Yet Ian quickly brushed the thought aside.
He cherished Charlotte more dearly than words could ever express.
Even if every complaint she uttered was nothing more than a little act to earn everyone's affection, then so be it.
To him, that truth was infinitely more comforting than believing his beloved elder sister was silently enduring genuine pain.
Besides...
Whenever Charlotte acted spoiled, she was simply adorable.
Utterly precious.
It was almost impossible for Grandmother to resist indulging her.
***
Time drifted by in gentle silence.
After reuniting with Grandmother and my two cousins, there was little else for us to discuss.
The manor's drawing room soon filled with lighthearted conversations and soft laughter, the kind that quietly warmed one's heart.
Before I realized it, our pleasant gathering had come to an end far sooner than I had expected.
Now, I was back inside my room.
The moment I stepped in, I let myself fall onto the bed.
It felt as though every trace of exhaustion that had accumulated over the past several days slowly melted away from my shoulders.
The mattress embraced me with such comforting softness that my entire body seemed to sink into its gentle warmth.
My eyelids gradually grew heavier.
My chamber was located on the second floor of the Handler mansion.
Just like every bedroom belonging to the Handler family.
The highest floor, meanwhile, was reserved for the servants who faithfully served this household.
Earlier, Grandmother had mentioned that Grandfather was still occupied with countless affairs at the Merchants' Guild.
As for Aunt Adela, more and more of the family's business had gradually been entrusted to her shoulders, leaving her busier than ever.
I could almost picture the expression on her face.
She was probably grumbling from dawn until dusk.
Yet despite every complaint that escaped her lips, she would still devote herself wholeheartedly to every responsibility placed before her.
That was simply the kind of woman she was.
Her mouth never ceased complaining.
Yet her footsteps never once faltered.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
"Big Sister! May I come in?"
I recognized that gentle little voice immediately.
Dorothea.
The sweet young girl I had long since come to regard as my own little sister.
If Lucas was especially close to Ian because their personalities suited one another so well, then I shared an even deeper bond with Dorothea.
As for Lucas and me...
We spent far more time bickering than getting along.
Not because we disliked one another.
Rather, neither of us had ever been willing to surrender whenever we both wanted the same thing.
Those little quarrels never lasted long.
Soon enough, we would be chatting together as though nothing had ever happened.
It occurred so often that everyone in the family had begun treating it as a familiar tradition whenever we gathered together.
Grandmother.
Grandfather.
Even Aunt Adela.
None of them worried anymore whenever they saw us arguing.
"Come in, Dorothea."
The door slowly creaked open.
Dorothea stepped inside with graceful little footsteps.
Her light blue hair swayed softly with every movement she made.
Those clear, deep sapphire eyes looked toward me, carrying a warm and innocent smile.
Grandmother once told me that her beautiful hair had been inherited from her late father.
Her eyes, meanwhile, resembled Grandfather's far more closely.
Unlike Lucas, who had inherited almost every feature from Aunt Adela.
A genuine smile naturally spread across my face.
Dorothea returned it shyly.
"Am I disturbing your rest, Big Sister?"
"Not at all. In fact, the moment I saw such a beautiful and sweet little sister, every bit of my weariness disappeared."
"U... Um... Big Sister... Please don't tease me."
A soft laugh escaped my lips.
Teasing this little girl was always delightful.
Her reactions were unfailingly innocent.
Unfailingly adorable.
Especially whenever she called me Big Sister.
I gently patted the empty space beside me on the bed.
Inviting her to sit close.
"Come here. I've missed you."
"Really?"
"Of course. What about you? Don't tell me you haven't missed me."
"That's not true."
Dorothea hurriedly shook her head.
A rosy blush slowly bloomed across her cheeks.
"I... I've missed you very much too, Big Sister."
The smile on my face widened.
"What an adorable little sister. Come here quickly. I've prepared a present especially for you."
Her sapphire eyes sparkled at once.
Like precious jewels kissed by the morning sun.
Without another moment of hesitation, she hurried over and sat beside me.
I pushed myself upright as well until we were seated shoulder to shoulder upon the bed.
"What is it, Big Sister?"
"Before that... make sure your mother never finds out."
Dorothea immediately nodded over and over again.
"Don't worry. I can do that. It's very easy to hide things from Mother."
A quiet chuckle escaped me.
"What a good girl. You've truly become so clever. You're nothing like Karina. Big Sister adores you more and more each day."
Dorothea's face instantly turned scarlet.
She lowered her head, unable to bear such heartfelt praise.
But every word I spoke came straight from my heart.
Karina truly was an unusual child.
She wasn't like Ian at all.
Though both of them were quiet and composed, Karina's way of thinking was far more difficult to predict.
To me...
She was genuinely an incorrigible little sister.
Somehow, she always managed to make Father and Mother dance to her tune whenever she wanted something.
In some ways, that only made her even bolder.
As a result, hardly anyone could keep her in check anymore.
Even Ryan, who had once been Mother's most pampered child, could no longer do much whenever Karina was involved.
Even so...
I still loved my little sister dearly.
No matter what happened, she would always remain part of my family.
"Big Sis... What was the present you mentioned?"
I blinked.
Only then did I realize my thoughts had wandered to Karina.
"Oh. I nearly forgot. I have a few lollipops. I saved them especially for Dorothea. But remember, your mother must never know."
"Really!?"
Dorothea's delighted voice rang throughout the room.
"Of course. Big Sister would never lie to such a beautiful little sister."
The very next instant, she stood atop the bed.
Her tiny body bounced up and down in pure delight.
Her bright, crystalline laughter filled the room.
The once-quiet chamber was soon wrapped in the simple, heartwarming joy of a little girl whose happiness needed nothing more than a small gift from someone she loved.
She truly was overflowing with boundless energy.
Watching Dorothea like this reminded me of myself whenever I received something I dearly loved.
Lollipops.
Of course a little girl Dorothea's age would adore such sweet treats.
Those sugary candies had been Mother's greatest source of frustration for years.
And Father was the only one who possessed them.
Even now, I still had no idea where he managed to find lollipops with such irresistible flavors.
The important thing was that he always kept an abundant supply hidden away.
Before I departed for Grandmother's estate, he had secretly slipped quite a generous handful into my possession.
Fortunately, Mother knew nothing about it.
Despite reminding me countless times to eat fewer sweets, I still accepted every one of them without the slightest hesitation.
I truly was an unfilial daughter.
No...
Now that I thought about it, this was entirely Father's fault.
Why did he have to own sweets that tasted so unbelievably delicious?
Yet the moment I imagined Aunt Adela catching Dorothea happily licking a lollipop...
An involuntary shiver ran down my spine.
For some reason, Aunt Adela and Mother were astonishingly alike whenever it came to matters like this.
Both of them were equally strict.
Neither would ever allow their children to consume too many sweets.
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips.
If we were discovered...
Grandmother would surely come to my rescue.
After chatting with Dorothea for quite some time, I eased myself back onto the bed.
Turning my head, I looked toward her.
The first lollipop I had given her had already disappeared without leaving even the tiniest trace.
The smile blooming upon that little girl's face was so innocent.
So utterly sincere.
Before I realized it, my fingers reached out and gently poked her soft, rosy cheek.
"How does it taste?"
"It's delicious, Big Sister. But... it wasn't enough."
Dorothea shyly fidgeted with her tiny fingers as she spoke.
"I want another."
Her bashful gaze drifted toward me.
As though she already believed she was asking for far too much.
I simply smiled.
Not today.
Tomorrow.
One lollipop was already more than enough for today.
I didn't want Dorothea to grow up like me, hopelessly attached to sweet things.
I was different.
As a shinobi, my body was far more resilient than that of an ordinary person.
I could tolerate all kinds of food without much concern.
But Dorothea was still just a normal little girl.
Too many sweets would certainly do her no good.
Even so...
I didn't want to see disappointment cloud those beautiful blue eyes.
"Keep Big Sister company while I sleep, and tomorrow I'll give you another one. What do you think?"
"A promise?"
Dorothea immediately stretched out her little finger.
Her deep sapphire eyes sparkled once more, overflowing with hopeful anticipation.
A gentle smile touched my lips.
I hooked my little finger around hers.
A tiny promise.
Simple.
Yet to a child, it was worth more than treasure.
"Yes. I promise."
Dorothea's face instantly blossomed into the brightest smile.
"Very well, Big Sister. Dorothea will stay with you while you sleep."
"Come here. Let Big Sister hold you. I've truly missed you."
"Hehe... I've missed you too, Big Sister."
Dorothea promptly lay down beside me.
Without the slightest hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her tiny body.
Warm.
Soft.
Just like embracing my own little sister.
She was older than Karina.
Yet somehow, she was far more adorable.
The two of us continued talking.
Simple conversations.
The kind only two girls who had longed to see each other again could truly understand.
Dorothea eagerly told me stories about her friends.
About her favorite doll.
About the new games she had recently discovered.
Every now and then, she asked about Ryan and Karina.
I answered every question she asked.
Before long, I found myself drifting into memories of the past.
My friends rarely played together anymore.
The older we became, the less time remained for carefree days filled with nothing but laughter.
Somehow...
That thought made my heart ache just a little.
Time quietly slipped away.
Our voices gradually softened.
Until our conversation finally faded beneath the weight of drowsiness.
I fell asleep.
The long journey had truly drained every ounce of my strength.
Dorothea was probably just as exhausted.
Though the reasons behind our weariness were different, our destination was the same.
Sleep.
A peaceful slumber to restore the strength our bodies had lost.
***
Yet there was one thing Charlotte never realized.
Dorothea had not truly fallen asleep.
Drowsiness had certainly claimed her body.
But after a quiet moment, she slowly opened her eyes once more.
In silence, she gazed at Charlotte's sleeping face.
Those soft pink locks lay gracefully across the pillow.
They were so beautiful.
So very much like Grandmother's hair.
Dorothea had always loved that color.
Deep within the quietest corner of her heart, she had always wished for an elder sister.
Someone she could cling to.
Someone whose embrace would always welcome her.
Someone who would cherish her without reservation.
Little by little, Charlotte had become that very person.
"I love you, Big Sister..."
The words escaped her tiny lips, softer than a passing breeze.
Ever since she was little, Dorothea had always stayed close to Charlotte whenever her beloved cousin came to visit the Handler estate.
But the distance between Brandenburg City and Green Pine Village was simply too great.
Their meetings were few and far between.
That was precisely why every visit became a precious memory she treasured with all her heart.
Dorothea had visited Green Pine Village several times herself.
However, her mother's busy schedule, together with Grandmother's constant concern for her safety, made such journeys exceedingly rare.
She could only travel there whenever Grandmother accompanied her.
Or when Mother somehow found enough free time.
A faint smile slowly blossomed upon her lips.
Dorothea quietly shifted a little closer.
Closer to the sister she adored.
Then her small arms gently tightened around Charlotte's sleeping body.
She moved with the utmost care.
Careful not to wake her.
Warm.
Wonderfully warm.
That comforting warmth gradually soothed every corner of her heart.
Not long afterward, her eyes finally closed once more.
This time...
She truly fell asleep.
Drifting peacefully into gentle dreams.
***
Outside the chamber.
A grown woman slowly opened the door.
Her movements were so careful that not even the slightest sound escaped.
Her eyes immediately settled upon the two girls sleeping peacefully together upon the bed.
Holding one another close.
That simple, heartwarming sight gently curved her lips into a tender smile.
Without speaking a single word, she quietly closed the door once more.
Careful not to disturb their peaceful slumber.
"I should finish my work a little earlier today."
"If I can finish quickly enough, we should all be able to enjoy supper together."
Her quiet murmur barely rose above a whisper.
For a brief moment, her thoughts wandered toward her cousin, Irene.
Sometimes...
She could not help feeling a touch of envy toward Irene's peaceful life.
A life free from endless responsibilities, where she was simply cherished and lovingly spoiled by her husband.
"Ah... What am I thinking?"
She quietly scolded herself for complaining about her own life.
I should be grateful.
Enough of these foolish thoughts.
With that, she quietly walked away from the room.
The woman was Adela Handler.
The only daughter of Marianne Handler.
And the beloved mother of Lucas and Dorothea.