103 – Courage given by love

After a night that seemed to last forever, a new morning came.

The sun of dawn that reaps the darkness of past times and loudly awakens the world that was immersed in silence.

Along with the storm of light streaking outside the window,

I woke up.

“Ugh, ugh…”

The intense pain of a hangover that crept into my drowsy consciousness.

I groaned at him and opened my closed eyes.

As I frowned at the rolling headache, the familiar figure of the ceiling came into my blurry vision.

“……It’s morning.”

With a blank murmur, I raised my body buried in the bed.

Perhaps it was because of the alcohol I hadn’t had in a long time.

…..I guess I should have adjusted my drink a bit.

It seems that the problem was that I was drunk in the mood and drank alcohol like water.

sh*t, I should have listened to Gilbert when he said it…

I chewed on my faint regret and let out a hungover sigh.

“Haa… Damn it, I think my head is going to break.”

Sitting still like this would only make the headache worse, so I moved my body.

After washing off the remaining sleeping energy, she removes the blanket that was covering her.

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Just like that, the moment I tried to get out of bed, stepping on the floor with my wobbly legs—

“Umm… Bocchan…”

A thin voice leaked out from somewhere, reaching my ears.

I tilted my head at him and looked at the source of the sound.

The place my gaze landed on was right next to the bed I had been lying on until just now.

And there… lay a girl with brown hair who should never be there.

“Rachel…?”

why is she here

The moment such a question comes to mind, the events of last night pass through my mind with a rustling sound.

A few forgotten facts came to my mind, and each time they were combined, my complexion became even paler.

“Now, wait… Then I thought I was a pillow yesterday, so I hugged him and slept…”

The sweet smell of peaches and the pillow with warm warmth.

It was soft, but it felt good to be hugged in one hug.

The true identity of the pillow I fell asleep rubbing my cheeks in my arms…

“ah.”

….It was Rachel.

As I let out a small sigh with belated realization, my face heated up with shame rushing in.

With a white face, I let out a silent scream.

.

.

.

“f*ck… the alcohol is the problem, the alcohol…”

Eventually, I ran out of the room as if running away.

I walked down the aisle, brooding over all the alcohol I had drunk last night.

I had to tear out my hair several times at the subtle beats that kept ringing in my chest.

“Damn it, I was embarrassed and came out once…”

where to go now

What was I originally doing around the mansion…?

If you look around with a familiar yet awkward feeling, the clock in the middle of the hallway comes into view.

The time indicated by the clock was 8:24, breakfast time.

“Hmm…. It’s about time, so let’s go get some breakfast.”

By now, Dad and Ariel are probably eating too.

I think I need to do something like a hangover because of the hangover…

I nodded at the thoughts that came to my mind and moved toward the dining room.

Tumbling….

Light footsteps resonate clear across the corridor.

As the light of the morning slowly crosses the melted mansion, the memories of last night are vaguely recalled.

ㅡI will stay by your side.

—-That’s the butler’s job, little boy.

—-There were times when I was disappointed with you, but I never hated you.

—This father has always loved you, Raiden.

The faint voices ringing in my ears made me smile lightly.

Everything they said remained in my heart as a warm warmth.

I quietly clutched my chest.

ㅡ wheee…

A gentle winter breeze blows through some of the open windows in the hallway.

In response, the curtains hanging from the window frame fluttered and fluttered.

I stopped for a moment and looked at the scenery outside the window swaying through the thin fabric.

“……”

The curtains fluttered and covered the view, and moved out of the way repeatedly.

The light of the morning pouring down from the sky, holding hands with the cloth, shows off a lively dance.

Looking at the world outside the window as it sways like a wave…

….For the first time, I had the idea that this world looks beautiful.

It was a strange feeling, but not a bad feeling.

I moved forward, chewing on the emotions that swirled inside me.

.

.

.

When we arrived at the restaurant, it was after nine o’clock.

I wondered if it was too late because I was too relaxed, but

Fortunately, seeing the red-haired girl still in the seat, I was able to put my mind at ease.

Ariel was swiping the beef stew served for breakfast with a sunken expression on her face.

I smiled bitterly at the sight of her eating and drying up.

The reason Ariel doesn’t seem to be in such a bad mood is… maybe it’s because of me.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen it since I came to the mansion…”

I walked over quietly and sat down next to her.

Then he deliberately greeted me in a light voice.

“good morning.”

“……?”

Ariel looked at me in response to the greeting.

When my figure is reflected over the empty red eyes, the girl’s expression spreads with surprise.

“Oh, brother…?”

“It’s been a while, Ariel.”

“Really… are you really my brother?”

Ariel asked in a trembling voice.

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth as if in response to her earnest eyes.

“Then, of course not.”

“……”

In response to my short answer, Ariel put on a blank expression for a moment and then said,

Soon, with tears in his eyes, he kicked off his chair and jumped at me.

“brother!!”

“Watch out, don’t fall…”

I gently embraced Ariel’s rushing body and hugged her.

Tears dripping like morning dew, Ariel dug deeper into my arms.

When I quietly pat her on the back, old cries begin to ring in my ears.

“Brother… I missed you…”

“Yes, yes…”

“Oh, I’m worried about you… Every day, hehe… I went to visit him, but he wouldn’t even open the door…”

As if she had suffered quite a lot over the past few weeks, there were thick dark circles around Ariel’s eyes.

I slowly wiped away the traces of pain and chewed my lips.

“…..Sorry.”

“I was scared… my brother, like that time… I’m afraid he’ll disappear again…”

“Ariel…”

“Please, oppa… don’t disappear. I’ll do better, I won’t be childish and I’ll be a good younger brother…”

Ariel’s condition was not normal.

The sight of her trembling with extreme anxiety made my heart throb.

Ariel, I hurt you again.

I thought the past days were enough to do stupid things.

Why am I like this every time…

“…I’m sorry, Ariel.”

“brother….”

I patted Ariel on the back and repeated the words I was sorry.

Ariel cried for a long time after that, and I silently stood by her side.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that time, Raiden’s room.

Left alone, Rachel woke up to the sunlight tickling her eyes.

“……”

As soon as I open my closed eyes, the image of the empty room comes into my dreamy vision.

Rachel quietly rolled her brown eyes and began to assess the situation.

The scenery outside the window in the morning,

A half-open door.

myself lying in bed,

The appearance of the invisible master.

After roughly grasping the situation, Rachel let out a short moan and raised her staggering body.

“Bocchan, did you go outside…”

Rachel rubbed her eyes from exhaustion as she slid out of bed and landed on the floor.

I tried to control my body, which kept staggering, but it didn’t work out like I wanted.

The reason was the sense of helplessness that circulated through the whole body.

Originally, I had to go outside to find the missing boy.

For some reason, my body didn’t have enough strength today.

“……”

she was exhausted

Rachel couldn’t sleep properly, brooding over her worries about Raiden every hour of the day.

The events of the past few weeks have pushed her mentally and physically to the limit.

Feeling the intense wetness, Rachel slightly bit her lip.

“young master….”

An empty murmur flows through the stillness of the room.

The brown girl’s body, which was swaying precariously, eventually collapsed under the pressure.

She collapsed on the floor helplessly, staring blankly toward the door without even thinking about getting up again.

If I waited like this, I wondered if the boy who had disappeared would reappear.

The girl waited for a long time.

.

.

.

It was around late evening when I went back to my room.

In order to calm down Ariel, who shows signs of anxiety, I spent the day by her side,

The sun had already set, and the dark night had arrived outside the window.

Thanks to Ariel, who would hold onto my arm and cry whenever we met, I had to soothe her in a cold sweat all day long.

Letting out a tired sigh, I rubbed my stiff eyelids.

“Whoa… But Ariel, you looked a little better at the end.”

Unlike the morning when I clung to my arm and didn’t think it would fall off,

By the time it was around dinnertime, he hadn’t clung to me anymore, and I wasn’t crying out loud.

Reflecting on the events of the day in my head, I quietly opened the closed door.

ㅡClack, kiik…

With a light hinge sound, I step into the room.

Maybe it was because of the moonlight streaming in through the window, but it wasn’t that dark even though I didn’t turn on the lights.

“Should I go to bed a little earlier today, I drank too much yesterday… Hmm?”

I, who was moving my body thinking of throwing myself on the bed right away,

I tilted my head at the blurry silhouette seen in the darkness and stared at it.

A girl was sitting there.

with a tired face. A brown-haired girl was looking at me while hugging her knees.

I let out a blank murmur as I watched the girl’s figure.

“Rachel…?”

“…..Bocchan, you’re back.”

Rachel greets you with a helpless smile.

She was sitting on the floor, got up from her seat and approached me with staggering steps.

In response to a gesture that seemed like it would fall at any moment, I quickly grabbed her body.

“Why, why are you doing this… Are you okay? Are you sick?”

“Whoa… don’t worry about me, I’m always fine…”

“No, it doesn’t look good to anyone right now…”

“It’s okay… More than that, I’ve been waiting for you, youngster… since morning.”

“What…?”

Hearing Rachel’s incomprehensible voice, I bent my brows for a moment and pondered the meaning of the words.

You’ve been waiting since morning

what is that…

“…You can’t believe you’ve been here all day?”

“Yeah… while waiting for the young master.”

I was shocked to see Rachel nodding her head.

Waiting for me to come back in this cold room with the heating turned off? All day long…?

“Why the hell…? Ah, more than that… Didn’t you catch a cold? You didn’t seem to be feeling well from earlier…”

“Hehe… I’m cold, young boy.”

“Now, wait a minute… I’ll get some warm water from the kitchen…”

“Do not go.”

As I try to turn, Rachel grabs my hand.

She trembled for a moment, then leaned against me with a hushed voice.

“Don’t go, please…”

“Rachel…?”

Took, with a light shock, Rachel’s forehead touched the area of her shoulder.

With her face buried in my chest, she quietly hugged my body.

“Again, please don’t leave me alone…”

“……”

“please….”

The shrieking voice ringing in my ears, I couldn’t move my mouth for a moment.

The warm breath touching my chest and the damp water bit by bit wet my shirt made my body harden.

Rachel lifted her head and looked up at me, with tears streaming down her face.

“Bocchan, you said you would leave…”

“……”

“If you really have to leave… until then, can’t you stay with me?”

“Rachel….”

Various emotions pass through the brown eyes wet with water.

“I won’t hold on to you, because I won’t cling on to you ugly or cry…. Please stay by my side, even for the remaining time.”

“……”

“Is it greed…?”

Rachel asks in a desperate voice.

I chewed my lips slightly as I looked at her tear-stained face.

It was the first time that Rachel, who had only shown a bright side until now, showed a disheveled side to this extent.

It must have been so heartbreaking.

Both Rachel and Ariel are falling apart like this…

Why am I still hesitating?

“Don’t cry, Rachel.”

“……”

I quietly raised my hand and wiped Rachel’s face.

I feel the lukewarm tears touch my fingertips.

I carefully wiped them off and hugged her body.

I decided not to hesitate any longer.

Throw away the fear that filled me and put hope in it.

Mother, Father, and Gilbert…

Reminds me of the people who have promised me love over the past few days, and strengthens my will to live.

It was the moment when the worries that I had been thinking over and over throughout the day were neatly organized.

“I’m not leaving.”

“yes….?”

“So don’t worry.”

“Ha, but… sure…”

Rachel gave me a blank expression at my words.

I gave her a light smile.

“I won’t try to run away anymore.”

“……”

“I promise Rachel. I will be by your side, not just now, but forever.”

I have decided not to be afraid to live.

What I feared was the lonely life of not being loved.

Because it was a life of wallowing in misfortune, unable to find happiness.

There were still people who loved me in this world.

And… you who loved me remained.

“Thank you Rachel. For not giving up on me, for continuing to love me…”

“young master….”

The soft moonlight streaming through the window.

In a quiet space mixed with darkness and warmth, we stood hugging each other.

I pulled Rachel’s body a little further.

Throbbing…..

From the place where our chests met, the sound of my heart beating.

i am to you

you to me

It informs by conveying the sound of a warm beating heartbeat.

The fact that we are by each other’s side.

“……”

“……”

I made eye contact with Rachel and quietly lowered my head. And then…

I pressed my lips gently over hers.

We closed our eyes, no matter who said it first, and tightened the arms that were holding each other tighter.

I didn’t want to forget this moment.

The atmosphere, the scent, the touch, the warmth… In order to engrave everything inside me, I kissed my lips more tightly.

In a space filled with blue moonlight, we stood for such a long time.

—-

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