Among his friends, there was one who was deeply shocked and lost when his parents' attention was diverted by the arrival of a younger sibling. Of course, that was when they were seven or eight years old, and now they've grown attached to each other and developed a bond of brotherly love.
Aila was separated from her parents when she was so young she doesn't even remember them, and she hasn't seen them since. Wouldn't she be upset if he told her she had a younger sibling? Aila might feel betrayed.
For such complex reasons, Winfred was about to answer, "Wouldn't it be better to hear it directly from your parents?" but when he saw Ayla's desperate expression, he couldn't.
She desperately wants an answer, and he knows it. How could he turn away?
“That’s true, actually.”
Winfred cautiously brought up the subject, watching Ayla's expression.
“The Duchess recently gave birth to a baby. Your little brother... was born. His name is Noah, and it’s a boy.”
He brought it up very carefully, fearing that she might be shocked.
As Winfred had feared, Aila's face hardened as if she had been greatly shocked.
It wasn't because of betrayal towards his parents or jealousy over having a younger sibling, as he had expected.
‘...You’re my little brother? Why...?’
In her previous life, she was an only daughter until the day she was killed by Byron. This means that the ducal family had no other direct descendants besides Aila Weishaffen.
She didn't hear the exact reason, but her mother, Ophelia, said she had trouble conceiving for reasons other than health. She said Aila's birth was nothing short of a miracle.
But a younger brother.
There have been quite a few changes in her life so far. But this... isn't it such a huge change?
A life that was not originally born was born. Her younger brother...
As Aila looked confused, Winfred, who had been watching silently, spoke to her with concern.
“Are you okay, Aila?”
“...”
But she couldn't answer that question right away. She couldn't even tell herself if she was really okay.
Because it was that big of a deal.
Aila was confused, and her mind was in a mess.
'No, let's think about it calmly.'
She tried to shake off the feeling of confusion. She had a younger brother she never had before... Setting aside the memories of her past life, she tried to focus on what she was feeling now.
A new sibling was born. Born to parents who loved and cared for each other, a blood sibling was born to her.
It was a blessing and an infinite joy.
“Aila?”
When she didn't answer, Winfred called her name again, anxiously.
Aila answered in a calm voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s really... something to celebrate.”
Fortunately, there was no falsehood in her voice. She was genuinely happy, and she seemed to be doing just fine.
“I’m sorry. I was a little surprised... so the reply is late.”
“...No, I understand.”
Winfred playfully comforted her, saying that since it was Aila, she would have passed out in shock.
Looking at his bright face, Aila felt her heart lighten a little and smiled slightly.
Then, suddenly, Aila came to her senses and checked her watch. It was almost time to head back. She still had quite a bit of time to spare, but she figured it would be better to give herself plenty of time just in case.
So, before she went back, she brought up something she absolutely had to tell Winfred.
"Well, you know. If you meet my parents... could you tell them to pretend not to notice me, even if I appear in a completely different form, unrelated to Byron? He's got eyes on the Duke's family, too."
“Yes? What does that mean?”
And at her words, Winfred opened his eyes wide in surprise and asked back.
Apparently surprised to hear that there was a spy from Byron in the Duke's household, Aila sighed and added.
“...You might not believe it, but it’s true. Every time something happened to my mother, he got word.”
“No, that’s not it...”
But that wasn't what Winfred was concerned about.
"Weren't you supposed to come back to the Empire with me? It was like that before, and it's like that this time too... I don't understand why you escaped from my uncle's side on your own two feet and are now returning."
"That..."
Aila felt taken aback.
How can one explain why she must always return to Byron's side?
"Let's go together, Aila. I can take you to your parents. I can take you to your real family, not to a fake family like that one."
Winfred said, extending his hand to Aila.
Winfred's eyes, which she had thought were gentle, were now burning with a fierce determination.
And she wanted to hold his hand.
She will return to her parents with him like this.
It was a story that was so captivating that she could only imagine it.
But that couldn't be possible.
In the past, it was for revenge.
She went back to find out who Byron was up to and what he was up to, and to make him suffer the same pain she had suffered.
By her own will and no one else's.
But now...
“...I can’t go.”
She rejected Winfred's offer in a voice that sounded like she was crying.
He might be right.
Aila now had some idea, if not perfect, of who Byron was up to and what he was up to.
This might be the last chance to know exactly where he was hiding.
If she returns to the Peles Empire with him, she will begin a life of wandering again, not knowing where she is.
Aila wanted to give Byron the exact same pain she had suffered, but she was tired of standing precariously by his side.
It was such a sweet temptation.
'If only the curse hadn't been on me.'
If she goes back with him now.
They might be able to catch Byron, but she'll die.
Because Byron, who knew she had betrayed him, would not leave her alone.
With a curse on her body that she didn't even know existed, she had to return to Byron's arms, even if she didn't want to.
She could have simply handed over the notes she had written about her research so far, but if she did, there would be no one within the empire who could help Byron in his treason, and she might end up wandering abroad forever.
"Why...?"
“...There are circumstances.”
Winfred looked like she really didn't understand, and she swallowed her words.
She couldn't tell Winfred that her life was in Byron's hands. She didn't want to worry Winfred or her parents, who would hear the news from him.
“I really want to do that too... but there’s a reason I can’t.”
“Aila...”
Winfred held onto her skirt tightly, his eyes like those of a puppy abandoned by its owner. He understood it intellectually, but it seemed he still felt a lingering sense of regret.
"It won't take that long. I'll be back soon... and then you have to pretend you don't know."
When Aila forced a smile and said this, Winfred pouted and let go of her hand.
'Yeah, there are circumstances.'
More than anyone else, Aila herself was the one who wanted to return to her parents. But there must have been a good reason for her to go to such lengths.
Winfred decided to think and understand that way.
And then, with a big smile, he said this.
"Yes. And I'll do my homework well this time too. I'll make sure to tell your parents, so don't worry."
"...Thank you."
Aila, expressing her heartfelt gratitude, stood up from the bench and patted her butt, as if preparing to return.
“Excuse me, is there anything else I can help you with?”
Winfred, who was sad to part ways like this, asked this question because he wanted to somehow hold onto her, even if only for a moment.
“Hmm...”
Aila pondered the question. In fact, she had a concern.
But she wasn't sure if Winfred could solve this problem.
“There it is? What is it?”
“...Is there a place where I can safely hide someone...?”
She asked cautiously. It was such a vague and difficult request.
“Why? Do you need a place to hide?”
“That’s not it... People who are grateful to me might be in danger. I wonder if I can... protect them.”
It hadn't happened yet, but it was something that could happen in the near future.
Even though they haven't even met yet... She guessed this was what would happen if they continued on the same path as their past lives.
And Winfred, who had been lost in thought for a moment, took out a piece of paper and a writing utensil, wrote something, and handed it to her.
"It's one of the imperial family's safe houses. If you take this letter and go to the location written here... I don't know who they are, but I will protect them."
“...Can you tell me about a place like that?”
"Is this the Imperial Household?" Aila asked with a surprised expression as she accepted the note Winfred had handed her.
“Because I trust you. And... we’re friends.”
"As a friend, how could I not grant such a request?" Winfred said with a confident, straightened expression. His eyes seemed to be waiting for her praise.
“Yeah, you’re a really cool guy, Win.”
The sight was both funny and cute, so Aila praised Winfred, saying, "Well done, praise." Although his soul was somewhat lacking.
Still, Winfred looked at Aila with a moved expression when she called him Win by his nickname.
Before, even when he asked her to call him by his nickname, she would refuse so proudly and chicly.
"Am I really going? Just in case, don't follow me around to catch Byron. That'll only put me in more danger."
Aila felt awkward for no reason, so she said goodbye even more coldly and disappeared into the back alley.
Aila was separated from her parents when she was so young she doesn't even remember them, and she hasn't seen them since. Wouldn't she be upset if he told her she had a younger sibling? Aila might feel betrayed.
For such complex reasons, Winfred was about to answer, "Wouldn't it be better to hear it directly from your parents?" but when he saw Ayla's desperate expression, he couldn't.
She desperately wants an answer, and he knows it. How could he turn away?
“That’s true, actually.”
Winfred cautiously brought up the subject, watching Ayla's expression.
“The Duchess recently gave birth to a baby. Your little brother... was born. His name is Noah, and it’s a boy.”
He brought it up very carefully, fearing that she might be shocked.
As Winfred had feared, Aila's face hardened as if she had been greatly shocked.
It wasn't because of betrayal towards his parents or jealousy over having a younger sibling, as he had expected.
‘...You’re my little brother? Why...?’
In her previous life, she was an only daughter until the day she was killed by Byron. This means that the ducal family had no other direct descendants besides Aila Weishaffen.
She didn't hear the exact reason, but her mother, Ophelia, said she had trouble conceiving for reasons other than health. She said Aila's birth was nothing short of a miracle.
But a younger brother.
There have been quite a few changes in her life so far. But this... isn't it such a huge change?
A life that was not originally born was born. Her younger brother...
As Aila looked confused, Winfred, who had been watching silently, spoke to her with concern.
“Are you okay, Aila?”
“...”
But she couldn't answer that question right away. She couldn't even tell herself if she was really okay.
Because it was that big of a deal.
Aila was confused, and her mind was in a mess.
'No, let's think about it calmly.'
She tried to shake off the feeling of confusion. She had a younger brother she never had before... Setting aside the memories of her past life, she tried to focus on what she was feeling now.
A new sibling was born. Born to parents who loved and cared for each other, a blood sibling was born to her.
It was a blessing and an infinite joy.
“Aila?”
When she didn't answer, Winfred called her name again, anxiously.
Aila answered in a calm voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s really... something to celebrate.”
Fortunately, there was no falsehood in her voice. She was genuinely happy, and she seemed to be doing just fine.
“I’m sorry. I was a little surprised... so the reply is late.”
“...No, I understand.”
Winfred playfully comforted her, saying that since it was Aila, she would have passed out in shock.
Looking at his bright face, Aila felt her heart lighten a little and smiled slightly.
Then, suddenly, Aila came to her senses and checked her watch. It was almost time to head back. She still had quite a bit of time to spare, but she figured it would be better to give herself plenty of time just in case.
So, before she went back, she brought up something she absolutely had to tell Winfred.
"Well, you know. If you meet my parents... could you tell them to pretend not to notice me, even if I appear in a completely different form, unrelated to Byron? He's got eyes on the Duke's family, too."
“Yes? What does that mean?”
And at her words, Winfred opened his eyes wide in surprise and asked back.
Apparently surprised to hear that there was a spy from Byron in the Duke's household, Aila sighed and added.
“...You might not believe it, but it’s true. Every time something happened to my mother, he got word.”
“No, that’s not it...”
But that wasn't what Winfred was concerned about.
"Weren't you supposed to come back to the Empire with me? It was like that before, and it's like that this time too... I don't understand why you escaped from my uncle's side on your own two feet and are now returning."
"That..."
Aila felt taken aback.
How can one explain why she must always return to Byron's side?
"Let's go together, Aila. I can take you to your parents. I can take you to your real family, not to a fake family like that one."
Winfred said, extending his hand to Aila.
Winfred's eyes, which she had thought were gentle, were now burning with a fierce determination.
And she wanted to hold his hand.
She will return to her parents with him like this.
It was a story that was so captivating that she could only imagine it.
But that couldn't be possible.
In the past, it was for revenge.
She went back to find out who Byron was up to and what he was up to, and to make him suffer the same pain she had suffered.
By her own will and no one else's.
But now...
“...I can’t go.”
She rejected Winfred's offer in a voice that sounded like she was crying.
He might be right.
Aila now had some idea, if not perfect, of who Byron was up to and what he was up to.
This might be the last chance to know exactly where he was hiding.
If she returns to the Peles Empire with him, she will begin a life of wandering again, not knowing where she is.
Aila wanted to give Byron the exact same pain she had suffered, but she was tired of standing precariously by his side.
It was such a sweet temptation.
'If only the curse hadn't been on me.'
If she goes back with him now.
They might be able to catch Byron, but she'll die.
Because Byron, who knew she had betrayed him, would not leave her alone.
With a curse on her body that she didn't even know existed, she had to return to Byron's arms, even if she didn't want to.
She could have simply handed over the notes she had written about her research so far, but if she did, there would be no one within the empire who could help Byron in his treason, and she might end up wandering abroad forever.
"Why...?"
“...There are circumstances.”
Winfred looked like she really didn't understand, and she swallowed her words.
She couldn't tell Winfred that her life was in Byron's hands. She didn't want to worry Winfred or her parents, who would hear the news from him.
“I really want to do that too... but there’s a reason I can’t.”
“Aila...”
Winfred held onto her skirt tightly, his eyes like those of a puppy abandoned by its owner. He understood it intellectually, but it seemed he still felt a lingering sense of regret.
"It won't take that long. I'll be back soon... and then you have to pretend you don't know."
When Aila forced a smile and said this, Winfred pouted and let go of her hand.
'Yeah, there are circumstances.'
More than anyone else, Aila herself was the one who wanted to return to her parents. But there must have been a good reason for her to go to such lengths.
Winfred decided to think and understand that way.
And then, with a big smile, he said this.
"Yes. And I'll do my homework well this time too. I'll make sure to tell your parents, so don't worry."
"...Thank you."
Aila, expressing her heartfelt gratitude, stood up from the bench and patted her butt, as if preparing to return.
“Excuse me, is there anything else I can help you with?”
Winfred, who was sad to part ways like this, asked this question because he wanted to somehow hold onto her, even if only for a moment.
“Hmm...”
Aila pondered the question. In fact, she had a concern.
But she wasn't sure if Winfred could solve this problem.
“There it is? What is it?”
“...Is there a place where I can safely hide someone...?”
She asked cautiously. It was such a vague and difficult request.
“Why? Do you need a place to hide?”
“That’s not it... People who are grateful to me might be in danger. I wonder if I can... protect them.”
It hadn't happened yet, but it was something that could happen in the near future.
Even though they haven't even met yet... She guessed this was what would happen if they continued on the same path as their past lives.
And Winfred, who had been lost in thought for a moment, took out a piece of paper and a writing utensil, wrote something, and handed it to her.
"It's one of the imperial family's safe houses. If you take this letter and go to the location written here... I don't know who they are, but I will protect them."
“...Can you tell me about a place like that?”
"Is this the Imperial Household?" Aila asked with a surprised expression as she accepted the note Winfred had handed her.
“Because I trust you. And... we’re friends.”
"As a friend, how could I not grant such a request?" Winfred said with a confident, straightened expression. His eyes seemed to be waiting for her praise.
“Yeah, you’re a really cool guy, Win.”
The sight was both funny and cute, so Aila praised Winfred, saying, "Well done, praise." Although his soul was somewhat lacking.
Still, Winfred looked at Aila with a moved expression when she called him Win by his nickname.
Before, even when he asked her to call him by his nickname, she would refuse so proudly and chicly.
"Am I really going? Just in case, don't follow me around to catch Byron. That'll only put me in more danger."
Aila felt awkward for no reason, so she said goodbye even more coldly and disappeared into the back alley.
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