A Hug!

It’s been some time since that turmoil, but I still have a bit of a headache.

—After that, the Young Miss, Sofina, a portion of the knights, and I defeated the monster army.

They called it a monster army, but I didn’t think it was much of a big deal.

…Well, they weren’t very clever, so flinging a few high-tier spells was enough to take care of most of them.

There were a few who could instinctively sense danger and tried to ambush me while I was constructing my spells, but they were all intercepted by the Young Miss and Sofina.

…All in all, the fight was quite easy.

What’s giving me a headache, actually, is that the Young Miss hasn’t been close to me recently.

Instead, she’s often talking with Young Master Claude, who has been returning to the estate frequently.

Every time I try to approach her, she turns and runs away, and our eyes never meet.

She just eats with her head down during meals and is silent during her bath.

…Did I do something to displease her?

But I have no clue what it could be… and it’s giving me a terrible headache.

I looked at the plushie in my hands—the gift I couldn’t give the Young Miss on her birthday—and sighed heavily.

“…What on earth should I do?”

(Katarina’s POV)

“…What on earth should I do?”

I confided in the person before me.

…As for why he was able to chat with me in my room on a school day, it was because of the attack we suffered a few days ago.

After that night, the ducal estate lost a significant portion of its forces, and Father was seriously injured, forcing him to hand over some of his duties to my older brother.

Given these special circumstances, the academy decided to grant my brother an indefinite leave of absence, allowing him to return to school only after he had settled the ducal family’s affairs.

And I was taking this opportunity to seek his help.

“Don’t ask me.

Isn’t this a matter between the two of you?”

…But he dismissed my question with indifference.

“You’re a useless older brother.”

“And you’re my dear, useless little sister.”

The handsome man brought over two cups of black tea, placed one in front of me, and dropped two sugar cubes into it.

I frowned:

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

“But you can’t stand bitterness, can you?”

As he spoke, he offered his own cup of tea to me.

“If you really hate it, we can switch.”

“…”

After a moment of thought, I chose the cup with the sugar cubes.

Seeing my action, my older brother smiled and took the other cup.

“You’re really so clumsy.

Even if you like Ailena that much, there’s no need to pretend to cater to her tastes.

You’re the master, aren’t you?”

Taking a light sip of tea, he continued:

“And in the end, with your situation, wouldn’t it be better to just tell her what you’re thinking?”

“…No!

If I tell her, she’ll definitely hate me!”

‘After all… after all, the reason is so despicable!’

“I don’t think so.

Knowing Ailena, she would surely accept whatever you say with an open heart.”

“No, no, no!

Absolutely not!”

“Sigh… So, what’s the problem?

Isn’t it just ordinary jealousy?”

Growing a bit impatient, my older brother bluntly pointed out the little secret I was trying to hide.

“It’s not ordinary at all!”

“It’s very ordinary, isn’t it?”

The man with a face so similar to mine just sipped his tea calmly.

“Jealousy is an emotion everyone has.

Even I get jealous sometimes.”

“But!

But!”

I shouted in a fit of desperation:

“Just because she made a friend I didn’t know about, just because she hugged her friend, I got jealous!”

“So what?”

Swirling the cup in his hand, my older brother looked completely unconcerned.

“Whatever the reason, jealousy is jealousy.”

“…It’s so lame.”

“You haven’t exactly been the coolest in front of Ailena, have you?

I, for one, think that no matter what the reason for your jealousy, Ailena will accept you.

She’s a woman with a particularly accepting nature.”

“…”

He made so much sense that I couldn’t help but fall silent.

“And in the end, you just want a hug from her, right?

Why not just say so?”

“…Some things are just impossible to say.”

“So you’re just going to give her the cold shoulder for the rest of your life?

I think even Ailena would get her feelings hurt, you know?”

Hearing this, I was instantly thrown into a panic.

“…I can’t have that!”

I could never do anything to hurt Ailena!

“Then just be bold and say it.

You, of all people, should cherish the present now.

You understand, don’t you?”

Clasping his hands together, my older brother’s smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.

“You and she are destined to part ways.

You will marry into the royal family, and she won’t be your exclusive maid forever.

She will also find a lover, get married, and start a family.

When that time comes, you’ll have no more chances to see each other.”

Just imagining a future where Ailena marries some unknown man and leaves me, my chest ached with a dull pain.

But I had to admit, what my older brother said was the truth.

“So, do you really have time to dither?”

“…”

Without a word, I left the room.

And my mind was made up.

That evening, I brought the prepared food to the Young Miss’s room as usual.

“Young Miss, it’s time for dinner.”

“Ailena, come in.”

…The Young Miss actually answered me!

This was a wonderful surprise.

It was the first time since that night!

I immediately entered the room to see the little golden pufferfish standing by her bed, looking directly at me.

After so many days, our eyes finally met!

I was inexplicably moved.

“Come here, Ailena.”

“Yes.”

As soon as I walked over to the Young Miss, she opened her arms to me, her whole body forming a “大” shape.

“Hug me, Ailena.”

“…What’s all this, Young Miss?”

“Didn’t you say your arms would always be open for me?

Don’t worry about it, just hug me!”

Her face was completely red, which made me feel a little embarrassed too.

“Oh, okay…”

But I did as she asked.

With our chests pressed together, I could hear her heart beating wildly… The Young Miss must be able to hear mine too, right?

“I’m sorry.

I must have made you worry during this time.”

“…I should be the one to apologize.

Did I do something to displease you, Young Miss?”

“…Yes, you did.

I was very unhappy.”

The arms holding me tightened.

“You said you’d always keep your arms open for me, but you hugged someone else!

I was very displeased!”

‘So that’s why the Young Miss was angry?’

“So it was just jealousy…”

‘How cute.’

“What’s wrong?

Am I not allowed to be jealous?”

She tilted her head up and puffed out her cheeks, looking like the same little pufferfish from when we first met.

“Of course you are, Young Miss.”

“From now on, you’re not allowed to hug anyone else.

Your hugs are mine and mine alone!”

“Yes.

My hugs belong only to the Young Miss.”

Hearing this, the Young Miss let out a silly “hehehe” giggle.

The composed, sharp demeanor she usually put on vanished, leaving only the pure innocence of a child.

Only when she was satisfied did the Young Miss let me go… but her eyes still held a trace of reluctance.

The food I had brought over was already cold.

I was about to take it back to the kitchen to reheat it, but the Young Miss stopped me, just so I would stay with her a little longer.

…I really can’t say no to her.

“Oh, right.

This is for you, Young Miss.”

I handed the fluffy thing I had hidden under the food cart to the Young Miss.

“What’s this…?”

“This is the gift I prepared for your birthday, but I never had a chance to give it to you.

I’m sorry for giving you your birthday present so late.”

(Katarina’s POV)

This little dog plushie really looks like Ailena!

Seeing its silver-white fur, it’s hard not to think of her, right?

“Let it keep you company at night in my stead.

That way, it’ll be like I’m always with you.”

…Hearing words like that, I really can’t hold back anymore!

The emotions in my heart began to overflow, finally converging into a single sentence:

“Ailena, will you really stay by my side forever?”

Even though I knew it was impossible, I still prayed for the answer I wanted, for that little bit of comfort for my heart.

“Of course, Young Miss.”

…Of course, I knew she would give me the answer I wanted.

‘How despicable of me.’

But… I can no longer imagine a future without Ailena.

I don’t want to let go.

No matter what, I don’t want to let go.

“Will you really, really stay by my side forever?”

“Really, really.”

“Then…”

I held out my pinky finger, hooking it.

Ailena immediately understood and hooked her own finger with mine.

“In sickness and in health, for better or for worse, we will be together forever and ever.”

“…Isn’t that the wrong phrase to use here?

Shouldn’t it be the one about swallowing a thousand needles?”

Of course, I knew that.

But I didn’t reply, just staring at Ailena wordlessly.

I knew that Ailena would always lose to this tactic.

“Mm… In sickness and in health, for better or for worse, we will be together forever and ever.”

“It’s a promise then, Ailena.”

“…Yes, Young Miss.”

‘You must, you must never leave me.’