Chapter 1

Her older sister shone.

Because she was the most famous person at Valeros Academy, and the most beautiful one as well.

Her sister was an outstanding beauty with silver hair and sky-blue eyes, and on top of that, she was a genius who had never once lost first place from the time she entered the school until now.

Even so, she was someone who never once lost her humility, so she was loved by everyone.

She and her sister were fraternal twins born with a gap in time. If she had been born identical to her sister, perhaps she too might have been bright and brilliant like her.

But she was not. Maybe that was why, whenever she saw her sister sitting in the seat closest to the lectern and studying with more focus than anyone else, her sister felt like someone from another world.

Soon, her gaze came to rest, as if by habit, on Killian.

Her seat was the one closest to the window, yet the farthest from the lectern. It was also the farthest from the door.

She liked this seat. Because if she sat here, Killian came into view at a glance.

Perhaps because the weather was so clear without a single cloud, sunlight had settled on Killian’s left shoulder. Because of that, his light platinum-blond hair was glittering brilliantly, as though it had taken in the sunlight itself.

Even just his back was dazzling. Then she realized she had been staring at him as if bewitched when, before she knew it, he turned toward her and gave her a soft smile.

She quickly turned her gaze away.

<I like you, Killian.>

<I’m sorry. I don’t think I can return your feelings, Elaine.>

That was what he said, rejecting her confession time and time again, yet every time, he would still treat her this kindly.

When she looked at him again a moment later, Killian was looking at her sister.

For some reason, her chest felt tight, and she had a bad feeling.

There was no way she could focus on class.

* * *

“Elaine, I have student council work, so I think you’ll have to go first today.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Then I’ll take you. How about riding in my family’s carriage?”

While she was talking with her sister, Killian suddenly spoke up like that.

“I’d appreciate that.”

At her sister’s words, she ended up being able to ride in Killian’s carriage back to their estate.

Killian’s family and theirs were not on bad terms. Maybe because of that, it was not her first time riding in his carriage, but she thought it was the first time the two of them had ridden together alone, so her heart trembled.

They had known each other for over ten years, but whether it was that day ten years ago or now, every time she saw him, her chest ached and her hands trembled.

“Um, Elaine.”

“Yes?”

“You said before, didn’t you? That if it were for me, you could help with anything.”

“Ah, yes.”

At his words, she met his eyes and nodded. Then his mysterious purple eyes gleamed with a lively light.

“The truth is, I’ve fallen in love with your sister.”

At that moment, her body trembled without her realizing it.

“……Ah……”

Killian should know that she had loved him for a long time.

“So I was hoping you could help me.”

As he said that, he placed his hand over the back of hers. So very earnestly.