I Will Return My New Brother

In a way, Samuel Bolton was being quite friendly.

He did warn me about what would happen if I dig in deeper to find out.

He even clearly told me that it was not only me who would be implicated— Mom would be hurt as well.

It was rare for an unclear answer to bring such clear certainty.

If I was Mom’s weakness . . .

If I was really the child in that stomach.

The finger that I bit stung.

There was a gaze following me as I left the room slowly.

That great black knight couldn’t maintain his composure. There was curiosity in his eyes.

I, with my back straightened, nodded lightly to him.

He couldn’t ask me, and it was impossible for him to ask Samuel Bolton.

Not knowing would be more comfortable, after all.

* * *

I never thought of my biological father, whose name I didn’t know.

It wasn’t for a praiseworthy reason, such as in case Mom would be sad.

Since I was young, the ‘lovers’ of Mom who came to the mansion were all simple-minded, lacking, and less attractive than her.

There were none of the step father candidates that I liked, and it was the same after they became my fathers.

It was more than enough, even though there remained an empty place in my family.

I recalled the eyes threatening me with an emotionless face, the eyes that made me useless— had no further meaning than that.

The man who likely shared half his blood with me.

I remembered a line that said parent-child and sibling relationships were fate from heaven.

Things such as close brothers and sisters that always appeared in the fairy tale book I liked when I was young.

“Let’s admit it.”

There were too many overlaps with reality to regard the dream as mere nightmares.

I didn’t receive affirmation, but it was impossible to not know the meaning of Samuel Bolton’s ambiguous answer.

However, I needed clear evidence to prove this was all the truth.

“It would be better if I knew sooner.”

If I found out everything before I became Marianne Miller.

What I would lose would likely only be myself.

Now, I had to think of a lot more things before making a move.

A single movement of mine would affect others.

My time in the Miller Duchy made me think like that.

I finally knew the reason Duke Miller was always careful with every matter.

People who had a lot of things on their shoulders could very easily lose it all.

* * *

As I stood before the mansion doors, the knights welcomed me as if it was natural.

“You returned early today, My Lady.”

“Yes.”

“When people first enter the academy, I heard that they get lost because they couldn’t adapt or because the classes are difficult. As expected of our young lady to be extraordinary.”

I smiled at the proud guard.

Fortunately, I could smile naturally at him despite my inside being dry.

“Orion must be training in the drill hall, right?”

The two knights looked at each other and then exchanged meaningful smiles.

“The Young Duke has a new hobby recently.”

“A new hobby?”

The knight who was older and more experienced of the two recommended me while smiling.

“Please go to the garden, My Lady.”

When I blinked my eyes, he added with a voice that all but exuded smiles.

“He seems to be really into it.”

I turned my body after looking at the widespread smile on his face as he gave off the tip.

While I was walking to the garden, simply thinking he was doing something new, everyone I met walked past me while giggling.

Then, at the moment when I took a step into the garden where the constructions were all demolished.

“Ah.”

White petals flew at my feet with the gentle breeze.

I looked up, and spring flowers in full bloom on each branch of the tree many times my height came into sight.

The small white petals were fluttering down from the branches to the ground.

I saw Orion plucking the soil among the seedlings well-prepared by the gardener’s hands.

A small seedling next to him caught my attention.

I noticed that the leaves were attached to the thick and short joints.

“I think it would be good to plant flowers. Many of the fruit-bearing trees have pretty flowers.”

It was something I brought up lightly.

It didn’t mean I would really do it.

Even if Orion offered me to do it together, I would reject him, saying I was busy.

I was having a busier and hectic day than ever before.

Looking at his flushed face concentrating on working with the soil, I felt my body, which was tense, relax.

“Orion.”

He, who looked back at me, smiled brightly.

“It’s just like what you said, Marianne. The spring flowers in the tree bloomed so pretty. The petals flying to the drill hall were quite a splendid view.”

“You must be uncomfortable if the petals are flying when you’re training in the drill hall.”

“We can only see this view now, right? If we endure the discomfort for a while, we will quickly adapt. Training is supposed to be done no matter what the obstacle is. Whether it’s rain, snow, or even illness.”

“You’ll get complaints then.”

The sounds of wails and cries coming from the drill hall every day was enough to make the mansion ring.

Yet the face of the one saying the horrible words was more radiant than the flowers of spring day.

Even though he was covered in dirt, his face shone.

Next to him, I could see a rake, shovel, and a watering can scattered around.