episode_0028

First of all, it is only natural to go back when you hear that something has happened at home.

I put everything aside and started preparing to return home.

Actually, there wasn’t much to prepare since I didn’t bring much with me.

“Sister, can I go now?”

“Yes. Go quickly. I’ll tell the others.”

Flora, quick to notice, nodded at my sudden words without questioning further.

She’s a really grateful person.

Merina looked quite sad,

but my expression was so serious that she couldn’t bring herself to hold me back.

Merina was so sad about the sudden separation with me,

that she asked with a mournful expression.

“Sister, will we be able to meet again…?”

Her appearance was so much like a small deer,

that I unknowingly smiled and stroked her head.

-Pat pat.

“Of course. I’ll miss our Merina too?”

“Really?”

“Of course~. How much do I like cute and kind children like our Merina.”

Merina, who was finally relieved by my words, smiled.

“Then see you next time, Sister.”

“Yes. You have to stay healthy until then?”

“Yes!”

“You need to stay healthy too, Serena.”

“Thank you. Hehe.”

What truly wonderful people.

It seems I’m blessed with good people around me.

I lightly expressed my gratitude,

finished saying goodbye, and left the room.

‘Okay, shall we go now.’

Let’s go check out what happened.

* * *

The journey home was long once again.

‘I hate carriages…’

I could finally arrive at my house only after riding in the bumpy carriage for days.

“Thank you.”

After greeting the coachman, I hurriedly ran to the front gate of the house.

-Knock knock.

-Who is it?

I answered to the familiar voice of the servant.

“It’s me.”

-Oh, it’s the young lady.

-Creak.

The servant, who recognized me, opened the door to welcome me.

“Please come in. The Marquis and the Madam are waiting for you.”

I followed him to the drawing room.

While moving,

unable to overcome my curiosity, I subtly threw a question.

“Um, I heard that something happened at home….”

“Ah. There was a joyous occasion recently. I was really surprised too.”

Joyous occasion?

‘A joyous occasion means something good.’

Could something worthy of being called a joyous occasion happen in our house?

As my thoughts reached this point,

a certain hypothesis flashed through my mind.

‘No way.’

But once a thought enters my head, it doesn’t leave easily.

‘No, is it real?’

Of course, my parents have a good marriage, but,

really?

While I was feeling doubtful,

I had already arrived in front of the drawing room.

“Please go in, young lady.”

“Yes, thank you.”

-Gulp.

I opened the drawing room door with a lot of tension.

-Creak.

As I opened the drawing room door,

my parents were waiting for me.

“Our daughter is here.”

“Serena. Have you been well?”

My parents asked how I was doing, as usual.

“I’ve been well…?”

I have been well.

Of course, there were some things that happened.

I fixed the elven tribe leader’s daughter’s hatred for humans,

and as compensation, I went to receive a very precious elixir and ended up executing an elder who was performing a great demon summoning ritual.

However, I couldn’t say these things.

Because the sight that entered my eyes was too shocking.

The existence in my mother’s arms.

If there’s no problem with my eyes,

it’s definitely….

“…A younger sibling?”

“Hehe. It turned out that way.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

My mother, holding a small baby in her arms, spoke with a flushed face, and my father cleared his throat, as if he was embarrassed.

I could only stare with my mouth wide open.

‘No, how could this happen?’

Of course, my parents are young!

I’ve been away from my seat for a long time, so it was just the two of them!

The two of them have always had a good relationship!

‘How long have I been away from my seat!’

I started to reminisce for a moment.

‘Let’s see. One month. Two months. Three months… um. It’s been a while.’

Now that I count, it seems like it’s been at least half a year.

‘I think I’ve been away for about 8 months to a year.’

Even so, such a big event happened.

It was really surprising.

My mother urged me, who was still out of my mind.

“Oh my. Don’t do that and come here and hold your younger sibling. Isn’t she really pretty? Hehe.”

“Ahem, ahem. I guess she resembles the wife.”

“Oh my, you. You’re being outrageous in front of the child. Hehe.”

In the meantime, my father threw out a cheesy comment.

‘Where did the dignity of the Marquis go, Father…!’

I hesitantly approached my mother.

As I got closer, the baby’s appearance came into view more clearly.

Actually, I didn’t have many memories of seeing a newborn baby, whether in my previous life or here, so it was a bit new to me.

The first thought that came to mind was,

it’s really small.

‘Amazing.’

How can there be such a small life form?

I’m small enough,

I felt like I could hold it in my arms.

My mother seemed to have read my thoughts and asked me a question.

“Would you like to hold her?”

“Oh. Is that, is that okay?”

“Of course~. She’s your younger sibling.”

My mother carefully handed me the baby,

and I received the baby in an awkward posture.

“You have to hold the baby carefully, supporting her neck and holding her in your arms.”

As I adjusted my posture here and there according to my mother’s one-on-one coaching,

I felt a warm energy in my arms.

‘It’s warmer than I thought.’

As I looked at the baby sleeping soundly,

I started to have all sorts of thoughts.

‘This child wouldn’t have been tainted by any of the world’s煩惱 (Worries/Agitations) and malice yet.’

The world’s duties, pain, responsibilities, suffering, and so on.

As I looked at the untainted appearance of anything,

well. What should I say.

‘I want to protect her.’

Without knowing anything,

just held in my arms, breathing regularly,

the appearance of this small life wriggling little by little.

The thought that I wanted to protect her no matter what kept popping up.

It was perhaps a natural course of action that I unknowingly kissed the baby’s forehead.

-Kiss.

As I kissed her forehead,

the baby smiled slightly as if she was having a good dream.

I don’t know why, but my heart felt full and my eyes were about to turn red.

I turned my head away without knowing why and asked my mother a question.

“Mom. What’s this child’s… I mean, my younger sibling’s name?”

“Hehe. So you recognize her as your younger sibling?”

“No, then what did you think I was going to do?”

“Well~. What should I say, I thought you would say something like ‘A younger sibling was born while I was gone. I can’t accept it! Did you bring her?’”

I was at a loss for words at my mother’s words.

“What kind of cold-blooded person do you see me as?”

“Hehe. I’m just joking.”

“When did you call me an angel? Am I all grown up?”

“Of course, our Serena is still an angel to Mom~.”

“Hmph, never mind. So what’s her name?”

My mother told me my younger sibling’s name only after arguing with me for a while.

“Adeline. Our second child’s name is Adeline Rielrand.”

“Adeline….”

I hugged Adeline, who was in my arms, a little tighter and said.

“Our Adeline. You’re doing well….”

“Hehe. It seems like you like her that much?”

“Ah, it’s my first time seeing a baby….”

“How do you feel seeing your younger sibling? Isn’t she cute?”

“Well….”

I looked at Adeline once more for a moment and said softly.

“…A little bit, she’s alright.”

“Oh my~. Are you jealous now?”

“Je, jealous, what!”

I blushed and retorted at my mother’s words.

I’m not a bad older sister who thinks that she’s losing the love she used to monopolize because a second child was born.

‘It’s just because I’m flustered.’

Um um.

That’s right.

How could I be jealous of my younger sibling?

‘How old is my mental age?’

I don’t do such childish things.

That’s right.

And more than anything,

even if somewhere inside, jealousy is about to raise its head a little…

-Snore snore.

If you feel this warmth in your arms,

those thoughts tend to disappear.

‘I have to treat her well.’

I vowed to become Adeline’s wonderful older sister,

and slightly increased the strength of my hug.

Just a little bit, so that the sleeping baby wouldn’t be uncomfortable.

-Hug.

* * *

At that moment, the Elven Forest.

Now that the incident was over,

the academy students had no reason to stay any longer.

Naturally, everyone was busy preparing to return to the academy.

-Buzz buzz.

At the moment when everyone was busy packing their luggage,

the princess, who was their leader, was also just as busy.

“Everyone, there shouldn’t be any items you left behind or any matters you need to convey, right?”

While leading and taking care of each of the academy students,

a unique student caught her eye.

‘Hmm?’

One student’s expression wasn’t very good.

He, named Dorison,

was unique in that he was the only priest among the academy students who participated in this field trip.

‘Come to think of it, his expression hasn’t been good for the past few days.’

As the princess and the leader of the students, she couldn’t overlook it,

Flora approached Dorison and asked.

“Dorison. Your expression isn’t good. Is something wrong?”

Dorison was surprised as if he didn’t expect Flora to approach,

and said quickly.

“Ah, no. Your Highness the Princess.”

“No way. It’s written all over your face that something’s wrong.”

“Haha… It’s, it’s really nothing.”

“Hmm….”

A suspicious reaction that anyone could see.

But it was hard to press him further since the person himself said he was okay.

“If you’re not feeling well, or if there’s something you’re having trouble telling others, tell me. I’ll give you advice anytime.”

“Haha. Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.”

“It’s not just words, it’s sincere, so remember that.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Dorison, after confirming Flora’s nodding gesture, slowly retreated.

Flora, staring at the back of Dorison as he moved away, came up with one unique point.

‘Come to think of it, he seems to have been in that state since he heard Serena’s performance.’

Flora, realizing that fact, began to think carefully.

The crazy sight of the spirits seeming to be possessed by something.

Flora, who knew the power of Serena’s performance to move emotions, also had a spooky part when she saw it, so she could roughly guess how ominous it would have seemed to others.

A spirit in the form of an evil spirit,

and a priest who has been feeling uneasy since seeing that figure.

‘This, I have a bad feeling about this.’

An ominous feeling kept filling a corner of Flora’s heart.

‘Well, nothing will happen.’

Flora thought that she should keep an eye on Dorison, just in case.

Hoping that her unnecessary worries would be nothing more than杞憂 (groundless fear; unnecessary apprehension).