Chapter 78
The man leaning against the terrace and facing Kai was clearly Elber.
Something about the atmosphere felt off.
Elber’s growling voice carried all the way here.
“I’ll ask again. Sol, where are you?”
“For a first greeting after such a long time, that’s rather harsh. Are you treating me like a kidnapper?”
“If I weren’t a kidnapper, would there be any reason to hide Sol’s whereabouts? Tell me immediately.”
“…I can’t tell you right now.”
“Why not?”
“For personal reasons. Sol would want to keep this matter secret too. Soon, you’ll be able to understand—”
“I don’t understand.”
One of Elber’s hands touched the sword at his waist. A faint frost formed on its hilt.
Has Elber started using the power of the Schleiger family a little? No, no, that’s not the point!
“W-Wait a momen! Oppa!”
“Sol?”
“I’m here! So don’t do anything scary!”
I hurriedly stepped between the two of them. Elber’s eyes sparkled, but he still held onto the sword and spoke.
“Sol, where have you been?”
“D-Do I have to tell you, Oppa?”
“Tell me. Before I end up wanting to know no matter what.”
Even his voice carried a chill. Ah, I really didn’t want to say it…!
“I… had a stomachache, so I went… to the bathroom…”
“…”
Elber bowed his head deeply. His ears turned red.
“Sorry…”
“I told you, you didn’t have to say it, you idiot!”
Slap, slap. I smacked Elber’s broad shoulders repeatedly. The terrace railing on the first floor was a little high, which made it possible.
Of course, with his body hardened from sword training, it probably didn’t hurt him at all. Even lying down with red ears, it looked like a smile lingered on his mouth.
When I finally released Elber, Kai, who was standing nearby, seemed a little envious of him?
“You two are still close, huh.”
“Well, we’re siblings, so naturally.”
“I wouldn’t know as an only child. My grandfather once wished that you’d become like a sister to me…”
“Grandfather is still alive, right? Don’t speak so wistfully as if he’s gone.”
“Tch.”
“Don’t betray grandpa!”
“Don’t worry. Grandpa also sold me out when he was charming other ladies in different towns.”
“I don’t want to know that!”
“Isn’t it okay to know? If we get closer—”
“Stop.”
Elber intervened in our bickering. Somehow, he had crossed over onto the terrace.
In front of me, he was gentle, but toward others, he cast a cold gaze, befitting the heir of the Schleiger family.
“Alkaios Laprand, if I remember correctly, you lost contact with Sol six years ago.”
“Exchanging letters as children often stops. And reuniting brings us closer as well.”
“Are you two dating?”
A more direct question than expected hit. Kai shook his head in embarrassment.
“We’re not!”
“Good. My little sister is so cute that I’d worry…”
Don’t compliment me, don’t compliment me! Tsundere mode!
Elber quickly understood my gaze.
“I worry… not about my sister, but about the guy.”
“Why?”
“Either I or my father would crush that man’s legs—ugh.”
I quickly kicked Elber’s shin. If you’re going to talk nonsense, go home!
Elber took a deep breath and managed to form a proper tsundere sentence.
“Ah… no, Sol appears gentle and quiet on the outside, but her inner self is terrifying, as befits a Schleiger lady. I worry about what she might take from other families.”
“…”
“Of course, I’m also willing to swallow troublesome things myself.”
“Don’t worry. The Laprand marquisate has become much wealthier than before. It might seem trivial to Prince Schleiger.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed like fishing hooks.
“If you try to swallow everything in one bite, you might choke to death.”
“…Oh?”
Finally, competitiveness appeared in Elber’s eyes. Why did the atmosphere suddenly become so hostile!
I banged on the table.
“Why’s the mood like this? Don’t waste my precious Friday like this! Oppa, if you’re going to stay, at least go buy some drinks!”
Kai looked flustered.
“Huh? Sol, weren’t we supposed to be alone?”
“I came prepared to be around others anyway. If you don’t want another person, I’ll step aside.”
“Ah, no. Stay!”
“Oppa, go ahead.”
But Elber didn’t stand. Arms crossed, he looked at Kai with a serious expression.
“I’d like to ask Alkaios to do something.”
“Huh?”
“Could you order a Marsh Black Tea? It’s a bit expensive, but since Laprand is doing well, I wanted to rely on it at least once.”
“…Sure. Since I said I would, I guess that’s fine.”
Kai gave a crooked smile and stood. Finally, just the two of us remained.
Elber immediately picked up a chair and tried to stick close to me.
“Sol!”
“Tch, it’s just a concept.”
“….”
Elber’s eyebrows drooped as he dragged the chair back a bit. His body is adult, but his attitude is still like when he was a child.
Anyway, before Kai returned, I had to ask something I was curious about.
“What’s going on here? Did you just happen to find me while out?”
“I wish that were the case.”
Elber frowned about a foot away from me.
“Recently, my father attached a Silver Dragon to you, right?”
“Ah, yes!”
At that moment, the lizard peeked out from my hair.
“Perfect timing, little lizard!”
“…Lizard? It’s a Silver Dragon.”
“No, it looks like a lizard to me.”
“To my eyes, it’s barely visible. Just a slight condensation of cold energy.”
As he said, Elber squinted and observed vaguely near my hair.
What a pity—so cute, yet only my father and I can see it.
“Such a cute lizard. Its scales are silver.”
“Don’t disrespect the dragon with such a name.”
“No matter how I look at it, it’s a lizard. …Ah, I’ve decided on a name. From now on, it’s ‘Domado’.”
“That’s not the point!”
Elber whispered.
“I was resting at the townhouse today, but my father suddenly sent me here. He said it seems Sol had some kind of problem.”
“Huh? How did he know?”
“He didn’t explain in detail… but the piece of Silver Dragon attached to you seems to have reacted strangely.”
“It wasn’t a big deal… Ah.”
Earlier, when Kai tried to touch my neck, Domado bit my stomach. Even when Kai grabbed my shoulder tightly, it gave me chills. Was that Domado’s reaction?
“When you met Kai, Domado was cautious around him.”
“Just that? He didn’t do anything to you?”
“Just extremely happy to see me.”
“If he was too happy, did he maybe even kiss the back of your hand?”
I shook my head, and Elber sighed, relieved.
“Alright. I should report this to my father.”
“…Yes. Since tomorrow is the weekend, I’ll talk to father as well.”
The only reason Domado could react hostilely was one thing that came to mind.
The Guardian of Laprand Territory, the Cardinal Dragon. Six years ago, the Cardinal Dragon wanted to contract with Kai, but since Kai might go crazy, it wanted me as a calming agent.
Of course, I refused.
Back then, the Cardinal Dragon said it wouldn’t enter Kai prematurely. I thought it was resolved.
Could it be that the Cardinal Dragon did something…?
“Sol? Why do you look so serious?”
“Uh, um? Nothing.”
I had kept this secret from the Duke as well. I couldn’t tell Elber.
I tried to dodge, but failed. Suddenly, Elber reached out and held my hand tightly.
“Don’t try to deceive me. No one knows your expressions better than I do.”
“Ah…”
“What did that brat say to make you so anxious?”
“W-Well….”
“Don’t tell me he… pr-pr-proposed to you?”
“….”
Why does your mind jump there?
Elber’s nonsense didn’t stop.
“Local nobles rarely meet the opposite sex and get anxious. Besides, with the age of Marquis Laprand, it wouldn’t be strange if the young master’s body is restless.”
“Oppa, that’s not it.”
“You don’t have to hide. If it unsettles the always-composed you, then there’s no other explanation, right?”
“….”
“Don’t worry. The Laprand marquisate will ensure no one dares to covet a Schleiger lady. If anyone dares to escort her, I’ll start with a carriage pulled by six horses…”
It seemed more like he was threatening to make them pass through a needle’s eye than actually verifying.
Elber bit his lower lip and started jotting down verification points on the table napkin.
Real estate, liquid assets, savings, territory, taxes, political skills, swordsmanship… What made Elber like this?
As I waited for time to pass until I could return to the dorm, finally, Kai returned.
“I’m back. Marsh Black Tea is not cheap, indeed.”
“Of course. The tea leaves are imported, and the reprocessing technique is exclusive to Marsh… And the person beside you…?”
“I’d like to know why he followed me, too…”
“Brother…?”
Kai didn’t just bring the teacup. Behind him stood Eugene.
He smiled at me, but upon hearing Elber say “brother,” he quickly switched to Ignatz’s personality.
“Ah, Elber. Your eyes are the same as when we were young. How have you been?”
“It’s been ten years! Is that all you have to say?”
“What does it matter? I cut ties with Schleiger long ago. I’m more surprised you recognized me.”
“….”
Well, we parted at age six and ten years have passed. Any emotional reunion would be awkward.
Elber fell silent. Now it was Kai’s turn to speak.
“Sir, were you originally from the Schleiger family?”
“Yes. I’m the runaway eldest son of the well-known Schleiger family. But since I abandoned the name, don’t worry too much about me.”
“…Indeed, the boldness that doesn’t care for appearances even in front of noble young masters—”
“Shut up.”
Bang.
Oppa’s palm slammed on the table like a pot lid falling.
I could see the personality switch between Ignatz and Eugene. Serious face, but a playful smirk.
“Now, I’m patrolling Friday afternoons to prevent ‘Gruner Bant’ students from falling into evil temptation.”
“Ahh…”
“Please introduce yourselves so I know who dares to waste our precious student’s time.”
“Excuse me?”
“State your name, occupation, future aspirations, and what you think of Sol, our student. One by one.”
Eugene! What interview are you holding right now!?
