“Why are you asking such a thing?”

“I’m curious. After rejecting so many women, you suddenly say you’re getting married.”

“……”

“What? Elder brother. Did you think ‘this is the one’ when you first met?”

Confused by Mana’s eager questioning, Eric and Alicia looked at each other.

They had never discussed a ‘story’ for this kind of specific question before.

“Well, elder sister? Despite elder brother’s notoriously wicked reputation, why did you decide? How?”

“Notoriously wicked?”

Unlike Eric who looked dumbfounded, Alicia smiled awkwardly and opened her mouth.

“I was the one who first brought up engagement.”

“Whaaaat?”

Deborah paused while lifting her teacup, and Mana glared at Eric.

“The worst.”

“Huh?”

“How could you make elder sister say that first? You, this notoriously wicked elder brother who doesn’t know your place.”

When Eric glared slightly, Mana seemed scared and quickly turned to Alicia.

“Elder sister. Did you really propose engagement to someone like him first? Why on earth?”

Though bewildered as to why they were having this conversation here, Eric ended up chuckling at the sight of Alicia smiling brightly.

He had forgotten for a moment. That this was a time to faithfully fulfill the contract.

“See. When you say it like that, it causes misunderstandings.”

“But it’s true. I spoke first.”

“Don’t you remember I was rejected before that?”

“Whaaaat? Really?”

“I was rejected within 15 minutes of our first meeting.”

“There’s no need to bring that up-”

As Alicia became flustered, Eric rested his arm on the table, propped his chin, and smiled.

“After that, I went to the Lancaster estate without warning and was rejected again.”

As Alicia averted her gaze in embarrassment, Eric chuckled, sat up straight against the chair, and turned to Mana.

“Thinking this wouldn’t do, I invited her to the mansion, considering it my last chance.”

“Why, after being rejected twice?”

“Why else. Because it was obvious I’d regret it if it ended like that.”

Thump.

Even though she knew it was a lie, Alicia’s heart skipped a beat for a moment.

“But that day, she suddenly said let’s get engaged. They say third time’s the charm, and it worked out well in the end.”

“Elder sister, why so suddenly? Why did you change your mind?”

“Yeah. Why did you?”

Alicia turned to Eric, who was looking at her with a grin.

What did mother say back then?

Don’t miss the chance to form a connection with a good person, was it?

“Because he’s a good person. So I thought I might regret it later if I let him pass by.”

Though he thought it wasn’t sincere, Eric’s expression changed subtly.

Feeling embarrassed after answering seriously, Alicia smiled playfully.

“But I’m saving the third rejection for later.”

“Ugh.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Mana looked back and forth between Eric and Alicia in confusion.

But the two just smiled as if nothing was wrong, while subtly avoiding each other’s gaze, giving no answer.

“Wow, look at these people. After telling us everything up till now, you won’t tell us this? How petty.”

“Shut up. Why are you so curious about such things anyway?”

“Why, you ask. As an aspiring writer, I’m asking for various indirect experiences.”

“Experience it yourself. Stop asking useless things.”

“Tch. Like that’s easy.”

As Mana muttered quietly and pouted, Alicia asked Eric.

“Doesn’t she look like a duckling? A baby duck?”

“…Not at all.”

“Why? She’s cute.”

“Not at all.”

Embarrassed to the point his ears turned red, Eric did his best to hide his expression and changed the subject.

“By the way, is that cabin still there?”

“It is. I still go up there often.”

“Cabin?”

“Father built it when we were young. But Mana was too little then, and I was too scared to go up, so elder brother played there whenever he came.”

“Shall we go take a look, elder sister? It’s no fun just staying here anyway.”

Mana jumped up from her seat and pulled on Alicia’s arm.

[This is the timeline separator]

“It’s over there.”

Alicia looked up in the direction Mana was pointing. The cabin looked more adorable than expected.

Mana ran ahead, grabbed the ladder with both hands, and put one foot on it. Alicia said worriedly to Eric,

“Shouldn’t you go first, Eric? Hold it from above.”

“Should I?”

“I can go by myself.”

Mana bravely started climbing the ladder first, with Eric following behind.

Alicia, who had been looking up, turned to Deborah and asked,

“Deborah. Do you want to go first?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I’ll watch from behind. Don’t look down, just keep looking up as you climb.”

“Okay, I will. Thank you for your concern.”

Though hesitant, Deborah grabbed the ladder, put one foot on it, and carefully started climbing.

Though slow, she climbed steadily one step at a time, with Alicia climbing behind to help.

When they reached the top, Eric took Deborah’s hand and pulled her up.

“Well done.”

“Thank you, elder brother.”

“Alicia.”

Eric held out his hand, but Alicia nimbly climbed up on her own.

“I’m used to ladders.”

“Ah, right.”

As Eric started to withdraw his awkwardly outstretched hand, Alicia lightly grasped it.

“It’s higher than I thought.”

“…It is. Looks a bit dangerous too, being old.”

Smiling slightly, Eric took Alicia’s hand and walked towards the cabin window.

A smile appeared on Eric’s face as he peered into the cabin through the glassless window.

Now it looked too small to even sit in, but back then it seemed so big.

Alicia must have had the same thought, as she smiled and spoke.

“It’s amazing to think there was a time when we were small enough to fit in here.”

“I had a childhood too, you know.”

“The butler said you were quite the mischief-maker.”

“Well. If my parents said so I might believe it, but if the butler said it, it must be true.”

As Eric briefly recalled old memories, Mana’s voice could be heard scolding the frightened Deborah for coming up.

“What’s that?”

Eric, who had been peeking into the cabin, reached through the window and pulled out a notebook lying on the floor.

“Aah! Don’t touch that!”

“Huh?”

Mana snatched the notebook from Eric’s hand at almost the speed of light.

She seemed embarrassed, her face turning bright red.

“What is it that you’re so excited about?”

“It’s nothing! Nothing at all!”

As Eric looked at her in bewilderment, Mana hugged the notebook preciously and quickly walked towards the ladder.

“I want to go down now.”

“Already?”

Eric asked in disbelief, but Mana started climbing down the ladder without replying.

“We should head down too. It’s almost time for the meal.”

“Alright then. Do you want to go first?”

“You go first.”

“Then I’ll catch you from below.”

After confirming Eric had gone down, Alicia turned to Deborah.

“Deborah. Do you want to go first?”

“Oh, no. I’ll follow you down.”

Seeing Deborah looked scared, Alicia smiled and held out her hand.

“If I had known, I would have asked Eric. Come with me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize when climbing up, but looking down is a bit scary.”

“Don’t worry. Eric is down there too.”

Alicia put her foot on the ladder first and moved slightly to the side so Deborah could come down.

“Alicia, it’s dangerous to move to the side like that.”

Eric’s worried voice could be heard from below.

“I’ll be careful. Deborah. Come here.”

“Okay, then.”

Deborah put one foot on the ladder.

The butler of the baron’s house approached Eric, who was watching from below.

“So this is where you were. I came to fetch you as the meal is almost ready.”

“Ah, we’ll be right there.”

“What’s for dinner tonight? With so many guests, it must be extraordinary, right?”

“Young lady. If you use such language, the madam will be angry again.”

“It’s fine if the butler keeps it a secret.”

“What about me?”

“Elder brother is not in a position to say anything, is he?”

While conversing, Eric briefly took his eyes off Alicia. At that moment, Deborah’s other foot slipped, causing her body to lean heavily towards Alicia.

“Huh?”

“Elder sister?”

In an instant, Alicia’s body was pushed by Deborah, causing her to lose her grip on the ladder.

‘I’m falling.’

As her body floated, everything seemed to move in slow motion, and her eyes met Deborah’s, who was looking down at her.

‘Did she smile?’

Just before Alicia’s body hit the ground, Eric caught her just in time.

Alicia felt the impact on her head and entire body when Eric’s voice was heard.

“Alicia!”

His voice faded distantly, and soon her vision went dark.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Mmm.”

“Are you conscious?”

Alicia barely opened her eyes and turned her head towards Eric.

“They said it’s a mild concussion but you’ll get better soon, so don’t worry.”

‘So that’s why my head feels so dizzy.’

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness. You can speak.”

Eric muttered, seemingly relieved.

“I’m sorry. I took my eyes off you for a moment.”

“It’s okay.”

“Alicia.”

“I got hurt because of my own carelessness, it’s not your fault.”

Alicia forced a smile.

“Now you’ve ‘saved’ me too. I was planning to do that.”

“I’m glad you acknowledge it.”

Eric brushed Alicia’s disheveled hair.

“No more ladders from now on. You said you were used to them, but this is already the second time, you know?”

“Ah-”

“Anyway, you’re quite high-maintenance.”

Though grumbling, Eric seemed relieved and smiled.

Then he fixed Alicia’s blanket and stood up.

“Rest a bit. I’ll let Mother know you’re awake.”

Nodding in agreement, Alicia closed her eyes as Eric left.

A moment later, she heard the door open and someone enter.

“You seem more fine than I expected.”

It was Deborah’s voice.

Suspicious of the emotionless voice, Alicia kept her eyes closed.

Silence fell for a moment.

“I was really surprised. To think elder brother could become so different. It’s because of you, isn’t it, elder sister Alicia?”

After a moment of quiet, Deborah giggled this time.

“I didn’t know I could do something like this either. This is also because of you, right?”

“It’s not very pleasant to blame your own actions on me.”

Alicia opened her eyes and met Deborah’s gaze. Deborah bit her lip.

“…Were you pretending to sleep?”

“Just in case.”

“……”

“I saw it, you know. Deborah smiling as I fell.”

“You must have seen wrong.”

“It seemed too clear for that.”

Alicia sat up and leaned against the bed’s headboard.

Though her head was still dizzy, she couldn’t appear weak in front of Deborah.

“Why did you do it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you playing dumb now? If you were going to do that, you shouldn’t have said anything. Don’t feel at ease just because no one’s listening.”

Deborah closed her mouth at Alicia’s expressionless face and cold eyes.

“I really don’t know why you’re acting like this. Were you always like this?”

“Why, do I seem different? Then that must be because of Deborah.”

“What?”

“Answer quickly. I’m more impatient than you think.”

Deborah unconsciously clutched her dress.

“That’s absurd. Why would I do such a thing?”

“That’s what I’m curious about too. That’s why I asked.”

Alicia stared into Deborah’s slightly wavering eyes while speaking in a monotone voice.

Suddenly, tears welled up in Deborah’s eyes and she started to sob.

“?”

“You’re being too cruel. I just came to apologize because I thought you got hurt because of me, but you’re accusing me of doing it on purpose.”

“What are you saying?”

At the same time Eric’s voice was heard, tears started falling from Deborah’s eyes.

Whether intentional or not, it was quite an interesting timing.