Chapter: 279
Upon hearing the word “vacation,” the six future sisters-in-law—each adorned with titles that make my head spin—had their expressions subtly shift.
Some widened their eyes as if struck by a groundbreaking idea, others wore regretful and sorrowful looks, while a few seemed lost in thought as they seriously contemplated my words. Among them, my brother’s subordinate bit his lip and shrugged his shoulders, likely trying to stifle a laugh.
‘Guess it’s a no-go.’
Given that someone’s reaction was coming from a person who works with my brother, I could pretty much assume that the idea of getting a vacation as a birthday gift for him was far-fetched.
Well, when something’s absent or unattainable, there’s usually a reason behind it. If it was easy to achieve, it wouldn’t even be a candidate for a gift.
“Actually, just spending his birthday with his loved ones is a gift in itself. He’s using his vacation days to be here anyway.”
After thinking for a moment, I cautiously added. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about others, but seeing Marcilio deep in thought made it feel necessary to say something.
Instinctively, I had a strong warning bell going off in my head. If I let this situation slide, Marcilio might soon file a public petition to the royal family. An absurd request for a vacation for her fiancé could potentially circulate around high society, and I could just picture my brother being buried under the weight of that embarrassment.
‘If it were me, I’d bite my tongue.’
Not just that; I might even hold my breath until I faint.
Imagining a future wife raising her voice in the royal family demanding a break for her much younger fiancé is daunting and dizzying. Marcilio called my brother “Baby,” but going through that would skyrocket him from just being a little brother to a true “Baby-Senpai.”
‘…Maybe it would be good for them?’
I lost my certainty for a moment. While I found it terrifying and absurd, perhaps my brother might be yearning for it desperately? Wouldn’t he want those days off no matter the shame and disgrace?
Of course, I kept these sad assumptions to myself. Even if he were okay with it, I wouldn’t dare face that scene. The thought of my brother turning into Marcilio’s “Baby” for some rest is a nightmare I do not want invading my dreams.
‘He’ll have plenty of time to rest after marriage anyway.’
I reminded myself to think positively. Right, the Empire has marriage leave and maternity leave. With six wives, the marriage leave would be six times over, plus potential maternity leave would likely exceed six times if they have lots of kids.
“How about gifting him something he doesn’t already have? It should have some significance if it’s the first gift coming to mind when thinking of him.”
I hurriedly wrapped up the gift discussion before it spiraled off in a weird direction. If giving everything is off the table and vacationing is impossible, then this is a safe bet.
Typically, the first thing you instinctively choose is the best. If I let my thoughts wander too far, who knows what strange outcomes I’d end up with.
Somehow, it seemed like I received an acceptable answer, getting freed from the encirclement of my sisters-in-law. Although seeing Marcilio still lost in thought filled me with unease, I believed I had done all I could. If anything comes up, my brother will handle it. A powerless student can only do so much. I know nothing.
‘Oh dear.’
Then the moment I spotted Sara, pacing anxiously in the corridor, I shoved thoughts of my brother aside. I wanted to wrap this up quickly and wait in my room, but Sara ended up finding me first.
What a bummer. I was trying to stay close to her in case something happened. I even told her she could rely on me, and then I went and ditched her like this. I’m just embarrassed.
“Sara.”
“Oh, Erich!”
At the sound of my voice, Sara, who had been looking around, greeted me with a smile.
“There you are! I was wondering where you went since you weren’t in the room.”
“Sorry. Someone was looking for me, so I stepped out for a moment.”
“Hehe, it’s okay! I just parted ways with Mother too.”
Sara’s hands were clearly trembling, and her breathing seemed oddly rapid. Though she smiled outwardly, it was a sign of her internal turmoil.
Of course. No matter how much she pretends to be okay, this was her first outing and first adventure. Everything she saw was brand new, and everyone she bumped into were total strangers. Given Sara’s extreme lack of contact with the outside world, it would be terrifying for her.
Naturally, she’d trust and rely on me for her first experience in the castle, and now that support figure had disappeared. The shock she felt was nothing I could even begin imagining. If I wasn’t around, couldn’t she just wait? But running around searching for me? That’s a whole new level of concern.
“Still, to leave a lady waiting, you’re a bad knight!”
Her playful jab brought a wry smile to my face. Clearly, she had received quite a shock yet still managed to act normally, making me feel even guiltier.
“Then, may I have a chance to make it up to you?”
With that, I slid my hand out, and as soon as Sara placed her right hand on mine, I kissed her palm.
Sara has always enjoyed these knight-and-lady moments. Even when angry or sad, this has been her go-to method to cheer up.
“How about this time I give you a special chance?”
Luckily, it seemed her mood lifted again. The trembling in her hand was calming down.
“Thank you, Lady.”
Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing still doing this at our age, but what can I do if it makes Sara happy? I should definitely play along.
Besides, I’ve already been at it for almost ten years; backing out now seems impossible.
*
I repent. I repent for likening the Patriarch to a treasure goblin and thinking Mother looked like she was donning a rainbow.
So, Enen you jerk, if you’re watching this, please cut me some slack. Turning a guy into a unique-grade monster is a bit steep.
‘Rainbow Treasure Goblin.’
I never thought I’d end up becoming a complete fusion of the two. Sure, kids resemble their parents, but isn’t this a bit much?
“Ca, Carl. How do you like it…?”
The birthday I’d been anticipating finally arrived, starting with the birthday celebration and gifts raining down like an explosion. Staring dumbfounded at the colorful package explosion, Marghetta cautiously asked beside me.
“Um, I was trying to pick the best one, but they all seemed fitting for Carl…”
Her addendum came out almost as a justification. Watching her, I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, especially as I noticed others awkwardly diverting their eyes. It looked like not just Marghetta but all six had gone a bit overboard.
“Weren’t we supposed to pick just one?”
As Erich gazed at the mountain of boxes with a bitter tone, Marghetta, speaking on behalf of everyone, bowed her head like a penitent.
Impressive. Is this what you get for asking for advice? What on Earth would they have given him if they hadn’t even sought suggestions?
‘Glad they didn’t offer a store, I guess.’
Right, considering the Duke’s wealth, it’s actually a relief they didn’t go for some store or something. I could have ended up on the receiving end of some land dealings instead of these quaint little gift boxes.
Thanks, Erich. You saved my mental state.
“I really like it. It feels like a bit too much for me.”
That aside, I gently patted Marghetta’s head while speaking softly.
Even though she strayed from conventional wisdom, she didn’t choose these gifts aimlessly. It was genuinely thoughtful of her, and I saw no reason not to be happy about it. If someone gets annoyed by gifts in hefty amounts, their character must be pretty twisted.
“I think today will be a joy filled with checking out the gifts.”
That’s not a lie at all. Just unwrapping the packages feels like it would take the whole day. Honestly, even a day might not be enough.
Of course, I should be thrilled instead of grumbling about it. The thrill in gift-giving comes more from the anticipation than the outcome itself, and looking at this mountain of presents turns it into a mini-gacha fest. I’m so excited…
‘Even the wrapping paper colors are different.’
If I look closely, the wrapping paper is split into six colors. How thoughtful! This way, I can tell who gifted what.
“Thank you. I feel like I’ve received all the gifts I’ll ever get in my life today.”
“You can expect more like this in the future—”
“I’ll only accept your intentions.”
I accepted her gratitude in spirit. If I kept this up yearly, I’d need a ten-story building to store all this. A grand event like this should only happen once in a lifetime.
Marghetta’s awkward, forced smile indicated her discomfort with my firm rejection, and she subtly moved aside. Miraculously, there were still others left to offer gifts.
“I think we also might have something in there for you.”
After Marghetta, my mother approached with a beaming smile, handing over a box.
In the midst of it all, she joked in a way that left me uncertain how to respond. No matter what Mother and the Patriarch had prepared, chances were something alike would be in that mass of gifts.
“I’ll use this even if we do end up with duplicates.”
“No need for that. Young folks’ choices are likely to be better than what we oldies can pick.”
That statement was a bit reckless. What if it happened to overlap with Marcilio’s gift? How will we survive the awkwardness?
After that, Erich, Sara, the head maid, the lady-in-waiting, and more showered me with countless congratulations and gifts at the banquet. It’s surprising to realize that combining all these presents is still less than the number Marghetta prepared solo.
Nevertheless, after the celebration ended, I nestled in my room alone, checking each of the gifts—
“Damn.”
Seeing Erich’s gift made me let out a curse involuntarily.
“I thought this would be essential for Carl, so I got the best I could find. Use it well.”
As Erich scratched his head and handed me a small box, I anticipated something like a fountain pen, thinking that’s what he meant by essential.
‘Laku Laku…’
When I opened the box, inside was a fantasy version of Laku Laku. Just press a button, and it changes from the size of a baseball to big enough for a person to lie on comfortably—magical essence for bureaucrats, already neatly tucked away in the corners of the Executive Manager’s office and the duty room.
My hand trembled, gripping the Laku Laku. This jerk could have picked something else!
‘…Maybe I’ll leave it in the club room.’
Still, it’s true that it’s a necessary and practical item, hence it’s thrown around all over the place.
Yeah… Let’s keep it in the club room. Sleeping in some corner of the club room doesn’t sound so bad.
Damn it.
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