Chapter 4
“Sorry for calling you pretty. I meant… you’re really as beautiful—no, handsome—as an angel…”
The words she blurted out carried a heap of guilt toward Herwin.
Herwin, who had sworn to never forgive her, felt his stubbornness melt away.
“…I’m sorry for getting mad too. I knew you didn’t mean it on purpose.”
He had sensed all along that Lucia hadn’t called him “pretty” to tease him.
Still, the words had stung, and he had been too stubborn to let it go.
“Hehe, then we’ve made up now, right?”
For the first time, Lucia beamed brightly. Her almond-shaped eyes curved in a smile, unbearably lovely.
Herwin, unaware that his cheeks were flushing, allowed himself to be tugged down to sit beside her.
“Herwin, did you come here because of the New Year’s party too?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Where do you usually live?”
“You’d have to ride a carriage for days and days to get there. It’s even colder than here.”
“What? Colder than this? I’m already freezing now.”
“It’s cold, sure, but this is nothing…”
As if they’d never fought, the two slipped easily into conversation.
They gradually grew closer, learning about each other, until by the time the adults came looking for them, they were laughing and running around together as if they’d always been friends.
“Kids, are you two all made up now?”
“Yes! Herwin and I decided to be friends!”
“Mom, Mom! Lucia gave me this!”
The two ran to their parents, excitedly explaining the games they’d played and the stories they’d shared.
Seeing both Herwin and Lucia with smiles blooming across their faces, the parents couldn’t help but smile too.
“Wow… a baby.”
“Cute, right? That’s my little brother.”
“Henry, was it?”
“Yeah, Henry Fenews. Just one more night, and he’ll be two.”
Only one day remained before the year turned. After making up on the first day, Herwin and Lucia had grown so close that now they were together in the room with Herwin’s younger brother, Henry.
She’d only glimpsed him briefly at the big gathering on the first day, so this was her first proper meeting.
Henry, who had just learned to run, couldn’t keep still, toddling eagerly around the room.
Lucia found it fascinating that Henry looked exactly like Herwin.
As she stared at Henry’s face, recalling Herwin and even Haile, his red eyes suddenly met hers, and she widened her own.
Unlike Herwin’s slightly sharper gaze, Henry’s rounder eyes looked at her softly.
“What… what’s this?”
“Guess he finds you interesting.”
“Why me? No one’s ever said that before…”
“You just… look kind of amazing.”
The words “like a fairy” or “cute” floated up in his mind, but Herwin couldn’t bring himself to say them.
When Lucia’s lips wobbled into a pout, he panicked—but before he could say anything, Henry had already toddled over.
“Ahh!”
“Hm?”
With stubby arms flailing, Henry rushed up to her and stopped right in front of her.
He just stood there, staring.
“Henry, what are you doing?”
At last, unable to stand it, Herwin called. Henry turned his head.
“Hyah!”
“Yeah? Do you need something from Lucia?”
“Lusia? Lusia!”
“That’s right, Lucia. Come on, say it properly—Lu-ci-a!”
“Lusia!”
“Not Lusia, Lu-ci-a.”
“Lusia!”
Henry parroted Herwin’s words with surprising accuracy. Lucia, who had never been around kids younger than herself, was amazed by the sight.
“He talks really well.”
“He’s a bit ahead of other kids his age.”
“Abub, ahh!”
Suddenly Henry dashed away, digging into the luggage they’d brought from the North.
His little bottom wiggled as he leaned into a large trunk. Watching curiously, Lucia spoke up.
“Hey, did you know? You and Henry look exactly alike.”
“Really? I don’t see it.”
“No, you really do! You look just like the Duke too!”
“Ahem! Well, of course I’d look like my dad.”
At the mention of Haile, Herwin’s mouth twitched.
Just then, Henry came running back, clutching a storybook.
“This!”
“A book?”
He handed it to Lucia. Bewildered, she accepted it and glanced at Herwin.
“Henry, do you want me to read it? I can read to you.”
“No! Lusia! Lusia!”
When Herwin tried to take the book from her, Henry shook his head furiously.
Being refused by his little brother for the first time, Herwin froze in shock.
Henry snatched the book away from him and shoved it back into Lucia’s hands.
“Lusia! Lusia!”
“But… I don’t know how to read yet…”
She’d only just begun learning letters and wasn’t fluent yet. As she hesitated, Henry climbed right into her lap.
His soft baby scent and silky black hair brushed her nose.
He flipped through the pages until he stopped at a picture.
“Lusia!”
He jabbed a tiny finger at the illustration.
A woman with curly brown hair and blue eyes sat in the forest, smelling flowers.
“You mean… that’s supposed to be me?”
“Mhm! Lusia!”
Beaming, Henry nodded. Lucia studied the woman on the page with intrigue.
Even though it was just a drawing, being compared to such a lovely lady felt wonderful.
When Lucia smiled bashfully, both Henry and the wounded Herwin found themselves staring at her in a daze.
Smooch.
Suddenly, something soft and wet landed on her cheek. Startled, she looked up to see Henry grinning.
“Lusia! Mine!”
Herwin’s jaw dropped as he watched his baby brother kiss Lucia.
A strange, fiery spark erupted in his chest.
“Henry!”
“Kyaah! Mine! Mine!”
“Lucia isn’t yours! Get over here!”
“Nooo, don’t wanna!”
“Hey, do you want me to scold you?”
Despite Henry’s wriggling, Herwin forcibly pulled him away from Lucia.
Lucia touched her cheek, watching the Fenews brothers tussle.
“…I don’t really mind, though.”
But no one heard her.
“Waaaah! Hyah meanie!”
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. Herwin, what on earth did you do to make Henry cry like this?”
At Scarlet’s question, Herwin sulked and turned away.
“I don’t know.”
“He’s been acting strange lately… There, there, my sweet boy.”
Henry’s eyes were swollen red from crying.
It had only been minutes ago—after Henry kissed Lucia’s cheek—that Herwin had torn him away.
Unable to bear the hurt, Henry had burst into tears, drawing Scarlet from the next room.
She was baffled.
Herwin and Henry had never once fought before. Their bond was always strong—Herwin doted on him, and Henry adored his big brother. But here in the capital, suddenly this?
As she puzzled over it, Scarlet’s gaze fell on Lucia.
“Lucia, would you mind telling me what happened?”
Herwin visibly stiffened, fidgeting anxiously.
Catching this, Scarlet ignored her son completely, fixing a gentle smile on Lucia.
“Well, um…”
Lucia wavered, glancing nervously between Scarlet and Herwin.
Scarlet radiated calm but firm insistence, while Herwin widened his eyes and shook his head desperately.
She didn’t know what to do.
If she answered Scarlet, Herwin might sulk. But if she stayed silent, it would feel rude.
After agonizing, Lucia squeezed her eyes shut.
“H-Herwin kissed me!”
“Huh?”
“W-What! When did I ever—!”
Scarlet was surprised, but Herwin looked utterly mortified.
Just like Lucia’s cheeks, his flushed red. Flustered, he denied it, and Lucia suddenly realized her mistake.
“O-oh! No, not him. It was Henry who kissed me. Herwin just pulled him away…”
“Ahh, I see.”
Scarlet quickly pieced it together, then looked down at her son with a sly, knowing smile.
Henry, still just a baby, might kiss Lucia because he liked her. But Herwin’s overreaction? That was far more telling.
Hoho, so much for saying you didn’t care…
“Why’d you tell her that?”
“Well, I couldn’t just ignore an adult asking.”
Herwin marched up to scold her, but when he saw her drooping eyes, he clamped his mouth shut.
Was it because she was the first peer his age he’d met? Or… because he actually liked her?
Either way, how adorable.
Scarlet’s lips curved proudly. Then, mischief sparked.
“Oh my, Henry must really like Lucia. Maybe when he grows up, he’ll chase after her too?”
“Ahhh, Lusia! Lusia!”
As if on cue, Henry babbled her name.
“Lucia, what do you think of Henry? I’d welcome you as my daughter-in-law anytime.”
“Huh? Oh… I’d like that too.”
Lucia replied blankly. She didn’t fully understand, but it seemed like she was supposed to say yes.
But Herwin understood perfectly.
“Mom! Why would Lucia marry into our family?!”
“Why not? Henry likes her. And if they still feel that way when they’re older, it’s possible.”
“Lucia can’t! Absolutely not!”
“My, why are you so worked up? Unless… do you like her too?”
Scarlet barely suppressed her laughter, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Herwin, fuming, met Lucia’s gaze—and his face turned crimson.
“L-Like her? Who said I like her? I don’t like Lucia!”
The obvious lie was clear to Scarlet, but not to Lucia.
“Herwin… you don’t like me?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant—”
Caught off guard, Herwin faltered.
“I… I like Herwin. But Herwin says he hates me…!”
“Waaah!”
Lucia burst into tears, and Herwin panicked.
“That’s not it! I-I’m sorry! Don’t cry…”
But soon, his own eyes watered too—hurt from Scarlet’s teasing.
And when both kids started bawling, Henry joined in.
Like dominoes, the crying spread until Scarlet was surrounded.
“Kids, kids, it was just a joke! Don’t cry—please…”
“Waaaah! Herwin said he hates me!”
“N-no, I said I like you! Mom’s mean…!”
“Waaaah!”
“Oh, heavens.”
With wails echoing all around, Scarlet pressed her forehead.
She could only sigh, thinking this was karma, while frantically trying to calm the three children until Julian arrived.
