14 – Lie
I heard ‘Come in’ after knocking, and so I opened the door.
It was my younger sister’s room, which was in the corner of the house, next to my own room.
The room had not changed at all. Very simple, with few things. The only personal belonging was the old stuffed animal on the bed.
“…Sister?”
Mimi stood up from her desk and looked at me with a surprised expression.
“It’s been a while, Mimi.”
“Sister… Welcome back.”
Her voice lacked any enthusiasm.
She used to smile as bright as a sunflower… But like our mother, it was now fragile.
“…Yes, I’m back.”
While the feelings of guilt ate away at my chest, I gently hugged her.
She had grown taller. So quickly. We were nearly the same height now.
—It had been three and a half years since I left home.
In the meantime, she had been here all alone.
I had wanted to take her when I left.
But back then, I did not have that option.
I could only look forward and continue to run—even though I had promised to protect her. But now, I didn’t know if that was the right thing.
“I’ll prepare some tea, alright?”
She said with a smile as she pulled away, and I nodded.
My eyes went to the desk. There was a single notebook there.
Mimi then pulled me by the hand, out into the hallway and towards the living room.
Thin tea was placed on the table. It was quite different from what we had in the old capital. It was practically hot water.
But things had been worse at one point. When we only had bread crust and tasteless soup. We had worked hard to find ways to make it taste better. Still, I was not a good cook, and so Mimi did most of it.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Mr. Rand placed a plate on the table.
“Sister, did you…”
She looked confused, but then her eyes shone when she realized what it was.
Various cookies and muffins of different colors. They were luxurious treats that usually would not be seen here.
“A present. I brought a lot more of these, so eat as much as you want.”
“Really!?”
Her eyes widened, and she hesitantly took a bite of one of the cookies. And then she smiled.
“You should eat them too!”
“I’m fine for now.”
I could eat them back at the academy, unlike Mimi.
However, my sister picked up a cookie and raised it towards me.
“Here, open up.”
“…”
I could not refuse it then. And so I took a bite.
I chewed and took a sip of tea…and then remembered.
“By the way, I bought some tea as well. A lot of it.”
“You did! You should have said so!”
Mimi complained that she would not have had to dilute the tea.
Her smile made me feel warm, and I took another sip.
“So, how are things at the academy?”
“Hmm. It’s as I told you in my letter.”
“No. I want to hear it from you directly.”
And so I slowly told her about my life there.
My training. How nervous I felt when I first hunted a monster.
About my friends. How Sherry always helped me.
My rival. Iria, who I was proud of.
The tournament. It was because of my teacher and friends that I was able to make it so far.
While I talked awkwardly, Mimi seemed entertained as she listened.
The past three and half years had been too eventful to talk about everything.
“…Mimi.”
“What is it, sister?”
“…I heard that you are getting married.”
“Yes. They say that he is very rich. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Mimi. Are you alright with this?”
That was what I wanted to ask. The reason I returned.
…At the very least, if she got married, she would not have to live like this anymore. That was one good thing.
Father and mother were not completely wrong.
Perhaps Mimi would be happier.
If this was what she wanted, then I would support her.
But if not…
“Yes.”
She nodded and smiled.
“Mr. Mikhail is a nice man. I will have a lot of freedom once we marry. I don’t know if I will ever get offered such good conditions again.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. You worry too much, sister.”
“I see…”
“Ah, you better attend the wedding!”
“Mmm.”
As I drank the tea… I did not miss Mimi scratching her left hand with her right while she was smiling.
It was a habit she had when lying.
I decided to spend the night in Mimi’s room that night. We bathed together, washed each other’s backs, and laughed.
Later, we rested in her room and talked about all kinds of things until it was late.
That’s when I heard a knock on the door.
“Lady Mimi. The master is calling you.”
“Huh?”
“…Mr. Rand. Just Mimi?”
“Yes.”
The answer came quickly, and I looked at Mimi. ‘At this hour?’ I wondered, but Mimi stood up.
“I’ll go and see him then. Ah, don’t go anywhere!”
“Yeah.”
Mimi said as she left. And then I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
(She is lying about something…)
Clearly, this was not a marriage that she wanted.
I was sure of it… But why lie about it?
(And what…should I do?)
Should I object to it?
Is that what she wants me to do…?
Suddenly, I noticed the notebook that was on the table.
(That…)
Thanks for hte chapter.