Chapter 16 – Younger sibling needs an older sister (4)

 

As the time was approaching, Elena was waiting in her room tidying up her clothes for today’s dinner. But soon after, Damian’s exclusive butler, Ken, who briefly entered Elena’s room, informed her that Damian would not be able to attend dinner.

 

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Count and Lord Damian will not be able to come to dinner tonight.”

 

“Ah. I see. Thanks for letting me know, Ken.”

 

Elena was saddened by the news that the dinner with Damian, which she had been waiting for, was canceled. However, she couldn’t help but feel sorry because she had a good idea why Damian and Count Kraus couldn’t come.

 

There was no way Damian would just ignore the events that took place in Isilia Pavilion today.

 

Thinking of the events that had taken place at the Isilia Pavilion today, she couldn’t help but recall the face of the young boy she had met there, Alphonse.

 

Unlike Damian, who looked exactly like Count Kraus, the face of that young child resembled Arwen Kraus, the woman in the portrait she saw today.

 

Just like Damian, Alphonse Kraus was a child whom Elena had a connection with in her previous life.

 

In the first life, due to Damian’s twisted possessiveness, they did not meet often even though they were living in the same territory, However, after breaking off the marriage with Damian, Elena met Alphonse, who had grown up due to a certain incident.

 

Alphonse at that time was a man worthy of being called a hero.

 

He met and encouraged the people who had lost their homes one by one and as the successor of the Kraus family, he could have stayed safe, but he ran to the forefront of the crumbling Southern Front and personally led the army, even though he was only seventeen years old.

 

Although the situation at that time was so urgent that even a young child had to lend a hand, moving forward carrying tens of thousands of lives at such a young age was not something that an ordinary person could do.

 

The burden of filling the vacant seat of the successor after Damian disappeared must have been heavy. Alphonse, who rose up on his own in such adverse conditions, was a hero.

 

However, as ‘he’ took that place instead of Demian, Alphonse Kraus’s story began to change.

 

“If you’d like, I can bring your meal to your room.”

 

At Ken’s words, Elena shook her head.

 

“No. Does Young Lord Alphonse will still eat in the same place as yesterday?”

 

“Yes, but-“

 

“Then I should go there too. As Demian’s fiancée, I will be the hostess of this place in the future. I can’t miss a family meal. And above all, I can’t leave the young Lord alone.”

 

At Elena’s kind words, Ken looked at her with a stunned expression for a moment, then answered Elena with a small smile in response.

 

“Yes, you’re right. Since you will also become a Kraus… I spoke out of turn. I’m sorry. The meal will be ready before six o’clock, so you can move after the bell rings.”

 

It wasn’t long after Ken left the room that the bell announcing six o’clock rang through the castle.

 

Unlike someone who had only been here for a day, Elena found her way straight to the dining room. Haily, who had been trying to figure out the structure of the castle all day to assist her master, was bittersweet to see her clever master naturally find a way.

 

When they arrived at the door, Haily knocked a couple of times and opened it.

 

As she walked in, she saw the same room as yesterday, but unlike that day, the main seats were empty, and the one who should have been sitting next to Elena was not there. Only Alphonse was sitting alone, forlornly guarding his seat.

 

Alphonse’s face lit up with joy as he saw Elena entering the restaurant.

 

To Elena, the boy in front of her was a lonely child who yearned for companionship, unlike the Alphonse Kraus she remembered. 

 

She knew that Demian was going to talk to the Count about Alphonse. Unfortunately, Damian’s move to solve the problem as soon as possible left Alphonse alone again.

 

But now he had Elena.

 

“Good evening, Lord Alphonse”

 

“Oh! Yes, good evening. Um…Elena…No…ona?”

 

‘Noona’ came out while thinking about what to call Elena. Alphonse immediately looked at Elena’s face to see if he was rude after he said it, but Elena rather seemed to like the title.

 

“Noona… It’s nice. I have one older brother, but no younger siblings.”

 

“Is it really okay if I call you noona?”

 

“Of course. You’re Damian’s younger brother. I’m his fiancée, not officially yet, but still Alphonse, we’re family.”

 

Alphonse was delighted to hear that he was Elena’s family, but Alphonse’s face began to darken again when he saw the empty seat next to Elena. Alphonse also knew why Count Kraus and Damian were not here.

 

Alphonse lowered his head and spoke to Elena in a crawling voice.

 

“I’m sorry. Originally, older brother and father would have been here.”

 

With Arthur Kraus as his father who was one of the best prosecutors on the continent and although still young, having an outstanding older brother, Damian, who was showing a perfect image as the successor… Can Alphonse, who grew up under the two of them, be full of confidence?

 

With Damian becoming the youngest sword master on the continent along with Linehart of the Kromel family, the gap grew even further.

 

It wasn’t that Alphonse was incompetent. The future that Elena has been through proves that fact.

 

However, even so, the abilities of those around him were too great to fuel the belief that Alphonse lacked in ability.

 

Even though Elena knew that this inexperienced child would do more in the future, not less, he needed someone’s support at this moment.

 

Elena did not accept Alphonse’s apology. Instead, she asked Alphonse one question.

 

“Do you not feel sorry for Damian, Young Lord?”

 

“Yes? No! I feel sorry for him…”

 

“Then why didn’t you answer Damian today when you were in Isilia Pavilion?”

 

“I…”

 

Elena said to Alphonse, who was about to blur his words again.

 

“Alphonse, if you don’t speak, people won’t understand. Conversation is the easiest way to convey your feelings to others. If you keep waiting for the other person to understand first, you’ll end up not doing anything.”

 

If you don’t speak, others will not know. That was one of the things Elena had learned from her previous life. Alphonse didn’t have the confidence she had. That was why, even though he wanted something from his older brother or his father, he couldn’t easily say it.

 

It was unknown what influence Elena’s words had on Alphonse. But it was clear that Alphonse had made one decision now.

 

Elena’s warm voice reached Alphonse’s ears.

 

“Young Lord. If you have regrets, don’t just keep them in your heart. You’re still young, so if you want to pamper yourself, you can pamper yourself. Is Damian the kind of person who can’t accept pampering from his younger brother? If that’s the case, I’m disappointed…”

 

“Oh, no! Hyung-nim isn’t that kind of person. It’s just that I didn’t talk… so he didn’t know.”

 

Basically, Alphonse Krauss was a good person.

 

The reason why Alphonse, who was still young but thoughtful, couldn’t speak to his brother was not only because he lacked confidence, but also because he didn’t want to burden his brother, who was already longing for their mother. But keeping it to himself was not good for Alphonse or Damien.

 

Alphonse immediately denied the disappointment remark, and Elena smiled as if she knew that already.

 

“Of course, I know. A person who doesn’t eat sweets but still can’t throw away the caramel he received from the attendants can’t be such a narrow-minded person. So, Alphonse, trust your brother and tell him.”

 

Elena finished her story and scooped a spoonful of soup in front of her, putting it in her mouth. The slightly cooled soup had transformed into the perfect temperature for eating.

 

“Shall we eat before it gets too cold?”

 

Alphonse smiled and replied to Elena’s words.

 

“Yes.”

 

The meal started again.

 

***

 

Happy…

 

What happened today between Alphonse and Damian was more than just a sibling conflict and had a deep meaning to Elena. It was because in her previous life, when ‘he’ was Damian, a new story began in the empty one-year time due to the breakup of marriage.

 

After breaking off her engagement, She would meet him again a year later at the academy she would attend. Now, she was slowly immersing herself in his life, discovering things about him that she didn’t know before.

 

It made her happy to be by his side, to experience things together like how he thought of Arwen Kraus, what happened with his father and younger brother. she herself was going through it together with him.

 

Does he know that his future and destiny have already been altered by her very existence? 

 

There will be no more unhappiness in their future. 

 

Like today, she will make sure of that.

 

“Hmmmmmm~”

 

She hummed and walked towards his room.

 

In her hand were refreshments and a meal for him who hadn’t eaten dinner yet. Originally, an attendant should have delivered it, but she wanted to talk to him, so she was carrying it instead. 

 

Having never been to his room yet, Hailey wondered why she knew the location, but it was only a minor matter.

 

It was only to deliver meals, but it was true that she felt a little excited as if she had come out for a tryst in the middle of the night.

 

– knock. knock.

 

“Come in.”

 

As soon as she knocked on the door, she heard his voice. Did he think of herself as an attendant? Well, it didn’t matter. Perhaps she would see him startled by her sudden appearance of her. With such anticipation, she opened the door with all her might.

 

“Is tonight’s dinner meat stew? I could smell it from outside. But, sorry to bother you, could you get me some bandages and medicine… Elena? Why is Elena here? Wait, hold on! Leave first…”

 

“Ah…”

 

His bewildered face was clearly visible…

 

Along with his bleeding right arm.