14th day of Bruma, Year 769
The manor's dining hall was vast and lavish.
At its center stood a long table, flanked by six pristine chairs in rigid alignment: three on each side and one on both ends.
An opulent chandelier hung above, spilling an amber glow over the floor. The light died before reaching the far wall, leaving the details of the massive painting difficult to discern at a glance.
Step, step.
Footsteps echoed as Seven paced back and forth.
Thing is, a messenger crow had arrived two days prior, bearing a sealed letter:
— "Eden Hart will be arriving in two days of time."
That in mind, Seven suggested arranging a 'sibling date' in the manor.
"...Eden Hart."
Seven couldn't help but smirk.
This was his chance to meet Eden properly, as he had lost consciousness before she arrived on the day of his fated death; the only other time he had seen her was in that strange paradise-like dream.
Step.
He halted before the painting, placing his thumb and index on his chin and rubbed it— but he was not examining the art!
His mind recalled the forum contents about Eden. There were a handful of crazy devoted and obsessed 2D admirers that made some questionable fan content about her. (a/n very, very questionable!)
"Fudge. Forget that. I need to figure out how to act around her. Should I keep it formal, or just treat her like an older sister?"
But then again, this character was the one whose Eden favored the most so keeping a casual front might be more effective.
Probably.
Knock, knock!
Iria knocked on the door.
"I have come to inform you that Lady Eden has arrived at the front gate, my lord."
"Aight. I'll be there in a moment."
"Yes, my lord. I shall go and prepare in the kitchen."
The moment he stepped out into the hallway, the air suddenly felt colder.
"Acho!"
Seven sneezed.
He felt like someone was giving him a death stare and that sent chills down his spine. As he walked, he repeated the same phrase over and over:
'Treat her like a sibling, treat her like— but how am I supposed to treat her like an older sister? I've never even had siblings, damn it.'
He slowed his pace as he neared the front gate.
There, the vice commander had his sword drawn, holding it vertically before his face like a rigid gesture of respect.
But it wasn't that salute that caught his attention.
Eden Hart stood before the vice commander, her platinum hair outshone the falling snowflakes and her eyes were bluer than the bluest depths of the (a/n bluest) ocean.
She wore a silver-grey and lavender dress.
The fabric was draped delicately around her neck but left her shoulders completely bare, catching the pale morning light of winter.
Seven stared at the ineffable grace Eden exuded.
He then mustered his courage to greet her, keeping his tone polite.
"Good morning, older sister. I hope your journey wasn't too taxing."
Eden's gaze settled on her little brother.
And like the first crack in a frozen lake at the coming of spring, Eden smiled and greeted him back.
"It's nice to see you, youngest."
"..."
Seven froze; he couldn't believe his eyes!
Her beauty far surpassed his mother's who was a top model, and perhaps second only to that angelic face he had seen in that dream-like vision.
But that wasn't what stunned him most.
'Eden… D-did she just smile?'
For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating.
He couldn't recall reading a line in the novel portraying a smile on Eden's face, nor did he think that she was capable of mustering it.
Truth be told, the questionable fan content of Eden in the forum were mostly illustrations of her with a smile on her face.
Step.
Eden stepped forward.
Even in casual motion, she carried herself with a natural grace, as though her very presence was a challenge to the world's standard of beauty.
Her ocean-blue eyes remained fixed on her little brother like she was studying every nook and cranny of his very being.
Step, step.
A bead of sweat threatened to roll down his temple despite the sub-zero cold air.
'Did I do something out of the ordinary? Did she figure out I'm not her real little brother? That shouldn't be possible, but why is she looking at me like that…?'
His thoughts spiraled.
Still, his expression remained composed. He had to maintain his countenance.
However.
Eden did something far more extraordinary.
Raising both of her hands, Eden gently cupped his cheeks and lifted his face to meet her gaze.
Eden smiled again.
"You've grown taller since I last looked at you."
"Daas empoosbol, owfer swoster. Twaas jaas a wee agw."
Seven tried to speak, but the words that left his mouth were not coherent. It was supposed to be:
'That is impossible, older sister. That was just a week ago.'
"..."
"..."
After a few more seconds of staring at each other's eyes, Eden finally released him.
"Anyway, how do you feel now? That incident may have unsettled you."
Eden tilted her head.
"Did I come to visit at the wrong time?"
"No, older sister."
Seven immediately shook his head in response.
"In fact, Iria told me that you saved me that day. I was actually hoping you would visit sooner than this so I that I could thank you properly."
"Oh my…"
Eden let out a soft giggle.
"I'm already grateful enough to have such a cute and thoughtful little brother."
"..."
Seven blinked.
From Eden's tone and reactions, it seemed that she genuinely cared about him— the original Seven Hart and her little brother, rather.
Of course she did.
In the novel, she had joined the protagonist's journey for one reason: revenge for her brother. Even by the end, the perpetrators were never found.
In a way, she had been used by the author, both for her strength and for her grief.
Eden placed the back of her wrist on her little brother's forehead to check his temperature.
"But are you sure you're alright, youngest? Your complexion is quite pale, yet your head is cool to the touch."
"Ah. It's nothing, older sister. I'm doing fine."
Seven stepped aside, gesturing toward the manor.
"Please, come in. I have prepared a modest preparation in anticipation of your arrival."