Chapter 19
“Ah, Annette.”
Julius smiled, pretending as if nothing were wrong. However, beads of sweat were forming on his temples.
Just then, Sislein appeared behind Annette.
He was the very boy Julius had been certain was the troublemaker.
It was an incredibly sweat-inducing situation for Julius, but he decided to be magnanimous for the time being.
After all, he was the teacher, and those children were nothing more than trees, weren't they?
‘What are two little brats going to do?’
Julius surreptitiously hid his hand, which wore the Pluto Ring, behind his back.
Annette’s gaze, fixed on that hand, had a certain persistence to it.
The eyes of the girl, who had always been as soft as pudding, were now like a hawk eyeing its prey.
*Snap.* Julius clicked his fingers with his right hand to divert their attention.
“First, I must apologize.”
He smiled gently, playing the part of a “generous adult.”
Isn't an adult who promptly admits their mistakes and apologizes to children quite admirable?
Julius, who lived for his authority and image as a teacher, placed one hand over his chest and bowed his head in apology. It was a very graceful gesture, fitting for a teacher of aristocratic etiquette.
It didn't look humiliating in the slightest.
“I apologize, Sislein.”
“…….”
“I misunderstood you as a troublemaker and caused you an indelible wound. My heart aches as well.”
Julius’s deep blue eyes shone as if he were being sincere.
Sislein looked up at him blankly with his red eyes, saying nothing.
That reaction made Julius feel quite annoyed.
“My, it is a matter of etiquette to offer words of humility, such as ‘it is alright,’ when someone has asked for your forgiveness, Sislein.”
Even so, Julius taught the boy gently and strictly. Like a fine teacher.
Then, Annette, who had been watching intently from the side, spoke up.
“Teacher, what about the ring?”
“……!”
Julius was startled, but fortunately, he didn't show it on the outside.
‘You have a persistent streak, you little mouse.’
His hand wearing the ring tensed, and his fist clenched tight on its own.
“This is not a ring for children to play with. It is very dangerous, and it is a precious item to me.”
“If it’s a precious item, you should have been more careful when you bet it.”
Annette firmly held out her palm.
“Please give it to me. A promise is a promise.”
A lovely smile rested in her light green eyes as she said that.
“‘All the children of The Forest’ heard you bet the ring and make that promise, Teacher. ……You said to always keep your promises!”
Annette beamed.
‘You cunning little thing!’
Sislein, who was standing next to her, opened his mouth for once.
“Please give it to us, Teacher.”
It was only three words, but there was something impactful about the boy, who was usually quiet, saying it while staring blankly with his red eyes.
Moreover, he looked as graceful as a young nobleman. Though he didn't want to admit it, Julius felt a bit intimidated by the atmosphere.
However, he smiled desperately, trying not to lose his adult composure.
“Annette.”
“If you don't give it to us, I will go to the children and tell them that you are a ‘liar’ who does not keep his promises.”
“……!”
A crack appeared for a moment on Julius’s relaxed expression.
‘Damn it. Then my authority as a teacher will…!’
He looked down at the ring.
It was a ring he hadn't taken off even once in the twenty years since the Pluto Clan’s ring-awarding ceremony when he was five.
He even wore it while sleeping.
His soul was imbued in that ring, and the Pluto Clan had presented it to the one who would become their master—a great individual.
A ring containing the power to summon him from anywhere if one rubbed the gemstone.
Giving this to that brat was out of the question.
Julius glared silently at Annette, whose height barely reached his waist.
Then, a good idea occurred to him.
‘I can just give it to her and then secretly steal it back…!’
Why hadn't he thought of that?
The brats wouldn't even know how to “bind” this ring anyway.
“Very well.”
Julius began, raising his eyebrows as if to say he couldn't help it.
“A promise is a promise, so I shall give you this ring.”
“Yes!”
Annette’s expression brightened.
“But since it is a precious item of mine, you must keep it safe.”
“I will, Teacher.”
“However, it will be quite large for you.”
Julius took the ring off with trembling hands and handed it to Annette.
“Oh, I suppose it is!”
Annette tried the ring on her index finger and was genuinely delighted.
Then, she whispered to the gemstone.
“Pluto Vimeria.”
The incantation to bind the ring.
In an instant, Julius’s eyes grew as large as apples. At the same time, he reached out his hand wildly.
“How do you know that—nooooo…!!!”
*Whoosh!*
At that moment, the ring glowed and shrank to fit perfectly on Annette’s finger.
“……I am truly happy that the continent’s greatest mage will listen to everything I say from now on.”
In front of Julius, who had frozen as if his soul had left his body, I smiled wickedly.
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“…….”
*Blink, blink.* Julius blinked his eyes listlessly, looking as if his soul had been sucked out.
‘What is this? Did the ring suck out his soul?’
I waved my hand in front of Julius.
But fortunately, he seemed to be conscious. Seeing how much cold sweat was pouring down, at least.
Excuse me, Teacher.
The highlight is still left.
“Sislein, the teacher is right. Since he apologized, you should give him an answer, right?”
“…….”
*Slide.*
Sislein’s hand landed on the head of Julius, who had become a statue while hunched over.
Then, *pat, pat*, the small hand stroked Julius’s hair.
“I forgive you, my younger brother.”
“……!!!”
“Be more careful in everything you do from now on.”
Sislein and I then held hands and leisurely left the spot.
The scream of Julius, who had just received a strict life lesson from an eleven-year-old “older brother,” echoed from behind us.
“Pfft!”
Sislein and I looked at each other and laughed happily.
Our footsteps felt as light as air.
* * *
“Older sister, where have you been… Oh!”
As soon as I saw Heinri in the living quarters, I ran over and hugged his small body tightly.
“Older sister…?”
Heinri, who looked a bit bewildered, soon hugged me back tightly.
“What is it, all of a sudden?”
He said that, but his voice was excited, and his ears were burning red.
The warmth of Heinri in my arms felt familiar and so precious.
Heinri boasted as if he couldn't help it.
“Geez, you really love me that much, don't you, older sister?”
“You fool.”
I was the one who doubted you……. I let go of Heinri a moment later. Heinri’s eyebrows shot up the moment he saw my face.
“Why are you about to cry? ……What happened? Older sister,”
My eyes must have welled up because I felt so sorry for Heinri.
Heinri, who had become sensitive in an instant, carefully placed his hand on my cheek.
“Which bastard made you cry? Tell me. I’ll kill them for you.”
“……It’s not like that, Heinri. I actually have a confession to make to you.”
“A confession?”
I sat Heinri down and calmly explained what had happened.
About how I had doubted him, and even how I had used the fountain pen to test him.
While he listened quietly, it was difficult to guess what Heinri was thinking.
His violet eyes, like the dawn sky beneath his silver hair, were just watching me calmly.
After I finished telling him the whole story, I bowed my head.
“I’m sorry, Heinri.”
“…….”
“I’m really sorry for doubting you. ……You must be angry and disappointed in me. I’ll accept whatever you say, even if you get angry.”
Heinri watched me blankly for a moment, then pointed at himself with his index finger and said.
“Even I find myself the most suspicious, don't I?”
“……Huh?”
“Hearing your story, even I think I’m the most suspicious one. ……Hmm, my usual behavior has been a bit like that, after all.”
‘He’s doing this on purpose so I won't feel sorry….’
Feeling his kind and gentle heart, I felt even more choked up.
*Sob, sob*, our soft little mochi baby.
To think I doubted such an angelic, cute, and adorable baby!
“I’m a truly bad older sister.”
“No, you’re the best older sister in the world.”
“I misunderstood that you did something bad…….”
“You shouldn't… do bad things. Because you wouldn't like it, older sister.”
Heinri hugged me first. His gentleness felt quite mature.
“And there is no reason for me to be angry with you, older sister. No matter what happens, I will never be angry with you.”
“……Heinri.”
“So don't worry, older sister.”
At Heinri’s angelic reaction, my heart actually ached.
I’m sorry, my baby. I will never doubt you again.
I hugged Heinri back tightly.
And a moment later.
Before leaving for the Temple of the Forest, Heinri went to Vivian’s room at her final request as she was packing her bags.
With a tear-stained face, Vivian clenched her fists tightly and glared at Heinri.
Then she shouted.
“Heinri, I will tell ‘Annette’ everything you’ve done!!!”
“…….”
Heinri’s purple eyes turned cold in an instant.
Like a sheet of ice.
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