My na is Arusha Briar-Rose Remus, the second and the youngest daughter of Marquis Remus.
And I...am an unwanted child.
I’ve always had this feeling ever since I was young.
My parents have always been the kind of ‘absent’ parents for .
For one, noble children are usually taken care by their maids or servants, I must agree with that. However, the degree of care and attention my parents showed to differed with what they showed towards my sister.
“Mother, Father, look at what I drew!” The young excitedly showed off my drawing of my family to my parents.
“Prim, your recital is coming soon, right? How’s your practice going?”
Yet, my parents didn’t even spare a single glance at as they continued to shower Prim with their attention.
“Mother, Father, look...”
“Briar, we are talking with your sister right now. Go back to your room with Nanny.”
“...”
My sister, Aiglentine Primrose Remus, has always been the ‘perfect daughter’ in my parents’ eyes. She is the apple of their eyes.
Truthfully speaking, as long as she is there, my parents don’t need anyone else. My existence was never needed.
If that is really the case, then for what reason did I co to this world for? Why did my parents give birth to ?
And at so point in my life, I ca to learn that my birth was an ‘accident’. Because they never needed another child to begin with.
When I was still a child, I was a little bit naughty at so point and that earned my parents’ attention, in a negative way. But being just a small child, I was happy that my parents finally looked my way, so I continued my antics, not knowing that would only fuel my parents’ hatred towards .
“Why must you always give us troubles?”
“Why can’t you be like your sister?”
Because I am not her, Mother, Father.
Because you never gave the attention and care like what you did to my sister.
So, I beca like this.
Not like I never tried anyway.
Even when I tried my best to beco an obedient child and learned a lot just like my sister, I knew that I wasn’t fit for that. I couldn’t sohow produce the results like my sister’s. I failed to live up to their expectations. And each ti, I would hear the words of comparison. Be it from my parents, the servants, or my tutors.
“Her older sister is such an excellent example, and yet...”
“They are full-blooded sisters, right? How can they be so different...”
“Can’t you learn more from your sister?”
They thought I wouldn’t understand or rember their words as I was still a child, but they were wrong. As a child, I clearly understood what they ant and their words still remained with up until now.
At so point, my parents were so frustrated with that they yelled until I cried my eyes out.
“Why couldn’t you understand sothing as simple as this?!”
“Stop causing us troubles! Why wouldn’t you understand?!”
“This is how you should do this! It’s this simple, can’t you understand?!”
“You’re grounded. Reflect your mistakes here.”
They sotis would ground in my room and no matter how I bawled and banged on the door, nobody dared to open it.
If Nanny or my servants tried to beg my parents to not do this to , they would answer with, “If we don’t do this, that child won’t understand.”
There was one occasion where I tried to reach out to my one and only sister. It was when my frustrated parents tried to discipline and scold . Tears filled my face as I looked at my sister who was coincidentally so close to us. Our eyes t, and for so reason, I extended my hand to grab hers with a pleading look.
But my sister rejected my pleading and shook my hand off before she turned her face away from .
To my sister, my existence was also not needed. Yes, my sister often acted like I never existed at all.
At another point, I was tired of everything. I guess I gave up any tiny hope I had towards my family at all. Sure, in public, they tried so hard to keep up the pretense of a very good and harmonious family with . But if they saw my lacking conduct while in public, they would scold senseless when we returned ho.
A miserable child like , who liked causing ruckus just to gain so attention, also didn’t have any friend at all, to make it worse.
But that changed when I stood up for the bullied Valerie and Dmitria one day.
“Look at you two, you two are twins, but why are you so different? You must be adopted!”
“They must be lying about the fact that they’re twins!”
“Right, right! They were abandoned as babies then the Earl took them!”
The children shouted as they pointed at Dmitria and Valerie.
Back then, Valerie was crying as Dmitria protected her behind her back. Yes, Valerie was not as calm as she was right now. She was a crybaby.
“Sobs...sobs...I’m not...We’re not adopted...We’re not abandoned children...”
“Shut up, shut up! We are 100% twins!” Dmitria’s eyes were also red at that ti as she was too upset.
But the other children liked their reaction all the more and continued to laugh at them. At that ti, my mood was also bad and I wanted to pick a fight with soone. Therefore, I picked up so small rocks nearby and threw it at the children who bullied Valerie and Dmitria.
“Co at if you guys want to pick a fight!” I said as I stood between Dmitria and the other children.
“Uwaa, it’s Briar, the problem child!”
“Run, or she will beat you up!”
The other children dispersed, as expected.
“Now, there, they’re all gone. Tell if they pick up so fights with you guys again, I’ll help,” I said as I extended my hand towards the twins.
From that day onward, we beca inseparable friends.
At first, I was surprised to learn that they wanted to beco my friends and even joined in causing so ruckuses.
I thought that perhaps we had similar ho situation, but I was proven wrong when I t their mother.
When I looked at their mother who scolded them yet still had so loving tone and gaze, I was made to realize that I didn’t have that kind of loving parent once again.
I was sad when I stood alone, looking at Valerie and Dmitria who were lectured by their loving mother. Perhaps my gaze at that ti was one of envy.
The closer I was with the twins, the more agonized I was—even when I had convinced myself that I’d give up all hopes on my parents. I even had one of my biggest breakdown in front of the twins.
“No matter what I do, everything is still not enough in Mother and Father’s eyes...! My sister doesn’t even think I exist!”
I bawled my eyes out when I was playing with Dmitria and Valerie one day. My envy towards them was so strong at that ti, fueled by a recent trouble that got grounded and punished by my parents just before I ca to play with them.
Valerie and Dmitria’s hands as they patted my back at that ti were very warm.
Several thoughts passed by my mind at that ti.
It’s okay. It’s okay even if my family don’t care about .
I have Valerie and Dmitria. Even Ristea-san, their mother, is kind to .
So, it’s going to be fine...Right?
And yet...why do I still feel sad whenever I face my own family?
Why do I still feel empty inside?
To fill in the emptiness in my heart, I caused ruckuses and troubles at school. Since it was fun and perhaps it was also because people would finally look at . If I didn’t do that, I was afraid nobody would know I existed at all.
When the school prince, Erneste, extended his hand with kind smile to , I turned into his fan imdiately. As there was soone who finally looked at kindly. And yet, it turned out to be his ‘mask’ and I was only deceived. I only ca to learn that later on, but I was glad that things turned out the way they were.
For I finally t with Lyra-aneki, the person who told that I was a ‘good girl’, despite all the troubles I brought her and the fact that she scolded . After following her for quite so ti, she was still kind to , which made adore her all the more.
Yes, she was like an ideal elder sister figure to . Despite the fact that she was younger than ...
So, I really, really wanted to spend more ti with her...as well as with Dmitria, Valerie, and all the other friends I gained thanks to Lyra-aneki...
But...
Due to all the troubles I caused, especially the one ti where my parents were called to the school, I was grounded and wasn’t allowed to go to the Flugel’s place.
Even though they were quite happy as I got a link with a duke’s daughter and other important children...Well, I was upset at them for wanting to use my ‘connection’. I beca friends with Lyra-aneki and the others not because of their positions, after all.
And what’s with their attitude, finally caring about in a positive way once I gain connection? But then again, they want to use my ‘connection’ and introduce them to Prim, so Prim can...
In other words, they wanted to beco a ‘bridge’.
A bridge they could burn once I have fulfilled my use.
With that reason, I didn’t try to tell my parents that Lyra-aneki and the others with higher social position would also co.
Because I knew, they would sohow try to have Prim co with and I...didn’t want to destroy their ti with awkwardness for having Prim, who’d try to curry favor with them.
But honestly, I also would like to co...
I felt very frustrated.
And finally, the day where my friends would be playing in the Flugel’s house finally arrived.
I guess they would be playing by this ti, while I was grounded in my ho, having to learn things that I hated.
Late in the afternoon, however, I heard so ruckus.
So I imdiately went down the stairs and peeked into what was happening at the front door.
I widened my eyes in surprise once I realized what was going on.
“I’d like to fetch Briar-Rose to the Flugel’s house!”
That familiar voice I missed. Lyra-aneki actually ca here for !
Tears filled my eyes when I realized that she was going all the way here just for ...
“Lyra-san, how to say it...Briar is currently grounded as she has to reflect on what troubles she had done. But if you insist, Prim—”
“I heard that you brought her ho this holiday and forced her to get tutored in many fields. It’s almost one month already, don’t you think it’s enough? She also needs so rest and fun,” Lyra-aneki argued for my sake.
“Well, compared to Prim, Briar...”
“They are two different individuals, albeit being blood sisters. Why compare them all the ti?”
My face was hot. It was no good.
Lyra-aneki, don’t make cry... Why would you go this far for ...?
“Listen. You can’t neglect your child just because that child doesn’t turn out the way you want them to be. Briar is also your child no matter what. She has her own good points. Can’t you stop bringing Prim up and let Briar be happy and have so fun with us?”
You can’t neglect your child just because that child doesn’t turn out the way you want them to be...
Briar is also your child no matter what...
She has her own good points...
Aneki...why were you able to say the words I wanted to hear the most?
Why...?
I wouldn’t be able to hold back my tears anymore...
“Of course we’ll let her. We just want Briar to bring Prim over with her so—”
“Enough of this nonsense,” a familiar yet unfamiliar voice resounded. That sounded like Carbuncle’s voice, but it was kinda different...?
“W-w-wha, the wyvern, the wyvern talked...?!” Mother’s shriek could be heard.
“I am a dragon, you insolent!” Finally, Carbuncle’s familiar voice could be heard.
She was also coming...?!
“What are you doing...?!”
A loud voice of the front door being opened could be heard. I was surprised to hear that and didn’t have ti to process what was going on when suddenly, Carbuncle grabbed my hand and dragged out.
“Fetching her. The invitation is only valid for our comrades, sorry. It’s our internal bonding. No outsiders allowed,” Carbuncle said as we were both finally outside.
When I was next to Lyra-aneki, Dmitria, and Valerie, Carbuncle let go off my hand and stord to the front garden.
Then, the unbelievable happened. She transford into a dragon...!
It was my first ti seeing her in her dragon form, so my mind blanked a bit.
“Well then, we’ll be off,” Dmitria said as she grabbed my hand.
“Don’t worry, she can use our stuff, or you can send her luggage afterward,” Valerie calmly said.
“I can guarantee that she won’t be any problem to us. Goodbye,” Lyra-aneki said as she grabbed my other hand.
Everything felt so unreal, so I ended up being dragged by Lyra-aneki and Dmitria to sit on Carbuncle’s dragon back.
Dmitria was sitting right in front, Lyra-aneki was behind her as she positioned herself so she could look at . anwhile, I sat behind Lyra-aneki while facing her, and Valerie was behind .
“We’ll definitely return your daughter safe and sound, without missing anything,” Carbuncle said in her draconic voice as we flew up to the sky.
“Hehe, our mbers are finally complete with this! I’m so happy that we’re not missing anyone, it would be too bad~,” Lyra-aneki cheerfully said.
It would be too bad if I were not there? Even if the other friends are there? I an, there are many friends over there, so missing one shouldn’t matter...or should it?
I...To them, I matter?
My existence matters...!
“Eh...Briar, what’s wrong? You don’t look happy...did we wrong you by fetching you?” Lyra-aneki tilted her head in front of .
Her words coupled with the cool breeze cooled my head down and I finally registered the events happening.
“No...you didn’t...I was just...too stunned...and...”
Because everything finally registered in my head, tears stread down my face.
Aaah, this is so embarrassing! To cry in front of Lyra-aneki...
I imdiately used my arm to cover my face.
“Eh, Briar, what’s the matter? Are you okay?” Lyra-aneki sounded a bit panicked.
“There, there,” Valerie softly caressed my back.
“Eh, what’s happening?” Dmitria’s concerned voice resounded.
“Oy, are you crying there, Briar? How dare you cry while riding on my majestic back?! You should be smiling widely and thank for this rare opportunity!” Carbuncle protested.
“N-no, that’s not it...I’m just...too happy...,” I tried to utter my words as I snorted.
To have friends that are willing to go this far for ...
To have friends who are willing to stand up for , even though that ans facing against my own parents...
To have friends who don’t just abandon in that house while they are having fun...
To finally be noticed...
To matter for soone...
So what if my family don’t care about ?
I may not be blessed with my family, but I’m greatly blessed with my friends.
I have my childhood best friends—the miracle twins--, a loving elderly sister figure—Lyra-aneki--, and my other unique friends.
Perhaps I could finally get rid of this emptiness in my heart and laugh happily with my friends from now on.
But for now...
I’m sorry, but please let cry for a bit more...!
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