Chapter 32

I watched Leon's figure grow smaller and approached Cheshire.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

"No."

"I'm sorry. For something to happen right after you came to my house... I promised I wouldn't let you get hit."

"Why are you sorry? And you deserved it."

"Huh?"

"It seems that the older brother misunderstood what I said."

"What do you mean?"

Cheshire looked at me intently, then sighed and continued.

"He came to me and asked if we were really friends."

"And?"

"I said we weren't friends."

"Then what did you say?"

Cheshire hesitated for a moment and then answered in a small voice.

"I'm a toy—"

"What?"

I was flabbergasted and just blinked.

"I thought if I said we were friends, the older brother would dislike it. I was going to say that I'm not your friend but your toy."

"..."

"It seems he misunderstood it the opposite way."

"Opposite? Oh!"

So Leon... It seems he misunderstood that I said, "I'm not your friend, but your toy."

"No..."

"I tried to clarify, but he didn't give me a chance."

The angry Leon must have thrown a punch right away, and I arrived before he could clear up the misunderstanding.

Now that I understood the whole situation, I pulled my hair.

"Ugh."

"I said it strangely. I'm sorry."

"No, no... This is my fault..."

I thought it was just a joke because Cheshire found my kindness burdensome.

"Cheshire, listen."

"If someone asks again."

I was about to correct the toy story, but Cheshire cut me off.

"Will you say we're friends?"

"..."

Cheshire asked, avoiding my gaze.

It seemed like a casual remark, but there was a hint of worry.

What if he gets rejected...

"Yes! Definitely!"

I smiled brightly and nodded.

"...Okay."

"Your lip is bleeding again..."

"I'm fine. But it might be better to go see that older brother."

"Ah, okay."

Thinking of how badly hurt Leon seemed, I sighed.

Although he hit me fiercely, he must have been angry on my behalf...

* * *

"That's my brother! My brother!!"

"Why does he act like a child! Stop it!"

As soon as we arrived at Leon's room, I closed my eyes tightly at the commotion leaking out from the door.

It seemed that the highly irritable Leon was even scolding his aunt.

"Big brother."

I cautiously opened the door, and my aunt turned around.

"Oh, Lylis?"

"..."

Leon, who didn't expect me to come so quickly, opened his eyes wide in surprise and then turned his head away.

My aunt ran over happily.

"Leon said you had a fight? Do you want to talk? I'll go out."

"Okay."

After my aunt left, I approached Leon, who was sitting on the bed.

"Big brother."

"What."

"I heard why you hit Cheshire."

"..."

"Cheshire said I was a toy, so you got angry, right?"

"Yeah. He's a bad guy. What kind of person calls someone a toy?"

"Big brother... Cheshire said he was my toy, not that I was his toy."

"What?"

"I told Cheshire to say I was his toy. It was just a joke."

Leon's mouth dropped open.

"Of course, it was a joke. I shouldn't have done that. I was wrong."

"..."

"Anyway, Cheshire said... He thought you would dislike it if he said we were friends."

"How ridiculous. Why would I dislike it?"

"Big brother, you didn't seem to like Cheshire. You glared at him yesterday..."

"That's not because I didn't like him!"

"Didn't like him?"

Leon turned his head and added.

"Because it seemed like you were closer to him."

"...What?"

"Bringing him home and saying you would live together, it seemed like you really liked him."

"..."

"Even though we agreed to only catch spiders together, you suddenly said you would bring him too. I was annoyed because it seemed like you liked him more."

I stared at the pouting Leon, completely surprised.

It was a reason I never thought of.

I thought he disliked Cheshire because he was a commoner.

'So, it was jealousy?'

Realizing this, I sat down next to Leon.

"Phew, big brother... Cheshire is a friend, but you are family."

"..."

"Look at me... Okay?"

I tugged at his arm, and Leon turned to look at me with a still pouting face.

I started talking, rolling my feet under the bed.

"I thought I only had Dad as family. When I lived in Zeon, I envied kids who had sisters or brothers..."

"..."

"Here, I have big brothers, right? And they are very, very cool and handsome... Um, and good at catching spiders, and kind..."

When I turned to look, Leon was listening intently with wide eyes.

"Hehe. I'm really, really happy lately. I thought it would be good just to have Dad, but now I have big brothers to play with, and it's great."

I hugged Leon's waist. After a moment's hesitation, Leon tentatively patted my head.

"Big brother will always be by my side and is the most important person to me, even if I make many friends in the future."

"...Really?"

"Yes, really. Let's play a lot and eat a lot of delicious things together."

Leon grabbed my cheek and looked at me closely, then smiled.

"Okay."

Then he hugged me like a teddy bear and asked.

"But do you like him more or me?"

At this age, twelve, he's very sensitive to such questions.

I held Leon tighter, trying not to laugh.

"Big brother!"

"Then, do you like Theo more or me?"

"Big brother!"

"Ha ha! Do you like Uncle more or me?"

"Eh. That's a bit..."

I shook my head firmly.

No matter how much Leon tries, he can't beat Dad.

"Got it. I'll let Uncle off."

Leon burst out laughing.

* * *

The next day.

Cheshire was called to the twins' room.

'Is this some kind of punishment for yesterday?'

Leon was sitting with his legs crossed, his face and posture typical of a noble young master.

"Hey."

Cheshire looked at Leon.

"I'm sorry for hitting you yesterday."

Words that Leon never imagined saying came out. Cheshire was momentarily speechless.

"I misunderstood. Even so, violence is wrong, so I'm apologizing. I'm not doing this because Lylis forced me; I really mean it."

"...It's okay. I said it strangely."

"Right. Drop the formalities."

"..."

"Drop them?"

"Sure."

Cheshire answered, and Leon smiled, seemingly satisfied.

"Leon's tone is a bit off, but he's not a bad kid. Understand him."

"What do you mean!"

Theo, who was lying on the bed, spoke, and Leon flared up.

"You said Cheshire? I'm Theo. Get comfortable. This isn't our house, but..."

Theo was indeed different from Leon in every way except for his face. His expression and tone were gentle.

However...

'Is he sick?'

He looked a bit unwell. His pale complexion and blue lips were noticeable.

"Hey! Since you're going to live here, we need to establish a hierarchy."

Theo's eyes left Cheshire, who turned to Leon.

Hierarchy?

It was a noble-like statement, but...

'What hierarchy is there to establish? I'm just a commoner living here.'

Cheshire was puzzled, and Leon grinned.

"Lylis said she likes me more than you."

"...What?"

"Ha ha ha! Dude, you look so defeated!"

It was just a look of disbelief...

"And she said she likes me more than Theo too."

"Really?!"

Theo, who had been lying in bed, suddenly sat up.

"Really. If you don't believe me, go ask Lylis."

Leon wiped his nose, seemingly proud of Theo's shocked reaction.

"Even though I couldn't beat Uncle, how can I beat Dad? He's an exception. So, I'm number one. No complaints, right?"

Is that what the hierarchy is? Cheshire was flabbergasted.

"Hey, Leon. Wait. Between Cheshire and me, who does she like more?"

"I didn't ask. You might be third."

"Huh."

Cheshire, watching Theo's serious expression, quickly said.

"I'll be third."

"...Huh? Are you giving up? You're so kind."

"What, idiots. That's for Lylis to decide!"

It's stupid to fight over hierarchy like this!

Cheshire held back the urge to shout.

"Ha, what is Lylis doing now?"

"Probably in class. Hehe... Why? Want to ask? Do you think you can beat her? Forget it, you'll just get hurt."

Theo, holding his head, got out of bed.

But he couldn't take a single step and stumbled, falling to the floor.

"Ugh."

"Hey, Theo. Are you okay?"

"No... Huh."

"Damn. Again?"

Theo clutched his collar. Cold sweat suddenly poured down.

"Hey, wait! I'll get the servants!"

Leon ran out of the room without looking back.

'Is he really sick?'

Cheshire, left alone with Theo, didn't know what to do. Theo's breathing, which was already difficult, worsened.

"Ugh, ugh, huh."

Cheshire was startled.

Dilated pupils. Shaking arms and legs.

A scream burst from Theo's mouth, lying on the floor.

"Aaaah! Ah!"

"..."

His body writhed on the floor as if thrown into a fire.

"Aaaaah!"

Theo scratched his neck fiercely. The skin tore, and blood appeared.

"What..."

Trying to endure extreme pain, Theo continued to hurt himself.

"Stop it!"

Cheshire instinctively rushed to Theo, pinned him down, and restrained his self-harming arms.