CH 7

Sylphia was the most beautiful princess in the Palma Empire and was known for her saintly personality.

The original ending is far from being happy, to the point that it’s hard to even call it ‘merry bad.’ I wish for her to find happiness.

(TL/N: “Merry bad” is a phrase used to describe an ending that is not happy or satisfactory.)

Suddenly, I noticed Clyde staring at me intently. There was a meaningful gaze in his eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I tilted my head and asked.

“…It’s nothing.”

Clyde quietly avoided my gaze.

***

The next day.

My eldest brother, Heufeln, came home unexpectedly.

Heufeln was a combat mage in the Mage Brigade, like our father when he was on active duty.

Despite his young age, he was rumored to be an officer in the battalion, actively serving in the front lines.

We rarely had a chance to see his face since he was always out in the field.

At most, he would come home once or twice a year for a vacation.

“You’re back.”

“Yes, Father.”

That was surprisingly the extent of the conversation between my father and Heufeln, despite the fact that they hadn’t seen each other in half a year.

Of all my brothers, Heufeln was the one who most resembled our father, Julion.

He never spoke more than was necessary, and his facial expression rarely changed.

He even looked so much like our father that I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a younger doppelganger.

“How long will you stay this time, big brother?”

Nita asked after the family dinner, sitting across from Heufeln, smoking a cigar.

“A week.”

“Then let’s set a day to go horseback riding during that time.”

At Nita’s words, Heufeln gave a small nod.

“Ayla, you’re coming too, right?”

“Uh, I…”

To be honest, I was too busy trying to figure out how to break the barrier to go.

But it was hard to say no to spending time with my oldest brother after such a long time.

Moreover, since I couldn’t go out much on a regular basis, declining a legal opportunity to go out with my brothers would definitely raise suspicions.

“Of course. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Eila’s gotten a lot better at horseback riding. You’ll be surprised when you see her.”

“Of course, I’m looking forward to it too.”

The corner of Heufeln’s mouth twitched up, almost imperceptibly.

Even with just that, it could be considered a significant emotional expression by Heufeln.

It was a smile that he showed only to me among the family.

“How is the situation?”

“No change. It’s a repeated cycle of advance and retreat.”

The Palma Empire was a country that directly bordered the Demon Realm and was known as the “Barrier of Humanity.”

Demons had been invading human lands for hundreds of years under the leadership of the Demon King.

The Palma Empire, with the support of other nations, has been on the front lines of this invasion.

According to the original novel, the war would end approximately seven years from now.

As Nita muttered these words, Heufeln’s expression turned sharply sour.

“It’s impossible to make peace with demons.”

“….”

“Don’t expect to have a conversation with them just because you can talk to them. They are beasts, demons whose only desire is to tear human flesh and drink blood.”

Heufeln’s words were spoken with extreme hatred and disgust for demons.

In this aspect, Heufeln was no different from our father, Julion.

Being the oldest among siblings, he vividly remembered the time when our mother was murdered.

Besides, he’s been on the front lines, watching his comrades die at the hands of demons all the time, so it’s not unreasonable for him to react like that….

“Big Brother is right. I’m sorry.”

Nita apologized with a darkened expression.

He felt guilty towards his brother for serving in the safe rear as a member of the Imperial Guard.

He’d never said it out loud, but it was obvious enough from the way Nita usually looked at Heufeln.

To my eldest brother, Clyde is just another demon to be slain.

I couldn’t help but look at Heufeln with mixed feelings.

According to the original story, in seven years’ time he would die on the front lines, sooner than anyone else in his family.

But this time, I couldn’t let that happen.

Not just for my own life, or the lives of my family, but for Clyde’s.

At that moment, Heufeln suddenly looked at me and his rigid face softened.

“I’m sorry, Eila. I must have startled you.”

He must have read my expression and thought I was frightened.

I quickly waved my hands.

It was much earlier than my usual bedtime, but it seemed like Huefeln didn’t know that because he had been away from home for a long time.

His memory must have been fixed on a time many years ago, when I was younger.

“Yes, big brother. I understand.”

Still, I nodded without question. I knew there were things my brothers couldn’t talk about because of me, so I tried to stay out of the way.

Then, Huefeln put out his cigarette and stood up from his seat.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you to your room.”

“What? No, it’s not necessary. You don’t have to bother.”

I quickly declined, but Huefeln held out his hand as if he hadn’t heard me.

When I didn’t take it and just stared at it, he gave me a puzzled look.

I heard Nita chuckle softly.

“Eila’s not so little anymore, Brother. She’s a grown lady.”

At that, Heufeln narrowed his eyes, then smiled faintly.

“I see. I’ve been rude.”

He withdrew his outstretched hand and instead came to stand beside me, offering his arm.

With a composed expression, I placed my hand on my older brother’s arm. Due to the height difference, I had to hold onto a part close to his wrist, but it didn’t look awkward.

“Good night, my lady.” Nita said, and I lifted the corner of my mouth slightly before following Huefeln to my room.

A few hours later.

I waited until late at night before sneaking out of my room. I was going to go to Clyde again today.

As usual, I came out of the kitchen with something to eat. It was then that I heard a low voice from behind me.

“Eila.”

My heart felt like it dropped to the floor, as if it had stopped beating. It was a miracle that I didn’t scream.

I turned around, frozen in place, and there stood my eldest brother, Heufeln.

“B-Big Brother? What are you doing here at this hour?”

“I sensed something and came out to check.”

“S-sensed… something?”

“Yes. I can’t sleep when I hear any movement.”

Apparently, Heyfeln’s room wasn’t far from the hall on the first floor.

However, I had cast a soundproofing spell, making even the tiniest footsteps inaudible.

The fact that he had heard me could only be attributed to extrasensory senses beyond mere hearing.

Perhaps it was because he had spent a long time on the battlefield, where life and death were at stake.

“What about you, Eila?”

“Um, well… You see…”

As I hesitated, Heufeln’s eyes fell on the basket I was carrying.

Oh, yeah. That’s it!

“I actually woke up and got hungry.”

I quickly opened the basket to reveal its contents.

It was filled to the brim with food, far more than a single serving.

It was due to Clyde’s voracious appetite that didn’t match his small stature.

“…”

Heufeln alternated his gaze between the basket and my face in silence, then finally spoke quietly.

“It seems like you were really hungry.”

“…”

I felt embarrassed and involuntarily closed my eyes.