Chapter 09
“The book you threw away today contained ‘fear.’
But remember that fear becomes a memory.
And memories are courage that can be taken out again.”
Curiosity outweighed caution as Elysia read the unfamiliar words. She carefully spoke toward the screen.
“…Could this be a magical artifact? Can it actually talk? Is it reading my mind?”
The screen gave no response. However, before long, another sentence appeared, causing Elysia to instinctively squeeze her eyes shut.
Her fascination with the strange object clashed with an unsettling sense of unease, and her body automatically took a step backward.
『Friend in need of a story: None
Current state of the listening friend: Anxiety, Fatigue, Self-blame
Recommended action: Try practicing facing your emotions instead of avoiding them. How about recording what happened today?』
Elysia cautiously opened her eyes and stared at the screen for a long moment.
The word record caught her attention.
She carefully placed both hands on the keyboard.
As she pressed the keys one by one, following the letters, words appeared on the screen.
『Today, I sold a storybook. My younger brother still doesn’t know. I wanted to protect him. At least him, so he wouldn’t become like the adults.』
The moment she finished typing, a short message appeared beneath it.
『Counseling Journal No. 00 Registered Successfully!』
『Beginning Record!』
Elysia removed her hands from the keyboard and quietly drew in a breath.
Something deep inside her chest stirred softly.
It felt like the kind of words she had once wished someone would say to her long ago.
After putting the laptop into her bag, Elysia headed toward the Grand Duke’s estate.
It was nearly morning by the time Elysia arrived at the estate.
As she approached the main gate, she carefully took the metal device out of her bag.
As though sensing something, the screen emitted a faint glow.
『Friend in need of a story: None / Current state of the listening friend: Concern / Emotional flow decreased』
『Unrecorded emotions: Caution, Responsibility』
She took a deep breath.
“I brought it just in case it might be needed… But more importantly, I wonder if Joshua is okay. He must have been worried after realizing I disappeared.”
While Elysia was worrying, one of the guards opened the gate.
After crossing the vast garden and reaching the mansion entrance, she saw a familiar face.
“Big sis!”
“Joshua!”
Before Elysia could properly greet her brother, her face gradually turned pale.
The closer she got, the clearer his condition became.
A dark bruise covered his right cheek.
His left eye was swollen shut, yet he was still waving cheerfully.
Even the wound on his knee, which had not been serious the day before, was completely scraped open.
“What happened to you? Who did this? Did you touch something in the mansion you weren’t supposed to? Even then, how could they do this to a child?!”
Dropping her bag, Elysia grabbed Joshua by the shoulders.
No matter how she looked at it, these were not minor injuries.
Unable to keep up with her rapid speech, Joshua whined.
“Biiig sis, you’re talking too fast! Slow down!”
“Oh… Ah… Sorry. I’m sorry.”
Elysia’s shoulders drooped as she apologized repeatedly.
Looking at her, Joshua spoke through his swollen cheek.
“I’m okay. Nobody hit me.”
“Then how did you end up like this?”
“Well…”
As Joshua hesitated, Elysia summoned every ounce of patience she had.
Just a little longer.
Wait until he can explain himself.
No, even if someone had hit him, how could they leave injuries this severe?
At the very least, he should have run away.
Did he really just stand there and take all of it?
Can I really keep working here?
“Big sis… Your face is scary…”
“…Then why are you hurt?”
Joshua looked intimidated as he spoke, and Elysia steadied her breathing before asking again.
At that moment, the front door opened and Shaila peeked her head out.
The girl nervously played with her neatly braided pigtails.
Elysia greeted her with only a slight nod.
“Lady Shaila, could you wait just a moment? I was away for a bit, and my little brother…”
[It’s because of me.]
Shaila showed them words written in her small notebook.
The rounded handwriting was clearly her own.
Elysia doubted her eyes when she read it.
“…What? Because of you, Lady Shaila? Don’t tell me the servants beat Joshua?!”
Straightening up, Elysia shouted.
Seeing her look ready to storm off and confront someone, both children panicked.
“No, big sis! No!”
Joshua hurriedly stopped her and explained.
“There was a bird’s nest outside the window, and I was watching it! Then it fell! So I tried to catch it! But I fell from the second floor instead!!”
“…What?”
“The nest is okay! And the Grand Duke caught me, so I wasn’t badly hurt!”
Joshua waved his little hands frantically while explaining.
In short, he had been watching a bird’s nest.
Then, whether because of the wind or something else, it had fallen.
And while trying to save it from the second floor—
“Haaa… Joshua, you…”
Finally reassured, Elysia let all the strength leave her body.
Now that her tension was easing, she could examine him more carefully.
For example, ointment had already been applied to his wounds.
The swelling had also gone down somewhat.
“…You thanked the Grand Duke, right?”
“Yep! He even treated me himself!”
“Himself? The Grand Duke personally?”
“Yep!!! He asked where you were, but I said I didn’t know. Then Mister Hilmighton said he’d gone to your house. Big sis! Why did you leave me behind?!”
Joshua had been happily chattering away before suddenly remembering his grievance and shouting.
Used to dealing with him, Elysia simply smiled.
“You remembered to thank him. Good boy. Okay, I’m sorry for getting worked up. And I’m sorry for leaving you behind. All right? There was something I needed to check, so I had to go quickly.”
“I’m only letting it go because you came back! There won’t be a next time!”
Joshua planted both hands on his hips and declared firmly.
Where had he learned to act like that?
Certainly not from the villagers.
Could it possibly be the Grand Duke?
Suppressing a laugh, Elysia nodded repeatedly.
Only then did she turn to Shaila.
“I’m sorry for misunderstanding, Lady Shaila. I thought…”
How should she explain it?
Should she honestly admit that she thought someone in the Grand Duke’s household had beaten her brother?
Or—
Before Elysia could finish her thought, Shaila showed her another note.
[It’s fine.]
Leaving only that brief reply, the girl turned around and dashed back inside without another glance.
Elysia stood there blankly, watching her retreating figure.
Joshua tugged at her.
“Big sis, hurry up and come in. The Grand Duke is looking for you!”
“H-Huh…? He’s looking for me?”
“Yep! Bring Big Sis to him immediately! That’s the Grand Duke’s order!”
Joshua put on a stern expression as if imitating Yulias, only to break into a grin moments later.
He looked exactly like a child copying the hero from a storybook.
Holding Joshua’s hand, Elysia entered the mansion.
Huh…?
Her voice certainly hadn’t been quiet.
There were at least three servants visible in the lobby alone.
Yet none of them even glanced in her direction.
They simply continued their duties in silence.
…They definitely heard everything.
Instead, Elysia found herself sneaking glances at them as she passed.
Meanwhile, Joshua kept urging her forward.
“We have to carry out the Grand Duke’s order!”
Before long, they arrived in front of the study.
Joshua immediately straightened his posture and cleared his throat.
“Grand Duke.”
Standing on tiptoe because of his small stature, he knocked near the doorknob and spoke in a carefully composed voice.
“This is Joshua. I have brought Big Sister Elysia.”
The child stepped back after speaking.
He looked both nervous and excited.
Somehow, the sight felt familiar.
Where have I seen that before?
A question mark formed in Elysia’s mind.
At that moment, footsteps approached from inside.
The door opened, and Hilmighton appeared.
His gaze moved from Elysia down to Joshua.
“You have arrived, Candidate Aide Joshua.”
So that was it.
He had been imitating Assistant Hilmighton all along.
Yet Hilmighton was staring at Joshua with a seriousness unlike ever before.
In fact, it was almost excessively serious.
…Does he really need to look that serious about it?
