Your Majesty, Please Don’t Kill Me Again

Chapter 26

“I am Lehan Dietrich Bellua. Cadets, we’ve had diverse lives before coming to this place. However, we can use this new path to be proud students of the Military Academy…”

I never imagined that Lehan would be the representative for the freshmen.

How can he hide this kind of accomplishment?

Or… maybe I’m just too indifferent.

I moved to be as close as possible to hear his speech. I was able to reach the railing of the floor closest to the podium after navigating the crowd.

It was unfortunate that I couldn’t go further due to the waist-high divider, but this is plenty to reveal Lehan’s face. I grinned broadly and waved the flower arrangement and flowerpot I was carrying.

“My brother is the greatest!”

My voice was inaudible to him since the number of individuals more than equaled the volume of the murmur. Still, I could not conceal my pride, so I yelled at Lehan as he calmly delivered the speech.

At that point, though, Lehan ceased speaking. His rapid head movement suggested he was seeking something.

Is he looking for me?

It was difficult to believe, yet Lehan discovered me miraculously among all these people. The child’s pupils dilate.

“And carry the legacy… I have to go. You must do well with your life, that’s all.”

People appeared perplexed as to why the rookie representative’s statement was so brief. Despite my lack of familiarity with the military academy, I could tell it was remarkably short.

At the unsatisfying conclusion suggesting there was something going on behind the scenes, the man who called out to Lehan climbs the stage and approaches Ruhan with a perplexed expression.

However, Lehan was unconcerned and swiftly moved past the man and descended the stage. He soon approached me without reluctance. He stares without blinking at my face, so I had no doubt he had located me.

During our separation, Lehan had matured. Despite being two years younger than Rupert, he appeared to be taller. I felt fear when I saw Lehan, who was growing bigger and colder, approaching me so quickly that I felt irrational bitterness.

The man on the podium, who had been observing Lehan for a moment, immediately imitated him.

Unexpected applause surges out.

However, it appears that Lehan cannot hear it either. He appeared to be attempting to ascend the floor I was on without using the stairs.

Lehan sat down on the divider I was holding in my hand after hitting the wall twice as if this high floor were merely a wall.

It was an extremely dangerous act.

What if he fell?!

“Lehan! Are you a monkey? What perilous actions are you committing!”

As I reprimanded Lehan, he regarded me with blank eyes, as if in disbelief. He regains focus quickly and frowned when he realizes I’m really his sister.

I met Lehan’s dark brown eyes head-on and spread my arms.

“It’s been a while, Lehan.”

With arms wide open, I approached Ruhan, who was transfixed in his stance and unwilling to move.

It was adorable that his hair was styled similarly to that of cadets at the military academy, with a short chestnut cut. His tanned, boyish appearance is a result of his training in the blazing heat.

I grinned and hugged Lehan. It appeared from a distance that he had grown taller, but Lehan was actually taller than I was.

“Congratulations on your acceptance.”

“Who…”

Lehan, who had become as brittle as a corpse, slowly opened his mouth. His voice had diminished slightly.

“Are you shocked?”

“Are you really… my sister?”

“Do you think I’m your brother then?”

I smiled faintly in response to Lehan’s persistent inquiry.

“Are you really laughing?”

I widened my eyes in response to Lehan’s ferocious voice.

Even though he experienced a difficult puberty, he was a kind guy who had never been nasty to me.

“Are you mad?”

“Me… no… our mother…”

Lehan grasped in bewilderment. I stroked his back to calm him down. Lehan then lowered his head and placed his head on my shoulder.

“Were you aware of how anxious we were?”

“How about the letter…”

“That piece of paper…!”

Lehan pulled me away and raised his face as if he were a little choked up. I paused because it seemed odd that his normally composed face was twisted.

“Will leaving the house and writing a single letter suffice? Are you unaware of how perilous the Capital City is?”

“You’re mad.”

“How treacherous the Imperial Palace is… do you seriously not fear it?”

“Le, Lehan.”

“Are you so discontent with Bellua that it forced you to leave home? Why have you not contacted me? Maybe you’re scared about mother and father, but what about me?!”

Lehan was unable to even breathe and sobbed. It is the first time he has yelled at me.

As I opened my mouth with a confused expression, he appeared to be biting his lip to control his rage.

“…You should’ve told me.”

I suddenly realized that I had done nothing to assure him.

I’m astonished.

My parents are grown-ups, so even if I could explain that I understood my immature flight and indulgence as rebelliousness of adolescence, young Lehan could not have done so. I felt sad for Lehan and did not know where to place myself, so I grasped his hand.

“Sorry.”

“…”

He did not acknowledge my immediate apology. I gave Lehan, who was straining to breathe, a bear hug.

“I’m so sorry… really sorry. My thoughts were out the window… I will contact you from now on… I’m sorry.”

“No… sorry for ranting.”

I was speechless in response to Lehan’s gracious apology. It would be quite difficult to find a younger brother of this caliber.

Fortunately, Lehan rapidly regained composure.

As if I was excited, my eyes gradually relaxed and I grinned. Even though I have journeyed back in time, my younger brother has not changed as much as the oldest tree in Bellua.

Isn’t it a permanent state of peace?

Only after meeting Lehan did I understand that time had passed again. The admission ceremony, which I was unable to attend, and Lehan’s attitude, which I did not recognize, reminded me of everything I was trying to protect.

When I first returned to the winter days of my twelfth year and discovered Lehan, the relief I felt weighed heavily on my heart. He was the only support I had when I was anxious and unsure of what was to come. My mind feels somewhat eased of the anxiety that has been nibbling at it without my knowledge.

Rupert still didn’t believe me, and I had no idea how to earn his trust, but reiterating my final objective gave me a small boost of confidence.

The burden and difficulty of having someone to protect were significant.

It is weighty but not uncomfortable.

I understood how wonderful life can be simple by having my loved ones alive.

Even though the ceremony was still in progress, Lehan dragged me out of the building, with eyes following us. I forcefully grabbed Lehan to stop.

Even though I was permitted to leave today and had ample time, he insisted that we don’t return to the admission ceremony.

“Lehan!”

It has been a very long time since I raised my eyebrows as my older sister, and I then shuffled my feet slowly. I find it humorous that even freshmen skip the ceremony.

The seeds of rebellion against the harsh norms and laws of the military academy were already obvious when he was fourteen years old, according to my recall. While anticipating or reminiscing about a reckless Luhan in puberty, my tongue twitches.

In order to lead or prevent a rebellion, I must understand its cause. As his own sister, I’m ashamed that I did not know the real reason why my brother died unfavorably.

While Lehan held me and asked me questions such as how life is in the Imperial Palace, if I was okay, if I was feeling ill, I felt sick.

While he’s acting like an older sibling, the ceremony carries on.

The last event consisted of the seniors lining up incoming students and donning their school uniform caps. When I discovered that Rehan, who had grudgingly left me, had been captured by a huge cadet, I scowled. The cadet was an honest-appearing man with broad shoulders. Their unique uniforms were nice, no matter who wore them, so it’s to my liking.

He was extending his finger toward Lehan as if to reprimand him. Lehan, who had been blankly staring at him, did not lose and broke his finger.

I am aware that the discipline between seniors and juniors is fairly tight, but my mouth gaped open as I pondered whether it could be that way.

The cadet who retreated with a wrinkly face, as though his broken finger was extremely painful, was also rather shocked.

As I typically have no method of determining his relationship with Lehan, I got apprehensive.

Is it because of what happened earlier?

While I was anxiously shuffling my feet, the cadet in a rusty-purple uniform raised his hand.

I was so far away from them that I was unable to hear them, but I did hear a thump that seemed like an auditory hallucination.

This pig-headed brute struck my brother!

He hit Lehan on the head with a fist the size of my face, to exaggerate a bit.

Instantaneously, I snorted and glanced at the man who had transformed from a gentleman to a pig. The cadet who struck Lehan glanced up into my scary eyes. He discovered my toughened face and grinned awkwardly.

Smile?

How could that pig bash and laugh at my brother?

I could not help but gaze at him more intensely. He rubbed the place where he struck my brother and placed the cap roughly on his head. Lehan, who quickly donned the hat, regarded me with perplexed eyes after donning it.

Lehan grinned and extended his hand toward me. It appeared acceptable, but I wasn’t relieved.

Despite the fact that it is a military institution, violence between cadets isn’t a big deal. It’s undesirable to be in a setting where senior students can strike a freshman in the head.

Lehan held the bouquet of daffodils that I had given him. On closer look, Lehan was the only freshman carrying a bouquet of flowers, but he wasn’t ashamed.

After the senior student’s speech of congratulations concluded, Lehan rushed to me once more.

As soon as Rehan stepped in front of me, I inquired.

“Why did he hit you?!”

“He’s a bully upperclassman. Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

“How can I not be concerned if such brutality is so prevalent?”

“No. This was the first action he took towards me.”

“What what?? What are you saying?”

I raised my voice, but Lehan only laughed. He concealed his smile with his hands while squeaking.

When he grinned, he always covered his eyes instead of his mouth.

This minor behavior is a result of my harsh comments when Lehan was younger.