After a while.

Raphine had a bunch of beards in her hand.

In front of a large window in the library where the sun is shining.

"...."

"...."

Raphine and Zerkan looked at the bundle of beards in Raphine's hand with sober expressions.

Just now.

The maid who was waiting outside the door came inside at the scream of Baron Lengchist. She was startled and dried Raffine.

'Fuck! miss!>

'Let go of this! This naughty sissy! Who dare.... Aaaah!>

But Raphine pulled her beard even harder.... This was the result.

Baron Lengchist, who started bleeding from his chin, fainted and went to receive treatment with the help of the knights.

So, only Zerkan and Raffine remained in the library.

"... You can't scream in the library."

Raphine looked at the bundle of beards in my hand and muttered as if making excuses.

"... Yes, Raphine, you are right."

Zerkan nodded and took Raphine's hand.

"Now let's put this down."

"yes."

parsak.

The beards that escaped Raphine's hands were scattered on the floor.

Zerkan gently brushed off the beard that was left on Raphine's hand.

The two went to wash their hands together, and then decided to go for a walk.

* * *

There was also a very pretty garden in Seogung, where the Crown Prince stayed.

Raphine slowly walked along the beautiful promenade and glanced at Zerkan.

'I'm more concerned because he looks so calm as if nothing happened....'

The spirits whispered to Raphine like that.

"I thought I was going to kill that old man earlier, didn't I?"

"... From my point of view, he may have already died, my lord. My chin was just bleeding."

"I may never grow a beard again."

Ignoring those voices, Raphine fell into thought.

For some reason, seeing Zerkan reminded me of myself, who was always lonely in my previous life as a child.

I felt a strange affinity with Zerkan.

'By the way, Zerkan is the only one, right?'

Of the three friends who were close friends, only Zerkan was lonely.

Adrian was brought up with a lot of love from a strict but loving father and a kind but strict mother.

there cute... He's not rude, but he's got a troublesome twin brother and a kind sister like himself.

So did Violet.

Although she is the only daughter, she was brought up with a lot of love from her parents, who were the sweetest and kindest of all.

Besides, there were butlers and maids who nodded their heads when Violet said anything.

'On the other hand, Zerkan....'

First of all, a father like a head who brought an affair woman into every corner.

Second, the evil empress who framed her mother and tormented Zerkan.

Third, half-brothers who turn inside out whenever they have time.

Fourth, a lonely mother who has lost a relationship with her father.

Fifth, an education teacher who only poops with his mouth.

Sixth, servants who fear Zerkan.

'That's all....'

There was no one beside him to say a word of kindness to Zerkan.

Of course, I have friends, but it was separate from my home environment.

'Looking like this, my personality deserves to change....'

Raphine became sober for nothing.

There was a reason the original was obsolete.

"Don't worry, Raphine. You won't be offended."

Seeing Raphine's dark expression, Zerkan seemed to think that Raphine was afraid of being scolded.

In the midst of this, Raphine felt like a fool for Zerkan, who cared for her tenderly.

There was warmth in his red eyes.

'You're worried about me in this situation. After all, the basics are great....'

Raphine stopped walking and grabbed Zerkan's hand.

Zerkan's hands were cold from the tension.

It was like that a few days ago.

The fingertips of Zerkan, who went away saying that the education teacher was coming, were so cold.

'I'm at an age where I have to laugh and talk every day.'

Raphine felt even more hesitant to think that the reason Zerkan is not seeing her friends recently is because of depression.

'I couldn't even tell Violet and Adrian.'

Zerkan was a very proud person.

It must have been that he did not want to expose his weaknesses and, on the other hand, did not want to worry about his friends.

Because Zerkan values Violet and Adrian more than anyone else.

'It can't be like this.'

A child who grows up feeling anxious all the time will not have a healthy mind even when he grows up.

Zerkan is walking on a thin ice sheet every day.

Sleeping on it, eating rice, reading a book. Feeling anxious about when your feet might break.

'I want to comfort you....'

Raphine just took Zerkan's hand and hesitated.

A hasty consolation may actually inflict more damage on Zerkan.

'I want to comfort you kindly so that my heart doesn't get hurt....'

Raphine bit her lip and grabbed Zerkan's hand and started walking recklessly.

Until Zerkan's cold hands relaxed and warmed.

While walking in the garden for a long time like that, Raphine suddenly stopped walking.

"Huh? Look over there."

"yes?"

At Raphine's words, Zerkan also turned his head.

The flower beds along the promenade were full of fresh leaves of grass. But in the meantime, a red flower was in full bloom. it was a rose

"Wow, how can a flower bloom alone among the green leaves of grass?"

As Raphine muttered as she looked at the flowers, Zerkan answered, reflecting on her memories.

"Perhaps the flower that had been planted before was that flower. Not long ago, I planted them all as torch trees."

"Aha. Then one rose seed must have survived alone. right?"

"Yeah, it seems."

Zerkan smiled at Raphine, who was amazed and happy to see only one flower.

at that time.

"I must have been lonely."

Raphine murmured as she moved closer to the flower.

Zerkan quietly stared at Raffine's back.

"The rose is very red. It resembles the eyes of Zerkan's brother."

"...."

"So, let's name this flower Zerkan."

"What?"

Zerkan smirked at the absurd suggestion. Raphine did not stop there and continued to speak.

"It's the same with pretty things."

"what...."

"It is such a wonderful flower to grow so well alone. right?"

"...."

"Let's praise us for doing well together."

At Raphine's words, Zerkan stopped.

Then she raised her little hand and looked at Raphine, who was gently and carefully stroking the flower.

"You did well. grew up well face off Great and nice."

"...."

Zerkan was taken aback by the childish compliments that made him stick his tongue out.

I'm still 8 years old, so I can't help it. I thought to myself.

But Raphine grabbed her hand and said, "Follow me." So, Zerkan was forced to be dragged away.

Strangely, my body lost all strength and I couldn't resist the touch.

Raphine said while stroking the petals as if demonstrating.

"Be good. were you lonely? Now I will protect you."

"...."

"Follow your brother quickly. It's weird if I do it alone. Well done quickly, proud. Do it."

As Raphine urged him, Zerkan hesitated and opened his mouth.

"Good job, darling...."

However, unable to finish the speech, Zerkan shut her lips.

His brow twitched slightly. Strangely, the tip of his nose was cold and his throat was tight.

Zerkan sighed and covered his face with his arms.

"...."

Raphine looked at it for a moment, and then walked to another place so that Zerkan could cry in peace alone.

"Wow, flowers are blooming there too! I will come and take a look over there!"

Then I went to the flower bed right next door and started to squat down and look at the flowers.

In his heart, he hugged and comforted the crying Zerkan and said, 'Well done, proud.' I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't.

Some time passes.

I could feel Zerkan's popularity behind my back.

Raphine glanced around and looked at Zerkan. It was cute that the corners of her eyes were red.

'You always pretended to be an adult.'

Raphine smiled inwardly, jumped up and hugged Zerkan.

'If you hug me while crying, I'll hurt my pride, but I'll be fine now.'

"...."

Zerkan was embarrassed, but did not push Raphine away. After all, Raphine used to hug Zerkan like this every time she met.

Raphine lightly patted Zerkan on the back and let him go.

Then he looked at the red rose that was blooming alone and spoke so that he could hear everything.

"The Zerkan flowers are really pretty. right?"

"...."

Zerkan's face turned red and he didn't answer anything, only his mouth opened.

I want to tell you not to make fun of my brother.... Strangely, my heart tickled and I was speechless.

Then, all of a sudden, raindrops began to fall from the sky.

Rain water fell on a small pond, causing gentle ripples.

Zerkan immediately took off his coat and draped it over Raphine's head.

"It's raining, so let's go. I might catch a cold."

"Okay."

Raphine nodded and opened her coat. The rain was getting thicker.

The two children ran through the rain with the sound of water clattering.

The pond, where a small ripple had occurred, soon began to gradually submerge in the uncontrollable rainwater.

Zerkan's heart was the same.