“How have you been, Lise?”

I hadn’t seen Rodney for a few months, but somehow, he seemed taller than before.

His frame had grown, and his shoulders had broadened; the boyish Rodney had become more masculine. Caught speechless, Rodney grinned cheekily and tousled my hair.

“Really… Rodney?”

The most significant change in Rodney was his hairstyle. He had cleanly cut his once perennial short hair, making him look almost like a different person.

However, that smile, that expression, the person behind me was definitely Rodney.

“Our Lise is more popular than I thought?”

“…You!”

A wave of sadness hit me, and I punched Rodney in the chest.

“There was a reason. Have you been waiting long?”

“You call that an excuse?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll pat your head more. Okay?”

His words sounded as if a dog was barking. I had thought attending boarding school would rid him of that nasty personality, but apparently not.

Nonchalantly, he laughed again and messed up his neat hair. I used to find that gesture annoying, but now it felt endearing.

Wondering if Rodney felt the same, he further messed up my hair. Just as I was trying to memorize the sensation, I sensed a presence from behind. Roger and Yurik seemed to be on high alert around Rodney.

“But Lise, that silverhaired one. Could it be Yurik Fenton?”

Rodney, seemingly recalling Yurik’s face, nudged my shoulder and whispered.

Upon my nod, he tilted his head as if to ask how Yurik and I became friends, then cracked a smile.

“Hello, sorry for the late introduction. I’m Rodney, close to Lise.”

“What are you talking about? Rodney is my brother…!”

Rodney gently covered my mouth. It seemed he was planning to tease Yurik and Roger. I glared at him, but he kept his mischievous smile.

“Both of you said you want to marry Lise, right? But how can you? Lise is so picky. Handsome, smart, tall… oh, what else was there? Ah, yes, because of me, her standards have become high.”

I gently stepped on Rodney’s foot, but he continued speaking without flinching.

“But, silverhaired one, you seem to lack height.”

“….”

“And you, blackhaired one, seem to lack academic skills. You also look very sensitive.”

“….”

Rodney pointed at Yurik and Roger while speaking.

“So, sadly, neither of you will be able to marry Lise.”

“Rodney, that’s enough!”

“Lise, I brought a lot of books you like. Should I give them to you?”

Attempting to silence me with material things, I elbowed Rodney in his side. He chuckled and turned his gaze to the two boys who were eyeing him suspiciously.

“Sorry, it was a joke. If I hurt your feelings, I apologize.”

“…Nice to meet you. My name is Yurik Fenton, sir.”

“I’m Roger Bakers, sir.”

The two seemed to have known all along that Rodney was my brother and introduced themselves. Rodney looked surprised.

“Ah? You knew that Lise and I are siblings?”

“We could tell because you two look alike.”

“I knew it as soon as I saw you.”

Rodney and I looked at each other. From our hair color to our toes, there was nothing similar.

We also had differing personalities, leading to frequent clashes. The only similarity was our love for wandering.

It felt weird to hear that we resembled each other, but Rodney seemed to take it as a compliment.

“Anyway, I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Rodney Marsen, the firstborn of the Marsen family.”

Rodney eagerly extended his hand for a handshake with Yurik and Roger. The two boys, who usually carried themselves confidently, looked lost in the face of Rodney’s unpredictable behavior.

It was strange to see them so inhibited in front of Rodney.
Rodney was rather exceptional when looked at from the opposite point of view. Considering how well he got along in school with that personality, Rodney might even become a nobleman later on.

“Can I take Lise away now that the introduction is over? We have something to discuss.”

“…….”

“…….”

Yurik and Roger were unable to respond to Rodney’s words. Their faces showed that they wanted to continue the conversation they had before Rodney appeared. Faced with their serious expressions, I hesitated to speak, and Rodney placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Lise, let’s go.”

“What? But….”

The two boys looked at me and then waved their hands.

“See you next time, Lise.”

“Don’t skip your violin lesson next week.”

Yurik and Roger turned their backs. As I watched them walk away, my heart felt uncomfortable, as if weighed down by stones.

“A lot has happened while you were gone.”

Instead of entering the mansion, we sat on the rocks behind it and talked.

From the appearance of a woman claiming to be my biological mother, to Mrs. Bacchus’s stories and college, I piled up everything stepbystep. As the conversation unfolded, Rodney’s expression became increasingly serious.

I was a bit surprised by Rodney. I had expected him to either be startled or to raise his voice in excitement.

However, Rodney didn’t seem surprised at all that Isabelle had graduated college, as if he knew something about her already.