Deciding maybe I should apologize to Alf, I opened the door. Only to find that he was sitting next to the door, leaning on the wall with his eyes closed. 

Seeing me he suddenly got up and said, “A-Ah Master! Sorry about that.. Master, I-”

“I’m sorry Alf.” - “Master.. Why would y-you be apologizing..?”

“It’s just that.. I don’t know.. I feel like no one really knows me..”

“Master please don’t. It was my fault in not considering the fact that you might think of me as a friend.. Please forgive me..” He bowed. “This isn’t your fault really. It’s mine. I didn’t think of who I’m supposed to be.. It all feels so strange.. Being treated so specially..”

“Master, I have a solution. Would you like to hear it?” - “Sure.”

“How about we call each other friends when no one else is there?” He put his hand out signalling to shake his hands. Deciding there isn’t much else to do, I shook his hands.

“But you will call me by name, right?” - “Haha, no master.” He has a perfect smiling face huh... He can command his face on will.. That might be something I should learn.

It was then that I noticed that the girl was nowhere to be found. 

“Alf, where’s the girl?” - “The young lady went back to her room, master.”

“Maybe I should go after her...” - “Master. I don’t recommend doing that.”

“Why so?” - “Let’s just say.. You ordered us to keep her out of your sight.”

“Damn... I didn’t think Varkhaz was this trashy...” 

Alf’s face turned into one of curiosity, understanding that he might be confused, I said, “I meant my past self...” - “Oh. Understood master.”

“Alf. Who’s the one taking ‘care’ of ermー What’s her name?” - “It’s Estrelle, master.”

“I better start fixing the shit I’ve done. And so let’s start with Estrelle, eh?” - “Understood master.”

It took me two days to make sure that Estrelle would get good treatment. But it was only a slight annoyance. Afterall now I feel better.

“Alf... Do you think I should go see her..?” - “Master.. Honestly, I don’t think it’d be good. Since, the young lady will beー” - “Scared. I know.. It’s just- I have to fix this.”

“Understood master.”

Though I’ve been to the kitchen and bath, I haven’t really gone anywhere else. What I mean to say is that I’ve been on the 2nd floor all this time, so going to the bottom floor feels surreal. 

Walking down the grand stairs I looked around and it made me realize how expensive this place must be. Nevermind the stairs, the walls, the lamps, everything looked so grand. I never really paid attention to this till now. 

And the stairs diverged from the top floor to the bottom floor. And the handle was smooth. 

Now that I think about it, even in my room, the bed, the clothes, the cupboards. All of it. 

But when I came near Estrelles room, No, it wasn’t even her room. It was the shared room for the maids. 

‘Why? Isn’t she the daughter of the duke?’ ー The question never left my head. Why was I so well off as Varkhaz, but another one of the legitimate heirs was not?

We stood in front of the door to the maids’ room.

“Alf.. You covered something up didn’t you..?” - “Master.. The young lady is.. Your half-sister. Once the vassals had discovered that she was also a commoner, they demanded that the duke revoke her rights to succession and execute her. But the duke did his best and only revoked her rights. And by the time that he had gone back to war. You then ordered the servants of the mansion to keep her out of your sight. And eventually the young lady’s treatment became worse and worse.”

“So in total, her life has been.. Hell.” - “Indeed so, master.”

“The duke gave up on her... Varkhaz was a monster... What the hell is up with this household...?” - “...”

“Anyway, let’s hope she likes the chocolates I brought.”

I bought some chocolates hoping that Estrelle might like them. I don’t really know what to do. 

Knocking on the door, I stood outside. Eventually the door was opened by a maid. 

She saw Alf behind me and immediately fell to the floor and bowed. 

“Please forgive me young master! I was not able to recognize you.”

“Ah.. It’s fine. You can stand up now.”

“Young master, may I know what I can help you with?” - “I just wanted to erm- Give these to my sister. Is she there?”

“The young lady is sleeping right now, young master.” I could see her eyes of hate. She hated me. Just the fact that I was Varkhaz was enough to make her hate me...

“Mm... Lilia.. What’s going on..?”

A little girl was pulling on the maid’s skirt. 

“Uh.. Young lady, would you please go back..?” 

“I wanted to talk to her. Please let her stay.” - “Understood young master.” The maid then went on her way leaving the little girl in front of me. 

“Who.. are you..?” the little girl asked me.

“I am... your big brother.” I kneeled down in front of her.

I have to make things right. The things Varkhaz did are unforgivable. And I now have to atone for his sins. I hugged Estrelle. 

“I’m sorry Estrelle. I’m sorry for everything I did. I’m sorry.” My throat dried up. I couldn’t imagine living the life of this girl. 

“ah... big brother.. you’re my big brother...?” Her voice was shaky. 

“I am sorry Estrelle. I’m sorry for being a bad brother...”

“really..? you don’t... hate me..? you like me..?” - “Yes. I’m sorry.” 

She put her hands around me and cried. I took all her emotions in. She was a girl who was not loved by her family. She was a girl who was simply forgotten by the people of this world. Maybe it was because I lost Ava. But I couldn’t bear the fact that this girl would be alone.

Soon she had stopped crying, and she had slept in my arms. Carrying her into the room and laying her onto the bed, I placed the chocolates onto the side table.

“Please give her these when she wakes up.” I bowed to the maid that was in front of me.

Alf shouted “Young master!” I raised my arm to stop him. He kept quiet.

“Young master.. Why would you..?” - “I am sorry. For everything that I did. I am sorry.”

“I want to...” the maid murmured. 

“Hm?” I raised my head. 

“I want to know whether you will truly care for her!” - “I promise you. I will protect her with my life.”

Alf came to say something, but he kept quiet.

“I cannot believe your words for now, young master...” she said with a stern face, “But, please prove me wrong.”

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