6 – To My Second Brother☆
The council meeting began at noon.
Visalle sat at the desk, continuously proofreading the letter she had written as soon as she got up.
“Miss.”
The maid, Ilaria, who served her mother, called out.
“It’s almost done.”
“Yes, I’ll wait.”
On a day like today, Visalle longed even for her incapable and heartless eldest brother, Louis. The pillar leading the family’s overseas trade had disappeared, a misfortune for both the family and the empire. However,
─There’s no way my little brother is dead.
It wasn’t Visalle’s hope. Among the elders in the council, no one believed Kenis had been executed. The current emperor, Raven, did not handle affairs based on emotions. He had sent huge sums of gold to both Aibar and Rada under the pretext of a reward.
“He won’t leave me to die.”
Tears.
“It can’t be like that.”
Under the carefully written letter, a droplet fell, spreading ink.
Visalle took out another beautiful piece of paper and rewrote the draft of the letter that could never be delivered from beginning to end. She wrote it over and over again, and now, a poetic ode that could almost be called a drawing was inscribed in an ancient script. She knew. Even if Kenis were alive, he would never come back here.
“Miss?”
Ilaria’s patience was running out.
“I’m leaving now.”
Visalle opened the door. The maids bowed to the daughter of the next mistress. It was an unimaginable scene. They had shown false respect and proper reverence only when Kenis came to this mansion.
─I’d rather give up.
Visalle thought again under the oppressive pressure as if being pushed down.
─Then my little brother will come back.
The maids arranged everything from underwear to outerwear and all the precious jewelry. While tightening her corset, Visalle recalled past memories. Once, when she had dressed up, he had released the lacing at the back and said,
“Like high-quality candy.”
“Me?”
“I wrapped it in pretty wrapping paper.”
Now, thinking back, maybe what her little brother said then was a warning not to get involved in such suffocating matters. It was always like that. Everything, the truth she knew, always revealed itself only after time had passed.
It was too late to realize that this tenderness was love. If they weren’t step-siblings, maybe discarding the name Rada would have been possible. Visalle could have easily dismissed it. What if he were her little brother? What if Louis were alive, and during those days, he had pretended to go crazy, burying himself in the bed?
“He would have accepted it.”
“Yes, miss?”
At Ilaria’s reply, she finally returned to reality.
In this moment, Bisalle’s throat tightened, as if taking its first breath underwater. The midday conference scheduled from noon was to address issues related to the construction of ships for maritime trade. In reality, it was a gathering of aristocrats. As a newly turned twenty-three-year-old, she found it challenging to handle the elders representing each household.
“I’ll take a short trip to the sea.”
Bisalle declined the maid’s offer, even for a touch-up of makeup.
“Alright, just your eyes and cheeks then.”
“Fine.”
“You’re so beautiful; it’s a shame not to dress up.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“The Lada family is full of handsome men and beautiful women.”
Indeed, it was true.
The bloodline from Eibar to Lada was generally exceptional in appearance. Bisalle often entertained such thoughts. She believed that Louis and herself had inherited all the external qualities of this family, while all the internal qualities were taken by Kennis. In other words, she was not competent enough to shoulder the burden of the family.
“I’ll go alone.”
“No, you can’t. You’re going to be the head of the family now!”
Due to Ilaria’s strong opposition, Bisalle decided to take five guards with her for a walk. She attached layers of sealed envelopes on a secluded beach where the family’s ships didn’t dock. The outer envelope, visible to others, was addressed to her second brother, while the inner envelope, visible only to her, read:
“To my Kennis Lada.”
Brother, I’m getting married.
“So, please come back.”
A seagull soared, lifting the letter like a feather, scattering it over the German sea. Bisalle returned from the beach with heavy steps, facing the elders with complexions as murky as the deep sea.
[#06 – Interview]
The aftermath of the brawl was more significant than Kennis had anticipated.
Haelon completely followed the instructor’s intentions regarding this matter. He had a long military background, not unaware of the shift of power and responsibility. According to Instructor Bendelin, C-8 was the class with the most offspring of high nobility. In other words, it was akin to a beehive.
“Is attendance all we have?”
Six out of fourteen were absent.
“Twenty in total, eight present.”
There was no student worthy of being called a class president. In other words, the Lailand Academy was a drifting ship, and C-8 was the ship rebelling against sinking. Kennis became the captain of the sinking ship.
“A student serving as a class president, representative, chief, or any title is a rare sight.”
No one raised their hand.
“Well, then we’ll have to appoint one.”
As he dryly spoke, the glances of the blue-faced female students turned unanimously to Ochia. However, she only stroked her bangs, lips twitching with a sardonic expression. Her face was tinged with a resentment that had settled like dust. Otherwise, it was like a broken candy with the wrapping torn off.
“Ochia.”
There was no response, and very slowly, the head was raised.
“Yes… it’s not me.”
The mouth quickly closed again. I thought this child was timid, but there’s something different about her. Whether it’s her personality or her sensitivity to Eunwon, it’s hard to say. The interests of teenage girls are not Kenis Rada’s concern. If she was a girl who liked him, she was always there, and what he wanted was not a girl’s attention or anything like that.
─Resonance, justice, success.
These things have now become insignificant.
“Do you mean as a captain or not?”
“Rather than captain… like a secretary… something like that.”
She deliberately stretched out her words, and it was clear that she resented it by touching her cheek that had been slapped continuously. Kenis was puzzled. If she had been excluded alone in yesterday’s situation, she would have been bullied. Even though it was a considerate act, there must be some resentment building up.
“Okay. Looking at the academic schedule, it would be better to call you a homeroom teacher… rather than an instructor.”
There was only a piercing gaze in response. When the eyes of the male students met, some of them discreetly looked away. Now that the rankings have been determined after a close contest, it’s clear who is on top and who is below.
“The administrative duties will begin next week, so in the meantime, I have time to have individual meetings with all of you and organize the curriculum.”
That’s why he said he would help by counseling one student each day, starting today.
“Are we capable of that much?”
She was the one who initiated the conversation.
“Selana Rapisardi.”
“I didn’t need your help, even if you were my homeroom teacher.”
“You’re not a top-performing student, so I won’t be meeting with you today.”
It was just stating the truth, but she stood up as if she had been insulted.
“Why do I have to listen to this nonsense?”
She tried to leave with her clothes in her hands, so Kenis pointed to the classroom door and spoke firmly.
“If you cross that door right now, it means you’ve lost.”
“What did you say?”
“Whether it’s to someone you dislike or a trait that you can’t overcome.”
“Don’t make me laugh. What do you know?”
“Just by looking at you, it’s clear that you have less patience than others.”
Kenis pressed his thumb and index finger together and made a snapping sound.
“Is there a student here who has beaten me?”
As he spoke the truth once again, his face contorted and his cheeks turned a bluish color.
“If I had ten years, I could have beaten anyone!”
“No, even if I were fourteen, I could easily overpower someone like you.”
Kennis pressed down her sincere emotions and spoke in a tone devoid of sentiment.
“Well then, learn how to win.”
Rather than pouring dirty water or slapping with slippers, she sat down roughly, kicking the clothes rack with a display of defiance. With a touch of rebellion, she propped her legs on the desk. Putting on a bold front, she dared anyone to challenge her. Judging by her open display, it seemed like she was either too bold or pretending to be tough.
“It’s challenging to teach those who lack both competence and the ability to understand their own subjects.”
At this moment, Kenis was incomprehensible to both Ochia and Selena. Paying expensive tuition fees and refusing classes because of a dislike for the homeroom teacher was unimaginable to her.
“If there’s something you don’t like, talk about it during the counseling session. If it’s about the class, I’m open to suggestions for improvement anytime. If you make mistakes due to inexperience in teaching, we’ll work on improving gradually. If you don’t like my tone, I’ll adjust it for you. However, despite all four of you ganging up on me, I haven’t been defeated yet, so acknowledge your lack of ability. It’s time for you to learn. Don’t suffer further defeats. There’s no reason to lose to others or to yourselves.”
Kennis instructed Selena to pull her skirt down as her underwear was showing.
“What about my feelings?”
“Should I tie your knees together with my hands?”
Upon hearing this, Selena spat on the floor and gathered her legs. With a long lower body, she had a considerable elegance.
“The homeroom teacher specializes in diplomacy, assassination, and strategy.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Sellana, speaking is prohibited when I haven’t given permission.”
“I was just talking to myself.”
Even though she spoke informally, the sight of her neatly crossed legs was amusing.
“Among these, what I can teach you is diplomacy.”
Assassination couldn’t be carried out in the academy, and unless you became a commander, there was no need to command soldiers in strategy. That was something you could take on only after entering the military and proving your capabilities.
“Diplomacy is everything?”
“Isn’t it a diplomacy of polka dots or a diplomacy of reverse dots?”
“Shut up, Polka. You’re really not funny!”
She sighed and wrote a simple case on the blackboard.
“Read this and come up with your own solution.”
“I learned that a certain noble is plotting a rebellion against the government of the nobles.”
As she stopped writing there and asked for their opinions, they looked at her in confusion.
“Wait… is that all we have?”
“We don’t need more than this information.”
“No, we don’t even know if there’s any evidence!”
“Without evidence, we can’t know if they’re actually plotting a rebellion.”
I could not believe my ears, as there were already obvious voices covering up the silence. Nobility, government, rebellion. Everything was included between these lines, and everyone seemed to be in an uproar.
“Am I a man?”
“Your gender doesn’t matter here.”
The government had said that the nobility’s gender could determine their status, so it was only natural that my gender would be determined accordingly.
“But nobles can also be homos*xual, right?”
“I have never met such a person before. No, there is no real benefit to discussing their s*xual orientation.”
A sudden headache hit me.
– Whether it’s blue or pink, I’ve grasped an even bigger secret. Wouldn’t that give me an advantage in the palace?
Should I explain everything in such detail? Kennis felt overwhelmed before her eyes.
“How did you find out?”
“If you get this right, they’ll send you straight away, right?”
“Um… what scale is the rebellion?”
She barely restrained the urge to stand in front of the door, clenching her fists, just like yesterday.
“I didn’t know you all well.”
This time, Celenar provided a detailed explanation, even recording the most minute information. Finally, the questions stopped and Celenar stood up. As she requested, she shouted in a bold voice and immediately packed her clothes.
“We should kill all those rebellious bastards. What is there to think about?”
Kennis spoke solemnly.
“Sit down, you don’t deserve to leave here.”