Chapter 6
“Liewe!”
Neriewen, who had followed me in, flinched at my shout and quickly came over, lifting me up into her arms.
“What? What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Ah. Th-that.”
I pointed at the bracelet sitting on the coffee table next to the sofa.
She followed my finger with her eyes.
“Oh. The youngest one.”
The youngest one… meaning that split-personality guy?
‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’
Feeling vaguely regretful, I hurriedly stuffed the apple I had grabbed earlier into my mouth before she could fully settle me in her arms.
Meanwhile, Neriewen sat down on the sofa with me still in her arms and tapped the bracelet twice.
At that, a familiar holographic screen floated up in the air.
On the other side appeared a man with a gentle, almost drawn-on smile.
[You’ve been well, sister?]
With that clear, soothing voice, anyone would be easily disarmed.
I was no exception at first.
Since he was Neriewen’s younger brother, his looks were probably just as unfairly good.
I quietly stayed still, munching on my apple as if I wasn’t really there.
“Of course. I’ve been fine. How’s everything there?”
[Same as always. Ah, it seems Lucia-noona has found traces of Father, but she didn’t say anything definite.]
“What is she doing in the human world? Did you relay what I said before—that I’d shave her head clean?”
[Yes, I did.]
Neriewen let out an incredulous laugh.
“Confident, isn’t she?”
[If Lucia-noona is acting so openly, then probably yes.]
“I don’t expect her to figure it out. Father erased everything himself.”
She stared into space for a moment, then shrugged.
“Let’s see how far she goes. Anything else?”
The man on the screen paused briefly, then answered as if something had just come to mind.
[Things in the north seem to be mostly settled. Not sure if you’ve heard.]
“Oh. I got a letter from Beryl.”
That was something I already knew.
Neriewen had someone she regularly exchanged letters with, and whenever she read or wrote them, she seemed unusually happy.
It didn’t suit a demon at all—but it almost felt like… love letters, or something similar.
I still remembered being shocked when I realized demons could also date—or have something like a crush.
Especially Neriewen…
No, objectively speaking, her looks were the kind that would make people cling to her easily. She seemed like the type to stand above others, not engage in anything like this at all—but she was nothing like that.
Living with this demon, I kept discovering things like that.
‘Though maybe it’s just demons being affectionate only among themselves.’
If a human got mixed in, the attitude would probably change.
Like toward me, for example—or rather, toward that split-personality younger brother.
[He seems to be wrapping things up soon and heading down. The Royal Guard already submitted leave.]
“He should rest a bit after finishing his work…”
Neriewen frowned slightly. It wasn’t dislike—more like concern.
[Beryl-nim’s rest place is by your side, sister.]
“…Where did you learn to say things like that, youngest?”
A faint laugh came from the man.
Neriewen pressed her temples as if she’d been hit.
“Did you talk about me?”
Suddenly, me?
While chewing my apple in her arms, I looked up at the screen in confusion.
[No. I didn’t mention it… Should I? That we have a new youngest…?]
Is that still valid?
Then please remove me from the family register right now.
“No. I didn’t say anything because I thought he might come here out of concern. I’ll tell him myself. Go back to work.”
Wait a second.
I want out of this family register!
I mumbled with my mouth full of apple, and Neriewen wiped my mouth with a handkerchief before adding to the screen.
“Correction. He’s not our youngest.”
Oh?
That was the most relieving thing I’d heard all day.
Right. Even you don’t want a human as your sibling, huh?
[I see. Yes… that might be better.]
“Not going to ask why?”
[I trust your judgment, sister.]
“Why? Were you disappointed you weren’t the youngest anymore?”
[Haha. I quite like being the youngest of my older siblings.]
Neriewen laughed above my head. A beautiful laugh, just like her face.
Watching these two who regularly contacted each other, I couldn’t help but think:
‘Demons actually have sibling relationships… and they seem surprisingly close.’
In my previous life, demons—even when wearing human skins—had felt completely different from humans.
But here… they felt strangely human.
‘Though I guess it’s only among demons.’
If a human entered that space, they’d probably be treated differently.
Like me, the so-called younger sibling of Neriewen.
The man on the screen, when Neriewen briefly left to fetch something, wiped the smile off his face as if putting on a mask.
I still couldn’t understand how his expression changed so drastically depending on whether she was there or not.
‘If you’re going to step away, at least take the bracelet with you.’
Though he didn’t show it openly, I could feel he didn’t like me very much.
Whenever it was just the two of us, he would stay silent and stare at me as if observing something.
That piercing gaze was uncomfortable, even unsettling.
Honestly, I was more worried he might be trying to eat me than Neriewen herself.
I glanced at him briefly, then continued eating my apple as if nothing was wrong.
[Seeing you’ve been kept for three years… it doesn’t seem like I’m trying to eat you.]
Clink.
I accidentally dropped my apple slice.
So he can talk.
‘Eat?’
Is he saying I’m emergency rations or something?
There’s no way there’s anything worth eating on this tiny body!
Is that why he always stares? Measuring when he can eat me?
[Why did you throw away food?]
He pointed at the apple slice on the sofa with his chin.
Is the apple the issue right now? I’m about to get eaten!
‘No. Wait. The apple is important. It might be my last meal before I die.’
I quickly picked it up again.
Then he asked in a strange tone:
[You’re going to eat that again?]
He just scolded me for dropping it a second ago!
Wasn’t I supposed to pick it up again?
I blew on the apple and was about to put it back in my mouth when his expression twisted.
‘What is with him?’
Ah. Is it because it’s dirty?
“Gross.”
[It’s fine? No. Throw it away immediately.]
What is this guy—
Does food just grow out of the ground or something? Every bite of apple is precious!
—I couldn’t say that, so I sighed and turned away.
‘Then I’ll just eat it facing the other way.’
So that’s what this was. He couldn’t stand dirt.
If it bothered him that much, I’d be considerate.
[Wait. You’re actually going to eat it?]
“It fell.”
[Are you a child? Don’t you know you can’t eat something that fell on the ground?]
What a strange way to talk.
‘Then is this body a child?’
Do they think humans grow as fast as demons?
And I was fine as long as it was wiped.
‘I’ve eaten worse things than this and lived just fine. A little dust and he’s acting like it’s the end of the world.’
I glanced at him again and opened my mouth.
[Stop. Fine. Apples? That’s what you’re eating, right? I’ll get you more. Enough to make you sick, so throw that away.]
Really?
My eyes sparkled.
[Anyone would think I’m starving you.]
“Liewe cooking bad?”
[Even you have things you can’t do. Nobody is perfect.]
Oh? Defending me like that?
Who exactly is saying Neriewen is perfect?
‘Have you seen her burn down a kitchen trying to cook?’
When I narrowed my eyes, he looked away slightly.
“…Have you?”
[…I have.]
He answered reluctantly.
Ah. So that’s why he avoided my gaze.
Of course. He would know his sister’s cooking skills.
“Then bring apples.”
[I’ll tell someone going to the human world to bring some.]
That was acceptable—but somehow I still felt unfair.
We’ve been in contact so many times, yet the only thing that made him speak properly was complaining about dirt!
He could talk normally all along, but he just kept staring!
“Late.”
I’ll just eat this apple.
Do you want to watch me eat something dirty?
[…Beryl-nim will come in a few days. If you need it, he’ll bring it right away. Just wait.]
Hmm. Fine.
[So throw that away.]
“Mm…”
[Throw it away.]
“Proof.”
[Proof? What, you want a contract or receipt?]
“Yes.”
You can’t trust demons.
Especially this split-personality guy who’s only obedient in front of Neriewen.
[Ha… haha…]
He let out a dry laugh.
‘Oh? Laughing? Do I look like I’m joking?’
I waved the apple slice in the air, and he immediately stopped laughing.
[You really grew up around your sister… you’ve got no fear.]
He stared at me for a moment.
I felt a bit intimidated, but I lifted my chin stubbornly anyway.
What, am I going to die twice?
[Ah. It’s not that you lack fear… you’re not afraid of death.]
Huh? Did I say that out loud?
[That’s correct.]
How does he even know that?
I tilted my head in confusion.
[You… do you want to die?]
The way he said it didn’t feel like a threat.
It was more like…
[Or are you waiting for death?]
As if he already knew that death was the only thing left for me in this life…
‘Wait. How does he know that?’
Clink.
The apple in my hand slipped from my grip and fell under the sofa.
