Two years ago.

The Midstern family was on their way back to Braid Hills after a long summer holiday. Looking back, that day had been ill-fated from the start.

Rain began to pour in the afternoon, despite no forecast of it. Believing it to be a passing shower, they waited—going so far as to purchase new train tickets. But even after an hour, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

To make matters worse, one of the family’s carriage wheels broke, forcing them to hire a public coach. The count and countess rode with Clive in one, while Oscar, Rio, and a servant rode in the other.

Time was running short before the train’s departure. Under pressure, the coachman drove the horses hard.

Still, had the road conditions been normal, it might not have been an issue. But the road was dotted with potholes—repairs that should have been done long ago, yet the city had delayed again and again for lack of funds.

Then the heavy rain came, and the softened pits grew deeper. One in particular had formed at a corner of the road.

The coach, racing at full speed, swerved sharply but failed to avoid it.

Rattle—crash!

Witnesses later testified it sounded almost like a bomb going off.

The carriage carrying Oscar and Rio skidded on the rain-slick road and slammed into a lamppost.

The problem was, the impact had thrown the carriage door wide open—and Rio, who had been seated by the window, was hurled straight into the lamppost.

“Still, I suppose we should call it a blessing he didn’t fall onto the road…”

To say it was a blessing when one of his legs had been rendered useless felt far too cruel. And yet, the family could only repeat it to themselves.

It could have been far worse: paralysis of his lower body, total paralysis, even slipping into a coma and never waking up again.

At the very least, he had survived. And for that, they were truly grateful.

Among all the possible outcomes, the fact that it had not been the worst but merely the lesser misfortune was, in truth, something to be thankful for.

“Ahem. My apologies. Hardly the sort of thing to bring up over breakfast…”

“It’s all right.”

It would never be a pleasant story, no matter when it was told. Mia pressed her lips together, swallowing her words, and quietly smoothed the tablecloth.

“I’m grateful you told me, truly. Ah—shall I pour you more coffee?”

“Oh no, no. Please, I’ll do it. You just sit.”

The maid with a warm, cheerful face jumped up to take the coffee pot in hand.

It was Mia’s first time having breakfast with the household staff.

They had treated her with neither coldness nor warmth. She hadn’t minded much, though eating alone—picking at the food the kitchen maids had set aside for her—could sometimes feel lonely. That was why she’d been so glad when Becky had carefully suggested joining them that morning.

Gathered around the round table, the initial stiffness soon melted away. With her down-to-earth, friendly nature, Mia was welcomed by the staff.

Especially after being confided the Midstern family’s private circumstances, she felt the ice in her heart melt completely.

“In that case, let me bring out the dessert. Please, everyone, stay seated.”

Mia gladly pushed back her chair and rose. Relief welled in her at last—she truly felt like she had become part of this household.

***

Perhaps because of what she’d heard about the accident that morning, Mia raised her voice with deliberate cheer as she greeted him.

“Good morning, young master!”

Rio was rather sensitive to the weather. The past few gloomy, overcast days had been difficult for him, but now that the skies had cleared, he sat at his desk with a far calmer expression. His pale cheeks were tinged a rosy pink, making him look almost like a doll.

Mia’s eyes lingered briefly on the wheelchair adjusted to his size before she looked at him and smiled warmly.

“You seem to be in good condition today.”

“Yeah. I played chess with my big brother yesterday.”

“Wow, you can play chess?”

“Chess is basic knowledge,” Rio declared proudly.

He must have enjoyed spending time with his older brother, for he even opened his book without prompting.

‘If only he could be this angelic every day. This is my chance—I need to push the lessons forward while I can.’

Resolving herself, Mia picked up her battered fountain pen, which she used in place of a long pointer.

“All right then. Page thirty-seven. At last we’re moving from novels to plays. This is probably the most famous work of—”

“Have you seen my big brother?”

Rio interrupted before she could finish even three sentences.

“It’s already been a week since he came home.”

Mia had indeed heard the news that the eldest son had returned from abroad. She thought she might cross paths with him at least once, but perhaps their schedules differed, or their movements never overlapped—she hadn’t so much as glimpsed his shadow.

“No, not yet. I suppose he must be busy.”

“Of course he’s busy! He’s a student at Sherk University. And he’s not the only one—my second brother goes there too.”

Rio’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, then he paused deliberately, watching closely to gauge Mia’s reaction.

Mia stole a glance at the clock. A little small talk for five minutes wouldn’t hurt.

“That’s impressive. Sherk University isn’t the kind of place you can get into on grades alone, is it?”

“Right. My brothers are amazing. Especially my big brother—he had the grades for a scholarship, but he gave it up to another student in need. Because, well, our family’s rich, right? He said a true noble should lead by example and help those less fortunate. And my second brother, he’s on the rowing team, and…”

Rio chattered on excitedly.

How Oscar was the ace of the rowing team, courted even by other universities. How Clive was double-majoring yet still scoring perfect marks on every exam.

The boy’s world was filled with nothing but the brilliance of his older brothers. His voice brimmed with love and admiration for them.

Mia couldn’t help but think of her sister, Anne. She loved Anne just as Rio loved his brothers.

Anne, with her strawberry-blossom smile—white and sweet. She read books and wrote stories, sometimes making Mia the heroine of exciting adventures.

A wave of longing welled up in her chest. Feeling a deep sympathy with Rio’s heart, Mia spoke sincerely.

“You must be so proud to have such wonderful brothers.”

“That goes without saying.”

“Then, if you want to be like them and enter Sherk University, you’ll have to study hard, won’t you? Don’t you feel even more motivated to learn with me?”

“…What are you talking about?”

But Rio only clicked his tongue, as if appalled. The radiant energy blooming across his face withered into sudden gloom. Mia was taken aback by the abrupt change.

“There’s no way I could ever be like my brothers.”

“……”

“My legs are ruined.”

The bluntness of the word left Mia speechless.

Rio now glared at the corner of his desk.

“To get into Sherk University, you have to be good at sports and ace the interviews. But who would accept someone who can’t even walk properly? If I were them, I wouldn’t pick me either.”

“Who… who on earth told you something like that?”

“I already told you—I’m thirteen. I know well enough how the world works.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No, I’m right. Don’t bother trying to comfort me with cheap pity.”

Where on earth had he even learned to speak that way?

Mia felt dizzy. Shocked, angry, and achingly sorry for him all at once.

She closed the book and gripped the handles of his wheelchair.
“That’s enough. Let’s go outside.”

“…What?”

“Young master, how long has it been since you last left the house?”

“…Why would you ask that?”

“If I’m right, it’s been over a week.”

“……”

“On a day this beautiful, of course you’d sink into gloomy thoughts if you never see the sun.”

“…What’s a ‘gloomy thought’?”

He was still so young. Heat surged up from Mia’s chest. She spread a blanket over Rio’s knees and, as she began to wheel him forward, said firmly:

“It means you start having bad thoughts.”

“It’s not bad thoughts—it’s simply the truth of the world.”

“Your world is still small, young master. The truth inside the well can look very different once you’re outside it.”

The Midstern estate at Braid Hills was beautiful. Rio knew that as well as anyone. But what he once enjoyed so naturally, he had abandoned after the accident. He locked his door and sank into himself.

‘I’ve been careless.’

She had thought it was enough just to give her lessons on time. That it was better not to interfere with how he spent the rest of his hours, to keep her distance.

Because that was easier.

‘I’m a bad adult.’

Mia clutched her aching chest, swallowed by guilt.

When golden sunlight poured down, Rio scowled, throwing up his arm to shield his eyes.

“I hate this! I want to go back inside!”

“Just five minutes.”

“N-no… it stings my eyes.”

“If the light bothers you, you can close them. Just feel the fresh air instead.”

“…Ugh.”

Groaning, Rio lowered his eyelids. His gray eyes disappeared beneath thin skin.

Mia turned her face toward the forest as well, opening her chest to press the sweet air deep into her lungs. Then, at last, she closed her own eyes too.

“I’ll recite one of my favorite sonnets for you. After that, we’ll go back inside. How does that sound?”

“…I don’t know. Do whatever you want.”

“It’s called ‘The Navel of Summer.’”

“It’s spring right now.”

“I know. But before you even blink, summer will be here. I’ll begin.”

“……”

“We are passing through the navel of summer.”

As she began her recital of Henry Milton, a man was walking across the lawn.

“On the fresh green grass, the sound of a harmonica. A swan hidden in the shade.”

At the clear, ringing voice, the man halted.

Searching for the source, his gaze swept the grounds until, beneath the great cherry tree, he saw his youngest brother and a woman standing together like a picture.

“Clouds spun into candy we eat…”

As if bewitched, the man found himself stepping closer, whispering the next line under his breath.

“…Lay your head upon dahlias, and rest awhile.”

It was a sonnet he loved as well.