A Bold, No-Backing-Down Sister

"Uh, um. I think I misheard you. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Could you say that again?"

"I can say it as many times as you like. I love you as family, but beyond that, I love you romantically. And if possible, I want to marry you, so I finished all the preparations and came back."

For a moment, my mind went completely blank.

What had I just heard?

"That... first of all, we're siblings. Not even step-siblings, but half-siblings who share blood. There's no way marriage could be possible..."

"Don't worry. I've looked into everything. According to Chapter 2, Article 3 of the Swedish Marriage Code, half-siblings like us can legally marry as long as we get permission from the state government. I've already made all the preparations to get that permission."

My sister's answer was so specific that it was even more terrifying.

I had no idea where to even begin. As I just stared blankly at Aria, she giggled and spoke.

"Of course, your wishes matter most. For example, if you already have a partner, it would break my heart so much I might die, but I could understand and step back. Because what matters most to me is your happiness."

My sister's love was heavy. No, wait—had I ever done anything to deserve this kind of love from Aria? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't remember anything.

"So, leaving aside public opinion and ethical issues, I want to hear what's truly in your heart. Until then, I'll wait as your sister. Please don't make me wait too long?"

Smack. A soft sensation touched my cheek. Aria smiled playfully and rose from the sofa.

"Let's count that as a kiss between siblings. It was on the cheek, after all. Now then, Mother should be about done unpacking, so let's eat."

Aria walked away.

Before long, Linnea came out, and dinner began. I couldn't tell whether the food was going into my mouth or my nose as I mechanically shoved rice down my throat.

"Si-hyeon, are you feeling unwell? You don't look good..."

Linnea, sitting beside me, looked at me with concern. Still dazed, I did not answer right away, and something rough yet soft prodded the top of my foot.

I looked up to see Aria watching me with playful eyes.

When I glanced down, Aria's toes, wrapped in white stockings, were lightly pressing against the top of my foot as if stroking it.

The moment I realized that, I nearly cried out in surprise but barely held it in. Thanks to that stimulating shock therapy, my returning senses whipped my brain into producing an answer.

"Ah, no. It's just been so long since we've all eaten together like this, so I'm feeling sentimental. Oh, and if the seasoning is too strong or anything, please don't hesitate to tell me. I'd like to keep it in mind for next time I cook."

"It's already very delicious. I had no idea your cooking had improved this much. Don't you think so too, Aria?"

"Of course. The whole time I was in Sweden, I missed your cooking, and now that I'm eating it again, it's even better than I imagined."

Along with her answer, Aria's toes gently tickled the top of my foot. No, it was more like a puppy nestled in its owner's arms, rubbing itself against them affectionately.

"And the fact that you remembered the foods Mother and I like is touching too."

This time, as if delivering a deep kiss, Aria's small, soft big toe gently met the tip of my big toe.

Honestly, I don't remember much of what happened after that. All that remained was a faint memory of quickly finishing my meal and fleeing to my room.

* * *

"Hey, hey! Baek Si-hyeon!"

I snapped back to my senses as someone grabbed my shoulders and shook me. I turned to see Woo-jin looking at me with worried eyes.

"Huh? What? What'd you say?"

"Are you sick today? You couldn't focus at all during lecture."

"I'm not sick, just have some things on my mind. Anyway, what's up?"

"Not me. Over there. She asked me to call you."

I followed the direction he was pointing with his hand. Outside the lecture hall, a familiar face was looking this way.

"What? Why is she here?"

"Wow, you're popular, Baek Si-hyeon. It's not like it's anything new seeing girls who like you, but I never imagined you'd even reel in the famous Han Seo-yeon."

"It's not like that. But what do you mean, famous?"

"What, you don't know? She's super famous on SNS like Humanstar. Heir to Hancheon Group, pretty face, tall, great figure. Even though she's a freshman this year, they're already calling her the goddess of S University or whatever."

A goddess, huh.

It was a fitting nickname. Black hair with slightly waved ends, proportions reminiscent of a model, a face anyone would call pretty.

And then there was that good-natured smile of his, the kind that looked as though it could ruin someone at any moment.

"I'll go talk to her for a bit."

"Yeah. If it goes well, report back to your big bro here."

"Bullshit."

After that pointless exchange, I got up from my seat. As I approached Seo-yeon, she bowed her head politely and spoke.

"Si-hyeon, if it's not too much trouble, could we talk for a moment? Preferably somewhere quiet."

"Sure."

I answered shortly and led the way to a secluded spot. As we walked, I could feel other people glancing at us, their stares prickling my skin.

Well, of course. A guy who'd had nothing to do with girls suddenly walking around with a freshman they called a goddess—that was perfect gossip material.

I forced myself to ignore the stares and came around to the back of an empty lecture building. After checking that no one was around, I looked at Seo-yeon and asked.

"It's been a while. You doing well?"

"Yeah, thanks to someone. You must be enjoying your comfortable life? Now you don't even show your face."

The respect and courtesy she had shown her upperclassman vanished as if washed away, replaced by a venomous, hostile glare.

This was her true nature. She put on the act of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proper young lady, but in reality, she was like a fierce, wild lioness.

"Of course I'm doing fine. I took a leave of absence to enlist and just returned to school this semester."

"The military?! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Wait, you've been discharged?"

"What, you didn't know? I thought I told Mom."

"Mom must have deliberately not told me. I was busy preparing for college entrance exams... But that's one thing, and this is another! You could've at least posted something on Humanstar or whatever!"

That's right. This woman and I shared the same parents.

In other words, she was my biological younger sister.

Of course, neither of us had the slightest sense of being siblings. When I ended up living apart from her, she was three years old. It's safe to say she doesn't even have memories of us as siblings.

She went with Han Ji-young to her maternal family and was raised as an heir to Hancheon Group, one of the top conglomerates, while I stayed with our father.

I'd stayed because I thought someone needed to remain by Father's side, but at the time, I hadn't known he was that much of a piece of trash.

If I'd known about his mistress back then, maybe I'd be Han Si-hyeon now instead of Baek Si-hyeon.

"You know I don't really use SNS."

"Good for you. Then why didn't you show your face after getting discharged?"

"I had to prepare for returning to school, and I've been busy with this and that. But I've been keeping in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠touch with Mom regularly."

"...I should've asked Mom first."

Seo-yeon clutched her head and muttered. Of course, the reason she was asking why I hadn't shown my face was entirely because of our mother.

Since we both knew the divorce was entirely our father's fault, we were both cold toward him but extremely devoted to our mother.

So from her perspective, I hadn't shown my face or contacted her, so she must have thought I was making our mother worry.

"Anyway, how'd you know I was enrolled here?"

"Know? You think I enrolled here just to see you? It's a prestigious school, and the foundation that supports it is affiliated with us. That's why I enrolled. After I got in, people around me kept squealing about some handsome upperclassman, and when I heard his name, I recognized it and wondered if it was you."

"Ah, is that so. Makes sense."

With that, I got up from my seat. The misunderstanding about our mother was cleared up, so the conversation was over.

There was no need to ask how our mother was doing. I was already in regular contact with her, and I knew she was usually busy running one of the group's subsidiaries.

"I'll be going then."

"Go ahead. And don't act like you know me at school."

I was already planning to do that without being told. But I didn't bother saying that out loud.

Maybe I was imagining it, but she subtly disliked me. She never openly cursed at me or picked fights without reason, but every little thing she said and did had an edge to it.

Could it be that younger sisters have some innate instinct to loathe their older brothers? I had no memory of doing anything to earn her hatred, yet she acted like that, so I'd even started having thoughts like that.

That was why it was better to end conversations with her smoothly whenever possible.

"Ah, right. Hey, Baek Si-hyeon!"

"What now?"

I stopped walking and turned around.

"In two months, it's Mom's birthday, so the two of us decided to have a meal together. I thought I should at least let you know."

Even if she didn't see me as an older brother, she apparently still treated me as Han Ji-young's son. She must mean I should come if I'm coming.

"Where?"

"Hancheon Hotel."

"...I'll think about it."

Honestly, I didn't really want to go. Hancheon Hotel was a place where Hancheon Group executives frequently stopped by.

The chairman of Hancheon Group—my maternal grandfather—had always held some inexplicable interest in me.

The problem was that no matter how I looked at it, it wasn't the simple interest one might have in a grandchild. It wasn't exactly pleasant for me.

I had chosen to stay on my father's side, and even though my relationship with my biological mother hadn't been severed, I also had a stepmother.

So my maternal family was nothing more than a set of uncomfortable relatives I wanted to avoid. People might think having chaebol relatives would be great, but the responsibilities I would have to shoulder if I accepted that wealth would outweigh whatever happiness it brought.

So I had no desire to stick my face into the tiger's jaws or drink from a poisoned chalice.

"Ah, sure. Do whatever. If you're coming, contact Mom. I've said all I needed to say."

That was the end of our conversation. We'd already said our goodbyes earlier, so there was no need to exchange them again. We were strangers, after all.

* * *

"Welcome home, Brother."

When I got home, Aria greeted me politely.

"...I'm back, Aria."

I couldn't figure out how to act around her or what distance to keep, so the greeting didn't come out right away.

Aria approached me with a worried expression, took my hands, and asked.

"You don't look well. Is it because of what I said?"

"No, it's not that. I just have some things on my mind."

Actually, Aria was about half the reason, but I didn't want to say that in front of my precious sister.

The other half was, without a doubt, the matter of my mother's birthday. Should I go or not?

When my expression didn't immediately relax, Aria came closer and hugged me tightly.

"If you have any other worries, you can always lean on me. I might not be much help, but I can always listen."

"Thanks, Aria. But I'm really fine."

The matters concerning my biological mother and maternal family weren't things I could casually discuss with Aria.

And there was no need for me to bring up the subject of my relationship with Aria either.

Aria had said my happiness mattered most to her and that she would wait as my sister until she heard my honest feelings. In other words, I had some breathing room until I made up my mind for certain.

"Sorry. I made you worry. What did you do during the day, Aria?"

I forced my expression to relax and asked while stroking Aria's hair. Even though she probably didn't like her hair getting messed up, Aria blushed and smiled happily.

"I was looking into places where I can play the organ. I need to practice consistently, after all."

"The organ... yeah, there really aren't many places to play one. Did you find a good spot?"

A piano could somehow be kept at home, but a pipe organ was not something you could keep in an ordinary house.

These days, even churches seem to have pianos rather than organs, so would there even be a place to play?

"Yes! It's right here. It's not far, and thanks to my career in Sweden, they gladly gave me permission!"

Aria showed me a map on her smartphone. Her face and voice were brimming with excitement, probably from the joy of being able to play the organ again.

But my expression could only stiffen when I saw it.

Seohan University Chapel.

Seohan University wasn't founded by a religious foundation, but whether it was the foundation showing off its money or not, there was a rather splendid and massive chapel on the campus.

There was no separate theology department, so the chapel was only occasionally used in place of the main building's auditorium or opened for events. Most of the time it stood empty, which made it ideal for practicing the organ.

The reason I knew all this in such detail was...

Because this was the university I currently attended.