Chapter 03…
After the funeral, I returned to the capital mansion before my parents.
I had thought Catherine, who couldnât attend the funeral because of her pregnancy, would be worn out, but she looked well and full of energy.
âOh, welcome home.â
ââŚAh.â
Catherine didnât even ask about the funeral.
What was all that crying and pleading to my fatherâthat she wanted to say her final goodbye to her husbandâabout, then?
Her overly casual attitude left Kevin feeling more bewildered than relieved.
He considered asking, âDo you not have morning sickness?â, but the servants had told him that she seemed to feel better when she was eating something.
With his parents gone, the mansion now felt as if Catherine were its master. Kevin thought about bringing up the topic of marriage, but sensing it might sour her mood, he decided to return to his own quarters without waiting for his parents.
He just couldnât bring himself to like her.
Their marriage would take place after his brotherâs mourning period was overâmeaning they couldnât register their marriage for at least half a year. During that time, Kevin decided to continue his service as a knight.
However, a letter soon arrived from his father, demanding that he quit the knighthood immediately.
Since it wasnât something he could leave right away, Kevin wrote back saying he would return in three months.
His father probably just wanted to dump more work on him.
Kevin knew heâd only be compared unfavorably to his late brother anyway, so he wanted to delay his return as long as possible.
Three months later, Kevin resigned from the knighthood and went back home.
âSo, youâve finally returned! You were supposed to take Lucioâs placeâwhy didnât you come back right away!?â
ââŚThe captain asked me to stay until I completed my scheduled duties and the recent Flower Festival.â
âThere are plenty of knights to replace you! But thereâs no one here to replace you at home!â
âMy brother wasnât a count, Father. Youâre still here, so I imagine the captain thought a few monthsâ delay wouldnât be a problem. Am I wrong?â
Typically, an heir begins assisting with administrative duties only after graduating from the academyâaround the age of eighteen.
Before that, they study the management of the territory, but rarely handle real work.
A studentâs duty is study, after all; they canât use âpractical workâ as an excuse for poor exam results.
However, Kevinâs brother had begun helping with administrative duties from the age of fourteen, after their grandfather passed the title to their mother and moved to the territory.
Kevin realized only after becoming a knight that their parents had doted on his brother not just because he was talented, but because he was useful.
His brother had always hidden his hardships behind a smile.
âYou should do whatever you like.â
Thatâs what his brother told himâbut if Kevin had understood earlier, he might have chosen to help his brother instead of becoming a knight.
âOfâof course! I didnât need you anyway; I managed perfectly fine on my own!â
If that were true, Kevin thought, there wouldâve been no reason to demand his return so urgently.
