Chapter 5

“Is it finished? You’re really skilled. I’ve never once envied Piote, but… I guess I’m jealous now, getting a bouquet from such a cute little sister.”

For a split second, I thought Evan’s reaching hand was coming toward me. I squeezed my eyes shut on instinct.

But his hand only touched the bouquet, his elegant fingers brushing the petals carefully so they wouldn’t get crushed.

“Hm? Is something wrong?”

“N-no!”

I snapped my eyes open at the faint amusement in his voice. My reaction must’ve been funny to him; he only smiled gently. There was a beautiful bouquet right in front of me, but he completely stole my attention.

With my face buried in the flowers, I heard Evan’s soft laugh. I peeked up at him.

‘What? What is that smile?!’

The fresh, bright laugh made my heart pound out of rhythm. And he was close—too close—close enough that I could feel his breath. Did he see my weird reaction?

Feeling guilty for no reason, I fidgeted and rolled my eyes around, desperately searching for something—anything—to break this ticklish, fluttery feeling. Then an idea flashed through my mind.

“Um… as a celebration for your victory… sh-should I make you a bouquet too?”

“You’d give one to me as well?”

I glanced at him sideways and nodded. Evan smiled—sun-bright.

“I’ll treasure it as an heirloom.”

“…”

“I—I mean, heirloom? It’s just a bouquet…”

My face was burning; I flapped my hands like a fan to cool myself. His fresh laugh, his face, his eyes—everything about him was charming.

‘Lepina, get a grip. Think about your age!’

“But… how did you know I won? You didn’t come to the tournament.”

His tone held certainty, not curiosity, and my eyes widened. I wasn’t just surprised that he knew—I didn’t understand why he sounded oddly sulky, as if he were scolding me for not showing up.

“I read the newspaper.”

My voice came out stiff. If I didn’t know this world was from a game, I might not have known about his victory—but I had prior knowledge.

Evan had always been a promising knight. And considering the champion was Piote’s age, the answer was obvious.

‘If it’s not our Evan, who else would it be!’

To change the mood, I asked about Piote.

“How is my brother doing at the academy?”

“Mm… he’s doing well. Energetic, and he’s definitely left an impression on the teachers.”

The bright expression didn’t match the words—which basically meant he’d been labeled a troublemaker.

I swallowed tears. At home, I could mediate, but the academy was out of my reach.

I was supposed to be the younger sibling, yet I was the one worrying. But wait… were Piote and Evan friends in the original game?

The heroine interfered, so “friends” wasn’t even close—they were basically enemies. If one route’s affection rose, the other’s dropped. You couldn’t pursue both at once.

We kept chatting as I swiftly finished the bouquet—faster than the one I made for Piote. And honestly? It looked prettier. Maybe I’d… accidentally played favorites.

After staring at it, I held it out to him.

“P-please take it.”

I cursed myself internally for the trembling voice, but I couldn’t take the words back. He accepted the flowers and quietly breathed in their scent.

“It’s beautiful… thank you.”

“L-let’s go back now.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Evan hummed a little tune, clearly pleased, fingers grazing the petals over and over. Seeing him happy made me happy too.

I was drifting in his sweet humming when I saw someone barreling toward us like a rhinoceros.

Normally I’d recoil, but guilt over missing his tournament had built up, so I greeted him with a bright smile.

“Brother, you’re here!”

Piote skidded to a stop, threw his arms wide, and lifted me straight into the air, rubbing his cheek all over mine. I was used to it by now.

“My little fairy. Did you miss your brother?”

His grin was so wide it looked stuck.

“Don’t call me ‘fairy’! That’s why everyone calls me that!”

I still had no idea why. I was pretty sure Piote started the whole nickname.

“Sure, sure. Lep, I really missed you. A few months felt like years.”

He said that every time he came home. My cheek hurt from his rubbing, so I pushed him off.

“Stop it!”

Piote Clies—my older brother. Same pink hair as me, sky-blue eyes like our father.

Apparently cheek-rubbing wasn’t enough; he started rambling at machine-gun speed. He missed me, wanted to come home immediately, where was I, he worried, he looked everywhere, I wasn’t there—on and on until I felt drained.

“Mm. Uh-huh.”

I patted his head. To calm him down, I told him what he wanted to hear—with a bright smile.

“I missed you too.”

“Right?”

His smile could melt ice. This was family.

I didn’t know if he was immature because he was fifteen, or because he acted like this only with me. Either way, it was a relief.

Then Piote noticed Evan standing behind me, and his expression changed in an instant. The childishness vanished; a young man stared out from his eyes.

With a crooked stance, he glared at Evan.

“What are you doing here? I told you to stay away.”

“I ran into her by chance. Lady Lepina gave me permission. I don’t think my being here is a problem.”

I rolled my eyes as I watched them stare each other down. Evan spoke politely to me, but to Piote he used casual speech.

‘Okay, so they are friends.’

But something still felt off. Sparks practically flew between them.

‘This is… way worse than normal rivals.’

I kept looking back and forth.

Piote glared fiercely; Evan smiled pleasantly—but with eyes that said go away. I could already tell exactly how they acted at school.

Maybe they weren’t the friendly type. Some friends bicker all the time. They *were* rivals, after all.

I called him firmly.

“Brother.”

Time to stop. I wasn’t going to let anyone, even my own family, glare at the person who saved me—and my favorite character.

Piote wilted slightly, throwing me a guilty look, though I was firm.

But after years of knowing him, I knew he was definitely threatening Evan silently where I couldn’t see.

“…What’s that?”

The tension almost eased—until Piote picked a fight over the bouquet in Evan’s hand.

“Oh, this?”

Evan lifted it and inhaled the scent, then said mockingly, “Lady Lepina gave it to me.”

“What?”

Before I could stop him, Piote snatched the bouquet, pulled me into his arms, and declared, “Sorry, but Lepina doesn’t give her things to just anyone.”

Evan stared at his empty hand, blinking. His brow twitched.

‘They’re going to fight.’

I bonked Piote lightly on the head.

“Le-Lepina…?”

He looked devastated, like the world had ended. I sighed and pointed at Evan.

“Brother! What are you doing to a guest!”

“B-but he—!”

“He’s your friend! And why do you get to decide who gets what I give?!”

I snatched the bouquet from him.

“I’m so sorry about my brother… Please get along with him. He never even mentioned friends in his letters, so I was worried.”

I buttered Evan up shamelessly—partly out of fear their relationship might sour.

‘If they stop getting along, I’ll see my favorite even less!’

I smacked Piote’s arm until he released me, then offered the bouquet back to Evan.

“Please take it.”

I smiled brilliantly—strategically. Evan would never do something rude, but still, smiles worked. I told him to be kind to my brother and visit often.

“…Even if you don’t ask…”

“Hmm?”

I didn’t catch his muttered words, and when I asked, he only smiled and shook his head. But I was sure he’d been pouting.

‘Probably my imagination…’

My sparkly eyes must’ve worked, because Evan gave a gentle smile and let Piote’s behavior slide.

Then I handed a different bouquet to Piote—the one I had dropped when he hugged me like a maniac. It had fallen to the ground earlier.