Leaving Karsten behind, still hunched over Meliover’s bedside in anguish, Breti quietly stepped out of the room. She made her way back to the room she had been using earlier.

When she arrived, Bagi was waiting for her, anxiously pacing in front of the door. The moment Bagi spotted her, she hurried over.

“Young lady, that must have been quite a shock for you.”

Seeing the worried look on Bagi’s face, Breti forced a smile and replied,

“No, I’m all right. I’m just worried because madam… no, because Mother’s condition isn’t good.”

Thinking of Meliover lying in her sickbed, Breti entered the room. Bagi followed her in and tried to comfort her.

“Madam will be all right. Please don’t worry too much. Let me fix your hair again.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Breti had just settled onto the sofa and Bagi was beginning to arrange her hair when, all of a sudden, the door burst open and Karsten strode in.

“O-Opp—Brother?”

He didn’t even acknowledge Breti calling out to him—his glare was fixed squarely on Bagi.

“Bagi, I heard you brought Madam to wherever Laterna was. Is that true?”

“Y-yes… Your Highness.”

“Why?”

Karsten’s stern tone made Bagi tremble as she struggled to answer.

“M-Madam… asked for the young lady, so…”

Before her small voice could even finish, Karsten advanced on Bagi as if ready to scold her.

Startled, Breti quickly stepped between them.

“O-Opp—Brother!”

His cold gaze shifted from Bagi to Breti, pinning her in place.

“Move aside.”

“Please, just calm down first—”

Karsten let out a dry, humorless laugh, staring down at Breti.

“How dare you…”

Before he could finish, Breti quickly sent Bagi out of the room.

“Bagi, please wait outside.”

Frightened, Bagi scurried out of the room in a flash.

Now that only the two of them remained, Karsten’s voice—still laced with anger—broke the silence.

“Do you really think you’re my sister now?”

Karsten grabbed Breti’s chin roughly.

“You dare to stand in my way?”

“I’m sorry. But I was worried your plans might fall apart…”

Karsten let out a dry, mocking laugh.

“And who are you to presume to worry about that?”

“…I apologize for overstepping.”

Breti bit down hard on her lower lip, but met Karsten’s eyes squarely as she continued.

“But Countess Abbott always said the lower servants’ tongues are the most dangerous.”

Karsten’s grip on her chin tightened. Breti did her best to endure the pain, forcing herself to speak through it.

“Y-Your Highness, isn’t it true that you also… don’t want anything to go wrong?”

Her gaze trembled as she spoke, and Karsten’s teal eyes caught that flicker. She wanted to look away, but managed to hold his gaze.

At last, Karsten’s grip began to loosen. With a rough gesture, he finally let her go.

Breti bowed her head, barely holding back the pain as she stood upright in front of him.

“I let you be, I indulged you, and now… you’ve forgotten your place.”

Karsten began to sneer.

His biting words left Breti feeling nothing but shame. Still, she knew that arguing further would only provoke him, so she kept her head lowered and remained silent.

“Look at me.”

“…”

“Breti Harwin. Look at me.”

Called by both her surname and given name, Breti finally managed to lift her head.

The icy ruthlessness on Karsten’s face made her whole body go rigid.

“Word has already spread throughout the capital that Laterna White has returned alive.”

“…”

“You have ears, so you must have heard the talk yourself.”

Breti simply nodded in response.

“That means every move you make will be watched. Which means…”

“…”

“You’ll probably end up complaining you can’t handle it.”

Breti couldn’t say a word. She bowed her head again. Just hearing the noblewomen gossip earlier had shaken her so much—maybe, just as he said, she would end up breaking down and saying she couldn’t do it.

Her hands trembled.

“The burden you’ll have to carry has grown.”

“…”

“You may never be able to go back to being Breti Harwin again.”

Breti’s head snapped up, her gaze trembling. Karsten stared back at her, his eyes devoid of any sympathy—only the annoyance of more trouble filling his mind.

‘She’ll give up. She’ll run away.’

Surely, that’s what would happen. What could someone so small possibly accomplish? He was certain she would end up in tears, begging to quit.

‘If that happens…’

It would only create more headaches for him.

Just as Karsten was considering what to do when that inevitably happened—

“I’ll bear it.”

“…What?”

“I’ll face whatever I must because of this.”

Breti said, bracing herself.

Karsten scoffed.

“You’ll handle it?”

“…Yes.”

“And how, exactly?”

Put on the spot by Karsten’s sharp question, Breti hesitated, unable to answer.

He stepped in closer, his gaze cold and unrelenting.

“With what? How could someone like you possibly handle it?”

“Th-that’s…”

Breti faltered, unable to find an answer, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Karsten’s lips curled in a lopsided smirk.

“Fine, let’s see you try.”

“…What?”

“I’m actually curious to see just how long you’ll last.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A moment later, Benon stepped inside.

“Sir, madam is asking for the young lady.”

At his words, Karsten turned his icy gaze back to Breti.

“Well, you should start by doing what you’re supposed to, shouldn’t you?”

His eyes were as cold as ever.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

A little while later, Breti quietly entered the room where Meliover was lying down. The moment Meliover spotted her, she tried to sit up in bed.

“My dear!”

Breti rushed to Meliover’s side on reflex.

“Please, don’t try to get up.”

“My dear…”

Meliover held Breti’s hand tightly.

“My precious girl.”

She couldn’t let go, holding Breti close for a long while.

Karsten, who had been watching the two quietly, finally approached.

“My son, you’re here?”

“Mother, you need to res.”

Karsten urged gently.

Meliover gave him a faint smile.

“I know my own condition best. Don’t worry too much about me.”

“Mother…”

With the hand not holding Breti, Meliover reached out and stroked Karsten’s hand. At her touch, Karsten’s eyes began to tremble with emotion.

“My dear, you look so thin. It must have been a serious injury, after all.”

“I’m all right.”

She smiled softly.

“You don’t have to hide it from your mother. It’s all right to complain if you’re in pain.”

“…I’ll step out now. The two of you should have some time to talk.”

Karsten slipped from her touch and quietly stepped back.

Meliover smiled at his retreat.

“All right, Karsten. Thank you for finding our Laterna. Truly—thank you.”

“…It was nothing.”

With that, Karsten left the room.

Once he was gone, Meliover took both of Breti’s hands in hers and gazed into her eyes.

“My darling. My precious girl.”

Each time Meliover called her “my darling,” Breti’s heart pounded in her chest.

Breti couldn’t help but feel as if she were committing a terrible sin against Meliover. Meliover beamed, tenderly stroking Breti’s face again and again.

“My darling, you’ve grown up just as I always imagined. How could you be so lovely?”

“…Thank you.”

At Breti’s polite reply, Meliover looked momentarily troubled. With effort, she sat up and took both of Breti’s hands in hers.

“You don’t need to be so formal with your mother.”

Only then did Breti realize her mistake. Bowing her head, she answered softly,

“I’m just not used to it yet… I’m sorry.”

Meliover smiled gently and stroked Breti’s hair.

“It’s difficult, but let’s work on it together, slowly.”

“Yes, I will. Mother.”

At being called “Mother,” Meliover looked absolutely delighted.

Meanwhile, Karsten—who had said he would leave—found himself unable to walk away. He lingered just outside the room, and soon heard the sound of Meliover’s laughter.

Contrary to his worries, it seemed Breti was handling her role as Laterna quite well.

Karsten let out a faint sigh of relief.

“…D*mn it.”

With a low curse, he stared at the closed door, his emotions in turmoil.