“This is the dining hall,” Ludeon said as the door opened onto an enormous, lavish room.

While Luana was mesmerized by the glittering room, Maria walked in carrying a chair. “Her Highness can sit over here.”

　　Luana quickly looked up at Maria’s voice. Seeing Maria was a relief, even if it felt a bit awkward. It was far better than being left alone with Ludeon.

Maria helped Luana onto the chair she’d brought. However, it was far too low. Only Luana’s face peeked above the table, making it obvious she couldn’t possibly eat like this.

“Did you get the wrong size?”

　　“I specifically had it prepared for someone even younger than Her Highness, but…”

　　Ludeon and Maria exchanged troubled looks. Worried she’d upset them, Luana hurried to speak.

　　“Oh, no, I’m okay—”

　　Luana threw both arms up as if cheering, barely managing to rest her hands on the table.

　　“Prepare a higher one next time.”

　　“I certainly will.”

　　At the mention of next time, Luana’s shoulders slouched. Was she not going to get to eat now? Her stomach didn’t even rumble anymore. Disappointed, Luana merely moved her lips silently.

　　“Huh?”

　　As Luana fidgeted with her little hands on the table, Ludeon picked her up. Her outstretched arms fell limp in surprise. Before she could make sense of what was happening, he settled her on his lap.

　　“Huh…?”

　　As Luana parted her lips in confusion, Ludeon nonchalantly spooned up some soup and fed it to her.

　　“It’s delicious.”

　　The soup was warm. Luana stared blankly at the now-empty spoon.

　　“Seems to suit your taste.”

　　As Luana smacked her lips, Ludeon handed her the spoon.

　　The vegetable soup was clearly meant to be nourishing, hardly the sort of thing a young child would crave, yet Luana ate it with absolute delight.

With every spoonful, her eyes widened in wonder. What she usually ate had never tasted anything like this. It was always bland and cold. Calling the two the same dish almost felt wrong.

　　“I thought she wanted something sweet. Will this be all right?”

　　“Something sweet?”

　　While Luana was completely absorbed in eating her soup, Ludeon and Maria began talking.

　　“Mm. I thought she wanted dessert.”

　　“Oh goodness… Then you should have told me! Your Highness, leave it to me. I’ll make so much for you that you’ll grow sick of it.”

　　“Get Medique’s permission first.”

　　“Of course. I’ll check with the doctor before I prepare anything.”

　　Maria immediately began planning what to make. Ludeon clicked his tongue, only to catch himself wondering what kind of light dessert Luana could manage. He gave a dry laugh and looked down at the back of Luana’s small head.

　　Why was he putting so much effort into this? Every time he saw Luana, something unfamiliar stirred in him. Was a half-sister still a sister after all?

　　Maybe it was because she looked nothing like Liliana. Or because the resemblance between them made their relationship obvious at a glance. Whatever the reason, he felt responsible for her.

　　“Hm?”

　　Ludeon snapped out of his thoughts when Luana looked up at him. Her bowl was already empty. Should he give her more? He wasn’t sure.

　　“I want to eat more…” Luana murmured softly, as if sensing his hesitation. Her voice was barely a whisper, but Ludeon was holding her close enough to hear every word.

　　“Hmm…”

　　However, Ludeon couldn’t easily grant her wish. Before leaving, Medique had repeatedly warned him to be careful with her meals, so simply feeding her as much as she wanted was out of the question.

　　“If it’s too much trouble, I’m okay.”

　　Luana let the matter drop immediately. She wanted more, but she wouldn’t insist on something that couldn’t be done. She had already received so much kindness; asking for more felt wrong.

　　Ludeon studied Luana’s face. Did normal children give up that easily? The only children he’d ever spent any real time with were his second cousin Selena and Adan’s younger sister, Asil, and neither of them was like this.

　　“It’s not that vegetable soup is hard to make, but…”

　　“It was really delicious. I’ve never eaten anything like this before… That’s why I asked. I’m sorry.”

　　As Ludeon trailed off, Luana quickly apologized. She worried she might have offended him.

　　“What?”

　　Stunned, Ludeon was lost for words. He examined Luana closely, but her expression was entirely earnest.

　　She had never had vegetable soup? An imperial princess? No matter how neglected she was, it was hard to believe. Even commoners had hot soup when they were ill. Had she really grown up eating worse than this?

　　In disbelief, Ludeon turned to Maria, only to find her staring back with the same stunned expression.

　　“I’ll have something even better brought to you tomorrow.”

　　“What?”

　　“Maria, wouldn’t it be fine if we made the cocoa a bit diluted?”

　　“Yes, it’ll be fine! Even if it isn’t, it must be fine!”

　　She looked ready to grab Medique by the collar if he dared disagree. Ludeon shook his head at Maria, who was practically breathless with excitement. At this rate, she might start spitting when she talked.

　　“You don’t need to see that.”

　　Ludeon pressed Luana’s head down.

　　There was no need. Luana’s attention was already elsewhere.

　　“Cocoa…?”

　　“Yes. It’s a sweet drink. If you like sweet things, you’ll enjoy it.”

　　Luana swallowed hard. At the word “sweet,” a faint memory began to surface.

　　“Can I really drink it tomorrow?”

　　“Yes. It’s a promise.”

　　Luana tilted her head at Ludeon’s outstretched pinky. She had no idea what he wanted her to do.

　　“This is how you make a promise.”

　　Ludeon gently took her hand and hooked his pinky around hers.

　　It’s warm.

　　Only then did the sensation truly sink in. It spread from her fingertips through her whole body, and an inexplicable wave of shyness made her flush.

　　“Do you have a fever?”

　　Ludeon pressed a hand to her forehead. She did feel warm.

　　“Medique mentioned she might develop a fever once her tension eased. Has she finally relaxed?”

　　Ludeon rose with Luana still in his arms. Startled out of her daze, she stammered, “I can walk by myself.”

　　Luana already owed him so much. The Crown Prince hadn’t told Liliana about her, had let her sleep in a wonderful room, and had even fed her. She still needed his help if she wanted to meet the Empress, yet she had nothing to offer him in return. If she kept accepting more from him, how could she possibly ask for another favor?

　　“That’s enough. Just stay still.”

　　Seeing that Ludeon had no intention of setting her down, Luana fell silent. However, as he carried her deeper into the palace, she had no choice but to speak up.

　　“I need to go outside to get to my palace…”

　　“Your palace?”

　　“If you take me outside… just tell me which way to go. I can walk from there.”

　　At Luana’s words, Ludeon suppressed a sigh. Vincent’s report while Luana slept had been so hard to believe that Ludeon had gone to see the palace himself. No human being should have been living there.

　　“Just to be sure, you didn’t live in Liliana’s palace, did you?”

　　“Liliana’s palace?”

　　“Never mind. Forget I asked.”

　　Though dirty and ruined, the palace had clearly shown signs of someone living there. That must have been Luana’s room. Ludeon had no intention of sending her back there.

Even if she shared only half his blood, and even if the other half belonged to the woman he loathed so deeply, Luana was undeniably his younger sister.

　　“Or is there something important there? Something you have to retrieve?”

　　“No, nothing like that…”

　　“Then that’s settled. If you’re calling that trash heap a palace, just stay here. Even beggars wouldn’t live in a place like that.”

　　Luana couldn’t understand what he meant. Settled? She wanted to ask him more, but his sudden dark mood held her back. Luana merely parted her lips without saying a word.

　　“Sleep here.”

　　“Huh?”

　　The moment the door opened, Luana realized it was the very room where she had woken up earlier. The pink room was just as warm and lovely as she remembered. Ludeon carefully set Luana down on the bed.

　　“…Is it really okay for me to stay here?”

　　Lying quietly on the bed, Luana looked up at Ludeon anxiously. This place was far too nice. Its owner might get angry if she stayed. Ludeon would never use anything like this, so it had to belong to someone else.

　　“The owner of the room will be mad.”

　　“You don’t need to worry about that.”

　　“Huh?”

　　“Because this is your room now.”

　　“What?”

　　Luana knew she must sound silly, but she couldn’t help asking. This was her room? No matter how many times she repeated that short sentence in her mind, she couldn’t make sense of it.

　　“I worked hard decorating it! We had to put everything together in a hurry, so it isn’t perfect, but I hope you’ll understand. We can change things together bit by bit.”

　　Luana turned her head toward Maria. Her words almost made it sound as if this room had been prepared just for her.

Seeing Luana’s confusion, Ludeon silently covered her eyes with one hand.

　　“You must be tired, so just sleep.”

　　“But…”

　　Ludeon whispered as Luana hesitated. “I think you already know who I am, but I’ve never properly introduced myself, so just listen for now.”

　　Feeling Luana flinch beneath his palm, Ludeon paused briefly.

　　“I’m Ludeon Belkium, and I’m your older brother. We may share only half our blood, but you’re still my sister. And I’m not irresponsible enough to abandon you.”

　　Ludeon gently patted Luana with his free hand. The palm covering her eyes slowly grew damp with tears.