* * *

All of a sudden, it was decided that Aileen would be studying abroad. It was announced shortly after Mikhail had been stripped of his position as the duke’s heir.

Any decisions related to the household’s successorship certainly couldn’t have been done in haste, but in this case, it was as good as done from the onset.

The day Aileen was notified that she would be studying abroad, she vaguely noticed that the atmosphere around the duke’s residence was changing.

“You there, by any chance, have you seen Affela anywhere?”

“Pardon me, Milady?”

“Umm, I’m talking about my maid.”

“Ah, yes, Affela. I believe she has left for House Rindello. It was sudden, but the circumstances must have called for it.”

“Really? But for her to leave without telling me… Anyway, thank you.”

As Aileen gave her a bright smile, the maid blushed. That lovely face of hers never failed to have a strong influence on others.

Only a fool would not notice that the people around her were gradually changing.

Now that there was no one around her, Aileen bit her fingernails, but the moment she sensed someone’s presence behind her, she stopped what she was doing and hid her hands.

“Milady?”

“Ah, hello. You’re a newcomer, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Milady. People call me Letty. Here, I’ve brought some refreshments for you.”

“Letty. So you’re called Letty?”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I would like to ask.”

Holding onto the maid’s arm, Aileen smiled very brightly at her. The maid, being a newcomer, had no resistance to her charm.

But she looked apprehensive.

“Did Brother Roen say anything? I think he kinda doesn’t like me these days…”

“That’s impossible, Milady. It wasn’t long ago that the Young Master had asked me about your wellbeing.”

“But… I heard that he got very angry at the people who talked about Sister. All they did was talk about Sister, but they got into big trouble…”

“Oh, that…”

“Do you happen to know anything?”

“It is not my place to talk about the matter thoughtlessly. Once you’re done eating later, I’ll come back and clean up, Milady.”

“Wait— wait a moment!”

Whether or not the lovable noble lady tried to make her stay put or not, the new maid moved quickly. Having finished what she came here to do, she hastily escaped from Aileen’s room.

“This can’t be. This absolutely cannot be…”

Chewing her nails once more even though there were snacks perfectly placed on the table right there, Aileen muttered to herself anxiously.

The servants who had merely talked about Violet were all rebuked for breaking the code of conduct. They were groundless rumors that had been spread as though they were facts, but regardless, she could only wonder whether such an act was worth the punishment they had faced in return.

“This can’t be. I’m right here…”

Scowling to the fullest, Aileen threw her pillow with much annoyance.

She was in the middle of letting off steam to ease her restlessness, but she froze at once. She heard the sound of someone’s movements.

“Hi, Aileen.”

“Broth…er?”

The visitor was none other than Roen.

No way. That maid.

Did she already reach Roen in the meantime?

But how could a mere maid talk to a duke’s son? Thinking it impossible, Aileen quickly schooled her features and smiled.

“Good afternoon,” he greeted.

“Yeees, good afternoon, Brother.”

It was peaceful. If it wasn’t for the thinly veiled war of nerves between them, anyone who’d see this sight would think that they were on ardently good terms.

“What brings you here…”

“I’ve been busy lately, and I know I haven’t been spending enough quality time with you. I’m actually here to bring you a gift, and… I kept knocking, but I guess you couldn’t hear me. I took the liberty of letting myself in.”

“O-Oh?”

“Just asking, but is anything troubling you these days?”

With an amicable expression pasted upon his features, Roen strode forward and placed a large teddy bear next to Aileen.

In an instant, her complexion deteriorated.

“I heard that you’ve been very anxious about many things these days. In particular, with matters regarding me?”

“W-Whaat? T-That can’t be! How could I, with you Brother…”

“I know, our kind-hearted Aileen. You must have been worried about me because you’ve just got such a big heart, don’t you? Perhaps it’s the people around you who have exaggerated the rumors…”

“Th…at can’t be. They’re all good people.”

“You can’t be so sure about what goes on in people’s minds, actually. When surrounded by only ill-intentioned people, isn’t it terrible that my kind-hearted younger sister is getting painted in such a bad light? Maybe I should pay more attention.”

“Brother, I really am alright. They have a reason for doing so…”

The more her clear, ringing voice evidently contained sadness, the darker the smile on Roen’s lips became.

Along with the teddy bear, Roen also brought a hairclip for Aileen. He tucked away a lock of her hair gently, then spoke.

“My kind-hearted younger sister…”

“……”

“Aileen. This world isn’t as forgiving as you think.

With the clip now on her hair, its green hue going together well with her pink locks, it sparkled.

Roen chuckled.

“You’re a good child, so of course you won’t understand. In this world, there are people who take advantage of another’s kindness, and those people would take that kindness for granted. That would result in the collapse of the status quo.”

“…Broth, er.”

What he said just now were the same words that Violet once told Aileen.

If one stroke of kindness could topple the status quo, in the end, who would be held accountable?

“But you’re a good child, I know.”

“……”

“Still, you don’t have to know about such squalid matters. Because you’ll always be a good, kind-hearted child.”

Shhk. The touch of the hand patting her hair remained gentle.

Aileen could only look up at Roen with a vacant look in her eyes.