THBO 46

Chapter 46

“Go ahead.”
I wanted to respond boldly, but instinct had tied my tongue.
Before I realized it, the hand gripping my ankle had tightened even more.
The pressure was so strong it hurt, and the sincerity behind it made me inwardly flustered.

“You—”
“You can’t do it?”
The grip on my ankle tightened further.

“Me?”
Cecilia bit her lips to keep from groaning.
Alexis watched every movement of hers without letting go.

Is he… trying to break my ankle?
The cruel thought flashed through her mind.
When she stared at him in disbelief, his handsome, arrogant features gleamed under the summer sun.
His tightly pressed lips showed unwavering determination.

No.
He couldn’t… could he?
He couldn’t really…

“Me? Really?”
But the question never fully formed.
She noticed the expression that crossed his otherwise immaculate face, the flicker in his normally pure eyes—it was utterly alien.

It was cruelty.
A brutality far beyond the sharp edge he sometimes showed.
Cold enough to be called violent, merciless and extreme.
She had never seen him like this before.

Faced with the raw nature her younger brother had revealed for the first time, Cecilia was stunned.

“…It hurts, Alex.”
“Do you think saying that will make me let go?”
“Yes.”

Alexis let out a hollow laugh.
Seizing a small chance when his grip slightly weakened, she tried to free her ankle, but the pressure remained intense.
Cecilia stopped struggling and stared directly at him.

“Why would I let you go?”
“Because it hurts me.”
“You plan to deny my feelings entirely but then use them as a weapon to wield me? How admirable.”
“That’s not—!”
“Do as you please.”

At some point, her ankle was released.
Whether Cecilia quickly pulled it back or not, Alexis calmly added, his sharp gaze still fixed on the ankle she had hidden.

“I told you, you could do anything you want. Step on me, humiliate me, even play with me like a toy if you like.”
“….”
“You may thoroughly break me, but—”
“I’ll just leave—”
“There’s one thing I will never concede.”

He spoke each syllable with harshness.
It was a chilling warning that numbed the mind…

“You must stay by my side. Understood, sister?”
A threat so cold it turned her pale.
“If you die, I’ll hug your corpse and live with it for the rest of my life.”
“You’re really insane… aren’t you?”
“Please drop such vain thoughts.”

Alexis drew back with a self-satisfied expression.
Even though he no longer seemed intent on breaking her ankle, realizing he could do it was a rare experience.
She could only whisper in disbelief:

This guy really has gone mad…
“Madness is in my nature. What did you expect?”
Don’t you have any shame?
Cecilia opened her lips to retort but ended up keeping them shut.
A throbbing headache hit her temples, possibly from getting smacked on the back of her head last night, but there was no sense of betrayal.
Nor was she afraid of the man before her.

In some ways, she wondered if she herself was just as recklessly crazy.
Cecilia sighed deeply.

“You said I act well, but the protagonist who acts best is someone else entirely…”
“I consider it basic propriety.”
“That’s true.”

Alexis laughed hollowly as if amused by her dry acceptance.
Hearing the faint chuckle ripple across the water, Cecilia adjusted her posture.
While listening to the insane ramblings of a madman, their boat neared the center of the lake.
From a distance, her mother waved cheerfully.
After waving back, she adjusted her position again.
The boat carrying them would make a round across the lake.

Looking at the woman gazing at the sparkling center of the lake below, Alexis guessed her thoughts.
She must have been trying to figure out where the “boat” carrying them was heading.
The warmth remained in his palm.
If there had been one less blossomed flower in the morning, he might really have broken her ankle.
Had he done so, he would likely have broken both and kept her in his arms, serving only him.

Ah, of course—that’s a futile, nearly impossible delusion.
Alexis Lucien knew the woman he loved well.
If he broke both her ankles, Cecilia Lucien would not obediently stay in his arms.
True to her stubborn nature, she would have leapt out the window.
He hadn’t endured all this just to achieve that ending.

He wanted her wholly.
Not just her body, but her heart entirely.
He wished she would smile gently whenever his golden eyes met hers.
He wanted her to find happiness only by his side, wishing desperately to be her sole luck, blessing, and miracle.

“I can’t let it flow like this, Alex.”
Cecilia whispered softly.
“That’s right,” he said silently, smiling.

Their desired destinations were different.
As before, Alexis would not compromise on this one.
So what could they do?
Raised with the same education, their natures were similar.
Arrogant stubbornness met arrogant stubbornness—collision was inevitable.

“…So what can we do?”
“All that’s left is disaster.”
He concluded sharply and presented his face to the folding fan Cecilia had thrown.

When Cecilia returned from the boat ride and opened the door, a white puppy ran excitedly toward her.
Its tail wagged furiously at the joy of seeing its owner.
She bent down and scratched behind its ears.

“You’ve been well, puppy?”
“Woof!”

Usually, when she called it “puppy,” it would paw at her eagerly, but today it was too happy to even think of doing so.
Cecilia sat down on the floor, facing her pet.
Its characteristic black eyes sparkled brightly.

“Sit.”
The puppy obediently lowered its bottom.
“Paw.”
This time, it extended its paw.

As she fiddled with its paw, Cecilia sank into melancholy thoughts.
Her contemplation was interrupted when Alicia suddenly yanked her paw away and barked at the window.

“Want to go for a walk?”
“Woof!”

It must be asking for a walk.
Though the bark sounded slightly different, based on experience, the puppy wouldn’t refuse a walk.
It would bound around excitedly, shouting, “Walk! Walk, master!”

Cecilia slowly nodded, checking her outfit.
With her hair piled up and heavy jewelry, she didn’t want to walk like this.

“I’ll wash up first.”
“Woof!”
“Wait just a bit…”
“Woof!”

The puppy’s sharp cries accompanied her.

After washing with Kalia’s help, Cecilia found Alicia rolling around on the rug under the bed.
The puppy looked very happy playing with its toy.

“…I’m jealous.”
Kalia seemed to think the same and whispered softly, making Cecilia smile faintly.

“So, jealous, huh?”
“Yes.”
“…What’s wrong, Kiri? Did the Vicomte’s wife nag you to get married?”
“That’s correct.”

“Let me know if there’s someone you’re interested in.”
Kalia squinted, but Cecilia forgave her rudeness.

“Don’t betray even the king.”
“If we’re going to do it, better with someone good and from a good family. …And I have the power to help you choose well.”
For now.

“Can I not?”
“Well, that would require the Viscount’s permission, not mine, right?”

She always respected Kiri’s wishes.
As she winked seriously, Kalia’s pouty face softened.
Having finished brushing her hair diligently, Kalia bowed and left.
Cecilia turned back to see the still-rolling puppy.

“Shall we go for a walk?”
“Woof?”
“Alright, let’s go.”

Alicia immediately jumped up and followed her.

In the early dawn of the summer garden, insects chirped.
The breeze was cooler than last week, a relief from the heat.
Cecilia walked carefully, making sure the puppy didn’t disturb the lily-of-the-valley flowers.

…Another season was nearing its end.
Even the lush greenery would soon turn into fallen leaves.
Fireflies would hide their light, and summer flowers would quietly fade.

Cecilia paused.
Time flowed like the ticking of a clock.
Usually imperceptible, but once noticed, it revealed itself vividly.
She recalled the mercilessly fleeting moments stacked in her memories:

• The boat ride.

• Eugenie Rivil.

• Before arriving at the Charten villa.

• Blanche. Sir Ulrike. Rive Academy.

And then, the moment the man arrived at Pontref.
With arrogant steps, the prince had sought her first, not his parents.
She closed her eyes and buried her face in her palm.
Though the past couldn’t be changed, she had to consider what to do now.

She needed to decide a direction to resolve this ridiculous situation.
She could not continue the endless emotional tug-of-war.
She denied.
Alexis insisted.
Again she denied.
Again he insisted.

Even though only a day had passed, it was exhausting.
Soon winter would come, and Alexis would be dragged back to the mage tower without marking her.
That must be prevented.
At the same time, she could not accept his childishness…

“You plan to deny my feelings entirely but then use them as a weapon to wield me?”

But she had no choice but to deny it.
We’re siblings.
He wasn’t trying to manipulate her selfishly…
Cecilia wiped her cheek, barely hiding her bewildered emotions.

She glanced down at her toes and then suddenly looked up—she had almost forgotten.
She had to keep watch.

“Puppy.”
No response came.
The cold wind wrapped around her, chilling her further.
The air seemed to shift suddenly, stiffening her expression.
She clenched and released her rigid hands, calling again:

“Puppy?”

At that moment, a rustling sound came from behind.

…It was the sound of someone’s footsteps.