Chapter 50
A day passed, and Shuri’s birthday went by without me being able to give her the gift I had prepared. I had observed proper manners, but I still felt regret.
Then, I suddenly remembered the past five years of buying gifts I could never actually give her. They weren’t birthday gifts, since I didn’t even know her birthday, but I often bought things that reminded me of her.
“Ora-boni, may I come in?”
Rote’s voice came from behind me as I looked at the items I had laid out on the desk. Her voice was still bright, piercingly clear.
“Come in.”
“Hehe. That’s right, Ora-boni! I did some asking around, and they said there’s a girl who looks a lot like Shuri! Could it be her?”
Ah, Rote still doesn’t know that Shuri has returned.
Rote had brought a tray herself and sat on the sofa, carrying tea. I also sat across from her, wondering whether I should talk about Shuri.
If Shuri hadn’t contacted Rote first, there must have been a reason for it. After all, my sister was her closest friend.
And even without a reason, it would be rude to speak of it unless Shuri herself mentioned it. Of course, this kind of consideration was exclusive to Shuri.
“…I don’t know.”
“Ora-boni… This time, I’m sure I’m right!”
Rote held both of my hands tightly, as if to reassure me not to be disappointed, remembering the last time she had searched for someone and I had been let down. Her actions were cute, but I felt a twinge of guilt.
I already knew where she was.
“And I also came to make an important announcement.”
“An important announcement?”
“Yes! Something really important!”
Her eyes, which had looked a little pitiful before, now blazed with intensity. I couldn’t even guess what she was about to say.
“I want to aim for the heir’s position!”
“The Ducal family?”
“Yes. I’ve thought about it for a long time. I want to become a ruling duke rather than just someone’s wife. I want to be a duke so I can be of help to Shuri.”
For someone who hadn’t even had her debutante ball yet—just thirteen years old—this was a heavy statement. But my sister had been exceptionally sharp from a young age.
If it were for this sister of mine, I could easily give her the title of duke. But the fact that she even dared to say this was essentially a declaration of war: don’t run away.
“So, I want to fight fair and square for the ducal title. Just try handing it over to me. You’d totally hate it!”
Honestly judging, Rote was barely at my level. It wasn’t about being two years older—age didn’t matter. Two years didn’t make a difference.
Rote and I had started from completely different points. Of course, everyone has their own talents, but I had extraordinary innate abilities.
But where there is greatness, there is also a deficiency. I knew I lacked in emotional understanding and in caring for others, especially compared to Rote.
Yet my intellect, memory, adaptability, and talent in magic easily surpassed hers.
“All right.”
Even though I knew I would win, this fight might be a deception against her—but if my sister wanted it, I would gladly indulge her as many times as needed.
“That’s all I came to say, so I’ll be going now.”
Rote smiled as if relieved and left with her tray. I didn’t worry; the servants or maids would take the tray back anyway.
Come to think of it, neither Rote nor I had taken a sip of tea. I didn’t understand why she had brought it, but I let it slide, charmed by my little sister’s actions.
“Phew. I should take a short break.”
After working a little longer, I pressed my tired eyes and stood up. I had been assisting Father in his office since morning—it was exhausting.
I wondered if Rote would be okay doing this kind of work in the future.
“Be quiet, Rel. And I don’t like Kiel.”
Shuri’s sharp voice came from around the corner. Hearing that she didn’t like me, I couldn’t hide a hurt expression.
Assumptions and confirmations were very different. I had never thought that Shuri would dislike me. If she truly hated me, she would have drawn a clear line.
But she said she hated me.
Me.
“So… then this means—!”
Shuri, flustered, opened her mouth to explain but then shut it again, biting her lip in a way that made her look even more hurt.
I asked her,
“If you have time, would you like to have tea with me? There’s even cake you might like… You don’t?”
“…I do have time. I’ll come with you.”
Looking at me with cautious eyes, she answered as if she had just finished a tough struggle. After a brief thought about where to go, I headed to my room.
It might seem petty, but I wanted to imprint the sight of her in my personal space.
“Isn’t this Lord Richard’s room?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Weren’t we going to the parlor?”
“Hmm.”
In the Perolos Empire, one doesn’t invite anyone to one’s personal room unless they are close. Inviting someone of the opposite sex is reserved for those with a promised future.
And I knew that very well. I also understood why Shuri asked.
“She may have already met Rote, but I don’t want anyone disturbing the time I spend with you… If it’s uncomfortable, we can go to the parlor. Or is it a bit awkward?”
I forced a shy smile, concealing my true intention. She shook her head; I assumed she didn’t want to attach any meaning to it.
I cared for her, but she probably didn’t feel the same.
“Well then, excuse me.”
“Would you like to sit for a moment? If I summon the maid here, it might get noisy, so I’ll call her from outside.”
“Oh, yes.”
After Shuri’s reply, Rote appeared outside with tear-red eyes, striding quickly toward me.
“Ora-boni, didn’t you see Shuri?”
Her urgent voice carried certainty. Even though we usually got along, Rote and I often clashed when it came to Shuri.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you already know she had returned? Wow. Betrayal!”
“Wow. Betrayal indeed.”
From behind Rote’s voice came a person whose presence I didn’t even want to acknowledge—a trespasser who would demand consequences. Seeing all of them together, I knew it would be chaotic.
“Leave, Lucain.”
“To a long-time friend? Wow, what a traitor.”
Sigh. Even with just three people, Lucain always sided with Rote, scolding me, while laughing beside her. And since the topic was Shuri, Rote and I ended up in opposition—chaos ensued.
“I have to return to my room. Lucain, go home, and Rote, you too.”
“You let Shuri into your room? Our Ora-boni is clever. You made it seem like you just wanted to avoid the parlor so I would let her in, didn’t you?”
Rote gave the perfect answer, glared at me, and warned me not to make Shuri cry. Then she grabbed Lucain by the nape and disappeared.
It was obvious she was giving me a pass this time.
Feeling relieved, I dismissed the servants who had brought tea and returned to my room.
“Shuri, sorry. Have you been waiting long? Rote held me up a little, so I’m late.”
“It’s fine, Lord.”
“This tea… it’s your favorite, right?”
I smiled as I looked at Shuri. She stared at me with a dazed expression, as if she had been hit in the back of the head.
“Shuri?”
She had spaced out yesterday as well—was she still not feeling well? I said her name with concern, and she answered in a dazed way.
“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red… You don’t have a fever, right?”
“I think I might not be feeling too well. Can we just leave it at that for today? We didn’t have an appointment, after all.”
I noticed she was trying to create distance.
Had I done something wrong again? What on earth?
I couldn’t understand why Shuri was acting this way. She did look unwell, but if she hadn’t tried to distance herself, I would have handled it more gently.
After all, she was kind and gentle by nature.
“Wait a moment. Then let’s see the family physician before we go.”
“That’s… unnecessary.”
“Really? Shuri, I’m just worried… Is it really no good?”
I tilted my head, sending a look that said I really hoped she would agree. Anyone else seeing this would probably think I was something disguised as a lord.
But I only wanted to show Shuri kindness. I only wanted to give her good things. Since distance could be maintained as much as needed, it was more important that she was unwell right now.
“Our family has a physician, so you don’t need to worry. I’ll leave it at that.”
She handled it gently. The tilt of her head seemed to have its effect.
“Mm. But if you’re sick, make sure to get checked. Got it?”
Shuri quickly nodded and we stepped outside. Returning to my room, I noticed traces of magic on the letter.
“This is maddening.”
I hadn’t learned magic from Rachel long ago, but I had talent. Once I learned one thing, I could figure out others on my own.
It was only natural that I could detect traces of magic.
“Could it be…”
Had she realized from this letter that I liked her?
It made sense. Only one servant was allowed in my room, and I had strictly told them not to touch anything Shuri gave me—I had forgotten that.
From the moment Shuri entered my sight, my mind had been entirely on her. It was inevitable.
As I had expected, she avoided me. The next day, I went to the Count’s house, but all I heard was that Shuri had gone out.
Like last time, when only the cake and I were left, I began an indefinite wait for the birthday gift I couldn’t deliver.
