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Chapter 652 Trial Of The Heart [Part 2]

When she first found out that she had a brother, she felt very happy. But as she grew older, this happiness gradually faded until none was left.

Joanne would often see brothers and sisters play in Caer Wydion, wearing smiles on their faces.

She never experienced those things.

The only ones she could play with were her dolls. Thanks to them, she was able to feel happy, suppressing the loneliness she felt albeit momentarily.

When news of her brother’s return to Caer Wydion reached her ears, she felt like her sanctuary was about to be defiled by a stranger.

Even if they were related by blood, Joanne didn’t want anyone to suddenly squeeze himself into their family and get the attention of her parents and grandparents.

She was afraid that she would stop being special in their hearts.

She was afraid that they would love him more than they loved her.

She was afraid that the moment she accepted Ethan as her brother, she would become too dependent on him and ask him to spoil her in the absence of their parents and grandparents.

The young lady hated being weak. In her eyes, her family was shouldering the Fate of their world, so she must not show any signs of weakness.

She wanted to grow up as fast as she could. That way, she could also share their burdens and help them in the battles in the World of Saraqael.

‘Your brother will leave the Magdar Kingdom in a few days in order to deal with the Ratmen threat in the north,’ Joanne’s other Half said. ‘It might take him a while to return, so use that opportunity to sort things out.’

‘This might be out of the blue, but I believe that it’s not only him who is currently undergoing the trial of the heart. You are also undergoing that trial with him.’

Joanne wanted to shake her head and say, ‘That’s impossible’ because she was still too young to undergo her own coming-of-age ceremony.

However, she knew that the trial was about overcoming someone’s heart demon, which could potentially grow and cause the person to stray from the right path.

Right now, her brother was her heart’s demon. If this trial was indeed done for her sake, then she would need to find a way to overcome her prejudice toward the young man, whom she believed had returned to destroy her happy life with her family.

‘You know, I really think that the Shadow Hand grabbed you for a reason,’ Joanne’s Other Half commented, breaking the young lady from her daze. ‘Both you and your brother are undergoing a trial, and it just so happens that the setting is perfect for the two of you.

‘Maybe there’s some kind of higher power out there who decided that it would be best if you took the trial alongside your brother so that you will be able to smile more and understand what having a brother is like.’

Joanne’s Other Half stepped out of the full-body mirror and gently hugged the young lady from behind.

‘I know that it’s difficult, but can you find it in your heart to give your brother a chance? Can you give your parents and grandparents a chance to have a happy ending?’

‘I don’t believe in happy endings,’ Joanne replied but made no move to pry away the arms of her Other Half, who was hugging her. ‘Even Fairy Tales don’t always have a happy ending.’

‘You’re right,’ Joanne’s Other Half commented. ‘But this is your life we are talking about. You have the power and ability to give yourself a happy ending. While we’re at it, we can also give your first Princess friend—no… your soon-to-be best friend her own happy ending as well.

‘You already laid out the foundations for it, so why don’t the two of us work together to make Ramona happy as well?’

Joanne’s Other Half raised her hand and placed it over the young lady’s chest, where her heart was located.

‘But maybe the thing that we think will make her happy isn’t really something that will make her happy,’ Joanne’s Other Half closed her eyes.

‘Even so, I believe that this is something that we should do,’ Joanne replied. ‘We might not be able to stay in the past for a long time, but we can pave the way for her future.’

‘So, are you ready to make that happy ending happen?’

‘…’

Joanne kept silent and didn’t answer her Other Half’s question.

Her Other Half also didn’t say anything else and simply hugged her tighter for another minute before merging with her body, not leaving a single trace behind.

***

“Do you want me to ask her if she wants to have breakfast with us?” Princess Ramona, who was seated at the dining table with Ethan, asked.

“You don’t need to do that,” Ethan replied. “If she wants to join us, then she will join us. We can just eat without her.”

Although he said those words calmly, Princess Ramona was still able to pick up a tinge of disappointment in Ethan’s voice.

“You can bring the food now,” Princess Ramona ordered her two maidservants, who were busy sneaking glances at the handsome Tidebringer. “But make it three servings.”

The maids bowed and left the room to obey their Princess’ orders.

“Ethan, you said that you will be leaving in a few days, right?” Princess Ramona asked. “How soon can you return?”

“I’m not sure,” Ethan replied. “I will first need to understand the current situation. If there’s no need to completely eliminate the Ratment, I will negotiate with them.”

“Aren’t they Monsters? Can you really negotiate with them?” Princess Ramona asked with curiosity.

“Monsters are still living creatures,” Ethan answered. “Eliminating them just because they are Monsters will leave a bad aftertaste in my mouth. The Kobolds who lived in the mountains aren’t doing anything to harm the Humans of this region. They are Monsters, but they don’t go out of their way to antagonize us.

“I will understand the true situation after I observe them for a few days. If there’s a chance that we can have a mutual agreement, then there’s no need to wipe them out.”

Suddenly, the door opened, and a blue-haired girl entered.

She walked toward the seat that was beside Princess Ramona and sat without saying a word.

However, her action of joining them for breakfast made Ethan and the Princess smile.

‘It might be a small step, but it\'s the thought that counts,’ Joanne’s Other Half smiled from inside her Sea of Consciousness.

She could tell that Joanne had decided to give Ethan a chance.

However, she also understood that it would also take a while before Joanne opened up her heart to her brother.

Fortunately, they wouldn’t be leaving the Lands of Alastor anytime soon.

Joanne’s Other Half believed that by the time Ethan and Joanne were ready to return to the future, both of them would have already closed the gap that prevented them from mutually recognizing each other as siblings.