Vol 1 Chapter 22 – Relying on Mother【Vol 1 — A Happy Childhood】

Mothers are magnificent.

The one who is my mother right now is named Alicia.

The reason I deliberately add “right now” is because I was born into this magical world inheriting the memories of my previous life.

Therefore, there’s no doubt that Alicia is my real mother now.

However, if we’re talking about the mother of my emotional formation, it would be the mother from my previous life, when my personality was being shaped.

Even so, the fact that Alicia raised me with love and care hasn’t changed.

My immense gratitude and respect for that hasn’t changed either.

So from the moment I was born until now, I’ve tried not to cause too much trouble for Alicia—or rather, for both my parents.

Well, I did cause quite a bit of trouble when I wanted to learn magic. That couldn’t be helped.

But I also think that parents are meant to be troubled by their children.

In that sense, I haven’t been very childlike up until now.

Because I managed most things on my own…

But when facing a situation I can’t handle alone,

the ones to rely on are, of course, your parents.

Especially when the source of my troubles is my younger sister, born from the same parents, it’s even more appropriate.

And so, after reaching my wit’s end about Elena, I decided to consult Alicia.

It would come out eventually anyway.

So sooner is better.

◯

Late at night.

After confirming Elena had fallen asleep, I sat across from Alicia at the table.

“Elena wants to marry me. What should I do?”

I hit her with my problem, straight.

I had only told Alicia that I needed to talk.

It was a statement that could easily be taken as a joke.

I stared at Alicia cautiously.

Looking at her face, I was surprised.

Because the emotion coloring her expression wasn’t shock—it was closer to understanding.

“So that’s how it is…”

Alicia murmured.

At that moment, I understood.

That she had known everything.

Alicia knew Elena had feelings for me beyond the ordinary, and that I was troubled by it.

Though she apparently hadn’t realized the conversation had progressed to marriage.

“Is that the only thing troubling you, Will?”

“No…”

Prompted by Alicia, I spilled everything.

That Elena still remembered the marriage promise we made as children and believed in it completely. That I didn’t want it.

“Will, you didn’t make that promise seriously, did you?”

“Well, we were just kids. I thought she’d forget. Even if she remembered, I didn’t think Elena would take it seriously.”

Alicia let out a soft hum, exhaled deeply, and showed a gentle smile. Like a true, loving mother.

“But Elena likes you, doesn’t she? So much that she really wants to marry you.”

“…”

I couldn’t deny it. After receiving such direct affection, there was no way I could have missed it.

“But isn’t it strange for siblings to feel that way?”

“There’s nothing strange about it. Mother doesn’t oppose it if you both want it. If it makes you both happy.”

“…But,” Alicia paused for a moment.

“Will, you don’t actually want to marry Elena, do you?”

She said it so clearly and matter-of-factly that I hesitated for a moment, even though I had to agree.

“No, but I don’t necessarily—”

“I know. That you don’t hate Elena. Rather, you like her, don’t you?”

“…”

“But marriage is a different matter. It’s one of the biggest choices you’ll make in your life.”

Her eyes, seeming to see right through everything, were trained on me.

Alicia continued, her smile unwavering.

“What do you want, Will? Tell Mother that first.”

“…I want Elena to think about this more carefully.”

“But I’m certain Elena will still say she wants to marry you, even if you say that. That child really loves her onii-chan.”

“No, but—”

“That’s not it, Will.”

Alicia’s tone shifted slightly.

“Huh?”

“What do you want, Will? Not what you want Elena to do—what do you want?”

Alicia was asking about my will. Not the solution I wished for.

“…I don’t want to marry Elena. Marriage is different. …I feel bad about making that promise so lightly back then… but I have no choice but to ask her to pretend it never happened, right?”

Alicia nodded in satisfaction.

“Oh dear, Elena… you’re going to have your heart broken. But heartbreak is an important life experience too. So you don’t need to worry, Will. Though knowing you, you’ll probably worry quite a bit anyway.”

“…What should I do?”

This mother—she would know the best approach.

“Isn’t there only one answer? You must tell Elena everything you just said, in your own words. Directly, without hiding anything.”

So it comes down to that in the end.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She’s right. From the beginning, there was no better option.

To face Elena honestly and talk.

I knew that, yet I’d been avoiding it, fearing it somewhere in my heart.

But Alicia—my mother—made me realize that.

As expected of a mother.

I’m glad I consulted her.

My course of action was decided. Tomorrow—no, I’d talk to Elena right away.

I thanked Alicia and returned to my room.

“I stayed up late for the first time in a while…”

Thinking that, a big yawn naturally escaped me.

I collapsed onto my bed.

I’ll just go to sleep. The moment I thought that—

“Hey, onii-chan…”

A faint voice came from right beside me.

“E-Elena…?”

I sat up and turned around, and there by the side of my bed stood a dark silhouette—Elena.

There was no light in the room now. The only source of illumination was the faint moonlight streaming through the window.

Elena’s face, illuminated by the scant moonlight, was wet.

Elena was crying.

Thump.

My heart beat with an unpleasant intensity.

—Why is Elena here?

—Why is she crying?

No, I had vaguely suspected from the moment I heard her voice.

“Hey, Elena, you…”

“I-It’s okay, onii-chan. Elena is a good girl, right…? If onii-chan says he doesn’t like it, I won’t be selfish about the marriage promise being void. …I don’t want to cause trouble for onii-chan.”

Hearing Elena’s tear-filled voice, I was certain.

Ah, she had heard our conversation earlier.

I couldn’t tell exactly how much she heard, but from her words, she had clearly heard the core of it.

“Ah, haha, I didn’t notice… Elena, I’ve been causing you trouble, haven’t I. I’m a failure as a sister… Yeah. It can’t be helped if onii-chan hates me. Yeah, it can’t be helped…”

“Th-That’s not it, Elena. Could you calm down and listen to me for a moment?”

“…Huh?”

Elena let out a bewildered sound.

I could see her expression suddenly color with fear.

“N-No… I don’t want to.”

“Elena…?”

When I tried to grab Elena’s hand, she avoided me.

Elena stepped away from me.

This was the first time Elena had ever shown me rejection, literally and figuratively.

“No, I understand everything. Elena won’t cause trouble for onii-chan. S-So… please stop. Please, I don’t want to hear it.”

“That’s why I’m saying it’s not like that, Elena. Just listen to me for a moment.”

“No, it’s fine. I understand. I understand. I understand! …Onii-chan is kind, so kind… I love you…”

Another step, Elena moved further away.

I instinctively jumped off the bed, but stopped in place when I saw Elena trembling violently.

“H-Hey, Elena has always liked onii-chan. Really, really, really, even now, I love you so much.”

No good. I could see the conversation heading in a worse and worse direction.

“Elena… th-that’s why.”

“Stop it! Please, stop. I don’t want to hear it. For even onii-chan to deny Elena. …I don’t want to hear it!”

“…”

“Ahaha, yeah, I know. A sister like this… It’s creepy, isn’t it? With different colored eyes, not normal. Having someone like this by your side all the time is troublesome, isn’t it?”

“Hey, what are you saying…”

“Stop it!”

No good. She won’t listen.

Elena smiled forcibly at me, tears pouring down her face.

Yet seeing that, my chest tightened painfully, and I couldn’t approach her.

“Sorry, sorry onii-chan… I love you————”

Elena ran out of my room as if fleeing.

“What the hell is going on…”

In the end, I couldn’t leave my room until morning.