RRMD 35

Chapter 35

“Humph!”

Lorr, whose cheeks were puffed out in a pout, flopped onto the bed. He turned over just right for his dad to stroke his hair.

‘Since it’s just before bedtime, I’ll just brush his hair.’

Alkaid properly tucked the blanket around Lorr and gently began running his fingers through the child’s messy blond hair.

“Lorr, little one… how do you want to spend your time with Reycal?”

“Huh?”

At his father’s voice, Lorr reflexively turned his body.

Though it was a pity for Reycal, the most important thing was Lorr’s wishes.

Now that he had said he would hate him, he might never want to see him again—or he might see him but remain cold.

If it was the former, Alkaid was ready to send his nephews back to the palace immediately.

“Umm…”

Despite being hurt and angry just a moment ago,

the child didn’t seem able to completely cut off Reycal.

Alkaid, watching Lorr deep in thought, fell into thought himself.

‘Hmm…’

Though not yet a significant move, there were signs of division among the noble faction.

It meant a new power would soon emerge.

He was debating whether to nip it in the bud or observe a little longer.

He had no intention to interfere himself; he only planned to give his brother a heads-up.

But if Lorr wanted to be with Reycal… he would need to provide a safety net.

“…Umm… I…”

Lorr, closing his eyes and softly moving his lips as if savoring Alkaid’s hand stroking his hair, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“I said I hate him before… but I don’t want to! I want to be friends with Reycal!”

“Really?”

Hehe. Lorr beamed innocently.

Though he had lived with his mom and grandfather,

now he had his dad, some incredibly cool older sisters, and plenty of scary-looking but kind uncles.

Lorr had always envied friends who had older sisters, older brothers, or cute younger siblings. Even friends with twin siblings…

Thinking of how he bullied Kainel made him frown, but

still, he wanted to be friends with Reycal!

“Because Reycal is family!”

He wanted to play hide-and-seek together, listen to the clever stories Reycal would tell, and…

“-Alright.”

Alkaid smiled softly as he listened to Lorr’s cheerful voice. Lorr probably didn’t realize what a difference his words had just made.

Alkaid, pretending to regain his usual stern expression, said,

“Alright. But no night walks.”

“Waaah!”

“His Highness the Grand Duke requests your presence.”

Reycal, sitting by the sunlit window reading, looked up at the steward’s words.

His heart began to pound.

“…My uncle?”

Since visiting the Grand Duke’s residence, this had never happened before.

His uncle wanted to see him!

But Reycal couldn’t fully enjoy this joyful moment.

‘Th-the villain!’

Recalling Lorr’s shouting echoing across the wide courtyard of the training grounds, he could only sigh.

What on earth had Lorr said to his uncle?

Being summoned separately suggested a serious matter…?

Reycal’s face clouded with worry.

‘Still, since I was called, I must go…’

Reycal led his heavy steps toward the office.

Arriving at the office, he knocked politely after taking a deep sigh.

“…Ah, you’re here.”

As always, Alkaid, seated at his desk going through documents, looked up.

Gulp.

Reycal straightened his back and met his uncle’s gaze. He couldn’t allow himself to shrink in front of the respected uncle.

Though he kept his head steady and his posture upright, his trembling eyes betrayed him.

Alkaid said nothing, simply observing Reycal carefully.

He had hardly ever looked so closely at Reycal’s face.

‘He resembles his brother quite a lot.’

After organizing his papers, Alkaid stood and sat on the sofa right in front of his desk.

“Sit.”

Reycal sat down. The waiting maid brought tea, the fragrant aroma wafting through the air.

‘This…!’

Reycal’s eyes widened at the familiar scent of tea.

It was Dalante flower tea—his favorite. He hid the grin creeping onto his lips behind the teacup.

‘He prepared my favorite tea.’

Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but smile, feeling warmth in his chest.

He never imagined his uncle would know his tastes. He was truly moved!

So moved that he felt he might melt from sheer happiness. Wow… such overwhelming emotion…!

“You must be busy, so let’s get straight to the point.”

No, no, no. Straight to the point? Even if his uncle began reciting the history of the empire from its founding to the achievements of past emperors, Reycal would have been thrilled. Having such a lesson from his respected uncle was already an immense honor.

Though his mind raced with excitement, Reycal responded with composed posture and voice:

“Yes, Uncle.”

“I will be away from the Grand Duke’s residence for the next few days.”

“Yes?”

His uncle would be leaving the residence? Where was he going? Why? Always busy, yes, but suddenly leaving made Reycal uneasy, almost on the verge of tears.

This time, Reycal’s question was calm:

“You must have pressing matters.”

“It’s something I have to attend to personally. That’s why I called you—to ask a favor.”

“A favor…?”

Thump. Thump.

A personal favor from his respected uncle! To trust him with it!

Pride and warmth swelled in Reycal’s chest.

“So…”

“First, the policies implemented by the founding emperor of the Ateleon Empire are still in effect…”

Reycal adjusted his glasses and wrote in neat, small letters on the chalkboard, holding a notebook full of notes in his other hand.

Books piled high on the desk in front of the chalkboard were all materials Reycal had reviewed to prepare for this lesson.

This lesson was structured carefully, summarizing only the key points to remember.

“The current 14th Emperor, His Majesty Parvaban Ateleon, maintains the taxation policy-.”

Ateleon Empire’s history, culture, customs—

Organizing such vast material required quite a mental effort, but he did it!

‘Even a five-year-old should understand this.’

The reason Reycal stood before the chalkboard was, of course, his uncle’s request.

‘Lorr has been entrusted to you all this time.’

That was all Alkaid had asked. A truly enigmatic statement.

There wasn’t even time to ask what it meant. Reycal had instinctively agreed, and in the short conversation that followed, Alkaid had moved the topic to ask about Reycal and the emperor.

Reycal, unable to take the topic from his respected uncle, answered concisely and concluded the brief talk.

‘What exactly did he entrust to me?’

Returning to his room, Reycal wracked his brain but couldn’t figure it out.

What did his uncle want him to do?

It was the first time he had been asked a “favor,” and he couldn’t treat such a serious matter lightly!

Fortunately, the clever Reycal soon found the answer.

‘…That little brat! He has a lot to learn!’

Lorr’s manners were awkward, and he didn’t know many words. If he were sent into high society like that…

Just thinking about it made Reycal shiver. No wonder his uncle was concerned.

That was why he entrusted Lorr to Reycal, specifically.

Reycal, aware of his own cleverness and the fact that the heir of the empire wasn’t supposed to teach someone, realized that Lorr being his cousin justified the responsibility.

Understanding his uncle’s intent, Reycal resolved to teach Lorr well.

On the first day of the carefully prepared lesson, Reycal knocked on the board with a pointer.

“This is the key point, so remember it well.”

It was clear and easy to understand, and Reycal felt proud, letting out a small satisfied smile.

“Humph, make sure you take notes.”

Though he was turned away and no one could see, a faint blush rose on Reycal’s cheeks as he cleared his throat and turned his head.

“Kuul…”