Chapter 100

"Huh?"

Edgar looked at Edwin blankly. Edwin gripped Edgar's hand tightly. Only when he felt the firm grip anchoring him did Edgar realize he'd been backing away.

Edgar looked down at his caught hand. Then he raised his head and looked at Edwin again.

What had Edwin asked?

So... so...

"Edgar."

Edwin whispered his twin's name. His voice was small, gentle, careful. As if he were worried that raising his voice even slightly would send Edgar running.

But Edgar wasn't thinking that. He wasn't thinking anything at all.

Did he remember what had happened before he came back to the past?

Of course.

Of course.

Of... course.

"..."

Edgar's mouth opened and closed silently. Whether he couldn't find the words or his voice just wouldn't come, he couldn't tell. He quickly lost the will to speak.

He'd never thought about it once.

There'd been no particular need to. One day he'd opened his eyes and been given a chance to change everything. Edgar had focused on making the most of that chance — he hadn't wanted to dwell on the past he'd left behind or the future that no longer existed.

What was the point in dredging up the memory of Uncle dying, of watching the people of the domain starve to death with no way to help?

Of course, Edwin had shown him a new path. Edgar had written "drought" underneath Uncle's name. Thinking that with more than ten years still ahead, there'd be plenty of time to save people.

"Edgar. You okay?"

"...I..."

Seeing the worry all over Edwin's face, Edgar felt he had to say something.

"I..."

What had Edwin asked?

Right. What had happened before he came back to the past.

"I..."

Edgar opened his mouth again and again to answer the question, but couldn't manage a proper sentence.

He remembered graduating from the academy and coming out from under the Duke of Lambert's guardianship. He remembered going down to the domain and formally declaring he was taking on the count's title, and he remembered Leona Bleiss explaining what had happened in the Bertholdt domain in the meantime. The back-to-back droughts and floods, and asking the Duke of Lambert for help because of them.

But... after that?

His mind was a tangled mess. The memories surfacing broke into pieces. He remembered riding with Edwin around the pastures. His horse had stepped on a snake, spooked, and bolted, throwing him off.

Was that the end?

No. Edwin, who almost never let his emotions show, had actually panicked and shouted for someone to call the doctor.

It had rained the day before, so the ground was soft. He hadn't even been hurt. The doctor had prescribed a warm bath and plenty of rest and left.

There'd been other things too. Excited about a rare spring rain, Edgar had dragged Edwin outside. All the staff at the old manor had come running out too.

No, wait. The drought had been bad. It hadn't rained in over a year. Then when had it rained?

"..."

Edgar's grip tightened. His fingertips went white. So did Edwin's hand, caught in his grip. But Edwin didn't say a word about it hurting. He was just watching Edgar with a worried expression.

Retracing his memories, Edgar didn't notice his twin at all. He clearly remembered graduating from the academy and going down to the Bertholdt domain with Edwin. But after that...

Plenty of memories were surfacing, but trying to put them in order made his head go hazy. His focus blurred. He couldn't concentrate.

"Edgar."

"..."

"Edgar."

"..."

"Edgar!"

Edwin gave Edgar's hand a hard tug.

Before Edgar could react, Edwin, still gripping his hand tight, swung his arm in wide arcs. Only after several such swings, like some absurd stretching exercise, did Edgar come back to himself.

"Edgar."

"Uh... huh?"

"Come here."

Edwin wriggled his hand loose from Edgar's. Edgar, who hadn't realized he was still gripping Edwin's hand, gave a start.

Once he let go, his knuckles ached. He hadn't even noticed how hard he'd been squeezing. His head was still hazy. Edwin took Edgar's wrist and led him to the bed in the inner room.

"There. You don't have to think about anything. It's okay to forget the hard stuff. You've got me, Edgar."

"B-but..."

"Do you trust me, Edgar?"

His swimming vision steadied. What held Edgar to reality was the warmth wrapped around his wrist.

They'd been together since birth. Together since before birth. Edwin had always been at Edgar's side, and Edgar had always been at Edwin's.

That was what being twins was.

Someday, when they were grown, they'd walk their separate paths. He'd felt wistful about that at times.

But that day had never come. Edgar hadn't lived long enough to see the day he and Edwin walked different paths.

"You trust me, right?"

Edwin asked him.

Edgar nodded.

Whatever else had happened, that one thing didn't change.

It was the kind of trust only siblings left alone in the world — no parents, no relatives to lean on — could have.

"Then it's fine. You don't need to worry."

Edwin smiled and helped Edgar up onto the bed.

He took off Edgar's shoes and undid a few buttons of his shirt in case it was stifling. He checked carefully for a fever, and then, the other way, whether Edgar was cold. The blanket — thinned to match the warmer weather — was pulled up over Edgar's head.

Still holding Edgar's hand, Edwin pulled the blanket over himself and lay down beside him.

Like that day in the cold, empty playroom after their father died, when they'd had to rely on each other's warmth.

"You're just too tired today. Of course you'd be tired — we were on the train for five days."

Edwin went on softly. Hearing that familiar voice, low and level, Edgar gradually relaxed.

"It was clattering the whole way. You could sleep as much as you wanted and still not feel rested. And it was loud, too. That's why. Ahhhh. See, I'm yawning without even trying."

"..."

"And the carriage! He never said we'd have to be in a carriage that long either. Uncle was mean, wasn't he?"

"...Uncle isn't mean."

"Okay, okay. Uncle isn't mean, but still, he could've told us ahead of time."

"Yeah..."

"But it was nice getting out of the capital. Let's ask Uncle to take us to see Arnmolt. Even the buildings look different from the capital — just walking the streets should be fun. Anything you want to see, Edgar?"

"..."

"You mentioned horses. Should we ask Uncle to teach us? He already promised, didn't he? We're tired from the trip down, so let's rest for a few days first, then ask him to teach us to ride."

"...I know how."

"Yeah. But you didn't learn it at this age. Your body's smaller now, so it's better to start from the basics."

Listening to Edwin's voice, Edgar blinked slowly. Whether from catching Edwin's yawn or on his own, a yawn slipped out of him too.

Edwin reached out with his free hand and covered Edgar's eyes.

"And let's go to the beach. A beach with sand is really — wait, first time, isn't it? The capital doesn't have a pretty beach like that. I told you earlier you can see the sea from the window, right? Take a look after you get some sleep. It's so pretty. You'll love it, I'm sure."

"..."

"Everything'll be fine when you wake up. I'm right here beside you, Edgar. Whatever you want to do, I'm here — you don't have to worry."

Edwin's voice was starting to sound far away.

Uncle would be back soon. And Adelheid was here, and... and...

"I told you, there's nothing to worry about."

Edwin said.

"I said I'd help."

Wrapped in that warmth, Edgar fell asleep.

---

The people of House Reichnek were just as Harold remembered.

He owed his ability to go straight from graduating the academy into mercenary work overseas to the Marquis Reichnek's introduction. The Marquis Reichnek belonged to the last generation who had lived through the war firsthand. Having served long years in the military, the marquis still had powerful connections.

"Harold."

A proper conversation would have to wait for later. But Harold didn't turn down the Marquis Reichnek's call.

The Marquis Reichnek gripped Harold's shoulder firmly. Harold met his eyes and nodded.

"It's a relief having you here."

"I'll need to head up for Founding Day."

"I know. Don't worry about your nephews. Linda won't let them out of her sight either."

The marquis knew too that they couldn't get into anything long right now.

His face softened at the sight of the sheepdog wagging his tail beside Harold.

"Long trip for you, wasn't it? What's his name?"

"Nabi. Edwin named him."

"Cute name."

Nabi sniffed at the marquis, apparently decided he was no threat, and gave the man's leg a nudge with his muzzle. The marquis laughed softly and stroked Nabi's head.

"Adelheid can't wait to play with them. That girl has more curiosity in her than I know what to do with — heaven knows who she gets it from."

"She takes after you, sir. Grisha's been at his wit's end over it."

"He's the one who cracked a rib bumping into his four-year-old sister. Not sure a boy that fragile can afford this, but..."

The Marquis Reichnek clucked his tongue. Even if Grisha became king, that story would follow him around forever.

"She's had no children her own age around except relatives, so it's no wonder she's curious. Your nephews look well-behaved, though — will they be able to handle Adelheid?"

"It might be good for them, actually. Their being too well-behaved has been a worry."

The marquis gave Harold a knowing look.

The old man patted Harold's shoulder. His grip was as strong as his robust looks suggested.

"You've grown into being an uncle."

"I was already one, sir."

"Right, right. And the boys?"

"They wanted to see Nabi. I was thinking of letting them rest today."

"Mm. I won't intrude. Let me know whenever you need anything."

After parting from the Marquis Reichnek, Harold went back to the room.

No one had said the boys had been asking for the adults. But the room was too quiet. Remembering how rattled Edgar had seemed by Adelheid's energy, Harold stepped into the inner room.

As expected, the boys were on the bed. Their shoes had been kicked off haphazardly at the foot of the bed. The blanket was drawn up over their heads, as if they weren't warm at all.

He heard the sound of even breathing. Wondering whether they'd been worn out enough to fall this deeply asleep in that short a time, Harold set the shoes straight and pulled the blanket down. It'd be more comfortable with their heads out.

"...Uncle."

Woken by that small movement, Edwin opened his eyes.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?"

"No. I wasn't asleep. Edgar was tired."

"He was?"

Edwin looked up at Harold with bright, wide-awake eyes, then held out his arms. Harold tucked the blanket around Edgar and lifted Edwin up.

For someone who insisted he hadn't been asleep, Edwin rubbed his eyes and yawned.

"You could sleep more, you know."

"Mm. It's okay. If I sleep now, I won't be able to sleep later."

For all the crisp clarity in his voice, his eyes were still sleepy. He showed no sign of wanting to get down from Harold's arms.

Instead, Edwin asked Harold,

"Um, Uncle."

"Hm?"

"Did you get back at the bad people?"