"Sister, remember this—A true ideal, no matter how bound by fate, will one day break free from its cocoon."
Alhaitham spoke with quiet conviction.
He gently lifted Anisfia's chin with one hand while wiping the tears from her face with the other. Finally, he ran his fingers through her golden hair.
The contrast between them was stark—one radiant like the sun, the other dark and enigmatic like the night.
"Yes! I'll remember, Haitham!"
"That's good… Just don't hug me so tightly."
"But I can't help it! My little brother is so handsome! Ahhh, I love you the most!"
Anisfia threw her arms around Alhaitham again, hugging him tightly.
The sorrow she had felt moments ago was completely swept away, replaced by a warmth that filled her heart.
Among all the people in the world, Alhaitham was her favorite—even more than her father, even more than the queen.
After all, her younger brother was the only one who believed in her dreams. When the world laughed at her, when everyone dismissed her ambitions, it was Alhaitham who stood by her side, offering unwavering support and admiration.
Even many of her research projects had been funded by Alhaitham's pocket money.
To her, he wasn't just her sponsor or the only person who truly understood her—he was her beloved younger brother, the best in the world.
And so, despite having two younger brothers by blood, in her heart, she had only one: Alhaitham.
---
A Sky Full of Fireworks
"Spark… Bloom."
At that moment, Alhaitham cast his magic.
With a flick of his fingers, magical energy coalesced and transformed into flames, soaring into the sky. The next instant, a series of fiery explosions lit up the sky, bursting into dazzling flowers of fire.
"So beautiful! Haitham, you're amazing!"
Anisfia's emerald-green eyes sparkled with admiration.
To her, Alhaitham wasn't just her younger brother—he was her idol.
Unlike her, who was unable to wield magic, Alhaitham was a true genius.
She often dreamed of the day when she, too, would be able to cast brilliant spells just like him.
Not long after, Rem and Ram returned with a tray of sweets and tea, and the three of them enjoyed a peaceful afternoon together. Their bond as siblings grew even stronger.
---
A Conversation Between Siblings
"By the way, Haitham, do you enjoy reading?"
"Not particularly. To be honest, I got tired of reading in my previous life."
"Eh? Seriously?"
"Yeah, I'm just studying the world for now. After all, my ultimate goal is to conquer it and become the greatest king ever. Like with women, one must first understand before conquering."
Alhaitham spoke with an utterly straight face.
Anisfia, who had been in the middle of eating a biscuit, promptly choked.
"Cough! Cough! Cough! Haitham! Watch your words! You're only seven years old! Seven! That is not something a child your age should be saying!"
"Don't sweat the details, Sister."
"How can I not sweat the details?!"
"By the way, when I become king, the first thing I'll do is abolish the Ministry of Magic for stealing my sister's research funds. Honestly, I despise religious fundamentalists, so wiping them out would be an added bonus."
"..."
Anisfia was at a complete loss for words.
Her adorable, seven-year-old younger brother had just spoken with a bright, innocent smile—while casually declaring something incredibly bloody and ruthless.
Yet, because he was doing it for her sake, she couldn't help but feel a bit happy.
---
The Path to the Throne
"Haitham, are you seriously aiming to be king?"
"Of course. A king without ambition is unworthy of the throne."
"Poor Ayato-kun~ He's doomed."
Anisfia sighed dramatically.
Her younger brother, Alhaitham, was technically the second prince. However, because his mother wasn't of noble birth, his claim to the throne was weaker than that of the third prince, Ayato, who had been born to the princess consort.
In the same way that Anisfia's inability to use magic was considered her greatest flaw, there was also a reason why the nobility refused to acknowledge Alhaitham.
His appearance.
Alhaitham did not inherit the royal family's golden hair. Instead, he had jet-black hair—the same color as his mother's, a woman from the distant East.
Because of this, he was often criticized by the nobles, who viewed his foreign blood as a stain on the royal lineage.
But unlike Anisfia, who often felt troubled by the way people saw her, Alhaitham didn't care about their opinions at all.
In fact, he was proud of his black hair.
He had even publicly stated that he was glad he inherited his mother's Eastern features rather than the royal family's golden hair.
"Why should I regret it? Isn't this wonderful?"
"This deep black, capable of absorbing and reshaping all colors, is the most fitting for a king who will one day conquer the world."
Anisfia could only shake her head.
"Haaah~ I don't think Ayato-kun stands a chance. Haitham is just… too overwhelming."
Though it was a strange thing to say, the third prince, Ayato—the one currently first in line for the throne—was simply a normal person.
He had the qualities of an average, competent ruler. He would likely grow into a stable, reasonable king in the future.
But compared to Alhaitham?
Anisfia believed that Haitham wasn't just capable of becoming a king—he was destined to be the greatest king in history.
Not because of some special reason.
Not because of politics or strategy.
But simply because—he had supported her dreams.
And in return, she would support his.
---
A Forbidden Book
"By the way, I almost forgot! I brought a present for you, Haitham!"
"Oh? A new magic item of yours?"
"Unfortunately, no. Ta-da~!"
With a triumphant smirk, Anisfia dramatically pulled out a book.
Alhaitham's eyes narrowed.
"Is that…"
"Hehehe, it's a forbidden book from the palace library! I snuck it out just for you!"
"..."
For a moment, Alhaitham was speechless.
It wasn't because she had stolen a banned book from the palace archives.
It was because… she had pulled it out from under her skirt.
There were some places where girls hid things that were simply beyond a boy's imagination.
In the end, all Alhaitham could do was silently take the still-warm book, his face blank with resignation.