"...Just bear with it a little longer. I think it’d be better to hurry today."

"...I don’t care. I don’t get motion sick."

"Okay."

The worried note in Luman’s voice made me uncomfortable.

Wouldn’t it be easier for both of us if he just didn’t care? Even if I asked that, all I’d do was grumble.... Trying to avoid the awkward mood, I curled up in my seat and leaned my head against the window.

I could feel every rattle of the wheels through the carriage. Fighting back the acid rising in my throat, I forced myself to go to sleep.

***

"Ren.... Ren."

"Mmh?"

"You need to eat."

"Mmh. Brother.... Yeah!"

Waking up to my brother’s face first thing! This is great.

I grabbed his hand and climbed down from the carriage.

"Whoa! It’s a tent?!"

"I borrowed it from the young lady’s carriage."

Yesterday we’d practically just dozed off by the campfire, but today there was a tent!

"What about yesterday?"

"Yesterday wasn’t the kind of situation where that was possible."

"Mmh."

Was that too childish a question?

I looked up at his face, but as always, I had no idea what he was thinking....

"So you’re awake."

Luman, who’d been talking with Dell for a while, waved me over when he saw me.

"Why are you sulking again?"

"W-what do you mean."

I’m just awkward, that’s all.

I fidgeted with my face, and Luman patted the spot beside him.

"Sit."

I’d been wondering where his cloak had gone, and it turned out he’d spread it over a log to use as a seat.

"Here. Eat this, then take your medicine, okay?"

"...What medicine? Since when do I take medicine?"

"...? Cold medicine. You still have a fever, don’t you?"

"Oh.... Not really."

You scared me! He said medicine so suddenly, for a second I thought he’d already gone through my bundle! My eyes darted toward the carriage before I could stop them, and I flinched on instinct. My heart thudded hard. Whew.

"Sir Dell. Do you happen to have an extra blanket?"

"Yes. Shall I bring one?"

"I’d appreciate it."

Dell sprang to his feet and headed for the carriage.

He came back with a blanket—and Lady Coco.

She hadn’t shown her face once since we parted earlier and rejoined up until we got here. So now she feels like coming out?! Hmph. For some reason, I didn’t like that lady either!

Without meaning to, I glared at her with narrowed eyes, and she glared right back at me the exact same way.

Just as I thought—Lady Coco definitely didn’t like me either.

I don’t like that she stole my brother away, but why doesn’t she like me?

Does she not like that I’m getting soup too?

Still, nothing can be done about that! It was the adults’ decision. It’s not like I can say I don’t want it.

I ducked my head and just focused on eating my soup.

But why did she come out with cloth covering part of her face? Is it because she doesn’t even want to show her face to a country bumpkin like me? Well... she is a noble, so maybe that’s just how it is.

"Hero, won’t you be eating?"

"No."

"Not while I’m on duty."

Unlike my brother’s curt answer, Luman smiled as he declined.

"It’s good, though...."

I muttered without thinking and glanced at him, and Luman covered his mouth.

"Khff.... Ren. Eat up."

"The soup was made by th—, by her side, so why are you acting like you did something??"

"Khff...."

I almost said over there.

I bit my tongue and changed it at the last second.

Damn it! Being a commoner is hard!! Why is my brother a Hero and still a commoner?! Just give him a noble title already!! Then I wouldn’t have to watch myself like this.... It’s my brother helping them.

"So what if you’re the Hero’s little brother? Huh? You think that means you get to eat bread without doing any work, you parasite?"

Hhk....

"Ren?"

"......"

"What’s wrong?"

Luman caught the spoon I’d dropped and looked at me.

"Cold sweat.... He looks awful. Don’t you have stronger medicine? The medicine we gave him yesterday didn’t seem all that effective."

"It’s top grade, so that shouldn’t be possible. It might be better to increase the dosage instead. I’ll give you more. It might actually help more if he sleeps deeply. Is that alright?"

"Ren?"

A memory from when I was little flashed through my head, and for a second I could only sit there blankly.

I thought I’d almost forgotten it, so why the hell was it coming back now? My appetite vanished all at once. My stomach churned.

That thought just now was wrong of me. My brother is the Hero, not me. So I shouldn’t be trying to enjoy the kindness or... special treatment that’s meant for him. That would make me a really bad person.

"Ren."

"Huh? Yeah. What??"

"What’s wrong? You’re spacing out."

My brother’s warm hand kneaded my shoulder.

"Ah, ow! I’m fine."

"...! That hurt?"

Brother jerked his hand back, startled.

"Not that much, j-just a little! I guess my shoulder was stiff."

No, holy fuck, that really hurt! Brother! Your grip is way too strong!!

Was I really that deep in thought?? Deep enough that I only noticed how hard he was grabbing afterward. I need to be careful. What if they start looking at me strangely! Ugh. I made eye contact with Luman.

"Um, thanks for the meal."

"You were eating so well, and you’re already done?"

"Please have more. That’s nowhere near enough if you’re going to take medicine."

Dell held out a clean spoon to me, fussing over me again.

"You really don’t have to.... Really, really! I’m done."

If I eat any more, I’m going to throw up! If I eat now, I’ll puke up the medicine I took last night too!

"No, you must. Eat more. You need to eat to keep up your strength."

"No...."

I really don’t want to....

Does Brother want me to eat more too?

I hesitated, then took the spoon.

"Enough! He said he doesn’t want it, so why are you bowing and scraping like that? I seriously can’t stand it...."

Lady Coco jerked her head up.

"What?! I said I didn’t need it either!! Enough! I said enough!"

Ahh! I snapped.

That noble girl has a rotten personality too...!! Just as rotten as mine! Ro-tten!!

Lady Coco and I glared at each other until Luman stopped us and we both looked away.

For some reason, I wanted to grab my brother and explain.

Brother! I’m not the only bad one here. I was trying to hold it in, but that Lady Coco or whatever poked at me first and I just snapped! I can behave!

But my brother was standing guard and scanning the surroundings, so I couldn’t even talk to him.

"Huurk...."

So the person patting my back after I managed to get an upset stomach from a few bites of soup was Luman.

"He’s seriously way too frail. This is a problem. Are ordinary people usually like this?"

"Ghk.... huurk...."

"No. He obviously has a weak constitution, doesn’t he? Hmph. Isn’t he sick with something?"

"Ha ha. Kids these days really do say frightening things."

Luman nodded like he’d realized something.

What the hell kind of creepy thing is that to say! My heart dropped.

Covering my mouth, I glared at Lady Coco, who was watching from a distance like she was enjoying the show. Her purple eyes narrowed in a sharp, mocking line.

She’d been sneaking glances over here this whole time! It was already annoying and uncomfortable enough having her watch my brother and me—now she was picking fights too?! And when is she going to take that cloth off her face!

"Ugh... hhh...."

It’s because of that stare that I can’t keep anything down! It’s making me uncomfortable!

After the meal, Dell sat there quietly talking with Luman from time to time while looking at me. Even if I turned my head away because his gaze bothered me, he only stopped for a moment before going right back to staring, pretending he was looking at Luman instead. It was unbelievably uncomfortable!

Lady Coco, sitting across from me, was even worse. The way she looked at me was like she was evaluating me. Just because you’re some lofty noble, does that mean you get to do that? No matter how hard I tried to keep my temper down, my irritation kept flaring up.

Honestly, throwing up like this was better!! I didn’t want to eat anything they gave me anymore! Every time I take the medicine, all it does is make me sleepy, and it feels like my fever’s worse than yesterday. Am I forcing myself too much to blame them? Is my personality really that sharp...?

"Here."

When I didn’t take the handkerchief Luman offered, he wiped my mouth for me himself.

"That’s gross! What are you doing? Stop it!"

Just imagining ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) getting vomit on someone else’s handkerchief made me want to puke again! Ugh. I pounded on my chest again, and Luman made an awkward face.

"I help you and you still make a scene. You must be exhausting."

"What?!"

This fucking—! Who asked you to help me?

That wiped away all the self-reflection I’d just been having.

There are people with personalities like that, saying shit like that right in front of someone who’s throwing up! At least I’m not like that!! Right! And Lante said my personality passed! I-I’m pretty, okay! My personality’s a perfect hundred!

I glared back at the young lady without backing down, and maybe that pissed her off, because she started glaring hard too.

Keep going then! You think your eyeballs are gonna fall out from that? Huh?! Let’s do this!!

"Ren, what are you staring at so...."

"Young lady, why are you...."

"......"

"......"

It felt like some look of utter disbelief swept over me, but I didn’t have the spare attention to check. If you blink first, you lose.

Tears welled up in both my eyes and Lady Coco’s from pure strain! The whites of her eyes were getting bloodshot too! This was my chance. Heh. Blink, and I’ll laugh in your face. You pick a fight when you can’t even handle a staring contest?

"Let’s make camp for the night."

"Ah! Brother!"

"Hm?"

My brother cut in, and I blinked.

The tears that had gathered spilled right down my face.

"Ren. Are you crying?"

"Huh? No?"

"Then what’s this...."

My brother swiped at my cheek. Tears glittered on his fingers.

"No, that’s just because I kept my eyes open too long."

"Oh."

"Where are you going? Brother!"

"...I’m going to take a look around."

"What...."

You’re not even answering me.

More importantly, why did you suddenly look disappointed?! What did I do wrong? Before I can even ask, Brother always disappears somewhere the second I start wondering about something.

Damn it....

"Heh...."

And why is Luman laughing again? Seriously.

What the hell. There was a pair of expensive-looking leather shoes right in front of me.

When I lifted my eyes, Lady Coco was standing there with a smug look on her face. What are you trying to do?? Start something? I arched a brow, and she didn’t back down.

She frowned like the sight of what I’d thrown up was offensive, then opened her mouth.