Chapter 86: Sister and Brother
“—-……”
My hazy consciousness gradually became clearer. I regained sensations throughout my body, feeling an energy coursing through me.
It felt like the real world was calling out to me, and in response to that call, I opened my eyes—-
“Oh, you’re awake, Elder Sister! This is wonderful! Hahaha!”
“………………………”
My brother’s loud face greeted me.
“Hm? What’s wrong, you look exhausted.”
“Well of course. I wouldn’t want to be seen looking like this while recovering from illness.”
Prince Robert, my younger brother who was supposed to be studying abroad, stood before me.
On the table next to his unnecessarily large body sat a familiar-looking mechanical dog, obediently seated.
“……So Sophie came back too.”
“Indeed! There were various circumstances, though I’ve mostly forgotten the details!”
“Ah, it seems your head didn’t improve even while abroad. As your sister, I’m utterly dismayed.”
It seems Clifford, Robert’s aide, is still having a hard time with him as usual.
Though Clifford’s loyalty to Robert could be called excessive, I’m sure he finds it satisfactory from his perspective.
“You must have been surprised too. About Leor and everything else.”
“When I returned to find my elder brother in such a state, I was honestly shocked and now regretful. I may be an idiot, but I feel there might have been something I could have done.”
“…………I agree on that point.”
I knew Leor had developed an inferiority complex towards our family.
But I also thought it was something we couldn’t do anything about…no, that’s not right.
Deep down, I was jealous of Leor.
He was promised the throne from birth. He had what I wanted. So I averted my eyes from his suffering.
……It was the same. The same as with Loretta.
I knew about her family’s situation. I knew about her crappy father.
She must have been suffering, but I failed to notice. I didn’t realize my best friend had become so twisted.
(Ah……Damn it, really.)
I want to keep what I desire in its most brilliant state right beside me.
I want the people around me to be happy.
But…I’ve always been blind to what’s right in front of me.
I couldn’t see Leor’s situation…or my best friend’s.
I couldn’t see anything.
“Thinking about it…………Alfred is admirable.”
“Heh…indeed. Among us, Alfred was the one closest to our elder brother. And yet he willingly confronted him head-on, fighting him.”
Something I couldn’t do, that youngest brother managed.
“It’s no easy feat for those close to truly clash with harsh words. Mm! Even as my brother, he’s marvelous!”
This is one of Robert’s good points – his ability to praise sincerely.
I too want to praise Alfred, but I can’t help feeling a tinge of bitterness as well.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say!”
“……Alfred was able to change thanks largely to Charlotte’s influence. Don’t forget that, okay?”
“Of course! The shadow-knowing Alfred and the luminous Charlotte – they can become fine partners, complementing each other’s……possibilities.”
“Possibilities, huh…..”
“Yes. How shall I put it…that lady is…umm…Anburu…? Ambulance?”
“Unbalanced.”
“That’s it!”
Try to enunciate a bit more, would you?
“……I understand what you’re trying to say.”
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Shadow and light. Surely having just one or the other wouldn’t have been enough.
It was because the two of them were together, able to compensate for each other’s deficiencies, that they could resolve the matter with Leor.
“Alfred has experience operating in the shadows and reasonable skill. But Charlotte still lacks much compared to her inherent power…..”
“Indeed. Alfred has come to know both shadow and light, but considering the broken engagement incident, Charlotte still does not know the shadows.”
Alfred, aware of both shadow and light.
Charlotte, aware only of light, ignorant of shadows.
At a glance they seem well-matched, but that balance is precarious. Above all, Alfred has been increasing his abilities lately, in a way that could leave the inexperienced Charlotte behind.
“That child is a bit too serious…so I’m a little worried.”
“Hahaha! you are a really kind elder sister!”
“I’ve always been an overwhelmingly kind elder sister, haven’t I?”
“………………………………Indeed!”
What’s with that pause?
“However, while Alfred has grown, I too am worried about him regarding this recent incident.”
“About Makina, right…..”
It’s something I’ve been apprehensive about for a while now.
I knew that girl had romantic feelings for Alfred. I knew she was suppressing those feelings within herself.
I’ve seen similar cases before. That’s why, before she exploded in some disastrous way, I wanted to do something about it…but I never imagined it would blow up in such an awful manner.
……Most likely, just like with Leor, Lucille took advantage of the cracks in her heart.
She’s really a troublesome foe. If she was simply powerful, that would be easier to handle – we could defeat her through unity.
But Lucille’s way of skillfully manipulating the human heart is more threatening than any mere powerful monster.
I can’t really blame Makina. After all, the heart is something not even oneself can fully control. Any of us with a heart could end up the same way. If I were to place blame, it should be on Lucille’s despicable trampling of people’s hearts.
“……But you’re not just worried for your brother’s sake, right?”
“As perspicacious as ever, Elder Sister.”
“Stop that. I may have seen it, but I’m still just a cowardly sister who averted her eyes.”
“To me, you are an admirable elder worthy of respect.”
I always think this at times like these.
Leor must have felt inferior to this side of Robert.
“This enemy is different from before……no, in Alfred’s mind, that maid Makina isn’t even an [enemy]. She’s a [victim]. [A comrade to be recovered]. He likely still sees her that way.”
“I think there is some truth to that perspective.”
“However, that maid willingly left to join the [Children of Six Emotions]. Then to us of the royal family, she should be an enemy to defeat.”
“…………I understand.”
It’s different from Nenel, the young civilian girl who was simply incited to seek revenge against the [Land God].
While serving Prince Alfred, Makina willingly cooperated with the enemy [Children of Six Emotions].
As Robert said, the current Makina Orchestra is……our enemy.
“I decided when I heard Makina’s story. If that time came, I would confirm it myself.”
“Indeed, that is why I have come.”
Robert stood up and struck his palm with his fist.
“That role shall be mine.”
“What’s this? Just as I was going to do something befitting an elder sister, you’re going to steal it away?”
“Hahaha! I did not wish to, but I cannot allow such recklessness in your condition! …..No, that’s not it. Recklessness itself is fine. But that recklessness should be reserved. There must be someone you need to settle things with, Elder Sister?”
“Don’t beat around the bush.”
“As your brother, I must!”
So that’s really why he came. Robert turned his back to me and left with a final “Take this chance to rest up from your brother’s consideration!” before exiting the room.
“…………Get yourself together, Alfred.”
Otherwise, that oaf Robert is going to blow you away.
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