“Hm?”
Jar, who had also been staring at the door, glanced back at her.
The little girl clenched her fists tightly.
“Oh… you’re embarrassed.”
Her words had grown smoother than before. All thanks to Jar, who often sat beside her, reading aloud.
But Titania was no fool.
She had noticed.
Her sister always said she wanted to go to Jar first—yet when she actually met him, she would run away.
And so—
“Jar,” Tani asked hesitantly, “do you… like my sister?”
Jar’s lips curled in a slanted smile.
“Why do you think so, Titania?”
“Well… Jar hasn’t called me ‘Tani, Tani’ lately. But… you always call my sister, ‘Edelweiss… Edel…’”
She tilted her head, recalling carefully.
Tani wasn’t oblivious.
Jar laughed softly, as if amused by her reasoning.
“Haha… Titania. Since we’re talking, there’s something I want to ask you too.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think of me?”
“Um…” Tani scrunched up her face, then broke into a bright smile. “A good oppa!”
Jar closed his eyes briefly, sincerity flickering across his expression.
“Yeah… I think so too.”
But the memory of that night in the forest refused to leave him.
Her pure white hair gleaming under the moonlight… her face flushed with fear and tears…
Ethel’s image replayed in his mind again and again.
It was the first time he had ever felt this way.
“Then… that means it’s not you I’m worried about.”
“Hm?”
Confused, Tani tilted her head. Jar only stroked her hair gently.
“I’m more worried about how to catch the one who keeps running away.”
Her eyes went wide.
“Jar… are you and my sister going to be together?”
“…?”
“Like… really together.”
She leaned forward and whispered something into his ear.
Then pulled back, grinning proudly.
“How’s that?”
Jar chuckled, his lips curving into a faint smile.
I don’t know what state I’ll be in when that time comes…
“Shall we try it, Tani?”
Huff, huff…
I was running.
Through endless darkness.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Dogs barked from all directions, closing in.
If I stop, I’ll be eaten.
Sweat poured down my back. There was no place to hide.
‘Isn’t there… anyone…?’
Then, up ahead, an altar appeared.
Unlike the old, worn altars I’d seen before, this one gleamed—atop it sat a small, ornate box.
Drawn as if possessed, I opened it.
Inside was a bead glowing with a brilliant, bloody red light.
I reached for it, shivers racing down my spine.
This is…
…
…
Chirp, chirp.
Morning sunlight. I woke, exhausted, with a groan.
“I saw… everything.”
The image still burned in my eyes.
“The bead that curses Tani!”
It was exactly as described in the novel. Too exact.
‘But why did I see it in my dream? And why today of all days…?’
Covering my face with both hands, I whispered weakly.
“Today is Tani’s birthday…”
“Wow, miss! You’re so cute!”
When I finished getting ready and went to Tani’s room, the maids’ voices rang with excitement.
“Tani…!”
“Sister—!”
I beamed at the little girl, today’s shining star.
Her long, snowy hair was braided into a crown, and she wore a light pink dress with a voluminous skirt. Each step made the hem flutter gracefully.
“She’s really pretty. Anyone can tell today’s main character is you, Tani.”
“You look like a princess too, sister.”
She laughed bashfully and hugged me tightly.
The maids squealed.
“Miss Ethel’s dress even matches Miss Tani’s!”
I nodded with a smile.
My own dress was plain white, with layered silk and jeweled accents—but it was clear this was Tani’s day.
As I looked down at her, I asked quietly, “Tani, did you… have any strange dreams?”
“Strange… dreams?” She tilted her head, puzzled.
Her expression showed she didn’t know what I meant.
‘Right… if she had, she would’ve cried, just like the other night.’
Then why had I dreamt of it instead?
Before I could dwell further, Beaty clapped his hands.
“Shall we go down now? I hear the gifts have arrived!”
Hand in hand, we walked down the grand staircase.
The banquet hall bustled with servants carrying in piles of wrapped gifts.
“Tani, look over there!”
“Gifts…!”
“We’ll open them together, you and me. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“…Two…?”
“Eh?”
I blinked, startled.
“Two, two, let’s open them!”
“Tani, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to!”
The sudden cry startled even our parents, who rushed over.
Father scooped Tani into his arms. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Presents… sniffle… not with sister… sniffle…!”
“What…?”
My heart sank.
Tani had never rejected me before.
Even our parents looked bewildered.
“So… you want to open them by yourself?”
She shook her head furiously.
“With… Jar. Brother… sister… together…”
“Three of you?”
She nodded firmly.
Father’s brows knit. “But Tani, gifts are for family—”
“Ugh… ugh…”
Tears welled in her eyes.
This child, who almost never threw tantrums, was trembling on the verge of crying.
‘I… I was the one who got Jar close to Tani. So I need to take responsibility…’
I felt a pang of disappointment, but it was my own fault.
I turned to Father quickly.
“Would it be all right, Father?”
“…Very well. I’ll ask the Marquis.”
With that, Father carried Tani into the banquet hall.
I followed, sighing.
Tani, triumphant, grinned in her father’s arms.
‘What Unni does, Tani will do too!’
‘Why… do I keep running into him?’
Ten minutes later, Jar, Tani, and I were seated before a mountain of gifts.
“Sister, this one…”
“Should we open it next?”
Tani was all smiles, as though her earlier tears had never happened.
I reached for a box and unwrapped it.
“It’s a pretty little teaspoon, Tani. Look how shiny it is.”
“…!”
Each time, Jar made a short comment—but I never once looked at him.
Still, I could feel the faint tingling in my cheeks.
“Unni, that one next!”
The next gift was out of reach. I leaned down to grab it—
And froze.
“…!”
Jar’s hand overlapped mine.
I pulled back quickly, but our eyes had already met.
He smiled faintly.
“…Because you’re right here.”
My heart skipped.
It wasn’t the touch that flustered me, but something else.
Wait… is he burning up?
The brief warmth of his skin had been alarmingly hot. Now that I looked properly, his face was flushed, and sweat glistened at his temple.
‘Ah… I should’ve paid attention to Tani first, not this…’
Just then, Tani slid off her chair.
“Sister, I want to show this to Mom!”
She darted away, clutching the teaspoon.
Leaving Jar and me alone.
I glanced at him again.
‘Is he just trying to act tough and hide the pain?’
After a moment’s hesitation, I whispered, “Jar, are you sick?”
“…Me?”
“Your hands… they were burning.”
His gaze dropped, lashes casting long shadows across his cheeks.
“I don’t know…”
First his hand.
Then his whole body leaned closer.
Was the chair always this narrow?
Before I realized, there was barely any space between us.
“…?”
My breath caught.
Jar, eyes half-closed, tilted his head slightly.
So close.
“Can you… take my temperature?”
