***

Even while burning with a fever, Sugar repeatedly got up to demand hints.

He glared weakly at Violet, who ignored him without fail, like a cactus deprived of sunlight, only to collapse back onto the bed, exhausted.

“Even now, my younger sibling could be suffering who knows what, somewhere out there.”

He pleaded hoarsely, his voice completely worn out.

Violet let out a small sigh and sat down on the chair in front of the bed.

Sitting upright, she pulled a neatly folded letter from her pocket.

“The young lady Merchen is safe. She is with a guardian and enjoying herself more than ever.”

“What do you mean… cough, cough!”

Sugar, who had been trying to sit up, doubled over as a fit of coughing wracked his body.

Even after several days, this blasted cold refused to go away.

“Lie down and listen quietly. You keep getting up and wandering around while drenched in sweat, so of course your cold isn’t improving.”

“Since the young lady has locked herself away in her office and refuses to appear, I have no choice but to go to her myself, don’t I?”

Violet looked at the boy before her with an exasperated expression.

Though she couldn’t bring herself to scold him harshly while his fevered face was right in front of her, she couldn’t help but want to flick his flawless forehead.

She had told him she would inform him once his fever subsided, but Sugar had insisted he couldn’t wait and had followed her around everywhere—her office, the library, and even occasionally her own room.

Because of this, his cold had worsened, and to keep him in bed, Violet had to study and handle her work in the guest room where he was staying, except during her class hours.

Shaking her head as if she were tired of it all, Violet unfolded the letter.

She began to read the letter aloud, which was so messy it looked more like a drawing than writing.

“To Lady Crumble. I’ve arrived in the capital. I’m sending this letter from Rosema Station.”

“?”

“By chance, I met the nanny who had been wandering in search of me, and we’re together now. The capital is fun and lively. There’s also lots of delicious food.”

Sugar, who had been frowning at Violet for reading the letter aloud, suddenly widened his eyes.

“I like it much more than the desert. I’ve also found a place to live. For the time being… no, for quite a while, I won’t be going back home. I sent a letter to the house, but I didn’t mention where I’d be staying. Keep it a secret. Thanks for helping me out when we first met Lady Crumble.”

“Is that a letter from Merchen?”

Sugar urgently reached for the letter.

Violet handed it over without resistance, reciting the last sentence.

“See you again. Merchen Hauser.”

With trembling hands, Sugar stared at the messy handwriting through his blurry vision.

A wave of relief mixed with resentment for her sudden departure washed over him, leaving him unsure of what expression to make as he blinked blankly.

“What does she mean by helping her?”

“Nothing much. She asked me to take her to the nearest train station, so I helped her.”

Violet crossed her arms nonchalantly.

The fact that she had sent Merchen through a manhole, knowing she would be caught if she used a carriage, was a secret she planned to take to her grave.

She had helped her, after all, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.

It was just that her method had been a bit… unconventional.

“How could you just take that child wherever she asked? You should have detained her or sent her back to the Hauser family.”

Sugar sighed deeply, pressing his forehead, seemingly unable to understand.

Though Violet felt offended by his reproachful tone, the oblivious boy suddenly blurted out:

“Aren’t you too young to be working as the acting head of the family?”

“In unavoidable situations, age doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m not that young. And it’s not polite to be curious about a lady’s age when we’re not even close.”

“Where is the lady here?”

“What did you just say?”

Crack.

A vein popped on her forehead.

She had gone out of her way to attach a servant to nurse him, treated him with courtesy, and yet!

Her tone grew even more curt in response to Sugar’s rudeness.

Sugar struggled to sit up.

Unable to watch him groaning any longer, she called the waiting servant outside to help him up.

“I need to go home.”

“Yes, yes. Goodbye.”

“Just a moment ago, you told me to stay in bed quietly, but now you’re not stopping me.”

“I’m too tired to stop you now. But…”

Violet looked at Sugar, who couldn’t take his eyes off the letter, with a puzzled expression.

“Why don’t you cry, even once?”

“…I am someone who must not cry.”

As she listened to the boy speak calmly, Violet frowned.

Who decides who can and cannot cry?

He had read a letter from the youngest sibling he had been so worried about and even learned of her whereabouts, yet he didn’t shed a single tear?

“You’re strange, young master.”

Violet shook her head and muttered softly.

Sugar put the letter down and let his shoulders droop.

“Please call for a hired carriage. I need to check the letter Merchen sent home and visit the capital.”

“Why call for a hired carriage? This house is full of carriages. I’ll lend you a coachman and a carriage, so leave immediately. If you die on the way, it’s no longer my concern. I’ve already done enough.”

“Thank you.”

She instructed a servant to prepare the carriage, and Sugar sat on the bed, staring at Violet’s brown hair.

Through his blurry vision, without his glasses, the only thing he could see clearly was her neatly half-tied brown hair.

“When I bring Merchen back, I will send you an invitation, young lady.”

Violet gave a slight nod.

The boy, who had been groaning in pain, looked haggard, but his gentle eyes and black pupils, which reflected others like a mirror, made her think she wouldn’t mind seeing him again.

“I hope happiness finds its way to the Hauser family.”

She offered her blessing.

She wasn’t sure whether it would be better for him to find his youngest sibling or not.

***

Brussel’s cooking was delicious.

Very, very much so.

But there wasn’t a single piece of meat.

Here was grass, there was grass, and everything except the bread and cake was just grass.

It felt a bit rude to complain since they had provided us with a house and served us a meal, but…

“Is Brussel a vegetarian?”

“Oh, not really, but in Greenvalley, we don’t usually enjoy eating meat. Also, it’s Brussel, not ‘Brussel,’ little miss.”

Brussel answered with a smile, as though he found my question adorable.