Chapter 16
“Apu! (You can’t do that!)”
Iello looked as if he was about to take back what he had said, clearly offended. Levi immediately froze.
“I think I might have been mistaken.”
‘N-No!’
At Iello’s reaction, I quickly shot Levi a meaningful look.
‘Hurry and apologize!’
Fortunately, Levi seemed to understand my signal this time and rushed toward Iello.
“Sha—”
“No! Hyung, I’m sorry! So please don’t take it back!”
Levi hurried over and pleaded desperately.
“Again?”
“Again?”
“Yes, again. Nothing else?”
“Hmm, do I really have to say something else?”
Levi looked genuinely confused. Iello’s face stiffened instantly.
‘Does this brother of mine want to be exiled to my room…?’
My mouth dropped open so wide that I nearly dropped the teddy bear I was holding.
‘Please… this time, please don’t fight again. Let’s just get through this peacefully.’
It hadn’t been long since the explosion incident. If another problem happened now, it would be bad.
Looking down at Levi, Iello muttered coldly,
“Then I suppose I should take it back—”
‘No! I need some alone time too!’
I urgently signaled Levi again.
‘Say you’re sorry for fooling around!’
I waved my hands and even stomped my feet, using every method I could to send him a message. Levi nodded as if he finally understood.
“Hyung, I’m sorry for messing around! I won’t do it again!”
Levi shouted his apology loudly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry for saying ‘hey’ to you. I’ll listen to you from now on!”
At Levi’s apology, Iello’s stiff expression slowly softened. Composing himself, he spoke as if granting mercy.
“Fine. From now on, stop fooling around and train properly.”
“Okay!”
Levi answered energetically.
“You’re good at answering, at least.”
Iello smirked and ruffled Levi’s hair.
As the frozen atmosphere melted away, I let out a sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness. It looks like they’ve made up.’
Seeing them so friendly again, as if they had never fought, I realized children really do grow up by fighting and reconciling.
December, Year 980 of the Pietra Empire. The end of the year was already approaching.
‘It’s December already. Time really flies.’
What felt like it would pass slowly had gone by in the blink of an eye, and now it was year’s end.
‘Soon it’ll be January.’
Wait, next year means… 981? The banquet is right around the corner!
The Pietra Empire holds a grand banquet once every four years, scheduled according to the month symbolizing each noble house. January for Granato, March for Aquamarina, June for Perla, July for Rubino, and December for Turchese.
‘The date should be decided around now… I wonder when they’ll hold it?’
The date is usually determined by the head of the house and the vassals.
‘Will they hold it on eldest brother’s or little brother’s birthday?’
Banquets are often held on the birthday of the house head or their children.
‘In my previous life, it was held on January 10, so it’ll probably be the same this time. It’s Iello oppa’s birthday!’
If things flow as they should, that would make sense.
‘By the way, it’s noisy outside today.’
I could hear the servants talking loudly in the corridor.
“Come on, put your backs into it and move it!”
“What should we do with the items that just arrived outside?”
“Ah, those too! Move everything quickly!”
Their energetic tone, excited voices, and eager inflection made it clear how lively the atmosphere was.
‘Is it because the banquet is coming?’
The Granato ducal house felt more splendid and excited than usual.
‘But what should I give eldest brother for his birthday?’
Suddenly, I started worrying about Iello’s present.
‘Today is December 10… that’s one month away? A month isn’t long at all. Is there anything good?’
I needed to decide on a gift, but nothing felt quite right.
‘Wait. Do I even have money?’
Come to think of it, I had none.
‘I want to give back as much as I’ve received….’
If I could, I’d shower him with gifts. But unfortunately, I’m a baby. Which means I don’t have a single coin to my name.
‘And it’s not just eldest brother’s birthday.’
Father’s and Levi’s birthdays were coming too.
‘Ugh, I really have no money….’
Normally it wouldn’t matter, but at times like this, it really did.
‘Why am I a baby!’
If I were at least a bit older, I could earn money!
Just as my worries about gifts deepened, Dana entered carrying snacks.
“Miss, did you sleep well?”
“U, uu! (Yes, I slept well!)”
“That’s good to hear. Flynn and Molly have to help with banquet preparations today, so I’ll be playing with you instead!”
“U! (Okay!)”
“First, shall we have a snack before we play? Today’s snack is banana pudding!”
“Kyaa! (Wow!)”
‘Pudding!’
Maybe it was the sight of pudding, but all my worries suddenly disappeared.
‘Right. I’ll think after I eat. Worrying alone won’t solve anything!’
At that same time, in the Granato ducal family’s conference room.
People had gathered around Lucero.
“Your Grace, this year’s banquet must be held on Young Master Iello’s birthday!”
“No, Your Grace. It should naturally be held on Young Master Levi’s birthday!”
The vassals argued fiercely, practically spitting as they insisted on their opinions.
“Baron Kesha, wasn’t it held on Young Master Iello’s birthday in 973? Of course it should be on Young Master Levi’s birthday this time!”
“Viscount Penton! Are you, a mere viscount, daring to argue with me? If that’s the case, in 977 it was held on Young Master Levi’s birthday, so this year it should be on Young Master Iello’s!”
The vassals bickered endlessly, each trying to push their own stance.
“Wait a moment. Why is no one mentioning Lady Allegria?”
Plio, who had been quietly observing, raised a question.
“Hmph. Sir Plio, you know the answer to that best.”
“That’s right. The future is uncertain. We can wait and see before deciding.”
The same people who had been arguing moments ago now spoke in unison.
At their words, Lucero spoke with visible displeasure.
“Wasn’t the matter of the temple settled last time?”
The vassals hurried to explain.
“Your Grace… we know that, but… judging from the situation in House Turchese, there seems to be nothing unusual.”
“That’s right, Your Grace. Of course… we’ll only know once the child is born, but given Turchese’s current state… the prophecy mentioned last time points more toward Lady Allegria.”
Lucero’s expression darkened.
“You’re placing a curse on a child who was just born.”
He muttered in a low voice. The vassals flailed their hands in denial.
“Your Grace, a curse? Absolutely not!”
“We only mentioned it for the sake of the house’s safety!”
“That’s right, Your Grace! Those were merely Baron Kesha and Viscount Penton’s remarks!”
Baron Kesha flushed red at that.
“Wait, Baron Blendy! That’s not fair! You were the one insisting before the meeting that it must be Young Master Iello’s birthday!”
“When did I say that? Do you have proof?”
“I do! I’m a witness!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Present proper evidence!”
“What did you say? Baron Blendy, are you challenging me?”
“Fine! Let’s see about that!”
As the argument escalated, Lucero raised his hand.
“Enough.”
Silence fell instantly.
“You fight every time you meet. No wonder there’s been no progress for six months.”
Indeed, preparations had begun six months ago, but aside from the basics, little had moved forward.
“Whenever one decision is made, the other side protests. You’ve repeated the cycle of adding and removing things over and over. No matter how enthusiastic you are, you must consider the people actually carrying it out.”
The Granato servants were already overwhelmed, handling both regular duties and banquet preparations.
“Most are preparing in high spirits, but some have collapsed from exhaustion.”
Because the plans kept changing, they had been working overtime for months.
“If the servants resign, will you take responsibility?”
None of the vassals could respond.
“More importantly, we must report to the Imperial Family. Yet because of your arguments, it has been delayed. What do you propose to do about that?”
At the mention of the Imperial Family, the vassals’ faces turned pale.
“W-We forgot to report to His Majesty…!”
“W-What should we do, Your Grace?!”
“At least two months’ notice was required. But since every meeting ended in argument, no report has been made. We’ve likely already earned their displeasure.”
The word displeasure made them tremble.
“Th-This is serious, Your Grace!”
“Wh-What should we do?”
Lucero answered firmly.
“You’re all too busy asserting your own opinions. So I will decide.”
The vassals swallowed nervously.
After a brief pause, Lucero spoke calmly.
“This year’s Granato banquet… will be held on January 19.”
