I didn't stop brushing Aria’s hair, even as she continued to talk.
"I don't hate my brother, not at all!" she said, waving her hands as if to emphasize the point.
"I know," I said gently. "But you still wish you had a sister?"
"Yes... I love my brother, but one of the ladies-in-waiting has an older sister. I was always so envious of how close they were. Her sister said that whenever she went home, she always knew she could find her there."
I felt a pang of sympathy. In the original book, Askin was always away, desperately searching for a cure or medicine for Aria. Between his duties as Duke and defending the territory from monsters, he rarely had time to just sit and be with his sister. Aria’s voice was filled with a quiet, lingering loneliness.
"I see," I said, trying to keep my voice light. "And what is that lady-in-waiting doing now?"
"Oh, she..." Aria’s shoulders slumped instantly. The excitement she’d shown a moment ago vanished.
'Note to self: don't ask about the lady-in-waiting again,' I thought. It was clear something unfortunate had happened. Aria quickly shook her head, as if trying to dismiss the thought.
"Anyway, I’ve spent a lot of time imagining what it would be like to have a sister." She looked at me shyly. It felt like she was trying to tell me something, but she was too nervous to say it directly.
'...Wait, is she talking about me?' I wondered. 'If she is, that would be a huge help to my survival plan.' But I didn't dare say it out loud.
"I understand," I said instead. "I’ve often wished I had a sister too."
It was the truth. Back in Korea, when Yoon Ji-hoon was making my life miserable, I’d spent countless nights wishing for a sibling who would actually be on my side. I even remember writing in my diary in elementary school that if I had a younger sister, I would never bully her the way my brother bullied me. My mother’s response to that request had been a sharp smack on the back and a lecture about how hard raising two kids already was.
Aria turned around completely and looked me in the eye.
"Princess... why do you like my brother so much?"
The question hit me like a physical blow. "What?"
"I was just curious. What is it about him that... well, that you find so attractive?"
I was speechless. This wasn't a question I could answer from Charlize’s memories—I didn't have her feelings, only her information. I couldn't explain the obsession that had driven her to such lengths.
The silence stretched on, and I realized I had to say something.
"The face," I blurted out.
I immediately wanted to crawl into a hole and die. 'Seriously, Charlize? That’s the best you can do?'
Aria stared at me for a second, and then she burst into a clear, bright laugh. "That’s right! My brother *is* very handsome, isn't he?"
"Oh... well, yes. He is."
It was the truth. Even compared to the male leads in the novels I’d read, Askin Lemut was in a league of his own. He had the kind of beauty that didn't need to apologize for itself.
"He’s been very, very pretty since he was a little boy," Aria added, still smiling. "I’m so envious of your honesty, Princess! Truly!"
"Is being honest really that great?" I asked, feeling a bit sheepish.
"Yes! I want to learn how to be just like you!"
'No, no, you definitely don't want to learn "honesty" from Charlize,' I thought. 'That’s a one-way ticket to social ruin.' But I just nodded and tried to change the subject before I dug myself an even deeper hole.
"So, you agree the Duke is handsome then?"
"Umm, he is, but..." Aria tilted her head. "Actually, I think I prefer men who look a bit more... masculine than my brother."
"Really?" I was surprised. Askin wasn't exactly delicate—he had the broad shoulders and commanding presence of a warrior. But his face had a neat, refined beauty that transcended typical gender lines.
'I suppose if you have a face like that in the family, you start to look for something different,' I thought.
"I like the way the Duke looks," I said. "I don't really care for the 'wild' look."
I was thinking of Loxdian. Every time I looked at him, I felt a surge of genuine annoyance. Everything about him screamed 'trouble.'
"Ah, then..."
Aria was about to say something else when the door clicked open. A familiar figure stood in the doorway.
Askin.
Our eyes met. He stared at me for a moment before his gaze softened and moved to his sister.
"Brother!" Aria cried.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 'Thank god. He’s here, and there’s no misunderstanding yet.' I checked Aria’s hair—it looked better than ever, if I did say so myself. I felt a strange sense of pride in my "craftsmanship."
"Aria. You weren't in your room," Askin said, his voice unusually gentle.
"I came to see the Princess, Brother!"
I watched them, fascinated. This was the first time I’d seen Askin interacting with Aria in a peaceful setting. The armor of coldness and anger he usually wore around me was gone, replaced by a face that was surprisingly kind.
'He really is an ice prince,' I thought. 'But for his sister, the ice melts.'
"You’ve been out long enough," Askin said. "Go back to your room and rest."
"But—"
"Aria. If you get sick again, I’ll have to stay up all night worrying about you. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Aria looked at me, her expression a mix of regret and affection. She gave me a sullen little wave and followed her brother’s order. She was so cute I almost wanted to reach out and poke her cheek.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Askin’s face shifted. The kindness vanished, replaced by the frozen, guarded expression I knew so well.
"What business brings you here today?" he asked, his voice cold.
I couldn't help but frown. "Is it really necessary to look at me like I’m a piece of garbage the moment she leaves?"
"Has your memory finally failed you? Or are you just choosing to forget everything you’ve done in the past?"
I clicked my tongue. 'I wish I could tell you that the girl who did those things isn't the one standing in front of you.'
But despite his hostility, I felt a wave of relief. He was acting exactly like he always did.
'...He hasn't heard the rumors yet,' I realized. 'He’s still the same old Ice Rabbit.'
I was so happy I almost wanted to hug him. If he’d heard the marriage rumors, there would have been a full-blown explosion by now. The fact that he was just being his usual, grumpy self was the best news I’d had all day.