188. I like… . brother.
peaceful weekend.
When I woke up in the morning, I woke up from Hessia. Hessia complained that she would sleep for just five more minutes, so I was alone in the kitchen drinking coffee and enjoying the peaceful morning that is unique to weekends.
Today is Vivian’s swordsmanship day. But for some reason, even when it was time for the appointment, Vivian did not show up.
It was Vivian who always arrived earlier than the appointed time.
When the usually diligent child did not even contact me, I first felt worried.
Did I catch a cold?
When I heard that my friend was sick, I was even more worried. When I called, Vivian was absent.
Eventually, I contacted Sepia. Sepia answered in a sleepy voice.
“Ugh? Who are you?”
“Were you sleeping Sepia?”
“Uh? Ethan?”
A voice of surprise was heard. The saying that beauty is a sleeper came to mind.
“Yes? No, was I awake?”
“I can’t reach Vivian?”
“Vivian?”
It was a puzzled voice. Because it was Vivian who was always contacted by Sepia.
“yes. I wonder if something is going on… ? Do you know anything?”
“okay? Shall I visit you?”
“Yeah, if you do, I’ll thank you. Can you check it out?”
“Uh! Believe me. I’ll go see Vivian right away!”
* * *
As soon as we cut off contact, Sepia went to Vivian.
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Just as Vivian had a key to Sepia’s room, Sepia also had a key to Vivian’s room.
It was Sepia who had received Vivian’s key just in case.
First, Sepia stood in front of the front door and rang the doorbell.
Ding dong… . Ding dong… .
But there was only the soft sound of the doorbell. If it was Vivian, there was no way she wouldn’t participate in swordsmanship training with Edan without contact.
It was clear what was going on.
Concerned, Sepia tried to contact and knock with the crystal ball.
“Are you in Vivian?”
Before I knew it, Sepia’s voice had risen.
“… miss?”
A weak voice answered from beyond the front door.
“Vivian! are you inside Shall I go in?”
“yes… . yes.”
The voice alone was unimpressive.
Sepia carefully opened the door and stepped inside. Soon she was able to face Vivian lying in bed.
“Vivian?”
At Sepia’s visit, Vivian struggled to get up. Even at a glance, Vivian’s condition did not seem serious.
“Are you sick?”
“I do not know… .”
It was Sepia who had never seen Vivian sick while living together. It was Vivian who always did her job thoroughly and thoroughly.
“If you are sick, you are sick. .”
Vivian’s cheeks were flushed red. There were beads of sweat on his forehead. Sepia carefully placed her hand on Vivian’s forehead.
A slight fever passed through his palms.
“You have a fever? Do you have a cold?”
“I don’t think it’s a cold… .”
Vivian replied in a timid voice. In my 20 years of living, I could count on one hand the number of times I caught a cold.
“I came because Ethan was worried. I heard there is swordsmanship training today… .”
“uh? Right. I have a practice today, look at my mind. What should I do? late… .”
Only then did Vivian check the time and get up. Sepia grabbed Vivian’s wrist.
“Get a good rest today. Vivian.”
“However… .”
“It is an order. You’re not going to disobey my name, are you?”
Since entering the school, Vivian has not been a servant of the Lognes family. However, since he had been serving Sepia for a long time, he could not easily refuse to say that.
“All right. miss… .”
“What are your symptoms?”
“It’s just that my heart is a little tight… . Mild fever and flushing lethargy… . I think there is.”
Sepia’s eyebrows narrowed.
“and?”
“And… ?”
“Since when have you been so sick?”
Vivian thought for a moment.
Since when did you feel so weak and sick?
“It seems like it was the other day… .”
“The other day?”
If only yesterday, it was also the day Ethan and Vivian practiced together. Could it be that my physical condition deteriorated because I trained too much that day?
Suddenly, something flashed through Vivian’s memory. After finishing the training, Vivian hesitantly went to Ethan and asked.
‘Brother Ethan… . How about me?’
‘yes? Vivian? How are you? You did well today!’
‘Not like that. That’s why I was curious about how my style looked in my brother’s eyes.’
Ethan answered without hesitation.
‘style? Ah yes! She’s a younger sister that I want to take good care of.’
younger sister.
Is it wrong to call you brother?
Am I not seen as a woman? Numerous questions floated through my head. And at the word sister, Vivian was quite shocked.
I trudged back to the dormitory and threw myself on the bed, burying my head in the pillow.
It hasn’t been good since that day.
Even after a good night’s sleep, I didn’t know what to do when I woke up, and a corner of my heart was strangely stuffy. A slight fever followed, and her cheeks turned red.
“After hearing that, I lost my energy… . I just don’t want to do anything. Sorry for causing you concern. miss… .”
At those words, Sepia laughed. I didn’t mean to laugh, but I couldn’t help laughing.
“So you’ve lost your strength after hearing that you’re like a younger sister?”
“yes… . I went to the priest, but the body itself is fine… .”
Her body condition itself was diagnosed as being fine, but Vivian’s condition did not look good.
“What do you want to do now?”
“Do you want to do it now?”
I wondered why you were asking that.
But Vivian answered meekly. As if a little embarrassed, Vivian slightly lowered her head. He answered in a hushed voice.
“Ethan’s older brother… . miss you.”
“Can’t you wait to see it?”
“… Yes. I want to run and be praised. You trained well today… .”
I wanted to be petted by Ethan, who smiled kindly.
‘This is seriously ill… .’
Sepia put her hand on Vivian’s shoulder. Vivian’s quivering brown eyes met Sepia.
“Vivian, listen to me. I think that’s a boss disease… ?”
“It’s a boss disease… ?”
Blinking, Vivian tilted her head.
I never imagined that I would get love sickness.
“You can’t stand it because you like Edan, right?”
“… Right… .”
“Do you want to run right now and hold me in your arms?”
Carefully, Vivian shook her head. Vivian is 20 years old this year. And I’ve never liked anyone before.
“Wake up, Vivian. Go and tell Ethan. I like it.”
“yes? But, how are you? Ethan oppa sees me as just a younger sister… .”
Sepia let out a sigh.
“Then, choose Vivian. Will I love Ethan alone from afar for the rest of my life, or will I confess to him openly?”
“What if there is a difference? I’m not very pretty… .”
“Vivian, of course I know that I am prettier, more attractive, and cuter than you. But you’re so pretty that you’ll never be fooled anywhere.”
At that, Vivian laughed.
Certainly, Sepia was one of the most beautiful in the Empire as well as in Roguenes.
Still, it would not be easy for her to say that with her own mouth, but Sepia was full of confidence.
“Ethan’s older brother… . They just see me as a younger sister… .”
“That’s what style is. Be confident Vivian! It’s so delicate and pretty that it really stimulates the protective instinct.”
At that, Vivian nodded.
“And if you’re not confident, hypnotize yourself.”
“Hypnosis… ?”
“yes! I am the most beautiful woman in the empire!”
“I am the most beautiful woman in the empire… . That’s a bit burdensome.”
Lady, don’t you think you hypnotize yourself like that every time you look in the mirror? At least, Vivian almost asked Sepia.
“Edan is handsome, good at swordsmanship, and has a huge magic box, but that’s just ridiculous! You don’t have to be embarrassed at all.”
“uh? then? What will become of the girl who likes Ethan?”
“Hee hee, that’s why I like it. If it’s perfect, it’s unlucky, but if it’s slightly lacking, I want to take care of it by the side. Really. It’s because you don’t know that feeling yet! Come on, wake up, Vivian.”
Sepia took Vivian’s hand and pulled it. Reluctantly, she got herself out of bed, but Vivian was still hesitant.
“go! Vivian. Go ask her out on a date. Go make your man!”
“… Really, I and Ethan oppa… . Is it okay if I go on a date?”
If it was a date with Edan, it was all that he secretly opened Edan’s heart in accordance with Sepia’s order on a spring day last year.
Back then, I didn’t know that I would fall for Ethan like this.
“You said it before. It’s okay if I’m Vivian! Instead, don’t forget that Ethan’s first is me, Sepia von Logness.”
“… I know. The first is always a sepia girl. I totally understand.”
Vivian left the dormitory wearing the clothes Sepia had picked out for her. While walking around Istvan, Vivian contacted Ethan with a crystal ball.
Receiving Vivian’s call, Ethan hurried to the plaza. Vivian was standing in front of the fountain like last spring.
“Are you okay? I was worried because I couldn’t reach you.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you. Ethan’s brother… .”
“Tell me whenever it hurts. I thought I was too overworked these days.”
Vivian pursed her lips. I wanted to ask you to go on a date for today. But I couldn’t even say that.
“did you eat lunch? Do you want to go to lunch?”
While Vivian hesitated, Ethan scratched the back of his head and asked. It was just lunch time.
“Ah yes! I was hungry.”
Even during the meal, Vivian could not make eye contact with Shui Ethan. After lunch, I walked around Istvan again with Ethan.
Ethan was diligently watching Vivian’s eyes.
I was told by Sepia that I was not in a good condition, so I was told to give her some healing for today.
“Is there anything you want to do with Vivian?”
“I mean, that’s… . Would you like to take a look at the sword together?”
“knife… ?”
Ah, come to think of it, Vivian’s hobby was collecting swords.
Ethan nodded his head. Balmung, the black dragon sword that Vivian is currently using.
It was the best weapon against dragons. Of course, in terms of overall specs, it wasn’t comparable to Excalibur… .
Entering the weapon shop, Vivian’s eyes twinkled. Vivian, who touched this and that, laughed.
Even the finest weapons felt crude compared to Balmung.
The two left the shopping district and walked around Istvan again. It was a blue evening.
Vivian felt sorry for parting, so she walked slowly. However, even if we slowed down, the time for parting was approaching.
“It is night now. I need to go back soon.”
Saying that, Ethan looked at Vivian’s complexion. If we broke up now, we wouldn’t see each other for a week until the next training session.
“Hey, brother Ethan… .”
The street lamps turned on one by one and Vivian carefully grabbed Ethan’s sleeve with her fingertips. Taking a deep breath, she cautiously let go.
Having said it now, it was not easy to confess for fear of being rejected.
Could it be that we will never see Ethan’s smiling face again because of the awkward relationship?
“I like… .”
But I ended up doing it. Vivian quickly closed her eyes to hide her shaking eyes.
Clouds were slowly passing over the night sky.
“I like! Ethan’s brother… .”
Maybe I didn’t hear it?
Vivian spoke her mind again.
“Vivian… .”
“I’ve been liking myself for a long time… . From last summer… .”
From the time he saved himself from drowning in a small boat that day. No, I had been worried about Ethan before that.
“Miss Sepia knows too. I like Ethan oppa. And I even got permission.”
As an excuse, Vivian added.
Ever since I went on a date with Ethan last spring.
His love for Ethan was growing little by little.
The warm touch gently opened Vivian’s eyes. Only then did she make eye contact with Ethan, who was smiling at her.
Ethan leaned down and whispered in Vivian’s ear.
“I like you too… .”
The answer left Vivian in a daze for a moment. I couldn’t hide the smile that bloomed on my lips like a child.
“there… . Then will you accept my heart?”
Ethan nodded softly. Vivian’s cheeks turned red. Vivian pinched her cheek once.
Because I wanted it to be a dream. If it was a dream, it was a happy dream. However, the sensation on his cheek disproved that it was not a dream.
“what are you doing?”
“Ah, I think it’s not a dream.”
“It is not a dream. Let’s go in. Vivian. I’ll take you.”
“Yes, I like it. i love it… .”
Vivian clung to Ethan’s side and walked together through the night. As I leaned on his sturdy shoulder, the tension subsided.
“I… , Can’t you hold Ethan’s hand… ?”
Ethan smiled and took Vivian’s small hand. A warm body temperature was transmitted through the hands that were clasped together.
This is how it feels to like someone. It felt like walking with a lover.
As I walked down the street at night with the thrill of liking someone for the first time and the unfamiliar sense of being loved by someone, lines kept drawing on the corners of my mouth in exaltation.
‘Let’s get to know each other slowly… . Ethan’s brother… .’
As they strolled down the street together, Vivian smiled happier than ever.
