You Who Chose Me

“Phew…”

Passing through the stuffy, heated hall, Jonah stepped outside and took a deep breath.

Parties were held even at House Langheim, but they had always been irrelevant to Jonah, who had continually been treated as a failure (…). This was the first time he had formally attended one, and he had apparently been unconsciously tense.

But.

“Hehe, that was fun…”

At first Jonah had run away because he didn’t want to meet Duke Langheim and his family, but now he could spend blissful moments surrounded by important people—Marguerite, Titancia, Marquess Hagenberg, and Quylindra.

It was unfortunate that Patricia, as the guest of honor, had been occupied since the celebration began and couldn’t stay by his side, but whenever their eyes met she smiled and waved.

For Jonah, who had been alone for eleven years, it was a dreamlike world. He couldn’t help but let a smile spread across his face.

Then.

“Jonah, so you were here.”

“Marie.”

The one who appeared was Marguerite.

In her small hands she held two glasses filled with grape fruit drink.

“Here, for you.”

“Thank you.”

Jonah took a glass from Marguerite and sipped the fruit drink.

The tartness and sweetness spread through his mouth; it was delicious, and Jonah’s face softened into a smile.

“Hey Marie, I… I’m really glad I came to the celebration.”

“That’s the most important thing. As for me, with so many female acquaintances, I’ve been wondering what Jonah has been up to these past two months.”

“Geh!?”

Marguerite fixed him with a piercing look, and Jonah immediately choked.

Apparently, she had a rather strong possessiveness and jealousy.

“Well, that’s fine. …By the way, do you know? At parties, th-that… we dance, you know…?”

Marguerite blushed and looked down as she said this.

In other words, she was urging him to ‘ask her to dance.’

“Hee— dancing huh…”

“Y-yes…”

Jonah looked up at the starry sky and murmured a little sadly.

By manipulating his body with ancient magic, Jonah had become able to do things on par with others.

However, with his current skill he could not hope to perform such dexterous things as dancing.

That had been clearly proven in the swordsmanship and horse-training at House Langheim.

So.

“Sorry, Marie… I can’t dance…”

Not because he didn’t know the steps. Not simply because he’d never danced before.

Marie understood that from Jonah’s demeanor and the tone of his voice.

“I see… But someday, I’m sure the day will come when we can dance together.”

“Y-yeah…”

She sounded a little sad, but more than that, Marie’s words conveyed care and thoughtfulness toward Jonah.

Because he understood that, it was painfully difficult for him to nod at her words.

Because… the day Jonah would be able to dance would never come.

Before that could happen, Jonah would be gone from this world.

“Then, Miss Marguerite, I want you to dance with me.”

“!?”
“!?”

A boy appeared from the darkness.

He was Jonah’s younger brother, Sieg, with fiery red hair inherited from their father and hazel eyes from their mother.

“You…”

“Please, Miss Marguerite. Give me the chance to let you know who I am.”

Sieg knelt before Marguerite, placed his left hand over his chest, and extended his right hand.

There was something theatrical about it, but his eyes were deadly serious, and Jonah had never seen his brother look this earnest.

Always relying on his talent, Sieg had never really approached anything with seriousness.

And yet here he was, directing a sincere gaze at the woman he treasured.

Would she choose Sieg, who had everything he desired, over him—just a failure (…) with only a year left to live?

Jonah clenched his chest tightly, fearing he would be taken away again.

On the other hand, Sieg was here exactly as Jonah suspected—to take Marguerite for himself.

Sieg had fallen for her at first sight at the royal-hosted party.

Although the marriage proposal had been refused, if her beloved was Jonah, it wasn’t a big problem.

After all, at House Langheim, Jonah was a failure (…) inferior to Sieg in every way.

Because they didn’t know each other well at their first meeting, Marguerite had simply mistaken Jonah for someone else and chosen him.

Yes… there wasn’t even a one-in-ten-thousand chance that Jonah could beat him. Sieg truly believed that.

But.

“What a joke. Why should someone like me dance with the likes of you?”

“…!?”

Marguerite’s reaction was a clear rejection.

Her expression held a hint of mockery, and her crimson eyes glinted with disdain.

“B-but I’m the legitimate heir of House Langheim, not like my failure (…) brother…”

“Yes, quite different. Between you—petty, with nothing to be proud of but your lineage, only able to feel superior by putting others down—and my straight-forward, kinder-than-anyone Jonah…”

It was absurd. It was wrong.

Everyone had scorned his brother as a failure (…), and his father, mother, and the servants had all praised Sieg as a superior person.

And yet, the girl before him belittled him and praised the failure (…) of a brother.

At that fact, Sieg’s face twisted with a mixture of anger and bewilderment, displaying an ugliness that did not suit a ten-year-old boy.

“Well, your father denied Jonah, saying ‘he is not my son.’ Then who on earth are you comparing Jonah here to?”

Marguerite sneered down at him and chuckled.

Feeling that clinging any further wouldn’t improve the situation, Sieg stood up and—

“…Don’t get cocky, Brother. And Miss Marguerite, I’ll make you regret not choosing me.”

What could someone of a failure (…) possibly do?

How dare a mere marquess family think it could rival the Five Great Ducal Houses?

He would make both of them crawl on the ground and regret this day for the rest of their lives.

Sieg spat the words and turned on his heel, leaving the scene.

“Fufu, that fool ruined my mood.”

“Ah… Ma-Marie… wait! ?”

“You’re silly too, Jonah. There’s no way someone like me would be swayed by such an overconfident, disappointing man, you know?”

Marguerite clasped Jonah’s face gently with both hands and smiled mischievously.

Marguerite understood. She was sure Jonah felt inferior to that man and feared she might be taken away.

“That’s why, let’s go back inside soon. If we stay out here we’ll catch a cold.”

“Wah!?”

Marguerite playfully tugged his hand and Jonah stumbled.

But seeing her smile, he couldn’t help but grin.

“…The only one who may be by my side is you.”

“Huh? Ma-Marie…?”

“It’s nothing! Now, let’s go!”

“Wawawawa!?”

He couldn’t hear exactly what she’d said, but the important person was by his side—not Sieg’s. She was there with him.

Jonah squeezed Marguerite’s small hand and savored the utmost joy.