Inside the parlor, with Valentino Orbetian before me, I quietly sipped my tea.

Usually, I would warmly initiate conversation, but as I remained silent,Valentino Orbetian seemed flustered, observing my reactions.

In the space filled only with silence, I slowly opened my mouth.

“What’s the matter? You said you were busy, big brother.I, too, sent a letter saying I was too busy to meet.”

For some reason, at my calm words, big brother’s gaze clouded.

“Julietta, I came because I recalled what you said at the palace.”

“I said it was just a slip of the tongue.”

As I averted my gaze, big brother spoke with a sad tone.

“But when the reply to my letter came, it felt like our youngest was avoiding me…Is that just my imagination?”

Big brother was always kind to me.Never raising his voice, willingly meeting the gaze of his much younger sibling,smiling affectionately.

But that made me resent him more.Because after smiling like that, he would always turn and head somewhere else.

“Refusing to meet because of being busy—how is that avoiding?If that were true, I’d have been rejected by you dozens of times already.”

Then, his eyes, which held the verdure of a summer day, shattered like waves.

Older even than Weaslet Orbetian, he was calm and mature.He would stop Weaslet from bickering with me and pat my head fondly,as if he found the young me adorable.

But too many people in the world sought him out.Just as my father often left the count’s estate empty,big brother, too, was increasingly absent from the estate.

“Julietta, I’m sorry. I’m busy, so let’s talk next time.”

“Got some fine tea leaves? Alright, a cup of tea with our youngest…Oh, wait a moment. Yes, yes, I’ll be right there.”

Even on days when I approached him with excitement, it was the same.

“Big brother, I’ve become an adult now.I picked out a wine—would you like to drink it together?”

“Congratulations on becoming an adult, Julietta.Hmm… but maybe we’ll have to drink it together next time.”

“If you have other matters, it can’t be helped. It’s fine!”

Each time, like a parrot, I would say I understood.It’s fine, don’t worry about me, just go.

Making up words I didn’t mean, soothing myself that it was fine.

“Big brother! I heard you’re now working in the imperial treasury department!”

“Yes. I’ll be even busier from now on. Take care, our good youngest.”

His words about being busier were true.Even the brief moments of greeting each other in the estatequickly vanished, like sand slipping through my fingers.

“It was truly unavoidable, Julietta.You know how busy I’ve been.I felt bad breaking promises with our youngest,but you were the good youngest who saw me off with a smile.”

The words “good youngest” stung as they rolled in my mouth.Does big brother know how lonely I was, waiting for family?Smiling, saying it’s fine even when pushed aside.Sitting alone, staring out the window when expected promises broke.Waiting by the window, wondering when his carriage would return.

All those moments lingered painfully in my memory.

“Yes, I smiled. I said it’s fine, go ahead.”

“Yes, you did, didn’t you, Julietta?”

Seeing his green eyes regain their light with a sigh of relief, I asked,

“Even once, did you ever look back at me, big brother?”

Valentino was momentarily speechless at his dear sister Julietta’s question.He thought it was an absurd question.

“Why wouldn’t I have looked back?”

No matter how rushed, wouldn’t he have had time to glance at his dear sister?He carefully retraced his memories.

“Wait, that’s strange.”

No matter how he searched, all he recalled was climbing into waiting carriagesor hurrying to meet people calling for him.

“…”

Valentino, deeply shaken, couldn’t speak.Not once had he looked back at his sister.He, who claimed to cherish her so much.

“You were always looking forward, never seeing me wave goodbye.I endlessly stared at your retreating back.”

He recalled his younger sister’s smile, waving as he left the estate.But what expression did Julietta have when he turned away?

That unknown expression now piqued Valentino’s curiosity.

“I didn’t realize… Julietta.I must’ve been too distracted.How could I not care for such a lovely sister?You’re my precious family.”

The moment he mentioned “precious family,” Valentino felt a sting in his heart.And a question arose.

“Was she really my precious family?”

If someone asked, he’d have immediately said she was.But facing Julietta, answering that question wasn’t easy.

“Yes, precious family.Precious family we hardly know about each other.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped from Julietta.Seeing sadness in the eyes of the usually cheerful youngest,Valentino stood from his seat.

“How could we not know each other, Julietta?The imperial duties reduced our time together,but the time we shared must be worth many times that of others.”

Why was Julietta acting like this?Though they met less often, seeing her occasionally felt warmer,greeting each other fondly, catching up.

As if she could see through his heart, Julietta responded,

“You must only remember my smiling face.But you know people can’t always smile brightly.There are times of sadness and pain, too.”

“That’s true, but… our Julietta overcomes such things easily.You bounce back and smile brightly.”

That’s how he saw his youngest.Brushing off hardships and laughing.Blossoming with clear, lively laughter among the count’s household.

Even when he hurriedly visited the estate,hearing Julietta’s clear, high-pitched laughter brought such relief.

Valentino truly believed Julietta’s every day was happy.So he didn’t realize his words, meant to comfort,pierced Julietta like an arrow.

“…”

Julietta lowered her head without a word.Seconds, minutes passed meaninglessly.Tick, tock. The sound of the clock’s second hand reached Valentino.

Without realizing, his gaze turned to the clock.It was a sudden half-day off.He grew anxious, needing to return to the palace on time.

Without time to ponder the meaning of Julietta’s silence,he grew impatient.

Time, painstakingly carved out, was slipping away.The youngest, letting it pass without understanding, felt frustrating today.If there was a misunderstanding, he wanted to resolve it and leave…

“Julietta, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Unable to wait longer, Valentino urged the silent Julietta.Let’s talk before the time for conversation runs out.

His every gesture carried urgency.And Julietta read it all too familiarly.

“Are you asking so urgently because it’s time to leave?If I’m wasting your precious time, please tell me.”

Her resigned words painfully pressed on Valentino’s heart.Wasting precious time—how could she say that?

“No way, Julietta. It’s just that I don’t have much time.It’s a rushed half-day off, and I need to return to the palace.”

“The palace…?”

“Yes. You understand, don’t you?Our good youngest would understand my situation…”

Continuing, Valentino blinked at the familiar situation.He must’ve said those words countless times at the count’s estate.Leaving Julietta alone, prioritizing his busy schedule,muttering it was unavoidable, leaving without looking back.

“Oh… no, Julietta, this is…”

His eyes trembled aimlessly.The words he always said to Julietta, asking her to understand his situation…The thought of her smiling yet pained expression confused him.

Then he glanced at the clock again.There was no time.No time to soothe his upset sister or have a proper talk.

So, as always, he ended up saying the worst thing to Julietta.

“Next time… Julietta, can we talk next time?”

“When is next time?”

Her sharp question seemed to silence him.Right. When would that be?On his days off, he had regular meetings,duties as the count’s heir, and people to meet.

“…Next time.”

Unable to continue, Julietta asked,

“Must I wait again for you, who won’t come, alone?”

Like a child used to being left alone.