Reigies sat up on his bed, gasping for air. Cold sweat was running down his forehead. Anyone who would've seen him right now would think that someone had been chasing him. His brows then furrowed after a while upon noticing the sheets he's been gripping. Instead of the usual golden yellow sheets, the ones in his grasp were white. It had been years since the last time he saw this sheet color on his bed.

"What the━" he raised both his hands and bewilderdly studied it. His hands seems to be a bit smaller than he remembered. They were still calloused and a bit rough but not rougher than what it was supposed to be.

A knock on the door made Reigies jolt.

"Young lord?" A familiar voice of a woman called. "Are you up, my lord?" Hearing that sweet voice made Reigies' breathing hitch.

"E-emily?" Reigies mumbled. And before he could comprehend what was going on, Reigies' body moved on its own. He clumsily got out of his bed and rushed towards the door, even stumbling several times. As he swung the door open, a surprised middle aged woman filled his sight. "E-Emily..." He called, still not believing his own eyes.

"Y-yes, dear Young lord? Are you alright? You seem to be pale." Emily stretched her right arm to touch Reigies' face. However, Reigies clumsily took a few steps back and fell backwards. "Oh dear! My! Young lord, are you alright?!" Emily exclaimed as she rushed towards Reigies and held both his cheeks. Her worried expression and soft, warm touch told Reigies that what's happening right now was not a dream. Even the pain on his wrist due to his fall felt so real for this to be called a dream.

"Emily..." He once again called, this time tears were streaming down his face that made Emily's facial expression worsen. But Reigies could care less for now. No words could describe how he was feeling at the moment. All he knew was that he was scared and relieved upon seeing and hearing her. "Emily..." This time, Reigies held her hands and closed his eyes as tears continued streaming.

'It's been years... I'm sorry. I'm sorry.'

His heart ached as a gruesome memory came in his mind. Emily, a woman whom he had thought of as someone close to a mother figure since he was nine. In this house, she was the one responsible for looking after the Duke's offsprings. Most especially since there was no mistress, a Duchess for this house.

In Reigies' memory, in which would haunt him even in his sleep, Emily had a huge slash on her front. Starting from her abdomen to her chest was a huge, deep wound caused by Reigies' sword. The wound could be compared to a claw mark a beast would make. At that time, Reigies was not in his right mind. When he realized what he had done, it was already too late. He had killed his own nanny, someone who was like a mother to him. Someone close to his heart...

"Oh dear. What's the matter, Young lord? Did you perhaps had a nightmare?"

Reigies didn't reply. Instead, he nodded and suddenly burried his head on her shoulders as his arms wrapped around her waist.

Emily let out a soft gasp and chuckled after a while as she ran her hand on his back.

"There, there..." She soothed. "Everything's fine. I'm right here."

Hearing her say that, Reigies couldn't help but cry more. His whole body, that was in tense the whole time, relaxed. Oh ,how much he missed her warm embrace.

'I was foolish! Forgive me. Forgive this being.'

He kept on apologizing in his mind even though the Emily before him didn't know a thing of what he had experienced. He still didn't fully grasp what was going on but he could tell very well that he went back in time but unsure of when exactly. However, judging from the sheets he was wrapped in a while ago and Emily's less wrinkled face, it was before he inherited the seat of a Duke.

Clearing his mind Reigies snuggled more against Emily's shoulders. Emily didn't say anything but was smiling. It had been a long time since this child had hugged her. Although she was surprised upon seeing his pale face, she was relieved to know that he had just a nightmare. It reminded her of those old days wherein the former Duchess was still around. Since both his parents were always busy with political affairs, Reigies was always left in her hands. Whenever he had nightmares, he would always snuggle in her arms if the Duchess was not beside him.

When Emily noticed that the Young lord had calmed down, she called for his name but didn't get a response. She did this several times and even lightly tapped his shoulder but still did not get one.

It was then when she heard a soft gasp followed by light footsteps.

"Oh no! Did something bad happen to brother?!" Came a sweet, high-pitched voice. "Ah, his face is wet! Did brother cry? What happened?!"

"Ah..haha━ Young miss, kindly please tone down. The Young lord seems to have fallen back to sleep after crying. He seems to have had a long nightmare, you see." Emily couldn't see her face but she could picture a very worried eight-year old girl as she spoke of her older brother.

"Then should I call for someone to help you carry him to bed? I saw Val on my way here. Should I call him?" She asked, pertaining to the head butler.

"Yes, please."

Without saying another word, the eight-year old girl rushed out of the room and ran along the hallways.

"Vaaaaal! Val! Vaaaal!" She yelled in which alarmed everyone who had heard her.

Every servant dropped what they were doing and went to the source of the voice. Since the little girl was at the second floor, those who were downstairs had to rush up, some even stumbling.

"Young miss?! What's the matter?!" A maid, who just came out of a room she was cleaning, rushed towards the little girl.

"What's going on?! I've got buckets of water here!"

"Is there a fire? We brought some buckets of water!"

Two men servants said almost in unison as they pant.

"Young miss, I've heard you calling." A calm voice said, followed by two pairs of steady footsteps. Everyone present turned their head towards the source of the voice. The four servants abruptly bowed their heads upon seeing the person walking in front of the butler.

"Catherine." Requiel, the master of the household, called with worry painted all over his face.

"Ah! Father! Father!" Catherine rushed towards the Duke and yanked the sleeve of his clothing. "Follow me."

Requiel was confused at her sudden action. Nevertheless, he followed the child.

"Do you wish to show me something in your room?" He guessed when he noticed that the path they're taking was towards her room.

"No. We're going to brother's room."

"Reigies'?" He asked with his brows furrowed. And before he could ask more, they had already reached the front of the said room. Its door was opened wide that anyone who would pass by it could easily notice the two figure sitting on the floor.

"It seems the Young miss had caused an unecessary commotion." Emily chuckled when she felt the presence of numerous people behind her.

"Father, help Emily. Brother is too heavy for Emily to carry." Catherine said as she pointed at them.

Everyone present was a bit surprised at the little girl's request. Never had there been anyone, most especially a child, had dared to order the master of any household. Unless you're seated in a higher in position in politics. It was a common knowledge even for someone in Catherine's age. Usually, they would just ask someone else to do it.

"Uhm, let me do your request instead, young miss." Valeirene gave the child a warm smile. Considering the young miss' circumstances, she might still not be accustomed with how things are. Valeirene was about to step forward when the Duke raised his free hand.

"I'll carry him."

Requiel then let go of Catherine's hand and approached Emily who's still hugging Reigies for support. Everyone watched how the Duke carefully took his fourteen year old son away from the head maid. Catherine followed behind Requiel, who carried Reigies towards his bed. Gently, he laid him on it and covered him with the sheets.

It had been so long since the last time he had personally tucked this child in his bed.

'Had it been eight years now?'

He thought as he brushed away some of Reigies' hair that covered a portion of his face. As he did so, his brows furrowed in an instant. He was not sure of what he felt so he laid the back of his palm on Reigies' forehead and even on his cheeks.

"Call the physician this instant!" Requiel ordered.

"Your Grace?" A confused Valeirene asked.

"Now!"

"Ah! R-right away!" Valeirene then rushed out to do what he was ordered to do.

"Oh dear━ forgive me, your grace ." Emily said bowing. "I didn't notice that the young lord was sick."

"Brother's sick?" Catherine asked with a gasp. "That's bad news. Perhaps he overdid his training yesterday?"

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"T-that seems to be it, young miss." Emily replied, still bowing.

"Raise your head, Emily." Requiel sighed and turned towards the door where the four servants still stood. All of them flinched once the Duke's gaze fell on them. Only when he rose a brow at them did they bow and asked for forgiveness in unison before leaving in rush. However, one of them came back to gently close the door.

"Now," Requiel returned his gaze at Emily. "Explain what happened."

"As you are aware, your grace, the young lord usually wakes up early and would exercise at the training ground at around six. However, he seems to have stayed in bed a little longer. I did not bother waking him up either, thinking that he might've been tired due to his yesterday's training with sir Bertolt. At exactly eight o'clock, I've decided to knock on his door to check on him." Emily paused as she remembered that pale face she had held a while ago.

'I was so worried that I didn't notice his fever.'

"Continue." The Duke urged in which she nodded to.

"As I was saying, I knocked on his door to check if he was already up and to my surprise, the door swung open in a harsh way." She then sighed. "The Young lord seemed to have had a nightmare for when he opened the door, he was crying. He even looked scared a while ago as if he had seen a ghost."

The Duke nodded. "I see." For a moment, he stared at the child lying on the bed. His brows were furrowed and even his breathing was a bit rapid than usual. His face also started flushing red that made Requiel worry.

Seeing this expression, Emily was relieved. Ever since that night two years ago, the relationship between the Duke and young lord had started to deteriorate. It was not like they were very close in the first place, it was just that the two seemed to have treated each other more coldly than before. When the young lord was younger, their relationship was so warm but as time went by, for some reason, they started drifting away and that night didn't help. For the past two years, the father and son rarely talked with each other. Both would dine together and would meet from time to time but that was it. No words were usually spoken.

"I'll be in my study. Report to me whatever the physician would say."

Requiel said as he started heading towards the door.

"Understood, your Grace."

"Catherine, come along."

"Uhm..." Catherine hesitates. "Father, can't I just stay here? I'd like to look after brother." She finaly asks, her gaze switching from her brother to her father. "Please?"

Requiel stared at his daughter for a moment before sighing. "You can't."

"But━"

"Young miss." Catherine turned her attention towards Emily. "His Grace is just worried for your well-being. He meant that you can't stay beside the young lord in the mean time for the reason that you might catch his sickness too." She explained.

"But you're staying with him."

"I am an adult, young miss. A very healthy one at that."

"I'm also very healthy!"

And before Emily could reply, the Duke's voice had cut in.

"Catherine, your brother will be worried once he wakes up and sees you beside him. Would you like that?"

Catherine shook her head with her lips protruding. Without saying another word, she sulkily approached her father and held his hand.

"Then, I'll be leaving brother in your care, Emily."

"You need not have to worry, dear Young miss." She replied with a gentle smile.

As soon as the door was shut once again, the gentle smile on Emily's face was swaped with a sullen one. What the Duke had said a while ago was an obvious lie. Everyone in this house knew how much the young lord dispised his half sister. If ever she would've been in danger in front of him, he wouldn't care. If there's anyone who didn't know that, it would be the young miss herself. Everyone's actually surprised that she still kept on approaching the Young lord dispite him pushing her away or not giving her that much of attention. But Emily knew of the reason why...

'Poor child...Living in a heavenly lie. How cruel.'

She thought as she approached Reigies' bed. With a sigh, she sat on it and stretched her right hand to touch the child's face. The frown on his face instantly disappeared at her touch. Probably because it was a bit cooler than his current temprature that his unconscious self found a bit relaxing.

"Dear child, I know how hurt you are from the past events. I know very well... but, even if it's a little, I hope that you open your heart up to that child."

~~~

Reigies slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the ray of sunlight that came through the window. He let out a soft grunt as he covered his eyes using his hand.

"Ah, you're awake, Young lord."

Hearing that familiar voice, Reigies abruptly sat up. This action of him was followed by a pain similar of that needles poking the back of his head.

"Argh!"

"Oh dear, oh dear! You shouldn't have sat up like that." Emily then approached Reigies and gently forced him to lay back again. "Suddenly sitting up like that with your condition isn't good." With the back of her palm, Emily checked on his temperature and nodded afterwards. "Your fever seemed to have come down a bit. You were unconscious since yesterday morning, young lord."

Reigies only stared at her as she spoke. His mind was blank as he did so. Even what Emily was saying did not fully process in his mind. Noticing his blank stare, Emily couldn't help but worry again.

"Young lord, Reigies? Is something the matter? Did you have another nightmare?"

Slowly, Reigies shook his head.

"I-I'm f-" Reigies coughed up his following words. His throat suddenly felt itchy and dry.

"Oh! Water!" Emily reached out for the pitcher and filled the glassdd cup beside it. "Here." She helped Reigies up and assisted him in drinking.

"Thank you." Reigies said with a smile in which Emily replied with a nod and smile. "This is not a dream, right?"

A soft chuckle came out of Emily's mouth. "It seems you have not fully awaken yet."

"I guess..." Reigies then lowered his gaze to his calloused hands. It was smaller than what he remembers.

'Have I really gone back in time?'

As he thought so, an image of a man wearing a dark cloak came in his mind. He couldn't really remember his last words but he did remember the pressure his whole body felt as the light coming from the cloaked man's palm flashed. After that, he felt like he had been somewhere else before waking up, but couldn't remember.

"Young lord? Do you feel pain somewhere?"

Emily's voice brought him back to the present. He instantly looked up and smiled at her.

"I'm hungry."

That was not a lie. He really felt hungry at the moment.

"That's a given since you have not consumed anything since yesterday morning, I'll go and fetch some soup. Wait here and don't do anything yet." Emily strictly said as she stood up and headed towards the door.

"Ah, Emily?"

"Hmm?" She hummed, turning back to him.

"What day is it today?"

"It's the third day of March, year 1068 of Hidelth calendar. Why do you ask?"

"Ah, I see. It's nothing. I was just making sure I remembered the date right. By the way, yestereday,before I━ahem━" Reigies' ears turned red as he remembered his embarassing action. Even if he was younger in this timeline, he still was already too old to be crying in his nanny's arms. He then cleared his throat and spoke once again. "Before I passed out yesterday, I think I heard someone come." Although he already knew who it was, he still wanted to confirm.

"Ah...The young miss. She happened to pass by your room and was on her way to breakfast." Emily replied in the most simpliest way. She didn't bother telling how worried the little one was for he wouldn't care.

"That was embarassing. But seeing me in that state, she must've been worried."

"Indeed, she was very━" Emily stopped midsentence when she realized his words. "Pardon?" She blinked, not believeing what she had just heard.

"Catherine... I said, she must've been worried seeing me in that state." He sighed. "Such an embarassing scene" He mumbled.

"Ah, uhm..." Emily didn't know how to reply due to her shock. Not only did the young lord worry about the young miss being worried about him but also mentioned her name in an affectionate way!

"Anyways, I'm really hungry, Emily." Reigies changed the topic realizing how unusual he was acting. If this was before, he wouldn't even spare that child a glance.

"R-right! I should go and fetch you some soup." And with that Emily left the room.

When he was finally alone, Reigies let out a sigh and leaned back on the headboard. He scanned the room he was currently in and had the fact that he had returned to the past sink in his mind. He raised his hand in front of him. Images of of people whom he had their blood stains on his hand surfaced in his mind. His heart throbbed remembering the faces of those whom he didn't mean to slay and those whom he had slain due to his anger. Most especially his long time friend, the King.

"I wish you had cared for her more and punished me sooner."

Reigies clenched his fists upon remembering the King's last words. He felt ashamed. Ashamed of his self for being childish those whole time. He was ashamed of his self for being narrow-minded. He felt ashamed that someone else had actually cared for his sister dearly but because of him, his sister became blind of her surroundings. She only cared for him, her foolish brother, that she didn't notice those who would seek for her in which led to one of her demise.

A knock on the door brought Reigies' mind back to the present. He cleared his throat and was about to ask who the person was when the door slowly opened. A small head then peeked inside.

"Brother?" An anxious looking, little girl called. Her auburn hair, that's different from his hazel hair, was tied up in pigtails. Her curls – that bounced a bit as she tilted her head – cascaded down pass her shoulders.

'How is it that it is only now that I had noticed how precious my little sister is?'

He thought as he stared at her.

'Fool! It was you who refused to look at her!'

A tiny voice replied in his head. He then shook his head and beamed a smile at the girl. Something he never would have done in the past. If anything, he would've ignored her or yelled at her for opening the door without his permission.

"Hey..."

'Hey?'

He scoffed at his self. It was the only word that slipped out of his lips. Of all greetings he could've say, just a 'Hey'?

However, he couldn't think of any proper greeting. They never had a proper conversation even before during their younger years. They were never close to begin with. It was always and only Catherine who would approach him, greet him and talk to him. Thinking of how harsh he had been in the past towards her, he couldn't help but suddenly feel awkward and guilty.

Catherine returned a smile towards Reigies that made him flinch. At that moment, the image of a fine lady meeting his gaze with horror and hurt written all over her face overlapped with this child's face. Her shocked face that slowly turned to an expression that told she felt betrayed made his hand tremble.

"Brother? You don't look fine." A soft, small pair of hands reached for one of Reigies' hand. "Are you still sick?" Catherine asked with concern as she gazed up at him.

Reigies didn't notice that she had already approached his bed. She struggled a bit on reaching his hand since he was sitting a bit further from the edge of his wide bed and that his bed was a bit high for her.

For a moment, he stared at her face, studying every inch of her face, before looking down on her hands that was wrapped around his right hand.

'Such small, soft, cute hands...It's warm.'

It was not the same touch he had felt that time. That time when he had slashed his sword at her, she held his arm with her weak, trembling hands. Compared to what he was feeling now, that time, her touch felt cold. As if she had lost all her affection towards him.

"For you... I did everything, brother."

Without him knowing, tears started streaming down Reigies' face. Events after his sister's death started surfacing in his mind. His discovery of everything about her that built up this guilt and resentment he was feeling haunted him once again. His whole body trembled upon remembering even the nightmares he would have every night.

Seeing her brother's sudden tears, Catherine panicked. She clumsily climbed on his bed and hugged him with tears clouding her eyes.

"Don't cry, brother. Don't cry." She shakily said. "Catherine is here. D-don't cry--hic-- I will protect you."

In the end, she also started sobbing. This made Reigies' tears stop from falling.

"C-Catherine will p-protect you f-from ni-nightmares." Catherine declared while sobbing.

"Pfft--" When Reigies realized she was crying as she was trying to comfort him, he couldn't help but hold in his laughter. "Why━Why are you crying?" He couldn't hold his laughter in anymore.

Catherine let go of him and looked up. "B-Because brother is crying. I don't like brother crying! It makes me sad too."

Reigies smiled, his heart warming up upon hearing this. He didn't know words could make someone this warm.

"Then don't cry too. I also don't like you crying." He smiled as he reached for her face and wiped her tears, her somehow chubby cheeks squishing at his action. This would have been hypocritical of him if this was in the past.

'Right... I don't know how exactly was I able to come back in time but I promise you that I won't repeat the same thing. I promise to make you smile and do things I've never done before. In this life, I'll be a real brother to you.'

He vowed as he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. However, he had forgotten how many times he had already said those words...