ISMCFC 03

Episode 03

Hares immediately pressed me for answers.

“What are you going to do if you find out?”

I shot back irritably, my insides twisting for no good reason.

He let out a short laugh and continued.

“Hey, men can read other men. Do you know how much guys polish their image in front of women? I know plenty of guys who look decent on the outside but are trash inside.”

“The person I like isn’t trash, so mind your own business.”

“And how am I supposed to mind my own business?”

Hares smiled lightly, as if it were nothing.

“You’re basically family to me.”

“I’ve never had a family like you.”

At my cold reply, his expression faltered for a moment.

He actually looked… hurt.

Of course, someone like him—who would never even consider the possibility that we could be anything more—wouldn’t understand unless I said it outright.

I like you. I don’t want to be just your little sister.

But I already knew.

If I ever confessed to Hares, there would only be two possible outcomes.

The first—and by far the most likely—
He’d be shocked, disappear for a few days, then come back and ask if we could just stay friends.

The second—
Practically impossible—was that he’d accept my feelings.

Even if it made me look like a coward, I couldn’t bring myself to take that risk when the odds were ninety-nine percent against me.

Unless one of us got married, we’d keep living next door, seeing each other every day.

If I got rejected—

I’d lose not just him, but the family that had treated me like their own.

Hares would probably try to act normal.

He was kind like that.

Maybe I could still visit his house, even after a confession.

But I didn’t want that.

Pretending nothing had changed, while he subtly avoided me?

That would be unbearable.

So once again, I stay where I am.

Bitter, but that was reality.

“I want to date someone too…”

I muttered under my breath.

Hares immediately let go of me, stepping beside me and looking down with a serious frown.

After a moment of silence, just as we reached my house—

He spoke.

“Hey. Don’t date anyone.”

“Why?”

For a split second, hope flickered.

Pathetic as it was—

Maybe, just maybe, he cared about me too.

Of course, I knew better.

There was no room for that kind of possibility between us.

But love made you foolish.

And just as easily, Hares shattered that fragile hope.

“If you start dating, who am I supposed to hang out with? You’ll be busy going on dates with that guy and start avoiding me.”

A wave of exhaustion washed over me.

“…Isn’t that obvious? Do you think my boyfriend would like me hanging around another guy, even if he’s just a childhood friend?”

“Well, I am handsome. Even if we say we’re like siblings, guys would still get jealous. Man, being this good-looking is exhausting.”

I rolled my eyes.

It was a good thing he was actually handsome.

If he looked like a squid, he’d have been executed for saying things like that.

Of course, I knew it was just his usual joke.

The problem was—

To me, he really was the most handsome.

Then, as casually as ever, he added:

“And what am I supposed to do without you? I don’t have anyone else to take me to balls or social gatherings.”

“You said you found someone you like. Take her instead.”

If he really did that…

I’d never want to see him again.

My chest already felt like it was being torn apart just imagining it.

“I didn’t say I like her. Just that I’m interested. I don’t even know if I see her that way.”

“Sure. Whatever you say.”

I already know you’ll fall for her.

I shook my head lightly and walked ahead.

If he saw my face, he’d know something was wrong.

We knew each other too well.

Sometimes that was a strength.

Sometimes… it was a weakness.

“Are you upset? Because I might start dating first?”

Like this.

He was perceptive—just slightly off target.

If I answered wrong, he might even realize…

But no.

He was convinced I could never like him.

So he didn’t reach that conclusion.

Still—

That was close.

That’s why I always had to act in front of him.

Cold. Playful. Lighthearted.

Like a friend.

“Why would I care whether you date or not? I can’t even get my own love life to work.”

“Then tell me who it is. I’ll check him out. I’ll even figure out his type.”

“You just told me not to date.”

He paused.

Then, after a moment, answered easily:

“That was just something I said. You can’t stay single forever, right? I don’t like it, but if you really want to date, I’ll help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Still… it’s weird.”

Hares might lack subtlety, but his instincts were sharp.

“I don’t even know if there is a guy you like. I’ve never seen you talk to a guy alone at a ball or get flustered. You only hang out with girls. Now that I think about it, it’s strange.”

“What’s strange about it? Just drop it.”

“Don’t tell me…”

What now?!

I glared at him, annoyed.

If you’re not going to accept my feelings, don’t go digging into them!

“…The person you like isn’t a noble, right? Is it someone like a servant, a coachman… or even a delivery boy? Don’t worry, I’m not prejudiced.”

“No! I don’t like anyone! No one!”

I wanted to sew my mouth shut.

Why did I even say something like that earlier?

Startled by my outburst, Hares instinctively grabbed his own hair, as if bracing for me to pull it again.

Ignoring him, I strode ahead, opened the gate, and slipped inside.

He hurried after me—

But I slammed the door right in front of his face.

Bang!

“Hey! I almost got hit!”

His voice came from the other side.

I shouted back.

“Stop caring about who I like! Don’t butt in just because you think we’re ‘family’!”

“It’s because I’m upset! You said you like someone for the first time, and you won’t even tell me who it is!”

This time, there was no teasing in his voice.

He sounded genuinely hurt.

Well… if I were my old self, I would’ve told him everything.

And he would have done the same.

Who you liked—at our age, that was the most natural thing to talk about.

That’s why he had told me about Eve.

“…Hey. I didn’t realize you didn’t want to talk about it. Sorry for pushing. I thought you were joking.”

In the end, he was the first to apologize.

“It’s fine. I overreacted too. Good night—see you tomorrow!”

I wrapped it up quickly and turned away.

Will Eve be at the ball tomorrow?

If Hares and Eve really start getting closer… then what about me?

What did I even want to do with these feelings?

A dull ache spread through my chest.

I knew I should stop liking him.

It would only make things awkward.

Even when I tried to distance myself, tried to forget—

Every time I saw him again…

The feelings I had buried would come rushing back.

I couldn’t let go.

Hares had always been part of my life.

Cutting him out now was impossible.

I stepped into my empty home, closing the door behind me.

“Miss, you’re back?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll sleep early.”

“Rest well.”

The faint sounds of the servants finishing their rounds echoed through the house.

Soon, they would all leave for the staff quarters in the annex.

And then—

This entire mansion would be empty.

It’s lonely.

I entered my empty bedroom and buried my face into the bed.

For no clear reason, tears began to fall.

No one had done anything wrong.

There was nothing to blame.

Hares had never been mine.

And I knew he never would be.

Yet still—

I cried, feeling pathetic for clinging to a love that could never be returned.

With no one to hear me, I whispered my resolve.

“Tomorrow… I’ll at least dress up like Eve.”

I couldn’t keep hiding my feelings like this forever.

One day, they would spill out.

“I might die any day anyway… so I might as well confess!”