All I did was sew up a teddy bear with loose stitches.

‘I was worried that Yurik might not like it…’

It seems it was an unnecessary worry.

“Uh, Yu-Yurik. I can’t breathe…”

I thought I might suffocate to death from Yurik hugging me so tightly.

I tried pushing against Yurik’s chest, but it was no use. Eventually, Roger, who had been blankly watching this, separated Yurik and me.

“That’s enough! Let go!”

Roger said in an excited voice. Then Yurik glared at him fiercely. Roger didn’t back down from Yurik, who was two years older.

“Don’t fight! Ro-Roger. You didn’t forget my wish, right?”

When I hurriedly spoke before another fight broke out, Roger’s anger immediately subsided.

“What wish?”

Yurik grumbled, unaware of what we were talking about.

“Earlier, I won the game. So I told Roger my wish.”

“Why did you only tell him?”

“I wished for you and Roger to get along a bit better without fighting.”

Yurik didn’t remove his frown, as if he didn’t like the wish. The atmosphere had been resolved with difficulty, so I couldn’t ruin it with just that one wish.

“Alright! I’ll make a different wish.”

At my words, the two stared at me intently as if they had been waiting. Let’s put aside the desire for the two to become close. In any case, it was only a matter of time before their relationship became smoother.

As long as my relationship with one of them doesn’t worsen, the two will often face each other and develop feelings, even if they dislike each other. They don’t know how scary that dislike can be.

“Lize, I’ll grant you anything. What’s your wish?”

“I can only grant what’s possible. I absolutely won’t do anything difficult.”

I pondered. Actually, there was one wish I wanted to make, but would these two be able to grant it?

‘Right. They’re just kids, so I should make a moderately small wish.’

I neatly folded the wish I wanted to say and thought of something simple. What wish should I make? It should be a small wish that the two could easily fulfill. I also had to satisfy the two men looking at me with expectant eyes.

“…Okay. Give me a shoulder massage!”

My shoulders and neck were stiff from sticking my neck out and looking at the chessboard, so this was perfect timing. I felt proud, thinking I had chosen the wish appropriately. Am I not Solomon?

“Is that really all you want? Even if it’s not a wish, I can massage your shoulders all day long.”

As soon as I made my wish, Yurik interjected.

“Isn’t that too modest? If it were me, I would have asked to dig up gold right away.”

Roger was disappointed too. Just what kind of wishes were these two thinking of? Judging by their expressions right now, they wouldn’t be satisfied unless I asked them to buy me a house.

“So you’re not going to grant it? It’s my wish, you know?”

When I spoke in a disappointed tone, Roger and Yurik approached me in an instant. Then Roger started massaging my left shoulder, and Yurik my right shoulder.

It felt nice, but the intensity of their strength was at opposite extremes. Roger was too weak, and Yurik was painful. Also, Roger only massaged the tough spots, while Yurik targeted the sore and delicate areas.

“Yu-Yurik! That really hurts!”

“Ah, sorry.”

Startled by my scream, Yurik immediately removed his hands from my shoulders. Then Roger chuckled.

“Can’t you do it properly? You’re hurting Lize.”

“Roger, you’re too weak. Massage a bit harder.”

“Ah, like this?”

“A little more.”

Roger put more strength into his hands. This time, Yurik clicked his tongue.

“You should do it right too. Lize isn’t satisfied.”

“What? I-I can do it strongly too when I’m twelve!”

Again, again. The two are fighting.

“Oh my, the two of you are massaging Lize’s shoulders.”

Duchess Penton sat on the sofa with a teacup in her hand. The sight of the two men bickering while massaging my shoulders must have looked quite friendly in the Duchess’s eyes. A smile remained on her face the whole time.

I wonder how many minutes Yurik and Roger massaged my shoulders.

“I think this is enough. Thank you both.”

It really felt refreshing. My stiff shoulders had loosened a bit, and I was quite satisfied, but the two didn’t seem to think so.

“Then what’s your next wish?”

“Tell us your next wish.”

Huh? Next wish? I was taken aback by Yurik and Roger’s words.

“Are you stupid? You won the game five times. So there are five wishes.”

At Roger’s words, I felt as if I had been hit in the back of the head. So I had to think of four more appropriate wishes?

“Lize, this time, tell us something you want to do more than a shoulder massage.”

Yurik gave me a big concern with a kind and gentle tone. Even Duchess Penton, who was sitting in front, put down her teacup, curious about my wish.

…Isn’t this a penalty?

This is really tremendously burdensome. Should I ask them to massage my arms this time? But Yurik and Roger might be disappointed. The two of them were eagerly waiting for me to say a grand and magnificent wish.

Should I really ask them to dig up gold for me?

“Tell me. If you really want gold like that guy said, I can give you items of even greater value.”

“Hmph, items, you say. I’m going to ask Mother to really give gold.”

Crazy bastards. I should never bring up the topic of gold.

What wish should I make? Then, I remembered a wish I couldn’t say earlier. It would definitely be better than wishing for gold.

“…Actually, I…”

When I began to speak, everyone listened attentively.

“I want to go to the sea.”

“The sea?”

Roger asked back, surprised by the sudden mention of the sea.

“It’s winter now, you know. You’ll freeze to death if you go into the sea?”

“I don’t mean I want to go in. I’m saying I want to see it.”

At my words, Roger made an expression that he couldn’t understand.

As Roger said, the winter sea was cold and I couldn’t go in, but it had a unique atmosphere. For example, the sound of the waves crashing was more delicate, or it was quiet.

When I was in Korea, I occasionally bought a bus ticket to Gangwon-do to see the East Sea. Looking at the winter sea with no one around, I felt as if I was letting go of all the burdens in my heart.

I suddenly missed that winter sea.

“Let’s go.”

Yurik broke the silence and said.

“Huh?”

“Lize, let’s go see the sea.”

He said once more, looking into my eyes.

“Yes, the winter sea sounds lovely. Would it be alright if I join in this time? In return, I’ll lend you a carriage.”

“…Really?”

When I asked, Duchess Penton nodded.

“Yes, Lize. If you allow it, that is. I’ll prepare some bread and drinks too.”

“I want to go! Let’s go!”

How could I refuse? When I excitedly spoke, the Duchess smiled slightly and headed to the study to check the schedule. I couldn’t hide my joy as the wish I had said just in case was coming true.

“But how are we going to go?”

Roger asked in a sullen voice. He meant how we would avoid Isabel’s eyes.

“Roger.”

“Why?”

“…Can’t you come with us too? If you go, your mother will allow it.”

When I earnestly pleaded, Roger crossed his arms. He didn’t answer right away and coldly grasped the reality.

“Even if I go, it’s a problem, Lize. Do you think the Duchess will just let us two ten-year-olds go to the sea? Even if she allows it, my mother will come with us.”

“We don’t have to say we’re going to the beach!”

“We’ll leave early in the morning and come back at night?”

I had it all thought out. I had lied more often in the past decade than I had gone to the bathroom. I could overcome this level of difficulty.

“You know the camp being held in Hosha Village in a month? The children’s camp, I mean. They’re currently recruiting participants. It’s a one-day schedule to go to an astronomer’s residence in the west to learn about the universe.”

“So what?”

“We can lie and say we’re going to that camp.”

“You want me to lie again?”

Roger looked disgusted.

“It’s my wish! I’ll use the rest of my wishes here!”

“…”

Unable to refute my words about the wish, Roger let out a deep sigh. After some inner conflict, he soon nodded, and I smiled without realizing it.

“Lize, this is great. Let’s definitely go to the sea.”

Yurik held my hand.

“Yes!”

“Bakus, don’t make things difficult for Lize by getting caught lying. Behave yourself well.”

“Wh-When have I ever been caught lying! I have a talent for lying!”

Lies.

Anyway, I was in the best mood. I already felt like I was at the beach, and my heart was fluttering. Eating delicious bread, feeling the winter wind, and putting my bare feet on the fluffy sand while playing.

I was looking forward to everything.

* * *

“The camp? You mean the annual space project camp?”

Isabel knew about the camp without needing an explanation.

“Yes. Would it not be possible?”

“Since when were you interested in astronomy that you suddenly want to go to a camp?”

“Uh, well… kids this age are all interested in space! It’s an unknown world!”

Of course, it was a lie. I had no interest in space.

“I’m planning to go with Roger.”

“With Roger?”

Please fall for it, please fall for it. I prayed inwardly and nodded.

“When?”

“In a month.”

Isabel’s expression darkened. Seeing her face more serious than usual, I thought it might not work after all.

“You’re interested in space?”

“Huh? Yes! It’s c-cool, isn’t it!”

“…I’ll let it slide this once. Don’t do anything silly and come back. But you have to stick close to Roger.”

At Isabel’s words, I inwardly shouted ‘Hallelujah!’. Before she could change her mind, I quickly left the room and clenched my fists. It was a success.

‘I’m going! To the sea!’

I wished the month would pass quickly.

* * *

That night, Yurik stayed awake until late in the evening, quietly making a wish. The reason was that damned Roger Bakus who suddenly rolled in. Yurik didn’t like the guy who stuck close to Lize’s side just because they were the same age.

But Roger also had a strong sense of possessiveness and competitiveness. He was so proud that no matter how many times Yurik knocked him down, he wouldn’t stay down. So Yurik disliked Roger even more. Now, just seeing his face made Yurik want to punch him.

‘Please let him catch a cold. That Roger Bakus!’

Of course, Yurik didn’t want to go to the sea with Roger. Even having to spend a night with Roger was a terrible thing for Yurik. For that reason, Yurik was wishing that Roger Bakus would catch a cold in a month, but then,

‘Ah, no. I wished for the wrong thing! That bastard, no, I hope Roger Bakus stays healthy!’

If he couldn’t go to the sea, Lize wouldn’t be able to go either, so Yurik retracted his wish.