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Episode 8
“Good morning, Edel. And Tatania.”
“…?”
“Zar oppa…!”
I frowned at the unexpected sight when I came down to the dining room for breakfast.
Well, perhaps not entirely unexpected.
Again…?
Two mornings ago, I’d made up my mind to completely step back from between Tani and Zar. Since then, I had faithfully avoided them.
Of course, I couldn’t completely avoid my sister. Sometimes I ate with her, sometimes played with her.
And every time—
“Hello, Edel. And Tatania.”
Zar would appear like a ghost.
Sometimes he even brought Tani to me on his own.
Almost exactly the way I used to.
“I came because I wanted to eat with you two.”
Naturally, he sat down beside Tani.
I tried to focus only on her, but Zar kept speaking to me.
“Edel, did you know that at the end of the world of Soelm lies eternal darkness?”
“…”
“There’s endless cold there, and eternal heat boiling together.”
“…”
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to—”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
Clatter.
I stood up suddenly.
“Oh—father called me and I forgot…!”
“…?”
The two of them looked at me in surprise, but I avoided their eyes and turned away.
“Sorry, Tani. I’ll be right back…!”
Of course, I had no intention of coming back. And they must have realized it too.
My excuse was awkward, but right now, this was the best I could do.
Really.
Meanwhile, Zar was left alone with Tania in the dining hall.
Her sister’s behavior wasn’t drastically different from the past few days, but the feeling was undeniably different.
Before, it had seemed like Edel’s goal was simply to stick Tania by his side. But now—
“…”
“Zar…”
Tania, glancing nervously between the door her sister left through and Zar, finally opened her mouth.
“Mm?”
Zar, also staring at the door, turned to look at her.
Receiving his gaze, the child clenched her small fists.
“B-big sister is… embarrassed.”
Her sentences had grown so much smoother lately.
Thanks only to him sitting by her side and reading with her.
Anyway, Tani wasn’t stupid. Nor was she unperceptive.
Her sister had kept asking to go see Zar first, but when they met him, she always ran away.
And now—
After some hesitation, Tania spoke again.
“Zar… do you like my sister?”
Zar’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“Why do you think that, Tatania?”
“Zar… you stopped calling Tani ‘Tani’ a little while ago. But….”
Her sister had gone from Edelweiss to just Edel.
Once again, Tani was not oblivious.
Looking pleased with her reasoning, she puffed out her round little belly in confidence.
Zar chuckled softly.
“Haha… Tatania. Since we’re on the subject, I want to ask you something.”
“Mm?”
“What comes to your mind when you see me?”
“Uuummm…”
She furrowed her brows in thought, then broke into a wide grin.
“A good oppa!”
This time, Zar’s eyes curved with genuine warmth.
“Right. That’s probably all we are, isn’t it?”
Still, he couldn’t forget that night in the forest.
The moonlight glinting off her pure white hair, her face flushed red in fear and tears.
Every fragment of Edel remained vivid in his mind.
This had never happened before.
“Then that means… it isn’t you.”
“Mm?”
She tilted her head in confusion, and he ruffled her hair gently.
“…I’m starting to wonder how exactly I should catch someone who keeps running away.”
Her eyes widened.
“Zar, you want to be with big sister?”
“Hm?”
“C’mere, lean close.”
When he bent his head slightly, Tani whispered something into his ear.
Then she pulled back with a proud smile.
“How’s that?”
At her little secret, a smile slowly spread across Zar’s lips as well.
Though I don’t know what state I’ll be in when the time comes…
“Maybe I’ll try it that way, Tatania.”
Huff… huff…
I was running through endless darkness.
Woof, woof woof!
Dogs barked all around me.
If I stop, they’ll devour me.
Sweat poured down my body. But there was nowhere to hide.
Isn’t anyone here—?
Just then, a huge altar appeared before me.
Unlike its weathered stones, a small, ornate box rested on top.
Drawn as if in a trance, I opened it.
Inside was a crimson orb, glowing with ominous brilliance.
A chill swept my blood as I reached toward it.
Ah, this is…
…
…
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
I awoke early in the morning, my face pale.
“I… saw it.”
I’d seen it with my own eyes.
“The orb that curses Tani!”
It was described in the novel exactly like this—I recognized it instantly.
But why did it appear in my dream?
And why today of all days?
Covering my face with my hands, I muttered blankly.
“Because today… is Tani’s birthday.”
“Wow, young lady! You look adorable!”
When I went to her room after dressing, I heard the maids squealing in delight.
“Tani…!”
“Big sis!”
I smiled brightly at the sight of today’s birthday girl.
She wore her snowy hair in neat, round braids and a soft pink dress with a wide, flowing skirt.
Each step she took sent the fabric fluttering around her.
“You’re so beautiful. Anyone can tell you’re the star today.”
“You look like a princess too, sis.”
She giggled and hugged me tightly.
The maids shrieked again.
“Didn’t Edel’s dress match Lady Tani’s?”
I nodded.
Mine was plain white, with layers of silk and jewels, a background to set off hers.
I lowered my voice and asked Tani.
“Tani… did you dream anything strange last night?”
“Strange… dream?”
She tilted her head, clearly clueless.
Right. If she’d had a scary dream, she’d still be crying like the other day.
But why did I see that dream instead of her?
While I was lost in thought, Vitti clapped her hands.
“Shall we go? The gifts are being brought in!”
Hand in hand, we descended the stairs.
The wide hall was already filled with mountains of presents.
“Tani, look over there!”
“Presents…!”
“We’ll open them together, just you and me. Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“Together…?”
“Mm…?”
Her sudden question caught me off guard.
“I don’t want to open them just with big sis!”
“Tani, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to!!”
Our parents rushed over at the commotion.
Father quickly lifted Tani into his arms.
“What’s the matter, Tani?”
“P-presents… sniff… I don’t want to open them with just sis…”
“What…?”
My heart sank.
She had never rejected me before.
Even our parents looked baffled.
“Then… you mean you want to open them alone?”
She shook her head.
“With Zar oppa… and big sis…”
“All three…?”
She nodded vigorously.
Father looked troubled.
“But presents are meant to be opened with family…”
“Uuuhh… uuhhh…”
Tani’s eyes welled with tears.
She had never thrown a tantrum before—only cried in fear. Everyone was at a loss.
This is my fault. I’m the one who made her grow close to Zar… so I’ll take responsibility.
It stung a little, but it was true.
I turned to Father quickly.
“It’s fine, isn’t it, Father?”
“…Very well. I’ll ask the Marquis.”
With that, he carried Tani into the hall.
I sighed and followed behind.
Meanwhile, in Father’s arms, Tani grinned proudly.
If big sis does it, I’ll do it too!
Why do we keep running into each other…
In the end, ten minutes later, Zar, Tani, and I were seated before the mountain of presents.
“Big sis, this one…”
“Shall we open this one?”
Tani sat cheerfully, as if she hadn’t cried moments ago.
Since she wasn’t good at unwrapping, I took the boxes and opened them for her.
“Look, a set of beautiful teaspoons! See how they shine, Tani?”
“…”
Every time, Zar added a short comment.
But I never looked at him directly.
My cheek feels hot somehow…
“Big sis, next one, that one.”
The next gift was out of reach, so I got up to fetch it.
And then—
“…!”
Just as I touched the box, a hand overlapped mine.
Startled, I withdrew, but our eyes met.
He smiled faintly.
“…You were right in front of me.”
I looked at him awkwardly.
Not because of the touch.
Does he… have a fever?
The warmth I’d felt was burning hot. His face was flushed, a sheen of sweat on his skin. I hadn’t noticed until now.
Ah… I was thoughtless again.
Instead of worrying about nothing, I should have paid attention to the kids first.
“Big sis, I’m going to show Mommy!”
Just then, Tani hopped down, clutching the teaspoon Zar had praised.
“Going to brag? Don’t trip, okay?”
“Mm!”
Now, nothing stood between Zar and me.
I glanced at him again.
Maybe he’s pretending to be fine even though he’s sick.
After a brief hesitation, I whispered.
“Zar… are you feeling unwell?”
“…Me?”
“Yes. Your hand felt hot.”
His lashes lowered, casting long shadows.
“I’m not sure…”
First his hand.
Then his body.
Had the seat always been this narrow?
Suddenly there was almost no space between us.
“…?”
As I stared at him in confusion, Zar closed his eyes and leaned in slowly.
Far, far too close.
“Will you… check my temperature?”
