Chapter 26

Fir's vacation ended in the blink of an eye.

Although he said he had three days, in reality, it was only two and a half. Therefore, by midday on the last day, it was almost time to leave.

Usually, he would lie on the floor, complaining that he didn't want to go back. But today was different.

Instead of lying on the floor, he was sitting in a chair, deep in thought.

However, the fact that he had placed the chair in front of the fireplace indicated that he was already showing signs of not wanting to return. His posture was slumped, and his silver hair was messy.

"Hey, Fir. It's time to leave. The escort will be here soon. If it were just the captain of the knights, it would be fine, but I don't want to be swarmed by the military's high-ranking officials."

"...I know. I don't want to cause any trouble. But I don't want to go back."

After sighing, he buried his head in his hands and curled up.

I thought he was being more mature just because he wasn't on the floor.

But now, I don't think he's much different.

Albes sighed and glanced at me.

It seems it's my turn to step in.

There are no steamed buns today. I had heard we would leave after lunch, and I had been busy preparing.

The contents of the basket were also changed to hard cookies that would keep for a long time.

As I was considering taking one out, my brother sighed again and left the living room.

He must have gone to check on the horses that have been waiting for a while.

Perhaps to see if the escort has arrived.

"Fir. Is the escort really coming today?"

"...Maybe. I've been told I have to return today."

Oh dear.

It seems he's not being taken seriously.

I couldn't help but laugh, but seeing Fir's lonely back, I quickly stopped.

I lightly knelt on the floor next to Fir's chair and peered at his face, which was still bowed.

"Hey, Fir."

I gently placed my hand on Fir's knee.

"...Are you an important person in the military?"

The knights who enjoy farming and cooking are all said to be Albes' contemporaries. I've seen them training with swords, and they were all beyond the level of ordinary knights, including Albes.

They can't be ordinary knights.

The knight who sometimes came to pick up Fir also seemed to be more than just an ordinary knight.

And today, my brother's words.

"Are the high-ranking officials of the military really coming?"

"...I don't think the top brass will come. The captains of the knights are coming because we're good friends due to our age. They know that lower-ranking knights would be too intimidated to be of any use, so the high-ranking officials use them as convenient messengers."

So, it really was the captains of the knights who were coming.

"I am... the commander of the Third Army. There are a few commanders in the Third Army, but I'm essentially the top."

Fir finally looked at me after mumbling this.

Please don't look so worried.

I'm surprised, but I don't intend to change my attitude now.

"Was this visit short, but relaxing?"

"...Yeah."

"That's good. You can come again, so try your best."

I patted his knee, and Fir lowered his hands from his head.

His beautiful silver hair was finally visible.

I stood up and moved behind him, starting to comb his hair. The messy hair gradually regained its luster as I ran the comb through it.

How many times have I combed his hair?

I think it started when Fir stayed over for the first time. His beautiful hair was in such a state that I forced him to sit down and combed it.

Since then, I've been combing his hair from time to time.

This might be the first time I'm doing it before he leaves.

Recently, I've been feeding him sweets.

"Lucia."

"What?"

"Probably, I won't be able to come here this year. ...I'll be returning to the north soon."

"Is that so?"

His hair was completely neat now.

But I wanted to touch it a bit more, so I took a string from the pocket of my apron and started tying his long neck hair together.