Side Story 6
One day before the final showdown with the Demon King, the Empire was engaged in a bloody battle with the Demons.
The special event held during the snowy season, the Empire's Founding Ceremony, was in full swing.
"I hated the Founding Ceremony so much when I was working on the paperwork, but now that it's open, I feel good."
Owen sighed, looking quite tired as he looked out the Imperial Plaza through the window of the Imperial Office.
"This year, the competition among the merchants for seats has been particularly fierce, so I've had a lot of headaches."
"You've worked very hard."
"But since you did the preliminary selection work, it was much easier for me. You don't have to overwork yourself."
I shook my head at Owen's words.
"It's been a while since I've been back from the front lines, so I should at least help my younger brother with his work. Haven't you always been overworked while I was away?"
"You don't have to worry about it, it's okay to keep pushing myself for hyung-nim."
"I can't help but worry."
Standing next to Owen, I could see the square lit up with dazzling lights.
The world of
However, although it may have been a coincidence, the Empire's founding day was around the same time as Christmas in reality, so I was able to enjoy the real Christmas atmosphere every year.
A lot of food with steam rising from the air.
People walking peacefully around the square with their families and looking around the shops.
Small performances held here and there.
I rubbed Owen's shoulder and smiled slightly.
"Still, today is a rare rest day. Ray has been waiting for today too, so let's enjoy it together."
"I guess it was just fate."
Owen glanced at the Durandal on my waist.
"If a telegram comes saying that the Demons have started attacking during this time......… I don't even want to imagine it."
"It seems that the Demons don't want to come out in this cold season. They say there are no signs of an attack, so I think we can let our guard down a little."
"Well, if they have a conscience, they should rest a little."
I don't know if the Demons really hate cold days, but there is no news of an attack during the winter when the Foundation Day is.
That's why the troops deployed on the front lines, including me, can finally return to their families.
I checked the time and grabbed my cloak.
"I think it's time to go out now. Ray will be waiting."
"Is it that time already?"
Today is a very special day.
It's not just because it's the founding of the nation.
It's a day when the three brothers can spend a cozy time together, something that only happens once or twice a year.
I'm always swinging my sword for the Empire on the battlefield.
Owen works every day in the palace to fill my empty spot.
The youngest brother, Ray, is still young and cannot be with his brothers, but he has been diligently attending the academy, waiting for a special day like today.
As we walked down to the imperial entrance, Ray von Walden, who was chatting with the knights, ran up to us like an excited puppy.
"Karis hyung-nim! Owen hyung-nim! I've been waiting for you! Why are you so late!"
"Haha, there are more documents to deal with than I thought. I'm a little late, sorry."
I laughed while stroking Ray's head as he hugged me tightly.
It's been a long time since I felt the warmth of my youngest brother.
I know how lonely Ray must feel, so I want to spend more time with him, but the demons on the other side of the territory seem to have no idea how I feel.
That's why I try to spend as much time with my brothers as possible on free days like today.
Owen adjusted his office glasses and pointed out Ray's clothes.
"What are you doing in this cold weather without even a proper coat on? Don't you know that if you catch a cold, you'll be in big trouble?"
"I don't like wearing a cloak because it makes my neck tight...."
"Just wear it appropriately. Come here."
"Heh."
Ray smiled bashfully as Owen lowered his waist and straightened his cloak.
I felt a warm feeling in my heart for some reason as I looked at his smile.
'It's strange, when I'm with my brothers, I feel like I've entered a different world.'
The war is ongoing, and today, the Demon King's army could attack our troops at any time.
As the crown prince and commander of the empire, I always have to be alert, but when I'm with my brothers, I can't help but relax.
"Hyung-nim! Hyung-nim!"
"Hmm?"
"I really want to eat the cheese platter today!"
As we passed through the gate and headed toward the noisy square, Ray grabbed my sleeve and his eyes sparkled.
"I've been wanting to eat it since last week, but Alfred told me it's bad for my health!"
"Of course he should. That platter has too much cheese in it."
"But....... I don't eat it every time, so wouldn't it be okay once?"
"No."
Owen shook his head and said firmly.
I laughed loudly at Ray, who was slightly pouting, as if he was pouting.
"Well, wouldn't it be okay for today?"
"H-hyung-nim? That food really doesn't taste good to Ray. Until recently, there were many complaints that the cheese platter should be treated as bad food—."
"Oh yeah! Yes! Yess ... Like Ray said, we don't eat it every time, and today is a special day. I think Ray has been holding back for a long time, so I think it'll be okay to do it once."
"Look, Owen! Karis hyung-nim said it was okay!"
"...If you're like that, then maybe one day."
Owen reluctantly agreed, and Ray hugged my waist tightly from behind, expressing joy with his whole body.
"You're the best, after all!"
A huge smile that's clearly visible.
Soft cheeks that flushed slightly in the cold winter weather.
A wonderful personality that grew brightly despite spending a lot of time alone without us.
If I could just keep seeing that smile, I could buy you a cheese platter anytime.
If I could just keep that smile, I could go out to the battlefield and cut down the demons as many times as I wanted.
If I could just see that smile......….
***
"Hmm....."
The alarm rang, telling me to start a new day.
I instinctively got up and fumbled for my phone.
Then I blinked my still sleepy eyes and came to my senses.
'Huh?'
I felt my eyes were moist for some reason.
The moment I wiped away my tears with one hand, I vividly remembered the dream I had just had.
The National Foundation Festival.
A time when I had spent a peaceful time with Owen and Ray for the first time in a long time.
It was definitely a dream, but what happened that day was not a dream.
That day actually happened when I had just entered
Who would have thought that this scene would come out naturally in a dream......
I raised my head and looked out the window at the sky.
The clear sky without a single cloud was similar to the sky I had seen back then.
I wonder if I missed my youngest sibling whom I can no longer see.
Ray's smiling face from my dream comes to mind very clearly.
"..."
I quietly got up from my bed and left my room.
I carefully closed the door so as not to wake Yu Min-ha, who was still asleep, and went down to the empty living room.
The time was 6 AM.
There was still some time left until the fan signing event at 7 PM, so the other members were all in a deep sleep.
Sitting on the empty living room sofa, I pressed Owen's contact number on my phone as if possessed by something.
It was 6 AM now.
For a normal person, it would be the same time as the other members, but.......
I had a feeling that Owen would answer my call.
As expected.
After a few ringtones, Owen answered the phone in a very cheerful voice.
—Hyung-nim! Why are you calling me out of the blue not sleeping? What's wrong?
"You're still awake, aren't you? Nothing much is going on......."
—Hahaha, did you suddenly think of me?
"...That's right."
When I admitted it readily, Owen was slightly surprised, as if he hadn't expected it.
—I didn't know you'd answer right away like that. I thought you'd just ignore me a few times like you usually do.
"When did I ignore you?"
—Hyung-nim sometimes does that without you even knowing.
I laughed at Owen's words, a little dumbfounded.
"I had a feeling. If it were you, you'd pick up the phone right now."
—Are you and I mentally connected?
".......I had a dream. About the time I spent with you and Ray."
-Ah...….
We both let out a brief moment of silence.
Now we live in the real world, but everything that happened on the continent of Arcadia will live forever in our memories.
The same goes for our youngest brother who is no longer in this world.
—You don't have to worry too much, hyung-nim.
"..."
—Ray must be living happily somewhere in the other world. The peace and happiness that he couldn't enjoy for a long time in his previous life. I'm sure he's living an ordinary life just like us somewhere.
I heard Owen laughing with a pleasant voice on the other end of the phone.
A pleasant sound that strangely brought peace to my heart.
—So we should also work hard to live Ray's share. I believe that Ray is living a new life while thinking of us.
***
After finishing the call with Owen early in the morning, a day that was no different from any other day began.
I got my makeup done and put on my clothes for the special fan signing event scheduled for the afternoon.
We filmed the footage that will be included in the recent video that will be uploaded to Seleste's official YouTube channel with the members.
Time passed quickly and the fan signing event in Sangam-dong was just around the corner.
"Hello, hello! Oh, this is the first time I've seen a face chain like this? It's cool!"
Having long since moved away from the rookie idol title, we skillfully communicated with the fans and laughed happily.
When I think back to the fan signing event we had during
Now that we're all veterans, we know how to have the best time with the Seleves in just 1-2 minutes.
"Hey, do you remember this? We got a bubble maker similar to this one at a fan signing before?"
"Yeah. It brings back memories."
"Didn't you shoot me in the face like this back then?"
Kang Si-yoon, who received a bubble maker as a gift from a Seleve, asked a question and sprayed bubbles on my face.
I shook my head at the unexpected fragrant attack and prepared to retaliate as usual.
—Pom!
"Ouch! What the heck, where did you get the hammer again!"
"The person who gave you the bubble maker gave it to me. As if she had foreseen this situation."
"Ah! Aah! My head! My head hurts!"
At this fan signing event, my turn was the last.
When the members who were ahead of me took their turn, I naturally had some free time, so I used that moment wisely and posed several times while looking at the Seleves holding cameras.
In particular, I could see the fans who had won the last seat and were desperately holding their magpie legs in the distance.
I tried my best to raise my head and make eye contact with them.
Among them, the Seleve at the very end caught my eye.
Maybe because he was shorter than the others, I could sometimes see him jumping up and down.
I could really see him taking pictures with his whole body showing off his passion.
'You're a sight to behold, even from a distance.'
This special fan signing event had 100 people, and the fan I saw was really the 100th.
The other Seleves all went back to their seats, and the last fan to talk to the members finally sat down in front of me.
"Hello."
"Hello!"
I smiled softly and looked at the Seleve's face.
His face blushed slightly, and I could see both joy and nervousness.
"Is this your first fan signing event?"
"How did you know? I really didn't know I'd win this time, but I came here so nervous."
"I could see you were a little nervous. In fact, I was watching you take pictures behind me."
"You were watching all that...."
The Seleve looked very embarrassed and avoided eye contact, but soon smiled brightly.
"I've been a huge supporter of Karis since the days of IPS, and I'm so happy that I can finally see you up close! Oh, and this is a letter and perfume, I don't know if it'll suit your taste, but...."
"Thank you. I don't really care about perfume scents, so it's okay. I'll definitely read the letter when I get back to the dorm."
"Really? Oh, thank goodness."
Seleve sighed in relief, then continued speaking a little faster than before, perhaps because the tension had eased a little.
"I was really thinking a lot about what Karis would like the most, and then I remembered that you were collecting perfumes from the messages, so I bought it as perfume."
"I think I mentioned that a long time ago, how did you remember it?"
"I see Karis's perfume every day! Every time I come, I feel like all the fatigue from the day is gone, so I love it."
"Then I should try to send it more often."
"Really? Can you send it more often than this?"
Seleve opened his eyes wide.
"It might be hard to do it once a day, but I'll definitely send it when I have time. Should we make a promise? You'll always reply when I send you a perfume every day."
"Yeah! I'll do it!"
When I held out my little finger, Seleve hooked his little finger with me, looking very excited.
The more I looked at Seleve's face, the more I felt a sense of longing.
Where did it come from? I've met countless Seleves in the past, but this is the first time I've felt this wayㅡ.
'Ah.'
I met Seleve's eyes, smiling brightly and happily, and found the reason.
Those eyes, that expression didn't seem unfamiliar.
Rather, it felt familiar.
Yes, I saw that expression in my dream today.
My younger sibling who laughed like that whenever I said something.
My younger sibling who laughed the brightest and brightest in the world.
He smiled brightly at me in my dream.
"I'm going to keep replying unconditionally, so Karis, you have to read my messages, okay?"
"...... I promise."
I put some strength into my little finger.
Is it because I remember the promise I couldn't keep with my brother in that world?
My throat feels a little choked up.
—So we too, just live hard for Ray's share. I believe Ray is living a new life while thinking of us.
It's just like Owen said.
I believe Ray will be smiling like this somewhere, and I smiled brightly in response to Seleve's smile.
—