Chapter 149

I stared blankly 4e865b623e at Joshua, who b026cd0918 suddenly burst into d36453bfd0 tears.aebd19204350730b

Ever since he regained 4e68a91075 his health, he hardly 79bad3b1e3 cried anymore.4a24cf09387f5dee

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Compared to his older brother’s 2a1c501747 childhood, Joshua still had a 240437cc22 lot of boyishness left, but 4e73e1a78e I knew very well how 4b6870724f hard he had tried to 36d83f6853 act mature between me and a6fde9b470 Edwin, who were quite precocious 31721cb37f for our ages.2bd10c9fce8fa751

“Huuuuh…”d23c0b3d84bb2a16

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I looked at Joshua, who 25780dda75 was crying sorrowfully with big 361caa6aff teardrops falling, and felt a 9e86b9ccbc pang of sadness.ba3727ed66e01989

Then I gently pulled 2fcc6c9b8a him into a hug.824194c2e2f02ee3

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He used to be about 376c990cdd my size, our heights were 3b12f4bcf9 almost the same.e0b55852916a33db

But now, his body 2291387d55 had grown taller and d3c6e8589a stronger, feeling unfamiliar against 13493bd379 me.cebfbd7f5bd1e50c

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‘When did he grow up so much?’4189c93b84f0080b

Even so, he 5f22435e0e would always be 26590eceae my closest friend, bb8570e6a4 like a real a87e0b13fb younger brother.d2ab5920eb2b634f

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The one I d47680c8fb saved even by ed6ce6d63a twisting the original a94ddfc223 story.cfa6c22d3f86ace0

My first patient, 142871fbba and my precious d6c0557a79 starting point.dd54f556b67db73d

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I hugged him 63dae5070d tightly and patted cc2558a964 his back.94d0f8dbe37b3eab

“Don’t cry, Josh.”b665c0e5f40b1085

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“Huuu, huuuh, Siiisssss…”28825b6fc6a708d5

“Life’s like that. Sometimes there are people who like you unconditionally, and sometimes there are people who, without any reason, act nasty out of a bad heart.”058dfd4281066da5

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I understood exactly 90f5886a74 why Joshua was 023e7b46f7 so upset.a71a057755a2c29d

It wasn’t just because he 81cd6d9b5c was helplessly bullied by Danvers ed2684e15a Campbell’s gang.4dfe2c379d922c48

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It was probably because e7b1584f26 he had genuinely cared 82a8bb3ad9 for them at one c99e8e603e point.b2950e01fbee9f14

Because he was so happy 2e8a9242ac and thrilled to have new 27f95fea19 friends for the first time.eac26793ffe7cb08

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He couldn’t have 6cfaa93e05 even imagined that 774124d580 the money and c927ade5d4 jewels he gave 7ee62a0906 them little by aa83559bf6 little would lead abf7732d9c to all this.a7bb9003383bf930

As someone who spent eaa63d6a06 a past life being 782f07d602 relentlessly bullied, I could 947ffef821 completely empathize with Joshua’s e5525dbe85 loneliness and sadness.ac9ff9d2ea01247e

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When you’re always left alone, even the smallest gesture of kindness from a passerby feels unbearably sweet.4efc9d3ad4f15a4c

Just like me 72b4c41a16 — who, in 125efb6145 this life again, 76ef201a91 found myself drawn 4d32cecfb7 into the Duke 6acba28fe7 who sponsored me, db4755fd09 and Edwin, who 3978b180ca comforted me when 90b44fffd5 I cried over 87f5bb53a4 Diana so long baecc999af ago.a91c60f54859d378

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“…Not everything will go the way we want. All we can do is give our best in the moment and be satisfied with that.”d9d17223e9e0a407

“B-But…”350b4d037258cc98

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At my gentle voice, Joshua 5a2b004823 lifted his head, his shoulders 9ce5f0ab35 trembling.8355abdb2688eac7

“I’m just a stupid idiot who couldn’t do anything…”284feb1bd79d5174

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“Shh, where did you learn to talk like that?”0b0a041926655288

I frowned at his dffd38f50f harsh language.cef8e1ed2748c016

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Then I pulled a yellow 9aa360793c handkerchief out of my pocket.51b92f97b72ea5ab

It was the one bae341c412 Edwin had once handed c9682b485d me right after my a481507d7a regression to wipe my 7b03954679 nosebleed — now worn 6621bb337b out and fraying at 0727cb0c76 the edges.d7b9bf6ddc48b8c1

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With it, I gently f51d70d702 wiped Joshua’s tear-streaked, messy 90c24c164d face.bcf4a7f22c6449b4

“I learned it from you…”8fba92476c3fa585

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I lightly ignored his 88fabaffbe small muttering and continued.0a772eddcfed5d0c

“From the eyes of a third party, you actually handled yourself pretty well for a high-ranking noble.”a27838e4002c3a55

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“R-Really?”603100031a8d2071

“Yeah. It’d have looked ridiculous if a Duke’s son got stingy over a few coins.”83d0811f8bd229a9

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“……”4f1ab97e9dc9a1c5

“And you cleverly used the fact that jewels and accessories bearing the Duke’s insignia can’t be easily resold.”1943cbf515bf9a06

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“Th-that’s…”c7749821737734e9

Joshua mumbled gloomily 9f0b21961b in response to 81d3986069 my comforting words.db53c928019ab599

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“Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing. It’s just… the accessories I gave to the maids would end up back in the jewelry box after a few days, so…”283af305a4a98147

I remembered little Josh from ce352f6896 childhood, cluelessly handing out accessories eea1f2cb3e everywhere.1e55f2af6240c8ae

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‘This probably would’ve resolved itself even if I hadn’t stepped in…’631ec03ce1702c2e

It was obvious who had 6d6aa5c979 orchestrated it.d04260f608737f15

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After all, no one 736fe4fd37 would know a child’s 8d2f5e0476 kind and gentle nature 28a089915f better than their own 6a0bf019f4 parents.75976eab86667de5

Smiling a little, e2471e43ab I answered Josh.09847cdc26217dd9

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“It’s fine as long as you know now. If something like this happens again, you’ll be able to handle it better.”88f596d1c128bb35

“…….”7ac45751f51ad481

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Hearing that, Josh’s gloomy expression f42a6026cd visibly brightened.9d6d2de1b28d5760

Still snuggled in my arms, 911d725c7b he stared up at me 3aeab6b77e with those round, sparkling eyes 60d33f46de for a while.ace23245c0fc2475

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Then, swallowing back a e7350da943 little sob, he suddenly 2a206855ae asked,35cc615a82067cf9

“…Sis, hic.”de4a74f47800b867

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“…….”509f4d54a0745441

“Sis, we’re the same age… so how do you know everything so well?”fa87908accfa904a

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“Huh?”1dfc4095ebc5590d

“How do you always… handle things so maturely? Sometimes, when I look at you, it’s amazing. You feel more like Edwin’s friend than a twelve-year-old.”06a8d6ba15c39b08

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I was a little c8e30eba20 flustered by his unexpected 35a7e7766b words.284270e8c7f62902

It really hit me then—Josh d49a95833f was old enough to start 01aecbfc99 feeling that gap between us.2beff6a534d724a7

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‘Well, of course… I’m not actually twelve.’6588a4b8a57c448c

But since I couldn’t just 1e2fa45ec1 tell him the truth, I ffbd1286dc gave him a sheepish smile bfe4abc256 and came up with a 0300436318 half-baked excuse.c34889650e6bec1a

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“I guess… it’s because I’ve met a lot of people running the shop?”d76db34553792a3f

Thankfully, Josh accepted 18855e3bfd it easily and f2824f3aee moved on.939c5490be253628

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“Is running the salon fun?”e2ab1f781362321e

“Fun? It’s… just tiring in a lot of ways…”a34bb690952c0c40

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“What are you two doing over there?”24c4872f050d0787

It was right then.0ffd54927d88f183

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Someone suddenly called e6d5e3cfcd out to us.d4a3d90ea4b2c4cd

“Get away from each other. You shouldn’t be clinging together like that, even if you’re family.”e4f88148adcc3216

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Not far from us e9bb3dc0fa stood a guy, leaning c83f729b9d lazily to one side.a390b83b340445e7

Wearing a sharp blue uniform, c14ca05ecd golden eyes gleaming brightly under 5864d98099 the sun.fc13c0a79fd6a987

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His skin looked a little 3c56dc5144 tanner than before, his shoulders f95b2703d3 broader.af0bfa54f05fabcb

I rubbed my 3d2f5c0d41 eyes, not believing 16575b6270 what I was 96eb010cf9 seeing.1a2d1d4cb3683a3c

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“Ed-Edwin?!”5c117b7728faa2cd

“B-big bro…?”9d4d118824eba6e7

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While Josh and I stared ceddd6bed5 at him, still unsure, Edwin 890619f74c frowned and jerked his chin 4b5d51acfa at us.ad031380dad85c35

“What if someone sees you two acting like that…”865c94f087b2ee89

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“Edwin―!”aeb7db95088fdacf

Before his nagging bda37ef513 could even finish, 0ecc0085c9 my body moved b82247806e on its own.b32a3e87ce0bd587

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Tap-tap-tap!7618584acd8bd541

“Careful…! Ugh.”1259975d85706296

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Edwin, startled by my sudden 8c63f37675 dash, still caught me easily 94e6e15c8b with practiced hands.92ae25b36b912343

I buried my face deep fa68fbe811 in his firm chest, breathing e049a4a25e in and out in big, e3aec09df1 silent gulps.fb905a8ebfb61380

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A warm, familiar scent, eb26195a7e like sun-dried fabric, filled abb39b1525 my nose.46810d19f427aa2d

‘Edwin’s scent.’53a451ae1fd865dd

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A rush of heat c6ab7becb2 swelled up inside me.f1a6fabea7409521

It had been about three weeks since I’d last seen him because of the subjugation campaign.ac8923c2b69f5ed0

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Barely a couple of weeks apart, and yet, feeling this heartache and longing—guess I’m seriously hopeless.fe968b46b8d18f53

At that moment—14c5b8324f18a863

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Pat, pat.7d660d1a02a9cdd1

As if he understood exactly 21b5dd8e38 how I felt, Edwin gently 9f6fb2cf9e patted my back.7c3c798b182c2699

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‘Maybe… you missed me too, even just a little?’e6941ce0c92d0738

Feeling his tender f6e6d799a1 hand comforting me, d50ed4dab9 a small lump 5635ccc7bc formed in my f286a6465c throat.467b5f0690b03a46

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With each passing year, 0f02623958 he was growing bigger, 6b6c9ba0fa closer to becoming an 9e6b91247b adult.f60eff30beaa34a4

And yet, sometimes, 4e67fc7e53 I still felt 861861e023 like I was b00ccbfb1f stuck at five 52f678d085 years old—the age e275993f7f when I first cda14e7337 met him.0bf2d92cbc60886f

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Like a silly kid, 3d544e7980 helplessly yearning in front 6b0f6bf99e of her first love.195a59839f897077

My feelings only grew stronger with time…07bed7ae27bbd9cf

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‘But it’s okay.’0e51fbded8b923a1

I tried to 47b2b81bcd calm my racing 02d6540a39 heart as I 16e295269b thought.c0a1e175b1436936

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‘This time, he came looking for me first, not Diana.’c139c44232bdd1dd

Still resting my face 4f4ad08704 against his chest, I 75268fdbb6 finally managed to fix bfb3335741 my expression and lift b2d0f6706d my head.426f647dc9f56516

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“When did you get here? You should’ve called. Is the subjugation finished now? Why did you come to the Academy first…?”9bf88796d5c32090

“One question at a time, one at a time.”9ff4da00f684c37b

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Seeing me bombard him without d20cc648ab even a breath, Edwin muttered 7dca2670ed lowly as if telling me ec680b477c to calm down.5b0994d8796bb49c

The strong arms still wrapped 8eb13c7582 around my back made me bb766fd99d finally realize—he was really back.61d98d90dc796c11

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“Are you hurt anywhere?”2bb24f4178f6f221

“No.”9b004aa2a599448e

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“Really? Truly?”d87b84cc42f8e6e4

“Someone packed half my luggage with every medicine imaginable. I didn’t even get a chance to feel sick.”aa219f7f65b36a57

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Hearing his nonchalant answer, 3d30e47f83 I blushed a little.f34fcab586df5897

In my previous aa5853c6d0 life, I found bab5b1ff85 out much too ff0416f30a late that the f2bd45eb3b reason he hadn’t a845bb4278 come home was 57a61431e3 because he had 456041976f been out on 4ad5a0c9a2 subjugation missions.e617ea4310a66fb5

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Edwin had always ecc6391b13 hated anything bothersome, a19a97e6d7 and without a c9454f709f proper mistress managing 1d12c6919e the duke’s house, 18b0b1130a there was no 7fcd62e731 one to fuss b1c689502a over him.1c850be5e5a9293b

Naturally, he was the type 73763ced36 who wouldn’t bother to pack 0ce7b61dbb even basic first aid supplies.3b5c5c845f37fbe6

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I still remember the 3d0d546823 day he came back 4399ef57fb severely wounded in my 3bb6aeef68 past life.8007df36c65f39ed

The fact that he 20cf9bacdb kept it hidden and 5a140b5836 had Grandpa Gordon heal a8fb951f66 him instead of telling 35da0b42ef me had left a fd64ba5c60 scar on my heart.c138a0560d9c008f

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So this time, determined be58acac51 to prevent that, I bf728ad2d1 had made sure he 3ecbea3dfd was properly prepared…644d194e3c2bfad6

“Are you moving house or something? With all that stuff, it looks less like a subjugation and more like a full-on march.”0cc8d3b77169ab83

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I recalled his reaction when 64870b0e2c he saw the mountain of aa7cb8ca32 supplies Grandpa Gordon and I cbf1660476 had packed after much discussion—and 3010feca62 felt embarrassed all over again.f8a15b44fa53a2d5

I hurriedly changed the subject.a526cb1a7ed6b377

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“What about His Grace? Did you stop by the duchy first?”044b02c562cbb506

“I just arrived.”c6feca8aa8481fb8

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His blunt reply 3d9ecc92af made me pout 99e5c05507 a little.ae85ec53bdf5e89e

“Then you should’ve gone home first. You must be exhausted. You should rest…”19befbfc85d1f27e

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I scolded him out eb2e701234 of worry, but he 646a08cca5 only narrowed his eyes 106d7af48d and stared at me.41702ec994225856

“I heard you’re attending the Academy now.”98a274d615590ee3

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“Huh? Oh, yeah.”0f627f2d75d8cbce

Come to think of it, 82e0506806 I’d been so distracted by ecb36cebb6 Josh’s incident that I hadn’t c4f8c37f4e had a chance to tell 57ad3b8742 him about it.76e904b4ac841384

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I averted my eyes ecac19907d awkwardly and mumbled,cce9ea2b7cb34986

“Uh, somehow, I ended up enrolling last week…”d76b25d58499ff53

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“And here I am, rushing back without even sleeping properly.”0edef27b852201f7

“Huh?”b35d121a1f457d3f

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“And what do I find? You’ve enrolled in some place crawling with guys, and then the moment I show up, you’re hugging some random boy.”f377c004fa7de092

His golden eyes, shining 33892a3289 like the sun, glared 800d717287 at me fiercely.369fae3f9b4bfaba

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