Isekai: Princess Marquess Becomes Entrepreneur of Tempe

Chapter 44. Becoming a Brother

Ten years ago.

"Mother..where am I not invited..."

A little girl seemed to cry when she saw her parents were preparing to travel far away with large suitcases. Her tears flowed down her cheeks. The woman he called the mother bowed before him and hugged him.

"Darling... Mom won't be gone long. Dad's got business out of town, and I have to keep him company. Isn't that right, Dad?"

The woman, Reina Locke, sought her husband's defense. The husband stretched out his hands and held his little daughter. The cold face he always displayed before people as Marquess Edward Locke was not so applicable in front of his little daughter. His face turned very soft every time he dealt with the girl who was not even 7 years old.

"Elona, father's beautiful daughter. I promise you, Mom and Dad will be home soon after our business is done. Until I come back, you play with Kak Stefan first, yes. Don't be naughty and follow what he says. Understood?"

Little Elona nodded her head even though her eyes still looked puffy.

"But Mom and Dad promised we'd be home soon, right? Little promise first!"

Edward Locke smiled, then pulled out the little finger on his right hand, and then linked it to his daughter's little pinky, "Dad promise."

Finished reconciling his daughter, Edward Locke also approached his son who was just in his teens. This son has a nature that is not much different from him, and has always been the smartest in learning and physical exercise. This made Edward very proud of him.

"Stefan, Mom and Dad go first. Take good care of Elona, yeah. Don't be made to cry. The responsibility of taking care of Elona is entirely with you. If something happens, take care of it for a while.

When Father and Mother leave, you have the full right and obligation to replace Father. If it's urgent and you don't know what to do, send Dad a letter. You gotit?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Good." Edward smiled at her. He and his wife embraced his beloved son in turn.

"Take care of yourself, Dad, Mom. Go home quickly." said Stefan.

Both Edward and Reina knew that although from the outside the child looked strong and strong because it had been forged as an heir to Locke, in it was still Stefan their little son who loved his family very much, even though he cannot reveal it.

Finished all the goods neatly packed and raised on a horse carriage, the couple Edward and Reina Locke waved from inside the cabin as a farewell greeting.

Stefan and Elona were standing in the front yard of the Locke residence hand in hand, staring at the horse-drawn carriage that his father and mother were riding increasingly away.

No one knew it was the last time the brothers saw their parents.

*****

At present.

"Look for Elona, yeah. Don't be made to cry. The responsibility of taking care of Elona is entirely with you."

The last message his father left for Stefan was still ringing in his head until ten years had passed since the deaths of his parents. Currently, he was sitting on the edge of the bed in his room in Armelin City, recalling all the events he had experienced so far. His wife, Iris, fell asleep next to him.

After the news of Marquess Locke's husband's death reached the ears of his children, it was the toughest time that Stefan had to go through. He was only 13 years old, and the teenager had to be immediately burdened with all kinds of duties and obligations as a marquess and as the leader of the territory of the City of Armelin.

All sorts of things Stefan had to learn in a very short time. He tried so that Locke's family name could not fall because of the loss of the head of the family. With the help of all his father's friends and employees at the time, Stefan immediately rose from the slump and served as the youngest marquess in the kingdom at the time.

But the same thing didn't happen to Elona. His sister was very fragile, and at that time he was very small, only 7 years old. While Stefan was so busy learning so many things to replace his father, Elona could only be silent in the room, lonely and crying.

Only a few months later, Elona's maid of honor, Mai, reported her sister's strange new habit of eating all the provisions in the kitchen of the hungry.

Stefan remembered his father's message to look after Elona, but he himself was very busy, and he also had no experience to take care of small children as a whole, especially girls. All he knows is that a child will be happy if his will is fulfilled.

Therefore, Stefan always obeyed Elona's wishes, buying various clothes and foods that he liked, including matching her to Louis Vandyke, when his sister stated he liked the boy from first sight.

Stefan's busyness makes him never check Elona's condition often. Later, he married Iris, a classmate at a school who famously had many friends. One of the considerations Stefan chose Iris as his wife is, hoping that later the woman can become a new friend for Elona.

But that didn't happen. During her one-year marriage to Stefan, Iris never got close to Elona. His wife said that his sister preferred to do all the things in the room. After school, he went straight to his room. Iris once invited him to chat in Elona's room, but he only answered short and looked nervous once near Iris.

Of all the things that have happened, suddenly everything changed a few months ago. Elona began to often come out of her room to exercise to manage the body. Iris became more cheerful because she could be close to her sister-in-law. And Stefan also became more understanding about Elona.

No one knows if it turns out that actually at that time, Elona's body has been possessed by someone from another world. No one knew it until today, until Stefan heard it all.

It's worth it that everything feels different suddenly. Then, my real sister...

"Look Elona well, yeah..."

His father's message came back, and at once tears fell on Stefan's cheek. The man who had been trying to be strong and tough for the sake of the survival of the Locke family, tonight finally shed tears. The last time Stefan cried was when his parents were buried.

Warm tears flowed down his cheeks. Stefan closed his eyes with his hands tied to his thighs. He could only duck, and his back shook.

"My husband... What's wrong?"

*****

"Stefans? What was?? You why?" Iris was so shocked to see her husband. All the time he knew Stefan, never once had he seen the man cry.

Stefan took a breath, trying to calm himself down. Then slowly, he told her all the facts he had just received from Elona that night.

Iris was so shocked to hear that. Her hands tightly clasped her husband's arms. "From another world, you say? Our elona?"

Stefan nodded. "Elona who was determined to be thin, Elona who began to open herself to you and me, and Elona who offered herself to go to Armelin to solve the problem here. It's not all Elona my real sister..."

Iris held her breath, she looked at her husband in disbelief. "Then, your real sister Elona..."

Stefan grabbed his wife's body suddenly, and started crying back on her shoulder.

"He said that his memory was fused with that of Elona before. That means.that means my real sister is gone..."

Iris replied to her husband's embrace tightly, "Stefan, calm yourself!"

"I couldn't carry out my parents' last message to look after my sister! I have failed! Elona my sister is gone! I-"

"Stefans! Be calm! You did not fail! You've been a very good sister to Elona!"

"No, Iris. I've failed..."

"Stefan!!" Iris let go of her husband's embrace, then looked at him fixedly. The woman wiped Stefan's tears from her cheek.

"Gear me in the eye, and listen!" Iris asked firmly. Stefan complied. This is very reversed, when usually Stefan is the one who acts the most assertive between the two of them all along.

"I'm sorry I asked the real Elona. I mean, there's nothing real or fake. Elona is Elona! Whoever the soul is in his body right now, he is still your sister, my brother-in-law too! So, stop cursing yourself!"

Stefan began to wake up after hearing his wife's words. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

After seeing her husband calm down, Iris continued, "She said right, that her memories and Elona were fused together. That means your sister is still here, with us. Maybe it's a little different, but it doesn't matter, right? His different nature actually makes his body more healthy and avoid the psychological illness.

He had already left his life in the previous world, and was determined to improve his present life. It must have been hard for him. Moreover, he was used to not having any family all this time. So, we have to help him, as a family.

You want to be Elona's sister again?"

Stefan nodded his head, then wiped away the remaining tears in his eyes. "Yes, you're right. Alright."

Iris smiled happily to hear it. "We should sleep now. Look, your eyes are swollen, this!"

Stefan looked at his wife's face fixedly and moved closer quickly. One warm, deep kiss landed on the lips of the beautiful woman.

"Well, what a mess, my husband is getting romantic like this all of a sudden" Iris teased Stefan. Usually when tempted like that, Stefan became a prestige to show his feelings.

But tonight is different. Stefan smiled gently, making Iris frown.

"Why?"

"I may have never said this before, but..."

"What?" Iris asked curiously.

"I love you so much."

"Eh?"

So surprised Iris heard that, that the red hue on her face could not be controlled. It's true, during her marriage, Stefan never expressed love, and Iris never made a fuss about it.

Their marriage was actually quite unique. Stefan is looking for someone who can be a friend to his sister, and Iris is tired of dealing with men who always tease him wherever he goes.

Stefan's proposal for her came suddenly to his family, and as the viscount's daughter, his father could not possibly reject the marriage proposal that came from a marquess.

Moreover, actually Iris was quite admiring the figure of Stefan during the cold school, arrogan, and never interested in anything else but his future. It is suitable for Iris who has a nature too clever for women of her age. You could say, they got married on the basis of friendship and because of an agreement. The first night never happened between them during the year of their marriage.

So, being suddenly declared in love by Stefan completely leaves Iris at a loss for words. The woman could not cover her nervous feelings in front of her husband at this time.

"K-ka-you.. why suddenly... a-me-hmmph!"

A kiss again landed on Iris' soft lips, making the woman have to catch her breath. The first night that had never existed, Iris did not expect it would happen tonight. Time feels so long for couples who ultimately do not become the sleep.

*****

...\=\= original writing by @author.ryby \=\=...

...\=\= cover art by @fuheechi_ \=\=...