The Warmth of an Embrace

Perhaps the Solor from the past had sunk too deeply into her heart.

Looking at her older brother now—showing this expression and saying such words—she instinctively felt… had this guy been possessed by something.

It wasn’t possession, then it was probably a stroke, otherwise his mouth could never form that kind of curve.

Solor now looked obviously like someone smiling apologetically after feeling a bit down.

And when he saw that Elli wasn’t reacting, he even showed a flattering smile—what?

The empire’s First Prince flattering the empire’s Second Prince—no, Second Princess?

Because she transmigrated, Elli wasn’t very familiar with the memories of her original self.

Or rather, she couldn’t possibly flip through all those memories in her mind at once.

But seeing Solor’s flattering expression, Elli actually started searching her mind—did this female version of herself ever bully Solor as a child?

Preferably something with a bit of humiliation—that would be great.

But after briefly recalling, she felt that this Elli really was a quiet and gentle gourd, someone who never did anything excessive to her royal brother.

But—just because she didn’t before doesn’t mean she won’t now!

Just like family always says: “You need to create unforgettable memories.”

Well, isn’t this the perfect chance to create one?

So Elli, lying on the bed, stretched out her hand—in fact, she spread her arms wide open.

“Do you want to go out, Brother?”

“Ah… yes.

I’ll take you out for a walk… if you really want to go outside, I’ll accompany you.

You should feel more at ease that way.”

Seeing Elli open her arms wide toward him, Solor instinctively avoided the gesture.

He didn’t respond to it, only answered her question.

She wanted to go out but disliked being followed closely by others.

After thinking it over, Solor felt that he had to be the one to accompany her.

He wasn’t sure if this counted as being self-important, but he felt that him going personally should be better than sending guards.

“Mm.”

Solor clearly seemed to be deliberately ignoring her gesture.

Eriq knew that little habit all too well.

She didn’t say anything else and simply kept her arms open like before.

But her sickly weak body quickly grew sore from holding them up, and with a soft “puff,” she fell back onto the bed again.

“Then… where do you want to go?”

“Just a walk in the rear garden is fine.”

Going out with her brother?

No big problem.

She could agree, but she wouldn’t let him follow her too far.

As she had thought from the start, she planned to investigate her surroundings alone.

She didn’t need anyone following her—not even Solor.

Actually, Elli now had another sprout of an idea in her heart.

Although the Nightingale House technically no longer existed, should she recreate a similar organization?

But unlike in her past life—where Nightingale House existed to oppose Solor—this time, the purpose should be reversed.

It should become “an organization that exists to protect Solor.”

After all, Elli wasn’t very optimistic about her physical condition now.

And seeing Solor’s gentle temperament, she truly didn’t know whether, once he ascended the throne, he would become a pushover monarch.

Elli had always agreed with the Solor of her previous life.

She called him cold, but she knew it was a necessary “virtue” for a ruler.

A benevolent general cannot command an army; the same applies to a king.

If a ruler is too kind-hearted, then within a few years people will only remember him with sighs—“Ah, he was a good emperor…”

The Eriq of the previous life willingly went to his death because he believed Solor could become a long-lasting emperor.

From the beginning, the lives of the two princes were like playing the roles of “good cop and bad cop.”

Eriq was responsible for being arrogant and flamboyant, for flattering nobles, and showing a cold side occasionally to intimidate everyone.

Solor, on the other hand, was responsible for being the gentle prince in everyone’s hearts.

In contrast to Eriq’s unstable temperament, Solor’s image grew better and better.

And the things he did in private were hidden beneath his shining image.

Eriq needed that kind of elder brother—the kind who could survive after ascending the throne.

But now, as she—Elli—looked at the man before her, her heart was filled not only with emotion but also with worry.

Emotion because this life was truly strange—no schemes, no betrayal.

They were simply an ordinary pair of siblings, without having to worry about who would behead whom tomorrow.

But worry also came from this—was such a peaceful life really okay?

She even considered returning to her old ways, playing the villain, a capricious villain, to push her brother to grow and become a ruler who could survive.

She had already done it enough to traumatize herself.

You could say she had “relevant work experience.”

But… she also didn’t really want to do it again.

Why? Hmm… complicated.

Maybe because she also felt that such a rare, peaceful life was too precious, and she wanted to experience it a little longer.

And also out of atonement—not wanting to inconvenience others.

Does helping someone grow count as atonement?

Who knows…

As she thought about these things, the soreness in her arms faded.

So Elli once again opened her arms wide—the gesture making it clear: she was waiting for her brother to pick her up.

It looked like she was acting spoiled, but in truth, Elli’s heart was complicated.

She rarely made such gestures before, because exposing her chest openly meant exposing her vital point.

That beating heart could become someone else’s target at any moment.

The past her would never have dared expose her life so casually.

But now, life was peaceful, only the two of them were in the room, and… they weren’t mortal enemies fighting to the death.

“You… sigh… alright, alright.

As long as you feel better, that’s what matters.”

Seeing his sister refusing to give up, Solor could only sigh helplessly.

His sister had been acting strangely lately—and it seemed she was upset with him, constantly calling him “Imperial Brother,” “Imperial Brother.”

Given their old relationship, Elli always called him “Brother.”

When would she ever use such a distant title?

So Solor thought—was Elli in a bad mood?

Was she angry with him?

If she needed comforting… then he’d just go along with her.

After all, she was his little sister.

So Solor really walked over and responded to Elli’s opened arms.

He didn’t directly lift her from the bed.

Instead, after hugging her, he helped her sit up.

But Elli’s embrace was tighter, far tighter than he expected.

He didn’t know that in the previous life…

In the embrace they shared after more than ten years apart, their story had ended with the long sword that pierced into Eriq’s chest at the moment of that hug.

At that time, Eriq couldn’t feel warmth.

He only staggered backward, losing his balance and falling from the high platform.

But this time, she felt the warmth from her brother’s body.

And she heard the sound of his heartbeat—not the sound of a heart being pierced.