A few days after Cassion was hidden away.
At last, the atmosphere that had been abuzz had reached its peak.
December 31st.
The tumultuous last day of the year.
“Everyone… has worked hard.”
There came the stiff voice of the Duke of Valentine, my father.
“Everyone has worked hard this past year. All of you.”
He said something that felt oddly awkward, and I had to bite my lips to suppress a laugh.
Looking around, it seemed like I was the only one on the verge of laughter.
Alicia listened to that awkward greeting with her bright, shining eyes, and Damien had the same expression as my father, firmly composed.
I’m serious…
‘What a spectacle.’
Gathering as a family for a meal at the end of the year was something that happened often, but all four of us sitting together, making an effort to create a warm atmosphere, was a first for us all.
And so, this ‘spectacle’ was created.
‘At this rate, someone’s bound to crack big time.’
Well, it won’t be me for sure.
But I had no intention of stepping in to help in this situation.
Sometimes, you have to watch these embarrassing moments, and perhaps some old grudges will be resolved.
I smiled and sipped my wine.
Proper conversation began when we’d finished the appetizers and were halfway through the main course.
“Have you thought about who your partner is going to be for the coming-of-age ceremony, Rosetta?”
Damien asked, still with a slightly tense voice.
I shrugged as I lowered my glass, which made for a moment of exchanged glances between Damien and the Duke.
It was brief, but not completely unnoticed.
Ahem.
The Duke, with a discreet cough, broke the rigid silence.
“During the coming-of-age ceremony, there are many who enter with their fathers instead of partners…”
He suddenly faltered at the end of his sentence, clearly trying to lead with that.
In other words, it meant that I still hadn’t found a partner, so I should enter with my father.
Alicia’s partner was going to be Damien.
Before Leo or Urien could play any tricks, I went ahead and asked Damien to be Alicia’s partner for the coming-of-age ceremony.
Both Damien and Alicia had accepted happily.
So, currently, I was the only one without a partner.
While it wasn’t absolutely necessary to have a partner for the coming-of-age ceremony, most people attended with a partner.
And, wasn’t the world ruled by the majority?
‘Entering the banquet with my father…’
That’s not a bad idea.
But from the way Father was acting nowadays, it seemed that the moment I linked arms with him, he would start creaking like a broken soldier toy.
It would be quite amusing to watch from the side.
However.
“Thank you for your consideration. But I already have someone I’ve made a promise with.”
“…Who is it?”
The Duke’s face stiffened instantly.
It was a different atmosphere from the rigid courtesy.
Flames seemed to flicker behind his eyes.
Huh, did the latecomer to fatherhood suddenly awaken to being a doting parent?
I had the strange thought that guilt had developed in an unusual direction, but I didn’t feel bad about it, so I shrugged.
“Just someone. You’ll know when you see them later.”
“Why, Rosetta. I’m curious about who it is too…?”
Damien asked, attempting to smile, but his trembling hand couldn’t hide it.
Oh? The fork is getting crumpled.
…At this rate, we might end up with our dear Cassion dead.
Only Alicia, who knew nothing, stared at me with shining eyes.
‘Who could it be? Who is it? Who is it?’
Her silent question seemed to ring in my ears. I couldn’t help but laugh at the bizarre and un-Valentine-like atmosphere.
Still, I kept my lips firmly sealed.
* * *
“Instead, can you stand by my side when we enter? I’m meeting my partner inside the hall.”
With these words, the tense atmosphere suddenly eased. My father nodded with his usual gruff expression.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
His voice sounded slightly higher than usual, but my father backed down.
With that, Damien reluctantly followed suit.
After that, we exchanged casual conversation, toasted once, and shared some jokes.
It was truly an ordinary end-of-year scene, just like any other family’s.
When the night fell, it was time to leave.
Father and Damien stayed in the dining room, while Alicia and I headed to the annex.
On the way to the annex, the winter air was cold but refreshing.
Alicia walked with her arm linked with mine, almost clinging to me.
The faint scent of alcohol lingered.
Not just on me, but also on Alicia.
Alicia’s cheeks turned rosy, and she giggled continuously.
Whether it was the pleasant family gathering at the end of the year or something else, she kept sipping on her drink.
It seemed like she might have drunk a bit too much.
“Are you okay, Alicia?”
I asked quietly, and she vigorously nodded her head.
“I’m fine, Sister. I’m really happy.”
Her slightly slurred speech and her somewhat unsteady tongue didn’t seem fine at all.
However, Alicia seemed to be enjoying herself.
Occasionally experiencing this kind of thing might not be a bad idea. Who knows when Alicia would get tipsy like this again?
“Aren’t you worried? You might have a terrible headache when you wake up tomorrow.”
I joked, and Alicia stared at me, pretending to be serious.
“Oh, but I feel so good right now.”
“Well, you’ll pay for it later.”
As I teased, Alicia made a wry face and looked at me and hiccupped.
“Sister, I’m having such a good time.”
“In life, everything comes at a price.”
“A price…”
Alicia murmured, pondering my words.
Her smile subsided a bit.
‘Did I tease her too much?’
I had the thought of comforting her and reached out to stroke her head, but at the same time, my foot slipped.
It had been snowing earlier, and by now, a thin layer of ice had formed on the ground.
One side of me was held by Alicia as I stumbled, and my hands reached out awkwardly, causing my body to twist in a funny way.
“Sister!”
Alicia, who had suddenly become my dance partner, called out to me and quickly wrapped her arms around my upper body.
Thankfully, I didn’t fall.
After all, as someone who knew how to fight, falling here would be rather embarrassing.
Of course, in the second round, I did fall and crack my head.
…But that’s beside the point. It wouldn’t happen this time.
I quickly regained my balance and gripped the nearby handrail.
The outdoor corridor was made entirely of marble, from the floor to the columns and railings, so everything I touched was as cold as ice.
However, there was something colder than the surroundings.
Alicia in my arms.
She buried her head in my chest with a perplexed expression on her face, breathing heavily.
She seemed quite startled.
I patted Alicia’s back to comfort her.
“I’m fine, Alicia. Calm down.”
With a gentle pat, Alicia slowly raised her head, and her golden eyes glistened with moisture underneath.
“Alicia?”
To my surprise, her reaction was more intense than I expected, and I called her name, blinking my eyes.
Alicia suddenly stood up, her pupils dilating, and she touched my body all over.
She was frantic.
“Sister… Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere? Where does it hurt?!”
Her questioning voice was so loud that it felt like it could be heard throughout the courtyard.
If someone saw us, they might think that I had actually rolled down the stairs.
“I’m okay. I’m not hurt anywhere. So, please calm down, Alicia.”
I held the frantic hand examining my body.
Alicia finally met my eyes with her own. Opened wide, her eyes trembled as much as her shivering body.
…She looked as if she were afraid of something.
It felt strange.
Almost as if she were terrified of something specific.
An eerie feeling settled over me.
“…If you get hurt… No, you mustn’t get hurt. Sister… Sister should never…”
She said it so loudly that it felt like the words reached the heavens.
Sister can’t ever get hurt.
Alicia said as she tightly clenched her fists, then took a few steps back.
Her face was deathly pale.
Like the frozen snowflakes on this winter day.
Several steps away, tears were streaming down Alicia’s face as she began to run towards the annex.
I hesitated to reach out to her, fearing that chasing after her might exacerbate the situation.
I was left alone, watching Alicia’s retreating back.
Her long, golden hair fluttered in the wind.
Precariously so.
Truly precariously.
‘Is she still having nightmares?’
It had been a while since she mentioned them, and her normally cheerful demeanor had returned. She rarely ever got so pale like that, too…
But now, it was obvious that something was bothering her.
Alicia was clearly hiding something.
If it were just simple nightmares, there would be no reason not to talk about them.
It was evident that she was concealing more than that.
‘What could she be hiding?’
I knew what it felt like to be living with a grave secret, so unconsciously, my hands clenched into fists.
The image of her trembling, troubled eyes left a vivid afterimage in my mind.
I knew it hadn’t been enough time for Alicia to calm down, but once I started moving, I couldn’t stop.
If it were a simple secret, I might have let it go, but it was clear that something was gnawing at Alicia.
I couldn’t just leave it at that.
A few days after Cassion was hidden away.
At last, the atmosphere that had been abuzz had reached its peak.
December 31st.
The tumultuous last day of the year.
“Everyone… has worked hard.”
There came the stiff voice of the Duke of Valentine, my father.
“Everyone has worked hard this past year. All of you.”
He said something that felt oddly awkward, and I had to bite my lips to suppress a laugh.
Looking around, it seemed like I was the only one on the verge of laughter.
Alicia listened to that awkward greeting with her bright, shining eyes, and Damien had the same expression as my father, firmly composed.
I’m serious…
‘What a spectacle.’
Gathering as a family for a meal at the end of the year was something that happened often, but all four of us sitting together, making an effort to create a warm atmosphere, was a first for us all.
And so, this ‘spectacle’ was created.
‘At this rate, someone’s bound to crack big time.’
Well, it won’t be me for sure.
But I had no intention of stepping in to help in this situation.
Sometimes, you have to watch these embarrassing moments, and perhaps some old grudges will be resolved.
I smiled and sipped my wine.
Proper conversation began when we’d finished the appetizers and were halfway through the main course.
“Have you thought about who your partner is going to be for the coming-of-age ceremony, Rosetta?”
Damien asked, still with a slightly tense voice.
I shrugged as I lowered my glass, which made for a moment of exchanged glances between Damien and the Duke.
It was brief, but not completely unnoticed.
Ahem.
The Duke, with a discreet cough, broke the rigid silence.
“During the coming-of-age ceremony, there are many who enter with their fathers instead of partners…”
He suddenly faltered at the end of his sentence, clearly trying to lead with that.
In other words, it meant that I still hadn’t found a partner, so I should enter with my father.
Alicia’s partner was going to be Damien.
Before Leo or Urien could play any tricks, I went ahead and asked Damien to be Alicia’s partner for the coming-of-age ceremony.
Both Damien and Alicia had accepted happily.
So, currently, I was the only one without a partner.
While it wasn’t absolutely necessary to have a partner for the coming-of-age ceremony, most people attended with a partner.
And, wasn’t the world ruled by the majority?
‘Entering the banquet with my father…’
That’s not a bad idea.
But from the way Father was acting nowadays, it seemed that the moment I linked arms with him, he would start creaking like a broken soldier toy.
It would be quite amusing to watch from the side.
However.
“Thank you for your consideration. But I already have someone I’ve made a promise with.”
“…Who is it?”
The Duke’s face stiffened instantly.
It was a different atmosphere from the rigid courtesy.
Flames seemed to flicker behind his eyes.
Huh, did the latecomer to fatherhood suddenly awaken to being a doting parent?
I had the strange thought that guilt had developed in an unusual direction, but I didn’t feel bad about it, so I shrugged.
“Just someone. You’ll know when you see them later.”
“Why, Rosetta. I’m curious about who it is too…?”
Damien asked, attempting to smile, but his trembling hand couldn’t hide it.
Oh? The fork is getting crumpled.
…At this rate, we might end up with our dear Cassion dead.
Only Alicia, who knew nothing, stared at me with shining eyes.
‘Who could it be? Who is it? Who is it?’
Her silent question seemed to ring in my ears. I couldn’t help but laugh at the bizarre and un-Valentine-like atmosphere.
Still, I kept my lips firmly sealed.
* * *
“Instead, can you stand by my side when we enter? I’m meeting my partner inside the hall.”
With these words, the tense atmosphere suddenly eased. My father nodded with his usual gruff expression.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
His voice sounded slightly higher than usual, but my father backed down.
With that, Damien reluctantly followed suit.
After that, we exchanged casual conversation, toasted once, and shared some jokes.
It was truly an ordinary end-of-year scene, just like any other family’s.
When the night fell, it was time to leave.
Father and Damien stayed in the dining room, while Alicia and I headed to the annex.
On the way to the annex, the winter air was cold but refreshing.
Alicia walked with her arm linked with mine, almost clinging to me.
The faint scent of alcohol lingered.
Not just on me, but also on Alicia.
Alicia’s cheeks turned rosy, and she giggled continuously.
Whether it was the pleasant family gathering at the end of the year or something else, she kept sipping on her drink.
It seemed like she might have drunk a bit too much.
“Are you okay, Alicia?”
I asked quietly, and she vigorously nodded her head.
“I’m fine, Sister. I’m really happy.”
Her slightly slurred speech and her somewhat unsteady tongue didn’t seem fine at all.
However, Alicia seemed to be enjoying herself.
Occasionally experiencing this kind of thing might not be a bad idea. Who knows when Alicia would get tipsy like this again?
“Aren’t you worried? You might have a terrible headache when you wake up tomorrow.”
I joked, and Alicia stared at me, pretending to be serious.
“Oh, but I feel so good right now.”
“Well, you’ll pay for it later.”
As I teased, Alicia made a wry face and looked at me and hiccupped.
“Sister, I’m having such a good time.”
“In life, everything comes at a price.”
“A price…”
Alicia murmured, pondering my words.
Her smile subsided a bit.
‘Did I tease her too much?’
I had the thought of comforting her and reached out to stroke her head, but at the same time, my foot slipped.
It had been snowing earlier, and by now, a thin layer of ice had formed on the ground.
One side of me was held by Alicia as I stumbled, and my hands reached out awkwardly, causing my body to twist in a funny way.
“Sister!”
Alicia, who had suddenly become my dance partner, called out to me and quickly wrapped her arms around my upper body.
Thankfully, I didn’t fall.
After all, as someone who knew how to fight, falling here would be rather embarrassing.
Of course, in the second round, I did fall and crack my head.
…But that’s beside the point. It wouldn’t happen this time.
I quickly regained my balance and gripped the nearby handrail.
The outdoor corridor was made entirely of marble, from the floor to the columns and railings, so everything I touched was as cold as ice.
However, there was something colder than the surroundings.
Alicia in my arms.
She buried her head in my chest with a perplexed expression on her face, breathing heavily.
She seemed quite startled.
I patted Alicia’s back to comfort her.
“I’m fine, Alicia. Calm down.”
With a gentle pat, Alicia slowly raised her head, and her golden eyes glistened with moisture underneath.
“Alicia?”
To my surprise, her reaction was more intense than I expected, and I called her name, blinking my eyes.
Alicia suddenly stood up, her pupils dilating, and she touched my body all over.
She was frantic.
“Sister… Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere? Where does it hurt?!”
Her questioning voice was so loud that it felt like it could be heard throughout the courtyard.
If someone saw us, they might think that I had actually rolled down the stairs.
“I’m okay. I’m not hurt anywhere. So, please calm down, Alicia.”
I held the frantic hand examining my body.
Alicia finally met my eyes with her own. Opened wide, her eyes trembled as much as her shivering body.
…She looked as if she were afraid of something.
It felt strange.
Almost as if she were terrified of something specific.
An eerie feeling settled over me.
“…If you get hurt… No, you mustn’t get hurt. Sister… Sister should never…”
She said it so loudly that it felt like the words reached the heavens.
Sister can’t ever get hurt.
Alicia said as she tightly clenched her fists, then took a few steps back.
Her face was deathly pale.
Like the frozen snowflakes on this winter day.
Several steps away, tears were streaming down Alicia’s face as she began to run towards the annex.
I hesitated to reach out to her, fearing that chasing after her might exacerbate the situation.
I was left alone, watching Alicia’s retreating back.
Her long, golden hair fluttered in the wind.
Precariously so.
Truly precariously.
‘Is she still having nightmares?’
It had been a while since she mentioned them, and her normally cheerful demeanor had returned. She rarely ever got so pale like that, too…
But now, it was obvious that something was bothering her.
Alicia was clearly hiding something.
If it were just simple nightmares, there would be no reason not to talk about them.
It was evident that she was concealing more than that.
‘What could she be hiding?’
I knew what it felt like to be living with a grave secret, so unconsciously, my hands clenched into fists.
The image of her trembling, troubled eyes left a vivid afterimage in my mind.
I knew it hadn’t been enough time for Alicia to calm down, but once I started moving, I couldn’t stop.
If it were a simple secret, I might have let it go, but it was clear that something was gnawing at Alicia.
I couldn’t just leave it at that.
