“I-I don’t need it!”

The words came out almost like a shout, and Seton looked startled.

Ah, shit. I think Temar’s glaring at me!

But I’d already gotten a gift, and now I was getting another one? Wasn’t that way too shameless? It was too much! It was embarrassing too...

“It’s far too valuable an item for Ren.”

Thank God my brother stepped in.

Exactly. If I had something like that around my neck, all it’d do is make me a target for crime!! When I nodded hard beside him, Seton made an awkward face.

“And, um...”

I kept darting glances at Hugh, and he looked puzzled. Seton followed my gaze to Hugh too. When Seton gestured for him to step forward, Hugh came over to me. He stopped at a distance that didn’t feel oppressive.

Wow... he’s seriously considerate.

“There’s something I really wanted to say...”

It had been weighing on me the whole time. I forced open my mouth, which didn’t want to ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) cooperate.

“I’m sorry.”

“...Pardon?”

Hugh blinked like he hadn’t understood.

“I said I’m sorry!”

God, why do I always sound like I’m about to start yelling again?! I steadied my thudding heart from sheer awkwardness and gave him a deep bow.

“If I hadn’t gotten in the way, you probably wouldn’t have gotten hurt. I’m sorry for mistaking you for a bad guy!”

I said it pretty calmly. Pretty maturely, even.

Once I got the words out, the rest just came pouring after without me even thinking. I know better than anybody what a fucking rotten thing it is to be misunderstood. So no matter how many times I apologized, it still wouldn’t feel like enough!

Those ash-gray eyes studied me in surprise... then softened into a gentle smile. It was like sunlight breaking across a face covered in mist—just for a moment, his whole expression cleared.

And the second I saw it, my heart jolted.

It was only for an instant, but it was such a warm face.

It looked like the smile I’d glimpsed on Seton earlier. They really were brothers.

Then how much prettier must Shawn’s smile have been?

The image of that boy lying so quietly in the coffin flashed through my mind, and my chest hurt all over again.

Even the death of someone I’d never exchanged a single word with could ache like this.

So what must the death of family feel like...?

“You have a warm heart. There’s no need to apologize. The reason I was hurt was that I’d already been forcing myself through an unreasonable schedule.”

But if I hadn’t clung to him, wouldn’t he have landed a little better?

It felt awkward to keep insisting it wasn’t like that, so I clamped my mouth shut. Hugh watched my face for a moment, then smiled with his eyes like he understood.

“Ren, you weigh less than a feather. Even if you did cling to me, what difference could that possibly have made?”

“What—!”

No, what kind of thing is that to say?! That’s embarrassing as hell!

I could swear I heard Luman snort out a laugh. Luman! Don’t laugh!

“Would it ease your mind if I accepted your apology?”

When I nodded, Hugh nodded too.

“All right, Ren.”

Hugh! God, I can finally breathe again. It felt like something lodged in my chest had dropped clean out.

“Ren. Help set our minds at ease too.”

“Huh?”

The smile froze right on my face!

“Please accept Lady Coco’s feelings.”

He took the box from Seton and held it out toward me. No, that’s cheating! My brother’s not gonna like me accepting something this expensive! A-and besides, I’ve never gotten a gift like this before! I was already way over my limit just from what Coco gave me earlier...!

Luman looked thoroughly entertained watching me flail my hands in panic. Hugh reached out carefully. Before I even knew what I was doing, I held out my hands too, like I was being drawn in, and he set the box on top of them.

That wasn’t my fault. The way he approached so carefully, I couldn’t not hold my hands out...!

“I sincerely thank you, Ren. So please, don’t refuse. Accept it. To us, you’re a Hero too.”

A Hero—good God. My face went burning hot.

“I-I wasn’t that brave.”

I just jumped in, that’s all! Because I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone!

Hugh smiled like I was putting him in a difficult position.

Great. Am I making other people uncomfortable again?!

What if Hugh thinks I’m a pain in the ass too?!

This is too awkward, I can’t do this! Isn’t it more polite to refuse when someone offers you something? Or should I just take it now? Is that the right move!?

As my eyes basically started shaking in my skull, Hugh bit back a laugh.

“Brother.”

“Hugh. In a public setting, address me as Commander.”

Seton answered in a cool voice.

“Brother. We’re seeing off Lady Coco’s friend. Surely this counts as a somewhat private setting.”

As Hugh spoke gently, Seton’s expression eased. Hugh was kind to Coco and kind to his brother too.

“Brother. My silver tongue doesn’t seem to work on this brave young man. Please help me.”

No, what kind of thing is that to ask?!

I just stood there with my mouth twitching stupidly, and then Seton strode over, took the necklace out of the box, and held it up. Set with a ruby so vividly red it might as well have been taken straight out of Lady Coco’s eyes, it was beautiful.

“If someone willing to jump into a pit of fire because another person is in danger doesn’t count as brave, then all that’s left is mocking everyone else as cowards.”

“That’s not what I meant—!”

“I know it isn’t. Now then, will you make everyone else into cowards? Or will you be a brave young man?”

“...I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“Good.”

I turned around obediently, following his instructions. I flinched, worried Seton’s hand might touch me, but he didn’t brush even a strand of my hair. The chain seemed really long. Seton’s hands moved quickly, and in no time he’d fastened the necklace around my neck. Then, just as quickly as he’d stepped close, he stepped back.

“No matter how valuable it is, can it really outweigh a life?”

Seton murmured it under his breath as he moved away.

Startled, I looked at him, but Seton wasn’t looking at me.

Right. I’d gotten stabbed in Coco’s place, hadn’t I?

I hadn’t put much meaning into it since I’d acted without thinking, but... was that a b-big deal...?

I stood there blankly, fingering the necklace he’d put on me, until my brother shot me a look and I hurriedly bowed.

“Thank you.”

Seton gave me a brief glance.

“Travel safely, brave ones.”

Luman looked a little startled for a second, then placed a hand over his chest and returned the greeting.

My brother did the same. Jepeto and I just bowed awkwardly.

If, by some chance, I lived a few more years... I found myself thinking I wanted to come back here someday and bring them a gift too.

Getting two gifts like this was way too much. I didn’t deserve it. My hand kept drifting back to the necklace.

Hugh watched me with warm eyes.

With my brother’s help, I climbed into the carriage, and Jepeto hopped in too.

Wait, what? We’re riding in the same carriage?!

Ahem. Jepeto cleared his throat awkwardly and sat plastered right up against the door. The carriage door shut with a clatter, and my brother and Luman mounted their horses.

Luman was holding two sets of reins.

Wait a second. Is it even possible for one person to control two horses at once?!

I widened my eyes and peered out the window, and for a second I caught sight of a yellow glow floating around the reins.

I narrowed my eyes to try to get a better look, but all I saw instead was my brother’s chest.

“Ren. Don’t lean your head out. It’s dangerous.”

“Okay...”

So I had to stop looking outside.

With a sharp whinny from the horses, the carriage started to roll forward slowly.

I want to look back. Maybe I could sneak one quick peek while my brother isn’t looking?

“Um, Sir Ren.”

“...Just call me Ren.”

‘Sir,’ my ass.

At that, Jepeto’s whole face brightened.

“Come over here.”

“...No thanks.”

“No, I mean—Luman is riding ahead on this side.”

“So what?”

“Aren’t you trying to look out the window? That side’s difficult because your brother the Hero is guarding it.”

Ah...! So that’s what he meant!

I thought about it, then decided not to be stupidly prideful for no reason.

I slipped over to the opposite window, and through the one Jepeto opened for me, I quickly stuck my head out.

From an open window halfway up that towering ducal castle, long purple hair streamed in the air like a banner.

Coco’s hair looked exactly like a hand waving and saying, Bye. Have a safe trip.

If I hadn’t looked back, I really would’ve regretted it.

Wait! Isn’t that dangerous?!

“Ren. You need to pull your head back in now.”

Hhk.

Since when had Luman been watching me?!

The moment I turned my head, I locked eyes with him, as if those golden eyes had been tracking me the entire time. Startled out of my mind, I jerked backward too fast, and then I heard a surprised voice go, “Oh—”

“Gah!”

“A-are you all right?”

Jepeto caught the back of my head with a panicked look on his face.

“I-I’m fine. I’m okay.”

I hurriedly slapped his hand away, then bowed my head a little in thanks. He stared at his own hand with a strange expression.

A moment later the carriage stopped, and the door opened.

“Ren. I told you not to stick your head out.”

“Yeah... I was wrong...”

“......”

My brother’s stern gaze swept over my face, checking everywhere.

“You’re not hurt?”

“No...”

“Then fine.”

“Luman. Just because he’s not your little brother doesn’t mean you get to say things like that. The important part isn’t that he didn’t get hurt. The important part is that he almost got hurt. Ren. If you do that again, I’ll tie you behind me on the horse and take you that way, so stop causing trouble.”

“Huh? Uh...”

My butt would probably hurt, but... I wouldn’t exactly hate that...?

Actually... I’d kind of like it!?

Luman looked at Temar—who’d gone on way too long—with a flat expression like he couldn’t believe him.

“Your words and your actions are complete opposites. You’re supposed to punish him, not reward him.”

With a sigh, Luman slammed the window shut tight.