Beware of the Brothers - Chapter 8

‘Child, are you hungry, aren’t you hungry?’

‘I didn’t eat anything all day.’

On the streets, very few people were

interested in a child selling flowers in a flimsy outfit.

Most people were close to avoiding even the hem of a burnt-out clothes when they came out and walked out.

Of course, it wasn’t that there was no lady who had compassion for me and treated me, but this is the first time I’ve ever

spoken with a trembling voice with wet eyes like this one.

Elegantly twisted silver hair and a blue-eyed lady. Even if I pretend not know, she

seemed to be a very high ranking person.

The same was true for the brown hair and black-eyed gentleman standing behind here.

Made from high-quality fabrics, clean clothes that look evident, faces with structure, and elegance felt from one gesture.

By the way, she grasped my messy hand

holding a flower without hesitation.

‘The flower is very pretty. I want this flower, how much can I give it to you?’

Besides the flowers I gave were fresh, they were also wild flowers that even felt shabby when compared to the person in front of me.

These unsightly flowers could not feel pretty to them who would have lived with only the most beautiful and good things in the world.

In fact, it would have been difficult for me to give this to her unless I was also begging for their compassion.

‘One copper, please.’

‘If I want all the flowers in the basket?’

‘Uh… all of this?’

I tried to take my hand off from her hand. Phosphorus leaned down to her body, facing her gaze. I couldn’t see her eyes straight.

‘I don’t know how many there are, so I have to count them…..’

I mumbled and tried to count the flowers in the basket, but she never let go of my hand.

So I had to put the basket on the floor and count the flowers in the basket with one hand.

It was the next moment that she, who was watching the flower I was talking about, seemed impatient.

‘Child, won’t you go with us?’

I raised my head without understanding what I was hearing.

‘I’m sorry. I know this abrupt remark is embarrassing….’

And the woman I faced has more moist eyes than before, and I opened my mouth to the blue eyes that seemed to cry at any moment.

‘But I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave here.’

She has already asked other people in Mellington and that they knew I was

living alone.

So, from the first time they saw me at streets a few days ago, she was hesitating and wondering how many times she could speak to me.

Then, the moment I approached her and gave her flowers, she later told me that she couldn’t stand the words that reached the end of her neck.

‘I want you to be my family.’

With that said, I remember looking at the blue eyes I faced for a long time. Then she quietly opened her lips towards me as she was waiting for my answer.

If I go back to that point in the past again, I would definitely have made the same choice. I was pretty sure about that.

lHow can this happen?”

“I can’t believe it’s happening on the private property of the imperial family.”

I thought as I heard murmured with a grunting voice around me. Today Ernst’s funeral came with a lot of people.

The number of relatives associated with Ernst was not small, and there were many other family members who visited to pay

tribute to them.

In addition, even today, Arlanta’s royal families were in this place. Well, it would be so. Ernst couple died while defending the crown prince, which they regarded as a forbidden tree.

“But they’re saving someone whom to be the next Emperor.”

“Duke Ernst went on to do the job of worthy of the name of the Imperial Sword until the end.” They said.

The later criminal was the emperor’s chief. When evacuating assassins, instead of using the imperial wagon to disturb them, I heard that crown prince was on Ernst’s carriage.

At that moment, there was also a Cabel, and the fact that Ernst had three boys was already public, so it would have been a good plan to pretend to be Erich in case of emergency.

The plan was initially successful, but Ernst’s wagon was chased from the

start.

In the end, the wagon that speeded up to the limit to overturn the chasers was overthrown, causing an accident.

“Piezer, she must have been on the edge of the cliff quite a bit. It’s going to be a lot of work.”

“Because she had a son, she would have thought that the world would be hers if only the crown prince were gone.”

“That’s what a prostitute’s blood is.”

“Your Majesty, you are new to Chonghui, right?”

“I heard that he is younger, and he is still young. Was it eighteen or nineteen? So, I’m just nervous.”

The traitors were immediately arrested by the knights mobilized shortly thereafter, but none of them were executed.

When they’re opening the door of the broken wagon, Ernst couple said to be dead as they’re holding their children as if to protect them.

“From the imperial’s standpoint, Ernst is like a benefactor who saved the life of the crown prince, so it will be even better position for them in the future.”

That’s why the emperor himself stepped into today’s funeral. So, in a sense, the death of the Ernst couple may have been truly glorious.

“But when it comes to this, don’t you think this make Ernst is a bit dangerous either?”

“They have the eldest son. He look so mature. As expected from the Ernst too. I mean look at the way he handle in such a situation.”

Perhaps, Eugene is also listening to what they are saying. Count Schumaha was the guardian of the three brothers, and Cabel was in serious condition and would have to take more time there.

And since Erich heard his parents’ obituary, he cried too much and came to the point of dehydration.

“It’s really a pity. The youngest is still so young….”

I saw Erich crying at his aunt’s arm, Marquis Leonard wife. Unlike Eugene,

who keeps a consistent face, Erich was still crying.

“Is that the child? Last year the girl who joined the Ernst.”

“Mrs. Ernst must have had a hobby in charity.”

“Oh my, but look at her, not shedding any tears.”

“I don’t even know her, and all of this, the way she get into Ernst and behaving like that…”

“How ungrateful.”

The narrative voice also contained a story about me. I stood silently and listened to what they were saying.

Yeah. They saved me, but why couldn’t I save them. How? I wanted to save them.

I didn’t want to let they die this time. I wished this time that everyone was together lasted a long time…

Originally destined to die in a wreck-over accident, they also died for similar reasons this time, but the situation was worse.

This time, Cabel got caught up in and got a big blow. Was there an assault at the hunting site at this time? I didn’t

remember.

So the Ernst couple eventually die.

After the incident, Cabel suffered a serious injury that could not easily healed.

Perhaps I didn’t even know that I was feeling proud because I knew the future so I thought I could make things a little easier in the future.

‘Hari is our baby too.’

Mrs. Ernst’s voice dimly echoed in my head, so I trembled at my fingertips. It was strange. It’s not that their death wasn’t sad, but why don’t my tears come out?

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work for a while, but you have to be strong. If you need help, you can always tell us without difficulty.”

“It’s okay even later, so please contact me.”

I nodded my head, thinking of Johannes

and Louise, who had been in contact with me via the letters and correspondence since the first meeting.

“Eugene, you don’t have to hesistate to lean on us from now on.”

And at the end of the funeral, relatives, including Marquis Leonard, who was holding Erich, approached and said,

“The harder the time, the more we should lean on each other. We are a family. Even as mature as they say, Eugene was still a 14-year-old child, and it would be difficult to handle all of this suddenly happening

alone.”

Eugene just stand still, with his dry eyes. I stood a little far away, as I stood and looked at them….

Now that the Ernst couple died, can I stay in the mansion? The question I had a long time passed through my chest again and again. Of course, no one answered.

After that, Eugene was busy. Not surprisingly, he took over his father’s position one morning and became the head of the family.

Originally, Eugene had a busy life as if he had ten bodies, after the death of the Ernst couple.

Any successor to the family was still attending an academy where they had to write down their academic, and in the meantime, he had to step up from the funeral of the Ernst couple to the process of proper succession.

This was even more so because it was not a succession prepared in advance, but was due to the sudden death of the Ernst couple.

Originally, during the semester, he had to live in a dormitory, but taking into account Ernst’s situation, he stayed in the mansion for a while.

So, from early in the morning, Eugene used to go to the palace of the Imperial Palace and the Senate and sleep in Ernst’s residence later at night.

So naturally, only me and Erich remained in the mansion.

“Erich, let’s eat.”

“Don’t want to eat.”

Today, Erich was stuck in a room and didn’t even take a step outside. On days of repeated like this, I exchanged my gaze with Hubert from the back.

After a while, a maid with a tray and Hubert entered the room.

“Hey, even if you don’t have a taste, you should not skip the meal. Get up and eat a

little.”

They put a tray of hot soup next to Erich’s bed, but the next moment, the dishes and plate on the tray flew in the air.

Prang!

“I said I didn’t want to eat!”

The face of the third brother, wrapped in a blanket for a moment, appeared, but when he stared at us fiercely, he turned back and flipped over the blanket.

It was the scene that continued when Eugene not in the mansion for three days.

Eventually, today too we had to leave

the room without Erich touching his food.

I stepped in front of his door, reminiscent of Erich’s swollen eyes. Honestly I don’t know what to do. Unlike before, I was an adult, but I couldn’t figure out how to deal with them.

Of course, Eugene left the mansion before I woke up and come back after I asleep. After that, I was repeating my dailyroutine.

So, with him whom I hardly meet, I haven’t had anything to do for a few days, but what should I do with Erich, who doesn’t eat like that and stays in his room?

Despite this being my second experience, it was very difficult. The first time the Ernst couple died, I was too young.

So honestly, I think I’ve been doing without knowing what it is. And at that time there was Cabel at the mansion.

But now, Cabel was also being treated while staying at Count Schumaha.

“Please eat. You must eat well, Miss Hari.”

Eventually, I was alone in the dining room. When I sat down, Hubert said,

“The duke said he was coming in early today.”

But I don’t even have Erich, it’s kinda sad

like eating alone…

What is this creeping feeling. By sleeping, people live with a heart of mind. If he starves, he becomes more depressed and

sorrowful, and that’s it.

Klang.

I started eating alone.

Since the death of the Ernst couple, unlike Erich, where Eugene hardly starves unless he is forced to feed, I have never missed a meal.

Still, it was fortunate that none of the servant in the room, including Butler Hubert, had said something to me.

Of course, like the people who came to the funeral and chatted at their will, they might be saying something different from

behind, but at least it didn’t matter if it wasn’t in my ears.

I went back to my room after I had a meal. As I did all morning, there was nothing to

do after lunch, so I sat in bed and just stared out the window.

When Eugene came back, I was planning to go out at that time, but Eugene, who

said he’ll came back before dinner time, didn’t reveal his appearance even after the sun go down.

Somehow I was concerned about what Erich was doing, so I quietly opened the door and went in.

“Get out.”

Apparently, the sound of opening the door didn’t seem to be loud, but a small voice

stopped me immediately.

The voice was quieter than at lunch.

“Are you going to be like that?”

“What do you care?”

“I don’t want to see you, so go out.”

That said, for a moment I silently looked at Erich’s back wrapped in a blanket. The next moment something is thrown in front of me.

I’m sorry, but your arms was so weak that it couldn’t hit me and it land downon the floor.

As I looked down, I saw Erich lying alone by bed yesterday, and it was the doll I brought that he thrown. I quietly picked up the doll’s long ears.

“Erich.”

At that time, a soft call came from behind his back. When I turned my head, Eugene returned to the mansion and stood at

the door.

“Wait a moment, I’ll talk to Erich.”

Finally, before leaving the room, he was gazing down with his lips tightly closed.

There was also Hubert, who seemed to go upstairs, to do something that had been

instructed in advance, and after a while the servant took the plate that he brought to Erich’s room.

This time, no crackling sound was heard from inside. After a while, the servant, who had gone inside, came out empty-

handed, I stood still in the hallway with static flows with Hubert.

There was a faint leaking sound from the inside. When the sound of the cry slowly faded, and more time passed, Eugene stepped out with an empty tray.

“From tomorrow on, he won’t skip meal, pay special attention to his meals.”

“I will.”

Hubert left the hallway first after receiving a tray from Eugene. Then I hesitated for a while because I didn’t know what to do

with Eugene, and when I met him, I opened my mouth in a mess.

“Did you already eat?”

Oh, God. Is this the only thing I have to say? I look like someone who can only talk about rice.

“Yeah. Did you already eat?”

“I already ate too.”

“Then go in and take a rest.”

It seems that I’m the only one who feels awkward at all, as Eugene replied casually.

I want to say more, but Eugene’s face looked so tired that I couldn’t say anything

else.

This was even more so frustating, as I moved, I looked at Eugene’s exhausted

back and put the doll I was holding down in front of Erich’s visit and quietly turned.

Eugene has become a little bit sharper.

Hearing that the new Duke of Ernst was young, there was often a friction between others at every aristocratic meeting.

Even as it should have been, Ernst’s elders had to empower Eugene, but the old serpents did not want to miss the chance to dominate Ernst to their liking.

This was followed by a wasting battle with unpleasant purposes. It was an intention to subdue young Eugene as the current Duke Ernst from the start.

When I was young, I didn’t know about that of course, but it was different now.

As I thought about it, Eugene often returned to the mansion during the day when he was tired, or while feeling furious about something and sometime feeling cold.

At that time, I was just scared of him, and his cool eyes used to escape from me,

but now it wasn’t necessarily for me.

“Would you like to ask other relatives for help?”

I sneaked into the sound of leaks in his office.

Eugene returned to the mansion again today with a strong feeling of frost cold air. I thought through his mood it would have been a day similar to another day.

“Who’s your relatives talking to?”

“The most recent exchanges have been between Count Scumahuha or the Marquis Leonard. If you are concerned about the work of the duchess while in outside, it is your personal opinion….”

I couldn’t even hear the back story, so I left.

******

“From today on, my aunt is going to stop by and take care of you guys.”

And the next day, I bite my lips slightly, looking at the lady in front of me.

As expected, it was Mrs. Leonard, Marchioness Leornard who

came to Ernst.

“Eugene, I will will take good care of the children, so don’t worry.”

The lady with elegant red hair looked at Erich in front her and smiled warmly towards him.

“Oh, Erich.Why did you lose weight so

much? Aren’t you hungry? You can’t use be thin.”

“Hm.”

“I saw it at first glance in funeral. So you’re Hari? My sister make you so pretty.”

She said to me in a soft voice with a smile on her face, but I didn’t miss the cold light in her eyes.

“So, I’m gonna take care of you from today, guys.”

Ah. Marchioness Leonard, she was the one who had been disgusting me for 20 years in Ernst.

Of course, she didn’t express that feeling to me in the presence of brother or other people. I had no idea what she was feeling now.

Since it was Marquis Lenoard wife, I was vaguely thinking maybe this time was a right decision that Cabel and Erich were able to recover quickly because she was actually there.

In addition, I understood that Eugene worried about us remaining alone in the mansion.

“Well thank you, Aunt.”

********

“Erich, eat a lot. I really don’t want to see you thin. Aunt bought a gift to give Erich. Let’s eat and open it after that.”

I thought as I staring at the two people in front of me with weak eyes. She pretend

I wasn’t in the middle of the table.

But what, I already knew it going to be like this. Before, while I was in this house, I was treated as person who wasn’t leaving my own home.

But right now everything’s different. I’m a person, but she treat me like I’m not.In fact, I’m more comfortable with it. Still, it certainly seemed better for Erich to have an adult who took care of himself.

It is said that Cabel is also recovering rapidly.

He said his ribs were broken, his arms were cracked, his concussion and bruises were so severe that it would take longer to heal.

I wished that the second brother would get better soon and come back home.

Frankly, Ernst now is so quiet. And no

matter how clueless brother Cabel is, Even now, I was worried that if it was okay for him to fall apart alone.

Of course, He is in good care of his

relative, Countess Schumaha, but still….

Oh, maybe it was because of my thoughts. The aim of the fork was wrong. The cherry tomatoes bounced off the plate showed a plump, light motion and ran over a large table.

The eyes of the two people in front of me were also nailed to cherry tomatoes.

“Maybe she need etiquette training.”

Uhuk? Etiquette training right now?

Mrs. Lenoard muttered a self-talk, and I immediately opened my mouth.

“I learned basic etiquette.”

Maybe she didn’t know I was going to

talk to herself first, Mrs. Lennold frowned.

“From whom?”

“Um…From my mother.”

“Somehow, Melissa had some soft corners to the children.”

She shrugged down her eyes, seemingly understandable. I was inclined to say

more, but before I opened my mouth again, Mrs. Leonard spoke.

“Oh, Erich. You’re done. Well done, well done. Then, shall we go to see the gift your aunt prepared?”

He took him out from the dining room, and I looked at the place where she left and raised my sigh.

********

“Teacher is going to come from tomorrow, so let’s study hard.”

Oh, it’s coming. From what Mrs. Lenoard had been saying since she came to this house, it seemed to finally come upon me.

In fact, it wasn’t Mrs. Lenoard that I really

hated. She was a tutor attached to me.

“Do I learn with Erich?”

“Do you not know that boys and girls are different in learning?”

I was just asking with the hope of a single line. Of course it was a dog horn of hope. Ugh damn.

In fact, it was common for aristocratic children to practice basic education with a tutor at a certain age.

Perhaps if the Ernst couple were alive, they would have tutored Erich and me.

I know that Eugene as the eldest son did the same, and the second, Cabel also

struck a flimsy day and had a dedicated tutor since last year.

“I am the madam who will be in charge of education starting today.”

“I see you for the first time today, Madam.”

So no matter how much I hate this woman, I can’t have a bad point right now. I greeted gracefully towards the lady in front of me.

I noticed that it was surprising for me to say hello in an authentic aristocratic way, and her eyes widened slightly.

It was obvious what she might have heard from Mrs. Leonard or other nobles.

You must have heard that it would not be a while or two to teach me, a sleazy girl who has grown up. And in the past, I was sure that the rumor was right.

At the first meeting, I stuttered like a fool

and said,

“Oh, ah, hello, Madam.”

Even if I think about it now, it was an

embarrassing memory to the point I want to bury myself, such a shameful memory.

“I will try my best to keep up with the teaching. Thank you.”

But! I’m different! I was able to act and speak like this gracefully, unlike the time when I was like a country horse! And how

much I had to beaten by this woman to be like that.

Oh, I hate it now I think about it. No matter how much it’s for my education, there’s nothing right to beat a young child without recognition every day.

So, after years of pain, I didn’t know how excited I was when I finally said goodbye to this woman.

“Young miss is a formal learner of etiquette. Since this is the first time, I will teach from the basics. Be sure to dig in, as I will be demonstrating. If you can’t follow my education properly, I’ll do some punishment.”

So, this time, I have to put it on again from the first lesson.

It seems I have succeeded in giving a good first impression unlike before, and now it remains only to show my perfect aristocratic manners polished for 20 years.

“Please remember what I do.”

Well? But it’s a little strange. Wasn’t it the real basics like how to sit or walk when you first received education? Did I originally learn in this order?

Besides, I just go to training right away without even a simple test. It was a long time ago, so I remembered it as there

was nothing to worry about.

I haven’t been doing etiquette education a

year or two, and I haven’t had any practical experience. It was you that

surprised.

My body was young, and I was already able to show the proper manners as well as active ladies.

So, mimicking the Madam, who is in

front of me whilw was eating coldly, should be an easy task now.

“Now, let’s do the same.”

I sat quietly while the Madam demonstrating, watching and moving after her permission. It’s easy to the point i want to yawn.

At a tea party, you have a face like a mask, and you can talk about everything with your mouth.

It should show elegant, refined handwork without burden. Since it’s gonna be like this. I followed the same thing the Madam did.

Then she looked at me in amazement at how I looked good at courtesy as before. I

noticed that she couldn’t believe I would imitate her to this extent.

Hah, you will! Look at this elegance flowing from my fingertips! Maybe I shouldn’t have to worry about the comfort of my legs anymore.

This time, I don’t need to be beaten every day.

“Stand up and pulled up your skirt.”

Yes, even if you look at it, my current manners are perfect. Huh? I realized what was she just saying in my ear and stopped.

“Have you not heard me? Get up and pulled up your skirt.”

I looked at the unfamiliar face.

“Everything from one to ten is a mess. It’s so incredible that it’s so rudimentary.”

What did you mean by that as I was following what I learned? I really wanted to say that, but I endured once.

“Is there something wrong with my manners?”

“Oh, you think I am just catching up

without a reason now?”

What the hell. From my point of view, I think my manners example was perfect just as a textbook. Did I just fail to recognize it, has there been a change in the manners?

So, is there a difference between the etiquette I used when I grew up and the etiquette I learned when I was young? Besides, I did it brilliantly.

“I hate to have say it many times. There are more things the young miss will have to learn.”

Once I got up from my place as she told me. I still couldn’t figure out what it was, so there wasn’t a way not to do what she wanted me to do.

“Raise your skirt.”

The madam was already holding the next round in hand.

“More. More up.”

When I lifted my hem up to the thighs, only then the sparks fell on the back of my legs. It wasn’t the calf where Madam used

to beat me when she punished me.

It was because the calf was a position that was immediately visible when the hem of the skirt was seen due to running.

She said that it is embarrassing to be punished for lack of learning, so I must hide it from others, and all other people are doing the same.

Crack!

So, the area where she hoisted me up was fixed at the top where the knee was folded, about a finger higher.

Crack!

Ah, I was sleazy during my life, so I thought this would be okay, but it still hurts too. The skin becomes weaker as a child, so it might be because of that.

I couldn’t sit back until she hit me five times.

“I’ll try again. If you look like that again this time, you’ll be punished the same way, so keep your mind straight.”

Damn. Still, it was a good thing not to touch when sitting in the chair if it was in this position.

I just thought I should know why I was not right, and watched Madam move. And this time, I followed her equally.

“Walk on the skirt.”

But it was just the same as before.

“Why are you standing still? Isn’t that why you think your etiquette is good right now?”

I was able to see that this woman just holding an excuse to hit me. Still, I did not express my inner heart, but calmly said.

“If you have any problems, please let me know.”

“I did tell you. Everything from one to ten is a problem.”

I felt very angry now.

“Did I ask for something difficult? You just have to imitate it as you’ve seen, but you can’t even do that. How embarrassed are you going to make the duke?”

Just beat it out and go out? Honestly, I didn’t have a reason to be judged not right by this woman here right now.

“Do you think I’m doing this to insult the miss? Now, when Ernst’s situation is complicated inside and outside, what do you do when you press on the family even by the existence of young miss? Of course, the miss is young, so even if I’ve already talked about it, you won’t

understand.”

But I heard that and she’s looking at the side of the door, I stopped looking for a chance.

“Get up and pulled the skirt. After punishing you, I’ll just point out what the young miss did wrong.”

Eventually, I lifted the skirt up again in front of the Madam. The fragile sensation again broke into my fragile skin, and this

situation was terrible, but now I endured because I didn’t want to lead and create a conflict.

After hitting five times again this time, Madam told me the wrong part of my manners.

“When you was holding the pot, the angle of your wrist was wrong. Young miss would need a lot of practice.”

Of course, it was just an excuse to make me ridiculed, so I just smiled.

“Why?”

I had to ask Eugene again.

“Why isn’t he coming back when he’s all better?”

Soon, time passed, and the time was coming to Cabel to come back to Ernst. But did he suddenly decide to stay with Count Schumaha?

“Cabel said he wants to be a little more in Schumaha.”

Eugene added, saying it was already decided a week ago.

“I’m busy right now, so I don’t have time to use my nerves to Cabel, and my aunt told me to be not worry with both of you, so it’s a good thing.”

It was in this state of being. Perhaps if I hadn’t asked first, Eugene would remain silent until the day Cabel was scheduled to return.

It’s not necessarily because he didn’t intend to hide it, he simply didn’t have time to tell or time to share that story with us.

“Hubert, just a minute, leave into the room.”

“Yes, Duke.”

He also headed straight to the office, looking back at me to see if there was

anything to instruct the butler.

I know that Eugene is so busy that I can’t make any attempts. I had understand that. So, at other times, I didn’t take Eugene’s time, and I quietly resigned, but it wasn’t today.

“When you said it that way. It’s sound like you think brother Cabel’s bothering you and you leaving it to Schumaha.”

Eugene’s pace stopped at my quiet voice from behind. I soon faced his face again. Eugene had a cracked look on his solid coolness.

“It’s not like that.”

“I know.”

I replied boldly to him who denied my words.

“But if you tell Erich or others that way, I’m telling you that my brother could be

misunderstood.”

Eugene was silent for a while. I stared quietly at him, looking down at my face. After a while, Eugene opened his mouth.

“Hubert, let’s leave it for today.”

“Yes, your grace.”

Even after Hubert turned around, Eugene stood up straight like a big tree and didn’t see any disturbance. And only after I was completely alone with him was his body slowly beginning to relax.

In front of others, it seemed to be Eugene’s unconsciousness to try to exist as a complete Ernst.

He raised his hand and wiped his dry face, and he looked very tired.

“Cabel said he didn’t want to come back.”

Perhaps because I was young, he thought he might not be vigilant. Or maybe it’s because I just said I didn’t misunderstand him.

“Dang Sook said he was shocked by the events of the hunting competition. And he said he still had symptoms after the incident, so…”

The story that Eugene confessed in his vague voice was a bit of a heartache.

“He still don’t want to come to Ernst where he had memories with my parents.”

What did Cabel think of when he conveyed that thought to Eugene?

“So I said that if the side in Schumaha is better for Cabel, that’s it.”

What did you think?

“Is it okay if you don’t meet and talk to him yourself?”

“I think I’m going to go see him once this week, but I’m going to go late at night, so I don’t think I can take you.”

“We’re okay, Just go around with care.”

When I said that, Eugene smiled at me with a slightly lighter face than before.

“The madam who came as a tutor, is she good to you?”

I wasn’t honestly troubled by what he was

asking, cause the answer I’d give him had been fixed before.

“Yes. You have nothing to worry about.”

*******

Haah! But unlike what I said to Eugene, I

was still in trouble today. Ugh, what the hell did that lady eat to hit me like this?”

“You haven’t gotten any better yet, I’m doubting the young miss is trying.”

I’m just wondering if she’s trying to pay attention even a little bit? You’re not teaching for free, so you do this completely in purpose right?

Besides, you know I’m still 9 years old. I thought I wanted to stop doing this a few times a day, but whenever I did, I thought of Eugene’s tired face.

He take over his father’s position and lead the Ernst forward. Yet he also have to look after his two younger brothers who need attention. And the bitch who came to embrace instead of his parents.

The burden he carried on his shoulders wasn’t that light.

If I think about it, it could be said that even if he did not kick me out of this house, I was like a parasit who lived here, and he have another important things to take care of beside me.

Whether it’s because of the last respect for the Ernst couple who considered me as their daughter, or the traces of his dead sister, who sometimes peeked at me.

Or maybe it was because of his own care accumulated during the time we spent

together.

Either way, I didn’t want to make him more tired otherwise as he was on a tough road.

It was because I knew that the Ernst couple was as decent as they seemed to be, even when they died.

Besides, it wasn’t as big as hitting my body, and education only last at least 5 years anyway.

No, but five years….

Ugh, that’s a little long. Maybe I should find a way.

“Huft. That damn aunt.”

I held a bitter leg today and indeed took out the communication sphere after a long time.

The communication sphere that Johannes gave me was already out of stock and was bought from my side last fall.

Of course, it wasn’t really me, but the Ernst couple bought it.

Thinking of those who died, one corner of my heart became full of thought for a moment, and then I rubbed the whole stone and pressed the recessed part on the back.

[Hari!]

It’s been a few seconds since the lights on the sphere came on, and the voice that I heard was familiar.

“Hi, brother Johan.”

It was Johannes whom I haven’t seeing for a long time.

[How are you doing?]

He seemed to want video communication,

but I didn’t accept it by touching the blue sphere.

After briefly explaining Ernst’s situation, I told him that Marquis Leonard’s wife, my

aunt, was taking care of Erich and me, and that I was being taught by a tutor some time ago.

[A home tutor? I think it’s still early….]

Hearing my words, Johannes dimmed. What he said was a matter of time anyway, that’s what I thought.

Ordinary, guardians would not have gone into discipline with children shortly after losing their parents, but I was the only one

with a tutor, and Erich was learning the basics directly from Marquis Leonard.

Moreover, in practice, he wasn’t getting the right education like me, as he was having a good time with gold and jade and language.

When I first knew it, I thought it was a fatality. Huft. Take a deep breath. The original world is unfair, truth to be told.

And frankly, it was Erich who was hit hard by Ernst’s death, so he deserved special care.

“But I’m learning hard because I like learning.”

Of course, I can’t escape the punishment.

[You don’t have to work that hard.]

But Johannes quietly listened to my story and told me the same thing.

[If it’s hard, you don’t have to work that hard.]

At that moment, Johannes’ face was missed, but the blue light already on the sphere had just disappeared before.

Of course, if I asked first, Johannes would accept it without a word, but I didn’t.

However, I whispered a small voice in my heart as I recalled the soft voice revolving in my ear.

“Thanks.”

In the end, Eugene never met Cabel. He went to Schumaha late at night, but Cabel refused to meet Eugene.

Eugene calmly told the truth, but I noticed that he was shocked by it.

Still, the other story went well that day, and at the noble conference held thereafter, it was heard that Count Schumaha was the strong support of the new Duke of Ernst.

“I really, why can’t I sleep and do this?”

I yawn out of my mouth. I grumbled a little while holding up.

Mrs. Leonard was not staying at Ernst all the time, but was dropping in at the mansion as she commuted to work at a

fixed time.

I still knew every night there was a whipping of tears in Erich’s room.

Huft. I also knew what happened when the silence of the night was so heavy that the silence of the night spread around.

Krak.

Erich, who opened the room and went out into the hallway, was barefoot even though he wasn’t even wearing indoors shoes.

Haah. As he stepped out one step further, a large rabbit doll in his hand made a

sound of dragging on the floor. That’s the doll I gave him.

At first, he just said that he hated it, but then he seem to want to hold it well. I see a rabbit doll and a one-body fuselage coming out of bed every night.

“Woof!”

“Shh. Penny, you can’t bark.”

I whispered a little, stroking the penny from Erich’s room. Erich dragged the doll without focus in his eyes and walked somewhere.

Me too. I sat up squatting next to him and

quietly followed him. It was the Ernst’s room that he visited today. Erich just stood blankly in front of the room.

Probably not moving from that state for a while. I leaned against the wall, looking at Erich’s face with my arms around my knees.

The last time I learned about Erich’s

sleepwalking in the last life was one day when I came out late to drink water.

That day I found a white figure in front of the Ernst couple’s door and I thought it was only a ghost, but it was Erich, and he just stood still with a blank face, no answer no matter how I called.

At that time, I didn’t know what sleepwalking was, so I just thought that Erich, who didn’t bother me, was strange.

So I didn’t even think I had to let Erich

know that I know in this state as an adults.

Ever since then, I’ve seen Erich in the hallway barefoot, sometimes late at night. I think he miss his parents so much. I thought I couldn’t leave before his visit emd.

And after some time, Butler Hubert will discovered Erich.

Immediately after that, the news came to Eugene, and eventually the doctors will came to the mansion the next day repeatedly said that sleepwalking had no cure and had to wait for it to disappear.

Since then, Erich has slept with wrists

on the pillar of the bed every night.

“You have to go to the room and go in and sleep.”

I heard that it was actually Erich’s request. Although young, he was ashamed of his illness.

What’s more, he was even more

embarrassed if he knew I was the someone who witnessed a night’s job that

he couldn’t even remember himself.

But it’s still not happening now. As I am the only one who know this right now.

“How much do you think I’m lacking sleep because of you these days?”

So I didn’t intend to let Erich know what I’m doing. I mumbled a little sound into words that he didn’t hear.

I thought about it before, but I don’t know why I care about the brother. If there is a real god in this world, why did you send me back?

Are you going to let me experience something that is neither pleasant nor

pleasant?

In fact, I could leave this place tomorrow.

Of course, it would be difficult for a girl without anything to live alone in street alone, but I was an adult by the age of my mind, even though I was a child, no one in the world would be properly recognized.

I didn’t do it though. Perhaps there was someone who would take pity on me and take me away.

Even if it weren’t, there would have been a way to survive somehow, but at this

moment I still remain in Ernst and are guarding Erich, who wanders alone

in the middle of the night.

Wouldn’t it be better to leave…

Honestly, I have been thinking several times so far. The strongest thought was when Eugene abandoned me on a cold winter day with no one knew.

And when the Ernst couple died and I attended their funeral. Again now.

“It’s not very much different than this.”

My self-talk was broken and came back to

me again.

‘But Hari is our baby too.’

A warm voice rang like a spring sun in my ear, but the quiet hallway was cold, so I pulled my knees a little more and held it.

Those of you who have made me a child are already dead. I hate that this house is quiet.

Actually, it was because I hated the quiet place that I followed you in Mellington, and the house now was breathtakingly quiet.

Now Ernst is not much different from Mellington’s house for me. So I can leave here anytime.

Swap.

Finally, I felt like Erich was passing by in front of the Ernst couple room and I looked up. I still did not lift myself.

No footsteps were heard from Erich, who walked down the hallway barefoot.

Only the doll he was holding was making a

sound of dragging on the floor. Penny came to my side, licked my hand for a while, and soon followed Erich.

“Good night, Erich.”

I still squeaked with my face on my knees.

Of course, there was no answer to return.