The Warm Table
Zeroa bit his lip and glanced around the dinner table, his voice soft and hesitant as he spoke. "Um... Mom? Can I... bring a friend home tomorrow?"
"Rai? Is Rai coming tomorrow?"
"Rai-sensei isn't my friend."
"Then Aslan?"
"No... not that person."
Kara's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in, but Zeroa carefully dodged the question.
Zeroa's fidgeting, bashful gaze and restless energy didn't escape Kara's notice. Her eyes narrowed.
'A girl, huh.'
Zeroa had already reached that age. 'No, actually, he was late.'
For two years at the academy, what exactly had he been doing? While everyone else was dating, exchanging sweets, and living happily, Zeroa returned home every single day drenched in sweat.
His hard work was admirable, but he needed a bit of breathing room in life.
Kara had always admired how Zeroa somehow managed to bring home plenty of Seria's Day gifts without any hint of romance.
"Mom, then we'll make something delicious tomorrow?"
"No, no, it's fine. I'll just drop by for a bit. I have to work, and Kara won't be here. Don't worry."
Zeroa quickly refused his mother's suggestion, his nerves clearly showing.
His father noticed the anxiety and rubbed the tip of his nose with his fingers, smiling warmly.
"Our son has already reached that age."
Zeroa shook his head, sensing his father was thinking something normal wouldn't work.
"No, Dad, it's not what you're imagining."
"What do you think I'm imagining? Tell me."
"Yeah, what did you imagine, bro?"
With Kara joining in to tease him, Zeroa clamped his mouth shut and lowered his head.
His father and Kara exchanged knowing glances and burst out laughing.
"Hah... You're young, so you understand... Well... first, use protection..."
"Kara is here too! What are you saying!"
"I know everything, bro."
Zeroa shouted, but Kara just smiled nonchalantly and started tearing into her strawberry bread.
Tomorrow, the person Zeroa was bringing home was probably his girlfriend—the little green-haired cutie he had hugged tight the moment he got out of prison after clearing his name.
The academy only lets people in after adulthood, but Kara looked at the girl who seemed younger than her and worried about her brother's taste.
She seemed pure, and she should match innocent Zeroa well.
But what about a family without parents? 'I have to see this for myself.'
Kara had no intention of interfering.
Zeroa was a guy, and a young couple alone in a room... well, there was only one thing that would happen.
She'd just tease him a little, set the mood, and then slip away. In short, her role as the perfect little sister to make sure her brother succeeded.
'Leave it to me, bro.'
Zeroa's gaze was heavy with the burden of Kara's sparkling, expectant stare.
***
"Ah... here we are."
Zeroa pointed at the front door, looking embarrassed.
Zeroa had never seen Aria's house before, but the Duke of the Bernies Empire wasn't the type to live in a rundown place like this.
Therla, fully armored in her knight's gear, scanned the neighborhood with an unimpressed expression.
She wasn't looking down on Zeroa's living standards.
Streets like this were dangerous for a high-ranking noble to walk around unprotected.
Aria had never been allowed to leave the house until she joined the Ketel Order. This was her second time on the streets.
Zeroa studied Aria's face, but she looked completely unfazed.
"This place looks warm, just like you said, Zeroa-kun."
"Ahaha... I'm glad you like it."
Zeroa accepted her praise awkwardly and opened the front door.
He had cleaned the house before leaving that morning, but he wasn't sure if it would satisfy Aria.
He had gone all out cleaning, so if Aria even frowned and called it dirty, it would be terrible.
Aria stepped inside Zeroa's home and gave a small start at the low ceiling, but she calmly looked around.
The kitchen was divided by screens so she could see inside, and the living room had a dining table that clearly belonged to the family.
Actually, Aria couldn't tell if it was a living room at all. She just figured it was because of the worn table and household items surrounding it.
Therla checked the squeaky floorboards and stayed perfectly still to avoid making a sound.
Armor-clad from head to toe, she worried the floor might collapse under her weight.
Aria, who had only ever lived in pristine spaces with no dust, couldn't tear her eyes away from the lived-in living room.
It was narrow and cramped, but it oozed warmth.
Small chips on the table and a half-used basket on the surface looked like props from a storybook—Zeroa's family moving around as if in a dream.
"It's... a bit shabby, isn't it?"
"From my point of view, it might look that way... but it's a very warm space. I like it."
Zeroa didn't lie to please her.
She had only lived in luxurious environments, so the house felt strange, but she had expressed how much she liked it.
Seeing her faint smile confirmed there was no falsehood in her words, Zeroa rubbed the back of his head, feeling embarrassed.
"Where is Zeroa-kun's room?"
"Ah, this way."
Therla stood quietly in the corner of the living room and didn't move.
The basic rule of escorting was to remain unseen. Therla had become a silent observer, as if she had always been there.
If Zeroa tried anything strange with the young lady in the room, she would execute him on the spot. But until then, she would simply watch the budding romance.
'I forgive even the touching, Zeroa.'
Anything more, and she wouldn't forgive, but she secretly prayed for some progress tonight—a romance novel fanatic.
"This is where Zeroa-kun sleeps."
As Aria peeked into the tiny room, Zeroa reacted to the word "sleeps" and tensed up, swallowing hard.
Why did the bed he saw every day feel so foreign today?
"Are you okay? If I'm intruding and making it uncomfortable..."
"No, no. I'm really glad Aria-noona is here. It's just... I've never shown my room to anyone but family before..."
"I see."
Aria lowered her head slightly and looked away, the awkward silence filling the room.
They avoided each other's eyes and stared at other places.
Zeroa was about to speak when the door, which he had left slightly ajar, burst open.
"Oppa? Are you home?"
Kara walked in with a completely innocent, clueless expression, completely unaware of anything.
"K-Kara? Why... why are you home? Hyur-shi told me to leave work early..."
"Eh? Hyur-shi said to come home early today."
Kara looked up at her brother with sparkling eyes and smiled brightly, greeting Aria.
"Hello, I'm Kara Bandes, Zeroa's younger sister. Nice to meet you... um..."
Kara's relaxed expression froze the moment she saw Aria's face.
"Yes, hello. I'm Aria Shane Briqueville. I attend the academy with Zeroa-kun."
Beauty. Nobility. Grace. Calm. Elegance. Refinement. Dignity. Class. Holiness. Mystery.
Aria contained all of that, and Kara's mouth fell open.
Alternating her gaze between Zeroa and Aria with her mouth moving, Kara was clearly flustered. She gestured for Zeroa to come outside, then left.
Zeroa apologized to Aria and hurried to catch up to the still-dazed Kara.
"K-Kara?"
"Hypnosis?"
"Eh?"
"Mind control?"
"... ... What are you talking about?"
"Blackmail!?"
Seeing Zeroa's confused face, Kara leaned in to check on Aria in the room.
Aria met her eyes, lowered her head slightly, and greeted her again.
Kara hadn't expected a girl to feel this way, but the sight of Aria lowering her head and closing her eyes was too beautiful to bear.
Just as Kara staggered, grabbing her head, Zeroa reached out to steady her.
Kara slammed into the wall and glared at him.
"Oppa, tell me straight! What did you use to blackmail her? That's a crime! I don't want to believe my brother is that kind of person."
"What are you saying...?"
"What do you mean?! Why would such a pretty sister date my brother?!?!"
Kara shouted in frustration, but when Zeroa admitted it, he turned away, feeling embarrassed.
"Ahaha, Aria-noona and, um, ahahaha... dating... what nonsense... hahaha, kids these days."
Zeroa waved his hands in the air, embarrassed, and let out a meaningless laugh.
Kara was angry at her brother's reaction.
Though neither of them knew, Therla had watched Aria lower her head in embarrassment.
'Thank you for providing daily bread today.'
Therla prayed reverently to the gods and stared at Aria intently, wanting to remember it forever.
While she did, Kara finished her mental calculations.
Universe's strongest pretty sister -> dating brother? -> I can see her often!
But according to Kara's logic, even if the sky fell, that middle step could never happen.
So Kara calculated that this was the only chance she would get to see her now, and she rushed over to Aria, ready to enjoy the moment.
"Hello! Noona is so pretty!"
"Kara is pretty too."
"Call me by name, please. Nee— name!"
Kara looked up at her with big eyes, and the cute Aria smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yes, Kara is pretty too."
When she smiled, Kara felt the shabby room transform into a garden full of flowers. She hugged Aria tightly, overjoyed.
"Noona, I love it! Come over often. There's strawberry bread—do you like it?"
"Ah... I like... I like it..."
Aria wasn't used to skinship, but when the short Kara looked up and smiled, she couldn't help stroking her hair.
'Thank you, Lord. I'll make the offering tomorrow.'
Therla thanked the gods again, and Zeroa felt a strange jealousy toward his little sister for a moment.
He never imagined Zeroa could meet someone like Aria so easily.
Still, watching Kara chatter happily in Aria's arms was heartwarming.
It would be nice to see this every day...
Zeroa shook his head in embarrassment at the thought.
Kara noticed Therla later and was startled, but her friendly nature made them bond instantly.
It was strange for Aria, who had heard Zeroa say Therla was very reserved.
While Kara held out the strawberry bread and Therla stared blankly, the front door burst open.
"Son, is your friend here?"
"Ah... um, Mom...?"
Aria smiled softly when she heard "Mom" after so long—Zeroa was so cute.
Zeroa panicked, but before he could do anything, his mother walked in carrying a mountain of groceries and set them on the table.
"Mom, work...?"
"Oh, my, Zeroa brought a friend over, so we should feed him something tasty. I told the store manager I'd finish early. I've known the store manager for fifteen years—how could I refuse such a small favor? There's no better time than now to rest."
Motherly warmth and casual attitude, she neatly arranged the table and turned to greet Therla with a bright smile.
"Ah! Um... your friend... I heard... a knight, a knight-sama?"
"No... Mom... not that...!"
Zeroa frantically waved his hands to calm his mother, whose face had turned pale.
"Oh my, I wasn't the one... Oh dear, I made a mistake. You must be the escort. The house is so small, and such an important person came..."
Mother turned her head nervously and froze upon seeing Aria.
"... ..."
Kara, thinking her mother's reaction was normal, nodded.
"It is an honor to welcome a noble in such a humble place."
Mother dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor.
Aria panicked, unsure what to do.
"Mom, Mom, Aria will feel bad..."
Kara, watching both her panicking brother and embarrassed sister, laughed loudly.
Despite Zeroa's protests, the one who finally helped her mother up was Aria's simple words.
"Mother, please stand up."
Many more words followed, but all Mother heard was "Mother."
She stared at Aria's mouth, mouth agape, and looked between Zeroa and Aria.
"... ..."
"No, get up, Mom."
After the commotion, Mother stood up and quickly became close with Aria, chatting happily.
Aria admired how naturally Zeroa's mother treated her, and she thought Kara's sociability must come from her.
Zeroa had later changed "Mom" to "Mother," but Aria had already heard everything and found it amusing.
In the end, Aria spent time with Zeroa's family, eating the special stew she had already tried.
The old chairs creaked, and the stew was still too salty, but Aria found it much tastier than eating on a bench.