Ch.62Alliance (5)

After removing the stitches, getting proper sleep, and consistently chewing and swallowing food, my body had definitely healed by the ninth day.

There were still some areas that needed more time, but not many, and I felt no discomfort.

I seemed ready to meet Grandmother. There didn’t appear to be any lingering aftereffects either.

“I’m all healed up.”

I suddenly remarked while looking at my body. Thinking back to the battle, it was truly fortunate that I’d only been injured to this extent. Of course, the instincts I’d developed through training had helped me avoid fatal blows.

“It’s all thanks to you two.”

I gently stroked Kirsy’s cheek, expressing my gratitude. Both Kirsy and Asena had been taking meticulous care of me recently.

Any feelings of resentment I’d had lately seemed to have melted away.

They had been visiting me before I woke up and leaving only when I fell asleep… It was a moment that reaffirmed their affection for me.

Of course, they sometimes displayed villainous behavior like in novels… but the fact that these twins with villainous tendencies consistently looked after me brought me an inevitable happiness.

I realized once again that I only felt betrayed when family matters intervened, but personally, there were no issues between us.

I was stroking Kirsy’s face, but she looked upset. Looking at my exposed body, she spoke with concern.

“…Brother… but the scars…”

“…”

Indeed, the sword wounds had left hideous marks on my body. Like snakes that had eaten their way across my once-smooth torso, red scars stretched across various parts of my body.

Kirsy carefully touched the largest wound on my chest. Her furrowed expression wouldn’t smooth out.

But I was fine. Rather, I disliked seeing Kirsy so sad.

So after thinking for a moment, I made a joke to her.

“…Kirsy. Are these scars really the problem? Look at my left nipple. What am I supposed to do about that? It ran away and isn’t coming back…”

The sword had left more than just slash wounds. My left nipple had been cut off during the battle.

The physician had told me not to worry, saying it would grow back—information I never wanted to know—but in my current state, nothing could be more embarrassing.

And since the bandages had been removed after the bleeding stopped… many visitors had seen this sight.

Honestly, it was humiliating.

While sword scars could be somewhat boast-worthy, a severed nipple couldn’t exactly be considered a badge of honor.

Kirsy had been on the verge of tears, but seeing my expression and tone, she burst into incredulous laughter. Then, as if feeling guilty for laughing, she frowned again and lightly hit my arm.

Seeing her smile again, I smiled back.

“…Brother, I think it’s fine.”

At that moment, Asena interjected from beside us.

“Hmm?”

“Scars gained from sacrificing yourself for others… they’re cool. I don’t find them pitiful.”

“…Really?”

I was surprised by Asena’s uncharacteristic words, but since they were meant to comfort me, I didn’t mind.

I looked at Asena to thank her. She wasn’t looking at me.

She was staring at Kirsy with a stern gaze, as if reproaching her for pitying my scars.

Following Asena’s gaze, I looked back at Kirsy, but the Kirsy who had laughed at my joke was nowhere to be seen—she was returning Asena’s stare with equal intensity.

A strange tension flowed between them.

“…Did you two fight?”

I asked. In situations like this, it’s best to address things quickly for a faster resolution.

“…We didn’t fight.”

“No, we didn’t, Brother.”

“…Hmm.”

After pondering for a moment, I got out of bed.

“…Brother! You should still be lying down—”

“—Kirsy. The scars have all healed, so why should I stay in bed? I should have gotten up earlier.”

I stretched, loosening my stiff body. I felt a refreshing pain.

After a thorough yawn, I said to the twins:

“Girls. Let’s go eat.”

It had been a while since I’d said those words. Anyway, if they had fought, doing something together would be good.

****

A long procession of carriages stretched toward the Academy.

Since all classes for current students had been canceled, the twins and I were sitting in a classroom with a view of the carriages outside the window.

With all classes canceled, knight training had also been temporarily suspended.

This meant I didn’t need to stay by Daisy’s side.

She was probably waiting somewhere for her family too. Though, knowing Daisy, she might have holed up somewhere to study.

Honestly, I was worried about Judy.

Although Judy had never directly explained her circumstances to me, she had mentioned having difficult times with her family, so she might be anxious about their visit.

Thinking about her possibly worrying alone made my heart ache.

Perhaps it was because she was the friend I’d spent the most time with since entering the Academy.

We had trained together as knights, sweating side by side, shared many concerns due to our similar positions within our families, and even faced death together—the intimacy felt different.

The twins probably didn’t realize how close I felt to Judy. Perhaps even Judy herself didn’t know.

Regardless, I felt uncomfortable that I wasn’t able to help her when she had helped me during my difficult times.

“…Brother, what are you thinking about?”

Kirsy asked as I was thinking about Judy.

I avoided mentioning Judy and brushed it off.

“Hmm? Nothing. I wasn’t thinking about anything special.”

Asena was watching elegantly with a stern face, while Kirsy was pressed against the window like an animal, observing the procession of carriages.

From that position, Kirsy spoke to me.

“This is really… I can’t believe all this is happening because of Grandmother Riana, no, because of you, Brother.”

“I feel the same way, Kirsy.”

“I thought we wouldn’t see Grandmother until graduation. But it’s good that we can see her face now, right?”

“Of course.”

“I wonder if Helen, Tein, Max, or Lawrence will come too?”

“They probably will.”

“Ah… that’s exciting too, then.”

—Boom! Boom! Boom!

As we quietly enjoyed the warm sunlight while watching the carriages, a loud trumpet sound overwhelmed our ears.

“They’re here.”

Asena said.

I looked toward the source of the sound. I’d only heard rumors about it, but I didn’t know it would be this resonant.

It was the trumpet sound of the Ice Family.

In the distance, a carriage bearing a large bear paw emblem came into view.

Perhaps because they were a ducal family, or because all their family members had come, there wasn’t just one carriage, and consequently, there were many knights protecting them.

It felt strange to think that if things went wrong, I might have to fight those knights.

I thought of Judy again. If even I was slightly startled by the sound, how much more surprised would Judy be?

I considered going to find her, but I also didn’t want to leave the twins who were waiting for Grandmother.

“Asena. You must feel some pressure too.”

“…Huh?”

“Being the head of the family.”

“…Yeah.”

While Asena possesses greater power than anyone else, she’s also younger than any other family head.

It must be a significant burden to stand shoulder to shoulder with other family heads who could be considered veterans in the political world, especially the head of the Ice Family.

“…But I’ll be fine.”

Asena said.

I was about to find her determination endearing.

Just as I was about to pull her head close and let her rest on my shoulder, Asena continued:

“As long as you’re by my side, Brother.”

“…”

My movement froze momentarily. A fact that she knew, Kirsy knew, and I knew.

I had already decided to leave the family.

For her to say such a thing, knowing this fact, was also pressure on me not to leave.

Judging that it was better to remain silent for now, I withdrew my arm.

We resumed watching outside in silence.

In the distance, we noticed students sitting by the roadside watching the carriage procession becoming noisy.

All three of us instinctively understood why.

“She’s here.”

Asena said.

I nodded.

Simultaneously, a deep horn sound shook the ground.

—Boooooooo… Boooooooo…

A sound that might seem eerie to some.

But to me, it was the most familiar and heartwarming sound.

Familiar and dearly missed faces were escorting a carriage emblazoned with two snakes into the Academy.

Grandmother had arrived.

“…Phew…”

I sighed. It felt like showing a report card to Grandmother.

In truth, I was more nervous than when the Ice Family had appeared.

After all, she had come because of me.

“Asena, have you decided what to say to Grandmother?”

“…About Shallon Payne?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve thought about it. Don’t worry, Brother.”

“Let’s try to prevent Grandmother from making this a bigger issue… Understood?”

“I understand, Brother.”

After sighing deeply once more, I wondered:

What would Grandmother say when she heard about my plan to leave the family?