Chapter 466
The defective items that had been wrongly delivered returned with a pathetic backside on display. I might seem a bit harsh to my little sister, but I have no regrets. There’s no space in my mansion for a kid who’s just running away from reality.
‘What a weakling.’
If only he had talked about simultaneous marriage like I did, he might have thought he was fighting against reality and gone mad. There’s a huge difference between losing your sanity in a fight and just running away without putting up any resistance.
– An invitation?
“Yeah.”
So, after preparing a bit, I got in touch with Zenobia.
Ignoring reality is only possible when you’re well-off; if you can’t escape it, then let’s make it impossible to look away. If you’re surrounded on both sides and still manage to run away, that’s a whole different level of impressive, right?
“It’s going to be tough to meet for a few months after school starts. There’s the club fair coming up, but it’s best to see each other’s faces at least before the semester starts.”
– I would be grateful for the invitation, but…
A deep agony settled on Zenobia’s face, which had faint dark circles around her eyes.
I get it. Mentally, she probably wanted to go see Erich before I suggested it. Of course, with her status as the Countess, just visiting someone else’s territory without a care would be tough, but using the excuse of being fellow Counts and childhood friends would somewhat cushion the situation.
However, the biggest thing holding Zenobia back is her work. Being a current Count means she’s also a member of the imperial council. And since Zenobia is the youngest, she’s too overwhelmed with work to find time to see Erich.
“Just one day should be okay. My dad agreed to help.”
– Your dad?
Zenobia tilted her head in confusion but quickly caught on to my meaning, her eyes widening as she shook her head in a hurry.
– N-no! That’s okay! I can’t impose on him!
She was so flustered that she switched from her usual polite speech back to the stiff way she used to talk.
I understand. For her, what I said was something she had to cling to and refuse.
‘Must feel like getting a favor from the future father-in-law.’
For a junior council member like her to spare a day means someone else will have to take her workload. And I had just pointed my dad out as the substitute.
“It’s fine. My dad said he’d take care of Erich’s romantic problems. I had to talk him out of helping for a whole week.”
But fortunately for Zenobia, my dad received my proposal with great enthusiasm.
– “I’ll take care of that kid’s work. Anyway, I’m nearing retirement, so I don’t have many papers coming in.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
– “There’s no need for thanks. It’s only natural for an elder to help the kids.”
As soon as Erich was sent back, I felt my dad’s sincerity in that short conversation.
Though my dad might not express it in words, he seemed to worry a lot about Erich and his romantic endeavors. After all, with how well he and my mom get along, she might have vented her worries to him, and being as authoritative as he is, he likely senses the nanny’s struggles too.
Or maybe he simply thinks, ‘Since the eldest son is getting married, the second son is next.’ Either way, my dad is serious about helping Erich with his love life.
“Sometimes, saying no can be rude, you know?”
– … Yes. Thank you.
In the end, Zenobia nodded and accepted my proposal.
‘What kind of brother am I?’
Seeing Zenobia smile brought me joy.
It’s not every day you find a brother who is this serious about his sister’s love life.
We soon moved en masse to the territory with my lovers. The reason I invited Zenobia was to foster fellowship among counts. If I, a current count, am not even present in the territory, then the whole invitation loses its meaning.
“Did you come? Come on in! Zenobia is already here.”
As soon as we arrived at the territory, my mom, who was waiting at the front gate, said that before heading into the castle.
Quick greetings, a skipped hug, and straightforward information delivery. Although it was a rather stiff reaction from my warm-hearted mother, who usually warmly welcomes us and our lovers when we visit the territory, neither my lovers nor I felt slighted.
‘Looks like she’s on duty today.’
A warrior-like energy emanated from my mother’s back. Not just a warrior, but one ready to charge into battle.
It seems my dad is struggling outside the territory, and my mom plans to actively support Serra and Zenobia within the estate. Honestly, it’s impressive that she even came out to greet us.
‘The whole world is backing me up.’
I steeled my mind and moved forward. My dad who generously devoted his time for this meeting, my mother who transformed from a gentle lady into a warrior ready for battle, the servants united under the nanny, and finally, me, who’s going through all this trouble just to marry off my sister.
I had mobilized everything. Every possible influence affecting Erich had been brought to bear. If Erich still messes it up, I will have to take it with humility. He’s doomed to die a lonely death if he lives like a pitying saint.
‘Pitying saint.’
Even thinking about that absurd phrase made me want to shut my eyes. It’s true that balance and development are important for a warrior, but why does that balance have to be pity?
If it’s Enen who bestowed such a fate upon Erich, then I would want to protest how unreasonable that was. I’m the blessed one; why should my little brother suffer?
*
I stared vacantly at the busy servants moving about. Their hustle seemed to mock my foolishness.
‘I really stuck my head into a lion’s mouth, didn’t I…’
I felt tears welling up. I ran away to my brother hoping to find the light, but all I found was the abyss. A deep and dark abyss with no bottom in sight.
Of course, I don’t blame them for sending me back after I dared to show up unannounced at my brother’s newlywed home. It was only to be expected, but still… this was too much.
‘Where does one even casually claim the abyss is chasing them?’
If I had met Zenobia sis at my brother’s mansion, that would have indeed been my fault. It would have happened had I stayed quietly in the territory, letting things end with just Serra.
But what’s with inviting Zenobia? Why was this happening?
‘Relax and take it easy, they said.’
That was a complete lie. How does one say to relax and then orchestrate this entire mess?
I couldn’t help but think that the karma for every time I berated my brother for his weird talk about simultaneous marriage had come back to bite me. Is he holding onto that grudge just because I, a little brother, dared to talk back?
It makes sense. No, it has to be. If there’s no reason for this, I’d be so unlucky I wouldn’t be able to live—
“Master.”
“Uh, huh?”
I instinctively turned my head at the nanny’s voice.
“Let’s go to the Great Hall. We have some snacks prepared, which should be less boring than just lingering here.”
“Uh, oh, uh, okay.”
I nodded repeatedly at her sweet smile, but while doing so, I tried my best not to make eye contact with her. I simply lacked the courage to face the nanny head-on.
This behavior evoked a peculiar self-loathing within me. I never imagined a day would come when I’d try to avoid the nanny.
“Master.”
The nanny spoke to me again, startling me.
“I’m fine.”
“Uh…?”
And then I couldn’t help but let out a dazed voice. What did she mean by “fine”?
“I’m well aware of how pure-hearted you are, Master, having taken care of you since you were little.”
As she said this, the nanny gently took my hand.
“I really love that about you, Master. Your warm heart and how you see the world so innocently.”
The nanny’s smile grew even more tender.
“Serra feels the same way. She doesn’t see your innocence as a flaw; that’s why she harbors feelings for you.”
Is it just me, or did it feel like she was going to say something about her eyes but switched to talking about purity instead?
Yet, since I couldn’t interrupt the nanny who was finally saying something nice, I stayed quiet and listened.
“But it’s also true that it’s her fault for not being more proactive despite knowing your nature. So there’s no need for you to feel too guilty.”
However, that made me speak out.
It’s my fault that Serra has been suffering in silence because I can’t pick up on signals. This incident happened because of my shortcomings. Blaming Serra for that is too much.
“Nanny, I—”
“I’ve always thought of you two like my own sons. You might not feel the same way, but I’m a happy mother with two reliable sons and one lovely daughter.”
Even before I could properly finish my sentence, her words silenced me.
I know. I understand well. I know how much love the nanny has given to me and my brother and that we’ve grown up safely thanks to her.
That’s why I shut my mouth. Having lost a child to illness and having raised both brothers as her own, I feel grateful that the nanny raised us like one of her children, and I feel guilty for giving her only pain through her daughter.
In the end, it’s that guilt that makes me avoid the nanny.
“So I don’t hold any grudge against you, Master. Siblings sometimes have their quarrels.”
With a small laugh, the nanny patted my hand. As I found myself staring at the ground, she gently soothed me.
“So please, let go of your mental burdens.”
I stayed silent for a while in response to her words.
I felt tears welling up again for reasons different from before.
*
The nanny’s advice worked wonders. I no longer found it hard to look her in the eye, and I wasn’t startled by Serra’s voice. I didn’t even run away when I saw my sister.
I found myself smiling without realizing it. Now, I could see both Serra and Zenobia at the same time without problem. There was no need to come up with escape plans on my own.
Yeah, I thought so.
‘What’s going on?’
At the small banquet taking place in the Great Hall, there was an event held to celebrate the friendly relations between Count Tailglehen and Count Horfelt.
Seeing Serra and Zenobia, who were attending that banquet, stirred different emotions in me.
‘What is this?’
My heart was strangely racing.
I couldn’t make sense of it. My heart raced when I felt guilty toward them before, but now it was as if all my remorse had been pushed aside. Yet even so, why was this happening?
Looking at Serra and Zenobia gathered in one place filled me with a confusing sense of agitation.
‘Oh.’
Having sensed my gaze, the two turned toward me and smiled softly.
My heart raced even more.
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