The Long-Awaited Praise
Marie Clozer and her brother. She was the illegitimate child of the Clozer family. She didn't know her mother's name. All she knew was that her mother had been just another woman her father toyed with for amusement. Marie's mother had forced her way into the Clozer estate with the newborn girl in her arms, dumped her on her father's lap, and then vanished from the mansion without a backward glance. After that, it was as if she'd forgotten Marie entirely—no word, no letter, nothing.
Because of that, Marie had no allies in the Clozer household. The lady of the house, her stepmother, looked at her like a sewer rat born from her husband's infidelity. Even her biological father never regarded her with affection; she was merely a stain on his reputation. There was only one person who cared.
'Marie, crying again?'
Her half-brother, sharing only half her blood, was her sole pillar of support. She had her childhood friend Malcolm, whom she saw occasionally, but that was limited to brief playtime on weekends. In the mansion, only her brother was her friend and family.
'Brother...! I, I...! I want to go with you too...!'
'Alright, let's go.'
That's why Marie followed her brother, Damian Clozer, like a shadow. Being with Damian made her happy. In those moments, she didn't feel like an outsider; she could bask in the warmth of family. The resentment toward the mother who birthed and abandoned her, the hatred for the father who created and despised her—all of it melted away when she was with Damian. At least for that time. Because in those moments, she wasn't the bastard child; she was his little sister.
'Marie...'
'You're an idiot.'
But even that comforting sanctuary.
Suddenly vanished one day.
...
"Brother, th-this... it's the quiz from today."
"......"
Marie held out the paper in her trembling hands, even under Damian's icy gaze. It was the result of today's test. Just a sheet with good scores, but coming from the prestigious Revel Academy—one of the most elite—it carried special weight.
"I... I worked really hard..."
"......"
That's why she'd pulled Damian aside to show him. Not to brag about the grade, but to prove how much effort she'd put in. To let him know.
Damian took the paper from her outstretched hand. He scanned the contents with indifferent eyes. An awkward, heavy silence hung between them.
Marie forced her mouth open again. "Of course, this isn't the end...! It's just the start! I told you—I'd show you results on the midterms..."
"......You did say that. So?"
"......"
"This isn't the 'result' you promised. ...Did you really call me out here just to show me this?"
"Th-that's..."
"You're such an idiot, Marie."
"Eek..."
His words made her heart sink. Cold sweat beaded on her skin; her hands shook.
"To be honest, Marie..."
"......"
"I never believed you'd actually pull it off."
"......What?"
"So you're trying to brush it off with some quiz score?"
"N-no...! I just wanted to show you my effort...!"
"Your effort?"
Damian snorted and glared at her. "You dragged a busy person out here for that?"
"......Th-that's..."
"You're an idiot, Marie."
"Eek..."
"You can't even calculate the value of the time you're wasting right now... and you talk about showing results?"
"......"
"Fine..."
His voice turned utterly cold, no trace of laughter left, stabbing into her heart like a wedge.
"You've shown your results alright. That you're foolish and dull."
"......"
His cruel words froze her chest. It hurt. It stung. And it left her utterly lonely. The brother she'd once relied on more than anyone felt a step further away in that instant.
"...Next time, think before you call me. Got it?"
"......"
"Answer me."
"......Yes."
"Even your responses are slow."
"......"
Thud.
Damian dumped the paper on her head without hesitation, turned on his heel, and walked away.
Her brother was leaving.
Say something... anything.
This wasn't what she'd wanted.
But he'll hate me even more...
She'd just wanted a few words. The kind they used to exchange. Back when they were close.
But.
I'm such an idiot... I ruined it.
"......What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?"
Then, a familiar voice cut in from the doorway. Hearing it unexpectedly, Marie turned teary-eyed toward the door.
"I'm Marie's friend."
"......"
。
。。
Step, step.
Finally over...
I'd been holding my breath behind the door, and now it was time. I took a deep breath.
Now the real strategy begins...
This was a crucial moment. Even I felt tense. After all, This was a key opportunity I’d missed in the first loop.
Marie and Damian. A childhood incident involving their strict parents had fractured their bond. It turned Damian cold and ruthless, while giving Marie a massive inferiority complex that eroded her confidence.
And the academy's first event showcasing that story was right now.In my opinion, there was no better opportunity.
But in the first loop, I hadn't capitalized on it. Simple reason: I was just an ordinary extra.
'Marie...'
'Sniff, eek, sniff... What, sniff, why...'
'I... sorry, I overheard.'
'Go away... ugh, just go... leave me alone...'
'......'
Back then, after Damian left, all I could do was stay by her side while she cried. It created a tender atmosphere with Marie, sure.
...But that wasn't my ideal approach.
The reason I was limited to that was my own low status. Confronting Damian head-on back then? My words wouldn't sway him; it'd just embarrass Marie more.
But now? Things were different.
"......Her friend?"
"Yes. And... sorry, but I overheard your conversation."
I stepped out, blocking Damian's path, and glared at him fiercely. I glanced at Marie. She stared at me blankly, eyes brimming with tears.
Meanwhile, Damian, who'd been studying my face, spoke with recognition. "You're that first-year who gave the speech back then."
"You know me?"
"Of course. The student council attends the entrance ceremony. ...Didn't expect you'd be friends with Marie."
"Because Marie's a good person."
"Hah, innocent. A flower garden for a brain—fun to toy with, I suppose."
"......No. Marie's plenty smart and wise. And she never skimps on effort."
"......"
I stared him down, my voice as cold as I could make it. I poured my feelings into it. Sure, he was one of the male leads who'd stolen my heroine in past loops.
But I've hated this guy's guts since loop one...
I was sincere about Marie back then. My initial approach was just a mission, seeing her as a target heroine. But the real Marie I met was smart, wise, hardworking—a fantastic woman. winning her, I fell genuinely in love. So seeing Damian treat her like that pissed me off.
Right now, I was venting the regrets from loop one.
"...So? What does Marie's brilliant friend want, now that you've been caught eavesdropping—a nasty habit?"
Damian met my gaze head-on, smirking mockingly.
In response, I raised my hand like I'd been waiting and pointed straight at Marie.
"Praise Marie."
"......What?"
"She worked hard and came up here just to hear those words from you. As her brother, that's your responsibility."
"......"
Damian looked at me like I was absurd. Then, in his indifferent tone, he shot back.
"If you overheard, you heard our talk."
"...You're busy?"
"Yes. What's praiseworthy about an idiot sister who doesn't even know whose time she's wasting for a single compliment?"
He said it with utter confidence. Narcissistic prick. The words rose in my throat, but I swallowed them.
His 'precious time'...
I recalled what he'd said to Marie moments ago. I'd heard it clearly—not just now, but in loop five and before, etched into my ears.
So I knew exactly what to say.
"Then can't this great and mighty person spare a single word of praise for his little sister?"
"......"
"Seems like your time wouldn't be wasted on it."
"......"
Damian's eyes flashed with displeasure as he clamped his mouth shut. Our gazes locked. The emotions we felt toward each other were mutual.
That stare-down lasted a moment.
"Sigh..."
Damian closed his eyes with a small exhale, then turned slightly toward Marie.
"Marie."
"......Y-yes?"
"......"
Startled from her daze by the sudden call, Marie looked at him. Damian, meeting her confused gaze,
"Good job. That's definitely a high score."
turned away and murmured softly.
Step, step.
He brushed past me and descended from the rooftop.
。
。。
Marie stood frozen, watching Damian's retreating figure. She recalled his small but clear words.
'Good job. That's definitely a high score.'
Warm words from her brother after so long. Even if Emil had intervened, it was the first time in years she'd heard what she craved.
"Eek, uwu... sniff..."
Tears streamed endlessly down her face. The anxiety and chill in her heart thawed precariously. The despair that had crashed over her receded.
She wiped her face with her sleeve amid the tears.
Then.
Swish...
"......"
"......Sniff, huh?"
Emil, who had stayed quietly by her during her sobs, approached and gently offered a white handkerchief.
"......"
He said nothing. Just moments ago, he'd spoken so firmly to Damian. Now, he was silently considerate of her.
Thump...
That gesture stirred unfamiliar feelings toward Emil.
"Thank you... Emil... sniff, thank you..."
Grateful for his kindness, she dabbed her tears with the handkerchief.
Only then did Emil smile faintly and speak softly. "Save the thanks for after midterms, Marie."
Meeting that smile, Marie finally understood the emotion blooming in her.
"......Okay."
It was like what she'd felt for Damian once. But different somehow. Not familial warmth, but something gentler.
The spark was just igniting, so she simply smiled brightly, mistaking it for gratitude.