Chapter 8

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Henry's Marriage Proposal

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"What's your name, big sis?"

"Lucia Agnes."

"I'm Henry Peneus! Big sis, marry me!"

"What?"

"Henry!"

"Waaah! Big bro!"

Before Lucia could even feel bewildered, Herwin hurriedly pulled Henry away.

Henry, caught by Herwin, flailed his legs wildly, demanding to be let go.

At that moment, Lucia's and Herwin's eyes met.

His face felt somehow familiar yet strangely distant, stirring an odd mix of warmth and unease. As Herwin stood there dumbfounded, lips parting wordlessly, Lucia spoke first.

"Herwin, long time no see."

"Huh? Oh... yeah, long time no see."

"Herwin! You've grown so much! And I'm not exactly short myself!"

Lucas, standing beside Lucia, poked his head forward. Herwin's eyes widened briefly before he let out a chuckle.

"Long time no see, big bro."

"Oh, you remember me?"

"Of course. We were in the capital for over a year."

"Really? Lucia barely remembered you. I figured since you're the same age as her, you'd have forgotten too."

She had assumed from his warm greeting that he remembered everything, unlike her. Apparently not?

Herwin turned his gaze to Lucia, who scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"Uwah! Let me gooo!"

Henry finally wriggled free from Herwin and clung to Lucia like a cicada.

"Henry~?"

Herwin spoke in a tone that was both stern and gentle, making Henry tremble. The red eyes beneath his softly curved lashes sharpened.

"What kind of behavior is this toward a guest?"

"Uwah, uh, well......"

No matter how stubborn he got at his age, he couldn't ignore his brother's words. Seeing Henry cower before Herwin, Lucia wrapped her arms around his back.

"It's fine by me. Henry, do you want to play with me?"

"......Yeah! Big sis!"

"Then I'll play with you lots of fun, so how about holding hands instead?"

It was hard to keep her balance with him clinging so tightly. Lucia smiled and extended her hand, and Henry's eyes sparkled.

"Yay! Yay!"

Herwin wasn't pleased at all with Henry grinning ear to ear while still latched onto Lucia.

Herwin glared at Henry, but when his eyes met Lucia's, he quickly looked away.

The reunion of these two former inseparable childhood friends wasn't as smooth as outsiders might have imagined.

The scene carried a strange, unfamiliar discomfort. Yet within it lingered clear anticipation and excitement for each other.

"Wow, your castle is huge. I've never been to a place like this."

"Yeah, must be because it's the family ruling the North. It's as grand as the imperial palace!"

Lucia and Lucas toured the ducal castle under Herwin and Henry's guidance.

Herwin led the way, explaining the castle, while Henry stuck to Lucia's side, never letting go of her hand.

"Big sis, big sis. They say a scary witch used to live here. That's why ghosts come out and stuff."

"Really? No wonder it feels a bit creepy."

Lucia shivered exaggeratedly, and Henry's expression changed instantly.

"Scared? Don't worry! Henry will protect you, big sis!"

"This kid hasn't changed a bit. Even back then, he wouldn't leave Lucia's side."

"When you become my bride, I'll give you everything, big sis!"

"You little rascal! Who's getting married? I have no intention of giving my sister to you, so give up."

"Ugh, don't interfere!"

Lucas giggled and ruffled Henry's hair.

Henry seriously swung his arms at Lucas, but a five-year-old couldn't possibly beat a ten-year-old.

Finally free from Henry, Lucia sidled up to Herwin.

As she approached, Herwin clamped his mouth shut.

Unlike Lucas and Henry fooling around ahead, the two of them couldn't even exchange a single light word.

Lucia found the situation unbearably awkward. Wondering if she was the only one feeling it, she lifted her lowered head.

Snap—

Their eyes met.

Both jumped in surprise, bodies twitching before they whipped their heads away.

For a moment, her heart pounded, but then she wondered what she was doing and turned back.

"Um......"

"Yeah?"

Herwin responded awkwardly, perhaps feeling the same.

"Uh, have you been well...?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, more or less......"

The words cut off abruptly. As silence fell again, Herwin spoke first this time.

"You too?"

"Me? Well... I've been taking piano lessons with a new teacher lately. What about you?"

"Uh... just the usual. Lessons from the family tutor, etiquette, swordsmanship, that sort of thing."

"Swordsmanship? You want to be a knight?"

"Not a knight exactly. More like my dad—a great swordsman."

Herwin's somewhat stiff expression softened.

"Makes sense. I heard Duke Peneus is a really famous swordsman. Definitely a Sword... Sword... what was it......"

"Sword Master. The idol of all swordsmen. With Dad here, we could crush any enemy army! And not just that—Sword Masters can wield Aura freely! My dad's Aura is......!"

Herwin suddenly got excited and poured out stories about Hail, only to stop when he noticed her wide eyes.

"Ah, s-sorry... I got a bit carried away......"

"No, it's fine. Looks like you really admire the Duke."

"Well... who wouldn't?"

"Me too! My dad's the best in the world!"

Herwin scratched his head sheepishly, then met Lucia's beaming smile.

The awkwardness faded, replaced by growing ease.

"Waaah! Big brooo!"

A wail from behind shattered the moment.

Henry ran sobbing into Lucia's arms. He'd called for Herwin, but it was clearly her he sought.

"B-big sis! Make that mean big bro stop!"

Henry pointed at Lucas behind him, eyes brimming with tears.

"Hmm... what did my brother say?"

"He said I'm too young to marry you! But I wanna marry you, big sis!"

"Was I wrong? And I'm not giving my sister to anyone else."

Lucas teased Henry mercilessly and draped an arm over Lucia's shoulder.

Henry, annoyed again, started yelling at him to stop.

"Brother, stop teasing him. He's still little......"

"Hahaha, sorry, sorry. His reactions are just too funny."

"I hate big bro the most!"

"Hmph, what're you gonna do about it? I'm Lucia's brother."

As Lucas pressed his face close to Lucia's, their sibling resemblance was unmistakable.

Even Henry seemed to acknowledge it, pursing his lips at the matching bright blue eyes.

"Ah, it's almost dinner time. Shall we head to the dining hall?"

Herwin interjected to lighten the mood.

"What time is it?"

"Six-thirty."

"Eh, only that late? Why am I so hungry then?"

"We've been touring the castle for three hours."

Unlike the awkward Lucia, Herwin chatted freely with Lucas.

Lucia quietly watched the two slowly pull ahead.

"Big sis not going?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, coming."

Snapping to at Henry's call, Lucia grabbed his hand tightly and hurried after them.

Five days had passed since arriving at the ducal castle.

The Agnes siblings and Peneus brothers grew close again, just like their time in the capital, free of the initial awkwardness.

One difference from the past: Herwin no longer stuck solely to Lucia's side.

Whether he hadn't fully recalled their history or simply found the older Lucas easier to hang out with, he spent more time with Lucas than her.

That said, he didn't exclude her.

They still got along well together, even played pranks, but it no longer felt like the bond of irreplaceable best friends.

"Big sis! Big sis! Read this to me!"

As Lucia blankly watched Herwin laughing brightly with Lucas, Henry called her.

"Sure, what should I read?"

"This one! Big sis is in here?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yeah! Look here!"

Henry plopped naturally onto Lucia's lap, opened the book, and showed her a page.

It depicted a woman with brown hair and blue eyes like Lucia's, smelling flowers in the middle of a forest.

'Huh? This feels familiar.'

It was clearly a picture and fairy tale book she'd never seen, yet this moment felt strangely familiar, like something she'd experienced before.

Lucia gazed intently at the illustration resembling her, intrigued by the sudden deja vu.

Henry, chattering away, noticed the quiet and looked up curiously. His mouth fell open unwittingly.

Deep in thought, her beautiful blue eyes brimmed with melancholy.

Henry felt a tickle in his chest.

'Mom said to stake my claim on anything I like before others do.'

Before anyone else could take her, Henry decided to leave his mark first.

Mwah—

The noisy space from his chatter fell suddenly silent at that exact moment, making the kiss sound loud.

Not just Lucia, caught off guard by the sudden peck, but Lucas and Herwin, who had been chatting among themselves, stared at Henry with wide eyes.

"Big sis is mine now."

"......This feels familiar too."

Lucia touched her cheek dazedly and looked down at Henry.

"Y-you little...!"

Lucas's face twisted in fury as he quickly pried Henry off her.

Lucia felt an odd deja vu in this moment too, like from a dream. Unthinkingly, her gaze shifted to Herwin.

It felt like the one pulling Henry away from her should be Herwin, not Lucas.

"Sorry my brother annoyed you. He must really like you. He doesn't usually act like this."

"Huh? Oh... it's fine. Kids do that."

"I'll give him a good scolding. Won't happen again."

Herwin stood and began separating the arguing Lucas and Henry.

"......That's not it."

An inexplicable sense of loss crept in.

Herwin scolding his brother was perfectly natural, yet it felt oddly disappointing.

In this situation, shouldn't he be angrily intervening instead of gently correcting? Was that strange?

Thump, thump, thump......!

Her quiet heart began to assert itself.

The growing pulse brought discomfort and a strange emotion. Lucia couldn't define what she was feeling.