Chapter 12: Lonely Little Girl, Irina Frey
Allen's heart raced, and a surge of pain gripped his chest as he caught sight of a little girl who appeared to be crying.
With a heavy heart, he whispered, "Irina..."
Memories of the young girl flooded his mind, reminding him of their shared past.
Irina Frey, Allen's second sister, was born to Julius and his third wife, Carina Orion.
Carina hailed from the esteemed Marquis Orion family, renowned in the kingdom of Salvaria as one of the seven great kingdoms, alongside Eldoria.
Sadly, the Marquis Orion family had met a tragic fate, vanishing from the Salvaria royal system amidst allegations of rebellion against the ruling Salvaria family.
Deep within, Allen was well aware that the alleged rebellion of the Marquis Orion family, used by the Salvaria Royal family to tarnish their reputation, was nothing more than fabricated news.
The truth lay in the Marquis Orion family's dissenting beliefs and ideas that clashed with those of the Royals.
Allen's understanding of the truth was intricately linked to his bond with Julius' third wife, Carina.
In his past life, he had shared a profound connection with Carina, appreciating her gentle and compassionate nature.
Carina embodied the qualities of both a loving mother and a devoted wife.
It was this deep connection that led Allen to develop a stronger affection for Irina Frey, Carina's daughter, compared to Lecia, his other sister.
The circumstances leading to Carina, the daughter of a Salvarian Marquis, becoming Julius' wife were inextricably tied to the war between the Kingdom of Eldoria and the Kingdom of Salvaria, which occurred a dozen years ago.
During that period, the Salvaria Kingdom suffered a major setback when one of their royal daughters was successfully taken hostage by the Eldoria troops, resulting in a significant defeat for Salvaria.
Consequently, they were compelled to engage in negotiations with the Eldoria troops, agreeing to exchange their royal daughter for the daughter of a Marquis, along with the inclusion of several territories in the bargain.
As Allen recalled Carina's heart-wrenching tale of her family's tragic fate and her own captivity, a profound anger welled up inside him, intensifying during that time.
Regrettably, five years after giving birth to Irina, Carina passed away, leaving behind her final wish for Allen to safeguard Irina as her surrogate.
To Allen, Carina was not only a second mother figure but also a mentor.
Her expertise as a Senior stage The true mage, at the time, made her a capable teacher who imparted knowledge of magic to him.
"I deeply regret not being able to protect her back then, Mother Carina..." Allen's hand instinctively reached for his chest, overwhelmed by guilt for the way he had initially perceived Irina, who had also fallen victim to the battle with the hero.
"However, now that I have been granted this opportunity, I will ensure Irina's safety!" Allen silently made a solemn vow, lifting his head and directing his gaze towards the forlorn little girl.
Without hesitation, Allen made his way towards the girl in the garden.
His steps came to a halt as he heard Irina's sorrowful voice.
"Mom... It feels like big brother is leaving me, just like you did," Irina uttered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.
She crouched down, overwhelmed by her emotions.
"Will I be all alone now?" Her tear-stained face, filled with helplessness, tugged at Allen's heartstrings.
Swiftly, he positioned himself in front of Irina and tenderly caressed her silky brownish-blonde hair, which bore a striking resemblance to Julius'.
"Left you? Who told you that, my dear little girl?" Allen's voice softened as he spoke, accompanied by a warm smile directed towards the weeping Irina.
Upon hearing his words, Irina abruptly halted her tears, her body appearing to freeze in place.
"Brother?!" She lifted her head instantly, finding before her the very figure she had yearned for.
"Yes, it's me, Irina." Allen beamed, his smile reaching his eyes.
"What's the matter? Can't you recognize your own brother?"
Unable to contain himself, Allen couldn't resist pinching Irina's adorable, chubby cheeks, amused by her astonished and endearing expression.
Overwhelmed with joy and relief, Irina's tears flowed uncontrollably as she leaped into Allen's arms, embracing his neck tightly.
"Big brother! Big brother! Wooo~" She cried out loudly, clinging to Allen with all her might.
Allen smiled warmly, reciprocating the embrace and gently patting her back.
"Alright, alright, I'm here," he reassured her in a soft and soothing tone.
Allen understood the immense burden and pressure that his absence would place on his sister, Irina.
Carina, despite being the daughter of a Marquis, hailed from a family that had been decimated and left Carina as the sole survivor.
Coming from a background associated with enemy territory, she faced numerous challenges and lacked the support typically associated with her noble lineage.
Had it not been for Allen's intervention, Irina might have suffered a fate similar to that of Alice, his fiancée, who had faced mistreatment and adversity.
"Big brother! I'm scared you'll leave me, wooo~" Irina clung to Allen's neck, tears streaming down her face.
Helpless, Allen gently caressed her hair.
"Don't worry, my little girl. I'm not going anywhere, okay?" He couldn't bear to force her to let go, as he had missed her immensely too.
The two remained in a tight embrace until Irina reluctantly released her hold on Allen's neck.
With a hint of sadness, she rubbed the corners of her eyes and asked with a quivering voice, "Brother... are you truly cured?" She trembled with fear, concerned that her brother hadn't fully recovered.
Upon hearing Irina's doubts, Allen chuckled and playfully rubbed his nose, assuring her, "Of course!"
"Watch this!" He extended his hand, and with ease, he manipulated the water in the garden pond, showcasing his control.
Witnessing this display, Irina's belief was solidified, and a sense of relief washed over her.
"I understand now. I'm so glad, big brother!"
"I was afraid you would leave me like Mom," she confessed, her voice filled with desperation and her head lowered.
Understanding her fears all too well, Allen embraced her gently, providing comfort and reassurance.
"Don't fret, my dear little girl, for I will safeguard you in every possible manner, even if it means risking my own life." Allen spoke with a gentle tone, although a deep-seated anger flickered in his eyes.
Unaware of the anger within him, Irina's heart swelled with warmth upon hearing Allen's words, and she hugged him happily, embracing him tightly as if releasing all their pent-up longing.
"Thank you... big brother!" she exclaimed, overflowing with affection and holding Allen in a loving embrace.
Little did they know that at the far end of the room, someone lurked, peering at the scene with seething hatred, their teeth clenched in furious resentment.
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Sorry for the new update because lately I'm not in the mood to write hahaha.
However, in the future I will be diligent in updating!
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