Cinderella's Brother

The sun was setting red before we knew it. The blue summer sky turned into a dark crimson and gradually changed to purple, with stars starting to shine one by one.

 

I paused for a moment and looked around. A well-maintained dirt path winds between open fields and low hills. I may have been riding mindlessly, but my body seems to have orientated itself towards a familiar place. So where am I?

 

It’s a horse riding area close to the capital’s largest horse market, a perfect place for young youngsters to practice their horsemanship.

 

Speaking of memories, this place holds a special place in my heart. It was here that I first started learning to ride when I was about 10 years old, from my older brother who was 15 at the time. I don’t know why I was so scared of horses and why he looked so cool. Ugh.

 

Anyway, if I remember correctly, both my dad and brother should have gone home by now, so I guess I’ll enjoy this freedom for a little while longer before I have to go back. I don’t mean to sound scared by any means!

 

I got back on my horse and started riding, and he didn’t seem to mind, having a good run. Good, good, good…

 

“…. Look! Look!”

 

What the hell was this? It was so quiet just a few minutes ago. What’s with the guy on my back? Do you want to challenge me to a race? okay, I accept your challenge!

 

“Hey! …. Hey, stop! Are you crazy?!”

 

Look at you! Why are you talking to me like that? Who the hell are you? Let me see your face, huh?

 

“…Jayden?”

 

I muttered to myself. The boy who had been driving his horse to my side, his teeth chattering, stopped and stared at my hooded face.

 

“Do you know me?”

 

…How could I not?

 

A boy of no more than thirteen, with softly curled blond hair and piercing pool eyes, perched on the saddle. It was the second son of the Earl of Vineyard, Ian’s brother, and the one who had given me the puppy in the past!

 

I never thought I’d see you here! I didn’t think I’d ever see you again in my life, but we have a long history.

 

I took off my hood for my old comrade, who was scratching his head in puzzlement. His eyes immediately widened in recognition,

 

“Aren’t you Princess Tardis?”

 

…Oh, right, I’m a girl now. And what’s with this deeply out-of-place feeling?

 

“What the hell are you doing here, and what does that mean…”

 

Dude, why are you suddenly pretending to be polite?

 

The urge to punch him in the stomach and laugh at him was overwhelming, but I quickly pulled myself together like a former commander (ahem!) and devised a strategy to use this situation to my advantage. I slumped my shoulders and looked world-weary and pitiful.

 

“Princess?”

 

“It’s good to see you, Lord Vineyard. I didn’t expect to find you here, wandering around, not quite sure what to do…”

 

Trailing off, I dropped my head and started sobbing, which immediately made Jayden, who was staring at me with a dumbfounded expression on his face, look at me in disbelief. Why was this so funny? I was dying to laugh, but I can’t, and it’s killing me.

 

“What the hell is going on, what are you doing out here riding a horse without any safety equipment?”

 

“… I’m sorry, I’m ashamed, but I can’t go home like this.”

 

“What? What happened to you? Please, don’t cry. Let me help you.”

 

Oh god, forgive this boy. But watching that little rascal who looks just like my annoying brother acts all high and mighty in real time was just too much to bear! Hahaha! Hey Jaden, it’s me, Ray! How are you going to handle all the nonsense and pettiness you used to show in front of me back in the day?

 

I stuttered and opened my mouth. I was dying to hold in my laughter.

 

“It was… I couldn’t refuse my sister’s request and went out alone with her, and then I lost her.”

 

“If you mean your sister, you mean that younger lady Levina?”

 

“That’s right. I can’t go back home until I find my sister….”

 

I glanced over, pretending to cover my face with my hands, and saw that Jayden now had a look in his eyes that insisted he was going to die of pity. Oh God, he’s tickling me like crazy!

 

“Where the hell did you get that horse, anyway?”

 

“It’s… it’s… it’s… it’s so hectic that I didn’t even know he was walking around on the street…”

 

“And you rode it here without a saddle?”

 

He asked in extreme admiration. To him, it must have seemed quite impressive to see that little brat riding a horse without a saddle, Hoo-hoo. Hoo-hoo-hoo. 

 

While I bowed my head and played the role of the hapless princess in despair, Jayden looked around for a moment, then suddenly spoke in a gravelly voice.

 

“Don’t worry, your sister will be fine, and my brother is with us, so we will speak to the Duke.”

 

Is that so? Looks like the brothers are hanging out at the market. But your way of speaking is a bit off, isn’t it? Can’t get used to it, driving me crazy! Oh, hilarious!

 

I followed my old comrade, who was guiding me with great care, to the market gate, and there, indeed, I saw the Vineyard Earl’s carriage, and Ian, with a pretty young lady by his side, mocking him. I said I can’t spoil you, and he come all the way here to do it.

 

“Brother, stop shying away and come over here!”

 

“That’s why I said…, what is it?!”

 

“Look who I met here!”

 

“Did you meet some frugal girl who fell from the sky, you bastard who’s never been any help in your life!”

 

“Is that what you say to the mother who gave birth to us, you dog-like bastard!”

 

Ian’s intense gaze stays fixed on me while I stand next to Jayden, who was approaching us,

 

“Rayyyyy?! What are you doing here?! Did you come to see my brother or something?”

 

Jayden explained to me, barely able to swallow the curses that were rising in my throat.

 

“The older sister couldn’t beat her younger sister in a game, so they both went out for a walk. But the younger sister disappeared, so the older sister wandered around looking for her alone.”

 

That’s a pretty precise way to put it, but could you please refrain from that unseemly polite tone?

 

Ian listened to Jayden’s words with a blank expression for a moment, then put on an uncharacteristically serious face and asked.

 

“Ray, how long have you been out there?”

 

“Well… I don’t know, I guess it’s been a while, but I came out not long after lunch.”

 

“Oh, my God.”

 

Ian sighed, slapping his forehead with his hand. Jayden, on the other hand, was showing a more normal expression of emotion. His eyes widened and he exclaimed.

 

“You’ve been wandering around alone for so long, what if something happened to you?”

 

I didn’t say anything, just flinched back in fear. Actually, I was laughing so hard I couldn’t speak. Ahem.

 

“Eugene, I can just see that big bastard freaking out by now. Come on, Ray, let’s go home. I’ll drive you home.”

 

“Ha, but I’m….”

 

“Come on, it’s okay, your sister. Levina,  she was from a commoner’s neighborhood, so she might have found her way home on her own. We’ll drop you there.”

 

This guy, I thought he was just a flunky, but he’s so helpful, doesn’t he?

 

“But I…”

 

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll protect you if Eugene goes on a rampage. Do you trust me?”

 

…God. Save this bastard.

 

As we rode in the carriage to our ducal residence, Jayden chattered on about how amazing it was that I’d been riding a horse without a saddle since early evening, and Ian exclaimed that I must be a natural genius.

 

“My dear Ray, you are so much better than my useless brother!”

 

“Much better than your worthless brother, whose only skill is being a jackass.”

 

Hey, guys, will you please stop kicking each other in the narrow carriage, you’re a friendly bunch in more ways than one, and I can’t imagine being that mean to my brother. Sigh.

 

Come to think of it, the Earl of Vineyard’s situation was similar to my own: a mother who died young, a father and siblings who survived, and yet the atmosphere could not be more different.

 

Around the mansion, there was a crowd of knights. There must have been a lot of hustle and bustle. Ahem, uncles, sorry about that!

 

“Hey, Mr Vineyard. Miss?!”

 

“Oh my god, lady, where the hell did you go and now you’re back?!”

 

“The older lady has returned safely!”

 

As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, squeezed between Ian and Jaden, the cries of ecstatic knights poured from all directions, and then,

 

“Ray de Tidis!”

 

I was ready for a good beating, but now that it’s happening, my heart was racing. Yes, it’s like I don’t have anything to fall back on.

 

I glance over Jayden’s shoulder as he stands in front of me like he’s some kind of support system, and I see my father literally on fire, and Levina in her nanny’s arms, tears streaming down her face. but where’s my brother?

 

“Ray de Tidis, come here now!”

 

Have you gone mad, Father? The knights’ pitying glances fell upon me as I shivered pitifully with my head in my hands. I guess Knights and I are compatible after all, heh heh heh.

 

“Good evening, Your Excellency,” Ian said, “and from the looks of things, it was no big deal after all.”

 

At Ian’s out-of-the-blue greeting, my father looked back and forth between Ian and Jayden for a moment, before replying with a blunt two-liner.

 

“Good evening, vineyard lord. Apparently, my immature daughter has caused you some trouble, and I’ll apologise later, but I’d like you to leave for the night.”

 

“Hahaha! We messed up big time. But I prefer peaches over apologies, what do you think?”

 

Ian was definitely more courageous than expected. Or maybe he just has no brain. How can he blabber such nonsense in front of our father, who was clearly furious?

 

Apparently he’s had enough of dealing with Ian because he turns his fiery gaze back on me. Oops!

 

“Ray, will you not come here at once, will you not-“

 

“Father!”

 

That wasn’t me. 

 

As my dad paused and turned around, my fearsome older brother stomped out from the back of the hall. Whoa, my heart was pounding. I don’t think a lion or a wolf in full heat could have a more terrifying face than my brother’s right now. That ferocious human doesn’t intend to beat my ears off again, does he?

 

The knights surrounding us split exactly to the left and right… Oh no, this was not the time.

 

“Eugene, just listen to me first. So, what happened was that the kid was alone…”

 

“Ray.”

 

My brother, who was scratching his head and mercilessly ignoring Ian as he explained the situation, called my name in a kind voice. I dropped my head, feeling Jayden’s hand tighten around mine. Could you please let go of me?

 

“Lift your head.”

 

Tongue, dude, why are you holding my head down?! Are you really going to hit me, like you did then? Didn’t our relationship make any progress at all? Not even a little?! Hmph, you spiteful little bastard.

 

I should probably run away to the Temple of Frost or something. I thought something would have changed by now, didn’t it?

 

I slowly lifted my hanging head, suppressing my sorrow. Damn, getting hit by this guy really hurts, ugh.

 

When I finally lifted my head fully, I could see my brother’s face, staring down at me with murderous eyes like a frozen winter sea. But why was my vision so blurry, I must have been inhaling too much smoke. God, why do you keep abandoning me?

 

“Oh, brother. I’m not… I’m not… I’m not… Levina asked me to go play with her, so… I didn’t do it on purpose….”

 

“…..”

 

“…Hmph…. I’m sorry…”

 

I clench the inside of my mouth in an act of last-ditch desperation, and my brother, who’s been glaring at me like he’s going to punch me in the face for a while now, sits down on one knee in front of me, and before I can prepare myself (don’t ask me what I’m preparing for, I don’t know), he opens his arms and sweeps me into a hug!

 

I’m not kidding, he actually hugged me, and it was suffocating, and I could feel every single muscle in his body, and it was heartbreaking…ahem!

 

Before I could get my bearings, he pulled away, but this time he grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. To be precise, he glared.

 

“Where the fuck have you been, you didn’t go straight to this bastard’s house!!!!”

 

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!”

 

” Your grace, calm down…”

 

“Poohahahaha, this is it – you’re not good enough! You’re lucky this wonderful Ian showed up just in the nick of time! What would have happened otherwise?”

 

Ian, who had been watching us with a smirk on his face, began to giggle as if this was all his doing. Jayden, who had been looking nervous, started laughing too,But when my brother glared at them both, they immediately stopped laughing and said goodbye.

 

“Ray, from now on, feel free to run away to your house anytime. You’re always welcome!”

 

“I’ll see you next time, Your Highness. Take it easy.”

 

As soon as the two brothers departed, we were finally alone as a family, my father and brother. God, it’s freezing. It’s the middle of summer and there’s a blizzard.

 

“How the hell did you educate your sister?!”

 

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