Chapter 13: Younger sibling needs an older sister (1)

Kraus family has a long-standing history that dates back to the founding days of the empire. The Count's manor, filled with countless anecdotes, holds the echoes of that rich past.

The Isilia Pavilion, built alongside the manor, carries its own stories. One such story is the origin of its name, Isilia.

Named after the first wife of House Kraus, the Isilia Pavilion has served as a space for generations of House Kraus wives. Despite numerous reconstructions over time, remnants of the past housewives can still be found in various forms.

The flower garden we strolled through was a testament to this history.

This garden bore the mark of Arwen Kraus, the mother of Damian and Alphonse, and the wife of the current Count Kraus. 

The fragrance of swaying hyacinths brought back memories of her. As a child, I used to walk here with her frequently. After her passing, I became the sole visitor to this place. My father never set foot in the Isilia Pavilion after my mother's departure, and Alphonse, for some reason, hesitated to enter. So it became a place where I walked alone. 

The diligent servants maintained the garden's beauty. They were always busy and rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the scenery themselves. Thus, I became the sole guest of this tranquil garden.

However, after a long time, a new guest had joined me.

Amidst the backdrop of flowers, she looked like a painting brought to life, her beauty matching the enchantment of the garden itself.

Elena gently clasped my hand as I guided her along.

The garden was a space for admiring the flowers. There was no need for us to exchange words.

We strolled leisurely, savoring the changing scents of the flowers as we moved through different sections.

Under the spring sky and the gentle sway of blossoms in the breeze, a sense of tranquility washed over me.

Walking together with her felt different from my solitary walks. The garden itself seemed to possess a different aroma, filling a void within me and leaving me curiously satisfied.

Perhaps it had been quite some time since I walked this path with another person.

I pushed aside the lingering restlessness and turned my gaze toward Elena.

The violet hyacinths bloomed behind her, mirroring the hue of her captivating eyes. Her beauty effortlessly merged with the surrounding flowers, occasionally leaving one breathless.

I had felt this way many times before—she possessed an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal.

'Does the heroine’s beauty have to be on this level for it to be considered a romance fantasy?'

She gazed at the world with calm eyes, captivated by the landscape. I quietly turned to where she was looking.

There was a scenery before us which no artist could ever hope to paint. It was quiet. The sounds of the birds chirping and the bees buzzing were buried in this green world.

We paused our steps, standing together to behold the breathtaking view.

How many minutes had elapsed?

Somewhere, the wind gently moved the clouds, veiling the sun. As a shadow cast over the world, we resumed our stroll.

***

When she emerged from the garden, she appeared utterly composed. Her eyes mirrored the stillness of a serene lake, her expression seemingly indifferent. This was the same image of Elena I had known from reading the novel.

But why did this aspect of her feel so fresh? This was the Elena I knew, so what was this unfamiliar sensation?

I had witnessed her smile, cry, and blush with embarrassment.

Why did she possess such a range of emotions?

As I reflected on our journey thus far, I could see that Elena Edelweiss had gone through quite a turmoil. Despite that, I was no longer as perplexed as before.

“Elena.”

“Yes, Damian? What is it?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to call your name.”

A smile graced her lips. In that moment, I felt a sense of belonging. Satisfaction welled up within me, and involuntarily, the corners of my mouth lifted.

Elena tilted her head, slightly puzzled.

If only the ending could change as easily as Elena's expressions. It was a pity that it couldn't. Nevertheless, she seemed more at ease now. I couldn't tell if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders or if she had simply let go of her inhibitions. She was no longer fretful or anxious like before.

“How was the garden?”

“Oh, it definitely was different seeing it in person. Thank you, Damian. For letting me experience this.”

"Indeed, the true beauty of nature can never be fully captured within the confines of a small private room. To truly appreciate its magnificence, one must immerse oneself in the vastness of an open space."

Elena nodded in agreement, a gentle smile adorning her face.

I didn't see Elena's maid around. Perhaps Ken had taken her elsewhere.

Was her name… Hailey? In the original story, Damian continued to hide Elena’s abuse by threatening her. I remember she was the one who helped report Damian’s wrongdoings at the end.

Perhaps they thought it would be best for the two of us to have some privacy.

Regardless, I had planned to accompany Elena myself.

Elena remained fixated on the garden.

“The weather sure is nice.” I said.

"Yes, it is."

“Shall we go out next time too?”

“…Basket.”

“?”

“Let’s bring a basket with desserts.”

'Stop eating sweets… You’re going to get sick.'

Then again, Elena was a magician, so she would likely manage just fine.

I nodded in agreement.

“Yes, let’s also bring a mat then. It’ll continue to be sunny for the time being. It won’t be that bad to go a little further out since there are many scenic spots in Sarham.” She replied.

“Merohim doesn’t lose when it comes to their view…”

“Well, I suppose. If you want to freeze to death by sitting out there with a mat.”

Merohim, with a climate similar to that of Russia.

One could build an enormous snow castle when it snowed. It was fortunate that House Edelweiss were a family of magicians. If they had been a martial household like us, they would have fallen into ruin long ago unless they had abundant resources.

“Let’s do it at Merohim someday. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to sit on top of the ice with a mat. In the meanwhile, let’s take a look around the Isilia Pavilion.”

Rather than survive in the Arctic, they had to first survive the 500-year-old ancient castle first.

***

“Who is this?” Elena asked.

“She’s my mother.” 

She stood in front of a portrait hanging on the wall. Although there were rows of other portraits next to it, she managed to find Arwen Kraus’ portrait.

The Isilia Pavilion served as the residence for all the wives of the past counts, and therefore, it housed their portraits. Hence, it wasn't unusual to find my mother's portrait among them.

In fact, it didn't come as a surprise that Elena chose Arwen's portrait. She had already encountered someone who bore a striking resemblance to the woman depicted.

I picked up the fallen white cloth from the floor. It was originally meant to cover my mother's portrait.

My father sent my mother’s belongings to the Isilia Pavillion, everything that made him miss her. My mother’s portrait was the only one which had a white cloth over it. It was so that he couldn’t see her face when he visited.

It wasn't because my father despised her. On the contrary, he loved her so intensely that merely glimpsing her face would bring him to tears.

And yet, the cloth had slipped from its place and now lay on the ground.

'If the servant had made a mistake, they would have covered it, so why didn’t they?

I was certain that everyone here was aware of the hidden portrait.

The cause behind the fallen cloth became immediately apparent.

"Um... B-Brother..."

“Alphonse.”

A child emerged from a room filled with his mother's belongings, a child who bore an uncanny resemblance to the woman portrayed in the portrait.

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