15. 30 laps around the perimeter of the mansion as punishment!\n\n - Shade's POV -\n\nI really want you to give me a break. I looked up at the sky. I don't know what to do.\n\nAlthough we've been siblings for less than a year, I'm undoubtedly his precious little brother.\n\nAnd although I am not as fond of my brother-in-law as he is, I still have my own way of caring for him.\n\nAs long as I don't starve to death, I have enough compassion for him to split one piece of candy in half and share it with him. It's just that I'm cuter than he is.\n\nI don't want him to cry in front of me, or even in my arms.\n\n - Elizabeth's POV -\n\n\nI turn to my brother for help. I don't know how my brother interpreted it, but he tightened his expression and nodded.\n \nThen, gently, I took Christopher's hand in mine. I stopped to make it easier for him to speak.\n\n"Hey, Christopher."\n \nThe tone of his voice was still surprisingly gentle, and it made me want to cry.\n\n"We haven't been living together for very long, and I don't think Chris feels like that yet. I don't think Chris is ready to feel that way yet, because it's not something you can become if you want to."\n\n"But you know," the older brother continued, "We will be together someday."\n\n"We want to be a family with you someday."\n\nChristopher's body twitched as he turned over and continued to spill tears.\n \nIt was a small change that only I could see as I held him up.\n \nI'm sure that your brother's words have reached Christopher.\n\n\n"We ate dinner together and laughed about how delicious it was. I worry about you and you worry about me. When we were in trouble, we consulted and helped each other. We secretly keep secrets that we can't tell your mother and father."\n\nHe said this and winked at me. I don't know what he's talking about.\n\nI don't know what he's talking about. "Lizzie has a lot to worry about, and her secrets are only going to get bigger. I'd be happy to have some company too."\n\nHe said jokingly. It seems as if I'm pushing him around.\n \nIt is out of my mind. Occasionally, I do physically swing him around.\n\nThe big brother's plump hand wraps around Christopher's small hand. \n \nChristopher didn't squeeze his brother's hand back, but he didn't shake it either.\n\n"So you see. We'll do our best so that Chris will think, even just a little, that it would be nice to be like that. Can you take your time and wait for us?"\n\nThere was no reply to his question.\n \nEven so, my brother seemed to feel that it was enough.\n\nHe gently let go of my hand and started walking alongside me.\n\nWhile Christopher was crying, I couldn't help but walk very fast, and soon the familiar house came into view.\n \nChristopher, who had been quiet up to that point, suddenly raised his voice in a panic.\n\n"I'll get off. I can walk."\n \n"Oh. It seems that even Christopher is complaining about the ride."\n\n"No, no, no."\n \n"I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. If I go home like this, everyone will be worried."\n\nI bent down and gently set down my brother-in-law, who was so light that I almost forgot I was carrying him. Then, as I stood up, I saw something that made me stare at him in detail.\n\nI looked to the side and saw Christopher looking up at me. His cheeks were stained, and he looked as if he wanted to say something, or was holding something back.\n\nI was at a loss again.\n \nWhat is the right thing to do in a situation like this?\n \nI don't have any kind words like my brother's, nor do I have any smart words to say. I don't want to be expected to say something like that.\n \nAll that came to mind immediately were sweet words to seduce women. I guess it was the result of my biased learning.\n \nAfter a moment's hesitation, I quietly knelt down and made a knightly bow to my brother-in-law.\n\nAfter all, I don't know much about others. So I'll borrow an idea from my brother, who probably understands others better than I do, and is making an effort to understand them.\n \nEvery boy - maybe even every girl - yearns to be a knight.\n\n"I'm your knight, Christopher."\n\nI've only just learned how to act like a knight, but I think I've practiced enough to make it look natural.\n\n"I'm a woman, so I can't be a knight who swears allegiance to my country and defends it. So I'm a knight who protects my family ...... and the people I love."\n\nHe took Christopher's hand and gently kissed his fingertips.\n \nI would be taking away the hero who was supposed to save him. I can't shake that, and I don't feel bad about it.\n\nBut as an older sister, even if the protagonist didn't love me, I wanted him to be happy.\n \nI want him to be reasonably happy, to the extent that I am not harmed, to the extent that I am not harmed.\n \nSo, at least.\n \nEven if there is no heroine, I hope that his longing for a knight hero will be a little bit of a stronghold for him.\n\nMy brother-in-law (She still calls Shade 'brother-in-law') is staring at me with his mouth gaping open and shut. I imitated my brother and smiled as gently as I could.\n\n"Will you let me protect you?"\n\n"Hyah, hyah!"\n\nChristopher's face turned red and he nodded his head. He was a boy of that age who yearned to be a hero, and his knightly effect was outstanding.\n\nI stood up and started walking with him by the hand. He looked at us for a while, smiling and happy, and then gently lined up next to us and took Christopher's other hand.\n \nThe three of us lined up in a row and slowly made our way to the mansion.\n \n"I know you don't seem to mind, but I don't like the idea of you sneaking out on your own."\n\n"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." - Shade\n\n"Lizzie said that." - Lizzie's brother\n\n"Thirty laps around the perimeter of the house as punishment!" - Lizzie\n\n"What?" - Shade\n\n"Lizzie...." - Lizzie's brother\n\n"Huh? Was 30 laps too little?" - Lizzie\n\n"Lizzie! Stop picking on my little brother!" - Lizzie's brother\n\nI chuckle at my flustered brother. When he saw the look on my face, he knew I was joking, and a little later, his brother also erupted.\n \nChristopher looked up at our faces alternately, but eventually he squeezed our joined hands back, just a little.\n\n\n\n***\n\n\n\n\n\n