Ch.46Shining Knight (4)

How much time had passed? Even a brief moment felt like an eternity to Kirsy.

Caden and Ewin were locked in a warm embrace, and yet they seemed unsatisfied, holding each other tighter in various places.

Ewin’s hands kept stroking up and down Caden’s back. Those disrespectful touches fueled the fire growing in Kirsy’s heart.

For a moment, the malicious part of her mind couldn’t understand the situation.

Ewin was a commoner, so how dare she embrace Caden like that?

Though Kirsy had never used her status to look down on others before, in this moment, that feeling suddenly emerged.

Despite these thoughts, Kirsy’s body and mouth wouldn’t move. Confusing thoughts swirled in her head, but she couldn’t figure out how to handle the situation.

“Brother…! Brother…!”

Ewin eventually showed tears and burrowed deeper into Caden’s arms. She nestled deeper into that embrace—the one Kirsy herself couldn’t enter.

Now even those tears looked like crocodile tears to Kirsy. It seemed like Ewin was trying to appear pitiful to Caden.

Of course, the kind voice deep in her heart knew that wasn’t true, that Ewin’s tears were genuine tears of joy… but she didn’t want to listen to that kind voice.

She just found herself hating Ewin.

Until just moments ago, she thought she had made a new friend, but not anymore.

The two showed no signs of separating even as time passed.

Kirsy started to feel exasperated. Did Ewin have no sense of propriety? Even after she had explained her circumstances, Ewin didn’t know when to let go and kept clinging to him.

She had been patient for Ewin’s sake, but Ewin didn’t seem to appreciate that.

Finally, Kirsy swallowed hard, moved forward, and tugged at Caden’s clothes from behind a couple of times.

“…Ah.”

Only then did Caden turn to look at Kirsy. His face showed happiness mixed with numerous other emotions.

Kirsy gave him a look that demanded an explanation.

“…Kirsy. This is… Ewin. She was my sister at the orphanage before I entered the Praester Family.”

Caden was so surprised that he dropped his formal speech. Though he had always dreamed of this moment, it wasn’t as happy as he had imagined. The timing was the biggest issue.

The words “sister from before her” bothered Kirsy deeply. Why did it feel so unpleasant? Even though she had known him longer, somehow it felt like she had lost in some way.

But Kirsy hid her messy emotions. Forcing the corners of her mouth up into a smile, she said:

“…Wow… that’s really amazing. How is this even possible?”

“I know. Ewin, how did you end up here…?”

Caden’s gaze quickly left Kirsy and fixed on Ewin. Following his lead, Kirsy also looked at Ewin.

Ewin, having apparently sold off all her manners somewhere, was still clinging tightly to Caden. Did she not know that one should compose oneself when conversing with others? Was it because she was a commoner?

Finally, Kirsy reached out to Ewin as well. Tapping her shoulder, she said:

“…Um… Ewin. I understand you’re happy… but please let go now.”

“How can my brother… I really…”

Ewin ignored Kirsy’s words. Kirsy could feel her anger rising.

Ewin momentarily separated from him and looked up at him.

“Brother… I never forgot you for a single moment.”

“…Neither did I, Ewin.”

If Kirsy had to choose which words hurt more, it was Caden’s.

The statement that he had never forgotten Ewin.

Had he always been thinking of another sister despite having them? Her heart tightened once more. If this had been during a time when they were close and she was confident in his affection, it might have been different. But hearing those words now, when they had grown somewhat distant, was even more painful.

They looked like they had found their true family. Their affection was crossing a line.

“…Have you been well?”

Caden asked with an affectionate smile.

“You’ve grown up beautifully, Ewin.”

“…..”

Kirsy secretly clenched both fists tightly. Why did it always hurt so much when his gentle words were directed at another woman?

“You too, Brother. You’ve become so handsome. I never expected to meet you here… The place you were adopted into was a noble family…? And the Praester Family at that…?”

“Yes. That’s how it happened.”

“So then… does that mean… Ms. Kirsy is… your younger sister?”

Ewin glanced at Kirsy as she asked.

Kirsy immediately interjected.

“Yes. I am his younger sister. I’ve known him for 10 years.”

And she subtly pulled Caden closer. The gap between him and Ewin widened slightly.

Kirsy squeezed under Caden’s arm and nestled against him slightly. From that position, she shot Ewin a sharp glance.

Ewin looked at Kirsy, then turned to Caden and carefully asked:

“…Just… just a younger sister…?”

Kirsy frowned at that question. What did “just a younger sister” mean? It was a question with hidden intentions, and it upset her.

How dare a commoner test a noble?

“Yes. She is my younger sister.”

Caden gently placed his hand on Kirsy’s shoulder as she clung to his side. Just as Kirsy was about to take pride in that intimate gesture, Ewin quietly muttered:

“…Thank goodness.”

Hearing those words, Kirsy’s heart erupted like a volcano. She felt a surge of anger that was hard to contain, and those words made her feel disgusted.

What did “thank goodness” mean? What was Ewin relieved about regarding the fact that she was just his sister? She hoped Ewin wasn’t harboring lofty dreams—like becoming his partner, for instance.

Kirsy gritted her teeth. There were dozens of things she wanted to say, but she instinctively knew she shouldn’t.

So she changed the subject.

Sticking closely to his side, she looked up at Caden and said:

“..Brother. We can catch up later. Aren’t you hungry now?”

Ewin clapped her hands at Kirsy’s words.

“Ah! That’s right!”

She returned to the pot where she had been keeping the sauce and started stirring it. Kirsy coldly watched Ewin return to her place. If she had burned that sauce, Kirsy would have been quite angry.

What use was a worker who couldn’t fulfill their role?

Due to her hostility toward Ewin, thoughts that would shock Caden kept pouring out.

“Ms. Kirsy! I think you can finish up now!”

“Yes, I understand. Brother, go sit down. You can see me from there, so watch me work hard, okay?”

Caden’s eyes lingered on Ewin for a moment before turning to Kirsy.

“…Ah… okay.”

“It feels so good that you’re speaking informally now, Brother.”

“Hehe. I’m looking forward to the food. It smells good. Did you make it all yourself?”

Caden was now laughing easily. Whether because of Ewin or not, he seemed excited. Though this didn’t please Kirsy, she didn’t show it.

“Yes. It’ll be ready soon, so keep watching.”

“Alright.”

Caden then separated from Kirsy, left the kitchen, and took a seat at the dining table. As soon as he sat down, he broke into a smile and seemed lost in some thought.

Kirsy looked at Caden for a moment, then approached Ewin, who was stirring the pot.

“…I’m surprised. To think that ‘my’ brother knew Ewin before.”

She spoke to Ewin with a subtle hint of rivalry.

“…I know. I had no idea that Caden Brother had been adopted into the Praester Family…”

“It’s Mr. Caden.”

Kirsy corrected Ewin, still smiling.

“…Pardon?”

To the confused Ewin, Kirsy explained:

“Brother is a noble now.”

She calmly reminded her of the obvious.

In her heart, she wanted to coldly tell Ewin off. How dare she call Caden just “Brother” without any respect? Only she and Asena could call Caden “Brother.”

Whatever happened in the past was in the past.

Ewin stammered:

“Ah… but… before, Caden—”

“That was before, Ewin. There are positions now. Brother has been a noble for over 10 years. This is also for your own good. Can a commoner call a noble family’s son ‘Brother’…? If people catch wind of it, it could become a big problem.”

“Ah… I see.”

Ewin nodded.

“I… I’m sorry. I’m uneducated… Thank you for letting me know.”

“Not at all. It’s fine.”

Kirsy smiled. She inwardly sighed a little. It seemed like she could gradually separate Ewin this way.

But at that moment, Ewin spoke again:

“Ah… Ms. Kirsy?”

“…Yes?”

“If it’s a problem in front of other nobles… could I call Caden ‘Brother’ just in front of you…?”

“……”

“You’re kind… I’m asking you this favor. You understand me, don’t you…?”

Kirsy had to suppress another surge of anger. She glanced sideways at Caden. He was still lost in thought with his arms crossed.

Realizing he wasn’t paying attention to them, Kirsy once again spoke coldly to Ewin:

“…No. There can be no exceptions.”

“…….”

“If you want to speak informally to my brother, you’d have to do the same with me. Could you do that?”

“..Ah..! No… no.”

“Exactly.”

Kirsy gently stroked Ewin’s hand. Hiding her true feelings, she was slowly guiding Ewin in the direction she wanted.

While soothing Ewin and pretending to care for her, Kirsy suddenly grabbed her hand and looked down at her coldly.

And like a snake showing its fangs, she abruptly asked about what had been bothering her:

“By the way, what did you mean when you said ‘thank goodness’ earlier?”