Although I accepted him blinded by money, I should have asked the children for their opinions as well.
After sending Noelier out, I took a seat in front of the children.
Seeing Zion with a sullen face and Rachel looking a little confused, I slowly opened my mouth.
"What do you guys think you should do?"
"What?"
“What is it?”
As the children asked back at the same time, I gestured toward the door and spoke.
“That’s your brother.”
"...I don't know."
“I don’t know.”
The children pouted and shook their heads.
If she had just said she didn't want to, I would have firmly refused and sent Rachel away, but her ambiguous answer made me even more perplexed. I let out a faint sigh.
Perhaps feeling uneasy at my appearance, Rachel looked at me with a nervous expression and made a tearful face.
"...Sister, do I have to go?
“Hmm...?”
"Me. Do I have to go with him, my brother? No, with that person?"
"Well, that's..."
Her eyes drooped as if she were about to cry. With tears welling up, the corners of her mouth drooped, and the area around her eyes flushed red.
I hurriedly shook my head.
"Ah. No. Um, it’s not like that..."
"Then what?"
"Mmm..."
"..."
When I didn't answer, Rachel pouted her lips as if she were about to burst into tears.
Anyone would think I was abandoning you...
Even so, I couldn't keep Rachel around forever.
After all, Rachel is Noelier's sister.
Then there was only one answer. I looked at Rachel and spoke.
"Let's do this. How about we spend time getting closer to that older brother just once a week?"
"..."
"No matter how much you say you don't want to, he is your brother."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Huh?"
"...It seems like you know everything."
My heart sank at those sharp words.
I forced a smile and shrugged my shoulders.
"Well, because you look like him...?"
"Does looking alike make everyone family?"
"Besides, that fire too..."
"Fire..."
Oops! Another forbidden word!
I slapped my mouth and approached Rachel. As if she had been waiting, Rachel clung tightly to my side. She rubbed her cheek against me as if she didn't want to let go.
"Me too!"
Then, even Zion, who was on the other side, clung to my empty side.
Why are you spilling the beans, Zion...
I looked with a hollow gaze at my younger brother, who had returned to the very essence of innocence.
"...Okay."
Just then, Rachel's voice came from my left side. I lowered my head and looked at Rachel.
Rachel, biting her lip as if anxious, finally nodded and spoke
"Okay. Brother... no, that person, I think meeting them about three times a week should be fine."
"Three times...?"
My suggestion was clearly once a week. However, Rachel extended the date by two days.
Rachel said, looking at me in bewilderment.
"And please stay by my side, too."
"Me too?"
“I’m scared alone...”
Rachel said that, letting the corners of her eyes droop.
Seeing that face, my heart began to ache.
I could understand why Rachel was acting that way.
Who wouldn't be scared if a man breathing fire suddenly showed up claiming to be their older brother when they couldn't remember anything?
I nodded, making a tearful face along with her.
"Of course. I'll be by your side."
“Really?”
"Then."
"As expected, I have no one but my older sister."
"I love you so much, sis." Rachel smiled brightly and clung tightly to my side.
***
I managed to pry the children off and slipped out of the house.
When I opened the door, I saw Noelier gazing quietly at the snow-covered forest. A biting wind ruffled his black hair.
The contrasting colors were making his good looks shine even brighter.
'It's a superb view.'
As I was looking at him in admiration, Noelier turned to look at me as if he had sensed my gaze.
I quickly composed my expression and approached him.
"The kids say it's okay. Of course, it's difficult to be together all the time, but they said about three times a week would be good."
"...That’s a relief."
His face flushed with relief. Every time he smiled like that, it felt like sunlight was shining down.
'But how do they manage to live here? In this cramped space?'
I spoke to him with a very worried look on my face.
"By the way, there isn't a proper place for you to sleep... As you can see, our house is very small. We can't even sleep hugging each other."
"...I wasn't planning on staying overnight."
"...I see. I just asked to be sure."
I hurriedly added it, pretending nothing was wrong, but it only made me look pathetic.
Damn wolf instinct!
Since all the books I read were like that, I can only imagine that.
For the first time, I desperately wanted an ashes ending.
'So this is why background knowledge is important.'
Having realized yet another truth, I cupped my cheeks to let the cold air flow down and cool the heat in my face. As my head began to tingle, I felt as though I was coming to my senses.
Noelier, who had been staring at me intently, cautiously opened his mouth.
"...It is too late, but I apologize once again. What I did to you is entirely my fault."
Noelier bowed his head respectfully and apologized.
How often would he bow his head on his own? I looked at the sight with a slightly curious gaze, then shook my head.
"It's alright. I think I would have done the same thing."
And I also have a lie to tell you.
Just as I was about to start dropping hints about my existence, Noelier spoke up.
"...Excuse me, but may I hold your hand?"
“Hands?”
I looked up at him with a slightly surprised expression. Noelier nodded with a serious face.
Why the sudden question? More importantly, it's my first time touching someone this handsome, so I'm a bit nervous.
I placed my hand on his large hand.
Warm heat touched my palm. But that was only for a moment. Before long, his hand became lukewarm. It seemed to be due to the coldness in my body.
He opened his mouth after a long while, having been lost in thought.
"...I have one question to ask. May I?"
Noelier's voice grew low. His red eyes gleamed like those of a wild beast.
How could this be? Did you figure it out already?
It's a dead flag!
Feeling anxious, I forgot the lie I had practiced countless times and shouted loudly.
"I... I am a human!"
"Yes?"
Noelier blinked a couple of times in surprise at my sudden shout.
"Why all of a sudden..."
He trailed off, then asked with a puzzled look.
"...Why are you in such a dangerous place?"
"It’s a long story. I was born here and found myself."
I couldn't help but be nervous as I was about to tell a lie that could turn my life upside down. I tried hard to compose myself and pretend I was fine while waiting for his interrogation to begin.
His face became strange.
Did I get caught after all? My heart started pounding like crazy.
I squeezed my eyes shut, imagining the fire that was about to pour down.
"Okay."
"...Huh?"
But what returned to me was a kind and gentle voice. I quietly opened my eyes.
Noelier was looking at me with a gentle smile.
"You must have had a hard time surviving among the fierce wolves."
"Hard time..."
"..."
"...Yes! I worked hard! Oh, don't even get me started. It was so tough."
I gave a lighthearted smile. He smiled back, as if he understood everything.
Seeing that smile, I was certain.
The lie that even I thought was an exaggeration actually worked, and it really did.
'Even so, he is the leader; isn't he being a bit too naive?'
It made the plausible scenario I had devised feel pointless.
As we were laughing heartily while facing each other like that, I suddenly felt a warm heat. It was then that I realized we were still holding hands.
I thought that if I had held on this long, the check would be finished. It was just as I was about to stealthily pull my hand away.
“Sister?”
Rachel peeked her head out from behind the door, blinked her big eyes, and called out to me.
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