"Ha... ha... ha... Elder Sis..."
"What is it, my dear Little Brother?"
"I... I don't think I can hold on any longer,"
"Are you even a man? How can you not last more than a couple of minutes?"
"B-but, Elder Sis, this is your fault!"
"How exactly is it my fault?"
"You're overstimulating me!"
"Overstimulating? It was just a little caress. You're making it sound like I did something outrageous"
"You did! You know I can't handle that kind of teasing!"
"Oh, come on~ You're so dramatic. If a little touch flusters you this much, how are you ever going to handle the real world?"
"I handle the real world just fine. You're the one who always messes with me!"
"Maybe... but it's so much fun watching you squirm."
"Elder Sis!"
"Ah, I can't hold it anymore. Please, step back!"
"It's fine. Just dump it out on my face."
Splash!
"You spilled so much..."
"Ha... ha... don't blame me. I already warned you this might happen."
"I'm just saying. Anyway, you did pretty well this time. You lasted twenty seconds longer than before."
"Really? So, I'm improving, right?"
"Not enough. You still need a lot more training."
"Ah..."
Lumien's expression shifted into one of despair. But as his gaze landed on the determined look in his sister's eyes, he bit back any retort.
Instead, he spread his arms wide and let out a long, tired sigh before collapsing onto the grass. Beside him, a bucket lay tipped over, its remaining water slowly seeping into the ground.
Lumien sensed his sister settle beside him. Unlike a typical noble lady, she wasn't wearing a dress but preferred training pants. She hugged her knees to her chest, resting her chin atop them as her gaze wandered toward the distant horizon.
"Lumien, I'll be leaving this place in two months," she said softly.
"I know," Lumien replied calmly.
"You know?" she turned to him, her eyes widening in surprise.
Lumien chuckled. "Wouldn't I be a fool if I didn't? It's no secret that every noble descendant in the Liurnia Kingdom has to attend the Liurnia Royal Academy for at least four years."
Recovering from her surprise, she smiled and reached over to gently pat his head. "My little brother has grown so smart."
"Are you saying I was stupid before?" Lumien instinctively retorted.
"Forget about the details," his sister emphasized. Suddenly, her expression took a drastic turn, filled with reluctance. Her voice grew quieter as she admitted, "I actually don't want to leave this place."
She paused, and her eyes grew misty. "Even though Dad is often busy working in his office, he always makes an effort to be always present for dinner. Mom too. No matter how packed her schedule is, she always finds time to care for us. And then there's Aunt Delia. Daisy..."
She continued listing the names of the people who held a special place in her heart. From the start to the end, Lumien merely acted as a professional listener without interrupting her a bit.
Finally, she added, "And there's also you."
"I don't know what the future holds, and honestly, I don't want to think about it. All that matters to me right now is the present."
She shifted her body toward him, leaning in closer until her warm breath, carrying a faint minty fragrance, brushed against his face.
"I don't want to have regrets," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't want to regret not spending enough time with you before I leave. I don't want to regret being too late if bad news ever reaches me. I don't want to regret not being there for you when you need me most."
Her words faltered as her emotions overwhelmed her. "After all, you... you..."
The confident, cheerful, teasing demeanor she displayed just now seemed to crumble, leaving behind a vulnerable young woman, insecure about her little brother's future.
Lumien hugged her without hesitation, pulling her close. "You're overthinking it. Don't I perfectly fine?"
"For now," his sister rebuked softly.
Burying his face in her hair, which carried a faint floral fragrance, Lumien spoke gently, "And I will be in the future."
He continued without waiting for his sister's response.
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope".
"As long as there's hope for me to recover, there's no reason for us to worry about things that haven't happened yet."
His sister pulled back slightly, her teary eyes meeting his. "Do you really believe that?"
"I do," he said firmly, wiping away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "Because no matter what, I know I'm not alone. I have you, Mom, Dad... everyone who cares for me. And as long as I have all of you, I'll keep fighting."
There's also the Harem System, the cheat I got... Lumien silently added to his mind.
She smiled faintly, her lips trembling. "You really have grown up, haven't you? My little brother is much stronger than I give him credit for."
"That's why you shouldn't give up your opportunity to study, Azalea. You're only 15, and enrolling in the Liurnia Royal Academy is bound to be one of the most important turning points in your life. You shouldn't waste such a valuable opportunity."
Feeling that his argument might not be convincing enough, Lumien quickly added with a hint of seriousness, "Besides, since enrolling in the academy is basically mandatory, you don't really have a choice. Or would you prefer our family be stripped of its titles and reduced to mere commoners?"
"All of Mom and Dad's hard work would crumble to ruins. Every maid and servant here would lose their jobs, their livelihoods shattered. And me? With Mom and Dad stripped of their lands and left penniless, there'd be no money for my medicine. I'd be left to wither away, slowly and painfully, until..."
His words were abruptly cut off as his sister pushed her palms at his mouth.
"Stop. Don't say anything else," his sister snapped, glaring at him.
Lumien grinned mischievously, then leaned forward and playfully ran his tongue along the base of her palm.
Azalea recoiled as if shocked, pulling her hand back faster than a bullet. "What are you doing? That's filthy!" she scolded, her voice a mix of outrage and disbelief.
"But I learned it from you," Lumien said with a sly smirk, clearly enjoying the chance to turn the tables.
Azalea froze for a moment, her face blank with shock, before breaking into a fit of rage and embarrassment. "That was ages ago! How do you even remember that? You're so childish!"
I even remember my life back on Earth. How could I forget something that happened just a few years ago?
Looking at the smiling Lumien, Azalea seemed to recall something. She turned to him, hands on her hips. "What did you just call me?"
Lumien grinned sheepishly. "I'm not sure what you mean."
Azalea raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You really had the nerve to call me by my name? Call me Elder Sis!"
"Yes, Elder Sis,"
"Good," she said with a satisfied nod. "By the way, that phrase, 'We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope', doesn't sound like something you can come up with. Tell me, where did you learn such profound words?"
"That's a secret!"
Amidst their lighthearted conversation, several minutes later, a maid approached them and respectfully informed, "The lord requests both of you to come to his study."
"Alright, tell him we'll be there shortly," Azalea replied immediately, making the decision for both of them.
The maid bowed politely before retreating.
"My clothes are all dirty. I can't meet Father looking like this. I need to change first. Will you accompany me?"
"Alright, Lumien readily agreed.