What I Want

The body is the capital of revolution—Ellie knew this very well.

She had even thought before about whether she should train her body a little, to make things easier for the plans she wanted to carry out later.

But—being sickly seemed to have its own advantages, didn’t it?

Like being able to rest whenever she felt tired.

Or directly calling someone to keep her company whenever she felt troubled.

And if one day she felt that this world was no longer worth it, she could just lie here and wait for death.

There would even be people to cry at her grave for her.

That sounded pretty happy, didn’t it?

Live when you’re happy.

When you’re unhappy, just die.

What kind of life could be more exhilarating than that?

“Are you feeling okay?

Has it… eased up a little?”

Solor was still sitting beside Ellie.

How many times had he come here already?

Ellie couldn’t quite remember…

But she knew that the companionship of these past two days was probably longer than all the time she had spent with Solor in her previous life combined.

“Mm, much better, big brother.”

Ellie smiled lightly and turned her head.

Her golden hair brushed softly against the pillow with a faint rustling sound.

“You too.

How could you just stuff something like that into your mouth so casually…

In the future, don’t eat food given by others so recklessly.”

Seeing that his sister had finally woken up properly, Solor let out a long sigh of relief.

Although he didn’t want to be the kind of stern older brother who scolded his sister the moment she woke up, when it came to matters of safety, he simply couldn’t help but be anxious.

“I know, big brother.

I’m not a child.

I understand everything you’re saying.”

“If you know, then why did you still just put it into your mouth like that?

If you’re hungry, I’ll have the kitchen prepare more food for you.”

“It wasn’t some random thing, and it wasn’t carelessly given either.

It was from Firth.

I had to try it, at least to be polite.”

Bringing up Firth at a time like this made it seem a bit like dragging someone else into the water.

But after all, she was currently a harmless little white flower.

And the role of such a character was innocence.

As for where that innocence came from—

Naturally, it came from placing the blame on others.

“Haa…

I knew it.

It had to be something he gave you.

That guy’s taste has always been that strange.”

Yet after hearing her explanation, Solor didn’t seem particularly surprised.

Instead, there was a sense of relief.

“You know that thing of Firth’s…”

“—The tomato-filled lava cake, right?

That’s what it’s called, isn’t it?”

Before Ellie could say it, Solor beat her to the punch, smoothly saying the rather awkward name of the snack.

He looked quite familiar with it.

“Yes, that’s the one…

So Firth—he’s given it to you too?”

“Yeah.

He gave it to me before.

Said it was something he and his sister loved to eat.

I accepted it, but…

I didn’t really eat it.

Just took a small bite.”

Hearing Solor’s answer, it was Ellie’s turn to be momentarily stunned.

But the next second, she understood.

In Ellie’s heart, Firth was still her Red Crow.

So she had subconsciously treated him as her underground collaborator.

It was only after a brief moment of realization that she remembered—

In this world, Firth belonged to Solor’s side.

“I see…

So he gives this gift to just about anyone…”

Ellie muttered this under her breath, unconsciously pursing her lips.

“I thought it was something he only gave to me…”

Ellie didn’t really mean anything special by saying this.

She had simply taken Firth’s gift of the pastry as a sign of his allegiance.

That was why she had eaten it with such determination—

To prove her own sincerity in return.

Who would have thought that this gift was something Firth casually shared with others as well.

Was this version of him really that generous?

In her own world, when he was the Red Crow, he had never done anything like this.

Then again…

In that world, he had already been trained into someone devoid of desires.

“—A gift meant only for you?

I have those too.

You can ask me.

Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.

There’s no need to take this kind of thing from other people!”

But the look on Ellie’s face appeared to Solor as pure disappointment.

A kind of disappointment from realizing that something given by someone else wasn’t an exclusive gift after all.

No matter how you looked at it, Ellie was a princess.

Wanting a bit of special treatment wasn’t strange at all.

But—

If you want preferential treatment, don’t look for it from others.

Your brother can give it to you too!

Things meant only for you—I can give you plenty!

Don’t pay attention to anyone else!

—All of these thoughts were in his heart.

But Solor said them out loud anyway.

After all, in his heart, his sister came first.

And perhaps, deep down, he selfishly hoped that in Ellie’s heart, he could also be first.

How she wanted to interact.

What kind of life she liked.

If he, as her older brother, hadn’t noticed these things in time—

Then she could just tell him directly.

He would adjust.

As Solor spoke, his tone grew a little excited.

Looking at Ellie lying pitifully on the bed, the things he wanted to say piled up one after another, so many that they pressed tightly against his heart.

“If you want something, just tell me, okay?

I’m your brother.

I’m also the prince of this country.

Anything you can think of, I can definitely do.

So no matter what it is, tell me more, alright?”

A smile appeared on his face.

When it came to smiles, Ellie could see very clearly.

She could always tell why he was smiling, and whether that smile came from the heart.

As for why her imperial brother was smiling now—

Mm.

There was a hint of forcing himself in it.

She didn’t know why he had suddenly become so emotional, but…

A brother who was trying to act tough was pretty interesting too.

At some point, teasing Solor had become part of Ellie’s daily life.

Perhaps it was because this was the kind of life she had always wanted.

No scheming.

Just joke after joke.

And besides—

Watching Solor like this was quite entertaining, wasn’t it?

Like a kind of revenge for her previous life.

In this world, Ellie always liked to take revenge on Solor in this way.

She wouldn’t embarrass him in public.

Only in private, when it was just the two of them, would she make him show expressions like this.

“What I want?”

As Ellie spoke, she could no longer suppress the smile on her face.

With Solor’s help, she deliberately sat up weakly.

As if she were using her pitiful state to seize the initiative.

“What I want—of course there is.”

As her words fell, she raised one finger and pointed at Solor, who was sitting beside her.

“—You, big brother.”

“You are what I want the most.”

Your happiness.

Your sorrow.

Your pity.

Your painful and joyful memories.

The most important place in your heart.

The place occupied by the person you dream of.

All of these—

Are what I want.