Chapter 39
I wondered for a moment if the mushrooms were making me hallucinate, but the rich scent of damp earth and trees that hit me as Kai approached made it clear this was real.
“Kai, what brings you here?”
“I came to learn about the work! It’s a good chance to see how research exchanges happen between territories!”
So he really is living up to his title as heir, I thought—but only for a second. Behind Kai, a worker from the Lafrand estate gave a wry smile.
“If you’d just said so from the start, young master, I would’ve let you ride in the carriage.”
“Ack, can we just pretend you didn’t see anything?!”
“Haha, understood. On the way back, the cargo area should be free, so you can lie down and ride home!”
After saying his piece, the worker headed into the greenhouse. Kai pouted, his face red, and I patted his shoulder.
“So you snuck in the carriage and followed us, huh? You kind of deserved that scolding.”
“If I don’t do things like this, it’s hard for me to leave the estate. Everyone overprotects me.”
Well, since his grandfather will pass away someday, and Kai is the only heir to Lafrand, it’s understandable that they’re all so protective of the precious young master.
But I didn’t bother scolding him. I already knew about Kai’s amazing future…
“You’re impressive, Kai.”
“Huh?”
“If I snuck into a carriage, it’d cause a huge fuss and I’d get sent back to Flogel right away. But that guy didn’t even say much and let you tag along.”
“Ah…”
“It means you’re a trustworthy young lord of Lafrand.”
“…That’s too much praise.”
Still, when he turned his head, I saw the corners of his mouth lift. Cute.
The worker who had finished unloading turned to Kai.
“You said you were curious about the seed planting process, right, young master? Shall we go take a look?”
“Ah, well…”
Kai looked between me and the worker. His smile had vanished, and I could see a ten-year-old’s maximum level of inner turmoil on his face.
“…Kai, can I join you for the explanation too?”
Kai’s troubled expression lit up in an instant. Like a sunflower blooming.
“Of course! Let’s go together!”
“Young master…”
The worker smiled bitterly. I could practically hear him holding back the words, ‘I didn’t say she could come too.’ But looking at the kind expression in his eyes as he gazed at Kai, I already knew the answer would be yes.
Before I knew it, Kai and I were wandering around together.
A greenhouse filled with the scent of spring. The warm, earthy smell as seeds were planted one by one. The laughter we shared like co-conspirators when we rescued a sprout that had almost been buried too deep…
Thoughts of my annoying brothers completely vanished. It really felt like a field trip. At some point, the worker left us to do his own tasks, making it easier to chat.
“Kai, did you get the letter I sent? I replied not too long ago.”
“Oh no, maybe we missed each other! I haven’t seen it yet—what should I do?”
“No need to panic. You’ll read it when you get home, right?”
“If it says you’re coming to visit Lafrand, then I’ve got to start getting ready to host you!”
“It doesn’t say anything like that.”
“…”
“…No matter how you look at me, I’m not going to say I’m coming to visit.”
“Then what did you write…?”
I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘I wrote that you shouldn’t come.’ Not in front of those pleading eyes.
“I just wrote to say hello. I’m not as good with words as you, so it wasn’t very long.”
“Short letters are fine too! Honestly, someone scolded me once for writing too much when I sent you a letter.”
“Really? Who?”
I never thought he wrote those letters all by himself.
Kai’s eyes flicked briefly to empty space. Oh? Is he hiding something?
What if someone really is trying to connect me and Kai, like the Duke fears? Or maybe it’s like Elbert suspects—some Cardinal Dragon giving him advice?
But the answer Kai gave was unexpectedly innocent and full of embarrassment.
“…Everyone who knows I write letters.”
“Huh?”
“The people at the marquisate all treat me like I’m five or six. Everything I do is ‘so cute,’ and they’re always trying to teach me things.”
“Ah…”
“I’m grateful they care, but… Oh! Don’t worry, though. No one reads the letters we exchange!”
Ugh, now I feel guilty.
Still, I could understand why Kai hesitated to say anything.
No one likes others knowing they’re treated like a baby—especially not in front of a friend their own age, someone they just got to know.
I patted his shoulder.
“I get it! My brothers are super overprotective too.”
“Do they tease or bother you?”
“They’re both good guys. But they fight with each other so much that it makes me uncomfortable…”
Ack, I said too much.
I quickly shut my mouth, but there was no way to take back what Kai had already heard. He asked with concern.
“Are you caught in your brothers’ fight?”
“They were listening to me talk, and then they started arguing.”
“Did you ask them something like, ‘Which brother is stronger?’”
“No. You know how sometimes, even if no one meant anything bad, people still end up hurt when chatting? It was like that.”
“Ah…”
“If one of them had clearly done something wrong, I’d have grabbed him by the collar and sorted it out.”
“Pfft!”
“Why are you laughing? I’m serious.”
“Sorry. It just sounds like the kind of straightforward solution that suits you.”
…Was that a compliment?
Thinking too long about it would just make me grumpy, so I decided to take it as one.
“Thanks. Kai, what do you do when a problem comes up?”
“Hmm… I think about two things first.”
Kai raised both index fingers.
“Can I do something about it? And should I do something about it? If even one of those is yes, I go for it.”
“Wow, that’s really mature!”
“Haha, my grandpa taught me. Want to try that on your problem? First—‘can you do something about it?’”
“…That’s a tough one.”
I’ve been worrying about it for days. But they won’t even talk to each other…
Kai folded one finger. Only the second question remained.
“Should you do something about it?”
“…I’m not sure.”
The only thing I have to do is stop the duke from ruining my life like he did in the original story. Saving the world from ruin? That’s the saintess’s job.
Just then, Kai folded his other finger.
“Then that’s it! ‘Don’t worry about your brothers’ business.’”
“…That’s… pretty neat.”
Almost too neat.
“Right?”
Kai smiled faintly—somehow a little bitterly. A smile that didn’t suit a ten-year-old.
“Grandpa said that if something doesn’t meet those two conditions, just let it go.”
“Huh? Why?”
“So I can save my strength for the things I should do.”
Old man, what are you teaching a kid already?!
…But maybe this helps me understand Alkaïos from the original story a bit better.
When the world was in danger, Alkaïos went straight to the capital to fight alongside the saintess. He won in the end, but it was incredibly risky.
If Kai had died in that fight, Lafrand would’ve lost its only heir. The old marquis would’ve had to guard all that land alone until the end.
And yet, Kai stood by the saintess’s side with just one sword. Because, as he said, it was something he should do—and something he could do.
I looked at Kai again, moved all over again.
“Sol? Did I say something weird?”
“No. You’re just… cool.”
“…That’s embarrassing. Anyway, your problem’s solved now, right?”
“Yeah… I guess.”
I’m not even a supporting character—just a minor extra. Me getting involved in my brothers’ fight won’t change anything. I need all my energy just to deal with the duke.
Feeling a bit lighter, I smiled, and Kai gently tugged my sleeve.
“Great! So, where should we go next?”
“Go?”
“Now that you’re not worrying, can you show me around Flogel? Your mansion too!”
“Uh…”
I didn’t really have anything to do today. My only plan was to bring Elbert and Benen together in the greenhouse.
When I hesitated, Kai looked at me, concerned.
“Are you busy? …Am I bothering you?”
“N-no! I have plenty of time!”
“Really? I’ve got lots of time too!”
Kai’s eyes sparkled, and then he grabbed my sleeve and spun me around in circles. It felt like I’d become a carousel. Dizzying, but somehow exciting too.
Come to think of it, a friend came to visit my house. That never happened back when I was in the orphanage! I want to show him something amazing that he’d never see in Lafrand!
“Want to go see the mountain foothills?”
“The foothills?”
“If you’re in Flogel, you’ve got to see the Silver Mountain Range! The snow there never melts. A stream flows from it, and even in spring, it’s cold and beautiful.”
Yep, snow would be a good idea. Kai immediately nodded.
“Great! I’ve only ever seen it from afar. I’ve always wanted to get closer!”
“Okay. It’ll take some time to get there, so let the worker know first.”
“Got it! What about you?”
“I’m fine. It’s obvious where I’d go.”
And if I told my family I was going to the mountain, they’d definitely say, ‘Why go alone? Let me come with you.’ Then I’d have to explain about Kai!
They’re already suspicious of just exchanging letters. If they find out we’re going on an outing together? They really might chase after us on horseback.
Let’s go quickly, have fun, and come back before they notice.
I took Kai, who had gotten permission from the worker, and we headed north.
When the sun was high overhead, Benen stood in front of the specialty crop greenhouse with a box of chocolates in hand—a gift for Sol. In his head, he was rehearsing what to say.
‘Sorry I made things so uncomfortable. I haven’t acted like an older brother should…’
Of course, there was nothing in that apology about making up with Elbert. The little brother can grow up on his own.
But when Benen finally gathered his resolve and opened the greenhouse door—
“Sol—… Benen hyung?”
The one who greeted him was Elbert, who was also looking for Sol. He was holding a fistful of candy. Both boys quickly put the pieces together.
“Did you come because Sol told you that too?”
“…Yeah. That whole thing about showing us the greenhouse to make us make up.”
“So you turned her down too.”
“Of course. And then regretted it, like you.”
“…”
“…”
They both glanced around quickly. Sol was nowhere to be seen.
Elbert cautiously voiced a worrying theory.
“If she was hanging around trying to get us to make up, and now she’s nowhere to be found… could it be… she got mad and ran away?”
