Chapter 35
Kyle and Louis
Today was the day of my promise with Louis.
My plan was to leave the house under the pretext of going with Mother to order dresses and shoes. This was a countermeasure against Leon, but as it turned out, Leon himself was busy with the new diamond and was away from home that day anyway, so it remained a secret.
With Rufus and Kyle as my escorts, the four of us—Mother, me, and the two of them—rocked along in the carriage. Kyle seemed to be trying not to look at my earrings swaying with the carriage’s vibrations.
When I got into the carriage, Kyle naturally offered his hand to help me in. By the way, Leon usually just picks me up and puts me in.
After that clash, Leon and Kyle have gradually started talking to each other. They even train together sometimes, and I think they’ve stopped having those freezing, sub-zero arguments.
I wouldn’t say they’re on good terms, but if you just listen to the sounds of them training together, you might call them rivals… I guess that works?
And now for something important. When I questioned Kyle about Rufus while we were alone in my room, he thought for a while and then told me.
It seems he had suspected Rufus might be the one who sent me that leaf, and had been keeping an eye on him. However, no matter how many people he asked within the mansion, no one had noticed anything suspicious about Rufus that day. After observing Rufus’s character, Kyle started to think it might have been an unfounded worry.
He seemed to have suspected Rufus had some underworld connections because of the information he was gathering from that side. But that was only because Rufus and I had held strategy meetings looking at maps and had meticulously planned and practiced how to casually gather rumors in shops.
The flower and leaf were placed sometime between late night and morning. The front of the mansion is always guarded, and there’s a security post that constantly monitors who comes and goes through the main entrance. The vast grounds are also constantly patrolled. There are even areas on the grounds that are impossible to pass through without being seen, unless you can move underground. It’s a security formation set up by Father, who commands the Knight Order, making the grounds very safe.
For someone to leave the mansion, cross the grounds without anyone noticing, open the heavy, locked gate—which makes a loud noise—right behind the gatekeeper, place the flower and leaf, and return without the external gatekeepers and patrols noticing… it’s impossible to come and go without anyone knowing. Besides, Rufus is a healthy, sound sleeper and shares a room with Helen at night.
Furthermore, in Arnim, where records are strictly kept, there’s no evidence of Rufus exchanging letters with anyone. So, Kyle started to think maybe he was suspecting the wrong person… and began looking into Helen’s movements, then Leon’s, then Flo’s, and then Leon’s again.
After I properly explained things to Kyle and scolded him, he agreed to make up with Rufus, keeping the matter of the leaf a secret from him, and admitting he had been wary of Rufus’s strength.
After they reconciled, Kyle muttered to me, “If he really were the culprit, it would be terrifying. I definitely wouldn’t be able to win against him as I am now.”
I told him not to say such strange things and chided him. He gave a troubled laugh and thanked me.
I think he’s trying to warn me not to trust people too easily, but I have no intention of losing to a youngster when it comes to judging character. Rufus isn’t the type to do foolish, short-sighted things, or provocations, or rash, belligerent acts against an enemy.
If the sender isn’t a culprit who enjoys seeing reactions, then the person who sent this leaf must be rather shallow. If not, then they’re a truly twisted, unpleasant individual.
Rufus is straightforward, earnest, and proud—the type who, if an enemy appears, does only very clever things and is genuinely strong.
And I think it’s better to stop suspecting Leon. It seems Kyle thought, perhaps after seeing my room, that Leon might have played those pranks to confine me to my room or to prevent me from going on knight order inspections.
That’s not it. He just became seriously, extremely overprotective, and things got difficult. If I tried to leave my room without saying anything, it would cause a big fuss, to the point where I’d probably be put in a birdcage. If I said that, it would just complicate things with Kyle again, so I kept that sad memory to myself.
After that, Kyle and Rufus started talking, and Rufus’s cheerfulness returned. What a relief.
“While we were talking, the carriage stopped. It was farther than I thought.”
“Hehe. Isn’t a carriage adventure fun too? I hear the Duke isn’t in today. Mother has promised to have the Duchess show her some paintings and decorations. Marie and Kyle, you play nicely with Mr. Louis. Rufus, please watch over my cute angels so they don’t get hurt.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Mother smiled contentedly and patted my and Kyle’s heads. Mother completely treats Kyle like a child, and it’s amusing to see him look perplexed or embarrassed each time.
When we got out of the carriage, servants were lined up in a row along the hallway, bowing in perfect unison with a “Welcome.”
Even among Dukes, there is a hierarchy. Since the Siegh family holds a higher position, there was no formal greeting outside, but they welcomed us just inside the entrance. The Duchess and Louis were standing apart, with an air of such aloofness they seemed like strangers.
Just like at our home, it took a long time from entering the grounds until the carriage reached the entrance. Louis’s family’s estate should be larger, but it’s cluttered with flower arches, gaudy golden statues, and such, giving a feeling of constriction.
The exterior is like a castle and flashy. The interior is extremely flashy too. Gold, red, purple jewels and ornaments, paintings hung so densely they blend into the wall patterns. Large, showy flowers that feel noisy and lack unity are arranged in golden vases. It’s dazzling. There’s no sense of theme, there are too many objects, and you can tell the decorations are just for show. And they have small children, yet they place vases and desks with sharp corners in the hallways.
It’s the complete opposite of my home.
My home has a rounded, castle-like exterior with pale yellow roofs. Inside the mansion, there are no dangerous objects; vases and such are placed in the on-site art museum. The color scheme is calm, with gold used only in things like candlesticks, and there are almost no strong colors in the carpets or decorations. My room is a fancy, girly room based on light pink. I don’t know whose taste it is, but it’s certainly not mine.
“Thank you for inviting us today. Lord Louis, I must thank you again for the wonderful gift you gave me for my birthday.”
“You’re wearing it today too. It suits you well.”
Today I’m wearing a white, fluffy dress and a cape the same color as the red hair ornament Louis gave me. The cape has a large ribbon in the middle, and it’s Mother’s favorite.
I thought, ‘Is it finally a cloak this time?’, but then she said, ‘This cape looks wonderful on you,’ and I learned it was called a cape.
“You’ve become even more beautiful since we last met. You look just like an angel.”
Mother returned the Duchess’s polite compliment with a smile.
“Oh? You’re the son of Count Eltar, aren’t you? What are you doing here?”
“Yes. I have been honored with the position of Lady Maria’s personal knight. I have left the Eltar household and am currently residing at the Duke Arnim mansion. As it will be difficult for me to visit here casually from now on, I came today to pay my respects.”
“My, is that so? That’s a shame, but it’s a wonderful position. Do your best.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
“Eh! Seriously, Kyle! What are you doing!?”
Finally. You’re so dense.
Louis was scolded by his mother to be quiet and shut his mouth, looking back and forth between Kyle and me without making a sound. Even silent, his face told the whole story.
“It’s not such a formal matter. We think of Kyle as our son. He is very precious and dear to us. My husband also dotes on him, so please continue to treat him as a son of our house from now on.”
As Mother placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder and smiled, Kyle narrowed his eyes and smiled back.
Mother and the Duchess were shown to the parlor for tea. We were about to follow, but Louis led us upstairs. He took us to his room. The rest of the mansion was like an overturned treasure chest, but Louis’s room, while heavy on red, was tidy and well-put-together.
“Abruptly bringing a lady to your room is not commendable, Lord Louis.”
“It’s not like that! What are you doing!?”
Just as the two of them started arguing, a servant brought in tea. I thanked them, sat down casually on the sofa, and took a sip of the hot tea.
It’s too hot to drink. The tea Helen prepares is warm, just the right temperature to drink immediately, so I let my guard down.
Helen… I want to go home and sing your praises.
“Huh!? A marriage proposal!?”
Oh, Helen… What are you doing now? I hope you’re not in the mansion, lonely and crying because I’m not there…
“Don’t mess with me! Why!? I thought you weren’t interested in girls!”
“As I explained. Could it be that Lord Louis also wishes for Maria’s hand in marriage? I had heard you were friends.”
Oh, Helen…
“No! Well, yes, but it’s not that, I mean… Well, if you mean right now… Is that it?”
“I’m glad you understand. In that case, I cannot leave Maria unattended forever, so let’s consider this matter settled.”
“Ah… Maria. Ehh… My head can’t keep up.”
Oh, Helen… I wonder what I should buy on the way home to make you happy.
“Maria. My apologies for making you wait.”
“You’re so close!”
My body jolted and I came back to my senses to find Kyle sitting right next to me. He’s really close. Good thing I put my tea down.
“It’s perfectly fine. You two are friends, right?”
Louis plopped down heavily into a seat. He’s positioned so that I’m between them, but isn’t a single row side-by-side awkward for talking?
“Yes. I consider him a friend I get along with. Right, Lord Louis?”
“…I think I realized for the first time today that sometimes you can get along too well.”
“Hahaha.”
“You get along so well. I need to apologize to you, Louis. I’m sorry the visit I promised took so long. And thank you for making time for me, Louis, even though you must be busy.”
“Don’t worry about it. You can come anytime, and I’m not busy at all. My older brother handles all the busy stuff.”
“Lord Lua, right? So that means Louis has free time to do various things.”
Louis’s eyes widened as he stared at me, then he looked down.
“I’d never thought of it that way before. I just thought my brother was excellent and I wasn’t doing anything…”
“Is that a complaint, Lord Louis?”
“Wha-! No! But…”
“Rarely does anyone, especially a child, have lots of responsibilities. Thinking of it that way, Louis, you might even have too much on your plate.”
“People who have lots of things while still being a child… Ah.”
Kyle is probably thinking of the same person.
Status, honor, authority, money, environment, talent, intellect, physical ability, beauty, sense, good parents, amazing connections, a sister, a rival, and possessor of ninja skills.
“I wonder. But what I have is just…”
“You’re the second son of a Duke, right?”
“Couldn’t you use that position to its fullest to make a killing? Like, maybe digging a mine or something?”
“What do you mean, ‘a killing’? I don’t need that. What would I even do with a mine?”
Yep. Kyle is definitely thinking of Leon. It’s amazing to say you don’t need a mine, though.
“It’s annoying when you compare yourself, isn’t it? Even if you do it yourself. I hate that.”
“Right!? It’s super irritating!”
“Well then, how about this? Just ignore it. In the meantime, just do what you can. My older sibling is also outstanding, so I’m lucky I can spend time on my own things.”
“That’s true. Well, Maria’s household is so exceptional, with both Maria and Lord Leon, that it’s not a very useful reference. If you seriously engage with incompetent people who judge superiority and inferiority with prejudice, comparing you to someone close, you’ll just end up on the same level as them, barking in a small pond.”
“That’s right. If you see more of the world and learn about it, you’ll understand there’s no point in comparing. Everyone is different.”
“Do you think my parents compare me because I can’t do anything? At first, I tried hard to get their approval…”
“What do you mean, ‘can’t do anything’… Parents shouldn’t see their children in terms of ‘better’ or ‘worse.’ You have to think carefully about who you’re trying hard for and why, otherwise you focus too much on others and your own thinking gets warped.”
“…Ah… You’re right. That’s just going out of your way to struggle and become a fool.”
“You’re still a child, you should simply enjoy growing up.”
“That’s correct. Lord Louis has his own good points that only he possesses.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s see… You’re approachable, honest, reasonable, you can’t stay mad at you, adorable.”
“What do you mean, ‘adorable’!?”
He turned bright red and got angry, but he looked happy.
“We should thank Louis’s parents. For giving birth to such an adorable person.”
“Stop saying ‘adorable’!”
We laughed warmly, and Louis calmed down and sipped his tea.
That’s hot, isn’t it? How can he drink it normally…?
“There are lots of things only Louis can do. You have a strange, charming magnetism that draws people in, and having seen so much malice from people, you can probably see their true nature too.”
“Yeah… Thanks…”
Seeing the adorable Louis blushing, Kyle and I looked at each other and smiled.
