This Novel is not my Novel

"Excuse me?"

Valtraus looked as though he had just heard something completely incomprehensible.

To be fair, I felt the same way.

The third child becoming the fourth child?

What kind of bizarre logic was that supposed to be?

Ragfrid lowered her gaze and stared into her teacup for a moment before continuing in a subdued voice.

"I don't mean that literally. It's just..."

She hesitated.

For someone who normally spoke without the slightest pause, it was a rare sight.

"...The Karvaldr we knew disappeared."

Silence settled over the greenhouse.

"The child who chased after us, who wanted our attention, who wanted our affection... that child is gone."

"..."

"And the person standing here now feels like someone different."

Valtraus frowned.

"Different? Because of the Memory Loss?"

"Perhaps."

Ragfrid's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup.

"Or perhaps because we lost the opportunity to know what kind of person he would have become."

Her voice grew even quieter.

"If someone is abandoned long enough, they eventually stop waiting."

"..."

"When that happens, can you truly say they are still the same person?"

Valtraus stared at her as though she were speaking a foreign language.

Then he turned toward me.

"Do you understand what she's talking about?"

"No."

That answer came immediately.

"Neither do I."

"See?"

Valtraus pointed at me as if proving his case.

"Karvaldr himself doesn't understand it."

"That is because you are both focusing on the result instead of the process."

"Older Sister, stop speaking in riddles."

For the first time since entering the greenhouse, irritation appeared on Valtraus's face.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"..."

"You keep talking as though Karvaldr died and some stranger took his place."

The moment those words left his mouth, Ragfrid flinched.

A very slight reaction.

But I saw it clearly.

Valtraus saw it too.

And his expression slowly stiffened.

"...You don't actually think that, do you?"

"No."

Her answer came immediately.

Too immediately.

Which only made it sound less convincing.

Valtraus narrowed his eyes.

"Then what are you trying to say?"

Ragfrid closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the hesitation had disappeared.

"What I'm trying to say is that we failed."

"..."

"We failed as siblings."

The greenhouse became quiet once more.

"We kept telling ourselves there would always be another chance."

Another chance to speak.

Another chance to spend time together.

Another chance to show concern.

Another chance to act like family.

"But there wasn't."

Her voice trembled again.

"When Mother died, everyone was suffering."

"..."

"So I told myself I had no room to care for anyone else."

She laughed bitterly.

"A convenient excuse."

Valtraus's expression gradually darkened.

"And while I was making excuses, the youngest child stopped reaching out to us."

"..."

"Then one day he lost all his memories."

Ragfrid lowered her head.

"And now the child who wanted our affection is gone."

No one spoke.

Even Valtraus remained silent.

Because for once, there was no easy rebuttal.

After a long pause, he finally scratched the back of his head.

"...You're overthinking it."

Ragfrid looked up.

Valtraus pointed directly at me.

"He's standing right there."

"..."

"He's breathing."

"..."

"He's talking."

"..."

"He's still Karvaldr."

His voice was unusually firm.

"So stop acting like you've already buried him."

For a moment, Ragfrid simply stared at him.

Then—

A small laugh escaped her lips.

Not a sad laugh.

Not a bitter laugh.

Just a genuinely surprised one.

"...You really are a simple person."

"What was that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like."

Valtraus looked offended.

I, meanwhile, quietly took a step backward.

Unfortunately, neither of them missed it.

"Where are you going?"

Valtraus asked immediately.

"Back to my room."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because that's not what I came here for."

A bad feeling suddenly washed over me.

Valtraus folded his arms.

"Something happened at the Imperial Palace."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Even Ragfrid straightened in her seat.

I frowned.

"The monster you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes."

Valtraus's expression became serious.

"There was another incident."