TLB 24

Chapter 24

After spending a few days together, I realized that Mayra didn’t have memories of her past life. As expected, it seemed I was the only one who returned with them. However, the sharp and wise personality I remembered from before was still intact, and fortunately, she seemed to genuinely like me. It wasn’t just because I was the youngest daughter of the Duke of Sylkar—she sincerely enjoyed my company. While she couldn’t keep up with all of my training, she still followed me around everywhere. Just like when we first met in the back alleys.

I was lost in thought when Mayra nudged me with a bright smile.

“Thank you, sister.”

“Huh?”

When I looked at her, Mayra wrinkled her nose playfully and smiled again.

“If you hadn’t stepped in back there, even if I had put on that act for Mother and Father, it wouldn’t have worked. They’re both really sensitive to appearances, you know.”

She spoke in an excited tone and bit into her cotton candy again. She was only six, a year younger than me, but the way she spoke and the words she used were very mature. She seemed three or four years ahead of kids her age.

Still, she was far too young to be told about the threats I knew would come in the future.

I had worried that Mayra might have gotten so used to Caleb’s bullying that she had become desensitized. But to my relief, she showed no signs of being intimidated—in fact, she was braver and more spirited than ever.

“Did Count Wintel—your father—really tell you to bring the Sylkar sons as marriage candidates?”

“What? No! Don’t get the wrong idea. My family didn’t treat me that poorly. It’s just my brother who’s messed up.”

Mayra pouted and shrugged.

“Father had really high expectations for him. He put a lot of pressure on him. Honestly, all Caleb needed to do was become a knight and join an order. Dad would have supported him… But the problem is, he’s dumber than I am. He’s got zero talent for swordsmanship. Honestly, I was shocked by how strong you were back there.”

Mayra gripped my hand tightly and grinned. Despite her fine clothes, she was exactly like the Mayra I had known back then. My heart warmed deeply.

“I’ll never forget the way you smacked Caleb right across the face. It was so satisfying. You and Brother Saldir helped me—thanks to you two, I was able to say all that to Mother and Father. I probably wouldn’t have done it otherwise. Not even in a hundred years.”

“It was nothing.”

“I’ll help you too.”

“What?”

“I’ll be someone who helps you, Sister. I promise.”

Mayra’s eyes sparkled brightly. She was only six, and one might dismiss her words as the kind of thing a child says—but…

I looked down at her, surprised. No, there was a weight to her words that couldn’t be ignored. It felt like she meant every word from the bottom of her heart.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll really become someone I can rely on?”

“Absolutely.”

Mayra nodded fervently without looking away. Then she held out her pinky first.

“Let’s make a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Yep.”

I stared at her intently. This had happened before. Unconsciously, I saw the face of the past Mayra overlapping with the one in front of me. Back then, Mayra had also told me in the Otern slums: “I’ll definitely help you. From now on, we’re…”

“We’re practically sisters.”

“…”

I blinked in disbelief. I couldn’t quite accept that I’d found one of my sisters from my previous life again in this one. Even though our circumstances were completely different, we were drawn to each other the moment we met. That hadn’t changed. Was this what people meant by fate? If so… could I find Anna again too?

…And that man?

As his face surfaced in my mind, my shoulders involuntarily twitched. No, why was I thinking of him now, of all moments?

“Thank you.”

I looked down at the pinky she held out, then slowly reached out to hook mine with hers. And just then—

“Promises aren’t something to be made lightly.”

A soft voice. Not loud, but strangely captivating. The moment I heard it, I quickly turned my head.

A boy was standing there. He was about Saldir’s height, with features so fine he looked like a doll. His skin was a warm brown, and his hair was black. The moment I saw him, my eyes widened. He looked oddly familiar. He reminded me of him—the man who had been lingering in my thoughts.

If that man had been younger, would he look like this?

“….”

I stared at him, slightly agape.

What is this?

This was too much to be coincidence. Thinking of the man and then seeing a boy who looked so much like him? No, maybe I was just projecting. Maybe I was just imagining the resemblance because he was already on my mind?

“…Who are you?”

I stood frozen, and Mayra stepped in between us as if to shield me. Her tone was sharp.

“Hey, do you even know who you’re talking to? This is Berdet Sylkar, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Sylkar. Mind your manners.”

“Jute.”

Despite Mayra’s sharp tone, the boy ignored her and calmly finished his sentence.

“What did you say?!”

“My name’s Jute.”

Even after introducing himself, he didn’t stop looking at me. His speech and attitude were slow and laid-back… but his gaze was sharp, like it was already catching up to me. That face… the feeling of familiarity became certainty in a flash. As soon as I realized it, I opened my mouth.

“Hey, have we met somewhe—”

“Of course not!”

A familiar voice suddenly interrupted.

“As if someone like him would’ve met you, my sweet fairy! How generous of you—your memory’s going soft.”

Startled, I turned toward the voice. It was Saldir. His reddish-brown eyes gleamed brightly as he looked at me.

“Saldir?”

“Hello, Brother Saldir!”

Mayra immediately bowed deeply at the sight of him.

“Hey there, Mayra.”

Saldir beamed as he subtly stepped between me and the boy.

“Don’t worry about him. Forget his name. He’s just someone who trains with me.”

“Trains? Is he in the Sylkar knight order?”