At the Ascart dining room table, Roel, who had been in the midst of his mental healing process, suddenly noticed that there was something amiss with his dear adopted sister.
He looked above Alicia's head, and bewilderment surfaced in his eyes.
Hm? Where are my Affection Points? It's not growing anymore?
Alicia had always been Roel's biggest client when it comes to Affection Points. He could expect to see an ocean of green light every dinner, as his Affection Points shot right through the roof, but astonishingly, Alicia had been quiet for the entire dinner. There weren't even the slightest Affection Points coming out of her at the moment.
Is it that Alicia isn't green anymore, or that my eyes are playing tricks on me?
Roel was a little perplexed, thinking that something wrong might have happened to the System. However, when he turned his head over, he saw something green popping up above Carter's head.
Ah? That's not right, the System isn't malfunctioning. Does it mean that the problem originates from Alicia?
So, Roel began examining the little girl before him closely, and indeed, there was something off about her.
Today's Alicia kept lowering her head, and she hardly spoke a word at all. The smile on her face looked forced, and tears were glistening in her ruby eyes. It was as if someone had bullied her.
A-ah? What's going on? Don't tell me that someone actually dared to bully Alicia? That person must be tired of living!
Roel flew into a rage. As the spring of his Affection Points, Alicia had contributed over half the points he had earned to date. It was no exaggeration to say that she was the key that determined whether the Ascart House would decline or not, along with Roel's final fate.
Anyone who dared make Alicia unhappy right now was practically a mortal enemy who was out for his life! Such a person deserved to be pinned to the ground, beaten to a pulp, and stomped into the earth.
With such vicious thoughts in mind, Roel began gently asking the silver-haired girl the reason behind her unhappiness, but astonishingly, she refused to speak at all.
Huh? What's going on here?
The confused Roel pondered for a moment before asking once more with an even gentler voice.
"Alicia, can tell me what is bothering you?"
"…"
"Is it something that you can't tell me?"
"…"
Roel continued asking several more questions, but Alicia insisted on maintaining her silence, leaving him deeply perplexed.
What is going on here? Alicia is usually quite obedient, so why isn't she saying anything at all?
Could this be something really serious? This won't do. I have to make her speak no matter what.
Having made up his mind, Roel began drawing forth the huge reserves of untapped acting talent within him to put on a magnificent play.
"I understand. It can't be helped if you can't tell me about it."
Roel's voice suddenly became weak and helpless, as if he had suffered some sort of heavy blow.
"I thought that I could open your heart, that you trusted me, but it looks like I have overestimated myself. I'm sorry for troubling you, Alicia. Treat it as if I haven't said anything at all."
Roel's downtrodden tone caused the silent Alicia to hurriedly raise her head in astonishment. As soon as she saw the disheartened look of the black-haired boy before her, she felt a pang in her heart.
"No, that's not it! It's not like that at all! It's just that I-I…"
Alicia wanted to explain the situation, but her words were jammed in her throat, refusing to come out at all. In the end, she had to lower her head before she could squeeze out a question with great difficulty.
"Lord Brother, do you… like me?"
"Ah?"
Roel, who was still immersed in his acting a moment ago, was suddenly jolted out of character, causing him to respond foolishly. A moment later, he widened his eyes and immediately replied.
"Why would you suddenly ask me that question?"
"B-because Lord Brother, you like Her Highness Nora more, right?"
Alicia raised her head to look at Roel with moistened eyes as she asked.
"Her Highness Nora is more beautiful than me, and she's a princess who'll be able to help you in the future. Compared to her, I'm just a child who brings you trouble and can't even eat my own food…"
As Alicia spoke, her tears began flowing down, leaving Roel feeling so flustered that he felt like he was going to suffer a heart attack. With a deeply helpless sigh, he quickly started to explain himself.
"What are you thinking about? When did I say that I like Nora?"
"But you have been in a daze ever since Her Highness Nora left!"
A daze?
Alicia's words made Roel widen his eyes in realization.
What in the world… My daze is out of shock, not yearning! Thinking about her? Hah, I would rather that she never appeared before me at all!
Utterly speechless, Roel could only reach out to wipe the tears from Alicia's face. Now he understood the root of the problem.
Even if Alicia had matured beyond her age, the lack of companionship from her parents since young and the bullying she suffered from her peers still left some trauma behind, causing her to lack a sense of security. Now, she had finally found a place for herself, but that only made her even more fearful of losing it all.
Having understood the situation, Roel sighed deeply. He patted Alicia dotingly before reaching out to embrace her.
"Alicia, don't get too hung up with fears that will never come to be. You've nothing to fear at all. As long as you wish it, I'll always remain by your side."
"L-lord Brother?"
Feeling the warm arms wrapped around her, Alicia felt her insecurities slowly slipping away.
"Yes, Nora might be an excellent individual. She's a great beauty and has a lofty standing, but what about it? My Alicia doesn't pale in comparison to her at all!"
"H-how could I possibly compete with Her Highness…"
"You are thoughtful, and your presence heals me each time I return exhausted from work. So what if you can't use a fork and knife? I'm the one who enjoys feeding you. As long as you are fine with it, I'm more than happy to be able to take care of you."
Light pats on the back and words of reassurance calmed Alicia's fearful heart. Eventually, the emotions that she had been suppressing within finally poured out, and she began crying in Roel's embrace.
"Big brother Roel, hic don't leave me! I love you!"
"I love you too, Alicia."
Roel said as he tenderly stroked Alicia's little head affectionately. While it was true that he was saying these words to comfort her, they also reflected his true thoughts as well.
Over the past month they had spent together, Roel had seen many sides to this child. She was gentle, kind, smart, and diligent, but at the same time, she was sensitive, insecure, and lacked self-esteem. Even putting aside the storyline, Roel would still want to take care of this little girl and protect her.
In Roel's heart, Alicia was a wounded angel who had to be cared for with tenderness. As for that other sadist of an angel, it would be best if he could stay as far away from her as possible.
Of course, Roel also knew that things wouldn't remain this way forever. Alicia was still young for now, but it was only a matter of time before she matured. Once she came of age and became more conscientious to the differences between men and women, she would probably put some distance between them automatically. There was no way they could always be together.
With such thoughts in mind, Roel couldn't help but sigh in reluctance. Perhaps this was the kind of emotions that a father felt watching his daughter grow up.
It was at this moment that green light suddenly sprouted from Alicia's head.
(Affection Points +1000!)
(Affection Points +1000!)
(Affection Points +1000!)