Walter knew well that the royal family wasn’t particularly harmonious in their familial relationships.

It would be more natural to say that there was hardly an aristocrat who didn’t know this.

And yet, Cedric looked so pleased to be meeting his sister?

Walter tried to recall someone who could be considered Cedric’s sister.

“The third princess doesn’t attend the academy, does she?”

“No, younger than her.”

“Ah, there was one more.”

He had forgotten the existence of the fourth princess, who neither appeared at formal gatherings nor had any significant news about her circulating.

“So, she’s attending the academy without any news?”

“She’s attending quietly. She doesn’t like drawing attention.”

By the time Cedric finished speaking, they were about halfway down the path.

In the courtyard of the building, a girl was reading a book under the shade of a tree.

Indeed, a place where people would seldom pass by, given that she didn’t like drawing attention.

Her silver hair, stretched down to her waist, fluttered slightly in the breeze. Her lips were slightly pursed, perhaps due to her focus on the book.

Her face wasn’t strikingly beautiful but was good enough to be considered pretty.

‘She doesn’t resemble him much.’

Cedric, for lack of a better word, was noticeably handsome.

Though not thickly lined, his face had distinct features that provided a fresh and clean impression.

Moreover, the atmosphere they exuded was completely different due to their contrasting personalities, making it impossible to guess they were siblings unless told so.

At least, until the girl sensed someone’s presence and lifted her gaze from the book.

Like a wary rabbit, she swiftly lifted her head and flashed a genuine smile, mixed with surprise, joy, and affection for Cedric, upon spotting him.

“Brother? What brings you here?”

“I have something to give you.”

From a distance where he wouldn’t interrupt their meeting, Walter observed Cedric conversing with Odette.

To put it more bluntly, he observed Odette.

Cedric was just as artificially affectionate as always, hence not particularly noteworthy.

But the girl, appearing truly glad from their brief conversation, did leave an impression.

‘I wonder what my expression is.’

Like a tail-wagging puppy, her face was filled with affection for Cedric.

Whatever Cedric had done, he had definitely ensnared her.

Walter didn’t hide his suspicion.

“Cedric, what did you use to make your sister like you so much? Did you give her money?”

“No, she has a lot of pride. She doesn’t like it when I do things for her. Actually, she seemed happier when I drew a line.”

“Then why does she like you so much?”

“I don’t know,” Cedric shrugged.

To Walter, Cedric was a bird of a feather.

Quick to exploit others, they only interacted for their own benefit.

If there was a humanly figure deserving love, they stood at the polar opposite.

Individuals who could charm others but were unlikely to receive unconditional affection or favor from anyone.

Occasionally, emptiness would creep in, but Walter was used to it.

He had abandoned expectations of such matters since his parents had forsaken him.

‘They must have dumped me because I’m not worth raising.’

How could a man abandoned by his parents hope for love from others?

The fact that Cedric, in a similar situation, existed nearby was a particular comfort.

‘At least there’s someone like Cedric.’

Occasionally when forgotten emptiness and void revisited, he felt assured that he was not the only one to experience such feelings.
Cedric was no exception to being unlovable as a human.

Thinking that somehow made him feel better. It was a petty psychology.

Then, Odette appeared before him.

Odette, who showed unconditional kindness to Cedric, an unlovable human being.

‘…What’s so special about him?’

When asked, Cedric said he had never given anything to my sister.

Nor had he ever been particularly affectionate, let alone close to her.

Back then, before Odette became loyal to Cedric, there was even less contact between the siblings.

“I’m not sure why. Seems like she considers me quite close because we’re family.”

“Aren’t there more siblings than just the two of you?”

“Uh… the others are a bit wild.”

Perhaps because there was no one else to bond with, Cedric shrugged his shoulders.

He had already enjoyed Odette’s kindness to the fullest, so he didn’t think much about the reason.

However, from a distance, Cedric’s words seemed like nonsense to him.

‘If he can be affectionate to a relative who is no different from a stranger, he’d also be affectionate to others.’

The kindness Odette showed Cedric wasn’t simply because they were blood-related.

Simply, Odette was that kind of person.

Even if he wasn’t a person worth loving, Odette could love people like Cedric or even himself.

‘…Can’t I take that away?’

It was the first jealousy he felt.

He wanted to steal that kindness given to Cedric.

It was a desire that no one else could satisfy. Because they only sought to love those worth loving.

But Odette loved Cedric, even though he wasn’t worth loving.