Chapter 79
Four chairs were set around the table.
Usually, four people is the perfect number for a table.
…So why does it feel so suffocating?
Earlier, I thought there was nothing to see beyond the terrace, but I take it back—sorry. Looking at the rooftops of other houses just beyond those broad, manly shoulders, I suddenly realize that the view I saw earlier was truly a gift from the gods.
My brother first pointed at Elber. His tone shifted to a strange formal respect, as if he actually considered him a stranger.
“Alright, there. You said your name is Elber? Please introduce yourself.”
“Brother, you already know me, don’t you?”
“Who knows if you’ve turned into a concentrated version of the Duke in the past ten years? Come on, show that you’ve grown properly, young master.”
“…That sounded like Ignatz, somehow. Ignatz and Brother Eugene really work well together.”
Elber looked a bit incredulous but began to speak.
“Elber Schlaiger. The third son of the Schlaiger ducal family…and the next heir. I’m in my final semester at the Central Academy and am receiving knight training under General Pine.”
“So, in the future, you’ll be the next Duke?”
“Yes. With the resources I have and the knowledge I’ve gained over time, I will make the Flogel territory the most prosperous land.”
Elber spoke brightly, straightening his shoulders. Ah… this was a sight I could never have seen in the original story.
The original Elber felt the title of heir as if it were a curse. He hated his father while secretly wishing him to remain Duke for a long time. He also thought he would never be a good lord himself.
And now, this Elber is showing such confidence…!
I felt happy inside, but my brother looked somewhat displeased.
“Even if you inherit the title, if you mishandle a famine, the whole family could end up as pitchfork fodder… Ack! So… Sol, why are you poking?”
“Br… Ignatz! Your words are too harsh! If you look at it that way, what job in the world isn’t dangerous?”
“A rich idler!”
“That’s exactly the job that would be the first to go if a revolution happened!”
As the two of us bickered, Elber and Kai’s expressions became peculiar.
Kai spoke:
“You two… really seem like siblings… maybe even closer than Sol and Elber.”
“C-Cough!”
My brother cleared his throat.
“Young Master Elber, my question isn’t finished yet. Your future aspirations… and what do you think of Sol?”
“….”
“You have no thoughts?”
“Many… too many.”
“Hooh.”
“When I first saw Sol at the orphanage, I thought he was just a brat who only spoke for himself. But when he worried about me—”
“Wait. You first met at the orphanage?”
“Yes. It wasn’t a normal meeting. It felt like fate.”
“Hahaha. Yes, a… very rare fate indeed.”
My brother’s lips twitched upwards. Elber had no idea why he was smiling that way.
“Anyway, after some minor incidents, Sol became like a sister to me. People might think I saved Sol from the notorious ducal family, but it’s actually the other way around.”
“….”
“Sol didn’t escape from the infamous ducal family. On the contrary, he saved me.”
“Hooh. How so?”
“That’s private.”
Elber said this while looking triumphantly at Kai. It seemed like payback for when Kai earlier said, “I can’t tell you where Sol went, it’s personal.”
It was a childish provocation, but very effective—Kai clenched his fist in response.
My brother extended his long arm and patted both of their shoulders.
“Alright, got it. Anyway, Elber, what kind of future do you wish for Sol?”
“…Honestly.”
“Yes, honestly.”
“I hope he continues to live with the Schlaiger family.”
“Like a kindergartener’s picture diary—or rather, a child’s picture diary: ‘The whole family lives together forever.’”
In a way, it sounded like a provocation, but Elber didn’t get angry. He just nodded seriously.
“Honestly, isn’t that a fine dream? The kids may not have the ability to achieve such dreams, but if they have the ability, why not?”
“Hahaha! Wow, I like that. Well, that’s good. I once had a similar dream too.”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind.”
My brother smiled bitterly at me for a moment. I think I understand. I, too, when I was really little, wished the people in our orphanage could remain as an eternal family.
And so, Elber’s interview ended.
Soon, my brother turned to Kai.
“Next, please introduce this one.”
“Alkaios Lapland. Grandson and heir of the Lapland Marquis.”
“They’re both similarly well-off, aren’t they?”
“But Lapland’s food reserves are overwhelmingly high, so in a famine, the chances of peasants striking with pitchforks over taxes is lower than in Flogel.”
“Hahaha! Wow, you speak well despite your looks. Where did you learn that?”
“…I had a good teacher.”
“Of course. Even before coming here, you must have learned from a private tutor.”
“That’s correct.”
The moment I heard that, the image of the Cardinal Dragon flashed through my mind.
Even after six years, I can’t forget those red eyes. Could it be that he was the one who trained Kai…?
Thinking of that face made goosebumps rise on my arms.
Domado also sensed my tension and squeaked from the back of my head. It’s okay, it’s okay. That red dragon isn’t here.
Soon, my brother asked the final question.
“One last question, Alkaios Lapland.”
“Yes.”
Probably the last question will be, “What do you think of Sol?”
…Honestly, I don’t want to hear it.
I’m scared he’ll say something strange!
If he said, “I want him as a sedative,” it would feel like this romance story just turned into horror.
Even if he just said, “I want to stay friends,” I’d still feel uneasy.
So, Kai…
My brother asked:
“What food do you dislike the most?”
“…Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear my question?”
“Yes, I heard it! But earlier, I thought the last question was ‘What do you think of Sol?’”
“Interviewers are always tricky. Get used to the harshness of the world.”
My brother shrugged. Wow, so annoying!
But secretly, to me, who was scared to hear the last answer, his nonsense was actually a relief.
Elber’s expression seemed similar to mine.
Sigh… Yes, you can’t judge what someone thinks by words alone. You have to see it for yourself.
Kai’s lips instinctively pouted.
“Sigh…”
“Answer.”
“…The food I dislike is spicy food with a lot of garlic.”
“Decision made.”
My brother spun around to face me.
“No, this one won’t do.”
I instinctively nodded. Specifically, Korean instinct.
“Right, really won’t do.”
“Wait? Sol, what do you mean by ‘won’t do’?”
“…Ah, it’s nothing. Really, don’t worry.”
“Why? Does the Schlaiger family have a standard for judging humans?”
“My ties with the Schlaigers are over!”
“Sorry… No. But what exactly is the problem?”
“I don’t care. Anyway, let’s go inside, Sol!”
Huh? Already?
As my brother stood up abruptly, the view behind the terrace revealed the world bathed in a slowly setting sun. The buildings glowed crimson. Evening, dormitory curfew time was approaching.
I waved to Kai for now.
“It was really nice to meet you today, Kai.”
“The pleasure was mine! But, um…”
“I’ll be buried in school, so we probably won’t see each other often. Enjoy life in the capital.”
“Why? Just because I can’t handle spicy food?”
Not really, it’s because the Cardinal Dragon is scary. Let’s just say he’s partially right.
“Yeah.”
“….”
Faced with such an unreasonable reason that he couldn’t argue, Kai looked truly dumbfounded. I felt a little sorry.
Next was Elber.
“Please tell my father that nothing happened.”
“Nothing happened… I think it’s safe to say something interesting did happen.”
Elber looked very pleased at how Kai had been bested. Then he whispered to me:
“Do you like spicy food?”
“Not particularly.”
Koreans might say that, but still throw chili into soybean paste stew. Anyway, I don’t really like it.
Elber held my hand for a while, then, when my brother patted my shoulder, he bowed toward him.
“It was a pleasure meeting you after so long. Please take good care of Sol on your way back.”
“…Understood. No matter what happens, I’ll protect him like my own sibling, so don’t worry.”
My brother’s hand pressed firmly on my waist.
After clearing the table, Elber and Kai exchanged awkward looks, silently asking, “Which way will you go?” “Oh, you first?” A little power struggle, probably not wanting to face each other on the way back.
“By the way, brother, how did you know I’d come?”
“I told you earlier. The temple knights patrol on Fridays. There are always idiots trying to target innocent students.”
“I thought that was a lie.”
“It’s not. The world doesn’t revolve solely to ruin your romance.”
“Hahaha, true.”
“I did follow you on purpose, though.”
“…Huh?”
“That blond guy was really annoying. Even at the training ground, he stuck around for no reason…”
“He was happy to see me after two years! We used to play like childhood friends.”
“Is it normal to try to kiss someone’s hand just because you’re happy to see them?”
“Nobles do that when they meet a lady for the first time. Maybe that’s it?”
Kai also probably acted like that because he’s noble.
My brother seemed to think so too, but Ignatz said something.
“Ignatz said it’s not wrong, but it’s a bit sly. In our terms, it’s like ‘It’s been a long time, so I’ll buy you beef.’”
“….”
That’s really suspicious. My chest felt heavy the moment I heard it.
Probably because of the trauma from being scammed before. Most people who are nice to me for no reason have hidden agendas.
The original Kai was truly kind… Can I trust him?
Then my brother said:
“If you’re uneasy, I’ll deal with him.”
“No need!”
…Deal with him how?!
