Chapter 1 – Beginning

The snow that had fallen all night had turned everything around them pure white. Because the winter was long, the snowmen the children had made here and there throughout the alleyways still stood without melting. It was one day in December, a scene perfectly suited to the cold season.

“Ben, let’s make a snowman again today.”

When the voices of children drifted over the tall castle wall, Ellen turned her gaze beyond the fence. A girl and a boy who looked about her age were bundled tightly in every sort of winter gear, from gloves to hats.

“Again? We made one yesterday too.”

“Yesterday we made Mama and Papa snowmen, so today we have to make a baby snowman.”

“No. I’m going to play with the older boys today. You make the baby snowman by yourself.”

As if he did not like the girl’s suggestion, the boy hugged the wooden practice sword he had brought in advance and ran down the alley. At the end of it, there was a group of boys who looked a year or two older than him. All of them were holding wooden swords, shields, balls, and the like.

“Wait for me!”

As if she had decided there was no way she could win, the girl, who had been standing there blankly, cried out urgently with a tearful face. Then the small shadow hurried after the boy running ahead of her in short, quick steps.

Seeing that made Ellen feel as though she were looking at herself in childhood, and it was hard for her to hide the corners of her lips lifting upward.

“Tch, he could’ve at least made a snowman for her. Winter is short.”

Watching the children’s receding backs disappear from sight, Ellen tugged once at the black silk glove on her hand. Perhaps because it was soaked through with chill, the fingers inside the glove felt especially cold.

Around this time every year, Ellen and her family visited the small chapel in Nivos. More precisely, they came to see her mother, Lowell, who rested here.

Though she had never seen her mother’s face nor heard her voice, Ellen remembered clearly the sacrifice and devotion she had made.

Her mother, who had three children, passed away right after giving birth to Ellen. Thanks to that old burden of guilt, Ellen grew up loved as an exemplary student recognized by everyone, a good daughter who had never once caused the common heartache, and the adorable youngest sister of three older brothers.

“What are you doing, Ellie? The requiem mass will begin soon.”

At the words of her eldest brother, Servan, Ellen gave an awkward smile and replied, “Sorry, Brother. I only meant to look around for a moment, and somehow it’s already this late.”

Nivos was her late mother’s hometown, and it had also been the first place her father, then an administrator, was assigned to. Furthermore, it was the birthplace of her eldest brother, Servan Sawyer. In many ways, it was a meaningful place for Ellen and her family.

“What was so interesting?”

“Nothing much. Some children just passed by, and it made me think of us when we were little.”

“When we were little…… You and Felix were always stuck together.”

“Oh, honestly, Brother. Why are you bringing him up all of a sudden?”

At the name ‘Felix,’ Ellen frowned and shot Servan a look. As if even that expression of his youngest sister’s was adorable, Servan patted her head once or twice and slowly looked around.

“This place never changes, no matter how many years pass. Meanwhile the capital can’t keep its head straight from all the new inventions pouring in every day.”

“You can say that again. Just a few days ago in the capital, I heard the steam locomotive developed by you, Servan Sawyer, the pride of the Sawyer family and the eldest son, in your role as head researcher, was inaugurated?”

While Servan was still looking over the snow-covered chapel and sharing his impressions, her youngest older brother, Julien, cut in and stole the conversation.

Unlike with Ellen, who was lovable no matter what she did, Servan’s attitude toward Julien was unmistakably different. As if Julien had gotten into trouble again over the past few days, Servan glanced at him with coldly sunken eyes, then sighed.

“Hey, Ellie. He’s our brother, but isn’t he seriously amazing? Who would’ve imagined such an elite would come out of the Sawyer Earldom?”

Pretending on purpose not to notice the chill stare of his eldest brother, Julien smiled calmly and slung an arm around Ellen’s shoulder. Behind them, the priest Ander, who would officiate today’s requiem mass, her second older brother Arnaud, and Earl Belfer Sawyer entered in turn.

“Seriously. Unlike someone.”

Ellen gave Julien a sidelong glance and immediately shrugged off the arm around her shoulder as if it were annoying. When is he ever going to grow up? Even under her scornful gaze, Julien only gave an easy shrug and shot back,

“Well, Second Brother is only strong as an ox.”

“What are you talking about? Second Brother is still smart.”

“Then what happened to you?”

At Ellen’s words, Julien leaned his face in with a mischievous grin. Even at that reaction, Ellen answered without changing her expression in the slightest.

“You graduated, and all you do is lounge around and play. Nothing else. And it’s already been a whole year.”

Unlike her eldest and second brothers, who were considerably older, Julien, who was only one year apart from her, felt less like a younger older brother and more like a twin or even a younger sibling. It was probably because of his carefree personality, but also because he was so irritatingly cheeky; it was especially obvious whenever they bickered.

“As for me, there are still orchestras lining up asking me to come. The problem is you, Ellen Sawyer.”

“What about me?”

“Enjoy things while you can. Once you get married, it’s all over.”

“I only just graduated, what marriage are you even talking about……!”

“That’s enough. What do you all think you’re doing in front of Father?”

At the same time as the words, Servan’s sharp gaze turned on Julien in warning. The look was so severe that Julien clamped his chattering lips shut. Then, just as he cast Ellen a sidelong glance to show his displeasure, Earl Sawyer, who had been quietly observing the situation, opened his mouth.

“Since the subject has come up, I may as well say it.”

“Father.”

At the voice, Arnaud, who had been standing beside him, caught hold of the Earl’s hand. Then he silently shook his head and furrowed his brow. Had Brother Julien caused trouble again without me knowing? Blinking, Ellen looked at the Earl.

“As soon as you finish your studies, the wedding will be held. The other family has waited a long time.”

“Is Eldest Brother getting married? Well, it is rather late.”

“His Majesty has assigned Servan new research. Marriage will be difficult for him for the time being.”

At the Earl’s words, Ellen quietly nodded and met Servan’s eyes. Then, with a bright smile for her admirable eldest brother, she turned her gaze to the other side.

“Then it’s Second Brother! I thought you were busy with knight order duties, but did you meet someone you got along with?”

But apparently that was not it either, because Arnaud only scratched at his dry throat and avoided answering. Naturally, her gaze turned toward the Sawyer family’s problem child, her youngest older brother, Julien.

“No way…… Brother Julien? You can’t even take care of yourself, so what marriage would you be having?”

When Ellen muttered that almost to herself, Julien’s lips curved upward in an arc. Then, as if asking whether she really still did not get it, he pointed a finger at her and answered in an annoyingly smug tone.

“You really have no sense at all. It’s not me, it’s you. You. Ellen Sawyer.”

“What on earth are you talking about now? What do you mean, me getting marr……!”

At the absurdity of it, Ellen trailed off and swept her eyes over the rest of her family one by one. Past her coldly rational eldest brother and her somewhat uneasy second brother, the moment her eyes met her father’s, Ellen knew at once. Julien Sawyer, that madman, had been serious.

“No, right, Father? Me, marriage? I’ve already decided where I’m going after graduation. You must have heard of the Serendia Orchestra.”

“Ellie.”

“It’s a place anyone would recognize by name alone. It’s the best orchestra in the capital. Do you know how hard I worked to win a piano soloist position there?”

“It was decided long ago.”

“That was in the old days, and in times like these, how can an arranged marriage even make sense……!”

“Lowell will be waiting. Let us postpone that discussion and greet her first.”

Driven into a corner, the Earl used her late mother to stop Ellen’s mouth. Ellen stood there blankly for a moment, and just as she regained her senses and was about to press the matter, Priest Ander’s voice broke through the stillness.

“Dearly beloved, from this moment we shall conduct Sister Lowell’s requiem mass. Please remain silent.”

Soon after, the people’s singing echoed before the gravestone. Separate from Ellen’s emotions, her mother’s requiem mass proceeded in a solemn atmosphere. As it was far from the capital, there were not many attendees. There were only her mother’s distant relatives still living in her hometown, Ellen’s family, and the clergy assisting with the mass.