Chapter 6
“How was that? Wasn’t your big brother cool? I kicked her out for you!”
“…No, I could’ve kicked her out myself… Huh…? What’s that…?”
Just as I was about to say I could’ve handled a woman like her on my own, something strange caught my eye, pacing by the door.
“What’s wrong, little sis?”
What was in front of me and what was pacing at the door looked exactly the same.
“That…”
My mouth hung open as I mumbled in disbelief.
“What is it?”
He looks just like you, big brother.
I thought I was seeing things, but no — it was a person.
Standing outside the door, looking at us, was a boy who looked identical to the one in front of me.
The boy turned to the door, following my gaze, and waved cheerfully.
“Ah! Lexit, you’re here! This is our little sister!”
He wasn’t a ghost or anything supernatural.
He was definitely human.
The boy named Lexit came in with a deeply furrowed brow and a clearly uncomfortable expression.
The closer he got, the more I could see he looked exactly like the boy who’d been kindly calling himself my brother — Allen.
But unlike Allen, Lexit’s reaction was completely different.
“I thought maybe she was a kid our father had outside the family… but I guess not. She doesn’t look like us at all.”
Lexit looked me up and down with a pout.
“She doesn’t have to look like us!”
“Our family’s bloodline is strong. We all have blue eyes. That one’s a fake.”
“Did you just call her ‘that one’?! Lexit, that’s too harsh!”
“What’s harsh is that one. She looks like a soggy fish with those big, bugged-out eyes! And now she’s pretending to be one of us?”
Honestly, it would’ve been better if he just ignored me — but Lexit made his hostility toward me very clear.
“Lexit!”
“And one bratty sibling is more than enough. Allen, stop embarrassing the family and get out here.”
He stomped inside and yanked Allen’s wrist roughly.
That reaction. That look. That behavior — all too familiar.
No one had ever shown me love since I was born, after all.
In fact, Lexit’s attitude felt more natural. That’s how everyone had always treated me.
Allen, who had come up to me first and pretended to be friendly, was the unusual one. It still felt unfamiliar.
“No. I’m staying. I’m gonna make sure she eats.”
But Allen was firm.
Just like when he insisted I call him “big brother,” he was just as stubborn now.
It must’ve happened often — Lexit just shook his head.
“Do what you want. But she’s a fake. She’ll be gone soon.”
“No way! Dad said she’s my sister.”
“…Dad did?”
“Yeah. Dad! He told me himself!”
That seemed to spark Lexit’s curiosity. He slowly walked over to me. My shabby appearance reflected in his clear, blue eyes.
“You really our sister?”
“…”
“Can’t talk? I’m asking if you have our blood.”
I didn’t feel the need to lie.
Just looking at me, it was obvious I was different from them. I squared my shoulders confidently.
“No.”
As expected, Lexit scoffed.
“See? She’s not one of us. Who knows how she fooled Father, but this one won’t last long.”
“But! I may not be blood-related, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be staying here until I’m an adult.”
Lexit’s face hardened instantly. He had been yelling at Allen while pointing at me.
“What? You’re staying here? But you’re not family!”
“Yeah. Not real family — but I’m contracted to be family.”
“Contracted… family?”
“Yep. I don’t share your blood, but from now on, I’m part of the ducal family too.”
Lexit shook his head in disbelief.
Looking closely now, there was a difference between Allen and Lexit — Lexit was annoying from head to toe. His hair was slicked back without a single strand out of place — unlike Allen.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Father would never make a contract with someone like you.”
“I’m super strong. That’s why he made the deal.”
“Father is way stronger than you. And you look like you’ll collapse any second. Strong? Don’t make me laugh.”
“You two are the weak ones. Neither of you even noticed the barrier around this place was gone all night.”
Allen, who had been watching us both, and Lexit, who had been boasting — both fell silent.
“Whoa… You mean the ducal barrier?”
“Yup.”
“It was gone?”
“I removed it to prove my power.”
Lexit snorted like someone who didn’t know what to do with his rising anger.
“Y-You removed it? What nonsense!”
“It’s true.”
“I-I could do that too! It’s nothing!”
“Ah, I see. You can do it.”
Lexit’s shoulders twitched as he stared down at me.
“I could do it right now!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! But just like you said, the barrier’s gone — so there’s no point.”
“Ahh, got it.”
“I’m saying you’re not strong, you idiot!”
He really hated me. Lexit showed raw, undisguised hostility.
But I wasn’t someone who backed down.
I’d already faced too many people who looked at me like that — who hated me like that. Their tone, their words — I’d been through it all.
“If I don’t get strong, if I don’t endure, I can’t move forward. I will survive. I’ll live with Mom.”
So I had no intention of losing to a couple of kids.
“Then go ahead.”
“What?”
“You said you could do it, right? If you’re really that strong, break the barrier. If you do, I’ll leave. How about that?”
It was strange.
Maybe it was because I was dealing with kids, but I felt like I was becoming childish too.
For some reason, I found myself provoking him — something I’d never done before — and stared at Lexit.
Fuming with frustration, Lexit stomped his feet and locked eyes with me.
“Y-You’re ridiculous! How can I break a barrier that’s not there!”
“But I put the barrier back after removing it. You’re supposed to be super strong, but you didn’t even notice?”
Lexit flared his nostrils and glared at me.
“W-What are you talking about?! Liar!”
“It’s not a lie. It’s true. You’re supposedly strong, but didn’t even know the barrier’s back up.”
“Ugh… Ugh!”
“Must be weak. I hate weak people the most. So stop picking a fight and go away.”
I started to worry Mom might wake up.
They didn’t seem to care at all, just focused on arguing with me — but Mom was sleeping peacefully on the bed.
‘Or maybe they don’t even know she’s here.’
Lexit bit his lip, maybe because he realized he couldn’t win with words.
“H-Ha! You’re just a fake!”
“And you’re a real one without any strength. If I’m a fake, what does that make you? Here, power is everything. Without it, you’re useless.”
“…”
“By that logic, aren’t you the useless one?”
“Y-You dare…!”
“So just go. I just want to grow up safely. I don’t want to cause any trouble for the ducal family. So stop bothering me.”
Lexit stared at me for a moment, then eventually sniffled and left the room — seemingly admitting defeat.
‘Why do they even bother me?’
I just want to stay quietly here, under protection. Why can’t they leave me alone?
I suddenly felt gloomy. I’d had a good morning — no nightmares, no tossing and turning, a peaceful sleep.
Then—
A bright, cheery head popped into my view.
“Hey, little sister, should I leave too? Huh?”
His clear blue eyes looked straight at me.
I hated that gaze.
The attention. The kindness. I just wanted everyone to leave me alone.
‘They could change at any moment. Act nice now and then stop caring later. Before that happens, I need to keep my distance.’
Before I get attached to Allen — before I open my heart.
It had always been that way. Even the mages who experimented on me were only nice to draw out my power.
Thinking that, I met Allen’s gaze.
“Should I go too? Huh?”
“Yeah. Leave. And don’t come back. I’ll eat and take care of myself. No one needs to worry about me.”
Sadness flickered in Allen’s eyes.
“But I’m just worried about you—”
“I’m used to being alone. I don’t trust people.”
“…Alright.”
Even after being blatantly rejected, Allen just smiled softly. He patted my head gently.
“I’ll still come back…!”
I was about to say “don’t,” but Allen dashed out of the room.
“He says he’ll come back… what a fool.”
I wish he wouldn’t.
Don’t give me hope.
Because of those words, I’ll wait like a puppy again.
Foolishly.
“Even though I know… I’ll still wait.”
I waited days and nights for Mom to come back after saying just one thing.
‘Mom, I’m gonna nap for a bit.’
The first time Mom died, that’s what she said. I waited for her to wake up.
Even when the knights screamed and dragged her lifeless body away — I believed she’d come back.
Like a fool, I waited for those words again and again.
And I knew it — I would end up waiting for Allen too.
Hating how foolish I was, I slammed the door shut. As if to say, “Don’t ever come back.”
“You idiot! Don’t hang out with her again! She’s a disgrace to the ducal family!”
“No, you’re the idiot, Lexit! I’m going to keep being with my sister!”
“Hey! Where are you going?!”
Sure enough, I could hear Allen and Lexit arguing outside again.
I listened for a moment, then locked the door.
Then I ran to my mother.
No matter the noise around her, Mom still slept peacefully.
“Mom. Mom. When are you going to wake up? I like being alone… but I still want you to wake up.”
