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Chapter 86 Part 8 – Things that never change. And a promise. In order to protect the lives of the mother and the baby, Countess Rosenthal will put everything on the line to fight against Alisa.

「…… Uwahh ……!! Ronny and Teddy are true men. You guys are the best ……!!」

Arnold sobbed at the sight of that tragic determination.

However, their father, who becomes sly and cunning when alcohol is involved, used violence against Ronny and Teddy from the beginning with the aim of breaking Rona’s heart. It’s not easy to get the strong-willed Rona to agree to selling her body. If she was forced to do it, she would probably commit suicide. But if it’s for the sake of her younger brothers, Rona would accept even the most terrible conditions.

「…… Stop it!! I’ll do whatever you say ……!! Just promise me you’ll never use violence against Ronny and Teddy again!!」

Hearing Rona scream those words just as he had expected, their father showed a hideous smile. Seeing that, Ronny and Teddy realized that they ended up becoming the decisive blow in their sister’s descent into hell. The days of despair began. Ronny and Teddy watched with tears of blood in their hearts as the proud sister they wanted to protect was played with, ridiculed, and broken in mind and body by the men who thought of her as a cheaper option for a prostitute.

「Ronny …… Please. Kill me …… It’s all my fault that Rona-nee has to ……!! I can’t endure it anymore ……!!」

Teddy, who had been full of energy, stopped smiling and began to cry all the time.

So that Rona won’t notice them, Ronny hugged Teddy who pleaded to him.

「…… If that could save Rona-nee, I would gladly die as well. But as long as our father is alive, Rona-nee will be preyed upon. So, if I’m going to die, I’m going to drag him down with me. I won’t let you die all by yourself. When it’s time, I’m also going to die with you.」

They hugged each other and cried.

The hope-filled vow that they had made that day under the starry sky had turned into a sad determination.

They were willing to give their lives for Rona. That is why, when Rona was rolled up in the witch hunt, they did not hesitate to sacrifice themselves to save her. Although their feelings for their older sister were exploited by the Inquisition official Matthew and resulted in a sorrowful ending, they never had the slightest bit of resentment toward Rona.

The feelings of the two of them, who only wished for their older sister’s happiness, twinkled beautifully like small stars in the black darkness of the witch hunt. Just like the starry winter sky that looked like it could be reached if they stretched out their hands.

We couldn’t help but cry because of their way of life that kept thinking of their loved ones until the very end.

However, no matter how much I sympathize with them and how much I am filled with righteous indignation, they have already passed away. They have disappeared, leaving only their affectionate memories behind. Even the slightest trace of them will soon disappear into nothingness when there is no one left to remember them.

…… Ronny and Teddy’s memories began to blur. It rapidly crumbled like a sand sculpture. Countess Rosenthal cried out and tried to hold it in her arms, but the memories of the two of them slipped through her fingers and were scattered mercilessly.

The last light that remained in her hand was their oldest memory about Rona that Ronny and Teddy remembered.

It was when Rona and her family were forced to leave their home and drifted to the slums because of their father’s debts.

「…… Rona-nee, is mother going to go out today as well?」

Ronny grumbled with stuttering words.

「I don’t like this house. There’s no toys and books. When are we going to go back to our old house?」

Teddy was also crying with a flushed face.

「…… Just bear with it a little longer. The day will soon come when we can all live as happily as we did in the past ……」

Rona’s heart was filled with pity, and when she whispered so, she hugged her young brothers tightly.

「…… I’m sure that father will go back to normal as well ……」

Rona’s voice choked as she glanced sideways at her father, who escaped to alcohol and was snoring loudly, while her mother worked hard from morning till night.

Rona knew that those days would never come back. Unlike her younger brothers, who were still very young, Rona was well aware of their situation. She felt so sorry for her younger brothers that she found herself shedding tears.

「Rona-nee, why are you crying? Did something sad happen?」

「Are you troubled because I’m crying? Then, I won’t cry anymore ……」

Ronny and Teddy stopped crying and became worried about her.
Rona hurriedly wiped her tears and smiled at the two of them.

「I didn’t cry because I was sad. I cried because Ronny and Teddy, who I love so much, are with me.」

Rona looked up and tried her best to hold back her tears so that her younger brothers, who were cheering and hugging her excitedly, would not notice.

God, I don’t care whatever happens to me, but please give these two children a tomorrow where they can shed tears of joy, instead of sadness.

Looking at the sky full of stars visible from the hole in the roof, Rona prayed inside her heart.

「…… Ronny. Teddy. Don’t forget this. There are many broken things that can never be fixed, but there are also things that will always remain the same, just like that starry sky. Ronny, Teddy, no matter what happens, I will always love you two.」

That was the best message that the young Rona could give.

「I also love Rona-nee!!」

「Me too …… I also love you, nee-chan.」

Ronny said so innocently. While Teddy spoke with a shy expression.

The voices and figures of these two boys rapidly faded. The memories have reached their time limit.

With her voice hoarse with tears, Countess Rosenthal sang the lullaby that Teddy and Ronny pestered her to sing to them that night. Rona’s mother was probably from the Krocassis region. That mournful melody was the song Mary used to sing about the souls of the departed returning to heaven on the wings of migratory birds.

After learning the meaning of the song, the young Ronny and Teddy mumbled in their sleep while still clinging to Rona.

「When I become a grandpa and die, I won’t go to heaven. I’ll go to see Rona-nee again.」

「Me too. I will definitely come back to nee-chan’s side ……」

Rona laughed at her impatient younger brothers.

「You silly boys. I’m older than you, so I’m sure I’ll die before you guys. …… But I promise. Even if I am reincarnated, I will surely come back to see you guys again.」

「It’s a promise ……」

「Yeah, it’s a promise ……」

Feeling the warmth of her two younger brothers’ body temperature as they fell asleep with big smiles on their faces, Rona couldn’t help but wish them happiness again.

But that wish did not come true.

「…… My younger brothers ended up passing away before me ……!! They were still so young ……!! They had so many dreams that they wanted to fulfill ……!! I couldn’t …… do anything …… for them ……!!」

The light snuggled up to the sobbing Countess Rosenthal as if to rub her cheek.

‘We were happy to be born as nee-chan’s younger brothers.’

‘Don’t forget, Rona-nee. We will always, always love you.’

Their cheerful laughter inside the memory made it seem as if their souls had visited and spoken to Countess Rosenthal in order to see her again.

Then, with a quiver of contentment, the memory of Ronny and Teddy burst like a bubble. Particles of light formed into bands and soared into the air. It was as if they were aiming for a distant starry sky.

「…… Rona. You said you couldn’t do anything for them. You’re wrong. It’s because of you that your younger brothers were able to live so strongly and kindly. You gave them so much more than they could hope for. To deny that is to deny them. Can you bear to deny those boys?」

At father’s question, Countess Rosenthal shook her head with tears in her eyes.

Father smiled and nodded.

「That’s a good girl. Then, though it must be hard for you, wipe away your tears and send them off with a smile. That is the best thing you can do for their departure. It’s something that only you can do in this world.」

Father encouraged Countess Rosenthal as he wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

When Countess Rosenthal nodded, four presences stood behind her. The three old warriors and Marielle were looking at her with a kind and affectionate gaze.