“Huh?”

Egru was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“B-but Levian is my only friend.”

“Your only swindler, you mean. He’s the kind of guy who has tea with murderers.”

D’Élysée pulled Egru’s hand closer and grasped it tightly. The pale green fist was completely hidden by the sun-tanned back of D’Élysée’s hand, roughened from frequent training. Egru looked back and forth between his firmly held hand and his brother’s face.

“Am I not enough for you? That’s not true.”

“Ah, um…”

“Reassure me. You’ve made me very anxious all this time. Can you promise me you won’t see him again?”

Egru’s lips trembled uncontrollably. He couldn’t answer hastily. Levian held a special meaning for him. A friend who had been with him since childhood, so long ago he couldn’t even remember. How could he easily let go of such a bond? Someone who had been there for him in his most difficult moments.

Levian was like an older brother, the only one Egru could rely on. Though he was always bullying and eccentric, he was like a sibling Egru had no choice but to stick with for life. Levian had taken responsibility for the insignificant Egru until the very end in this harsh world.

“D-D’Élysée, you’re so precious to me. So much that I could exchange my life for you.”

Egru forced open his quivering lips.

“B-but Levian is also…”

“How many times do I have to tell you!”

Egru’s words were cut off by the sudden outburst.

“I told you not to stop moving your hand! Why can’t you understand what I’m saying the first time!”

Startled, Egru diligently moved his remaining hand. His brother’s abs felt hotter than before under his flat palm. D’Élysée, catching his breath, asked in a low voice:

“When did the merchant ship sink?”

“Huh?”

“You need to tell me when it sank so I can look into it. Do you think 300,000 gold is an easy amount to just hand over?”

Egru broke out in a cold sweat.

‘If I give him the correct year…’

He would realize that Egru had been sent to the orphanage because of debt. As Egru hesitated, unable to decide what to do, D’Élysée added gruffly:

“Just tell me what you remember about the cargo that was recorded. It must have been something enormous to rack up a debt of 300,000 gold coins.”

“W-well…”

His mind went blank with tension. Egru struggled to recall his old memories.

“There were various kinds of jewels, and a-amulets, papyrus, and spirit stones too…”

“Spirit stones?”

D’Élysée asked back with a suspicious look.

“Are you trying to con me right now?”

“Of course not!”

“Wake up, brother. Spirit stones haven’t been imported for nearly 30 years.”

“Huh? No, that’s not true! Believe me, D’Élysée!”

Egru was aghast. He felt like he had suddenly become a con artist trying to extort money. He was afraid his brother might really see him that way.

“I-I heard it clearly! That’s why the amount increased exponentially…!”

“Really? Is Levian that trustworthy? Do you honestly think so?”

D’Élysée laughed as if in disbelief.

“I guess you have to believe that to survive. It must feel like your whole life is being denied if you’re betrayed by the person closest to you. How do you think I felt?”

Suddenly, the strength drained from D’Élysée’s hand. Egru’s hand, which had been gripped tightly, fell onto the bed.

“Why can’t you let go? Even though I let go so easily.”

For the first time, D’Élysée lowered his head. His platinum blonde hair fell forward, shadowing his face.

“D-D’Élysée…”

“You always only care about Levian. I don’t even matter to you.”

It was a murmur so low it was barely audible. But to Egru’s ears, it pierced sharper than steel needles. With emotions long suppressed, Egru felt as if he was instantly pulled back into the past.

“Brother, I can eat just one meal a day.”

It was in front of the Papal Orphanage. A young-faced D’Élysée clung to Egru’s waist, begging.

“Or even once every two days is fine. Please don’t send me away. Okay?”

Those words made Egru more determined to send his brother away. At least he wouldn’t go hungry. If someone recognized his brother’s talent, they might even sponsor him.

Poor as he was, Egru couldn’t even dream of providing full support. Every dawn, he had to leave for work, leaving behind his brother who would wail and beg him not to go. He couldn’t wrap his brother in a down comforter when he said he was cold, nor could he readily buy cheese when he said he was hungry.

While most orphanages were known for their bad reputation, the Papal facility was different. They supposedly guaranteed three meals a day. With warm beds and even formal education available, it was truly ideal.

“Brother, brother! Why won’t you show me your face?”

“You need to be healthy.”

“No! Don’t go!”

Levian held back D’Élysée, who was struggling and reaching out with both hands. With his robe hood pulled low, Egru turned away coldly.

Despite their meager living, he had wanted his brother to grow up like a normal child, but it was impossible. His best was never enough. Now with this massive debt, he might not even be able to do that much.

Egru walked away briskly, turning the corner. But after just a few steps, he hesitated and then quickly turned back.

“L-Levian! I’ll work harder! I want to live with D’Élysée! We need to bring him back right away!”

“Ah, why are you doing this again?”

Levian, who had been lazily following behind, swiftly extended his large hand. He caught Egru by the nape of his neck as he was about to run off frantically.

“D-D’Élysée was crying! That shouldn’t happen!”

“You’re both making a scene. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“I won’t run away again! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

“Put all that aside, will you?”

Levian shook Egru, who was flailing wildly. As if to snap him out of it, he slapped Egru’s reddish cheeks. Bruises from being beaten by guild members the day before covered Egru’s entire face.

“Look at yourself. Do you want to pass this on to your brother? Neglect is abuse too, you know?”

“Th-then can’t I go in with him?”

“No way. You have to pay off the debt. Besides, you can’t enter once you’re over fifteen, so give it up.”

“But, but we need to be together…”

“Hey.”

Levian said.

“If it weren’t for you, if you would just let go, okay? Your brother could sleep under a real down comforter instead of a rag stuffed with dry leaves.”

“……”

“He could live in a much better environment, eating three meals a day. If he stays with you, he’ll never see the sun or get an education. Are you going to make him live like a ghost in your shadow? He’s already manifested his aura and he’s a pure human without any demon blood mixed in. Really think about it. Aren’t you just unable to let him go because you’re lonely?”

Egru wiped away the tears that kept welling up. His eyes stung as if he had been hit with a hot iron rod.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to send your brother to school?”

In the end, Egru had no choice but to agree. One person’s share was enough for their miserable life. Sometimes, even love could be harmful.

“That’s enough. Take your hand off now.”

D’Élysée pushed Egru away and got up from the bed. Egru rubbed his eyes, which had already become wet. Then he quickly stood up and followed his brother, who was turning his back and walking away.

“I-I’m so sorry, D’Élysée…”

“Do you know what Levian said to me? On that last day…”

D’Élysée spoke, biting his lip hard.

“I wondered for days why you abandoned me. There were so many answers, it was pathetic.”

Egru slumped down, sticking to the floor. It felt like the sky was falling for the umpteenth time today.

Maybe, just maybe.

His hope of returning to how things were before turned to ashes.

“I must have been a burden to you. You wanted to make a clean start with Levian, right?”

Thousands of denials welled up in Egru’s heart. But he couldn’t voice a single one.

“I’ll make up some excuse, so you just stay quiet. Or do you want to live your whole life as a burden to your brother?”

At Levian’s question, Egru shook his head while crying. It was a lie for his brother’s sake. He believed that this was the only way D’Élysée could forget about him and live happily.

‘But…’

Egru looked up at D’Élysée’s back. The past years came back to him as guilt. He could only blame himself for his lack of any decent abilities.

Even if he couldn’t do everything, he wanted to at least fulfill some of his brother’s wishes. Even if they couldn’t live lavishly, he wanted to ensure his brother wouldn’t struggle through life.

The result of living diligently to the point of breaking his body was right before his eyes. He couldn’t tell where things had gone wrong. He even questioned whether all his choices had been the best from the start.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Aren’t you going to deny it?”

D’Élysée let out a disbelieving laugh. Egru could only sniffle silently. Finally, when the space between them was filled with quiet stillness…

Knock knock.

“Commander?”

A polite knock sounded at the door of the makeshift bedroom.