I slowly turned my head to look there.
"And..."
After briefly scanning me up and down, a smile spread across his lips.
It seemed mocking, yet also gentle...
"It seems you've been doing well in my absence."
It was a strangely meaningful smile.
I calmly looked at Estio.
Estio also stared at me with a smile on his face.
However, there was not a glimmer of light in his purple eyes.
Anyway...
'Why does he keep pulling it?'
Beneath the table, Vancis kept pulling at my dress.
Annoying.
Ignoring the bothersome Vancis, I smiled brightly at Estio and said,
"How could I? I missed you so much, Estio, my dear brother."
"..."
"I'm glad you're back."
Estio was silent at my words.
It was amusing to watch his lips, which had been curved in a soft arc, gradually tighten into a straight line.
And that's because.
'If you ever call me brother again, I'll make sure you can never speak again.'
Estio absolutely hated me calling him brother.
Not long after I came here, I wanted to get closer to Estio.
From afar, he seemed quite kind, unlike Vancis.
Waiting for an opportunity, I mustered the courage to approach him on a day he was alone.
And I called him 'Estio, my dear brother.'
At that moment, the atmosphere around us changed.
Estio's expression and eyes were more fierce than ever before.
He looked like he would kill me with his gaze alone.
'How dare something so filthy.'
'...'
'Don't you dare think you and Miracle are the same? You filthy bastard.'
'...'
'If you ever call me brother again, I'll make sure you can never speak again.'
Leaving those words behind, Estio turned away coldly.
I couldn't grab Estio or follow him.
Because his eyes were sincere.
If I had said even one more word there, Estio would have cut out my tongue without hesitation.
'This is the first time since then.'
That I've called Estio brother.
Estio was quietly staring at me.
But I could tell right away.
That he was desperately suppressing his anger right now.
'Because the Duke is here.'
Ligrin is here, and so is his beloved Miracle.
So he has to endure it.
He can't reveal his true nature in this place.
'Ah, this is fun.'
Is it because the current Estio is still young?
He still doesn't know how to perfectly control his emotions.
If it were the grown-up Estio sitting in front of me, he would have quietly smiled and perfectly managed his emotions.
But the Estio before me was just a fledgling who was barely managing to maintain his composure.
I couldn't help but laugh at Estio, who was desperately trying to hold back his anger.
Above all, it was the first time he was seeing my changed appearance from living in the academy dormitory.
He must be flustered, having been hit over the head after thinking of my previous self.
'Should I try a little more?'
I became curious.
How much longer Estio could hold back his anger in front of the Duke.
But...
"Let's stop with the greetings and start the meal now."
The Duke broke the flow.
"...Yes, Father."
Estio quietly replied.
"Yay, thank you for the food!"
Miracle exclaimed innocently.
"Ahem... Hey, you, talk to me later."
Vancis whispered to me, but I ignored him.
And I looked straight into the Duke's eyes and said,
"Thank you for the food."
I smiled brightly.
But was it just my imagination?
Even though my greeting was over, the Duke kept looking at me.
As if there was still something I needed to say to him.
Of course, I had nothing more to say to him, so I turned my head without regret.
Even so, the Duke didn't take his eyes off me.
In the awkward atmosphere, the dinner began.
No one could bring themselves to say a word, and everyone just stared at their plates.
Miracle occasionally started a conversation in a bright voice, but that was it.
Soon, even Miracle closed her mouth.
The sound of silverware clattering echoed through the dining room.
In the end, no proper conversation took place until the end of the dinner.
It was, without a doubt, the worst dinner in the history of Rodbel.
After dinner, Ligrin took the half-asleep Miracle up to her room, and Estio and the Duke returned to the study, saying they had more to discuss.
I also left the place without regret.
"Ugh..."
Staggering down the hallway, I collapsed on the spot.
"Ugh..."
I feel nauseous.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
This is probably...
'I think I have indigestion.'
I knew this would happen, so I only pretended to eat and hardly ate anything, but even that seems to have caused indigestion.
"Ugh..."
I'd feel better if I could just throw up.
But there's nothing coming out because I didn't eat anything.
"Ha..."
Still, I felt a little better after gagging a few times.
'Let's go back quickly.'
I want to go back to my room and rest soon.
I was about to hurry my steps when.
"Hey!"
A familiar voice echoed from behind.
I knew exactly who it was without looking.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I didn't have any energy left to deal with Vancis right now.
'Let's just go.'
If I ignore him, he'll just give up on his own.
...But that was a big mistake on my part.
"Hey!"
"..."
"Heeey!"
"..."
He keeps calling me persistently, even though I'm ignoring him.
"Can't you hear me? Stop right there!"
"..."
When that didn't work.
Thump, thump, thump!
Just as his footsteps seemed to be getting faster, my wrist was grabbed and my body was turned around.
The sudden movement made my head spin for a moment.
The feeling of nausea rose again, and I bit my lip tightly.
"Hey! Why are you ignoring me when I'm calling...!"
Vancis, who was shouting without knowing my condition, stopped abruptly.
Then, he asked in a trembling voice.
"...Did you...did you cry?"
What is he talking about? Who's crying?
I replied shortly.
"No."
"No? Your eyes are all red!"
"My eyes are always red."
"That's not what I meant!"
Vancis shouted angrily when I gave a rough answer because I was annoyed.
"Why were you crying? Is it because of my brother? Are you scared?"
I quietly stared at Vancis, who was grilling me.
Suddenly, I had a thought.
Is there any reason why I should be listening to his story here right now?
'I'm tired.'
I, who didn't even have the energy to deal with him, knocked away Vancis's hand, which was still holding my wrist, and said.
"It's not that, so mind your own business."
"...What?"
At that moment, Vancis's expression hardened coldly.
"Hey, why are you talking like that when I'm worried about you?"
His eyes were blazing, so he seemed angry.
I was so dumbfounded by Vancis that a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
"Ha."
Then, Vancis's expression became even colder.
He seems to think I'm making fun of him.
'That's right, though.'
I want to go back to my room and rest at this time, but from the looks of it, Vancis didn't seem like he was going to let me go easily.
So I looked straight at him and said.
"Since when have you been worried about me?"
"...!"
"I don't need your concern, Vancis. So stop bothering me. Let go of this."
"You..."
He stared blankly at me, as if he had been shocked.
I guess this is enough.
I was about to turn around and leave.
"Where are you going? We're not done talking!"
I was grabbed again.
Ah.
"Ugh...!"
The nausea that I had been holding back surged up again.
I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand.
I glared at Vancis with teary eyes that were stinging, and his purple eyes widened.
"You..."
Vancis was about to say something.
Thwack!
I kicked Vancis in the shin.
"...Ugh?"
I couldn't kick hard because I didn't have any strength in my body, but the surprised Vancis let go of my wrist and stepped back.
Soon, he realized that he had been kicked in the shin, and his face turned red and blue.
"Are you...crazy? Are you out of your mind?"
"I know, you should have let go when I told you to."
"Hey! Did I do it because I wanted to? I was worried about you because you didn't look good!"
"I didn't ask you to worry about me."
"Ha, seriously!"
Vancis was about to pounce on me at any moment.
I thought it would be better to just get hit once and get rid of him, so I didn't avoid him and stared straight at him.
"Ha..."
However, Vancis clenched his fists tightly and took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress his anger.
Well, I guess this is enough.
"If you're done talking, I'll be going."
I was about to turn around like that.
"...Doesn't it ever occur to you that everyone hates you because you're like that?"
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