“Have you been well, Lize?”

Though it had only been a few months since we last met, Rodney seemed to have grown taller, his head higher than before.

His body had grown larger, his shoulders broader, and the boyish Rodney had become manly. As I lost my words, Rodney smirked and patted my head.

“Is it really… Rodney?”

Rodney’s biggest change was his hairstyle. He had neatly cut his bob hair that he always maintained, making him look like a different person.

But looking at that smile and expression, the person behind me is definitely Rodney.

“Our Lize, you’re quite popular, aren’t you?”

“…You!”

Feeling overwhelmed, I punched Rodney’s chest.

“I had my reasons. Did you wait long?”

“You call that an explanation?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you by patting you a lot. Okay?”

The words coming out of his mouth sound like dog barking. I thought he’d lose that mischievous personality at boarding school, but apparently not.

He smiled nonchalantly and messed up my neat hair again. In the past, that gesture was uncomfortable and angering, but now it’s welcome.

Rodney seemed to feel the same, ruffling my hair even more. As I tried to remember that feeling, I heard movement behind me. Roger and Yurik had been warily watching Rodney.

“By the way, Lize, that silver-haired one. Don’t tell me it’s Yurik Penton?”

Meanwhile, Rodney, seemingly remembering Yurik’s face, tapped my shoulder and whispered.

When I nodded, he tilted his head as if wondering how I had become friends with Yurik. Then he grinned.

“Hello, sorry for the late introduction. I’m Rodney, a close friend of Lize.”

“What are you saying? Rodney is my elder broth…!”

Rodney gently covered my mouth. I wondered why he was smiling, but Rodney intended to tease Yurik and Roger. I glared at Rodney with all my might, but he didn’t erase his mischievous smile.

“You both said you want to marry Lize, right? But you know what? Lize is quite picky. Because of someone as handsome, smart, tall… um, what else? Right, someone with a good personality like me, her standards have become quite high.”

I stepped on Rodney’s foot firmly, but he didn’t budge and continued speaking.

“But silver hair. You seem to be lacking in height.”

“…”

“Black hair. You don’t seem to have the brains for studying. And you look quite sensitive too.”

“…”

Rodney pointed at Yurik and Roger as he spoke.

“So unfortunately, I don’t think either of you can marry Lize.”

“Rodney, that’s enough!”

“Lize, I brought lots of books you like. Want me to give them to you?”

He’s trying to shut me up with material things, how cowardly. I elbowed Rodney in the side. He laughed heartily, finding something amusing, then shifted his gaze to the two boys staring at him.

“Sorry, it was a joke. If I offended you, I apologize.”

“…Nice to meet you, elder brother. I’m Yurik Penton.”

“I’m Roger Bakus, elder brother.”

The two introduced themselves, seemingly already aware that Rodney was my sibling. Rodney also looked at the two boys with a surprised expression.

“Oh? You already knew I’m Lize’s sibling?”

“You look very similar to Lize.”

“I knew as soon as I saw you.”

At the mention of resemblance, Rodney and I looked at each other. From hair color to toes, there’s not a single similarity.

Our personalities aren’t alike either, so we’ve often had conflicting opinions since before. If anything, the only similarity is that we both like wandering around.

But being told we look alike feels strangely good. Rodney didn’t seem to mind being told he resembles me either.

“Anyway, sorry for the late introduction. I’m Rodney Marsen. The eldest of the Marsen family.”

Rodney went out of his way to extend his hand to Yurik and Roger, offering a handshake. The two boys, shaking hands with Rodney with bewildered faces, seemed confused by his unpredictable actions.

It was surprising to see both of them, who aren’t the type to be intimidated easily, unable to move in front of Rodney.

On the other hand, Rodney is quite extraordinary. Given that he got along well at school with that personality, Rodney might become a great person in the future.

“Now that introductions are over, can I take Lize away? We have things to talk about.”

“…”

“…”

At Rodney’s words, Yurik and Roger couldn’t give any answer. They looked like they wanted to finish the conversation they were having before Rodney appeared. Seeing their serious faces, I couldn’t speak up either, so Rodney put his hand on my shoulder.

“Lize, let’s go.”

“What? But…”

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

“Then see you next time, Lize.”

“I’m going too. Don’t skip violin lessons next week.”

Yurik and Roger turned their backs. Watching the two of them walk away, my heart felt as heavy as if it were filled with stones.

“A lot has happened while you were gone.”

Instead of entering the mansion, we sat on the rocks behind it to talk with Rodney.

I carefully recounted the appearance of the woman claiming to be my birth mother, the story of Lady Bakus, and even talk about university. As the story progressed, Rodney’s expression became quite serious.

I was a bit surprised by Rodney. The reaction I had expected from Rodney was to be shocked or raise his voice in excitement.

But Rodney showed no signs of surprise, even adding that Isabel had graduated from university, as if he already knew something about her.

Finally, after explaining the current situation, I observed Rodney’s thoughtful expression.

“…Rodney?”

“I roughly understand the situation. But that woman claiming to be your birth mother, she’s quite shameless, isn’t she? Coming back again.”

“She won’t come anymore.”

“And Father, he’s too much. He tried to sell you off. Well, Father’s always like that. When something unfavorable happens to him, he acts before thinking. Right?”

As Rodney smiled slightly, I nodded several times.

“Mother must have had a hard time.”

“The elder brothers and sisters too.”

“Really? How are the other siblings?”

The first person that came to mind among the siblings was Felicia.

“…They all hope our parents won’t separate.”

“But why do you look like that? Did something happen?”

“I argued with my elder brothers and sisters during that process. To be precise, I fought a bit with Felicia.”

“Felicia has always been stubborn and assertive.”

“This time it was my fault.”

It’s not that I didn’t talk to Felicia at all after that.

The family atmosphere was already down, and I couldn’t let things become awkward with Felicia and the other siblings, so I tried to talk to them several times. And then I gave up easily.

The siblings cried all day except for school hours and sleep time.

Felicia cried especially more.

Not only was her face a mess, but she seemed to have no energy left. She went to school in that state, but bad words must have been exchanged among the children she used to play with, so Felicia refused to go to school yesterday.

But how could I bring it up?

“What about you? Lize.”

At Rodney’s question, I closed my lips. Just a week ago, I didn’t want our parents to divorce, but now I’m not sure.

Even after asking myself countless questions over the past few days, no clear answer came out. All that came out were numerous doubts.

If they don’t divorce, can we be happy? But what if they do divorce?

I just listed thousands of possible outcomes from such assumptions.

‘Still, if they divorce, my siblings and Isabel could avoid the punishment of the Marsen family later.’

Seeing my silence, Rodney came down from the rock.

“You’re still not sure?”

“…I’m scared of what might happen if they really separate.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t be affected at all.”

I glared at Rodney, disliking his answer.

“I’m only ten years old, Rodney.”

“You’re ten, but your actions don’t reflect that at all. Sometimes you look older than me.”

“Don’t say that. Rodney, you’re young too.”

“Right. I’m young too. But I’ve learned at school, and you haven’t, right? That difference is quite big. But you’re just like a professor who’s lived through everything.”

“What’s that supposed to mean.”

My response was gruff, but I was secretly surprised by Rodney’s sharp words.

“Let’s stop talking here and go inside now.”

“…Okay.”

I took Rodney’s hand in front of me.

“What brings you here without notice, Rodney! If you had contacted us in advance, you could have returned to the mansion earlier. Have you been well? Are you doing well in school? Is the dormitory comfortable? Hm?”

The atmosphere of the Marsen mansion came alive thanks to Rodney alone.

Even Father, who had been avoiding dinner, attended today, bringing vitality to the dining room. The modest meals of late were gone, replaced by expensive meat dishes and nutritious foods said to be good for the body.

“As I told Mother, there’s nothing uncomfortable at all. Rather, it suits me very well.”

“That answer is a bit disappointing. You could come to the mansion on holidays even if it’s not vacation, but you don’t…”

“I can’t just relax all the time. Because everyone is so competitive, my grades would drop if I slack off even a little.”

“Ah, that won’t do.”

“This time too, I’ll stay for just a day or two before returning to school.”

“I see. Rest well then, okay?”

Father opened a bottle of wine and offered it to Rodney. Rodney naturally picked up the wine glass but didn’t drink. He just swirled the wine glass, savoring the family atmosphere he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Father, are you going to the company tomorrow?”

“That’s right. Ah, come visit sometime.”

“I will. But I have something important to talk about. I’d like to discuss it tomorrow.”

I glanced at Rodney. At the mention of important talk, Father’s smile gradually faded.

“…Is it bad news?”

“Just… So I was wondering if you could come to the mansion early tomorrow…”

“If you come visit the company, I can wrap up work early.”

“Then I’ll go to the company tomorrow.”

Satisfied with Rodney’s answer, Father smiled broadly again. Father finished one bottle of wine and even opened another. Isabel also asked Rodney detailed questions about school life and things she couldn’t ask before.

My heart felt at ease with this long-missed comfort. Indeed, Rodney’s position and power in the Marsen mansion were significant.

As I was realizing this clearly, my eyes met Felicia’s across from me. We stared at each other silently, and I, being the first to come to my senses, smiled awkwardly.

Fortunately, Felicia responded with a smile as well.