Certainly! Below is the translation of the given passage, following your guidelines:

“Sis, I can’t sleep. Put me to sleep.”

I blinked a few times in disbelief, without answering.

“You’re not asleep either, sis. I’ll put you to sleep.”

I hurriedly blocked Kirian, who was trying to barge in.

“Who are you trying to put to sleep? You’re old enough to sleep alone now.”

I pushed hard to close the door, but it didn’t budge. Trying to beat Kirian with strength was foolish from the start.

“I had a nightmare. It’s scary.”

Kirian said something ridiculous without changing his expression.

There’s no bigger liar. Who can’t lie?

“Sis, will you coldly turn your back on your only younger brother?”

There was even moisture in his words at the end, and it sounded quite pitiful. But I didn’t fall for it.

“What rejection is this? Obviously.”

“We’re family, aren’t we? We have to help each other in times like this. If not family, then who would help?”

“Ugh.”

I opened the door wide because it seemed like my sleep would be even more disturbed if I continued this meaningless argument.

Kirian quickly came in as if he was afraid of the door being opened.

“If you sleep with me, you’ll sleep better.”

Kirian said this with utmost confidence, despite having no evidence.

Kirian, as if it was his bed, naturally placed his pillow next to mine and laid down straight.

“What are you doing not coming soon?”

At Kirian’s urging, I let out a small sigh and crawled under the blanket. I closed my eyes to sleep, but despite Kirian’s bravado, my mind was still buzzing.

Kirian fidgeted a few times and then pressed his body closer to me.

“Sis.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you still worried about not being engaged?”

I opened my eyes at Kirian’s sudden question. Silence hung heavy for a few seconds as I hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“That’s why you’re not sleeping lately?”

Kirian had been as sensitive as a hedgehog bristling with thorns whenever engagement was mentioned. I couldn’t gauge his sudden gentle inquiry.

“Well, everyone’s getting engaged, but I’m being put off, so it’s bothering me.”

I answered as if it was no big deal. Luckily, it seemed to be an acceptable answer, and Kirian was silent for a while.

Just when I thought he had fallen asleep.

“Shall I help?”

Kirian whispered quietly.

I couldn’t respond, wondering if I had heard an illusion.

When I turned my head towards Kirian, I saw his red eyes gleaming solely towards me in the darkness.

“Will you help?”

I still asked awkwardly, unbelieving.

“What?”

Kirian turned his body towards me. Even in the darkness, I could trace his features relying on the faint moonlight.

“Your engagement, sis. I can talk to Father.”

“You?”

I was still flustered.

It should have been good news. The words of Kirian, who had grown into a quite mature heir, would surely catch the Duke’s ear.

If things went well, I wouldn’t need to keep making excuses in letters. I wouldn’t need to worry about an uncertain future and lose sleep at night.

But somehow, I felt disappointed. It felt strange and bitter that Kirian was offering help so casually.

My heart is indeed crafty.

I lowered my head slightly and pulled myself together, then deliberately laughed, looking almost foolish.

“Really? Are you doing this for me?”

“Yes. We’re family. We have to help each other.”

Kirian’s voice was soft, but his eyes stared unflinchingly at me.

“But there’s something you have to do for me, sis.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Kirian’s hand caught mine, interlocking our fingers and pulling me a bit closer.

“Once you become an adult, sis, leave the ducal house.”

Kirian, who had closed his eyes prettily, brushed back my hair. Very affectionately. As if the words he had just spoken were not to leave, but to be together.

I felt suffocated.

Logically considering, there was nothing wrong with the proposal. I had originally intended to become independent without looking back once I became an adult. Since he said he would even solve the engagement, everything fell into place.

But the heart was quite deceitful.

The child who would search for me saying ‘Nuna, Nuna’ even after being apart for a few hours, now says to leave.

As my heart stung, I hastily withdrew my hand and turned my body to the opposite side. Tears welled up in my eyes, but my voice came out evenly.

“Alright. If you handle the engagement properly, I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Yes.”

Silence filled the room after his short answer. Thinking that Kirian had finally fallen asleep, I heaved a difficult breath alone.

“Once that time comes, we won’t be family anymore, will we?”

Thinking Kirian was asleep, his voice softly echoed lastly, and finally, a tear streamed down my face.

That night, I fell into a deep sleep unknowingly, but suffered from severe nightmares that it would have been better not to sleep at all.

A few days later, Duke Valige called me to his office. For a moment, he sighed deeply without saying anything, and finally opened his mouth.

“You’re already sixteen this year.”

I nodded my head.

“Time really flies.”