Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 106

“So, where to next?”

Casey subtly changed the subject. Damian, sensing his intentions, cooperated.

“Lilliana, if you like animals, would you like to see more of them? Or there’s also a flower garden…”

Damian pointed to the inside of the animal exhibition area on the map.

“I’ve already seen the places I wanted to see, so let’s go wherever you or Damian want to go.”

“I came here to see the rabbit farm. So, consider my turn over and let’s go wherever Lilliana and Casey want to go.”

To be precise, he just wanted to see Lilliana surrounded by rabbits.

“I’ll yield because I’m the older brother.”

The two of them looked at Lilliana.

Lilliana glanced at them and pretended to think for a moment before saying,

“Then I want to see the flower garden. They say there’s a rose garden. But can we eat first? I got hungry watching the rabbits eat. I see a restaurant area on the map on the way there, let’s go there.”

“Come to think of it, it is past lunchtime.”

Damian murmured, taking out his pocket watch. It was already 1 o’clock because they had started late and entered slowly.

At Lilliana’s suggestion, the three naturally headed towards the restaurant area. The further they went in, the more crowded it became.

Remembering Lilliana’s words about getting separated, Damian grabbed the hem of her clothes.

“Lilliana, stay close.”

At those words, Casey wrapped his arm around Damian. Damian was startled and tried to shake him off, but Casey held onto Damian’s arm and said,

“Why? You said to stay close so we don’t get separated.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“You can follow us with your eyes.”

“That’s not possible in this crowd, that’s why I’m doing this.”

Seeing Damian’s aversion to physical contact with Casey, Lilliana held out her hand to Casey.

“Hold it, brother.”

Casey blinked and looked at Lilliana.

When Casey didn’t take her hand right away, Lilliana wagged her outstretched hand.

“What are you doing? Hold my hand.”

“Okay.”

As Casey held Lilliana’s hand, she held out her other hand to Damian.

“You too, Damian.”

“Y-yes?”

As Damian showed surprise, Lilliana lowered her eyebrows and said,

“No one’s saying you can’t. Why don’t you want to hold hands? I held hands with my brother, so why can’t I hold hands with Damian?”

“Lily, Damian is a stranger, and I’m family, so it’s different.”

Casey said it as if he was displeased with Damian touching Lilliana. Damian, feeling contrary, quickly grabbed Lilliana’s hand.

Casey gave him a ‘look at this guy’ look, but Damian ignored it and pulled Lilliana’s hand, saying,

“Tell me if it hurts.”

Lilliana wondered how it could hurt just by holding hands. Then she realized that Damian was holding her hand with his prosthetic hand because of the cool, hard touch.

He had grabbed her hand with his prosthetic hand because it was the only one available, but it felt awkward to switch hands now.

Damian carefully adjusted his grip, remembering the time he had accidentally squeezed Lilliana’s hand too tightly.

Lilliana could feel it.

She deliberately squeezed Damian’s hand harder, but Damian didn’t notice because he couldn’t feel anything with his prosthetic hand.

Damian walked ahead, pulling Lilliana and Casey along like a string of beads.

As Lilliana said, they soon saw the restaurant area. There were booths selling food, and people were sitting at outdoor tables in front of them, eating.

“What should we eat?”

As Casey was looking at the menu, Lilliana tugged on his sleeve and said,

“They say the hamburgers here are famous. The guidebook said we should definitely try them.”

“Really? Then let’s hurry and order.”

Casey grabbed Lilliana’s hand and pulled her along. Damian reflexively let go of Lilliana’s hand, but as he tried to follow them, Casey waved him away.

“Damian, you find us a seat! We’ll buy it! Beef or chicken?”

“B-beef.”

“Okay!”

Casey diligently took Damian’s order as well and headed to the hamburger booth. Lilliana followed, her hand still held by Casey.

It felt strange that she had been the one to hold his hand first, but now Casey wouldn’t let go of her hand.

Was this feeling the fear she felt whenever she saw Casey, or was it the awkwardness she felt towards her brother, whom she wasn’t close to? Lilliana was confused.

After ordering two beef hamburgers and one chicken hamburger, drinks, and three servings of fries and apple pie, they stood in front of the flower bed to the left of the hamburger booth, waiting for their food.

An awkward silence fell between them.

Lilliana was fiddling with her left hand, recalling the feeling of Damian’s hand, when Casey suddenly asked,

“Lily, are you having fun?”

Lilliana flinched and looked at Casey, forcing a smile.

“Yes, I’m having fun.”

“I’m not scaring you, am I?”

Lilliana avoided Casey’s eyes and replied,

“Not yet.”

“I’m sorry, Lily. I still don’t know what to do to not scare you.”

Casey seemed genuinely troubled, so Lilliana replied with a softened heart,

“I’m sorry too. It’s just still awkward.”

“But I’m not trying to scare you on purpose… Originally, Father mediated between us, but now that he’s not here, it can’t be helped, Lily. Please bear with me even if it’s frustrating. What can I do, I was born this way.”

Lilliana was confused about what kind of expression to make at Casey’s words.

“We got along well because of Father?”

“Well, something like that.”

“If Father wasn’t there, you wouldn’t have acted like this?”

Casey blinked at the question, thought briefly, and replied,

“Probably.”

That spirit who can’t lie, honestly.

Lilliana let out a small sigh. Casey hurriedly added, seeing her reaction,

“But it’s a good thing that it turned out well, isn’t it? Even though we’re back to square one now because you’ve lost your memory.”

“So you can just cooperate in helping me regain my memory.”

“That’s not possible.”

Lilliana closed her mouth again at Casey’s firm refusal. Casey, looking a bit uneasy, carefully said,

“Then, Lily, why don’t we make a deal?”

“A deal?”

“If you don’t get scared of me today, I’ll help you regain your memory.”

“Really?”

“But I’ll only help. I won’t give you any direct hints, and you have to remember the memories yourself. There’s a reason why you sealed your memories yourself, so you have to be the one to break that seal.”

Lilliana was skeptical, then nodded slowly, reminding herself that he couldn’t lie.

“Okay…”

She pointed her index finger at Casey’s nose and said,

“Keep that promise.”

“Ah, it’s true that I want to help you, but I don’t know if I can keep that promise. There might be situations where I can’t keep my promise, right?”

As Casey continued, Lilliana’s expression gradually hardened, so he quickly added,

“I’ll help you. I really will help you.”

“Okay, I understand for now. How are you going to help me?”

“I’ll have to think about that. I’ve never helped someone with amnesia regain their memory, so I don’t know how.”

“…I don’t know if I can trust you.”

Lilliana grumbled softly. But then she nodded, thinking she had nothing to lose, and held out her hand to Casey.

“I’m counting on you.”

Casey smiled and shook Lilliana’s hand. Lilliana also smiled and said,

“I’ll act like a normal sibling today.”