394 – Time goes by and goes by – 1
When my older brother has an accident or is at the center of an incident, I get attention as well. No, actually, I get more than my brother. There are very few brave people who can directly talk to his brother.
It’s something that can hurt my pride, but it’s also something I’ve been through since I entered the academy, so I’m not very impressed these days. To be honest, even if it were me, I would have focused more on the younger brother who was relatively easygoing than the older brother who was afraid to talk to me.
Rather, now I have reached the point where I am positively accepting this interest. I have a warm and kind impression that anyone can talk to comfortably. The head of the family and the older brother have a hard look, so it’s good for me to be normal too, no matter what.
But I don’t think I can laugh at the current situation.
‘It stings.’
I almost scratched the back of my head a few days ago because of countless stares. Even a simple gaze can be so burdensome.
‘I’d rather just talk to you.’
And I suddenly felt that a silent gaze was more burdensome than an active question.
Still, it can’t be helped. This case is difficult and burdensome even for aristocratic children who are sensitive to rumors.
‘The godfather is the minister.’
Unbeknownst to me, a laugh came out.
Academy students have the traits of an aristocrat who is sensitive to the appearance of a big player and a curious teenager at the same time. Are those students just watching? It also means that this issue is an enormous task that no noble can handle.
I understand. No matter how famous a celebrity is in politics and social circles, if the level of that person exceeds a certain level, you are afraid to even mention it. Representatively, the royal family and dukes are like that. He becomes extremely cautious lest he offend the noble being with a trifling word.
Unfortunately, that’s the case with my current brother. A war hero, the godfather of Hwang Tae-son, and the youngest minister-designate. The older brother who simultaneously obtained the honor that was difficult to obtain even once in his lifetime——albeit for a moment, he became an existence on a par with the duke.
‘Let’s avoid it for now.’
After a short thought, I got up. Thinking of myself as a ‘younger brother equal to the duke’ rather than a ‘younger brother who is easy to talk to’, I felt sorry for being here. In fact, when he suddenly stood up, the students nearby were able to distance themselves.
As expected, avoiding is the right choice for now. Let’s be alone as much as possible until the rumors calm down a bit.
We arrived at the safest and most secluded place in the academy.
“…That’s why you came here?”
“Yes.”
At the firm answer, the older brother let out a sigh as if he couldn’t help it.
“Yes, well. It’s not strange that members are in the club room. Stay in peace.”
I was relieved by the owner’s permission. Perhaps ‘the club room is only open during club hours.’ I was worried about what would happen if I kicked him out for that reason.
Yeah, I was worried too much in the first place. Hyung has a hard expression, but he’s not a person without compassion. Even more so, he is not the one who will kick out his brother who became a wanderer because of himself and not for any other reason.
“But how was it that you even ran away?”
“I think I’ve received all the attention I’ll receive in my lifetime.”
To the older brother who asked while tilting his head, he answered with sincerity.
People might think I’m exaggerating, but I’m serious. If the gaze had physical force, there would have been a hole in my head already.
“That’s right.”
However, as if my sincerity reached him, he shook his head and gave him a pitying look.
Thank you, but something pisses me off. The only person who understands is the culprit of the incident, what the hell is it?
“Still, it would be better to get used to the gaze in advance. They say that there are many things that will attract attention when you become a member of the council.”
“Is that what you mean?”
Unbeknownst to me, I reacted violently to the curse masquerading as advice. The older brother also slightly averted his gaze, as if he wanted to regret it belatedly.
I looked at him with resentment, then looked up at the ceiling helplessly.
‘Representative member.’
I let out a sigh. He remains relatively out of the limelight, buried under The Godfather and Chancellor, but his older brother is set to inherit the title of Earl of Tyleglechen sooner or later as well. He will be one of only 30 Imperial Whites in the Empire, and besides his older sister Zenobia, he will be the youngest Imperial White among the current Imperial Whites.
The problem is that the soon-to-be Imperial Baek is a high-ranking official in the administration. He was in a position where he could not assume the position of a member of the Imperial Council, which was the right and duty of the Empire White. Thanks to that, they say that the head of the family is acting as a representative of the clinic, but isn’t it possible for a retired family head to act as a representative for the rest of his life?
‘As soon as I graduated, I acted as a representative.’
I feel resentful. He resents his brother for not carrying out his legislative duties and leaving them to me.
In fact, it is right to see that there is nothing wrong with the older brother who is acting in the administration, but I feel resentful anyway. If this feeling grows, the head of the household who inherited the title will also feel resentful.
‘My Life…’
I almost shed tears. My older brother is a high-ranking official in the administration, so I was prepared for the future of me serving as a member of the parliament one day, but I thought it would be 20 years later at the earliest. He wanted to do what he wanted to do for those 20 years, and cut through the mountains.
Isn’t it too conscienceless to wish for a younger brother even now? It would be faster for my older brother to give birth to a child and for that child to act as a substitute—
“Ah.”
My brother’s voice broke my thoughts.
“Come to think of it, Count Horfeld asked me to say his regards.”
“Who is your sister?”
“Uh. Also, if you have a lot of troubles with the representative of the council, I will consult you, so please contact me—”
From noble mtl dot com
After that, I didn’t hear a word from my older brother. He was moved by his sister Zenobia’s heart, and his ears were blocked.
After her older sister visited the club fair, she kept in touch with her, and even after the war ended, she did not forget to greet her and congratulate her. Uncle Georg returned safely, so it was a natural thing to do as a childhood friend. I wondered why he was wandering around in an island other than Count Horfeld, so I asked him about it.
She didn’t say anything about her congressman’s representation to her sister, even though she kept in touch anyway. It’s too recent, and I don’t want to act as a representative for an incumbent member. She was even embarrassed to say the same thing.
‘Sister…’
Nevertheless, Zenobia noona took care of me first and handed over her regards. She is in stark contrast to her older brother, who has overburdened himself.
So, as if possessed, she took out the communication device from her bosom.
I don’t think I can survive if I don’t express this emotion.
***
I put down the pen for a moment and stretched her. She has been sitting in front of her desk since morning and her body is sore.
Suddenly, I wondered how my father, who was a military man to the bone, was able to handle such affairs. He’s a person who can’t stand still at all, and he goes around. He’s been like this for over ten years, not just a day or two?
‘You’ve endured a lot.’
A picky laugh came out at the conclusion I reached after rolling my head alone. He endured over ten years as an imperial white, so now he must be walking around without a break.
It’s embarrassing to stand on the front line because of that energy, but—
– How can you pretend not to know when your friend is fighting for you? He’s also a friend who could become an in-law.
“…….”
– Of course, it’s my fault for breaking the promise. So don’t bet From now on, neither he nor I will ever, never stand on the front line.
After hearing my father’s situation, it’s not that I can’t understand it,
– Come to think of it, I also saw the man in Jedo. The war is over, but you seem to have suffered a lot.
Since Erich secretly defended his father, he decided to move on.
How could I ignore it when my loving father and my beloved Erich said that? It’s true that he was angry with his father in the first place, but isn’t the reason why he was angry because he almost went wrong while fighting himself?
I was angry for my father, so I reap my anger for my father. It makes sense.
‘You’ll be quiet for a while.’
And to be honest, I don’t expect my father to just listen to me and keep quiet. Just being quiet for a while is enough. If you think about the experience of being kicked out by your daughter, you will be self-centered for a few months.
‘…Will you take care of yourself?’
At the moment when the anxiety was about to rise, the communication device on the desk began to glow.
For a moment, I frowned. My acquaintances do not contact me because they are at work at this time, and I tend to talk with Erich on the weekends. If so, it will automatically be a work-related contact.
“I am Count Horfeld.”
– Noona, it’s me.
After a while, he froze while holding the communication tool on his visible face.
– I’m sorry. Did you bother me at work?
She hurriedly shook her head at Erich’s shy smile.
“No, it’s okay. I was just resting.”
– I’m glad.
She rolled her head at the same time.
What is it? Erich rarely contacted me on weekdays? Besides, isn’t it class time now? Oh, is it time for a break? No, but today is a weekday.
– I just contacted you because I heard about you. Thank you for your concern.
After hearing her words, I remembered what happened a few days ago. On the day when Karl’s brother was appointed as the Minister of Inspection and it was half confirmed that he would become Count Tyle Glehen, he had sent congratulations to his brother. Along with the words to convey her regards to Erich, who will act as a councilor in place of his brother.
I sent it to the joy of being able to spend the next year in the same place as Erich, but my brother didn’t forget to tell it to me. It’s touching.
“It’s between us. And as a senior member of the council, it’s natural to worry about her juniors.”
However, he responded as calmly as possible. If he showed a happy expression here, he would be putting pressure on Erich, who would feel burdened by taking on the heavy duty of acting parliamentarian.
For now, I just need to comfort Erich. I just need to make them think of me as someone they can rely on.
‘Good.’
In fact, Erich had a moved expression on his face as if my choice was right. No matter how far away it is, if it settles in your heart like this—
– I wish my sister was my family.
My body stiffened again.
Reason shouted that the family Erich was talking about and the family I thought were different, but her heart began to throb on its own.
***
I watched the conversation between Erich and Count Horfeld in silence.
‘It will work somehow.’
I finally came to that conclusion. That it will work somehow
To Count Horfeld, who is full of thoughts of becoming a family (wife), talking about her family (sister) is not a problem I can cover. If that happens, it’s not a murder case, it’s a natural death.
No matter how much I think about it, I did as much as I could. For Sera, who had a less background than Count Horfeld, he gave various advice and help to Count Horfeld, who was physically distant. Either by increasing the amount of time Erich and Sera were together, or by increasing the amount of time they talked to Count Horfeld——Anyway, they tried to avoid a situation where one of them would unilaterally get robbed as much as possible.
‘Cheer up.’
Now, the only thing left is to leave it to the sky and the person concerned.
Thought so, I turned my gaze to the communication port. In fact, overcoming the present reality is more important than the future possibility that Erich will change into E.L/I.
[ Baby. Looks like Louise wants me as an outsider for the 4-person match. ]
I smiled when I saw the text Beatrix sent me just now.
My Louise… She’s the main character in the original story, so she has a lot of ambition…
[ I also have memories of having a fun 4-person battle during my school days. So I am thinking positively. I think it will be a stimulus to the students of the Ministry of Magic. ]
I inadvertently closed my eyes at the following sentence.
As Beatrix said, I think the Ministry will like it, but what if the final boss tries to invade the kids’ party?
The priests are rampaging side by side.