Episode 46
Edgar crossed his arms and asked.
“Are you close with Antonio?”
“Antonio and I are mega best friends.”
“Me–mega best friends?”
“We’ve been friends for six years already.”
“…More than?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
I was too focused on opening the letter to hear what Edgar said.
When I asked again, Edgar frowned and snapped.
“Nothing. Just read your letter.”
“I’ll introduce you to Antonio next time I meet him.”
“No need.”
I looked up at his sharp tone, but Edgar had already flopped onto my bed.
He twisted Jelly’s cheeks with a dissatisfied face.
“Why are you doing that to Jelly?”
“I told you to check the letter.”
I just couldn’t understand Edgar’s mood swings.
He plays happily and then suddenly turns cold.
I ignored Edgar and focused on the letter.
[ Lilliana!
It’s me, Antonio! How have you been?
I’m lonely without you. Do you remember when we ate tarts under the olive tree?
When will we meet again?
I miss you so much. Francesca misses you a lot too.
Please write back!
– With all my love, Antonio.]
“Heeeng. I miss you, Antonio…….”
As I whimpered, Edgar turned away with a huff.
Leaving Edgar to twist or pinch Jelly as he pleased, I began writing a reply to Antonio.
“…Aaantoooniooo. I also… miss you! With lots of love… from Lilliana. All done!”
Hoo.
I’ll send some candies only available in the Empire along with the letter.
As I slipped the letter into the envelope, Edgar suddenly jumped up from the bed.
In his hand, Jelly dangled like a hostage.
“You…….”
“What? I’m busy.”
“…Am I a mega best friend too?”
“Uh-huh. Nope. Edgar’s just a friend.”
He used to be my subordinate, but since he never obediently followed orders no matter how many times we fought, I decided to make him a friend.
I don’t usually befriend limp seaweeds like him… but I was just too kind and gave in.
“Why am I just a friend?”
Seeing his face that practically screamed ‘I’m upset’ left me flustered.
Edgar and I are the type to fight and make up several times a day, but Antonio and I are like siblings with no secrets, together since we can’t even remember when.
“Edgar, are you seriously asking that?”
I was the one who found it ridiculous.
Edgar shut his mouth tightly, then pouted. And then…
“Aaack! Give me back my Jelly!”
He kidnapped Jelly and dashed out of the Lete Palace.
***
Our Edgar has changed. No, he’s become weird.
I squinted my eyes and stared at Edgar.
If I asked, “Pass me the milk,” he should have said, “You get up and get it.”
But now Edgar came all the way to me and poured the milk into my cup himself. On top of that—
“Eat a little more.”
He placed a chunk of meat on my empty plate.
‘What’s wrong with him? This isn’t like Edgar at all.’
It’s been a week now since Edgar suddenly turned kind.
So much so that it’s creeping me out.
If I sniffled from exhaustion while playing, he’d take out a handkerchief and tell me to blow my nose. He even gave up his favorite grape-flavored candy.
He even offered me his back when I said I didn’t want to climb the stairs and sat down.
I was so shocked then that I crawled up the stairs on all fours.
“Edgar, are you sick?”
“I’m not sick. You should eat properly if you don’t want to get sick again. Lady Regina worries a lot about you.”
“Hmm… This is really suspicious.”
As I puffed out my cheeks and glared at him, Edgar reached to flick my forehead, then suddenly patted the crown of my head.
“Ugh.”
“Your hair’s tangled in the ribbon. I’ll untie it for you.”
Why is our Edgar acting like this? Seriously, why?
It’s not just strange — it’s almost scary.
“Your hair always gets tangled.”
“Uh-huh. That’s why I have to brush it often or tie it up.”
“A brush? I see. But Lilliana, I’m your best friend now, right?”
“Best friend? We’re not best friends.”
“Still not?”
“By the way, when are you giving Jelly back?”
Edgar, who’d been talking unusually kindly until now, suddenly reverted to his usual blunt tone.
“I’m raising Jelly now.”
“He’s my little brother!”
“He’s my little brother too.”
“Yeah, right. Why would Jelly be your brother? And I gave you cookie. Give Jelly back.”
“Just eat more.”
“No. I’m going to play now.”
I quickly finished eating and moved to the playroom, where I saw Helen.
I greeted her energetically, forgetting the past.
“Hiiiii!”
“You’re late! You said you’d come at two!”
“It’s still 1:55… But sorry for making you wait.”
“Fine. Next time, come earlier. Oh, and Chris came with me today. He’s Chris Ruman. You know who he is, right?”
Chris, with his deer-like eyes that looked ready to tear up at the slightest touch, waved at me shyly from behind Helen.
“Hi…….”
“Hi! I’m Lilliana. This is my friend Edgar.”
“H-hi Edgar.”
“Why’d you bring that coward?”
Edgar crossed his arms and looked Chris up and down.
Helen glared at Edgar.
“Don’t call Chris a coward. Why did you come anyway? I was supposed to play with Lily alone today.”
“Hmph. I’m closer to her than you are.”
It looked like they were going to fight again, so I quickly stepped between them.
“Let’s play hide-and-seek. I’ll count to fifty, then come find you. Hurry and hide, one, two…”
As I tightly shut my eyes and started counting, Helen and Edgar stopped arguing and rushed to hide.
“Forty-nine, fifty! Here I come!”
After counting, I began searching the palace for them.
No one was in the bathroom attached to my room.
I checked the next room my eldest sister used to stay in.
I looked under the bed, under the desk, and opened the closet.
“Gasp!”
Chris, who was hiding in the closet, gasped in shock.
“Found you.”
I smiled and grabbed Chris.
Then I started looking for Helen and Edgar.
They hid so thoroughly that not even a single hair was visible.
“Chris, do you know where Helen and Edgar are hiding?”
“I-I don’t.”
“My feet are starting to hurt.”
“Me too…….”
There were dozens of rooms on the first floor alone, and I’d only opened about half.
I was thirsty and wanted to sit for a bit.
“Um, Lilliana. I’m sorry for saying you eat people last time. I-I think you’re a good friend. You even gave me cookies…”
“It’s okay. You know I’m not a monster now.”
“That’s true… but I still feel bad.”
Chris hung his head and kept glancing at me.
His overly kind and unsure demeanor made him seem even more endearing.
Then, I heard a very faint sound.
I stood up silently and gestured to Chris to stay quiet.
I tiptoed toward a flowerpot and surprised Edgar who was hiding behind it.
“Ah!”
“Ugh.”
“Found you, Edgar.”
“What the— How did you know?”
“I heard you breathing.”
“Tch. Still haven’t found Eldridge?”
“Uh-huh.”
Then Edgar suddenly stared at my face.
Tap. He grabbed my cheeks, turned my face left and right, and said—
“Your face doesn’t look good. You look sick.”
“I’m just a little tired, but I’m fine.”
“Not dizzy or anything?”
“Nope. I’m fine.”
“Let’s leave Eldridge and go rest.”
Actually, I hadn’t felt well since waking up that morning.
My head was foggy, and my body felt chilly.
But if I canceled because I was sick, I wouldn’t know when I could see Helen again.
We didn’t play together often or know each other that long, but Helen was my only girl friend.
I needed someone to play dolls with.
Edgar always wanted to play hunting or sword fighting.
“No. I want to play more with Helen.”
At my answer, Edgar’s face twisted.
He was only seven, yet the expression suited someone much older.
At times like this, Edgar seemed more like seventeen than seven.
“You can’t get sick again. Let’s go to your room.”
“No. I don’t want to.”
When I refused, Edgar grabbed my arm and tried to drag me to my room.
We were the same age, but I’d never beaten Edgar in strength, so I threw myself on the floor.
“Is Edgar my older sister or something?”
“We’re friends. Of course I’m worried about you.”
“Helen is my friend too now. So I want to play more.”
“I’m always worried about you, even when we only play a little…”
Huh?
Edgar, who had been dragging me across the marble floor, suddenly murmured in a hurt voice.
Thud. He let go of my wrist.
What’s with this atmosphere? Why does he look like that?
Edgar’s eyes started to turn reddish with moisture.
As I got up and approached, he stepped back and avoided me.
“Do you like them more than me?”
“What’s wrong, Edgar?”
“You like them more than me, don’t you?”
“No. Are you stupid, Edgar? Why would you say that?”
“Don’t make me laugh. If you liked me more, you would’ve gone to rest. You won’t even call me your mega best friend. Even though we’re both your friends, I always think of you first, so shouldn’t you like me more than them?”
What is he even talking about?
My head spun.
Why is ‘mega best friend’ coming up now?
Why is he suddenly crying? Why does he look like he’s been abandoned?
“I’m not your friend anymore.”
Drip.
A tear dropped onto the smooth marble floor.
It felt like lightning struck above my head.
At first, I just wanted Edgar as a subordinate, but over the past few months, we’d become really good friends.
Now I was the one who felt abandoned by a sudden friendship breakup.
We were friends…
“Uuh… Edgar!”
Before I could grab him, Edgar turned and ran out of the dining room.
I chased after him.
But Helen, puffing with anger, blocked my way.
“Why didn’t you come find me when you were ‘it’? I was hiding in the bathroom for an hour!”
Aside from my eldest sister’s wedding, the second biggest hardship in my six-year-old life had just arrived.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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