Epilogue

| Emilia |

After Erina passed away, I was stricken with sorrow.

I knew I shouldn’t be depressed for too long, but her memory haunted me. I would remember her upon any little detail, and the tears wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t help it. Erina had been like a second mother to me and Leus. She even gave me a purpose by teaching me the joy of serving someone. I was prepared, like I had promised her. Even so, when she had been cremated, and her body was gone, we had all wept—even Dii.

In the midst of that, Sirius had gathered her bones in a box and cleaned her room out. Even when faced with such sadness, he had been there to support us.

When Dii started to make some mistakes in the kitchen because he was having a hard time, Sirius was there to motivate him.

“Dii, I know you’re sad, but don’t let that reflect in your cooking. Do you want to be a cook that makes others feel your sadness when they eat your food?”

“I...”

“Delicious food always puts a smile on people’s faces. Aim to be a cook that can cure such sadness through your food—even your own. Plus, you have something you need to tell her, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

His face had been as expressionless as ever, but he didn’t mess up again after that.

And, in the garden, Leus and big sis Noel were running as fast as they could.

“Erinaaa!”

“Ahh!”

“There you go! Get it all out of your system! Shout at the top of your lungs!”

“Erinaaa! I’ll work hard, I promise!”

“Me too! I’ll work really hard! Thank you, Erina!”

“That’s it, keep shouting! I’ll make you guys pudding after this, so keep it up!”

“Pudding?!”

Both of them had collapsed from exhaustion after that, but they’d looked very satisfied. Once they had recovered a bit, they happily ate the pudding Sirius made. They still looked a little bit sad, but Leus and big sis Noel seemed to be feeling much better now.

What didn’t make sense to me was Sirius’s reaction. He was the one who should have been the most hurt by Erina’s passing—how could he have remained so strong for all of us despite that sadness? I couldn’t help myself, so I asked him.

He patted my head and said, “I am very sad, but I still feel her love. Everything Erina’s given me has made me stronger. So, instead of being stuck in the moment and feeling sad, I want to head forward. That’s what she would have wanted. Don’t you think that’s better?”

He smiled just like he always did.

Ah, what an incredible man. I wanted to follow him and support him forever. Whenever I woke up in the morning, I’d put on the maid outfit Erina had sewn for me. A well-groomed servant reflected well on their master, so they always needed to make sure they looked their best.

The snow outside had already started to melt, revealing the green grass below. That meant that the snowflake moon season was ending; but, more importantly, it meant that we didn’t have much time left. It would be sad to leave the house, but I’d be fine as long as I was by Sirius’s side. There was nowhere else I’d have rather been in the whole world, after all.

And once he started school, he’d surely become an even more impressive man. I had to make sure I didn’t fall too far behind him. After I had changed, I fixed my hair. Sirius had complimented my hair—he’d told me he thought it was pretty, so I made sure it was perfect.

After I’d finished getting ready, I did one final check.

Hair, check.

Clothes, check.

Smile... a little stiff, but it would do.

Between housework, training, and tending to Sirius, I didn’t have the time to be sad. Also, the words that Erina had said to me during our last class together stuck in my mind.

“No matter how strong Sirius is, and no matter how well he can do on his own, all people need a place to call home. Even if you feel like there’s nothing you can do, please support him. Become someone he feels safe and at home with.”

That was the final task that Erina had left me with. And it was just what I’d wanted, too. No matter what, I’d be there with Sirius to support him.

I'd take it from here, Erina—please rest and watch over us.

I tapped my cheeks, then headed out the door.

“Let’s work hard for Sirius today, too!”

And so, my day had begun.

| Sirius |

It had been a few days since Mom had died.

The servants had started to smile again. Slowly, but surely, they were trying to put their sadness aside. I thought it would take them longer, but they were already starting to go back to normal. Although Erina had given them over a month to prepare, it just showed how strong they all were. I’d gotten used to loss from my old life, and was able to focus on life like usual despite the pain. It didn’t mean that I wasn’t feeling sad, but I had to focus on training and guiding my students. I would be setting a bad example if I were to lie around all day being sad. We had to accept Mom’s death and move forward.

After lunch, I sat down in a chair I’d prepared in the garden and watched over my servants.

“Noel, the aps are looking ready for picking now.”

“Really?! Can you bake something with them for me?!”

“Of course.”

At first, both Dii and Noel had made some mistakes during their work, due to the sadness of losing Mom, but that had stopped after a few days. Now, they were out in the garden and talking about picking aps together, as usual. Erina had wanted to see Dii and Noel get together. It was obvious that the two of them had feelings for each other, but no one had made a move. Erina just found that charming, but I wanted to do something about it. Mom had left Dii with some pretty fitting words for this, so this was a perfect time to give him a push. I decided to do my best to help him confess.

“Here you are, Sirius.”

“Thanks.”

Emilia came over with some tea. Her movements were so professional now that she really reminded me of Mom. She really had taken in everything Mom had taught her.

“Um, is something wrong? Do I look strange?”

“Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about what school will be like.”

I didn’t want to admit that I’d been thinking of Mom, so I lied.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll do well. You’ll surely rise to the top in no time.”

Emilia started to blush, for some reason, as she pictured me at school.

“Absolutely! You’ll knock all those losers off their pedestals when you go there, Big bro!”

Leus, who had been sleeping in the grass, suddenly jumped up and joined in.

“How do you guys see me, exactly...?”

It was good to see them back to normal, at least.

School, huh? Thanks to everyone’s hard work, I had enough money to pay for the school fees now. I wasn’t really focused on becoming the best, or anything—I was just excited to see what kind of studies we’d be doing there. It would be sad to leave the house I’d grown up in, but I did want to experience more of this world than just our own little paradise.

I didn’t know why, but I had been given a new chance when I had been reborn in a new world. And, like my mothers had wanted, I planned to live for myself. I wanted to teach my students, go to school, travel the world, and learn.

“Do you want some more tea, Sirius?”

“Yes, please.”

We still had a little time before we had to leave, though. For now, we could just relax.

“Emilia.”

“Yes?”

“Leus.”

“What’s up, Big bro?”

“Let’s work hard together.”

“Yes!”

“Of course!”

They both smiled in response. Emilia’s smile was warm and loving, just like Mom’s, and Leus’s was goofy and mischievous. I looked forward to spending my time growing along with my two students.