101CF 08

Chapter : 08

“Big sister, what’s your name?”

“Lucia Agnes.”

“I’m Henry Peneus! Big sister, let’s get married!”

“What?”

“Henry!”

“Uwahh! Big brother!”

Before Lucia could even react, Herwin hurriedly pulled Henry away.

Henry struggled in Herwin’s grasp, shouting for him to let go.

At that moment, Lucia and Herwin’s eyes met.

A face that felt strangely nostalgic—it was both familiar and unfamiliar, leaving them with a strange feeling. Just as Herwin opened his mouth, startled and unsure, Lucia spoke first.

“Herwin, it’s been a while.”

“Huh? Oh… yeah, it’s been a while.”

“Herwin! You’ve grown so much! I’m not short myself, but still!”

Lucas, who stood beside Lucia, suddenly poked his face out. Herwin’s eyes widened for a moment, then he let out a small laugh.

“It’s been a while for you too, brother.”

“Oh, you remember me?”

“Of course I do. We were in the capital together for over a year.”

“Really? Lucia barely remembered. Since you’re the same age as her, I thought you’d forget too.”

Since Herwin greeted them warmly, Lucas assumed he remembered everything, unlike Lucia. But maybe that wasn’t the case.

When Herwin turned his gaze toward Lucia, she awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“Uhh! Let gooo!”

Henry finally wriggled free from Herwin’s grasp and clung to Lucia like a cicada.

“Henry—?”

Herwin spoke with a frightening yet gentle tone, and Henry flinched. His sharp red eyes, framed by softly curved lashes, looked intimidating.

“Is this how you behave toward a guest?”

“U-uh… th-that’s because…”

No matter how stubborn a five-year-old was, he couldn’t ignore his older brother’s words. As Henry grew frightened, Lucia gently patted his back.

“I don’t mind. Henry, do you want to play with me?”

“…Yeah! Big sister!”

“Then let’s hold hands instead of clinging to me. I’ll play with you lots.”

Since it was hard to keep her balance with Henry clinging to her, Lucia smiled and reached out her hand. Henry’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay! Okay!”

He grinned widely, still clinging to her. Herwin, however, didn’t look pleased at all.

He glared at Henry, but when his eyes met Lucia’s, he quickly looked away.

The reunion of once inseparable childhood friends wasn’t as smooth as others might have expected.

There was a faint awkwardness between them—unfamiliar and uncomfortable. And yet, within that atmosphere lingered anticipation and a subtle thrill.

“Wow, your castle is so huge. I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

“Right? I guess it’s because your family rules the North. It’s as big as the imperial palace!”

Lucia and Lucas followed Herwin and Henry as they toured the ducal estate.

Herwin walked ahead, guiding them, while Henry stubbornly held onto Lucia’s hand and stuck by her side.

“Big sister, big sister. They say a scary witch used to live here. So ghosts still appear sometimes.”

“Really? No wonder it feels a little spooky.”

When Lucia shivered playfully, Henry’s eyes hardened.

“Are you scared? Don’t worry! I’ll protect you!”

“You haven’t changed one bit, have you? You never wanted to leave Lucia’s side back then either.”

“When you become my bride, I’ll give you everything!”

“Hey, you brat! Who said you could marry her? I’m not giving my sister to you, so dream on.”

“Ugh, don’t get in the way!”

Lucas laughed and pressed down on Henry’s head.

Henry swung his arms in protest, but as a five-year-old, he couldn’t possibly overpower a ten-year-old boy.

Finally freed from Henry, Lucia drifted quietly toward Herwin.

But when she came closer, Herwin pressed his lips together tightly.

Unlike the playful Lucas and Henry, the two of them couldn’t bring themselves to say anything.

Lucia felt unbearably awkward. Maybe she was the only one feeling this way? She lifted her gaze—

Click—

Their eyes met.

Startled, both of them flinched and quickly looked away.

Her heart pounded, but then she wondered, What are we even doing? She cautiously turned her head back.

“Um…”

“Hm?”

Herwin answered awkwardly, as if feeling the same tension.

“Uh… have you been doing well?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess so…”

The conversation trailed off and silence returned. Then Herwin spoke first.

“You’ve been well too, right?”

“Me? Yeah… Lately, I got a new piano teacher, so I’ve been learning piano. What about you?”

“Mm… just the usual. Lessons and etiquette from tutors. And swordsmanship training.”

“Swordsmanship? Do you want to be a knight?”

“Not exactly a knight. I want to become a great swordsman like my father.”

Herwin’s stiff expression softened slightly.

“Well, Duke Peneus is really famous. He was called… Sword something…”

“Sword Master. The idol of all swordsmen. If Father’s around, he can defeat any enemy! Not only that, a Sword Master can freely control aura! My father’s aura is—”

Herwin suddenly got carried away, excitedly praising his father. Halfway through, he stopped when he noticed Lucia’s wide, curious eyes.

“Ah, s-sorry… I got too excited…”

“No, it’s fine. I can tell you really admire your father.”

“Well… who wouldn’t?”

“Me too! My dad’s the best in the world for me too!”

Herwin scratched his head awkwardly, but when he met Lucia’s bright smile, he couldn’t help but smile back.

The awkwardness between them slowly gave way to a more comfortable warmth.

“Waaahh! Big brother!”

A sudden cry interrupted the moment.

Henry came running, sobbing, and threw himself into Lucia’s arms. Although he had called Herwin earlier, the one he clung to was Lucia.

“B-big sister! Scold that mean brother for me!”

Tears welled in Henry’s eyes as he pointed accusingly at Lucas.

“Mm… what did my brother say to you?”

“He said I’m too young to marry you! But I am going to marry you!”

“Was I wrong? Besides, I already told you—I’m not giving my sister to anyone.”

Lucas teased him mercilessly, draping his arm over Lucia’s shoulder.

Henry grew more upset and started yelling at him to stop.

“Brother, don’t tease him too much. He’s still little…”

“Hahaha, sorry, sorry. But his reactions are just too funny.”

“You’re the worst! I hate you!”

“Hmph, what will you do if you hate me? I’m Lucia’s brother.”

When Lucas leaned close to Lucia’s face, the family resemblance was striking—they looked so much alike anyone could tell they were siblings.

Henry fell silent, unable to argue against the obvious.

“Oh, it’s almost dinnertime. Should we head to the dining hall?”

Herwin cut in to change the subject.

“What time is it now?”

“Half past six.”

“Eh, it’s only that? Then why am I so hungry?”

“Well, we’ve been touring the castle for three hours straight.”

Unlike awkward Lucia, Herwin chatted easily with Lucas.

Lucia quietly watched as the two walked further ahead.

“Big sister, aren’t you coming?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, let’s go.”

At Henry’s call, Lucia quickly grabbed his hand and followed after the two boys.

Five days passed since they had arrived at the ducal estate.

The Agnes siblings and the Peneus brothers had grown close, just like in the old days in the capital. The initial awkwardness was gone.

But there was one difference: Herwin no longer stuck by Lucia’s side all the time.

Whether because his memories hadn’t all returned, or because Lucas was closer to his own age, Herwin spent more time with him.

Still, it wasn’t as if he avoided Lucia.

He got along with her, joked around, and played—just not like the inseparable friends they once had been.

“Big sister! Big sister! Read this to me!”

Lucia had been watching Herwin laugh brightly with Lucas when Henry tugged at her.

“Sure, what should I read?”

“This one! You’re in this book!”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah! Look, right here!”

Henry plopped into her lap and opened the book to a page.

On it was a woman with brown hair and blue eyes, sitting in the forest, smelling flowers. She looked just like Lucia.

Huh? Why does this feel familiar?

Though she had never seen this picture or this storybook before, an odd sense of déjà vu washed over her, as if she had lived this moment before.

Lucia stared intently at the illustration, curious about the strange familiarity.

Henry, who had been chattering away, noticed the silence and looked up. His mouth dropped open without thinking.

Lucia’s clear blue eyes seemed lost in thought, tinged with melancholy.

Henry’s chest tingled.

Mom said if you like something, you should mark it as yours first.

Before anyone else could take it away, he decided to leave his mark.

Smooch—

The noisy room suddenly fell silent, making the sound of the kiss echo loudly.

Lucia, caught off guard, blinked in surprise. Lucas and Herwin, who had been laughing together, also froze with wide eyes.

“Big sister’s mine now.”

“…This feels oddly familiar too.”

Lucia touched her cheek awkwardly, looking down at Henry.

“Y-you little brat!”

Lucas’s face turned red as he rushed to pull Henry off her.

But even now, the moment gave Lucia the same strange déjà vu as in a dream. Almost instinctively, her eyes drifted toward Herwin.

It felt like he should have been the one to pull Henry away from her—not Lucas.

“Sorry my little brother bothered you. He must really like you. Normally he doesn’t act this way.”

“Huh? Oh… it’s fine. It happens.”

“I’ll scold him properly. He won’t do it again.”

Herwin stood and moved to break up Henry and Lucas’s squabble.

“…This doesn’t feel right.”

An inexplicable sense of loss crept over her.

Herwin’s response was natural, of course. But for some reason, she wished he had gotten angry instead of calmly reasoning with his brother.

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump…!

Her quiet heart began to pound loudly.

The rapid beat carried with it not just discomfort, but a confusing, unfamiliar emotion. Lucia had no idea how to define what she was feeling now.