Sylvette's eyes were still wide as she pointed toward the clearing. "What… what was that thing, Noel?"

Noel exhaled slowly, brushing some dirt off his sleeve. "That thing," he said, glancing down at the small black wolf now wagging her tail at his feet, "is Noir."

Sylvette blinked, confusion deepening. "Noir? You mean that shadow that used to follow you around in the academy?"

"Yeah," Noel nodded, crouching to scratch behind the wolf's ear. Noir leaned into the touch, her violet eyes gleaming faintly. "She's my familiar."

Sylvette stared at him like he'd grown another head. "Your familiar? Noel, that beast was five meters tall two minutes ago."

"She's… adaptable," Noel replied dryly.

Noir let out a soft sound, half huff, half purr, and flicked her tail in satisfaction. Sylvette took a hesitant step forward, curiosity replacing fear. When she knelt down, Noir sniffed her hand once before letting her pet her head. The fur was surprisingly warm.

"She's… beautiful," Sylvette admitted. "But I've never seen a familiar like this. Even father's fire hawks aren't this—alive."

"Yeah," Noel said, looking down at Noir with a faint smile. "She's special."

Sylvette's gaze darted to him again, a small pout forming. "You couldn't have mentioned that you had such a cute thing here?"

Noel raised a brow. "Didn't think it was important."

Sylvette ignored him completely and crouched beside Noir, reaching out to stroke her head. Noir wagged her tail and then rolled onto her side, exposing her belly like a spoiled pet demanding attention.

"Oh, look at you," Sylvette said with a laugh, running her hand through the wolf's soft black fur. "You're adorable."

Noir let out a low, content rumble, her violet eyes half-closed. Noel watched, amused.

"She's got good taste," he muttered.

Sylvette shot him a playful glare. "I wasn't talking about you."

Noir flicked her tail once, clearly enjoying the attention, before curling back up on the ground. The moment felt strangely peaceful—two siblings and a shadow wolf, the tension between them fading like morning mist.

The two of them sat near the edge of the forest, where sunlight filtered through the leaves in quiet patterns. Noir had curled up beside Noel, her head resting lazily on his lap as if she owned it.

Sylvette leaned back against a tree trunk, arms crossed loosely. "So… how long have you had her?"

"Since my first year at the academy," Noel said, his voice calm. "She was smaller then. More shadow than wolf."

Sylvette nodded slowly, glancing toward Noir. "She's incredible. You've really grown, Noel. Not just her—you."

Noel gave a faint chuckle. "Guess time does that. And a few near-death experiences."

"Right…" Sylvette smiled faintly, though her tone carried a trace of guilt. "I didn't realize how much stronger you'd gotten. Or how much you've changed."

Noel didn't reply right away. He looked down at Noir instead, running a hand over her fur. "Change isn't always something you notice while it's happening."

Sylvette tilted her head. "You sound like an old man."

"I feel like one some days." He replied to Sylvette, but inside he thought, 'That's because I am.'

That drew a soft laugh from her. The air between them felt… lighter, something that hadn't happened in years.

After a few moments, Sylvette spoke again, more quietly this time. "You know… when you came back, I thought you'd try to prove something. To father, or to the others. But you didn't. You just… did what you had to."

Noel's gaze met hers. "Would proving anything change the past?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "No. But it's strange. You're calmer now. Colder, maybe. But it suits you."

Noir's ear twitched, as if agreeing.

"Careful," Noel said dryly. "You almost sounded like you respect me."

Sylvette rolled her eyes, grinning. "Don't push your luck."

Sylvette's grin faded little by little, replaced by a quiet, almost reflective look. The laughter between them dissolved into a stillness that felt heavier than silence.

"Noel," she said finally, her tone softer.

He hummed, glancing her way.

"I've been meaning to say something for a while." She fiddled with one of her earrings—a nervous habit he hadn't seen in years. "About how I used to treat you."

Noel tilted his head slightly, curious but calm. "Go on."

"When we were younger, I… wasn't exactly kind." She gave a short, awkward laugh. "Actually, I was terrible. I said things I didn't mean—because everyone else did. Because it was easier to fit in than to question why Father and the others treated you like that."

Noel stayed quiet, eyes lowered. The memory wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't fresh either.

Sylvette looked down at her hands. "I don't even know if saying sorry now changes anything, but… I am. Sorry, I mean."

Noel let out a faint breath that might've been a laugh. "You're late, you know. About fifteen years or so."

She smiled a little, shoulders easing. "I figured. Still felt like I needed to say it."

He shrugged. "Then I'll take it. And I'll say this—thanks for being the heir now. You're saving me a headache."

Sylvette blinked, then burst into a quiet laugh. "You really don't want anything to do with the family, huh?"

Noel leaned back against a tree trunk, his voice even. "Not unless I have to. I'm here because I need to be, not because I belong."

That last word hung between them for a while. Sylvette didn't answer—it wasn't something she could argue.

Noir shifted beside them, opening one glowing violet eye as if sensing the tension, then gently rested her paw over Noel's boot, grounding him back to the present.

Noel glanced at her and murmured, almost to himself, "Yeah… I know."

The light had started to fade by the time they left the forest. The horizon glowed gold and violet, brushing against the distant rooftops of the Thorne estate. Noel walked ahead, hands in his pockets, while Sylvette followed, her eyes occasionally drifting toward Noir padding quietly beside them in her small form.

"So," Sylvette said, breaking the calm, "I didn't just come to say sorry."

Noel arched a brow. "Didn't think so."

She smiled faintly, fishing a folded note from her pocket. "Father received this a few minutes ago—an urgent message from the guards stationed at the southern gate."

He took it, scanning the handwriting before looking up. "A message?"

Sylvette nodded, a playful smirk forming. "Apparently, the estate is expecting visitors."

"Visitors?" Noel asked, already feeling a faint sense of dread.

"Mm-hm." She crossed her arms, enjoying his expression. "The letter said—and I quote—'The charming girlfriends of Noel are on their way to the Thorne Territory.'"

Noel froze. "...What?"

Sylvette snorted. "That's exactly what it says."

He rubbed a hand down his face, groaning. "Of course it does…"

"So," she teased, stepping closer with a raised brow, "how many are we talking about here? Two? Three?"

Noel glanced aside, muttering, "Four."

Her jaw dropped. "Four?!"

He nodded, tone casual. "Didn't I mention that?"

"No!" Sylvette exclaimed, half laughing, half exasperated. "And here I am—Father won't even let me look at a man because I'm supposed to act like the next heir of the family—meanwhile, my little brother has four girlfriends?"

Noel shrugged, utterly deadpan. "Guess I'm just efficient."

Sylvette groaned, pressing her fingers to her temple. "You're impossible."

He chuckled quietly, but his eyes softened when he looked at her. "Hey, you're doing the family a favor being heir. After all this is over, I'll finally be free of it."

Sylvette glanced at him, expression shifting. "You really don't plan on staying, huh?"

Noel looked ahead toward the mansion, his gaze distant. "No."

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