Chapter 3: Siblings (Age 9)
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When I finished my breakfast (and the horrible potion that somehow restored a bit of my stamina), the door was suddenly swung open with so much force that I feared that the hinges had broke.

"There!"

"He's up!"

The culprit; or more like culprits, that suddenly barged in were two young girls.

““Yuri!””

“Oomph!?”

As soon as my eyes met with the two, it quickly darkened as the two suddenly leaped on to me.

"H-help!", I called out towards mother, but she simply smiled as she watched us from the side.

The weight of the two was too much for a small child that had just recovered from a stab wound.

“Yuriiii~”

“Yuri~~”

The two continued hugging me tightly, ignoring my attempt to escape them.

If it was not for mother finally telling them to release me, I could have reopened my wound.

Finally being able to see the two girls that jumped me, I couldn't help but switch my gaze between the two.

...Twins.

Though their faces were alike, they both had unique traits that greatly differentiated them.

Aside from sharing the same jade-colored eyes as me, their hair color were vastly different from each other.

One was a silver haired girl with a short bobbed hairstyle. She has a somewhat taciturn expression that is slightly similar to mine.

The other is blonde haired girl with long curly hair that reaches her waist. Contrary to the taciturn girl, she's very expressive of her facial expressions but like silver haired girl, she has the same face as her, showing that they are clearly twins.

“We’re so glad you are alive”, said the silver haired girl.

“You are now forbidden from leaving our side ever again!”, the blonde haired girl complained.

I already have an idea as who these two are, but I still needed to act my part of having amnesia.

Looking towards mother, she nodded and seemed to have understood what I was going to ask.

“Um, Mother…these two are?”

“What are you saying, Yuri?”

“Do you not recognize us?”

They both asked in shock.

“I supposed to tell you two about Yuriel's current condition later today but I suppose telling you now is better...”

Mother had a melancholic smile on her face as she spoke.

“Mother?”

"What's wrong with Yuri?"

The two had bewildered expression as they looked towards mother.

“Yuriel… Your brother had lost his memories. The doctor said that they don’t know as to how much he lost or even if his memories are going to return”

After alternating their eyes between mother and I, the two's eyes became wet and tears started flowing down their cheeks.

They slowly approached me, embracing me in their silent sobbing.

"Yuriel...these two are your older sister. Before you lost your memories, you used to always play with them almost everyday”, said mother with a somewhat anguished expression.

“Yuri... I am your beloved elder sister, Marie", said the silver haired girl while she wiped the tears from her eyes. "You...You loved how I always read you stories while we sit under the tree in the garden”

“I’m Mary, you always complain about how I always braid your long hair into girly styles but you always let me do it anyway", said the blonde-haired girl. "I always make you climbed the trees in the garden with me, even when Marie and mother tells me not too”, she chuckled while trying hard to not cry.

The two took both my hands and squeezed them tightly as they continued hugging me.

I pushed them away, to which they separated without protest. 

“Yuri?”

“...Were we hurting you?”

They had uneasy expressions on their faces, clearly puzzled by my actions.

I shook my head before answering.

“I'm sorry for not being able to remember you but it makes me happy to know that I have such caring sisters. I hope that you two could continue treating me like always even if I lost my memories”

“Yuri…*sob*”

“Hic Uuuuuu uwaaahh!”

Without even a moment’s pass, the two let our soft cries as they collapse to the floor.

Mother was borrowing Claire’s shoulder as she tried to hide her crying figure from us.

Even the other servants around couldn’t help but wipe the corner of their eyes due to the current atmosphere.

No one allowed their voices to leak but they still wept.

 


 

It took a while for my sisters; Marie and Mary to stop crying.

After quickly cheering themselves up, the rest of my morning consisted of being pampered by the them.

I was brought around the mansion on my wheelchair while they told me stories about the past. Like the places where the three of us would often play at, and about how we would sometimes get into trouble because of sister Mary's games.

Listening to them, I couldn't help but chuckle at how some of the things that they told me were lies that they made to better themselves in my eyes. Every time one of them would tell fake stories, the other would speak up and complain which would then lead to the to bickering at each other.

I felt warm just from watching their interactions.

They truly care and love their brother to the point that they always want to be seen as someone great in Yuriel's eyes.

The two continued staying by my side until it was close to sunset.

It would seem that they were supposed to be learning today but was given permission by mother only for today.

It was only when father arrived and called for me that the two reluctantly separated.

Marie and Mary were actually very vehement in sticking close to me for the whole day but they were stopped when mother came and scolded them.

Currently, I'm in front of father's office with Claire pushing my wheelchair.

I reached out towards the door and knocked a couple of times.

Knock knock

“Father… It is Yuriel”, I called out.

It was only a short moment after when I received a short “Come in” as a reply.

Claire opened the door for me before bringing me inside.

“Step out of the room for a moment, Claire”, ordered father, his eyes never leaving the paper in his hands.

Claire simply made a bowing gesture before leaving the room.

Only when Claire left the room did father looked at me and spoke.

“How is your condition?”, he asked.

“It is much better than how I was yesterday. It may be because of the potion that mother gave me this morning but it seems like I am still unable to lift myself up from this chair”

“That is normal”, he nodded. “The doctor said that it should take you a few more days before you can properly walk around, so for now try not to force yourself to stand. Ask for assistance if you really need to”

“I will do that”

“How about your memories? Do you still not recall anything?”, a somewhat concerned look floated on his face.

I could only shake my head in denial.

“I see…I heard today that the people responsible for what happened to you had already been captured. Father will personally make sure that they will regret what they had done to you”

A scary expression suddenly replaced his worried one.

It was enough to even make me take a step back in fear though I couldn’t since I was sitting down.

Ehem…Forgive me”

Maybe because he noticed my discomfort, Father fixed his expression before looking at me with a now gentle smile.

“I'm sorry for calling for you even when you still need to recover. You can retire to your room now, I'll tell someone to bring your meal to your room later”

Saying those words, Father returned his sights to the documents.

He started grumbling about something while scratching his head.

Since I was seated relatively close to father's work table, I noticed the words that were written on the documents spread around.

I can properly read the letters on them, so I easily understood the reason for father's grumbling.

“Father, may I ask something?”, I called out to him.

“What is it?”, he looks away from the document.

“What is that document about?”

“This?… Well, it should not pose a problem if I were to tell you since you will have to deal with things like this in the future but I will have you promise me that you will tell no one about it, understood?”

I nodded in reply.

“Currently, a few fiefs within the kingdom are experiencing a decline in their crop yield. It has already been going on for some years now but now the decline has been increasing”, he hands me one of the documents. “It is not bad to the extent that people are starving but it is increasing the prices of goods, causing problems to families that are not that well off. Truthfully, the lords of these fiefs should be the finding the solution but His Majesty requested that I look into it just in case the decline in each fief has any similarity"

“....shouldn't this be because of soil depletion?", I unconsciously muttered as I read the document.

"Soil depletion? Are you saying that the soil is being reduced?”, father looked at me puzzled.

"Ah! N-No. I mean...", I stumbled in my words as I didn't think that father would hear me.

"What do you mean by this 'soil depletion' that you speak of?"

“Um…Is it fine that you are asking a child for such things?”

"Asking you shouldn't pose any problems. Just take it as us having a casual conversation", father was showing a gentle smile but his eyes were clearly showing a probing look.

Even when I was uneasy about it, I explained to him what soil depletion was and the importance of letting the soil rest and regain its nutrients by planting certain crops and plants.

“I see…If that is the case, what do you suggest we do?”

Father’s eyes turned rather sharp as he leans on his desk with his chin resting on the back of his hands.

"Is this really alright?"

“I had always believe that Yuriel was a bright child even before you lost your memories. Do not mind about the trivial things and speak your mind”

Though he was smiling, I was still very intimidated by him.

“...I-If you are certain then…”

Being urged by him, I then told him methods like crop rotation and using certain composts to revitalize the soil.

He intently listened to my words, taking notes of certain things that I brought up that he did not understand.

I became rather troubled since he was seriously taking advice from a child with an expression of complete seriousness.

Finishing my explanation, I heaved a sigh of relief and father leaned back on his chair while crossing his arms.

“...His Majesty and I had already considered requesting the Elfred Kingdom for assistance in this matter since the elves there are more knowledgeable in taking care of plants and crops... but if you’re method proves to be effective... Increasing the variety of crops that the country produces shouldn't be that difficult to achieve”

When I asked him if he is sure about using my advice, he gently smiles and pats my head from across the table before saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll take the responsibility if it ends badly”.

“...I understand”

Though I still felt very uneasy by it.

“But, Yuriel…”, his eyes became serious, “Do not tell anyone about any of the things you told me today, understood? I want you to promise me this”

I nodded, wanting to finally end this conversation.

“Good”

Saying those words, Father calls for Claire to take me away.

I said my farewell to father before telling Claire to bring me to my room’s terrace, so I could take in some fresh air.

Hearing the chirping sounds of insects, I felt a wave of relief leave my body.

Today was so tiring for various reasons that it once again dawned on me that I'm in another world.

It slightly troubled me that I was easily accepting all of this, but then again, I can't do anything about it.

Even when I heard that magic and potions that could quickly recover stamina existed in this world, I wasn’t as surprised as I thought I would be.

My manner of speaking seemed to have also changed from how it original was.

Was I perhaps unconsciously wishing for a life like this? 

...I don’t really know.

I feel like I should just live as I wish for the real owner's stead as I felt like the real Yuriel would have wanted it to be that way.

While saying sorry to the real Yuriel in my heart, I came back into the room where Claire was setting up my meal.

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