SUCCESSOR BLUES

"REKKER, are you not going to eat dinner?" Eclaire asked her brother carefully. "If you don't have an appetite, I can ask the chef to cook soup for you."

Her brother shook his head.

Rekker was currently curled up in a ball on his bed.

This pitiful brat actually locked himself up in the room. But Aunt Aileen gave Eclaire the key so she could check on her brother.

Apparently, this wasn't the first her brother acted this way.

["When I almost died because a certain crazy noble lady poisoned me during a tea party, Rekker also acted that way. Your brother acts tough, but he turns into a baby when one of his family members is in a critical condition."]

"I'm not hungry, noona," Rekker said weakly. "I'd like to rest for now…"

"Father's life isn't in danger anymore, Rekker."

Her brother just flinched.

[This won't do.]

"I'm sorry, Rekker."

Fortunately, that made her brother look at her with a surprised look on his face.