After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - Chapter 12: [End of Vol. 01]

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Chapter 12.1: Side.Yuliana – A Promise to My Husband’s Mother, and My Feelings

 

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—Bang!

The sharp sound of the door slamming echoed through the office.

As the footsteps of someone storming away faded down the hall,

I kept my eyes fixed on the last glimpse I’d caught of my dear husband’s profile.

His jaw was clenched tight, as if he were holding something back—

His face twisted with frustration and anger.

So… he can make that kind of expression too.

You wouldn’t call him expressive, exactly.

Most of the time, his face just showed exasperation or exhaustion.

But even so, his emotions always showed up clearly, like his heart was reflected right there on his face.

Still, I’d never seen him look angry before.

No matter how much I teased him, he’d look surprised, or a little annoyed—

But he never truly looked mad.

Was it because this time, it involved his family?

Or… had nothing ever made him that angry since we met?

Which one was it, I wonder?

If it’s the first…

Does that mean he wouldn’t get angry for my sake?

“Fufu.”

I laughed softly at myself for thinking that way.

So much like a love-struck girl… not very like me at all.

Still smiling at the change in myself, I rose from the sofa.

It wasn’t that I felt awkward being left alone with his mother—

But the one I always wanted to watch was him.

Of course, enjoying a situation like this would be far too improper,

But I couldn’t deny I was curious.

I gave a polite bow to his mother, seated behind the office desk.

There was no trace of surprise on her face—

It was obvious she’d expected things to turn out this way.

My dear husband is easy to read, after all.

I gave a small chuckle and was just about to follow after him—

When her voice called out to stop me.

“Lady Yuliana.”

I turned back, meeting a pair of amber eyes that looked so much like his.

“Is something the matter, dear mother-in-law?”

“…I must admit, I’m not quite comfortable with that title. But for now, I’ll let it slide.”

Unlike her son, her face was colder, harder to read.

But even so, the slight stiffness in her voice made her discomfort clear.

Far from just a little resistance.

That tone reminded me of how both he and his little sister reacted

When I called them “dear husband” and “little sister.”

Especially him—

That deeply annoyed sigh he gave me every single time.

Even though the atmosphere around them was completely different,

It was moments like this that reminded me: they really were family.

And honestly, it made me want to tease her a little too.

But even I knew better.

Time and place matter.

And I wasn’t about to be disrespectful to his mother.

“Please take care of Cru.”

“Hmm… should I take that as your official approval of me—as his wife?”

“…No, you should not.”

She pressed her fingers to her forehead, as if trying to suppress a headache.

“I don’t know what kind of relationship the two of you really have. But what I do know is that Cru rarely takes the initiative to get close to others. Especially not with fellow nobles.”

“That’s true.”

Even back at the academy, I’d never once seen him act friendly with anyone.

He always blamed it on being “just a poor viscount,” but…

It’s not like every student at the academy cared only about titles or wealth.

And it’s not like he was shy either—

He talked to me, a duke’s daughter, like it was nothing.

Someone like that should’ve had at least one or two close friends.

Come to think of it,

Even the first time I met him in the rose garden,

He was there because he’d been looking for a place to be alone.

“He’d never admit it, but he’s the type who carefully chooses who to keep close. So whatever the reason may be, The fact that he brought you all the way to our estate… That alone proves he trusts you.”

“I’m honored to hear that. Though, I’ve never heard it from him directly.”

“He’s not very honest with his feelings.”

“Fufu. That’s certainly true.”

If my dear husband heard this conversation,

He’d definitely make the most disgusted face imaginable.

Just imagining him twisting his mouth and narrowing his eyes in exaggerated annoyance made me smile—

But then his mother rose gracefully from her chair.

With that refined posture, she gave a polite, elegant bow.

“Please… take care of Cru.”

A parent’s love for their child.

Seeing it so clearly before me made my eyes soften, as if I were staring at something radiant.

Like mother, like son… huh?

They’re both so unlike typical nobles.

Most noble parents are…

I almost let my thoughts wander toward my parents—

But I shook that image off immediately.

No need to spoil a perfectly good moment.

Instead, I curled the edge of my mouth into a gentle smile and lifted my dress slightly in a formal curtsy.

“In the name of Yuliana, of House Arrose—I promise.”

◆◆◆

From the moment we first met…

I thought he was strange.

As I walked down the hallway, following after my dear husband, that thought crossed my mind again.

When I asked him to speak more casually with me,

He agreed without a second thought.

That in itself was unusual.

Anyone else would’ve hesitated—

Would’ve worried about our difference in status and politely refused.

But him?

He just said, “Alright,” like it was nothing.

It was my idea, sure—

But I fully expected him to turn it down.

That unexpected reaction… was the very first thing that made me curious about him.

It was true that I had some ulterior motives when I suggested the fake engagement.

Choosing a viscount with no power or wealth meant that—

Even if he got any strange ideas, I could easily keep things under control.

As a shield against troublesome marriage proposals,

He felt a bit unreliable—

But just having a fiancé was enough to keep some suitors at bay.

Still… that was all an afterthought.

The real reason—

Was simple curiosity.

I just wanted to watch this strange boy a little longer.

Wanted.

Past tense.

Because now, it wasn’t curiosity anymore.

Somewhere along the way…

I started wanting to stay by his side.

And the truth is—

Even I don’t know why.

If it’s not for amusement or intrigue,

Then why do I still want to be near him?

I could slap a label on it.

Call it this, call it that—

But that would only be using someone else’s words,

And I wasn’t sure any of those words really fit how I felt.

I didn’t want a definition borrowed from someone else.

I wanted to understand this feeling in my own way.

“You’re impossible, big brother!”

“You’re the one who did something reckless, Lulu!”

I opened the door to find the two of them bickering, voices raised in anger.

My dear husband and his little sister.

And as I watched them—

I found myself wondering once again.

Just what is this feeling I have for him?

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Chapter 12.2: A Sibling Fight in the Ryule Viscount House

 

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I couldn’t sit still.

I had to ask her—

Why would she do something so reckless as to offer herself up as part of a bet?

Using herself as the wager just to secure funding for the survey?

Was she out of her mind?

Without thinking, I burst out of the office and started opening doors one after another.

If she wasn’t there, I moved on to the next.

I practically turned the whole mansion upside down before I finally found her.

Lulu was dusting one of the guest rooms with a feather duster,

And looked completely startled when I barged in.

She turned toward me, confused.

“B-Brother…?”

But I didn’t have time to worry about how confused she looked.

I marched straight up to her, eyes locked, and stopped just inches away.

“What were you thinking?”

“W-What do you mean? I-I wasn’t running away from you or anything—”

“I’m talking about why you turned yourself into part of the bargain to pay for the survey.”

“…!”

As soon as I asked, her eyes went wide—

And then immediately darted away from mine.

She knew.

She knew exactly what she’d done.

And that only made my frustration burn hotter.

It wasn’t just irritation anymore—

It was a swelling fury that felt like it could burst out of me any second.

This wasn’t something that could be calmed down with a couple snapped nerves.

No, this was way past that.

“…So, Mother told you.”

Lowering her eyes, Lulu spoke like she had finally given up.

“Why didn’t you tell me? And more than that—why would you do something so reckless in the first place?”

“This has nothing to do with you, Brother.”

“Of course it does! We’re family!”

The moment I brought that up, Lulu bit her lower lip, hard.

“I made this decision on my own.”

“You don’t get to decide something like that on your own! What kind of person would sacrifice their own family just to survive?”

“…The people in the territory were already at their limit. If we did nothing, we might not have even made it through this winter.”

“That’s… I told you I’d handle it, didn’t I? This isn’t something you need to worry about.”

“—Even though I’m family?”

Lulu finally looked up at me.

And in her eyes—

There was a light I hadn’t seen just moments ago.

A fiery determination.

It mirrored my own anger—so sharply that it felt like staring into a reflection.

Her grip on the feather duster tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.

“You’re always like this, Brother! You keep taking everything on by yourself—acting like you’re the only one who can fix things! You even decided to enroll in the academy without saying a word! And now you think you have the right to lecture me?”

“W-Wha—!?”

I’d come here to scold her—

So why was I the one being yelled at now?

I stumbled, caught off guard by her sudden outburst.

She stepped in close, her blazing amber eyes filling my vision.

“You’re angry because I offered myself up as part of that gamble, right? But do you really think I don’t know?”

“K-Know what?”

“To pay for your enrollment into the academy… You did the exact same thing, didn’t you?”

“What—how do you—who told you that…!?”

I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand.

I’d said too much.

Lulu narrowed her eyes, clearly accusing me with her gaze—

“I knew it.”

She might’ve had her suspicions,

But now I’d just confirmed them for her.

Even if I’d been too angry and lost my cool,

That was a huge slip-up—one I immediately regretted.

“That count’s daughter from the neighboring territory, right? Sure, the academy says it welcomes all nobles, But I doubt she was generous enough to help a poor viscount’s son who couldn’t even pay his entrance fee without expecting something in return. So what exactly did you promise her in exchange?”

“…That was my decision. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Then what I did this time—was my decision. So stay out of it.”

That was…

Far too solid of a comeback.

I never imagined Lulu had figured it out.

Did she piece it together from little clues?

Or did Mom tell her?

Either way, it looked really bad for me to be lecturing her about making dangerous deals

When I’d done something nearly identical.

It was the textbook definition of: Look who’s talking.

At this point, I didn’t have much of a leg to stand on.

But even so—

I couldn’t let her actions slide.

Not as her brother.

I had to protect her.

That part… I wasn’t willing to compromise on.

“Forget about me. Just—don’t ever do something like that again. Things happened to work out this time, but next time, who knows how bad it could get?”

“No. I won’t promise that. Please just leave me alone.”

Lulu turned away with a sharp huff, as if brushing me off.

And more than feeling awkward about it… I felt my irritation boiling over.

“Leave you alone? Don’t be stupid. Listen to me—don’t ever do something like this again, got it?”

“I don’t care.”

“You do now.”

I cut her off with a tone that left no room for argument.

Lulu looked down, shoulders trembling—

Then suddenly snapped her head up.

Her eyes were glossy, as if a thin layer of tears had just formed,

And the corners of her eyes—just like Mom’s—were sharply lifted in anger.

“You’re so impossible, big brother!”

“Well, you’re the one who did something stupid!”

One thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were in full-blown shouting mode.

She threw insults. I threw them right back.

“You’re the idiot, stupid!”

“Shut up! You’re the real idiot!”

And just like that, we were throwing childish insults at each other.

“Idiot!” “Moron!” “Pervert!” “Thickhead!” “Flirty big brother!” “Selfish little sister!”

It devolved into a petty, emotional exchange that sounded more like a playground fight than a serious argument.

“Ugh! I don’t care about you anymore! You’ll just die alone as some bitter, forever-virgin weirdo!”

Screaming with tears in her eyes, she hurled that final verbal grenade and stormed out of the room.

Seriously, what the hell did she just say!?

“Where the heck did she even learn a word like virgin!? A proper lady shouldn’t be saying stuff like that!”

“…That’s the part you’re hung up on?”

I spun around—

And there was Yuri, leaning casually against the doorway.

When did she show up!?

She was smiling like she’d just watched a comedy,

But her eyes were clearly filled with exasperation as she looked at me.

I shot her a sharp glare in return,

Trying to swat away that smug expression with my eyes alone.

“Of course it’s not okay. Even if we’ve fallen from grace, a noble lady has no business using such vulgar words.”

“Virgin~♪”

“…It really suits you.”

“How rude, dear husband.”

Yuri placed her hands on her hips, pouting in mock offense.

I didn’t care what she said—

But it was true that it oddly did suit her.

Though whether a duke’s daughter should be saying things like that… well, that’s a separate issue.

Thanks to Yuri and her ridiculous antics,

The irritation that had been boiling inside me gradually started to fade.

In its place,

A heavy weight settled in my chest.

The kind of weight that made me want to reach up and scrape it out with my hand.

“…Sigh. Sorry you had to see that. I kind of lost it.”

“I don’t think it was strange. It’s natural to be angry when it’s family, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… I guess.”

If I hadn’t gotten angry knowing my sister was offered up as a bargaining chip,

Then I’d have no right calling myself her brother.

But still—

I buried my face in my hands.

I wanted to dig my nails in.

Mess up everything.

Tear it all apart.

“That’s not what I wanted to say to her… I was worried. That’s all. But I couldn’t express that properly. I didn’t even try to understand her side of things. Didn’t ask Mom for the full story either. All I did was blow up at Lulu. Some big brother I turned out to be. Pathetic.”

I should’ve listened.

Even if what she did was reckless,

I wasn’t in any position to lecture her after what I’d done.

I just dumped my emotions on her and expected her to take it.

It really was pathetic.

And yet…

Yuri gave me a small smile and said,

“I’m actually a little jealous of you.”

“Jealous? Of what?”

All I did was dump my feelings on her.

What part of that is worth being jealous of?

“Of having someone who gets mad at you—Not because of logic or duty, but just out of worry.”

“That’s… normal, isn’t it?”

“Is it really?”

Yuri narrowed her eyes teasingly.

“Then tell me… if I did the same thing as your little sister, Would you scold me too, dear husband?”

“Of course I would.”

I answered instantly—

And her blue eyes went wide.

Why are you surprised?

“Even though I’m not family?”

“Well, yeah… but you’re… a friend…”

Though, honestly, calling our relationship “friend” didn’t feel quite right either.

“…Or something like that. It’s hard to define with this whole fake fiancée thing. But even if you’re not family—If someone I care about does something reckless, like trying to sell themselves off to help others, of course I’d get angry. Am I saying something weird here?”

I glanced at her for confirmation.

But Yuri just stared at me.

Completely still.

Completely silent.

Expressionless.

Which honestly, was kinda terrifying.

Then, without a word,

She started tapping her cheek with her index finger.

Now I was scared.

Finally, she let out a long sigh.

Her eyes drifted up to the ceiling,

Her whole face carrying this tired, almost exasperated look.

“You really know how to say the kinds of things that mess with people, don’t you? I couldn’t tell whether to be happy or to slap you.”

“Can we go with neither? And why is slapping me even on the table?”

Shouldn’t the obvious choice be “feel touched” or something?

“I mean, I could slap you right now. Say, ‘You dense idiot!’ and everything.”

“Let’s not do that.”

As Yuri raised her hand with a cheerful smile,

I quickly shook my head.

Nope. Not even close to being into that.

I’ve got zero interest in being slapped for fun.

“…Whatever.”

“Good.”

“Don’t square up like that—this isn’t something you hit people over.”

I waved my hands defensively.

Yuri just laughed.

“I know, I know.”

Then, as I turned to leave the room, she asked,

“Going after your little sister?”

“I need to apologize.”

“I see.”

She brought a hand to her cheek,

As if thinking something over—

Then said, “Hmm… right,” and caught my wrist as we passed each other.

Her slender fingers wrapped around my hand—

And even now, even at a time like this,

The sudden touch made my heart skip.

“…What?”

“Would you let me talk to your sister instead?”

It was an unexpected—and honestly, baffling—suggestion.

What is she thinking?

I looked at her, trying to read between the lines,

But all she did was smile her usual smile.

“Your little sister is my family too, right?”

“It’s still fake, you know.”

I replied out of habit.

Yuri’s smile only deepened.

“And besides—Right now, if you go to her, it’ll just make things worse.”

That made me freeze in place.

“…You might have a point.”

Even so, I couldn’t help feeling conflicted.

But before I could object again, Yuri gently rested a hand on her modest chest.

“Trust your wife.”

The way she said it—with that confident tone and gleam in her eye—

Made me wonder if my unease came from the fact that I was just too stubborn.

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Chapter 12.3: Side.Yuliana – The Fake Fiancé, the Little Sister, and the Rooftop

 

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They chased.

And chased some more.

While my dear husband and his sister ran circles around each other like that,

The sun had begun to set.

From the window in the hallway,

All I could see now was a sliver of sunlight peeking out from behind the mountains.

Bathed in the outline of the ridgeline,

I narrowed my eyes against the fading light

And kept heading upward—searching for his little sister.

Up the stairs.

Past the attic.

“Found you.”

“…!”

Curled up on the rooftop just outside a tiny window,

She flinched at the sound of my voice.

She must’ve known it was me—

But even so, she didn’t move.

Still hugging her knees, she stared silently at the mountains, where the last light was fading.

She didn’t answer,

But I took her silence as permission and climbed out the small window to join her.

The wind was strong up here—

Maybe because of the elevation, or the way the mountains surrounded us.

I took care as I stepped across the uneven roof,

Then quietly sat down beside her,

Though she still said nothing.

“…How did you know I’d be here?”

“I’ve done the same thing before.”

Adjusting my seat, I let out a small laugh, thinking back to childhood.

“When something upset me and I didn’t want to see anyone, I’d sneak up to the roof. I used to find it fun—listening from above as the whole mansion panicked trying to find me.”

“I’m not enjoying this.”

“Well, I suppose it’s not quite the same when there aren’t any servants frantically searching for you.”

The moment she finally looked up at me,

Her face all but screamed, “Don’t lump me in with you.”

Of course, I understood that much.

Still—she looked this way.

That was enough.

Clearly, both brother and sister weren’t very good at this kind of emotional back-and-forth.

Maybe it was due to inexperience from not attending many social functions,

But more than that, I felt it just wasn’t in their nature.

That honesty, though—

It made them easy to read, and honestly, rather endearing.

“Do you like your brother?”

“I do.”

She answered immediately, and I was stunned.

I’d expected at least a bit of hesitation.

Maybe some flustered embarrassment.

But her answer came so quickly, so confidently, it caught me completely off guard.

She narrowed her eyes, suspicious of my surprise.

“You were the one who asked, Lady Yuliana. Why do you look so shocked?”

“I didn’t expect you to say it so clearly.”

“Loving your family is normal, isn’t it? There’s nothing embarrassing about that.”

“…Agree.”

She sparkled.

There was a clarity in her gaze,

And the slight tilt of her head showed that her words were genuine.

Now that I thought about it,

My dear husband also called his sister “cute” without a second thought.

Maybe… this is what a normal family looks like.

Or maybe these two were just unusually close.

Either way,

I couldn’t really tell—not when I’d grown up in the strange world of a ducal house.

“Just to be clear… You don’t mean like in a romantic way, right?”

“N-No, of course not!”

“You stuttered. That’s suspicious.”

“Anyone would get flustered if you suddenly asked something that ridiculous!”

Her face turned bright red as she huffed out short, sharp breaths.

But… it didn’t feel like I’d hit some deep, hidden truth.

More like she was just honestly caught off guard.

“Good thing your brother doesn’t have any strange preferences.”

“……….”

When I said that,

She made a face that was… hard to describe.

“…If we’re talking about strange, isn’t that more your department, Lady Yuliana?”

“Me? In what way?”

“You like my brother, don’t you? Even though you’re a duke’s daughter.”

For a moment, I was left speechless.

Not because of what she said—

But because I didn’t even know which part of it surprised me most.

Her amber eyes gleamed in the light of the setting sun as she stared straight at me,

While the wind brushed softly across my cheek.

“…So you knew I was from a ducal house?”

“Mother confirmed it when I asked her later. Though from the way you hid your family name at first, I did suspect you were someone from the upper nobility.”

“You’ve got sharp instincts.”

“You weren’t exactly trying very hard to hide it, were you?”

Well, that’s fair.

I never really intended to keep it a secret.

The only reason I didn’t use my family name from the start was because… it seemed more fun that way.

That said, my sister-in-law had been suspicious of me from the moment we met,

And his mother already knew who I was.

So really, I’m not sure it made much of a difference in the end.

I was hoping for a more dramatic reaction—

Something like my dear husband finding out later and being absolutely shocked.

But life rarely plays out the way you plan.

With a sigh, I shrugged my shoulders and began to stand, ready to return to the attic.

But then—

I felt a tug on my dress.

“So… you do like him, right?”

“You’re awfully bold, aren’t you?”

I hadn’t really intended to run away—

But being stared at with such sincere eyes made it harder to speak.

So I slowly sat back down,

And just like she had earlier, I turned my eyes to the sun dipping behind the mountains.

“…Yeah, I do like him.”

It didn’t come out effortlessly, but I gave her my honest answer.

“Is that… romantically?”

“Payback for earlier?”

She had a sharper edge to her than I expected.

Do I love him as a man?

That question had crossed my mind more than once.

And yet, here I was—

Having chased him all the way back to his family home,

Still without an answer.

I’m the type to become attached to the things I like.

But whether that feeling is romantic…

Even I don’t know yet.

“…Who’s to say?”

It wasn’t that I was dodging the question.

I truly didn’t know the answer.

Hearing that, she puffed out her lower lip to the extreme—

Then let out a long, exasperated sigh.

“…I accepted the bet because I wanted my brother to come home.”

“Is that so?”

That was unexpected.

And even though I didn’t know her all that well,

It somehow felt… very much like her.

When I asked for confirmation,

She gave me a firm little nod.

“My brother enrolled at the academy so he could restore the crumbling Ryule viscount house. I thought… if that burden disappeared, He might finally come home.”

“I don’t think that was the only reason he went to the academy, though.”

He talked a lot about reviving the Ryule name and rebuilding the land, yes—

But behind that, I always sensed another reason.

He didn’t want his sister to be forced into a marriage she didn’t choose.

That much was clear.

And yet…

That very sister ended up accepting a marriage proposal just to bring him home.

There’s a certain irony to it.

The brother doesn’t understand the sister.

And the sister doesn’t fully understand the brother.

They care so much about each other—

And that’s exactly why they keep missing the mark.

As I was thinking that,

She suddenly made a face like she’d just bitten into something bitter.

A deep, scowling frown, like she’d tasted something she hated.

“I don’t like it… That attitude of yours, like you understand my brother better than anyone else.”

“Oh, fufu? Did I really come off that way?”

That hadn’t been my intention at all—

But now that she said it, I could kind of see how it might have sounded like that.

When I asked again, she just frowned even harder.

“At first, Lady Yuliana, you said the reason you’re not ending the fake engagement… was the same as why I like my brother.”

“You mean really like him.”

“…That part wasn’t necessary.”

She sounded just like her brother.

I couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle.

“You’re wrong, by the way. There’s no big reason behind why I like my brother. I just do. That’s all.”

“Not because you enjoy being around him?”

“…Is that why you won’t let him go?”

She gave me a long, flat stare—

Then stood up.

“I should get going. I need to apologize to my brother.”

“Glad to see you’re feeling better.”

As I said that, she looked back at me like she had something else to say.

But in the end, she didn’t.

She simply turned and slipped back through the little window into the attic.

Maybe she decided it wasn’t worth asking.

And I had no intention of explaining anything, either.

I just watched her leave and quietly thought, I hope things go well.

Looking up at the evening star that had just started shining in the night sky,

I made a small wish.

Then her voice drifted back through the open window—

“I don’t get flustered when my brother hugs me. Because I’m his sister.”

It might’ve sounded like an unnecessary comment,

But in that moment… it was exactly the reassurance I needed.

I turned around,

But she was already gone.

All that remained was the little open window leading into the attic.

Letting out a soft sigh,

I looked up at the night sky, now completely cloaked in twilight.

“…Was that her way of acknowledging me? Or just a weird, roundabout way of saying thank you?”

Either way, she was surprisingly earnest.

So…

She doesn’t get flustered, even when he holds her.

I placed a hand over my chest.

—What about me, then?

The answer in my heart was already close.

Almost within reach.

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Chapter 12.4: In the Carriage, Held Close, and Confessed To

 

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I hadn’t used it in a while,

But my bedroom had been cleaned thoroughly in the meantime.

As I sat on the neatly made bed, stewing in a mix of regret and anxiety,

Lulu came to visit.

Her eyes were a little puffy, probably from rubbing them—

And with a slight bow of her head, she spoke.

“…I’m sorry, Big brother.”

Maybe Yuri’s talk had gotten through to her.

Compared to the way she’d stormed out earlier,

Lulu now looked calm and composed.

More than her apology,

That change alone let me breathe a little easier.

I’d had some time to cool off too.

I still had things to say about what she did, sure—

But I wasn’t about to start yelling at her again.

Not now.

Still, I didn’t want to think this outcome had all gone according to Yuri’s plan.

The idea of playing right into her hands left me with… complicated feelings.

Even so, I couldn’t not be grateful.

So with a somewhat conflicted heart, I gave Lulu a quiet, “I’m sorry too.”

At that, her face softened with a look of relief.

“We really don’t get each other, do we?”

“We both tend to act on our own. That’s part of the problem.”

I let out a breath, releasing the tension in my face and shoulders.

Just like that, we’d made up.

We didn’t need to say it out loud—

The warmth in the air between us said it all.

But then Lulu tilted her head slightly and asked—

“By the way, brother—do you like Lady Yuliana?”

“Pfft—”

I couldn’t help but spit out a laugh at the completely out-of-the-blue question.

Where did that come from?

I didn’t think anything in our conversation had hinted at feelings for Yuri.

So… did something happen between her and Lulu?

I was curious what they’d talked about,

But first, I had to deal with the question itself.

If this were just a normal chat, I could’ve brushed it off with a joke.

But we’d only just made up after our argument.

I didn’t know why Lulu suddenly wanted to know whether I liked Yuri or not,

But the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Lying now wouldn’t just feel awkward—it’d feel wrong.

She looked at me with those pure amber eyes, waiting.

I stayed silent for a moment, trying to dodge it,

But she clearly wasn’t going to let this go.

With a long sigh, I finally gave in.

“…I don’t dislike her.”

Even I could tell how non-committal that sounded.

It was a halfway answer if there ever was one.

Maybe that’s what people mean by being indecisive.

Still, I wish someone would try being the brother in this kind of situation—

Being asked about your feelings for another girl by your own sister?

It’s not easy.

It’s just… awkward.

What if she didn’t accept that answer?

If she kept pressing, maybe it’d be my turn to run next.

I braced myself—

But Lulu simply nodded.

“So that’s how it is.”

That calm reply knocked the wind right out of me.

She must’ve seen it on my face,

Because she smiled and said with a soft laugh—

“You’re easy to read, Brother. I can tell it’s not romantic. That’s all I needed today.”

“…You’re getting cheeky.”

When I gave her forehead a little flick, she flinched with a soft “Ow!”

But even then, Lulu looked just a bit… happy.

After that small moment of sibling teasing,

She gave a gentle, “Good night, Brother,” and quietly left the room.

I watched her go, then flopped back onto the bed with a whump.

“…Is that how it looked to Lulu?”

Staring up at the plain white ceiling, I let the thought drift.

I’d said what I did because I was talking to my sister—

But I did like Yuri.

Still, just like Lulu said…

It wasn’t the kind of affection you’d have for the opposite sex.

At least—

“…That’s what I thought, anyway.”

I had a feeling sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.

◆◆◆

Ten days had passed since I came back home.

The first day was chaotic, sure,

But once that passed, it felt like any other return trip.

Just me slipping back into my old life.

We had a few calm, practical talks—

About the household, the territory, and what to do going forward.

Mostly between me, Mom, and Lulu.

But nothing major had changed.

It was a peaceful return, all things considered.

“Are you really not going to stay here?”

The morning I was set to return to the academy—

Lulu asked me this while wearing the maid uniform I’d finally gotten used to seeing on her these past few days.

Her expression was quiet, a little lonely,

And she tugged lightly at the hem of my coat like a child trying to hold someone back.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot, you know.”

With a new gold vein discovered,

The territory was now busier than it had been in years.

It wasn’t a problem I could solve on my own—

But if it meant easing the burden on Mom and Lulu,

I’d seriously considered dropping out of the academy and coming back home.

Still, in the end, I chose to return to the academy.

Because I was thinking about the future of House Ryule… and of my family.

I’d already explained all of this to Lulu.

She’d said she understood.

But feelings aren’t always that simple.

She clung tightly to my coat, refusing to let go,

Until Mom—who arrived a moment later—gently stepped in.

“Lulu. Let go. This is Cru’s decision. You mustn’t try to stop him.”

“…yes.”

In the Ryule household, Mom’s word was law.

Lulu drooped her shoulders and finally let go.

I reached out and patted her head.

“I’ll come back to visit. And I’ll write, too.”

“You promise?”

She pressed for confirmation,

So I gave her a small, reassuring nod with a wry smile.

She stared up at me, unblinking—

As if making sure I wasn’t lying.

Then narrowed her eyes just slightly.

“You’re not allowed to get a girlfriend, okay?”

“…What are you even talking about?”

No way that’s happening, I laughed to myself—

But I still looked away instinctively.

“Brother?” she pressed.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said with a little nod.

“Alright then. I’m off.”

“Take care.”

And with that,

I climbed into a ridiculously elegant carriage—

Far too fancy for someone like me—

As my mother and sister saw me off.

“Done saying your goodbyes?”

“More or less.”

Yuri, who’d been waiting inside the carriage, asked me that as soon as I stepped in.

I simply waved my hand with a light shrug.

“I see,” she said, satisfied enough with that.

Then gave a signal to the maid coachman to begin the journey.

The carriage started to move.

Through the window, I watched the scenery slide by in reverse—

Leaving my hometown behind.

It was too soon to call it nostalgia.

But… there was still a faint loneliness in my chest.

As I stared out at the passing fields and trees,

Yuri, seated across from me, asked quietly—

“Are you sure you didn’t want to stay?”

“Lulu asked me the same thing. But yeah… this is fine.”

I answered without taking my eyes off the window.

“We’ve struck a new gold vein. But I know it won’t last forever. And if we want to truly support the family, we need something more permanent than that. I hate putting the burden on Mom and Lulu, but…”

The gold rush would end one day.

That much was obvious.

Knowing that—and still doing nothing about it—

Would’ve been nothing short of foolish.

Both Mom and Lulu understood what I was trying to do.

At least… they said they did.

Their real feelings were easy enough to read.

I could still picture Lulu’s sulking face—

Like a little puppy left behind to watch the house.

And the image made my heart feel a little heavier.

“That the only reason?”

“…”

I stretched my lips into a flat line.

Still facing the window, I glanced sideways—

Only to find Yuri watching me with her usual calm smile.

What kind of answer was she hoping for?

I could guess… more or less.

But saying it out loud wasn’t exactly easy.

Even so, I was genuinely grateful to her—

For stepping in and helping with Lulu.

Just this once, I told myself silently,

Then let out the other reason I’d been holding back.

“If I hadn’t met you, Yuri… I probably would’ve stayed home. The academy never felt like a place where I belonged.”

A place for noble connections.

A place for arranged future marriages.

The academy had always been that kind of place to me.

I never fit in.

And I always felt alone.

The only reason I kept going…

Was for my family.

For Lulu.

That was it.

If nothing had changed,

I probably would’ve dropped out and never looked back.

There was no part of me that should’ve had any reason to stay.

“Then why go back?”

“…You’re really something, you know that, Yuri?”

She just had to make me say it.

I threw her a sidelong glare,

But she only kept smiling—calm, gentle, and unshaken.

Waiting for me to put it into words myself.

I’d never been good at things like this.

But ever since meeting her,

I’d been pushed into saying or doing things I was never good at—

So many times now, I’d stopped keeping count.

And this… was just one more to add to that list.

“…Because being with you is fun, Yuri.”

That was the reason I chose to stay at the academy.

Something that simple…

And yet, it was enough to keep me tied to a place I once hated.

The moment I said it, a wave of embarrassment hit me,

And I quickly turned my gaze back to the window.

There was no way I could look Yuri in the eye after that.

I tried to focus on the scenery flying past—

But then, clunk—I heard movement.

Realizing it was Yuri standing up, I turned to see what she was doing—

Only to find her sitting right beside me.

“That’s kinda dangerous, you know.”

“Hmm? Fufu… I just thought of something I wanted to try.”

No matter how luxurious a duke’s carriage might be,

There’s still only so much space inside.

Even pressed against the window, our clothes brushed.

And then she leaned in even closer—

Those jewel-like blue eyes now shimmering right in front of me.

“…Just to check, what exactly is it you’re trying to do?”

“I want to hug you.”

“…………”

What on earth is this girl saying?

I stared at her, wondering if this was some kind of joke—

But no.

She looked entirely serious.

True to her word,

Yuri opened her arms and leaned in to embrace me.

I instinctively backed away—

Only to hit the wall of the carriage.

Nowhere left to escape.

My cheek twitched.

“You’re… joking, right?”

“Tell me, have I ever joked in a moment like this?”

…No, she hasn’t.

“Still, maybe this should be one of those times?”

“I know turning sincerity into a joke is one way to handle things, but I won’t do that today—now then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Stop.

That voiceless scream never had a chance of reaching this stubborn, willful duke’s daughter.

Before I could make sense of what was happening,

I was already wrapped in her arms.

The soft warmth pressing against my chest.

That sweet, distinctly feminine scent.

All five senses lit up at once,

And my body froze like stone.

I couldn’t move a single finger.

“…Can you hear our hearts beating?”

“I don’t know whose is whose, but yeah… It’s loud.”

“Maybe they’ve melted into one, beating in perfect harmony.”

She rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered such an embarrassing line

Like it was nothing.

All I could hear was the thunder in my chest.

The sound of the wheels beneath us felt like it had faded away.

“………Hmm. I see. I get it now.”

“Feeling satisfied now?”

I fought to keep my voice from cracking as I asked,

Watching her slowly pull away.

“Yes. I’m satisfied. And I’ve realized something.”

“Realized… what?”

Yuri held her chest with one hand, her cheeks flushed red,

Still smiling softly.

Maybe it was the effect of the hug.

Or maybe it was because I couldn’t not feel her as a woman—

But in that moment,

She looked unfairly beautiful.

I’d only asked to keep the mood casual,

Hoping to hide how flustered I was.

But clearly,

That was a mistake.

Yuri, still blushing,

Smiled as she answered me—

“—I love you.”

If I hadn’t asked,

Yuri would’ve stayed content with just that satisfied smile—

And I never would’ve heard her confession.

My heart stopped.
The carriage kept moving.

Where were these turning wheels carrying us now?

I had no idea.

◆ End of Volume 01 ◆

To be continued.

======================

[Afterword]

Thank you so much for reading all the way to the end!

There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, and I know the wait was long—

But somehow, Volume 01 is finally complete!

Volume 02 will be taking a short break before continuing,

But I truly hope you’ll enjoy it just as much when it returns.

See you again soon!

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