Ludello was entirely different from usual. His face flushed as though he was angry.

Feeling ignored seemed to be quite shocking for Ludello, who had stronger pride than anyone else. Even so, Ludello’s behavior was extraordinarily different from usual.

Shasha just mumbled to herself, looking at Ludello.

“I really hate you now, I won’t play with you! You didn’t take my side till the end!”

Then, he suddenly stood up and left. It seemed as if they were getting along well with Merkin, but apparently not. I held onto Ludello, who seemed ready to leave right away.

Even if they had bickered as children, they had never hurt each other this much.

“Ludello, don’t do that…”

“I want to be taught separately from now on. I won’t study in the same space as him!”

Despite my efforts to hold him back, Ludello remained unmoved.

Tears gathered in Shasha’s eyes as she saw this.

“You… you’re terrible… I said I hated you…”

Shasha stared at Ludello as if asking him to take back his words. To be honest, even I don’t know why Ludello got so angry.

Did something happen while I was talking?

Whatever it was, Ludello was very angry and seemed to have no intention of making up with Shasha.

“It’s over between us.”

The words were finally uttered. A single tear dropped from Shasha’s eyes.

“……Okay.”

She had always been familiar with rejection, from family and people alike. Maybe that’s why. Shasha slowly nodded at Ludello’s words.

“…what do you mean, ‘okay’?”

“I’m sorry…”

Those were unexpected words. It was around that time that Ludello, who had been angry throughout, calmed down a little.

“Uh…?”

“Crown Prince, if you dislike me, that’s fine. Sister, Shasha will go to sleep now.”

Not Ludello, but ‘Crown Prince,’ he had distinctly drawn a line. It seemed that even Ludello was quite shocked.

“Shasha, wait.”

I grabbed Shasha. Hurriedly wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Shasha shook her head vigorously.

“Sister, Shasha is fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Saying those heartbreaking words, Shasha shook off my hand and went inside. The sound of her stumbling steps pained my heart.

I contemplated whether to follow Shasha or to attend to Ludello as I silently watched Ludello.

Having said he disliked her and having said it was over, he seemed unable to comprehend Shasha’s reactions.

“Should we go to Shasha?”

“…Did I do something wrong?”

If it were up to me, I would say he did something wrong. He should’ve clearly stated the reason before getting angry. However, Ludello and Shasha are still children, unfamiliar with their emotions.

Both are immature due to the wounds they received while growing up.

“Ludello.”

“Why, what?”

“Do you really dislike Shasha?”

I looked Ludello in the eye and patted his head.

“There’s no way!”

“Then why did you do it?”

“…”

He didn’t speak in answer to my question. Ludello just bit his lip and lowered his head.

“Ludello, it’s not your fault. But you should know, Shasha is also a child who fears rejection. Because no one has loved her, she tries to be cheerful to be liked.”

“…”

“If she doesn’t smile, if she doesn’t speak nicely, she thinks people will dislike her. She’s a pitiable child.”

“I…”

Finally, Ludello started to speak.

“There’s no right or wrong here. You both just express yourselves differently. You don’t hate Shasha, do you?”

“Mmm…”

“I’m going to console Shasha now. If you don’t dislike her, will you come with me?”

However, Ludello remained silent. If Shasha’s way of surviving was to be loved, Ludello’s was to put up thorns.

Knowing that, I gave him a small smile.

“Later…”

“Later?”

“Yes… much later…”

“Alright, that’s fine.”

I stood up and stroked Ludello’s head.
“But Lerdelo.”

“Hm.”

“There is a time for every word. Sometimes, if you miss that time, you might not even get to say you’re sorry. I hope you don’t miss that time. I missed it and lived a life full of regret.”

I was, I was, Noah’s world. I was his sky, his earth, his wind, and his love. To young Noah, I was everything.

But I was not everything to Noah. The world was too fascinating, so I deliberately avoided his gaze that only focused on me.

I couldn’t tell Noah, who loved his sister too much, that I loved him.

I couldn’t even tell Noah, who thought I was the best in the world, that I felt the same.

Regret became hell, and that hell tormented me for the rest of my life. That’s why I hoped Lerdelo would not make the same mistake.

“Hm…”

“So if it’s not too late, go and rest easily today. I will go to Shasha.”

I tousled the child’s hair and was about to head to Shasha when Lerdelo grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“I’m not mad. I was just too disappointed. I thought you were only mine… but you’re not. You’re closer with someone else… you even have memories with that person that you don’t have with me… so…”

I looked at Lerdelo silently.

“I only have Shasha.”

Was it jealousy?

“Were you disappointed because Shasha was closer with another friend?”

Lerdelo nodded.

“I… actually have a friend. But I can’t see that friend anymore.”