『The book you threw away today contained “fear.”
But remember that fear eventually becomes a memory.
And memories are courage that can be taken out again when needed. 』
Curiosity outweighed fear as Elysia carefully spoke to the strange screen.
“…Could you be a magical artifact? Can you talk? Are you reading my mind?”
The screen gave no response.
But before long, new words appeared.
Instinctively, Elysia squeezed her eyes shut.
Wonder and unease mixed together, causing her body to retreat on its own.
『 Friend in need of a story: None
Condition of the listening friend: Anxiety, exhaustion, self-blame
Recommended action: Instead of avoiding your emotions, try facing them. How about recording what happened today? 』
Elysia cautiously opened her eyes and stared at the screen for a long time.
The word “record” caught her attention.
Slowly, she placed both hands on the keyboard.
Following the letters, she pressed the keys.
To her surprise, words appeared on the screen.
『 Today, I sold my fairy tale books. My younger brother doesn’t know yet. I wanted to protect them. At least him… I didn’t want him to become like the adults around us. 』
The moment she finished typing, another message appeared beneath it.
『Counseling Log No. 00 successfully registered! 』
『Beginning record! 』
Elysia removed her hands from the keyboard and quietly took a breath.
Something deep within her chest stirred softly.
It felt like hearing words she had always wished someone would say to her.
After putting the laptop into her bag, Elysia headed toward the Grand Duke’s estate.
By the time Elysia arrived at the estate, morning had fully arrived.
As she approached the front gate, she carefully took the metal device out of her bag.
As if sensing something, the screen flickered faintly.
『Friend in need of a story: None / Condition of the listening friend: Worry / Emotional flow decreased.
『Unrecorded emotions: Caution, responsibility』
Elysia inhaled slowly.
“I brought it just in case I needed it… But more importantly, I wonder if Joshua is alright. He must have been worried after realizing I was gone.”
While she worried, the guards opened the gate.
Crossing the vast garden and approaching the mansion entrance, she spotted a familiar face.
“Noona!”
“Joshua!”
Before she could even properly greet him, Elysia’s face turned pale.
The closer she got, the clearer she could see him.
Joshua’s face was a mess.
A dark bruise covered his right cheek.
His left eye was swollen nearly shut.
And the scrape on his knee, which hadn’t seemed serious yesterday, was now badly torn up.
“What happened to you? Who did this? Did you touch something in the estate? Even if you did, how could they treat a child like this?!”
Dropping her bag, Elysia grabbed Joshua by the shoulders.
No matter how she looked at him, these weren’t minor injuries.
Unable to keep up with the speed of her lips, Joshua whined.
“Noonaaa, you’re talking too fast! Slowly!”
“Oh… ah…”
Elysia’s shoulders immediately slumped.
“I’m sorry. Noona’s sorry.”
Watching her repeatedly apologize, Joshua spoke awkwardly through his swollen cheek.
“I’m okay. Nobody hit me.”
“Then how did you end up like this?”
“Well…”
Joshua hesitated.
Elysia gathered every ounce of patience she had.
Just a little longer.
Wait until he can explain himself.
Still…
Even if someone had hit him, how could they injure him this badly?
Couldn’t he have run away? Did he really just stand there and take it?
Can I really work here?
“Noona… your face is scary…”
“…Then tell me how you got hurt.”
Taking a deep breath, Elysia asked again.
At that moment, someone peeked out from the front entrance.
It was Sheyla.
The little girl nervously played with her neatly braided pigtails while observing the situation.
Elysia greeted her with a polite nod.
“Your Ladyship, would you mind waiting a moment? I left for a short while and my brother—”
Sheyla held up a small notebook.
Written in it were simple words.
[It’s because of me.]
The handwriting was round and childlike.
Reading it, Elysia doubted her own eyes.
“…What? Because of Your Ladyship? Don’t tell me the servants beat Joshua because of something involving you?!”
Straightening up, Elysia looked ready to march inside and demand answers.
Both children immediately panicked.
“No, Noona! No!”
Joshua hurriedly grabbed her.
“That isn’t it! There was a bird’s nest outside the window! I was watching it! Then it fell! So I tried to catch it! And I fell from the second floor!!”
“…What?”
“The nest was okay! And the Grand Duke saved me! That’s why I wasn’t hurt worse!”
Joshua talked so quickly he probably didn’t even realize how badly he was pronouncing his words.
He desperately tried to calm Elysia down with gestures and explanations.
Apparently, he had been watching a bird’s nest.
Then the nest had fallen because of the wind or something similar.
And while trying to save it…
He fell from the second floor.
“Haaaa… Joshua, you…”
Only then did Elysia finally relax.
Now that the tension was gone, she could inspect his condition properly.
Ointment had already been applied to the wounds.
Most of the swelling had gone down as well.
“…You thanked His Grace properly, right?”
“Yep! He treated me himself!”
“Himself? The Grand Duke?”
“Yep!!! He asked where you were. I said I didn’t know. Then Mr. Hylmaiton told him you had gone home. Noona! Why did you leave me behind?!”
Joshua had been happily explaining everything before suddenly remembering he had been upset.
He immediately shouted.
Elysia smiled, already used to this behavior.
“You remembered to thank him. Good job. And you’re right. Noona is sorry for getting worked up. And sorry for leaving you behind. Okay? I just had something important to take care of.”
“I’m only letting it go because you came back! There won’t be a next time!”
Joshua placed both hands on his hips and declared firmly.
Where did he learn that pose?
Definitely not from the people in our neighborhood…
Don’t tell me he copied the Grand Duke?
Suppressing a laugh, Elysia nodded repeatedly.
Only then did she turn toward Sheyla.
“I’m sorry for misunderstanding, Your Ladyship. I thought…”
How should she explain this?
Should she honestly admit she thought the estate staff had beaten her brother?
Or…
Before she could decide, Sheyla scribbled another message into her notebook.
Then she showed it to Elysia.
[It’s fine.]
That was all.
After leaving the short reply behind, Sheyla immediately turned around and disappeared inside without looking back.
Elysia stared blankly at her retreating figure.
“Come on, Noona! Hurry up! The Grand Duke is looking for you!”
Joshua tugged at her.
“H-Huh? Looking for me?”
“Yep! He said to bring you to him as soon as you arrived! It’s an order from the Grand Duke!”
Joshua tried to imitate Yulias by making a stern expression.
A second later, he broke into a grin.
He looked exactly like a child copying the hero from a storybook.
Holding Joshua’s hand, Elysia entered the mansion.
Huh…?
She had definitely been speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.
There were at least three servants visible in the lobby.
Yet none of them even glanced her way.
They simply continued their work.
They definitely heard me…
Instead, Elysia found herself secretly glancing at them.
Meanwhile, Joshua pulled her along enthusiastically.
“We have to carry out the Grand Duke’s order!”
Before she knew it, they had arrived in front of the office.
Joshua immediately straightened his posture and cleared his throat.
“Ahem.”
Then he stood on tiptoe to reach near the doorknob and knocked.
“Grand Duke.”
In a carefully composed voice, he announced:
“This is Joshua. I’ve brought Noona Elysia.”
The child took a step back.
He looked nervous.
Excited.
Maybe both.
Where have I seen that before?
Elysia tilted her head.
Before she could figure it out, footsteps approached.
The door opened.
Hylmaiton appeared.
After looking at Elysia, he lowered his gaze toward Joshua.
“You’ve arrived.”
His expression became unusually serious.
“Assistant Candidate Joshua.”
That’s it.
He was copying Assistant Hylmaiton all along.
Hylmaiton stared at Joshua with complete seriousness.
In fact, it was almost too serious.
…Is he really taking this that seriously?
