MBMP 11

Chapter : 11

Before I could even raise my head, he strode toward me with long steps.

Kallian asked in a distinctly gentler voice.

“Were you worried about me?”

What was he talking about? Of course I was. He was like a child left standing by the water’s edge. How could I possibly leave him alone?

When I nodded, Kallian bent down to meet my eye level.

“Really?”

“Have you been deceived your whole life? Was there ever a time when I wasn’t worried about you, big brother?”

“……I see.”

Kallian stared at me for a moment before slowly narrowing his eyes.

The sternness and severity that had covered his face disappeared, and in an instant, his usual innocent, beaming smile returned.

“Looks like my little princess was really worried. Even though nothing happened at all.”

“……You only say that because you don’t know.”

What you almost went through is something minors like you aren’t allowed to watch! You’re not even allowed to hear about it!

When I glared at Kallian with eyes that clearly said I had a lot to say, he burst out laughing. He looked quite satisfied.

“Looks like you’re the only one who worries about me, Rosienne.”

Kallian carelessly ruffled my hair. As a result, the hair I had neatly tied into two braids became a complete mess.

Only after making a bird’s nest on top of my head did Kallian seem satisfied. Then he held out his left hand. His ring finger was still wrapped in a bandage.

“Then Rosy, promise me too. Promise you won’t get close to anyone.”

His voice was so sweet it might as well have been soaked in honey. I almost answered without thinking, but then I came to my senses.

Being charmed by it was one thing, but there was definitely something strange about this.

“Anyone?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a bit much.”

What exactly are you planning to do to my social life, you little brat?

The moment I showed my displeasure, Kallian’s smile vanished as if it had been erased.

But he soon recovered his expression as though nothing had happened.

“Fine, then. I’ll compromise. Rosy has to get permission from big brother before making any friends.”

“Uh…….”

“Rosienne. You should at least do that much for me, right?”

His tone was gentle, but there was a subtle pressure demanding an answer.

Still, after thinking about it for a moment, I realized it was much better than his first demand. I reluctantly nodded. Well, at least it was fair to both of us.

As though he had been waiting for that, Kallian added,

“If an unavoidable situation ever comes up, make sure you either take me with you or at least inform me.”

Wouldn’t taking you along just make things twice as difficult?

I gave him a suspicious look, but he didn’t seem inclined to back down.

In any case, what Kallian seemed to have focused on wasn’t how I had discovered the true nature of the holy relic, but rather my unexpected friendship with Louise Hüsel.

I decided it was better than being subjected to a troublesome interrogation and obediently agreed.

“All right. Whenever I talk to someone or go somewhere with them, I’ll always be with you, big brother.”

“You promised? You have to tell me first.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Good girl. Now, promise.”

Kallian wiggled his ring finger impatiently, so in the end, I hooked my pinky around his.

Only then did I realize that the hand he had extended was specifically his left hand—the very ring finger where I had written the words of the spell.

Is it still there?

The tracking spell… It didn’t seem like it was a one-time spell.

Fortunately, I could still faintly sense the flow of mana from Kallian’s finger.

Well, I would probably be staying in Winyak for quite a while in this life, so it was better to leave it there. Besides, that blockhead wouldn’t notice anyway.

I smiled brightly as though I knew nothing. Kallian, looking pleased, sank back into the sofa.

“There. Now come play with me, Rosy. Want some more cocoa?”

“I thought you were tired?”

“I was, but we were apart all night. Big brother will tie your hair again, so come here.”

Judging by the fact that he was even humming softly, he really did seem to be in a good mood.

While Kallian spent quite some time fussing over my disheveled hair under the pretext of combing and retieing it, I desperately cast a spell in my head.

Forget everything about the holy relic completely, you soft jelly!

That night, the two of us were summoned together to Lord Oen’s temporary office.

Before we even had a chance to properly greet the head of the family, two cards came flying toward us.

“The Delphiam Imperial Family has sent an invitation to Winyak.”

I immediately made a face like I had bitten into something rotten.

Is he some kind of obsessive suitor? Why doesn’t he know when to give up?

“It is an invitation to a friendly banquet following the continental summit. Originally, we had no intention of attending the banquet. But after receiving a summons disguised as an invitation like this, we have no grounds to refuse.”

Lord Oen looked troubled.

“And you, Rosienne.”

I flinched when the finger pointed directly at me.

“It seems an invitation has come for you as well.”

“For me, too?”

“Yes. It says, ‘Rosienne Winyak, attendance absolutely mandatory.’”

Why on earth was the Delphiam Imperial Family suddenly calling for me?

“I heard the head of the Hüsel family visited during the day. You said you had become acquainted?”

“Yes, yes, sir. He helped me a little in finding the young master.”

“Did Hüsel happen to ask you about anything separately? Information about Kallian Winyak, perhaps, or…… about you.”

Lord Oen watched me with a sharp gaze. I shook my head in bewilderment.

“No. We didn’t really have any conversations that could cause a problem……”

The fact that they had specifically invited me meant I must have somehow caught Hüsel’s attention.

Could he have gotten upset because I treated him like a means of transportation?!

While I panicked, Kallian stepped forward.

“Rosy doesn’t have to go. What they want is probably me anyway.”

“B-but……”

I turned toward Kallian in confusion, only to hear Lord Oen give a sharp snort.

“Do you really think they want you, Kallian?”

“Even if they don’t, I should go. As the heir to Winyak.”

“If they have some other bizarre ulterior motive, stop right now. Don’t give me another headache.”

“Why do you always accuse me of things like that? Everything I do is for Winyak.”

Lord Oen’s thick eyebrows twitched, while Kallian obediently lowered his gaze. I frantically turned my head back and forth, trying to follow the flow of the conversation between father and son.

Somehow, both of their voices sound rather sharp…….

Kallian stroked my head as though he found my reaction cute and continued.

“When will we ever get another chance to get this close to the Delphiam Imperial Family? Last night, I was caught by the captain of the Imperial Guard, so I never actually got to see the Emperor. But I’ve more or less figured out why Delphiam needs the heir of Winyak. Now I’ll go in myself and find out the whole story.”

What? No! Is this idiot going to walk straight into danger again?!

Apparently, Kallian had yet to give up on his original goal of meeting the Emperor of Delphiam and finding out why he was so interested in Winyak.

“Please tell them that Rosienne is unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances, Father. They have no grounds to demand Winyak’s entire attendance list……”

“I’ll go too, Lord Winyak!”

Without giving it another thought, I shot my hand into the air. Both Kallian and Lord Oen turned toward me at the same time.

Kallian furrowed his fine brows.

“You’re better off staying here, Rosy.”

“You said that so confidently the day before yesterday, and then you got kidnapped. I’m absolutely not letting you go alone this time. Lord Winyak, I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll just stick right behind the young master and breathe quietly. Please let me go too!”

I blurted it out without hesitation, but the look in Lord Oen’s eyes as he stared directly at me was anything but reassuring.

Mom, I’m scared.

I shrank rapidly.

The gaze of someone who had transcended the limits of humanity was different from that of an ordinary person.

No matter how well he concealed his intimidating presence, anyone who belonged to a transcendent family would be able to recognize just how far the other person had advanced.

I could guarantee that Oen Winyak was a level above the heads of Kirges and Hüsel. Simply put, that meant it was difficult not to be frightened of him.

“Kallian, understood. You leave for now. And Rosienne.”

His calling my name made me snap to attention.

“You stay here. I have something to ask you privately.”

“Yes, Lord Winyak……”

I was just about to answer stiffly when a voice as cold as frost cut through the room.

“What is it that Father has to say to Rosy privately?”

I sensed Kallian take a step closer behind me.

In an instant, I was overwhelmed by something and became completely unable to move. I couldn’t even turn my head to look back at him.

Another overwhelming presence spread out behind me.

I felt like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web.

“Something you intend to say without me knowing……”

There was a hint of laughter in Kallian’s voice above my head, but unlike usual, it was chillingly cold.

I bit down hard on the inside of my lip.

The strange feeling I had been getting from Kallian over the past couple of days was becoming increasingly disturbing.

Lord Oen frowned and stopped him.

“Kallian Winyak.”

“What is it? I’m curious.”

“That’s none of your concern. Let go of the child and step away immediately.”

“It does make me a little sad that the two of you are going to have a secret between yourselves without me.”

Kallian placed a hand on my right shoulder at almost exactly the same moment that Lord Oen abruptly stood up and placed his hand on my left shoulder.

I suddenly found myself trapped between father and son, each holding one of my shoulders, with nowhere to go.

Only then did I snap back to reality as though waking from a dream.

“Rosienne.”

“Rosy?”

Uh…… if they’re both calling me so sternly……