Chapter 19
Somehow, Suspicious People (4)
‘Tch… getting swayed by cheap flattery like that.’
Since being adopted into the Archduke’s family, Eclipse had rarely heard genuine compliments.
The previous Archduke, Cesare, had been a strict man.
“To become my successor, Eclipse, you must be flawless.”
Right up until his death, Cesare was obsessed with shaping a commoner-born boy into a worthy heir.
Perhaps because of that, he never offered Eclipse a kind word.
“With results like this, you should not be pleased. A true heir must work harder.”
If even Cesare was like that, then the former Archduchess, Aileen, was no different.
Even his closest aide, Silbern, wasn’t the type to flatter. And Lynette never did, either.
‘Don’t let yourself be swayed by sweet words. They’re just a trick to test you.’
So naturally, when Elsie’s flattery had shaken him, it was because he’d never had immunity to it.
As he silently berated himself—
“Your Grace, the Saintess is here to see you,” Silbern announced quietly.
Eclipse sighed lightly and nodded.
Soon Lynette bounded in, cheerful as ever, practically bouncing with each step.
“What are you doing? Busy?”
“No, just taking a short break.”
“Really? Then I came at the perfect time!”
She beamed brightly. Eclipse couldn’t show a gloomy face to his sister. He forced himself to smile back.
“You look happy, Lynette.”
“Yeah. Today’s magic lesson was so much fun! I can’t wait for Thursday to come.”
“Was it really that enjoyable?”
“Of course! Holy magic is boring and tedious, but magic lessons are different. Teacher is fun to tease, you know?”
“…Lynette.”
“Ah.”
She shrugged sheepishly.
“Oops, slipped again. Well… fine. Holy magic is worth learning too. The priests nag too much, but I guess I’ll get used to it.”
Sitting on the sofa, Eclipse listened to his sister chatter. He thought to himself:
What on earth does Elsie have that makes her so appealing to Lynette?
‘I should warn her not to trust Bloomhire too much…’
But watching Lynette so happy made his heart soften.
He sat across from her. Immediately, she leaned forward and asked:
“So, Brother. What do you think of Teacher?”
Eclipse met her steady gaze. What was she getting at?
‘Teacher… she must mean Elsie Bloomhire.’
Deliberately pretending not to know, he asked,
“You have eight teachers, Lynette. You’ll have to say which one you mean.”
“Who else? Of course, Elsie!”
She wrinkled her nose, clearly dissatisfied with his evasion.
“You knew that already. Anyway—”
She leaned closer, whispering.
“What do you think? Hmm?”
“….”
“Tell me honestly.”
What kind of answer did she want?
After only a short pause, he replied:
“More skilled than she looks.”
“Boo.”
Lynette clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“That’s too typical. Rejected.”
What sort of “creative” answer was she hoping for? Eclipse frowned slightly and crossed his arms.
“Not like that. Say it more softly. Gently. For example—hm, like, what impression you got of her appearance. Something like that.”
Softly? Gently? Such things had never suited him.
‘So… not typical, gentle, and about Bloomhire’s appearance…’
He had to answer something, even if it wasn’t what Lynette expected. He closed his eyes briefly in thought.
“Well, first…”
“First?”
“She’s small.”
When he had stood in front of her, Elsie had seemed tiny. Her frame was so slight, he felt she might topple over if poked with a finger.
Her pale skin and round eyes gave the impression of a small herbivore.
‘Maybe her small build is from poor conditions… like me, once.’
He remembered his childhood—surviving on grass porridge and stone-filled bread had left him undersized compared to his peers.
But after entering the Archduke’s estate, he grew rapidly. Eventually, he had outgrown even Aileen and, in no time, surpassed Cesare himself.
‘If not for my sister Stella and the previous Archduke, I would’ve turned out very differently.’
Ah. Stella’s death anniversary was soon. He had been so busy, he nearly forgot. No matter how packed his schedule, he could never neglect the memorials for his sister and Cesare.
‘I almost let it slip my mind.’
As he reflected, Lynette asked again, in a coaxing tone:
“Anything else?”
Her expression said: That can’t be all, right?
Eclipse knew no answer would satisfy his one and only sister.
‘What kind of answer does she even want?’
Lynette often asked odd questions out of curiosity. And Eclipse always answered them seriously, sometimes spending days pondering.
But this time, he had no clue what to say. And even if there was a right answer, he couldn’t be the one to give it.
“I’m not sure. Other than that…”
“Just say one more thing. Please? Just one more.”
“…Hmm.”
A small, round-looking woman hiding an unknown heart.
He had no idea where her true intentions lay—that was what made her so puzzling.
After a pause, he finally spoke in a calm voice:
“She’s… very small. And… round.”
That was all he could offer—stripped of private thoughts, reduced to simple observation.
Lynette stared, unimpressed.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“You basically just repeated yourself. And anyone could say she’s round, not just you.”
She leaned back with a disappointed sigh.
“Ugh. You’ve become so boring from working all the time. You weren’t always like this…”
She trailed off, shoulders drooping.
“No… I guess you’ve always been like this. I just forgot for a while.”
“….”
“You think too much, Brother. And you never tell anyone what’s on your mind. Not even Silbern, and not even me, your own family.”
“….”
“Honestly, I wish you’d talk to me sometimes. It’s frustrating when you keep everything locked inside.”
But Eclipse said nothing. More precisely, he couldn’t.
I can’t let Lynette carry my burdens.
He knew his place well. Even if he bore the Ledaire name now, one day he would have to step down.
His only role was to pave the way until Lynette could inherit safely.
Growing too close to him would only harm her, attracting unwanted suspicion.
I’m sorry, Lynette.
He could only remain silent. Even if she hated him for it. His existence was nothing more than a stepping stone for her future.
“….”
After a long silence, Lynette suddenly stood. Her voice was cold.
“I’ll go now. Sorry for disturbing you when you’re busy.”
She left the office.
Eclipse watched her retreating back in silence.
