In my previous life, I became an older sister when I was 9.

I'm now... 8 years old... Oh well, Dad and Mom are so in love with each other and they are still young, so I'm sure I will be an older sister again when I'm 9... right? Or having a new sibling when I'm 10 is also fine.

I can pamper my younger sibling a lot and help Mom and Dad take care of them, right?

Anyway, I decided to forget about that, as I haven't really heard more from Dad or Mom after that one time when Dad mysteriously asked me my opinion on getting new sibling.

...Not having my own younger sibling is also fine, actually. I have Leticia and Ein as my younger siblings figure.

What bothered me now was how Dad seemed to be going out more frequently and each time took longer than usual.

The other day, when I asked him while pouting...

"Dad, you asked me if I would welcome a new sibling, yet you're getting busier. What will happen if I really have a new sibling and you can't even spend time with them? Besides, will I really get a new sibling?"

Dad bitterly smiled, patted my head and said ambiguous thing such as...

"Well, maybe. We might welcome your new sibling once I'm done with this current investigation I'm doing, but that also depends."

Okay, I don't care anymore about the sibling thing. I just want him to finish his work faster and spend more time at home!

Pamper me more, Dad! Wait, no!

"Come home and rest, Dad!"

"Haha, thank you, Lyra."

Winter arrived once more and looking at the sceneries outside painted in white, I began to think of Dad more.

Is he out there in the cold snow alone? Or is he with his other allies?

Does he miss the warm winter holidays he used to spend at home?

What the heck is he investigating, anyway?

When he last departed from this house, he said, "Don't worry, I will be finished with my current mission soon. I might clear this mission by the time I return home this time, okay?"

Still, he didn't say when was the exact time.

The snow started to pile up once more, and it was raining snow today as well.

Back then, I wanted to spend more time alone, enjoying winter in the warm bed while reading some books and sipping the hot chocolate Chloe made... instead of being forced to play snow outside with Dad, especially.

But now, I missed those days instead.

...Come to think of it. The dream I had this morning just made me remember something.

It was said that the Hartmann tribe was annihilated on a snowy day like this, too.

I wonder what the Hartmann twins must have felt upon seeing the red color of blood tainting the pure white snow on their homeland?

It seemed that my mind wandered off too far, but...

Yeah, the Hartmann twins were the only case of two people building an entire clan or ducal house. The other ducal houses only started with one person each. Logic stated that the Hartmann clan should be the largest clan.

So... how could we become the smallest clan instead?

Hmm... Ah right.

Just as how the Hartmann tribe was annihilated by the parties who felt like they might pose a threat, I heard that there was a certain point in the past where history repeated itself.

...All the more I had to be careful.

On my fourth winter holiday as Lyra, my family was also attacked and targeted. Dangers like that might show up again in the future, no matter what the reason might be, so I ought to train hard and be careful.

...Dad, please be careful and return safely soon. I want to train more with you!!

Just as I was thinking of Dad and wondering on when he might return home, saying that he was finally finished with his work or mission for real...

Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure from the window, where I was peeking into the all-white scenery outside. The figure was quite far away, but I could tell who it was.

Before I could even think, my body moved on its own to go down the stairs, to open the door and welcome my beloved father.

The moment I opened the door—ekh, it wasn't just raining snow, it was almost a snow storm!! The wind was so strong—even if I said the cold never bothered me anymore now that I possessed [Ice] magic... I was still bothered by this weather, okay?!

I decided to close the door and apply more mana to the magic heater in the room.

Maybe it's wiser for me to close the door and do this, so when Dad opens the door, he will be greeted by the warm room!

So I focused on keeping myself warm as well—with my back facing the front door.

I could always turn around when Dad opened the door. He would surely be delighted to see me first thing first!!

My prediction was right.

Before long, I could sense the door being opened.

Then, what followed after that...

"I'm home~!"

...was Dad's familiar voice.

I quickly turned around, stood up, and ran towards my father.

"Dad, welcome home!"

At that time, I noticed something was off.

No, it wasn't Dad's slightly messy appearance. It was almost a snow storm outside, so this was to be expected.

But what was off was...

The appearance of unfamiliar figures hiding behind Dad.

Two pair of eyes peeked from Dad's left and right side.

The two children's hair color was pale white, just like the snow outside.

Their stature... was short.

I guess they might be as old as Leticia...

Wait, that wasn't the most important part here!

The-the-the-the-the... the two pair of eyes...!! There were different colors on each pair of eyes.

It was definitely the Hartmann family's peculiarity, right?

Dad... I was certainly looking forward to new addition of the family, to new siblings...

BUT I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN!!!

Perhaps noticing how I was standing frozen in front of him as my eyes blankly stared at the pair of children he brought along with him, Dad finally moved his mouth.

But that wasn't the sort of explanation I wanted to hear.

"Lyra, say hello to our new family members!"

...Yes, that was the last thing I wanted to hear!!!!!!