Chapter 290: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (83)

“Ria, it’s the same for me... Until you arrived at the manor, I had no recollection of having a little sister.”

I was simply too young at the time.

My memories always began from the time after my little sister had already left the manor.

Though I always used to hear she was an intelligent and talented child, I never had the chance to meet or build a bond with her.

She just seemed like someone exceptional.

If she mastered arithmetic before I could even form memories, she must have been a prodigy.

And so, there was a time when the idea of a ‘little sister’ felt distant to me. Then one day, Ria arrived at the manor.

That was when I realized for the first time.

A little sister could be such a cute and lovable presence.

“So, to me, ‘you’ are the only ‘little sister’ I have... At least to me, you’re the real one. No matter what anyone says.”

That was the way the relationship between Ria and me was meant to be.

To me, Ria was the only sister I had and for Ria, I was the only one with whom she could truly be “real.”

We were each other’s only siblings.

That made our bond all the more precious.

“...B-But still.”

Ria, sniffling, began to grumble.

She was adorable. As always.

“I stabbed you, didn’t I?”

“We’re siblings.”

With a wry smile, I gently patted her back.

“Siblings do that sometimes.”

“...What does that even mean?”

Ria murmured almost incredulously at my ridiculous excuse.

Her tone was slightly relaxed.

Her voice now carried a hint of laughter, like the first signs of spring arriving on a winter field.

To comfort Ria, I pulled her into an even tighter embrace.

The soft feel of her body brought a unique sense of relief.

Carefully, I asked her,

“...Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“No.”

Her still-teary eyes looked up at me.

They reminded me of the moon in the night sky.

I felt a bit lightheaded seeing her so fragile.

Or was it the lingering effects of my injuries?

“I’m still scared.”

“...I see, I see.”

As I patted Ria, I simply repeated words of reassurance.

“I’m anxious, what if I do something terrible to you again, Oppa...?”

“I see, I see.”

I reassured her over and over, saying that it could happen.

Only then did Ria seem to calm down a little, as she asked me,

“...Can I trust you, Oppa?”

“Of course you can.”

Just when I was about to ask, ‘What else is a little sister supposed to do, if not trust her Older brother?’

Ria shot me a mischievous glance and said,

“Then make a promise to me.”

I loosened my grip around her and looked at her face, puzzled.

There was a faint blush on her cheeks.

“...Y-You’re a knight, right? If I’m not a monster, then make a promise to me as you would to a princess.”

What is she getting at?

I frantically tried to process it.

Images from the fairy tales we read as children began to flash through my mind one by one.

The ones Ria particularly liked often had a touch of romance.

The tragic love between a knight and a princess and the unique way they exchanged their promises.

A kiss.

When my thoughts reached that point, I couldn’t help but let out a faint wry laugh.

That couldn’t be it.

No matter how much Ria liked me, we were still siblings, after all.

Even if we weren’t related by blood, that’s how I saw it.

Likewise, Ria must have thought the same.

My father simply called it “responsibility.”

Being from a small rural estate, they never imagined the family secret would be exposed, and for that, they simply apologized for causing me unnecessary trouble. r

I neither praised nor criticized my parents.

I simply chose to respect their decision.

Deep down, I was also grateful.

I would never have met Ria if it weren’t for them.

Even after I laid her down in her bedroom, there were still numerous events waiting for me.

As I lay in bed, groaning under the Saintess’s disapproving gaze, a visitor came to see me.

“...Master?”

Through the slightly open door, I caught sight of a pointed hat.

Soon after, a cute girl’s face popped into view.

Seeing her blink and stare at me, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Senior Elsie...”

Here she is again.

Lately, Senior Elsie had been doing this quite often.

Despite the Saintess’s orders for me to have absolute rest, Senior Elsie would sneak in whenever she was away, showing up just to see me.

Of course, she seemed mindful of the Saintess’s warnings, as she showed some restraint.

At least for now, she wasn’t trying to throw herself into my arms.

Just recalling how Senior Elsie used to monopolize my embrace, leading to standoffs with Celine and Seria, was enough to make me feel dizzy.

The Saintess didn’t look kindly upon her either.

Still, it was a relief that she was currently content with simply chatting.

And since I had nothing else to do, I was glad to see Senior Elsie visit.

Today, however, Senior Elsie seemed a bit hesitant.

So, I decided to break the ice first.

“Is something wrong?”

“L-Later this evening...”

With a nervous expression, Senior Elsie carefully inquired about my schedule.

“...Would it be possible for us to meet alone?”

Hmmm, a thoughtful hum escaped my lips.

Would the Saintess allow it?

Recently, my condition has improved quite a bit. With the vacation almost over, some even suggested that I might complete my rehabilitation within the remaining time.

And didn’t Leto also advise me?

He suggested I spend some private time alone with the women.

That seemed like a valid excuse to insist a little with the Saintess.

“Sure, let’s meet in the backyard later this evening.”

“...O-Okay!”

Senior Elsie jumped up and eagerly responded.

With a bright smile, her face soon lit up as she took a few steps back and left my room.

Though, I did hear a triumphant “Yes!” as she walked away.

I could easily picture Senior Elsie clenching her tiny fists and shaking them in excitement.

I chuckled softly to myself and waited for the evening to come.

Had an important guest not arrived before then, I would have headed straight to meet Senior Elsie.

There were only two of us seated in the spacious reception room.

Normally, this would be a time when my companions would be gathered here and the room would be bustling, but considering this guest’s importance, everyone else vacated the space.

He was a middle-aged man clad in a black uniform.

Only the graying of his hair hinted at his true age.

Though he reached old age long ago, his body was remarkably robust,

To the point that it was on par with me at my prime.

He was more famous by his title than by his actual name.

‘The Sword Duke of the Empire.’

After silently standing with his hands behind his back for some time, he finally spoke to me in a heavy tone.

“...She might still be alive.”

He handed me a stack of papers, three or four pages thick, and added,

“Your ‘real’ little sister.”

My expression turned blank as I took the papers.

This was the reason the Sword Duke had come to see me.

The conversation he insisted we needed to have.

Its subject was the whereabouts of my ‘real’ sister.