Stay with me for a while, just for a while

This day had already been busy enough.

In the morning she went out to “persuade” Falk, then talked with Firth for a while, and immediately after that went to Solor’s place.

Aili always felt that her life was full of people whose names contained the character “er,” even including Yarman.

Of course, Yarman was a lump of crap and could not be counted as a person.

Later, because of that small incident, she ran all the way back.

Combined with the fact that her current physical condition was honestly average—no, it could even be said to be terrible—she ended up completely exhausted throughout the afternoon and evening.

What was more, she had just cried once.

Although it was only a simple wiping of tears and not some intense sobbing, it was still something that consumed physical strength.

Just a moment ago she had been sighing at how relaxed Solor was in this world, falling asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.

Yet when Aili herself lay down on the bed to rest, originally thinking she would just lie there for a while, she fell asleep within a few minutes as well, her sleep quality no worse than Solor’s.

To be honest, Aili did not like sleeping.

This was a habit she had from before.

She always slept poorly.

She was always worried that once she fell asleep, the situation might suddenly change.

That Solor’s subordinates might do something under the cover of night.

Although when she slept in the past, she would definitely have people from the Nightingale House guarding her, so at least she would not be easily assassinated, during the most tense periods, something irreversible might happen while she was asleep.

Because of that, she often stayed up all night, having her intelligence agents keep their eyes on the direction of the situation at all times, so that she could intervene as quickly as possible.

This kind of thing was routine for both Solor and Eric.

Every peaceful night was a luxury.

In the end, they had all trained themselves so that even with very little sleep each day, they could still easily handle matters inside and outside the palace.

It was just that sometimes, when the two of them held meetings together with Yarman, the three pairs of dark circles added together always looked a bit comical.

But now… this could be considered liberation, right.

Even if she lay down and fell asleep, there would not be too much psychological pressure, because the situation in this world did not have much to do with her.

It was just that sometimes, the reason she disliked sleeping was because she did not want to dream.

Although she was slowly adapting to her current life, there was still a sense of disconnection.

Looking at this gentle brother beside her, she always felt that it was too fake, or perhaps… OOC.

It felt like a low-quality fan work written by an author who did not understand the character’s personality.

But precisely because of that, whenever Solor smiled at her, she always felt a sense of surprise.

Because aside from their childhood, she had never seen him show this kind of smile toward her.

Solor would show encouraging smiles to knights, polite smiles to nobles, friendly smiles to commoners.

To everyone—except his younger brother.

He would smile even when facing their former bastard of a father, smiling once in obedience.

But when facing his brother, when facing Eric, he always wore that face full of hostility.

The Solor in Eric’s dreams was the same.

He wanted him to smile, yet discovered that he no longer even remembered what his smile toward him looked like.

“…Li…”

In her daze, she heard someone’s voice.

A familiar voice.

She had just recalled her interactions with him, so she knew this voice.

“…Aili…”

No—

Even without recalling anything, she knew.

This was a voice she would remember forever.

“…Wake up… Aili—”

“—Royal brother…”

She opened her eyes toward the sound and responded instinctively.

Aili turned her head.

Her golden long hair had been pressed by her head and felt a little uncomfortable, but the hazy state of just waking up from a dream made her too lazy to care about her hair.

Instead, she focused her attention on Solor—

Hm.

Solor.

Why was he here.

Aili blinked and took a moment to process things, then glanced around at the surroundings.

This was indeed her room.

Why was he here.

“…Are you feeling okay?”

Somewhat confused, Solor showed a worried expression and reached out, placing his palm against her forehead.

Perhaps because of Aili’s delicate skin, she could clearly feel the lines and calluses of Solor’s palm.

Along with its warmth.

The warmth of his palm…

Goodness, this was even rarer than a smile.

“Me.
Of course I’m fine.
What’s wrong, royal brother?”

Greedily enjoying the warmth of Solor’s hand, Aili did not get up right away.

She continued to maintain that completely unguarded, half-asleep posture, which made it convenient for her to keep lying there, and also convenient for her to observe Solor and make him lower his guard.

…Ah, why am I making him lower his guard.

There’s no knife hidden in my bed.

Aili was certain that she really had not woken up yet.

Her old habits were popping up here and there, and she could even refute herself.

“Ah, it’s nothing…
It’s just that the maids said you didn’t eat dinner, and earlier you said your stomach hurt.
I was worried you might be sick, so I came to check on you.
Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable.
I don’t feel a fever, just a bit sweaty.”

Solor’s face was full of concern.

The dignified first prince actually knelt on the carpet for the sake of more easily observing her condition, waiting at the bedside for her response, in almost the same posture as when Aili had been resting after returning to her room earlier.

“I’m fine.
I’m sorry to make you worry, royal brother.”

He really believed the stomachache.

Should I be happy that he trusts me more, or should I remind him not to believe others’ words so easily, even those close to him.

But Aili did not say these thoughts out loud.

She simply smiled and said,

“Thank you for coming to see me.”

“What are you saying.
You’re my sister.
If you’re not feeling well, of course I have to come and check on you.
We’re family.”

“…Ah… yes.”

Aili pressed her lips together, the curve of her mouth trembling slightly.

“We are… family…”

She had originally thought that since she had already vented her emotions once, no matter what happened afterward, she would never show that kind of expression again because of similar things.

But looking at Solor’s worried expression, and the sincerity filling his eyes, Aili found it hard to hold herself together once more.

Ah, damn crybaby.

I really have become more sensitive because of this body.

Of course…

After all, what he said were the very words she had pursued her entire life just to hear.

Words that could be spoken so easily.

Why…

My brother, why did you not say these things to me back then.

Then, just as tears were about to fall, she buried herself under the covers like an ostrich, covering both her body and her face.

“Ah—Aili, what’s wrong.
Are you uncomfortable again?”

Solor was startled by her sudden movement, his voice rising several degrees.

“Mmh… stomach hurts.”

Aili continued to use the same clumsy lie, her voice muffled by the covers.

“Then, I’ll go get a doctor.
Wait here—”

But before Solor could finish speaking, he felt a pulling force.

Turning his head, he saw that his wrist had been tightly grasped by a hand伸ing out from under the covers.

Although the difference in their strength was enormous, Aili still made Solor stop.

“No doctor.”

As Aili’s voice sounded, the shape of the covers shifted slightly, as if she had adjusted into a more comfortable position.

“Just stay here and keep me company for a while, royal brother.”

As she spoke, she pulled Solor’s hand inside, drawing it into her blanket.

She curled up, gently touching her forehead to his bent knuckles.

“…Just for a while.”