Chapter 112 - There's No One
“Do you understand? You didn’t save Pern, but you ruined him. He now has no choice but to wear the yoke of being kicked out without any recognition. The availability of severance pay is that important.”
He said that even though she might have thought that she wanted him to stay here, it was not right, then sighed.
“Even if he likes this place, there’s no way he would resist getting to spend the rest of his life freely with his family without being bound by the nobility.”
He was saying something different than before, but…
“People are like that. That is their greatest success.”
It was cold. The words she wanted to say came to her throat, but now she didn’t know how to respond, so she gave up.
What her brother said was right. Yes, as always.
“I also spent my childhood in his arms. He’s a pretty good servant to me too. I sincerely wish him well. If you understand what I am saying, instead of responding, just nod your head.
“…”
“Alright, let’s go see father right now. You can’t break your promise, but we can make Pern’s future a little bit better.”
He looked like an adult who had lost the youthfulness of a twelve-year-old boy. He was still the same, but in Laila’s eyes, he looked like an adult.
“I am…”
Just as he said, she felt she had to nod. However, her unorganized mind and thoughts kept her speaking out loud, so Laila let time flow and looked at him blankly.
‘I know he’s right.’
Yet, not everything was right. She wanted to shout that he wasn’t entirely right.
However, she couldn’t bring herself out of her mute state, so Laila could not look at her brother’s eyes any longer, and closed her eyes.
“You…”
Her limbs shook once more at the sound of her brother’s slightly trembling voice.
Laila thought he might give her a clout on the head. He was rarely furious like this.
However, her eldest brother only let out a sharp exhale, diminishing his menacing appearance. As he slowly drew his breath, he left the room after leaving a few words in a very cold and sharp tone.
“Okay. Do what you want to. I’ll see if you can make it.”
At the sound of his voice, Laila startled.
It was only after he left that she thought that her eldest brother was not a person who would easily beat others, unlike the second brother.
But that wasn’t the only reason. He felt a little strange. When he said he would see if she would make it, he sounded like a stubborn child.
‘Like…’
It was as if she was dealing with a little boy. It was the first time she felt like this.
‘Brother acting like a child? No way. What am I thinking?’
“…”
The room was dark again. Laila stared intently at the spot where her ‘child-like’ older brother had stood for a moment.
Another day passed, and it was the evening of the second day. Laila couldn’t even stay seated anymore, so she couldn’t wipe the cold sweat that was dripping down like rain on her forehead, and she just collapsed on the bed.
Slowly, she was losing consciousness. Her vision was becoming dark. In her dream, she saw Pern’s back as he left the Estevan duchy. Pern handed Laila something he had been keeping as a talisman for all his life, and hardly took a step.
Not wearing his butler’s clothes, he looked like a neat old man. At the sight of the butler like that, the young Laila cried, feeling her heart getting cold.
‘But now…’
Now, she wanted to run and ask.
‘Pern. Did you want to leave?’
Were you actually annoyed because of me?
‘Because you looked so sad, I had such a hard time, thinking that this was all because of me.’
But, by any chance, were you not?
…No, you were not.
‘I know that you were not.’
She knew Pern would be happy if he stayed here.
‘But I couldn’t say anything. Pern.’
She thought her brother was right, but he wasn’t entirely right. But she didn’t know what to say about it.
In fact, on the other hand, she wondered if she had done anything wrong. She thought if she was really only causing trouble for Pern. If that was the case, she wondered what she should do.
‘But I keep having the feeling that something isn’t right.’
So, she didn’t follow her brother.
