"I have something for the two of you~."

Even though the atmosphere got better after that dinner, it stayed the same for two more days. We weren't serving customers with a smile much anymore, even though Kiril tried his best to keep smiling.

He was smiling now, and this time I didn't know why.

"Shouldn't we open the shop now?"

He shook his head, "We can open in a minute."

Both I and Irina in attendance, we looked at each other and started to smile without really knowing why, if only because he seemed excited. "What is it, Kiril?"

"Don't keep us in suspense, big brother."

In front of us, suddenly he was holding a box wrapped in red wrapping paper, large enough that he needed both hands to hold it and a familiar shape.

Beside me, Irina gave a squeal, "A present? You got me a present?"

I continued to look at that box, and my hand was only just raised but not reaching out to it. "No...it's for-"

"It's for both of you!" He cut me off with that finished sentence, and I looked up at him. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. "So, don't you want to know what's inside?"

We set the box down on the table; I took a penknife from my pocket and began to cut at the wrapping paper, while Irina tore with her hands, and ribbons of red fell to the floor.

What was sitting in front of us was, simply, a music box.

Well, to say it was simply that would be inaccurate. It was a most beautiful, flawless music box that was encrusted with jewels and gilded with rose gold, a tiny mirror inset at the top. Although it was studded with jewels, the top was flawless except for that mirror.

When I turned it over to wind it up, there was an inscription on a brass bottom:

For the two who are everything to me, Irina and Elluka. May we continue to be happy together.

Irina was speechless.

And then she squealed, leaping from her chair and throwing her arms around him, babbling hysterically, "It's so, so, so beautiful! Thank you thank you! Thank you big brother thank you!"

"Ha ha ha, don't forget that it's Elluka's too."

I turned to them with a wide smile, "It's absolutely perfect, my love. Is that the surprise you were working so hard to make?"

He adjusted his glasses, "I won't say that's the cause of my sleepless nights, but..."

I also leaped to him and wrapped my arms around him, squishing my adorable sister in law to give him a kiss. "I love you~."

"I love you too."

My heart is feeling cold.

My heard is hurting a little bit.

I could swear something's wrong.

I can't remember what it is though.

For a week, for more than a week, we were happy again.

I think.

Whether everything was alright, I'm not certain. But, with that melody, the music box made us happy even when there were other worries on our minds. We could smile at the customers again and Kiril continued to work.

But then we watched the news again and saw it.

Milky's dangling body.

A horrible, tragic suicide.

I wasn't holding Irina, I wasn't holding Kiril's hand, even though I knew his arms were around me again and I was the one shaking.

I was just looking at the screen.

Looking at the other candidate dead.

A suicide?

No.

And beside me, Irina's eyes were also fixed on the screen.

No one was talking this time, no one was moving on to dinner. No one turned the TV off.

"The Senate is conducting an investigation into the death to see any relation between Milky and the accidental death of Miss Ly Li, but so far...few leads...note said nothing..."

Slowly, quietly, by us both he whispered, "It's going to be okay..."

It wasn't.

Because in the next few days we two were summoned to the Royal Institute. For the final selection.