Farewell from the Annex
The next morning, the rain had stopped, but the sky remained overcast.
A luxurious carriage adorned with intricate patterns waited in front of the annex.
It was far more opulent than the escort wagon we'd ridden in on the way here—the exclusive carriage of the Bellaph family.
"All your luggage has been loaded, miss."
Sebastian, still expressionless, opened the carriage door.
"Got it."
I gave a short reply and handed the bag I was carrying to the coachman.
"His Grace is occupied with work and unable to see you off."
"I know. Wasn't expecting him anyway."
He'd only make things more awkward if he showed up now.
What would we even say to each other at this point?
And finally...
"Sister."
I turned at the frail call from behind.
Charlotte stood at the annex door, having come to see me off with Marie.
Her eyes were puffy from crying yesterday as she gazed at me.
"Charlotte."
"..."
Charlotte pressed her lips tightly together, saying nothing.
It was clear she was holding back tears—if she spoke, they'd burst out.
Her tiny fists clenched, she tried so hard to put on a brave face. It only made her more pitiful.
"I'm heading out."
At my words, she nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Have a safe trip."
Her voice strained to sound composed.
I approached her, knelt down, and met her eyes at her level.
Like she'd been waiting for it, her small body slipped right into my arms.
"Eat your meals properly. Practice piano diligently too."
"Yes..."
"If anyone bullies you again, write me right away. I'll come chase 'em down and give 'em hell."
"Y-Yes... I will..."
Her little arms wrapped around my neck.
Charlotte's voice trembled.
"If you wanna cry, go ahead. It's that kind of day."
"I'm not crying. I'll get strong by the time you come back, sister."
Pulling away from my embrace, she forced her lips into a smile.
"I'll wait bravely."
"Good girl."
"So you... have to keep your promise too, sister."
Her gaze fell to the bracelet on my wrist.
"Obviously. No way I'm taking it off."
"Yes... Promise."
Charlotte cradled my wrist gently in both hands, cherishing it.
"Sister."
"Yeah."
"I... I can wait without crying. For real."
Her words said one thing, but her eyes were already brimming with tears.
She bit her lip desperately, holding back the droplets that seemed ready to spill at the slightest touch.
She looked so heartbreakingly vulnerable that I couldn't pull my hand away.
"Yeah, I know. Our Charlotte's a good girl."
I gently wiped her damp eyes with my free hand.
"So don't worry too much. I'll be back before you know it."
"......"
Instead of answering, Charlotte rubbed her face against my palm.
I patted her back one last time, stood, and boarded the carriage.
"Let's go."
-Rumble
With the crack of the coachman's whip, the carriage began to move smoothly.
Instead of leaning back on the plush seat, I pressed against the window to peer outside.
The wheels rolled, and Charlotte's figure receded into view.
She stood rooted in place, waving her hand until the carriage shrank to a dot and vanished around the bend.
I stuck my head out and waved back.
"I'll be back soon!"
I thought I saw Charlotte shouting something, but the carriage noise drowned it out.
And just like that, my short-yet-endless confinement came to an end.
///
The rumble of the carriage wheels faded into silence.
-Rumble, rumble.
Until that steady rhythm vanished completely from my ears and even the dust settled.
I stood frozen in place, like a nail driven into the ground.
The carriage dwindled to a speck at the edge of my vision, then disappeared around the forest corner.
"..."
Only then did I slowly lower the hand I'd been waving at empty air.
My fingertips felt numb.
The warmth from sister's grasp had vanished like a lie.
Under the gray sky, I was alone again.
"Hic... Miss Charlotte..."
Marie sniffled beside me.
"Don't be too sad. She said she'd be back soon. Let's go inside. You'll catch a cold."
Marie reached out to wrap her arm around my shoulders.
I didn't refuse her touch, just hung my head low.
"Marie."
"Yes, miss."
"Sister... she's gone."
"Yes... she has."
I rubbed away the tears pooling at my eyes with my sleeve.
I shouldn't cry. I promised to wait bravely.
But my vision kept blurring—I couldn't bear it.
"Miss?"
"I'm not cold."
I sniffled and lifted my head.
My eyes were red and swollen, but my gaze burned clear.
"And... I won't cry anymore."
"Pardon...?"
"She promised. She'd be back soon. So I have to keep my promise too."
I clenched my fists tight.
My nails dug into my palms, but it didn't hurt.
Sister's words from before she left echoed in my ears.
'I need to get strong to protect you.'
They were so sweet and warm, yet they pricked at my heart.
The one being protected.
A weak child who couldn't do anything without sister.
That's how sister saw me now.
But I can't stay like that.
'Sister's amazing.'
To stand by her side, I have to become someone worthy of her.
"I'm going back inside, Marie."
I turned toward the annex without looking back.
To the empty annex, still faintly holding sister's warmth.
A heavy silence flooded the living room.
I locked the door behind me as I entered.
-Click
The space that had been filled with sister's laughter just yesterday now felt vast and desolate.
I collapsed onto the sofa where she always sat.
She'd always hugged me here.
I ran my hand over the leather.
Then buried my face in the cushion and inhaled deeply.
Sister's scent lingered.
Sweet, cozy lilac.
"Haa... Sister..."
Filling my lungs with it made the pent-up longing threaten to burst.
Closing my eyes, memories of the past month flashed by like a lantern show.
'Charlotte. Look at this.'
The day we laughed at each other, covered in dirt after getting stuck in a dog hole.
'You're doing great. You've got talent.'
Her warm hands guiding my clumsy fingers over the piano keys.
'Tell me if anyone bullies you. I'll chew them out.'
The day she yelled at the maid for me.
And every night, her awkward lullaby as she held me tight to chase away nightmares.
"Haa..."
Each memory was so vivid.
It hurt more now than the days I'd sat here alone before.
The happiness we'd shared left scars as deep as the emptiness.
The faint scent dispersing in the air only worsened my thirst.
I stood and went to the piano room.
The spotless room we'd deep-cleaned together—not a speck of dust.
On top sat my old treasure box, filled with my most cherished things.
-Clink. With trembling hands, I opened it.
Pretty pebbles, dried four-leaf clovers, broken glass marbles...
And at the very bottom, amid the trinkets, my secret treasure.
Sister's thin silk nightgown, snuck away while she packed.
I pulled it out and buried my face deep, rubbing against it.
The cool, soft texture slipped between my fingers.
It still held her body heat, or so it seemed.
Lost in the sensation, I suddenly remembered the item in sister's bag.
The white flower trapped in crystal, sent by that woman.
And the tender, gentle expression on sister's face as she wrote her reply.
'A friend, she called her.'
A sharp pang twisted in my chest.
Jealousy surged. Resentment.
Sister should be mine alone. Kind only to me.
Happy only with me.
"I won't let anyone take you."
I murmured softly as I closed the treasure box.
The spot beside sister is mine.
I won't forgive anyone who eyes it.
"Wait for me, sister."
I hugged her nightgown tight.
As if embracing her—so precious, so tenderly.
"By the time you return... I'll be strong enough to protect you. No..."
I whispered into the fabric, my voice wet.
"Strong enough that you'll never have to leave again."
Next year.
Next year, I can enter the academy too.
One year left.
I have to change in that time.
No more crying coward—someone sister can rely on.
"I'll miss you."
The Bellaph estate without sister would be cold and lonely again, but it didn't matter.
If I endure this, she'll definitely come back.
She promised.
Until then, I'll be a very obedient, good girl.
"I love you, sister."
I confessed to the empty air, words that wouldn't reach her.