THBO 12

Chapter 12

Cecilia flinched reflexively, drawing her face back.

The spot where her brother’s hand had touched was unusually hot. The water of the morning pond was cruelly cold, yet her forehead alone burned, leaving her with a strangely unsettled feeling.

She lifted her gaze hesitantly.

Violet eyes that shimmered with many hues, and jet-black hair damp in a way that looked almost sensual.

The firm physique outlined beneath the now semi-transparent fabric seized her attention.

When she hurriedly averted her eyes, a mischievous curve of lips flickered at the edge of her vision.

…What had Alec said again?

It’s been a while, Sister.

He’d used honorifics.

He was speaking formally—to her. Was that why it felt so awkward?

Cecilia had to scrape her voice out deliberately.

She couldn’t quite define why she wanted to avoid the shadow looming over her.

“It’s been a while, Alec.”

Calm down, Cecile.

She struggled desperately to suppress the sense of unease.

The man smiling leisurely before her, chin propped on his hand, was none other than Alexis Lucen.

Her younger brother. The only sibling she had grown up with.

The child—no, her brother—who had finally returned to Fonlef. She couldn’t very well treat him coldly now, could she?

Fortunately, as soon as she regained her composure, she was able to smile warmly, brimming with genuine joy.

Her eyes curved softly as she scolded him.

“You should’ve told me you were coming back today!”

If he had, she would’ve gone to meet him.

At her mildly petulant tone, Alexis smiled crookedly—rebellious, and all the more charming, light and refreshing…

He’s really grown up, hasn’t he.

She’d long braced herself for the day she’d have to look up at her younger brother instead of down at him, but when the moment actually arrived, her heart raced.

“I wasn’t sure exactly when I’d arrive,” he replied. “Knowing you, Sister, you might’ve stayed up all night waiting for me.”

“Of course I would!”

Instead of responding further, Alexis sprang lightly to his feet.

The surface of the pond broke again with a loud splash, and in the morning sunlight, his thoroughly soaked body was revealed in full.

The princess’s personal attendants had no choice but to lower their heads, cheeks flushing.

Whether they were embarrassed or not, Alexis calmly bent down and lifted Cecilia out of the pond.

Alisha, for her part, naturally scrambled out on her own and shook herself dry with a vigorous flurry.

Perhaps because her clothes were wet and she felt cold, Cecilia instinctively leaned into his arms.

It was a movement tempting enough to make him want to dash straight into the palace like this.

But he dutifully activated his magic, drying both her body and his at once.

“Your control over mana’s improved,” Cecilia remarked.

“I’ve been put through the wringer,” he replied.

“What?”

Ignoring her widening eyes, Alexis watched as she slipped out of his arms and stood up straight.

That familiar elegant, upright posture hadn’t changed at all…

“Put through the wringer? Rolled around?!” she exclaimed.

“……”

“Even if it’s the Mage Tower, can they really push around the Crown Prince of the Lucen Empire like that? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? Hm?”

Her lips rattled off questions, brimming with worry, while her fingers gently held his cheeks and turned his face this way and that.

“Alec, aren’t you going to answer me?”

Savoring her sharpened tone, Alexis shrugged.

“I’m fine.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s all in the past now.”

The answer drew a clear line.

The perceptive woman’s expression gradually grew awkward.

Even the way she blinked and looked up at him in a daze was unbearably lovely—and achingly missed.

“So, Sister.”

He slowly lifted a hand and brushed away a single black strand of hair clinging to her pale nape.

Throughout the unhurried sequence of movements, she stood frozen, blank.

“You really don’t need to worry.”

“Ah… um… y-yes. Well… that’s good, then.”

“Indeed.”

“We should go see Mother and Father, shouldn’t we? Have you greeted them yet?”

Changing the subject somewhat awkwardly, Cecilia turned first. At her gesture, Alisha trotted over, barking cheerfully.

“Not yet.”

“Then how about breakfast in the greenhouse? It’s been a while since the whole family’s together.”

“That sounds good.”

Cecilia gave a short nod and tied her hair back with the band around her wrist.

Sunlight began to relentlessly lick at the newly exposed white nape of her neck.

Silently admiring the sight, Alexis started walking.

When they were young, he’d whined for her hand so he could walk beside her.

Now…

Perhaps sensing his persistent gaze, her slender body twitched slightly.

Without a word, Alexis measured the distance between himself and the woman.

Holding Alisha’s paw—no, her front paw—tightly, Cecilia murmured gentle scoldings.

“Don’t make too much of a mess while your sister’s having breakfast.”

“Woof!”

“And don’t chew on things.”

“Woof woof!”

“And don’t go outside either! Last time it took ages to find you.”

Leaning against the doorway, Alexis watched Cecilia’s earnest lecture from behind.

It was somewhat absurd, but one thing was clear.

While he was gone, that dog—no, the gift he’d given his sister—had lived very well.

Just the fact that Cecilia was holding her paw seemed to make Alisha deliriously happy, her tail wagging furiously.

“Sister.”

Unable to just watch anymore, Alexis stepped forward.

“Alisha will behave.”

“You only say that because you don’t know what a troublemaker she is. She’s worse than you were as a kid, you know?”

Why am I being compared to a dog?

Alexis looked down at Alisha coolly, and sensing his gaze, she calmed down a little.

As Cecilia stood up, she stomped hard on the top of his foot.

“Don’t be mean to Al!”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did.”

So perceptive.

Rather than protest his innocence, Alexis extended his hand.

The hand that reached out to accept his escort hesitated ever so slightly.

In the awkward air, it felt like one could taste a subtle bitterness.

Cecilia lowered her gaze faintly.

The unnatural atmosphere filling the spacious room was painfully obvious.

Is this… my fault?

No. It couldn’t be. It was just because it’d been so long since they’d met.

Suppressing her hesitation, Cecilia took hold of Alexis’s steady arm.

Leaving behind Alisha, barking enthusiastically in farewell, the two stepped out into the corridor.

It seemed word that the prince had finally returned had already swept through Fonlef.

Judging by how the passing palace staff bowed familiarly without surprise.

Alexis acknowledged their greetings with a curt nod.

Was it really that hard on him?

Cecilia glanced up, trying to read her brother’s expression.

In his subdued violet eyes, there was not a hint of emotion at being home again.

While Alexis was away, Marisa and Cecilia had reorganized the palace at least three times—one of them involving major renovations. Surely he would notice the changes.

For example, the fresco on the ceiling over there had been replaced, and the porcelain display cases in the hallway were new.

Alexis’s violet eyes did seem to pause on the paintings and displays, but he offered no comment.

There’s no need to mention it… still.

So busy sneaking glances at his side, Cecilia failed to notice they’d reached the glass greenhouse.

The attendants stared in alarm as the absentminded princess continued walking.

“Sister.”

Alexis reached out and caught her, and only then did Cecilia come to her senses, her face flushing bright red.

It soon returned to a cool white—but she couldn’t hide the redness at her ears, the skin above her pale green emerald earrings tinted a lovely peach.

Withdrawing his gaze from the flushed skin, Alexis nodded to the attendant.

The doors opened, revealing a lush, familiar scene.

Butterflies fluttered quietly, summer flowers blooming in abundance.

Apricot-colored sunlight poured through the skylight, painting the floor with playful leaf patterns, while a gentle breeze stirred the buds soundlessly.

“Where are Father and Mother?” Cecilia asked.

“They’re waiting inside,” the attendant replied respectfully.

“Thank you.”

Still holding Alexis’s hand, Cecilia stepped into the greenhouse, lightly placing her foot on the first stone set like a stepping path.

Hearing the door close behind them, she whispered softly.

“Alec.”

“Yes, Sister.”

Formal speech really doesn’t suit him.

Grumbling inwardly, she stepped from stone to stone.

Like an adult watching a child play by a stream, Alexis held her hand firmly, helping her cross every stone.

At this rate, who looks older? she thought.

Cecilia let out a small giggle, then straightened her back.

She shed the innocent expression she showed only her brother and reclaimed the dignified bearing of a princess.

“There’s something I forgot to say.”

“What is it?”

There were so many questions she wanted to ask.

Too many. Even pouring them out over three sleepless days and nights might not have quenched her curiosity.

She and Alexis hadn’t met even once in seven years.

And the brother she’d finally reunited with had grown so much, it felt as though he’d gone off to a completely different world.

Don’t sulk.

Alexis was no longer just her younger brother—he was the Crown Prince of Lucen.

Swallowing the words rising to her tongue, Cecilia smiled gently.

“Welcome back to Fonlef. I truly missed you.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Alexis replied flatly.

He didn’t add that he’d missed her too, and though that stung, Cecilia endured it with a soft smile.

Step by step.

As they continued forward, they soon reached the center of the greenhouse.

At the marble table set for a family breakfast, Armand and Marisa were conversing quietly.

The moment they spotted the siblings, both rose from their seats.

“Alec!”

Marisa called out with arms outstretched, and Alexis approached obediently, getting caught in his mother’s grasp.

Having grown much taller than her, he was inspected from every angle as she held his face and turned it.

“Approved.”

“…Mother.”

With that joke, Marisa handed him off to Armand.

Pulling his son into a tight embrace, Armand’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Marisa.

“Now I see why you fell for me!”

“Dream on. Thanks to my efforts, Alec’s grown up even more handsome than you were in your youth.”

“……”

“Isn’t he?”

Resting her chin in her hands, Marisa asked, and Alexis barely managed to escape his father’s arms, where he always turned into a fool in front of his wife.

Cecilia smiled faintly and took her seat.

Once Armand, Marisa, and Alexis were all seated, attendants filed in to serve breakfast.

“Welcome home, my son…”

“Seven years is a long time. Really.”

Mindful of Cecilia, Armand didn’t say it aloud, but he shot Alexis a stern look that clearly meant don’t cause trouble again.

Ah.

That’s not something I can promise.

As Alexis brushed it off with an awkward smile, Armand returned a knowing look—then chuckled.

A joyful father, a delighted mother, and—

“Alec, do you know how much Cecile missed you?”

“Finally, a family breakfast with everyone present,” Alexis said, taking his seat as he faced the golden, shimmering moment.

Family.

He lifted his knife. A soft crack sounded as the bread split in two.

Family. It’s nice.

But doesn’t this arrangement… need correcting now?