304 – The older brother and the younger brother
The confectionery club was able to take first place this year as well as last year. In fact, I was not surprised because the result was expected even before the fair started. This year, even the cookies made by Majonggong himself were treated as our club’s performance, but if we still don’t get first place, we should suspect manipulation.
And now is the time to think about something other than the trivial honor of being number one.
“Now, this belongs to Erich.”
“…Thank you.”
When the heavy pocket was placed on top of my hand, a wry smile came out.
After selling the cookies made by Majonggong, the confectionery club decided to keep half of the money. No matter how much we think about it, it’s not the money we should have, but what can we do when Prince Ma Jong says he doesn’t need it. However, to give it to the academy, the academy gritted its teeth and took only half of it. I had a strong feeling that even half of it was taken by force.
The club that suddenly got a lot of money in their hands—and the manager. Louise, who literally became wealthy overnight, was confused and at a loss for what to do.
The members, including me, looked at Louise like that and encouraged her to use it comfortably. To be precise, it would be correct to say that he treated other people’s affairs like a Buddhist scripture across the river.
“Let’s all share!”
The result is this. Counting the gold coins with trembling hands, Louise committed an atrocity of dividing all profits according to the number of his members. A terrible method of making everyone accomplices because you can’t handle it alone.
‘What should I do with this?’
It was a terrible method, but the effect was certain. Because I felt the burden Louise was carrying as well.
Of course, Ainter, Lutis, Later, and Tanian did not waver. As a member of the imperial family or royal family, would there be anything surprising about money? I’m surprised that he made this amount just selling cookies, not the amount itself. That’s why he only smiled at Louise, the sacred fire, asking him to take it, but showed no other reaction.
But I am an ordinary nobleman. To be honest, I don’t have a conscience attaching the modifier “Ordinary” To the Krasius family, but compared to the imperial family and the royal family, it’s normal.
Isn’t he just the second son, not even the heir? I am not in a position to treat this amount casually.
“This belongs to Sera!”
Louisé’s voice became strangely brighter as she handed out money. In the end, when it reached the last victim, Sera, a humming voice came out.
“I-I really don’t need it. I didn’t do anything.”
“There is no one here who hasn’t done anything. You can take it because you worked hard.”
As Sarah shook her head in fright, Louise forced her into her pocket.
It’s strange. The conversation itself is obviously heartwarming, but why does it look like an evil act? Sera’s soreness seems to be due to fear rather than excitement.
‘It’s worth it.’
Still, I felt like I knew how Sera felt, so I burst into laughter. As a member of the imperial family, I feel burdened, but what about Sera, a baron? Besides, since she stayed only in the mansion and was far from luxury, the unit of gold would be unfamiliar to her.
However, such a gold coin came into my hand. Several of them too.
“Accept it. I think it will make you feel better.”
At Louise’s sincere words, Sera looked at me with trembling eyes. As if to please stop Louise.
‘Sorry.’
I shook my head softly at Sera. Sorry, but it’s impossible. If I could have dried it, I wouldn’t have gotten it in the first place. At least, I could have stopped him, but he is absent.
“If you don’t feel comfortable keeping it, why don’t you send it to your nanny? Your nanny will be happy if you say it’s the first money you earn yourself.”
“Is that so…?”
If I just shook my head and moved on, Sera would feel betrayed, so she gave an appropriate answer. Fortunately, Sera nodded her head as if it was a very good answer.
Okay, that’s a good way to say it. I should just send it to my mother. Then, whether you use it for the family or for the territory, you will do it yourself. At the very least, even if it is used for my mother’s personal funds, she will spend it more favorably than me.
A banquet is held on the evening of the fair’s awards ceremony. The competition during the fair period is just an academy event, so this banquet is the last thing to shake off all emotions——but in reality, it’s just a banquet. It’s a fun ending to the festival.
Guests visiting the academy usually return before the awards ceremony, so the banquet is only for academy students. It is a comfortable and pleasant place for students who used to treat their superiors as club seniors.
“Erich.”
“Uh, sister?”
That’s why I didn’t know that Xenovia noona would remain.
Of course, returning before the awards ceremony is because the guests are busy, and it’s not like the academy is pushing them to leave. Since she was busier than anyone else, I thought she would have gone back a long time ago.
“Congratulations on 1st place. You worked hard.”
Sister Xenovia smiles brightly and hands her a handkerchief. She was an unexpected gift, so I laughed for no reason.
“Originally, I was going to give you a bouquet of flowers, but I thought a handkerchief would be nice. These days, don’t they wear out quickly?”
“It’s always like that. If you use it for three months, you’ll use it for a long time.”
As she practiced, she rolled all over her body, and her handkerchief also became frayed. It’s been like this since I was young, so it’s not fixed now, and thanks to that, I’m buying a new handkerchief periodically.
She was going to buy one soon, so how do you get it?
“Thank you. I’ll write it well.”
“Yes. Be careful this time.”
Having said that, Zenobia turned her attention to Sarah, who spoke to her first.
“Hello Sera. It’s late. She has to attend the banquet, isn’t she tired?”
A small smile smiled at her words of worrying about the rather weak Sera. It must have been the first time I saw him at this expo, but he worried about me like this, and it’s fortunate that the two of them seem to be okay.
“It’s okay. If I couldn’t do this, I wouldn’t have entered the school. Rather, it’s touching that the Count, who must be busy, is still there.”
Sera replied with a slight smile as if she was happy with what Xenovia said.
Actually, I’m impressed too. I would have understood it if I went back after seeing it for one day, but it contributed to sales until the last day of the booth operation. In addition, he stayed until the banquet and said congratulations. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thankful.
“I was the one who said I would help my sister, but it’s embarrassing that she came first.”
She opened her mouth as a joke, and Zenobia’s sister’s eyes widened.
I guess she didn’t know that she would suddenly bring up things from her childhood. It’s embarrassing for me to talk about my childhood, too, but after being teased about being a knight to Sera, I don’t think so. What does it matter if you have one or two embarrassing pasts?
“Did you remember?”
She nodded her head to her sister Xenovia, who muttered in surprise. I’m pretty good with my body, but my memory is pretty good.
“Even if I forget what others said, I remember what I said.”
Of course, the best thing is to remember both. If the best is impossible due to the limitations of memory, I have to remember even the words I spit out.
That’s how it’s easy to maintain human relationships.
***
Unlike last year, this year we decided to go to the banquet hall on our own. Louise would enter with the advisor, and Erich would have to spend an intimate time with Sera, so it wouldn’t be difficult to move as a club unit.
And if Louise, Erich, and Sera were eliminated, only four dull men would remain, so I didn’t want to enter the banquet hall alone. Armenian knights escort ladies to banquets and do not escort men.
So I rested moderately at the inn and headed to the banquet hall—
‘It’s ruined.’
I saw Erich, Sera, and Count Horfeld gathered near the banquet hall. I didn’t expect outside guests to still be at the academy.
It was admirable at the same time. A person who denies even conventional common sense for a purpose. Isn’t it an indomitable spirit that is rare even in Armenia? I didn’t expect to see that spirit in a love fight.
‘It’s fortunate that I’m an outsider.’
Fortunately, Count Horfeld is not an academy official, but an outside guest. The banquet is part of the fair schedule, so it can remain, but there is no reason to be at the academy from now on. At least the need to see the confrontation between Sera and Count Horfeld is gone.
By the way, this time it’s admirable in a different way.
‘Why… Don’t you know?’
When I saw Erich sandwiched between Sera and Count Horfeld, I immediately felt that way.
As soon as she saw Sera, she knew that Sera had feelings for Erich, and as soon as she saw Count Horfeld, she knew that she was just like Sera. Why doesn’t the person concerned know that he knows even if he sees a dunce who can’t even take care of himself properly? I would understand if Erich wasn’t interested in dating at all, but considering that he had a crush on Louise, that’s not the case either.
Didn’t you even notice when Louise fell in love with the teacher advisor? He’s not dull with the feeling of love, so why?
‘Are you doing that on purpose?’
I even heard that kind of thought. That kind of thought that I don’t know what decision to make, so I’m pretending to be dull on purpose.
But that expression is real. It’s pure dullness, not acting. I think it would be better if it was acting.
“Rheutis?”
While looking at the three with mixed feelings, I heard Ainter’s voice from behind.
“What are you doing hiding—”
Following my gaze, Ainter turned his head and hurriedly shut his mouth and hid himself behind a tree like me.
“…Shall we turn around?”
“That would be better.”
Nodded at the wise suggestion. I just don’t have the courage to put myself in the middle.
‘I’ll take care of it myself.’
Right before she turned around, she looked at Erich, who was still smiling peacefully.
Okay, I’ll take care of it. He is a guy who surprisingly disappears when he is in a position to receive love, but he is a guy who takes care of himself. He won’t get stabbed by either of them at least.
‘The advisor was like that too.’
From noble mtl dot com
Suddenly, I remembered my advisor from the second semester last year. A miraculous situation in which the advisor who helped Louise by holding her back when we fell in love with Louise repeatedly did not notice anything when he received Louise’s love. Erich is showing the miracle again.
I didn’t expect the two of them to show off that they’re brothers.