Chapter 53

What a strange dream.

The vivid sensations that felt like reality began to fade. Since Juno’s death, it seemed I’d been having these lucid dream-like experiences more frequently.

‘Is there some reason for this?’

After briefly pondering this question, I quickly dismissed the thought.

Actually, I could guess why I had such a dream. I had constantly imagined what those children would look like as adults, even while knowing it was impossible.

I only regretted not hearing Lucas and Tristan’s answers in the dream.

<Hey. What do you think of me as an adult?>

<Very…>

Very what?

When someone starts speaking, they should finish. Writhing in frustration, I let out a hollow laugh.

Was I disappointed that I couldn’t see that future even in my dreams?

‘Nothing to be done about it.’

I wanted to tell Lucas about what I’d seen in my dream when I woke up. With that thought in mind, I opened my eyes, and somehow, I could hear Lucas’s voice.

Even in my half-asleep state, I remembered saying something to Lucas.

“In my dream… Lucas was a very splendid adult.”

“…Yes.”

“You became a knight stronger than Kashian. Isn’t that amazing?”

Wait, that wasn’t a dream?

When I woke up, I saw Lucas’s profile as he slept soundly beside me. He was preciously hugging my arm in an uncomfortable position.

Silver hair scattered across the bed and slightly parted red lips.

“Why are your eyes so red again?”

“Mmm.”

“Lucas, you know it’s cheating to look like that and cry so much?”

It was honestly a bit unfair that even his swollen face from crying was pretty. I poked at Lucas’s straight nose bridge and then caressed his eyes.

The clear tear stains made it seem like he had been sobbing uncontrollably.

‘Did he cry because of me?’

Instead of resting after being rescued from the library, he came straight to find me. It was just like him, but it made me feel sorry for him.

I carefully touched his eyes, which looked like they might still be wet.

“You are pretty, I guess.”

The long hair that reached his waist suited him well. As I tried to pull my arm free so he could sleep comfortably, I met golden eyes quietly gazing at me.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Who knows?”

“Now that you’re up, go back. Lucas needs to rest, too.”

“No.”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard his unexpected refusal. Lucas pulled my arm back into his embrace and repeated firmly.

“I said no.”

“Lucas, I understand you’re angry with me, but this kind of stubbornness isn’t good.”

When I changed my expression and seriously advised him, Lucas sat up. He wrapped me in the blanket so I couldn’t move and hugged me like I was a doll.

Forcibly embraced in his arms, I blankly stared at the ceiling.

“What are you doing?”

“You need more rest, and I want to sleep a bit more, so I’m going to sleep.”

“Like this?”

Lucas buried his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes. With his tall frame, it looked as though he was clinging to me.

“Lucas. Are you not going to answer?”

“……”

Seeing him flinch slightly each time I spoke to him, he was clearly listening.

I tried to shake Lucas off, but eventually gave up as the warmth clung to me more with each attempt. I just told him to go back and rest comfortably, so why wouldn’t he listen?

I hesitated to push him away forcefully because of what had happened just before.

“P-please save my sister Liat.”

The boy crying in the darkness had prioritized his non-blood-related sister over his own safety.

The remnants of the thoughts I had while saving Lucas still remained. Since it was too late to let go, I decided to watch over him as long as I lived.

“Lucas. Listen carefully. I’ll only say this once.”

“……”

“My saying I was tired of you was a lie. And I quite like you.”

“…I know.”

Lucas, who answered as if he’d been waiting, smiled broadly. Even I, who was accustomed to his tremendous beauty, was momentarily captivated by his smile that shone brighter than ever before.

Revealing his snow-white teeth, Lucas whispered loud enough for me to hear.

“I knew it. From the beginning.”

This guy is lying without even wetting his lips.

He looked hurt when I said I disliked him. By this point, I didn’t mind anymore and looked away from Lucas’s smiling face.

I felt my nape turning red from embarrassment for no reason.

“Now Lucas will call me his comrade again.”

“No.”

“Then what will you call me?”

With narrowed eyes, he nuzzled his face against my chest.

“Liat. My one and only sister.”

“What?”

What did this guy just say? He even used the strange modifier “one and only”?

Setting aside the term “sister,” there was something I needed to confirm.

“Lucas. If I’m your one and only brother, then what about Tristan?”

“Someone with the same last name.”

We agreed to call that family, you know.

And I’m not your sister.

I argued with him for an hour about who was whose sister. Lucas remained stubborn until the end.

Having learned about Lucas’s stubbornness, I threw up my hands.

“Fine. Whatever. Let’s say I’ll go along with it. So, is Tristan safe?”

At my question, Lucas’s playful expression sank coldly, revealing the facade beneath. After momentarily showing contempt, Lucas quickly composed his expression with an “oops” face.

‘Something’s going on.’

Seeing Lucas avoid answering, my suspicion grew rapidly. Lucas said it was time to sleep and forcibly closed my eyelids.

Just like the Grand Duke, his actions were identical to his father’s.

***

After sleeping together that day, Lucas, who had been trying to stay by my side somehow, was soon chased away by the Grand Duke. It was quite impressive to see him argue fiercely with the Grand Duke.

“I want to take care of her by her side, what’s the problem!”

“The problem is a patient taking care of another patient.”

“I’m fine! My brother needs me!”

“No, what they need is me.”

Listening to this strangely childish conversation, I didn’t want to intervene. The Grand Duke issued a ban on Lucas approaching me until I was fully recovered.

Lucas, who must have been mentally exhausted, needed rest.

Concerned about Lucas, I secretly welcomed the Grand Duke’s decision. But after Lucas left, even more zealous people came in droves.

“Grand Princess! When we heard about the fire… sob.”

“Are you not in pain anywhere? Should we call the doctors right away?”

“Grand Princess, don’t move a finger. We’ll take care of everything for you.”

The Grand Duke not only tacitly permitted the maids’ overprotection but openly encouraged it. Thanks to that, my days confined to bed continued.

The only enjoyment was eavesdropping on the maids’ gossip, like now.

“So the Grand Duke is desperate to find that Sword Master.”

“A Sword Master appearing in the Grand Duke’s residence without being announced.”

“They’re trying to prevent rumors from spreading outside, but it will probably become known to the Empire eventually.”

“How did a Sword Master know about the fire in the library?”

That sounds like they’re talking about me.

I had been listening comfortably, but sat up straight. Without realizing it, my body kept leaning toward the maids.

‘Was I too conspicuous?’

It would be ideal if they thought a passing Sword Master had luckily helped, but situations rarely flow so conveniently.

“It seems His Grace considers the Sword Master who saved the two of them to be an insider.”

“Considering the strict access control of the Grand Duke’s residence, it’s not easy for an outsider to help by chance.”

“And if it were a hostile force, they wouldn’t save the two and disappear.”

They’re already close to the truth.

When I used my abilities as Kashian, I hadn’t thought about the consequences.

‘Am I in big trouble?’

A rare Sword Master appearing at a nobleman’s mansion—even I would find it an interesting rumor worth gossiping about all day.

If the Grand Duke were to discover the truth, I didn’t want to imagine what kind of commotion would ensue.

I buried my face in the pillow to hide my flustered expression. Just then, the maids changed the topic.

“By the way, is Young Master Tristan still being stubborn?”

“I heard he’s barely eating anything.”

“I thought Young Master Tristan would give up quickly.”

“The underground prison can’t be a comfortable place to stay.”

Who is where?

Hoping I had misheard, Sen delivered the killing blow.

“I never expected Young Master Tristan to voluntarily enter the underground prison.”

I began to grasp how the situation was unfolding.

‘So that’s why he hasn’t come to see me.’

I hadn’t seen Tristan since helping him escape from the library.

Given that I had done him a favor by saving him, it would have been natural for Tristan to come find me. But he hadn’t shown his face to see if I was alright.

I had assumed it was because he still disliked me, but…

“If he continues staying in prison, they say his health will seriously deteriorate.”

“It’s good that he’s repenting, but he’s also part of the Grand Princess’s family.”

What is this idiot doing?

The prisons in this world had poor hygiene and were dangerous for children. Moreover, the magical power inherent in a mage’s body responded to emotions.

If his magic were to run wild while bound by magical restraints…

‘I need to go see him.’

I was deeply disappointed in both the Grand Duke for allowing Tristan to do such nonsense and in Tristan himself. I carefully got out of bed.

“Sen. Come here.”

I walked between the maids and grabbed Sen’s skirt. Among the maids, Sen was the easiest one to approach.

I tugged at the hem of her skirt, signaling that I wanted to borrow her ear. Sen looked puzzled but bent her knee and brought her face close to mine.

“What’s the matter?”

“I want to go somewhere.”

“Where?”

She snorted, as if to say she would take me anywhere I asked. Fortunately, I had recently received permission from the doctor to start going out.

I lowered my voice further and whispered so only Sen could hear.

“The underground prison.”

Watching Sen’s mouth fall open, I scratched the back of my head. With a face drained of vitality, Sen pondered what she had just heard, then tucked me under her arm.

Then she ran somewhere at an incredibly fast pace.

The maids left behind looked at us with bewildered faces. I waved my hand at them.