Finally coming to terms with her thoughts, she pulled her face away from her brother's shoulder, looked him straight in the eyes, despite some tears still running down her cheeks, and spoke directly, her voice firm yet filled with emotion, as she held his gaze.
"I want to continue taking care of you."
While she thought that perhaps someday she could let go of her sense of responsibility, she couldn't bring herself to concede on this.
'How would you even take care of me in the first place, anyway?'
While this was what Christian was thinking in his mind upon hearing his sister's somewhat similar to declaration about taking care of him, as he had no idea what was going on in her mind.
Since she was young, she'd been forced into the role of caretaker, and he wondered if that was all she knew how to do.
But even though he didn't need much in terms of care, if she had something in mind, he wouldn't mind letting her do what she wanted. As long as it was something she truly desired and made her happy, he was all for it.
Maybe looking after him had become something more than it actually was for his sister, and Christian understood that it hadn't been an easy decision for her to stay by his side and Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories. The choice she made back then at the tender age of eighteen was undoubtedly a difficult one.
Seeing how lost she felt and how much she had made it her purpose to care for him, Christian couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and appreciation. It struck him how much she had sacrificed for him.
So in the end, he stayed silent for a moment before finally sighing and saying,
"Then, you can just continue to care for me however much, however long you want."
He could have told her to find another purpose in life, to be more free, to be happier, but in the end, he decided against it. While being by his side now, especially after he had his Idle System, she would eventually find something anyway.
Not to mention he also had the selfish desire for her to stay with him.
Finally getting the answer she wanted, the agreement, Annabelle felt that maybe she could finally let go of her obsession with that sense of responsibility.
Her brother grew up just finely, maybe she still can't call him a man, but he didn't seem to need her care as much anymore.
The role of a parent, which she had thought she was fulfilling perfectly, may not have been meant for her. And now, she could simply return to being an older sister who loves her younger brother a tad too much.
So feeling happy, she held his face in her hands and began showering him with kisses, filled with warmth and affection. She wanted to convey just how much joy she felt.
In the end, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs dangling at the sides, were also moved and wrapped around his waist, to secure her hold on him, but knowing her emotions were still turbulent, and not wanting her brother to see her tear-streaked face. With a choked voice, she nodded and said okay, then buried her face in his shoulder again.
Christian, seeing how his sister hugged him like a koala, felt even more at a loss in the situation. Especially as she started kissing him, he couldn't help but wonder if nowadays kisses came as freebies with hugs. She hadn't left a spot untouched, except for maybe his lips?
But then, noticing how she had finally calmed down, he felt somewhat relieved.
Annabelle, feeling liberated by her brother's agreement, hugged him tightly and inhaled his scent, finally experiencing a sense of peace and safety in his arms.
She felt as if all the exhaustion that had accumulated over the years, both physically and psychologically, was finally being drawn out.
Feeling the comfort of her brother's lap and arms, which were still Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories.
And finally, she succumbed and lost consciousness.
With the room now silent and as he gently patted her bare back, Christian finally felt his sister's breathing become more stable.
But looking down at her, Christian noticed her closed eyes, still marked by remnants of her tears, and her steady breathing, she was clearly asleep. And he found himself at a loss for words again, while he also thought she seemed too defenseless and he should warn her later, he realized that for now, she was peacefully asleep, and there was nothing he could do.
Christian hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to wake her up. The topic of his school had yet to be mentioned, and he still hadn't shared his future plans with her. On the other hand, he wondered if it might be better to simply let her continue sleeping.
Then, remembering how emotional she had been today, more so than the last time when he brought her the bag, he decided against waking her. The most difficult step was over, and he believed the other subjects would be much easier to address later.
Standing up while holding his sister and feeling how easily he could carry her, Christian was reminded that his strength had really increased. However, feeling her bare skin beneath his hands, gripping her thigh and sensing the softness against his chest, he was struck by the inappropriateness of the situation.
He took a couple of steps to the side and turned her body so her back faced the bed. After a bit of struggling to untangle her arms and legs, he finally managed to free himself.
Gently placing his sister on the bed, Christian wiped the tears from her face, brushed a strand of hair aside, and tucked the blanket around her.
Then finally breathing a sigh of relief, he quietly left the room.