.
.
By the ti I finally managed to tear myself away from the window, my eyes were red and puffy.
The servants who had witnessed my breakdown looked at with a mixture of concern and apprehension, but I was too emotionally drained to care.
I walked briskly down the hallway, my face still stained with tears.
'Why did I suddenly break down like that...? It was like I lost control...'
But even with my tear-streaked face and the lingering ache in my chest, I couldn't shake the feeling that sothing had shifted within .
It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, my body feeling lighter than it had in years.
Thump... Thump...
With a newfound sense of clarity, I continued down the hallway towards Ariel's room.
'Co to think of it, this is the first ti I've visited her since we arrived at the mansion.'
Hesitation flickered within , but I pushed it aside and raised my hand to knock gently on the door.
-Knock... Knock...
The sound echoed softly in the quiet hallway.
After what felt like an eternity, the door slowly creaked open.
"Who is it...?"
A small, hesitant voice reached my ears.
It was Ariel, but her voice sounded weak, devoid of its usual energy.
'She must be this depressed because of ...'
Guilt gnawed at , but I pushed it down and forced a smile onto my face.
"Good morning."
A head of ssy red hair peeked out from behind the door.
Ariel's eyes widened in surprise as she saw standing there.
"Huh...?"
Her gaze darted around, as if she couldn't quite believe her eyes.
Then, her eyes widened, her lips parting in a silent gasp.
"B-Brother...?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mixture of disbelief and hope.
Her small fra trembled slightly, her eyes searching mine as if to confirm that I was real, that this wasn't just another cruel trick of her imagination.
"Is it... really you...?"
Her voice cracked with emotion.
Instead of answering, I reached out and gently poked her cheek with my index finger.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, little sis?"
Her skin was soft and warm beneath my fingertips.
A wave of warmth spread through , bringing a genuine smile to my lips.
Ariel stood there for a mont, frozen in place before her eyes welled up with tears.
She threw the door open and launched herself at .
"Brother...!"
"Whoa, careful there, you're going to knock over."
I chuckled, catching her in my arms.
She buried her face in my chest, her small hands clutching at my shirt as if her life depended on it.
Tears soaked through the fabric, each sob a painful reminder of the pain I had caused her.
I gently stroked her hair, my heart aching at the sound of her quiet sobs.
"Hicc... Brother... B-Brother..."
"I'm here, Ariel. I'm here."
"I-I ca to see you every day... I was so worried... but you wouldn't open the door... hic..."
It was clear that the past two weeks had taken their toll on her.
Dark circles ringed her eyes, a testant to the sleepless nights she must have endured.
I gently wiped away a stray tear, my smile tinged with sadness.
"I'm sorry, Ariel."
"I was so scared... hic... I thought... I thought you had left too..."
"......Ariel."
"Please, Brother... don't leave. I'll be good, I promise. I won't throw any more tantrums, and I'll be the best little sister you could ever ask for..."
Her words were like a punch to the gut.
She was terrified, clinging to as if I were her lifeline.
'I hurt you again...'
I thought I had learned from my past mistakes, but it seed I was destined to repeat them.
"I'm so sorry, Ariel."
"Brother..."
The words tumbled out of my mouth, heavy with regret.
Ariel continued to cry in my arms, her small body trembling against mine.
I held her close, whispering apologies and reassurances until her sobs subsided into quiet sniffles.
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