Side Story 4. With You Forever
“Sister, where are you going? Aren’t you going to play with Noah?”
Now six years old, Noah Abner Weishaffen was already showing signs of a young gentleman, with his politeness and dignity.
But he became a spoiled brat in front of one person, his older sister, Aila Hailing Weishaffen, who was so fond of him and so devoted to him.
"Ugh, I have to go out soon. Sorry, Noah. Let's hang out together when I get back."
“Where are you going? Can’t Noah come with you?”
Aila smiled kindly and tried to comfort her younger brother, but Noah still had a sullen expression on his face, grabbed the hem of her skirt, and sulked.
“Master, you have class soon.”
“That’s true, but... Noah wants to be with my sister.”
It was when Noah pouts, and his eyes turn red at the words of Lisa, the maid who was helping Aila get ready to go out.
“Aila, I’m home!”
"Oh, Your Highness, the Crown Prince! You're already here. You'll have to wait a little longer before everything is ready."
Winfred, the Crown Prince of the empire and Aila's fiancé, arrived at the mansion, intending to go out with her.
“It’s okay. Just sit down and wait a bit.”
Winfred smiled broadly and sat down on the sofa, then his eyes met Noah's, who was hiding, holding on tightly to Ayla's skirt.
“Noah was there, too. Hello?”
He greeted him with a big smile. But for some reason, Noah left the room with a sour expression. It was something unimaginable given his usual polite demeanor.
“Young Master! You should greet His Highness the Crown Prince! I, I apologize, Your Highness. The young master isn't usually like that...”
Noah's nanny followed him out, her face flustered and her apologies repeated.
And Winfred, who was left behind, could only look in the direction where Noah had disappeared with a shocked face.
“Wh-Why on earth...?”
The shock was immense. He had always tried to maintain a good relationship with Noah, but he and Noah shared a preference for quiet indoor activities over outdoor pursuits, so they often played together.
Just a short while ago, they had a great time drawing on large pieces of paper, so he couldn't understand why things had suddenly changed like this.
“...Oh my.”
Aila, who had been quietly watching the scene, sighed deeply. She was the only one in the room who knew the full story of how this had unfolded.
The truth was this.
A year had already passed since he had been officially engaged to Winfred, and he was planning to get married soon.
If that happens, Aila will become the Crown Princess and live in the palace, and will naturally be separated from her family.
So, it was last night that the whole family gathered together and explained these circumstances to young Noah.
Noah, who cherished and cared for his sister, was naturally shocked. To him, Winfred was no different from a thief who had stolen his precious sister.
Even so, Aila could not have imagined that Noah, who was usually quiet, would leave the room without saying hello.
“Did I do something wrong to Noah?”
When Winfred asked in bewilderment, she sighed deeply again.
“No. That’s not it... I’ll explain later.”
Although she initially denied it, the truth is, from Noah's perspective, Winfred was wrong. It wasn't just a mistake; it was a grave one.
And while they were having that conversation, Aila's preparations for going out were finalized.
“Shall we go, Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
Aila rose from her seat and raised her chin proudly. Winfred politely extended his hand, matching her rhythm.
“Yes, let's go, my lady.”
She burst into laughter, taking his outstretched hand. She felt embarrassed as she tried to rekindle the conversation, which was already a formality.
But from the moment they appeared in an official setting, they had to show courtesy to each other.
"I'm sorry, I'm busy with wedding preparations. I don't want you to come with me to such a simple banquet."
"It's okay. This will be the last banquet I'll attend as the Crown Prince's fiancée, so of course I have to go."
Aila smiled with a relaxed and elegant smile.
Since Byron's purge, her life hasn't been entirely smooth sailing. While her main enemy has vanished, the empire's social circles remain far from easy.
Some questioned whether she was truly the Princess of Weishaffen, and others questioned her qualifications as a Princess crown Princess, citing her childhood as a wandering woman.
Of course, no one dared to say such things out loud in front of the Duke for fear of the Duke, but that doesn't mean there weren't people talking behind his back.
Aila thought these things were trivial compared to the pain she had endured in the past, but she still couldn't be happy about such talk coming from places she didn't even know about.
So, in Weishaffen, the Tamora National Magic Academy announced the results of a paternity test, proving that Aila was indeed the Princess, and by demonstrating impeccable etiquette, she silenced those who doubted her qualifications.
Having gone through all that, Aila now seemed like a completely different person from the timid and depressed her of the past. She was much brighter and more confident.
“So, why is Noah doing that?”
As they boarded the carriage to the banquet hall, Winfred asked quietly.
Since there were only two of them in the carriage and no one around to eavesdrop, he thought it was time for Aila to tell him something.
She, too, had been waiting for the moment to speak, so she shrugged and answered his question.
"He was furious when he heard I'd move out after I got married. He must have thought you were stealing me away from him."
“Oh my gosh... so cute.”
Winfred, who loved children, placed both hands on his cheeks and curled up. It was a wonder children could be so adorable.
“I’m glad you said he was cute, but... He was rude to you. Aren’t you upset?”
"He's just a kid. It's okay. It's normal to be a little kid and throw tantrums, you know. And with his beloved older sister on the line, how could he possibly be polite? This might be the biggest crisis in Noah's six years."
He said it with an expression that seemed as if he still didn't know what to do with Noah's loveliness.
And upon hearing that, Aila scratched her cheek in a slightly embarrassed mood.
Winfred was right. Children are inherently mischievous and make mistakes as they grow.
But she didn't grow up like that, because Byron wouldn't let her be spoiled.
So she guessed she had forgotten that fact.
How fortunate. Even though she couldn't, at least her younger brother, Noah, could grow up in such a safe and happy environment.
Aila, who had smiled at the memories of those difficult times, returned to reality and began talking with a serious expression.
"But if you let it slide too easily, it won't be good for their education. My parents have probably already given him a harsh scolding."
"Of course, I must follow the Duke's educational policy. Tell Noah to come to me whenever he's ready to offer a sincere apology. I'm fine with that."
Winfred nodded solemnly. He wanted to be kind to Noah, but he wasn't willing to accept any mistakes he made.
Aila smiled contentedly and nodded.
“By the way, I’m worried... I want to get along with Noah. What if he keeps hating me?”
He wore a sullen expression. He had always been very fond of Noah, the only sibling of his beloved, and the cute and intelligent Noah.
“Hmm... I’ll try to explain it well. Noah’s smart, so he’ll understand right away.”
Aila spoke in a cautious voice.
The next morning. Aila, who had woken up at dawn and finished her training, waited for her younger brother to wake up and then went to his room.
When she returned to the mansion after the banquet, it was already late, and Noah was already asleep, so she missed the chance to speak.
Noah was scolded harshly by his mother and father and fell asleep with tears streaming down his pillow. When he woke up, his face was swollen.
“Sister!”
Despite his swollen face, Noah ran over to her with a joyful expression. That bright smile didn't last long, though.
“Noah, I need to talk to you about yesterday.”
When Aila brought up yesterday, Noah flinched and stood frozen. He thought he'd been scolded enough by his parents, but that was just the beginning. Part 2 awaited.
His eyes quickly filled with tears. His face looked as if it would burst into tears at the slightest touch.
“Why are you crying, Noah? I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You’ll only take His Highness’s side, won’t you? I hate you!”
Noah finally burst into tears. It was already unfair to have his sister taken away, but it seemed unbearable that his entire family was siding with that thief.
“Whose side are you on? That’s not it, Noah.”
Aila stroked her brother's back as he cried, trying to comfort him. She was taken aback by his sudden stubbornness, which was so unusually gentle, and didn't know what to do.
“But Noah, are you serious? Do you really hate your sister?”
When she asked quietly, Noah, who had been crying loudly, suddenly stopped crying and hiccupped. He was just saying it out of frustration, and there was no way he meant it.
“...No. Noah likes my older sister. Noah misspoke.”
He sobbed, his face still glistening with tears, and held tightly to the hem of Aila's clothes.
"I love Noah, too. That's why I want to talk to you. So stop crying and let's talk, yes?"
She took out a handkerchief and wiped her brother's tears. Noah nodded reluctantly, his lips pursed. He seemed to think that at least Aila wouldn't scold him like his parents had.
"Noah, I love you, but I also love His Highness the Crown Prince. So, I hope the two people I love can get along. If Noah hates His Highness and acts recklessly like you did yesterday, I'll be heartbroken."
“But, because of His Highness, I have to live separately from my older sister. I don’t want that.”
At Aila's words, Noah stubbornly stuck out his lips.
"Noah, it's not because of you. It's my choice. I'm happy being with Noah and my parents right now, but when I'm with him, I feel like I own the world."
“...Then what about Noah? Noah likes being with my older sister the best...”
"Even if we live apart, we can still see each other often, Noah. Do you know how close the palace is to here? And even if we're physically apart, Noah and I are connected by heart, so it's okay. Noah will always be my beloved younger sibling."
Aila placed one hand on her chest, the other on her younger brother's. As she spoke with a gentle smile, Noah, sobbing, jumped into Aila's arms.
After sobbing in his sister's arms for a long time, he opened his mouth as if he had calmed down a little.
“Noah was wrong. I will get along well with His Highness.”
"Thank you, Noah. But before that, you should apologize to His Highness. This is Noah's fault."
".. Yes."
Noah nodded with a sullen face.
“Sister, where are you going? Aren’t you going to play with Noah?”
Now six years old, Noah Abner Weishaffen was already showing signs of a young gentleman, with his politeness and dignity.
But he became a spoiled brat in front of one person, his older sister, Aila Hailing Weishaffen, who was so fond of him and so devoted to him.
"Ugh, I have to go out soon. Sorry, Noah. Let's hang out together when I get back."
“Where are you going? Can’t Noah come with you?”
Aila smiled kindly and tried to comfort her younger brother, but Noah still had a sullen expression on his face, grabbed the hem of her skirt, and sulked.
“Master, you have class soon.”
“That’s true, but... Noah wants to be with my sister.”
It was when Noah pouts, and his eyes turn red at the words of Lisa, the maid who was helping Aila get ready to go out.
“Aila, I’m home!”
"Oh, Your Highness, the Crown Prince! You're already here. You'll have to wait a little longer before everything is ready."
Winfred, the Crown Prince of the empire and Aila's fiancé, arrived at the mansion, intending to go out with her.
“It’s okay. Just sit down and wait a bit.”
Winfred smiled broadly and sat down on the sofa, then his eyes met Noah's, who was hiding, holding on tightly to Ayla's skirt.
“Noah was there, too. Hello?”
He greeted him with a big smile. But for some reason, Noah left the room with a sour expression. It was something unimaginable given his usual polite demeanor.
“Young Master! You should greet His Highness the Crown Prince! I, I apologize, Your Highness. The young master isn't usually like that...”
Noah's nanny followed him out, her face flustered and her apologies repeated.
And Winfred, who was left behind, could only look in the direction where Noah had disappeared with a shocked face.
“Wh-Why on earth...?”
The shock was immense. He had always tried to maintain a good relationship with Noah, but he and Noah shared a preference for quiet indoor activities over outdoor pursuits, so they often played together.
Just a short while ago, they had a great time drawing on large pieces of paper, so he couldn't understand why things had suddenly changed like this.
“...Oh my.”
Aila, who had been quietly watching the scene, sighed deeply. She was the only one in the room who knew the full story of how this had unfolded.
The truth was this.
A year had already passed since he had been officially engaged to Winfred, and he was planning to get married soon.
If that happens, Aila will become the Crown Princess and live in the palace, and will naturally be separated from her family.
So, it was last night that the whole family gathered together and explained these circumstances to young Noah.
Noah, who cherished and cared for his sister, was naturally shocked. To him, Winfred was no different from a thief who had stolen his precious sister.
Even so, Aila could not have imagined that Noah, who was usually quiet, would leave the room without saying hello.
“Did I do something wrong to Noah?”
When Winfred asked in bewilderment, she sighed deeply again.
“No. That’s not it... I’ll explain later.”
Although she initially denied it, the truth is, from Noah's perspective, Winfred was wrong. It wasn't just a mistake; it was a grave one.
And while they were having that conversation, Aila's preparations for going out were finalized.
“Shall we go, Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
Aila rose from her seat and raised her chin proudly. Winfred politely extended his hand, matching her rhythm.
“Yes, let's go, my lady.”
She burst into laughter, taking his outstretched hand. She felt embarrassed as she tried to rekindle the conversation, which was already a formality.
But from the moment they appeared in an official setting, they had to show courtesy to each other.
"I'm sorry, I'm busy with wedding preparations. I don't want you to come with me to such a simple banquet."
"It's okay. This will be the last banquet I'll attend as the Crown Prince's fiancée, so of course I have to go."
Aila smiled with a relaxed and elegant smile.
Since Byron's purge, her life hasn't been entirely smooth sailing. While her main enemy has vanished, the empire's social circles remain far from easy.
Some questioned whether she was truly the Princess of Weishaffen, and others questioned her qualifications as a Princess crown Princess, citing her childhood as a wandering woman.
Of course, no one dared to say such things out loud in front of the Duke for fear of the Duke, but that doesn't mean there weren't people talking behind his back.
Aila thought these things were trivial compared to the pain she had endured in the past, but she still couldn't be happy about such talk coming from places she didn't even know about.
So, in Weishaffen, the Tamora National Magic Academy announced the results of a paternity test, proving that Aila was indeed the Princess, and by demonstrating impeccable etiquette, she silenced those who doubted her qualifications.
Having gone through all that, Aila now seemed like a completely different person from the timid and depressed her of the past. She was much brighter and more confident.
“So, why is Noah doing that?”
As they boarded the carriage to the banquet hall, Winfred asked quietly.
Since there were only two of them in the carriage and no one around to eavesdrop, he thought it was time for Aila to tell him something.
She, too, had been waiting for the moment to speak, so she shrugged and answered his question.
"He was furious when he heard I'd move out after I got married. He must have thought you were stealing me away from him."
“Oh my gosh... so cute.”
Winfred, who loved children, placed both hands on his cheeks and curled up. It was a wonder children could be so adorable.
“I’m glad you said he was cute, but... He was rude to you. Aren’t you upset?”
"He's just a kid. It's okay. It's normal to be a little kid and throw tantrums, you know. And with his beloved older sister on the line, how could he possibly be polite? This might be the biggest crisis in Noah's six years."
He said it with an expression that seemed as if he still didn't know what to do with Noah's loveliness.
And upon hearing that, Aila scratched her cheek in a slightly embarrassed mood.
Winfred was right. Children are inherently mischievous and make mistakes as they grow.
But she didn't grow up like that, because Byron wouldn't let her be spoiled.
So she guessed she had forgotten that fact.
How fortunate. Even though she couldn't, at least her younger brother, Noah, could grow up in such a safe and happy environment.
Aila, who had smiled at the memories of those difficult times, returned to reality and began talking with a serious expression.
"But if you let it slide too easily, it won't be good for their education. My parents have probably already given him a harsh scolding."
"Of course, I must follow the Duke's educational policy. Tell Noah to come to me whenever he's ready to offer a sincere apology. I'm fine with that."
Winfred nodded solemnly. He wanted to be kind to Noah, but he wasn't willing to accept any mistakes he made.
Aila smiled contentedly and nodded.
“By the way, I’m worried... I want to get along with Noah. What if he keeps hating me?”
He wore a sullen expression. He had always been very fond of Noah, the only sibling of his beloved, and the cute and intelligent Noah.
“Hmm... I’ll try to explain it well. Noah’s smart, so he’ll understand right away.”
Aila spoke in a cautious voice.
***
The next morning. Aila, who had woken up at dawn and finished her training, waited for her younger brother to wake up and then went to his room.
When she returned to the mansion after the banquet, it was already late, and Noah was already asleep, so she missed the chance to speak.
Noah was scolded harshly by his mother and father and fell asleep with tears streaming down his pillow. When he woke up, his face was swollen.
“Sister!”
Despite his swollen face, Noah ran over to her with a joyful expression. That bright smile didn't last long, though.
“Noah, I need to talk to you about yesterday.”
When Aila brought up yesterday, Noah flinched and stood frozen. He thought he'd been scolded enough by his parents, but that was just the beginning. Part 2 awaited.
His eyes quickly filled with tears. His face looked as if it would burst into tears at the slightest touch.
“Why are you crying, Noah? I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You’ll only take His Highness’s side, won’t you? I hate you!”
Noah finally burst into tears. It was already unfair to have his sister taken away, but it seemed unbearable that his entire family was siding with that thief.
“Whose side are you on? That’s not it, Noah.”
Aila stroked her brother's back as he cried, trying to comfort him. She was taken aback by his sudden stubbornness, which was so unusually gentle, and didn't know what to do.
“But Noah, are you serious? Do you really hate your sister?”
When she asked quietly, Noah, who had been crying loudly, suddenly stopped crying and hiccupped. He was just saying it out of frustration, and there was no way he meant it.
“...No. Noah likes my older sister. Noah misspoke.”
He sobbed, his face still glistening with tears, and held tightly to the hem of Aila's clothes.
"I love Noah, too. That's why I want to talk to you. So stop crying and let's talk, yes?"
She took out a handkerchief and wiped her brother's tears. Noah nodded reluctantly, his lips pursed. He seemed to think that at least Aila wouldn't scold him like his parents had.
"Noah, I love you, but I also love His Highness the Crown Prince. So, I hope the two people I love can get along. If Noah hates His Highness and acts recklessly like you did yesterday, I'll be heartbroken."
“But, because of His Highness, I have to live separately from my older sister. I don’t want that.”
At Aila's words, Noah stubbornly stuck out his lips.
"Noah, it's not because of you. It's my choice. I'm happy being with Noah and my parents right now, but when I'm with him, I feel like I own the world."
“...Then what about Noah? Noah likes being with my older sister the best...”
"Even if we live apart, we can still see each other often, Noah. Do you know how close the palace is to here? And even if we're physically apart, Noah and I are connected by heart, so it's okay. Noah will always be my beloved younger sibling."
Aila placed one hand on her chest, the other on her younger brother's. As she spoke with a gentle smile, Noah, sobbing, jumped into Aila's arms.
After sobbing in his sister's arms for a long time, he opened his mouth as if he had calmed down a little.
“Noah was wrong. I will get along well with His Highness.”
"Thank you, Noah. But before that, you should apologize to His Highness. This is Noah's fault."
".. Yes."
Noah nodded with a sullen face.
Comments
Post a Comment