107 – Grand Duke of Ilencia (1)
[Sirien Ilencia]
It happened when I was young.
To be exact, when I was a little girl in Ilencia.
There were only a few months left until we had to go to that cabin.
As spring ripens, I celebrate my twelfth birthday.
How much did you look forward to before the birthday party? I couldn’t sleep all night because of excitement.
The day of the party arrived just like that. I took out my favorite dress and wore it, and both my parents were there to congratulate me.
It was a happy day, as if I had everything in the world.
I received so many gifts that it filled a room.
A rare gem or accessory. There were all kinds of amazing items, but to be honest, I wasn’t very impressed by them.
That’s right, because you can get as many things as you want that are just expensive and rare.
I wasn’t young enough to be deceived by simply shiny things.
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If I said I wanted a blue diamond, my father would have it in my hand within a few days.
There is no need to be greedy for something you can get at any time.
So, I was much happier with gifts from people I knew than from people I had never met.
For example, the gloves that Razen gave her while scratching his head.
“Wow!”
“I think I received a lot of other things. As I was trying to choose, I remembered that you cut your finger not long ago…… “If it’s too shabby, I’ll buy you another one.”
“No. I really like this! Thank you!”
How did I buy something that fits so well without even measuring the size?
It was so soft and light that it felt comfortable as if I was wearing it or not. In a way, it was a truly Rajen-like gift.
It gives me something I can use right away rather than something that is simply flashy on the outside.
Now that I think about it, the strangely unconfident look I had at moments like this was still the same.
“I’m glad you like it… ….”
“I will use it well from now on.”
The banquet hall in Reheim was like heaven for me.
Mom, Dad, Rajen, Henna, older brother, nanny, and other employees who often show their faces.
No matter where I looked in the banquet hall, there were only people I liked.
Those who loved me blessed me with joyful hearts, and sweet music flowed in the banquet hall.
At that time, I also liked dancing, so I danced with my parents, older brother, and Rajen once in a while.
The clown laughed so hard that it hurt.
Actually, I’m not sure if the clown was sick.
I think I smiled without even knowing I was sick because everything was so happy.
The problem was next.
My mischievous brother called me, saying he had something to show me.
I followed my brother and held in my hand a juice made from a mixture of various fruits.
At the time, I was so small that I couldn’t hold a large glass with one hand.
I followed my brother, drinking the juice with both hands.
“What do you have to show me? “Show me quickly.”
“Yes. I caught it from the forest. “Look at this!”
“aaah!”
I don’t know exactly what the name was.
What I saw was a brown bug in my brother’s hand. And the bug even flapped its wings and flew towards my face.
I still don’t like bugs, but back then, it was a time when I was not only afraid of them, but even scared of them.
I was so shocked that I lost the glass in my hand and fell.
Clink.
The glass fell to the floor and broke, and my clothes became wet with yellow juice.
It was my favorite dress. It was a dress that both my mom and dad, and Rajen, complimented on how pretty it was.
Rajen doesn’t often tell her that she’s pretty because she’s very shy.
The noisy party hall became quiet.
I cried alone in the silence that suddenly fell.
“Ugh, huh…… Ugh. “Huh, wow!”
“Sirien!”
I fell and my butt hurts.
I don’t like having juice on my clothes, but I feel even more sad that they are damp.
I’m scared of bugs too. I’m still worried that it might still be attached to my body.
I can see yellow in the gloves I just received.
Razen gave it to me after a long time!
I cried because it felt like my happy paradise was completely shattered.
I could feel the surprised looks of people. I cried more because I didn’t want to be seen crying in front of everyone and felt embarrassed.
If I think about it carefully, I could have just shook it off and got up.
Razen was the first to come running to me and ask me if I was okay, and I saw him removing the glass shards so as not to hurt my hands.
Then, for no reason, I felt relieved. So I felt relieved and cried more.
The heart of a child was something that could not be understood even in retrospect.
“You were harsh this time.”
“Henna…… ?”
“How much did you look forward to today? If Master’s birthday is messed up like this, I’m sure I’ll be very angry. “Isn’t that the case, Master?”
“That…… Okay. “I will definitely apologize to Sirien.”
Henna also urged her brother.
When it comes to her brother, she was a cheap henna dealer that could almost be said to be unconditional, but even in her opinion, she thought it was bad that day.
It’s fun. Do you know who will accept your apology? They will never accept it.
I will definitely take revenge. I will take revenge very cruelly!
Like putting salt instead of sugar in my brother’s tea, or leaving the bookmark out of the book his brother was reading.
No, didn’t you read books? Anyway!
When I finally calmed down after crying for a long time, my brother was called by his parents and scolded them very loudly.
After that, my anger lasted for a really long time. I didn’t pretend to know my brother for over a week.
“I hate you, brother!”
My brother mustered up the courage to say he was sorry, but I didn’t accept it, so he sulked for a while, but he still felt like he had done something wrong, so he came back and apologized again.
“I’m sorry, Sirien. I did it wrong. I played a prank that was too harsh. “I won’t do that again.”
“… ….”
“Don’t do that, just accept it. It’s the first time I’ve seen my brother reflect like that. To put it mildly, you even asked me to help you? “Please ease your mood.”
“Well, I decided not to say that!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m on Sirien’s side.”
Originally, I was planning to sulk a little more.
My brother bowed his head in front of me, and Rajen gently comforted me, telling me to accept it now.
I don’t know what moved my heart.
It may be my brother’s sincere apology, or it may be thanks to Rajen’s comfort.
It could simply be because I am not ruthless.
“Really…… ? “It won’t be like that in the future, right?”
“Yes! I won’t do anything you tell me not to do. “I’m so sorry!”
“Okay. “Is that what you promised?”
“Yes, promise!”
What is clear is that my brother kept his promise that day.
My brother. Therion was very far from her adult self, but she was not a pathetic or petty person.
There were several minor fights.
However, my heart has never been hurt like that time.
Until my brother bled to death in that cabin.
– Master, master…… Ah huh, huh. Hmm… ….
– Please don’t die. I don’t want to live in a place without you.
– I was wrong. It’s all my fault.
– Please, please. No. No. Young master…… Please.
Sometimes in my dreams, Henna cried.
My brother poured blood from his neck, and the blood turned the floor into a sea of blood.
Then, Henna could not bear it and stabbed herself in the heart.
That sad suicide, which I never saw in real life, was repeated several times in my dreams.
Ah, you don’t have to show it like this.
Even if you don’t do that, you can’t forget it.
Just as the nightmare was about to deepen, fortunately I heard Razen’s voice.
“Sirien? Wake up, I think we’ll be there soon.”
“Ugh… ….”
How long did I fall asleep?
As she lifted her body and rubbed her eyes, her carriage made a rattling noise.
Razen was seen right in front.
A soft blanket was spread over her armor, and I lay down on it, using it as a pillow.
She looked very cozy, perhaps because she had just fallen asleep.
The carriage hasn’t stopped yet, so she can lie down a little longer.
Rubbing her cheek on Rajen’s thigh, she took off her gauntlets that Rajen was wearing.
Hands covered in rough calluses. Nevertheless, a hand that felt friendly slowly ran through my hair.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“You have to wake up quickly. “The gate is visible.”
A little disappointing. Or regret.
But now I have really shaken it off and stood up.
A familiar and familiar scene was seen next to the carriage window.
Where I was born. The center of the Grand Dukedom of Ilencia. It was the appearance of Reheim.
The walls that had once collapsed were restored to be more majestic, and the people at first glance still looked lively.
I don’t know. Should I like it because the land I loved is still the same?
Or should I be sad that this land has not changed much even without me, and that the bloodshed I will bring will become their disaster?
Would I have felt a little more at ease if Count Roxen had been oppressing him?
There were still many things I didn’t know.
The carriage stopped and Rajen got off first.
I stood in front of the gates of Reheim, escorted by my knight who was more precious than this land.
The guards guarding the castle gate approached us.
“From here on, we are the Grand Duke of Ilencia. “What brings you here?”
I raised my head stiffly in front of the guards.
“Go and tell Count Roxen. “Your master has returned, so run now and bow your head.”