“Karl, do you know? Lili’s hand is very soft and warm.”

“……!”

“Squishy and…….”

As Yansi shook my hand as if to show off, Karl quickly reached out his hand.

“Sister, my hand too.”

“What?”

“I want to hold sister’s hand too. Soft, warm, squishy.”

This guy, who used to cringe as if touching something dirty with just a touch, now wants to hold hands.

I shut my mouth tight because I didn’t know what reaction to give, and Karl, who was watching my cue, quietly grabbed my hand.

Fumbling.

Fumbling.

‘What is this situation?’

Will someone explain to me……?

Held by both hands by the brothers, I seriously pondered.

It might be a newly devised method of torment.

Elodie’s face, which was already pale, soon turned as white as a blank sheet.

Yansi, who had been observing the changing expressions quite interestingly, released Elodie’s hand with a smile.

‘Because she seems to think I’m tormenting her.’

That’s enough for today.

For some reason, Elodie was on guard against him.

It was only natural.

Although he always pretended to be kind by calling her a younger sister, he had never really looked into it.

Elodie was special to Yansi.

A person who wasn’t startled even after seeing his true self without the hypocritical mask.

A child who even patted his back on pouring abuse.

Even with such a subject, he tried to push it away as soon as someone approached.

Yansi wanted to be infused into Elodie’s daily life. Unconsciously, very, very slowly.

The reason was clear.

That Elodie was ‘that person’ who watched his rampage on the night of the lunar eclipse six years ago.

The fact that she wasn’t startled at all while watching him go berserk on the recent night of the lunar eclipse was evidence.

Yansi became curious.

Really, do you not mind my real self at all? How much can you endure me?

But he was strangely stimulated by Karl’s sudden change in attitude.

His impression of changing his attitude after Elodie’s disappearance and calling her ‘sister’ and trying to get a glance was impressive.

Why did the childish fear of falling behind arise even when there was no competition?

‘Even though it’s childish…….’

This isn’t bad either.

There was also a clear reason why he became particularly obsessed with contact with Elodie.

When in contact with Elodie, the power that usually controlled with taut nerves astonishingly subsided.

The tensed nerves relaxed, and there was no need to worry about going berserk, so he naturally became languid.

So, he couldn’t help but continue to touch.

For Elodie, who seemed to want too much time alone, Yansi greeted, dragging reluctant Karl.

“Then see you tomorrow, Lili. Rest well.”

“You, you’re coming tomorrow too?”

“Of course. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, every single day.”

“You don’t have to……?”

Pretending not to hear Elodie’s last words, Yansi closed the door.

Whether it was the effect of holding Elodie’s hand for a long time, handling the power was much easier than usual.

‘What’s the reason for that?’
What is it about Elodie that helps her not lose control?

It was not like Yansi to just lump things together and move on once a question arose. He was a possessor of persistence to find out the reason.

There was plenty of time ahead.

Yes. Since they were family, there was enough time to get to know each other.

Carlott, who turned to look at Yansi smiling, stared at his face and said,

“Brother, you look happy.”

“Really?”

Yansi touched his lips. He was always smiling, so he himself couldn’t tell what was different about his smiling face now.

On the other hand, Carlott, who had reluctantly followed Yansi out of sleep, had a face full of dissatisfaction.

It was a vivid change in just a few days.

“You’ve changed, Carl. You must not dislike Elodie now.”

“It’s you who says that.”

Although Elodie was ruthless when she was in front of him, he reflected on his behavior now that the party involved was gone.

Carlott turned his flushed face and needlessly twisted his words.

“Why are you doing something you’ve never done?”

“Liri is my sister.”

“That again.”

As Carlott fumed, Yansi simply laughed.

He had always called Elodie his sister, but he had never truly thought of her that way.

But what he said just now was sincere.

Carlott seemed not to understand the meaning, though.

“Come to think of it, there will be a banquet soon. Who is your sister entering with?”

The host of the royal banquet this time was Salvatrice, the mother of the Second Prince.

The relationship between Prince Adenmir and the empress was not good, as they were competing over the Second Prince and the throne.

Naturally, Prince Adenmir did not attend this royal banquet.

But all the members of the Ferdia family received invitations from the empress, so it was better to attend the banquet unless there was an unavoidable reason.

So Elodie was attending the banquet too.

“She’ll enter without a partner, as usual.”

“Really? Then…….”

The two brothers thought at the same time.

‘I should attend as Liri’s partner.’

‘I’m looking forward to being Liri’s sister’s partner.’

Of course, they didn’t know that they had the same thought.

Somnia Branch.

In the commander’s room, Reian received a letter from the Ferdia family.

A letter with the content that they wanted to express thanks for the past and asked for a visit.

Mario, Reian’s close aide and deputy commander, asked in astonishment,

“Commander. What exactly are you involved with the Ferdia family?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Of course, I will, but I’m curious.”

“Don’t be curious.”

Consistently firm in his response, Reian headed straight for the Ferdia family.

Whether it had been arranged in advance or not, as soon as he arrived, Reian was guided somewhere.

In the reception room he entered, only Sylvester, the head of the Ferdia family, the Duke, was in his seat.

“Sit.”

As Reian sat opposite the Duke, a servant immediately prepared tea.

Neither man spoke while the tea was being prepared.

Thump. Only after the servant who had finished preparing left the reception room did the Duke speak first.

“I intend to invest in your mercenary group as a reward for saving my daughter. What do you think?”

“I didn’t do it in expectation of such a reward.”

“But the only reward I can give is ‘such a reward.'”

Reian understood what the Duke was saying.

That he should take enough monetary reward and drop it.

And, implicitly, that he should never approach his daughter Elodie again.

But as Reian, who was interested only in Elodie Ferdia, it was an unacceptable offer.

Reian’s purpose was Elodie alone.

“I want to see Miss Elodie.”

“No.”

The Duke’s firm response.

But Reian did not back down easily.

“I saved Miss’s life. So I think it’s right to ask her for the reward. Isn’t it?”

“As her father, I will pay the reward instead.”

“I want to see the Miss.”

“I said no.”

The Duke’s words were cut off before he finished.
Thump! Thump! Thump!

Someone carelessly knocked on the door three times, and soon the door swung open.

Standing beyond it was none other than Elodie.

Elodie and Reian’s gazes met as she looked around the reception room.

“Reian!”

At the unexpectedly cheerful call, Duke Ferdia, famous for rarely changing his expression, openly scowled.

“……Reian?”