26 Episode 26 Reesha consults her brother (1/2)

--The day after the night party, Lisha hurried to Arx's room.

Normally, her father and mother forbid her to have any contact with him on the grounds that she would be infected by her brother's incompetence, but on this day, she had a chance to visit him.

My father had been summoned by the Count of Cremeria. My father was summoned by the Earl of Cremeria, probably to discuss how to deal with the Marquis of Gaston in the future. My mother was also out of town for a tea party with the wives of other families, so there was no one to blame if they met.

Recently, the servants have also pretended to ignore my brother when they see him.

They still think of my brother as incompetent like my father and mother, but I am grateful that they do not blame me for seeing him.

When I visited my brother's room, he was sitting in the middle of the room.

...... My brother has been sitting like this more and more often lately.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Yes, he's just sitting there.

When I asked him what he was doing and what effect this action had on him, he only said that he was not doing anything and that it would be good for his health.

Indeed, as you can see, he is not doing anything.

Or rather, they are doing [nothing]. To be honest, I don't understand.

My brother says that when he's quiet, he's trying to be something called ”■■” ......, but I don't know what ”■■” is, what country it's from, or how it's pronounced.

--It's like an ornament.

That was the first impression I had of my brother when I saw him doing that.

Yes, like a figurine. It doesn't move, it doesn't speak, it doesn't control magic, it just sits there. It is no different from any other piece of furniture. Even when it is quiet, a human being would make some kind of movement, but there is no sign of that, only the slightest sound of breathing.

I don't understand what he's doing, but it's my brother. I'm sure it has a meaning that I just don't understand, and I'm sure it will lead to something.

As I was thinking about this, my brother, who was looking toward the window, turned around to look over his shoulder.

”Lisha, what's wrong?

Yes. There's something I'd like to discuss with you today.

”Me?

He nodded his head and I nodded mine.

Recently, my brother's tone of voice has changed from ”I” to ”me”.

I don't mean to be rude to my brother, but it sounds like a girl forcing herself to use masculine language.

My brother has a small face and a fair complexion, probably like my mother. His hair is not straight like my own, but silvery and fluffy, with soft ends and texture. When she smiles, she is more charming than kind.

I'm sure it's just because I'm not used to it, but I still feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Before you start talking to your brother, check your surroundings first. Right, left. There seemed to be no one in the room, but I asked him.

”Is Noah here?

He's out running some errands.

Well, that's just fine.

He sat on his knees and turned around on his butt to face me. I sat down in front of him and offered him what I had brought.

This was given to me by a man dressed as a servant when I visited the Marquis of Gaston's house the other day.

”Dressed as a servant?

My brother tilted his head, perhaps because he heard a strange expression.

It was at the height of last night's soiree, when the commotion had grown even louder.

That was when the party was in full swing.

It was the time when the nobles who were invited to the party were served with even more extravagant goods and fine wines.

Tired of the fuss and the incessant greetings of the inebriated nobles, Charlotte and I left the hall and went to the balcony to enjoy the night breeze.

He and Charlotte leave the hall and go to the balcony to enjoy the night breeze. He drinks some fruit water that he brought with him and takes a rest.

I have been taken to many banquets and soirées, but none of them can compare to the commotion created when alcohol is involved. Perhaps it was the result of their alcoholism, but even the nobles, who usually behaved elegantly, were instantly thrown off their guard, and this was transmitted to the people around them.

This was the first time I had ever encountered such a rowdy scene, but that was probably because the items the Marquis had offered were too rich. The loud voices of the drunken nobles could be heard all the way here.

If you're not an adult, you're bound to get tired.

Of course, my father and mother were not part of this circle. In fact, they took the initiative to let me go, saying it was bad for my education.

It seems that Charlotte was fed up with the commotion as well, and she let out a sigh.

Then, a thought occurred to me.

I've heard from my father and mother that soirées are a necessary social occasion, but is this really the right way to go about it? ......

That's the honest question I had when I attended this evening party. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to hold an evening party. But there should be a limit to the amount of extravagance. Endless extravagance. Where is the public morality? Is this really the behavior of a nobleman?

Honestly speaking, I felt nothing but disgust when I saw it.

Then, Charlotte said.

”I agree with you. The tax taken from the people of the kingdom is being used in this way, and I'm sure the people who are being robbed are not very happy about it. Moreover...

”The injustice of the Marquis?

Yes.

If this luxury is based on unfair exploitation, I don't feel good about it.

Nobles, in exchange for their position and office, are supposed to comfort the people in times of peace and fight in times of war.

Those who have such a great responsibility have forgotten their role and have become an evil that they need to get rid of.

This is like...

”Pigs and cows.

Did I just hear an out-of-tune cheer bellowing? Charlotte muttered coldly.

Daughter of a highly disciplined military family. That part of her is relentless.

And then I look at her.

Charlotte is beautiful, sitting in a garden chair on the balcony. She seems to be trapped in melancholy due to the frenzied banquet, but this also accentuates her beauty. Perhaps it is because of her education in the Count's family, but her manners are gentle and graceful, like the beauty sitting by the window (Jacqueline) in the Book of Chronicles.

In addition, the white dress accentuates her fragility and suits her well.

When you feel calm, Charlotte suddenly called out to you.

I'm not sure what to say. What kind of person is Mr. Arx?

Is he your brother?

Yes. I've never met him before, so I wanted to ask you about him.

I've never met him, so I wanted to ask you. Her eyes, the same color as her milk tea-colored hair, were shimmering. She is usually cheerful and kind, but she may be tired of the peculiar customs of the nobility.

My brother is an amazing man. As the Count said, he is studying magic under his uncle who is a national mage. I'm also studying magic, but I'm not nearly as good as you.

I haven't actually compared them, but I'm sure that's true.

I refrained from saying that my brother's abilities are higher because it would be patronizing to my family, but there is no doubt that he can use a greater variety of magic than I can.

When Charlotte heard this, she showed a momentary expression of admiration, ”Ho ......,” but quickly returned to her original cloudy expression.

You're a hard worker.

She said that, but that wasn't enough to sway Charlotte's mind.

The words she said were slurred, like the words you say when you can't find the right words.

But that's to be expected. There are plenty of hardworking people around her. Her family, the Cremeria family, is the head of the kingdom's fine swordsmanship school, and is in a position to instruct many students. At the training grounds they own, there are many people working hard day and night to train.

She must be used to seeing ordinary efforts.

What kind of man do you prefer, Miss Charlotte?

I think I'd prefer a strong man. ...... At least, I don't like men who look like spindly green gourds.

I don't really like men who look like spindly ......

I don't know about that. My brother is not lanky, but he is smaller than most boys his age and has a girlish face and body, so it is quite possible that he could be classified as lanky as she says.

”Lisha, what do you think?

Well, I think your brother's build is comparable to mine. ......

............ Yeah.

Charlotte breathed a blatantly disappointed sigh. I'm sure you prefer a strong man.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

But to be honest, Charlotte's attitude made me feel relieved. The thought of her brother leaving her for someone else still made her sad.

As we were talking, I saw the figure of a servant in the hallway leading to the balcony.

A man, thin. His complexion was pale. The dark circles under his eyes stood out, giving him a somewhat gloomy appearance.

He seems to be peeping at his surroundings and is quite suspicious.

It's a good idea to take a look at the web site and see what you can find.

...... Who the hell is this? I'm not sure what to make of it. If you have any questions regarding where and how to get the best results, please contact us.

And then.

I am a member of the kingdom's judiciary. I'm sorry to bother you on such short notice, but I was wondering if you could take care of this for me.

”Where's ......?

The man holds out a black bag to him. Charlotte and I were taken aback by the suddenness of the situation, but the man who claimed to be a member of the judiciary was still busily looking around.

Don't be spotted. He is in a hurry. He is in a hurry.

When I was bewildered by the suddenness of the situation, Charlotte showed a firm attitude.

Refrain. It would be too rude to ask us, the children of a noble family, to be entrusted with something we don't even know what it is.

Perhaps it was the military education he had received. Charlotte's voice was a little too strong for her age. The man bowed even more deeply to her.

I'm sorry. I'm very aware of my rudeness. But please push it to ...... please .......

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

...... A thin, muffled voice, pleading. This is the way it is. I think she's in trouble.

”What is it?　What is it?

”This contains evidence of the many wrongs committed by the Marquis of Gaston.

”Fraud?