Volume 5 Chapter 3.2 (1/2)
Volume 5 Chapter 3 Part 2
Translator: Mar
Editor: Jacinta
He lifted his snow white hand to his lips and drank from his teacup. It was herbal tea with a pleasant flowery scent. The boy’s beauty was similar to that man’s, but he also had the sweetness of countenance, appropriate for his age, as he smiled with relief.
「It’s delicious. It’s rather different than black tea, but it is still very tasty and refreshing.」
「I am glad to hear it. It’s Edi’s own blend and it is highly effective when it comes to fighting off fatigue.」
「My brother made it?!」
「Yes.」
His sunrise colored eyes opened wide in surprise and looked at the man sitting next to him. He was drinking his cup in silence. I thought it would have been best if he said something, anything, but he persistently stayed in his silent mode as if loudly manifesting that 「There is nothing to talk about here, so it’s best to stay quiet.」. As he maintained this attitude, I sighed internally and looked at Lucius. He was fixated on Edi and examined him with twinkling eyes.
「My brother can do anything, can’t he…」
Even though he stared at Edi with so much longing, the man himself stayed completely silent. Lucius was a guest that came all the way from a neighbouring country on purpose, so this attitude might become a problem. Having said that, Lucius’s attitude was not great either. Supposed he was truly his brother, still, having met Edi only a day before, he was growing way too accustomed and too familiar with him. However, contrary to that man’s attitude the boy’s attitude was not unpleasant, probably because the whole atmosphere surrounding him was pure, almost too pure, with no ill intentions. Was this the reason why that man could not attack him with his usual sharp tongue?
Young Lucius kept looking only at the man, with absolute happiness on his face as if awaiting his response. I think it was the first time I saw anybody look at him in such a way. To my own discomfort I noticed that at some point, I don’t know exactly when, it stopped making me uncomfortable to hear him call my husband「brother」.
In any case, it’s not acceptable for them to just stay silent like this. As the man could not be relied upon when it came to making conversation, I spoke instead.
「Um… Master Lucius? I heard it yesterday already, but… you and Edi are brothers…?」
As I asked, I noticed that his cup was already empty, so I filled it with more tea from the teapot and finished my question. For the first time, the boy’s sunrise colored eyes darkened.
「…Yes. It is undeniably the truth. We share a father, he is the head of the Bradott family in the Nerogrant Empire. He’s name is Lucion Igur Bradott.」
「Forgive me, but I don’t understand one thing. As far as I know, I am certain that the blood of this country’s people flows in Edi’s veins. How is it possible that his father is a person from the Nerogrant Empire?」
Even without checking it in any particular way, one can instantly understand that Lucius is the blood relative of that man just by looking at him. They have the same sunrise colored eyes. The beautiful face that resembles his so closely is more than enough proof that they share the same family than any explanation. However, without any rational explanation, I could not fully believe it in my head. It’s also possible to change one’s appearance by magic, so I couldn’t be convinced by simply hearing him say that「it’s the truth」.
Young Lucius indicated that he understands my doubts as something to be expected by nodding his head.
「It’s only natural for you not to believe me, when I say it with so much empty certainty. Would you be so kind as to listen to my story first?」
To his mysterious tone of voice immediately I straightened myself unconsciously. The man also finally decided to be present in the conversation and put his cup down onto the saucer to listen more carefully. Lucius smiled slightly, as if relieved by our reaction, but became serious once more very fast and opened his light crimson, petal-like mouth.