Chapter 5. The One Who Turns Back Time
Bang!
“Sis!”
Ceres, who had been idly passing the time, lifted herself leisurely from the bed when Antonian burst into the room in a panic.
“Sis, what on earth did you—!”
“My dear brother.”
Come here, come here.
“…?”
With a warm smile and a gentle beckoning gesture, Ceres played the role of the affectionate older sister. Antonian tilted his head, dazed, as if caught off guard.
Why’s he suddenly zoning out like that?
“Hurry, come closer.”
“…Okay.”
She watched him blankly as he approached, his expression strangely entranced.
And when he finally drew close enough that she could reach out—
Sqqquueeeze!
“Ah… ahhh!”
“It seems my little brother has completely forgotten the most basic manners.”
“Aahh! Ow, ow, it hurts!”
“What are you supposed to do before barging into someone’s room?”
“Oww! I said it hurts!”
“Answer.”
“K-Knock!”
“You do know it, then.”
Only then did Ceres release his cheek. Antonian staggered back, clutching his stinging face with both hands.
She’s lost it, hasn’t she?
He was bewildered. In all his memories, Ceres had never so much as laid a playful hand on him, let alone pinched his cheek like this.
Does losing your memory change your personality too?
“So?”
“…”
“What did you come here for?”
“…”
“Hm. So little brother has no intention of answering his sister? Is it tasty? Chewing up my words like that?”
“N-no!”
He quickly shook his head, especially when he noticed her reaching out for his face again.
“What exactly did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
“You attacked Aunt’s maids!”
“Hm?”
Wow, news traveled fast. Already?
But wait…
Why was he acting like the sky had fallen over something so trivial?
“I didn’t ‘attack’ anyone. Where’d you get that idea?”
“You didn’t?”
“Nope.”
“…Right. Of course you didn’t. As if you’d ever… douse someone with water.”
“Oh, but I did throw water.”
“…What?”
“They kept whining about laundry, so I decided to be kind and help out.”
“H-huh?”
“Really, I should’ve gone as far as soaping the clothes too. A pity.”
She clicked her tongue as though genuinely regretful. Antonian’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“W-wait, so you’re saying it’s true?!”
Just earlier, the household had been in uproar. It all started at their aunt’s quarters.
***
“Kyaaa! What is this! My dresses!”
“Th-that… madam, it’s…”
“How did this happen? What happened to my clothes?!”
“We’re sorry! We’re so sorry!”
“My brand-new gown—ruined!”
***
Her shrill screams had echoed through the entire estate. Every article of laundry she had sent out was ruined, reduced to the state of rags dragged out from a warehouse after twenty years of rot.
Naturally, the maids pointed their trembling fingers at Ceres, and Antonian, having heard the tale, had rushed here at once.
I didn’t believe it…
He couldn’t. His sister, splashing water at maids? Impossible.
Sure, she’d been a bit out of it lately, but that wasn’t the same as cruelty. He’d thought, once again, that the maids were slandering her to cover their own incompetence. They’d done it before, after all—shifting blame onto Ceres while she could do nothing but weep quietly in defense.
“You really did it?”
“I told you—I never attacked anyone. Is that what they’re claiming?”
Ceres’s lips curved in a slow, dangerous smile.
Looks like it’s time to sit those little pests down for a proper chat. Clearly, they’ve been let off too lightly.
Her unruffled demeanor only deepened Antonian’s despair. He stamped his foot and cried out.
“Why on earth would you do such a thing?!”
“Do what?”
“Throw water!”
“To help with the laundry.”
“Sis!”
She’s actually trying to pass this off as an excuse?
Laundry? What laundry? He had no idea what she was talking about anymore.
“Keep your voice down, little brother. I can hear you just fine.”
“Aunt is furious!”
Her calmness was driving him mad. He already had a pounding headache, and her indifference only made it worse.
And then came the words that made his head nearly split.
“So?”
“So—what? Aunt is furious, that’s what!”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
What, am I supposed to go grovel and dance for her amusement?
“I don’t really have a talent for that, you know.”
“That’s not what I mean!”
He shouted, exasperated.
No one feared their aunt’s temper more than Ceres. She used to retreat to her room and never emerge when her aunt was in a foul mood.
But now…
“Those dresses must’ve been expensive, huh?”
…Was she laughing?
He stared at her in shock. Is this really my sister?
“E-either way, just be careful.”
He didn’t know what was going on, but at least he could warn her. He’d been trying so hard to keep her from clashing with their aunt while she was still in this fragile, amnesiac state. Yet somehow, everything kept tangling up worse.
“Hm.”
Ceres regarded him curiously.
Still, he worries for me, doesn’t he?
She barely remembered what it meant to have family. Orphaned young, her parents’ faces had already faded from memory.
A younger brother, huh.
It was a strange, almost bittersweet feeling.
But still… another question.
“Why exactly should I be careful just because Aunt is in a bad mood?”
Wasn’t that odd?
If their aunt really took out her temper on her own niece and nephew…
“Well, that’s entertaining.”
“Entertaining? What’s entertaining about this! Don’t joke around—just please, be careful!”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why should I be careful?”
“Because…!”
“Yes? Because?”
“…Ugh. You’ll find out soon enough.”
He bit his tongue, sighing heavily.
There he goes again.
Always stopping himself midway, like there were things too heavy for him to say. He’d been like that from the very beginning.
“Anyway—stay out of trouble until Aunt calms down.”
With one last warning, Antonian turned to leave.
“…Huh?”
But after a few steps, he froze.
When he first burst in, he’d been too panicked to notice. Now, though…
Step.
Step.
His brows furrowed.
What’s wrong with the floor?
No sound. None at all.
Everywhere else in this decrepit mansion, the warped boards squealed and groaned underfoot, a constant symphony of decay. But here… silence.
Even in this room, it had always been the same. But today, nothing.
“…Strange.”
“Something else to say?”
“N-no.”
Caught by her curious look, Antonian quickly shook his head and stepped out, though his gaze lingered uneasily on the floorboards.
Tap.
“Hm.”
Once he was gone, Ceres rose and moved toward the window.
“Did I rewind time too much? Those clothes did look expensive, but their reaction was a little… dramatic.”
