Huddled in the shadowed recess of the corridor was a diminutive silhouette. Through the window, a solitary shaft of moonlight spilled across the floor, painting her cascade of golden hair in pale silver.
Every trace of alcohol instantly evaporated from Richard’s veins.
“Lili?”
The name slipped past his lips as if coaxed out by a trance. The golden tresses stirred slightly before she lifted her bowed head.
“Ah.”
Sitting there in her thin nightclothes, Lilietta met his gaze with glazed, unseeing eyes, a faint whisper escaping her lips.
“…Ri.”
He froze. It was the first time in ten long years he had heard that childhood nickname. Almost tripping over his own feet, he scrambled toward her.
“L-Lili, what are you doing out here on the cold floor?”
“I…”
Resting her forehead back against her drawn-up knees, she let out a muffled groan.
“It’s nothing. I’ll head back to bed soon… You should go to sleep too.”
She pressed a palm against her temple as though struggling against a splitting ache, her breath coming in ragged shudders. Only then did Richard notice how completely bloodless her face had turned.
The memory of that terrible night flashed behind his eyes. The night he had desperately begged God to turn back the hands of time, swearing he would offer anything just to undo what happened.
Slowly, he sank onto his haunches before her. That night had felt exactly like this—still and clear, bathed in the silver glow pouring through the panes. Now, once again, the two siblings sat facing each other in a corridor woven with moonlight and starlight.
When he spoke, his voice was barely a murmur.
“…Did you have a bad dream?”
Lilietta offered no reply.
“…Did you… see something frightening in your sleep?”
He could feel his own words fracturing, trembling at the edges, yet he could not bring himself to stop.
“Lili, if…”
She slowly lifted her face from her knees. She found him looking back at her, his features twisted with raw anguish.
“…If I stay right here… until you fall asleep…”
Their matching violet eyes locked. His welled with tears he could no longer hold back, spilling down his cheeks despite the fierce knit of his brow.
“…would that be all right?”
Lilietta understood at last. This scene was a living echo of that night a decade ago.
In this lifetime, she had no battle comrades left to watch over her, no one to shoulder her nightmares.
And yet…
She had a family now. The girl’s memories were steeped in an unconditional, fearless love—a love freely given and received.
Rita parted her lips, hesitated, and glanced away before raising her eyes once more to speak in a quiet, measured cadence.
“Ri…”
“Yes?”
“…I had a scary dream.”
“Did you?”
“Will you… stay with me this time?”
“…Yeah.”
He leaned forward, pulling her fragile frame tightly into his embrace.
“I’ll stay… I’ll stay right by your side. Lili… I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry… And thank you… I swear I’ll protect you this time. I promise…”
His arms shook violently as he clung to her, his sobs catching in ragged hitches against her neck. Lilietta shut her eyes, letting herself lean into the warmth of kin. Just for this fleeting moment, she felt as if she were a child again, tucked away in complete safety.
Ah, I’m not back on the battlefield.
I’m home.
And with that, the ceaseless gunfire and artillery that battered her mind finally fell silent.
***
The very first thing to greet Rita when she opened her eyes that morning was the pungent, sour stench of stale alcohol.
Glancing down, she spotted a red-haired drunk slumped beside her mattress, his neck propped awkwardly against the bedframe. He held both of her hands clamped tightly in his own, as though grasping a lifeline.
She quietly regarded her second brother’s stubborn grip for a few seconds before sitting up. She raised her free hand, intending to brush his unruly hair, but thought better of it. A smirk crossed her lips as she reached over and pinched his nostrils shut instead.
“Ghhk—?!”
Gasping for air, Richard jolted awake. Rita pulled her fingers away, scrunching her nose in theatrical disgust.
“Ri!”
“Wh-what?”
“You reek.”
“…I what?”
He sniffed himself, thoroughly bewildered, while Rita clamped her nose shut with two fingers.
“Just how much did you drink? Don’t tell me you didn’t even bother to wash up.”
“Well… uh…”
“Utterly revolting. What a disgrace.”
“…!”
“The Ri I remember was never this sloppy. You used to be so fastidious and proper. Look at you now—filthy and shameless. Don’t you dare go telling anyone you’re my brother.”
“Hey, Lili, that’s going too far—!”
Richard scrambled to his feet, scarlet creeping all the way up to his ears.
“Do you have any idea why I ended up here last night?! Fine! Just you wait—I’m going to scrub down until I shine!”
He stormed out of the bedchamber with sudden, vigorous energy. Watching his retreating back, Rita chuckled quietly before turning toward the window.
Outside, the cheerful chirping of birds filled the air, and golden morning sunlight washed over the room. It was a crisp, brilliant dawn.
***
“Ri, word has it you abandoned your duties completely and do nothing but drink all day.”
“Who on earth said that? Who?! I’ll have you know I am an anointed holy knight, the Sword of Sha, a proud guardian of Shadea!”
“They let town drunks become holy knights these days? Don’t tell me the order cast you out because of your drinking habit?”
“No! That’s an absurd slander! I’m nowhere near that far gone!”
“Considering you smelled like a walking distillery at dawn, I’d say the rumors are spot on. The Ri I knew would never behave like this. You’re definitely an imposter. What did you do with the real brother?”
“Aaargh, fine, I’m sorry I doubted you were real yesterday, all right?! You even admitted you doubted yourself! Just watch—I’m never touching another drop of liquor again!”
Lively banter and lighthearted laughter rang throughout the dining hall.
Standing frozen in the doorway, Leonhart felt as though he had wandered straight into a dream. Beside him, the Duchess, whom he had been gently supporting, halted as well, her eyes transfixed by the sight before them.
The two youngest siblings had been sitting side by side, merrily trading insults, but turned toward the entrance upon hearing footsteps. Lilietta smiled warmly in the bright morning light, while a pristine, freshly groomed Richard rose to offer a courteous bow.
“Good morning, Mother.”
The Duchess gently eased her hand off Leonhart’s forearm and took a step forward. With every graceful stride she took toward her children, the frail, sickly shadow hanging over her seemed to fall away, restoring her to the stately noblewoman of ten years past.
“It has been quite some time since you last looked this presentable, Ri.”
“Mother, please, say things like that and Lili will get the wrong idea about me.”
“Oh? I hardly think it is a misunderstanding.”
A mischievous little smile touched her lips as she moved to the head of the table beside Lilietta. Settling into her chair, she greeted her daughter with a tremulous voice.
“Did you sleep well, my darling?”
“Yes.”
Lilietta gently placed her small palm atop her mother’s trembling fingers, answering with genuine warmth.
“What about you, Mother? Did you sleep well?”
“…I did. For the first time in a very long while.”
Hearing such an ordinary, everyday exchange made Leonhart’s throat ache with sudden emotion. Hot tears prickled behind his eyes. He bit his inner lip to master himself, but Richard was too quick to let it slide.
“Well, well, look at that. Our big brother looks like he’s about to bawl.”
“I am not crying, Richard.”
“Come on, just let it out. I made a complete fool of myself weeping in front of Lili last night anyway.”
“Last night? Don’t tell me you dared bother her while stinking of drink?”
Leonhart’s brow furrowed into a sharp glower as he stepped closer. Realizing his blunder, Richard quickly threw both hands up in surrender.
“It was an accident, I swear! It just happened! I won’t touch another drop, honestly!”
“You? Swearing off alcohol? Do you truly expect me to believe that?”
“I mean it this time. Lili is finally back.”
Richard beamed, his hands still raised.
“Rest easy, Leon. I won’t look at a bottle again. I don’t need it anymore.”
Leonhart searched his younger brother’s features. The dark gloom that had clung to Richard like a curse for all these years had vanished without a trace. Whatever words they had exchanged in the dead of night, Lilietta’s presence had wrought a miracle.
It had always been this way in their youth. When Richard hid sulking in the garden, only Lili could coax him back inside. Whenever their parents locked horns in cold silence, it was Lili who soothed both sides and brought them to an embrace.
The feats the eldest son could never manage, the little girl had accomplished without effort. Once again, she had worked her quiet magic.
Yes. This was their family. It had never been whole without her.
Pulling out a chair, Leonhart allowed a soft smile to grace his face.
“I believe you, Richard.”
“…Thanks, brother.”
Taking his seat, Leonhart turned toward Lilietta, his demeanor softening into something far gentler than what he offered his brother.
“Good morning, Lili.”
“Good morning, Leon.”
Thus began a tranquil breakfast. An ordinary morning had finally found its way back to Birch Castle after a decade of sorrow.
“Here, try some of this. And have this one too.”
“Sweetheart, these are the apples you always adored.”
“Lili, how is it? Does the food suit your palate?”
All three of them were far too consumed with piling dishes onto Lilietta’s plate to spare a single thought for their own meals.