"Why are you doing this? Brother did nothing to you!" Elona shouted angrily.
Loid chuckled. "Such a naive girl. You think family is everything? You think just because you share the same blood, you have to stick together? Wake up, Elona. The world is not that simple. Sometimes, you have to choose between what's best for your family and what's best for yourself."
Elona's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that your precious brother is a liability," Loid sneered. "And what does that have to do with you, Elona? That guy left the Falkrona House. He is not your family anymore, righ-"
"You have no rights to say that," she said through gritted teeth. "He is my brother and you have no right to divide us. No one can….not even brother himself." Her voice cracked at the last words and even tears welled up in her eyes.
I could feel a strange fluctuation in my emotions, quenching down my anger. Loid's taunting words still lingered in my ears as I saw Elona standing before him, clenching her fists.
"Ahaaahaha! You are still following him like a puppy despite what he had done to you and my stupid sister? You are really an idiot, aren't you?" Loid laughed out loud.
"If caring for his family is stupid…then I suppose I am," Elona replied, her voice low but determined. She briefly lowered her gaze before raising it again, her grey eyes piercing Loid's tangerine ones.
"What…?" Loid narrowed his eyes, taken aback by her response.
"Brother changed…he is showing similar expressions to before." A rare smile appeared on Elona's face.
Now that I think about it… how long had it been since I saw a smile on Elona's face. Since mother's death, she rarely smiled, and it was only for me. She was forcing herself to smile at me because of my change, but after my tenth birthday…
"Please…Loid. Leave my brother alone," Elona asked in a sincere tone.
"What are you going to do if I refuse?" Loid snickered. "I have old grudges against him. The last years he remained hidden like a coward in his house, but this time I can finally show him who is above the other."
"Enough, Loid," a new voice spoke out, and I quickly hid behind the corner to listen.
Miranda...
She walked over and joined Elona, a smile spreading across Elona's face when she saw her.
"Myra!" Elona said, the smile that she hadn't shown me in so long appearing. Miranda smiled back at Elona and turned toward her younger brother.
"Are you not tired of taking out your frustrations on Edward's sister?" Miranda's tangerine eyes clashed with the same colored eyes of her brother.
Loid clenched his fists at her words.
What was she talking about?
His frustrations?
Could a bastard like him feel frustration in the first place?
I couldn't help but wonder what Miranda meant by 'frustrations'. Was Loid dealing with some sort of internal conflict? Or was he simply using that as an excuse to justify his stupidity?
"...you are so annoying, Miranda." loid muttered, "if you weren't so obsessed with that guy, Joyca wouldn't be in that pathetic state! And mothe-"
"Loid!" Elona shouted in shock at Loid's words before he could finish.
As I watched the scene unfold before me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of shock and disbelief at Loid's callous words towards his own sister. The way he had brought up the tragedy that had befallen their family, the loss of their mother and Joyca's disability, seemed like a low blow even for him.
I could see the hurt etched on Miranda's face. It was clear that the loss of her mother had affected her deeply, and the fact that Loid was throwing it in her face only added salt to the wound.
"You can blame me, Loid. I will not deny my responsibilities for what has happened…"
Despite the hurt, however, Miranda's response surprised me. Instead of lashing out in anger or despair, she took the responsibility for what had happened. Her voice was quiet, but resolute, as she spoke.
The sadness in her smile was palpable, and it reminded me of the time when she had lost her mother. Despite the grief, she had always tried to keep a cheerful disposition around me, as if she knew that I too had lost someone dear to me.
I wondered if that was the reason why she had always been so kind to me, seeking reassurance from someone who could understand her pain. It was a thought that lingered in my mind as I watched her speak, her gaze fixed firmly on Loid.
"But that's why I will not make the same mistake twice. I will be there this time for my family," she said. "For my brother," she continued, her eyes never leaving Loid's face.
Loid, for his part, seemed at a loss for words. His lips quivered as he tried to process what had just happened. For someone who had always seemed like a cold-hearted bastard to me, this was a side of him I had never seen before.
As the tension in the room dissipated, I found myself staring at Elona's lowered face and Miranda's smile, which seemed to hide something dark and gloomy. There was still so much I didn't understand about this family, and I couldn't help but feel that there was more going on beneath the surface.
"..." As for Loid—he was speechless for a few seconds. He seemed at a loss for words as his lips quivered. Again, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I've never seen such interactions in the game. For me, Loid was a complete bastard without any emotions whatsoever.
My anger toward him seems to have diminished, but not because of him.
My gaze remained on Miranda and Elona.
Regardless of what I've seen, they are both people I've been very close to in my childhood and now with a clearer mind I…
"..."
"..."
When I turned back to lean on the wall, my eyes met a beautiful pink pair of eyes.
Milleia.
What the hell?
She was just near me, leaning in to hear the conversation. I was so focused and lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice her.
Finally, Milleia noticed my gaze and tried to speak, but I immediately covered her mouth.
"!"
The last thing I wanted was to get caught eavesdropping by Miranda, Loid and my sister. It would be too awkward.
I put my index finger to my lips, signaling for Milleia to remain silent. She nodded, and we watched as Loid muttered something under his breath before walking away. I let out a sigh and removed my hand from my lips.
Elona, who was probably wondering how Miranda had ended up here, spoke up. "Myra, what are you doing here?"
Miranda, staring at Loid's retreating figure, sighed. "I had a feeling that Edward was going to come looking for Loid, to make him pay for his involvement in his loss, but I guess I was wrong."
I knew she was right, but I didn't want to admit it. Five minutes ago, I had been ready to do serious harm to Loid.
Milleia whispered, "Is that true?"
I shook my head and replied, "No, of course not," lying through my teeth.
Elona's expression became bitter as she said, "I also thought my brother would come. That's why I went to look for Loid immediately."
Am I that easy to read?
[<Like a open book.>]
My expression twitched at Cleenah's answer. Were they thinking I was some kind of savage?
Elona stood in front of Miranda, feeling grateful for her friend's support. "Thanks, Myra," she said softly.
Miranda furrowed her brows, confused. "For what?"
Elona shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "You helped me with Loid," she said awkwardly.
Miranda shook her head. "I didn't really help you, Elona, but I think he will calm down a little. You don't have to worry about...Edward." Her voice trailed off at the end.
Elona hesitated before speaking again. "Brother changed, don't you think, Myra?"
"He changed nine years ago, Elona," Miranda answered, clearly avoiding the topic.
"I'm not talking about after Mother's death, Myra, but just a month ago."
Miranda fell silent, and Elona continued. "I think he...is becoming like before."
"Elona," Miranda sighed. "Don't get your hopes up that easily. Your brother won't be like the one you played with before-"
"You played as well, Myra," Elona cut her off with a frown. "You were also with us. Please don't try to divide us like that..." She lowered her head sadly.
Miranda was taken aback by Elona's words. "I'm sorry," she said, suddenly embracing Elona. "You know how much you mean to me, Elona. I will never forget our happy memories...including the ones with Edward. They were my best memories, after all."
Elona smiled, her heart feeling lighter. She hugged Miranda back. "You also mean a lot, B-Big sis," she said, stuttering slightly at the end shyly.
Miranda's eyes widened in surprise. "How many years has it been since you called me like that?" she asked, teasingly.
"Why? Can I not?" Elona pouted.
"Of course you can!" Miranda giggled, glad to see Elona's spirits lifting.
"..."
Having seen enough, I walked away. Milleia followed after me.
Milleia's hesitant voice broke the tense silence between us, "U-Um, Edward?"
I turned to her, "Yeah?"
"Do you hate your sister?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.
I was caught off guard by her blunt question, unsure of how to respond. For a moment, I simply stared at her, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Finally, I decided to keep my mouth shut, unable to find the right words to answer her.
Milleia stepped forward, her soft voice filling the void, "I already talked to you, Jayden, and Lyra about my sick mother, do you remember?"
I nodded, remembering the conversation from the game. But hearing it from Milleia's own mouth, the pain and sadness in her voice made my heart ache. She continued, "After my father died, mother took care of me alone. She overworked herself for me, resulting in her current state. Most of the time, she is asleep on her bed and...in those times, I had always felt lonely...and I wished for the presence of my father or I wished to have a brother or a sister."
I listened intently, my heart heavy with empathy and understanding. It was clear that Milleia was dealing with a lot, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"You know, when I heard you had a sister and a brother, I was a little jealous of you. But when you spoke harshly to your sister, I felt angry." She pouted, "Why is he acting like that towards his brother and sister? I wondered. I talked to your sister, and she told me it was her fault."
I was shocked by her revelation, "What? Why in the world did she say that it was her fault?"
Milleia explained, "She cried and talked to me a little about you, so I understood. I also lost a parent after all..." Her voice trailed off, and I could sense the pain in her words. It was clear that she and Miranda had more in common than I had originally thought.
Milleia's voice grew more firm, "That's why, Edward, don't bully your sister!"
I shrugged, pulling away from her face, "Well, I don't have time for that anyway..." I changed the subject, "By the way, why did you come?"
"Oh, that," Milleia replied, "I was worried that you would fight again, so we all looked for you."
You thought that as well?!
"Friends should help each other." Milleia nodded her head vehemently.
"I guess…" I replied with a faint smile. She was no different than in the game. The same kindness. No, maybe she was even more kind and caring.