Chapter 22

Come to think of it, I remember…

This sometimes happened during work. After I had returned with coffee during lunchtime, candies would be placed on my table.

It turned out that juniors, whom I have never collaborated with, brought it for me under the context of ‘cheering me up.’

They were such sweet and kind children. Unfortunately, they left the company not much later.

Anyhow, I felt very delighted after I received such a cute surprise in the company. Of course, I received that gratitude well even now.

Having eaten all of her candy, Irene rushed to her bathroom, recalling Webber’s rules.

She brushed her teeth thoroughly, and while she was there, she rinsed her face with water.

All right. It’s okay now.

Whoever the Crown Prince was, I will never let him crossover my brother.

No matter what sweet words he uses to lure brother, Irene will block all of them with her solid iron wall.

After fully regaining her determination, Irene wiped her face enthusiastically. While doing so, she heard a disturbance outside the bathroom.

It’s most likely Beth organizing the bed sheets. She must have come back immediately after returning the book.

“Beth, you’re back. Thank you for returning the book.”

“My lady, you arose already? Let’s fix your hair. You’ll be so pretty.”

Irene opened her mouth to speak of the three that arrived to hand her candy.

Until she spotted Beth holding a candy bottle.

It was a Rose Velvet candy bottle, Irene’s favorite ever since she had received the gift from Elvin.

“Here you go, my Lady.”

“Beth, to do this for me…!”

Irene screamed with emotions as she covered her mouth with both hands.

As expected, Beth was the person closest to her. I could not bear to eat the candy.

This is true love.

True love.

If not, how could she know what the other person wanted, and give it to them like this?

Ah, I could promise to spend my eternity with someone who has a good sense for gifts.

“I’m glad you’re so delighted. “

Beth smiled affectionately.

“In fact, I was reluctant.”

“This candy? Don’t worry. I’ll eat only three a day.”

“No, I didn’t want to hand you any items from him.”

“…Him?”

“Him. the local nobleman who arrived from the country and constantly wandered around both Master Benjamin and my Lady!”

Uh…

“I ran into him at the library, when I returned the book. He was searching for you, so I let him know I arrived alone as my Lady wasn’t feeling well today.”

“Well, so?”

“However, he kept asking me about what happened to my Lady? That was overly ridiculous. How dare he approach my lady! He doesn’t even know his subject!”

Thus, Beth turned the Crown Prince into a ‘person who didn’t know their subject.’

“Y, you didn’t answer him honestly, did you?”

“That’s not possible.”

What a relief.

“I only said, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to use someone.'”

Irene attentively observed Beth’s neck. She wondered if it was still attached to the body.

She did not only cause such a misunderstanding against the Crown Prince, but warned him not to use someone.

Perhaps even the Duke of Blake, said to be the pinnacle of aristocracy, had never uttered such a thing to the Crown Prince.

“Anyway, he asked me to hand this to my Lady, so I let him pass.”

Beth, how far are you going to act all fearlessly? He is already like the Emperor!

You’re going to make the Crown Prince burst!

“Nonetheless, you like that very much, right?”

Beth asked as she pointed to the candy bottle.

Irene lowered her head and observed the cold, smooth bottle.

“Yes, I do, but…”

“Then I’ll go and collect the laundry for a short while. My lady should rest. If anything happens, call Beth. All right?”

“Yes.”

After Beth left, Irene stood blankly, holding the bottle filled with candy. After a while, she opened the lid and placed a candy inside her mouth.

“…Sweet.”

Purely sweet.

She decided not to think of any other sentiments right now.

She broke the rules and sucked on another piece of candy.

***

The next morning.

Irene, awakening from her deep sleep, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Someone was sitting by her bedside. As she quickly lifted her head, a pair of clear blue eyes that resembled hers came into view.

“Bro… ther?”

Irene barely muttered the word, her voice filled with drowsiness.

“Hello, Irene.”

Her brother greeted her, gently sweeping the hair that had flowed down her face.

His careful touch tickled, so Irene grabbed his hand and hurriedly raised her body.

“You’re not wearing glasses today?”

“Well, sometimes.”

He shrugged his shoulders and squinted slightly. Maybe it was because of his blurred vision.

“I think your eyesight is worsening.”

Irene raised her two fingers in dejection.

“Do you see how many of these there are?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

He frowned deeply, unable to see the number of fingers in front of him.

“You can’t see it?”

Irene crept closer.

If he can’t see it even from such a distance, this will be trouble. There’s no method of operating eye surgery here.

“What if I do this?”

“Well.”

“Are you still reading in the dark these days?”

“I don’t pay much attention to the lighting or time when I read books.”

“I told you not to. Poor eyesight won’t ever recover.”

Irene crept once more. Until their distance was as close as possible.

“You can see this!”

Benjamin lifted his arm and pulled her fingers straight up to his eyes.

Naturally, as his face got closer, Benjamin placed his face against Irene’s forehead.

As if he was checking for a fever.

“Brother?”

“Two.”

He answered softly, both his eyes closed.

“What?”

“I mean the fingers.”

Irene quickly pulled her head back and looked at Benjamin with skepticism.

“Did you know how many there were from the beginning?!”

“I could see it.”

Irene’s fingers.

“…I was worried that you really couldn’t see them.”

“Yes, yes, I know. My little sister is very kind.”

He patted Irene on her back while hugging her tenderly.

It was only then Irene realized the reason he had been here since early in the morning.

He must have been worried about his younger sister for a long time.

Irene breathed deeply, leaning her face against Benjamin’s shoulder.

“….It’s all right, now.”

Irene spoke quietly.

“Really.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Still, Benjamin continued to pat her back.

I feel very pleasant when someone hugs me like this. It makes me warm and I feel like I could do anything…

“You know, brother.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you want to be later?””

“That’s a difficult question.”

Is it that difficult? It might be hard to choose one because there arejust so many things that he’s good at.

“I think I want to be a great Count of Webber.”

“That’s nice.”

“I want to be a great brother.”

“You’ve already accomplished that.”

“Then I have to be the best brother.”

“What kind of brother is that?”

“Well, I don’t know. Shall we decide? Which brother do you like?”

Just like this. Perfect.

…Won’t it feel a little ticklish if I answer like that?

“I like my happy brother.”

So Irene decided to give him a slightly mixed answer.

“A person who works hard at what he likes, who can certainly achieve anything.”

“Well, that certainly sounds happy.”

“Right?!”

“It would be nice if I am able to do that.”

“Of course there may not be a perfect seat. But if you look carefully, there are always others!”

As Irene blabbed on excitedly, Benjamin smiled.

“When I observe Irene, sometimes she seems like a person who’s been living in society for more than eight years and five months. “

…Uh, how did you know?!

“Th, Th, That can’t be.”

“That’s right. Irene had been with me ever since she was born. Every single moment.”

Chills ran down her spine.

It seemed that I talked too comfortably as I grew older. I should not forget my pure and innocent actions.

“I just… thought it would be nice if I could spend time with my brother. Even after he earned a job later.”

All right, that sounded pure, didn’t it?

I would not be seen as a person who had lived in society for more than eight years and five months.

“Of course, I love spending time with Irene. Especially when the weather is nice.”

After Benjamin said “a nice day,” he raised his head, and looked out of the window.

Is the weather nice today?

Irene escaped from Benjamin’s arms and turned around to look out of the window.

“Ah.”

Irene showed her fascination as she stared.

She did not realize that it was snowing, till now.

Irene slipped out of the bed and her bare feet landed on the floor.

After walking a little slower to the window, she pushed it wide open.

She reached out her hand.

The snow, raining on her small palm, soon melted down.