116 Talk 5 One Holiday (2/2)

Oh, there you are. Leo, it's good to see you. You're a big boy again.

I heard my dad's voice as she patted me on the head.

Long time. It's been a while.

I put my hand on my head.

You never know if you've grown up, do you?

Yeah, I think I'm bigger now than I was at the wedding.

Now I heard my brother Alex's voice.

Oh, brother!　Long time no see!

Good to see you. Good to see you.

I'm fine. How's your brother?　How hard is it to be a lord?

Yeah, I've been feeling good too. Is it hard work being a lord? The Forster Domain is next to the Demon Forest, so you have to worry about that as well, and there's a lot to learn, so it's tough.

Ah~ The Devil's Forest... It's true that this place is more dangerous than normal territory.

That sounds awful. I'll help you when the dragons come in my brother's stead.

I can't take out a herd, but I can take out one of them.

Ha-haha ...... Haha, I don't like that ......

My brother sighed and became depressed.

'Don't be so depressed. Worrying about it doesn't help, does it?

I can't help it, so I sigh. ......

Dad encouraged him, but he remained depressed.

Well, if you can't do anything about it, it's easier to be as optimistic as Dad. .......

You two can't just sit here and talk about it. Why don't we go to your room and have a long talk with Leo?

Mom's words put an end to our talk.

Yeah, all right. It's a little early, but I think we'll have lunch.

Yeah. Okay, I'll go get Fiona.

Oh, Fiona is here. I haven't seen her since the wedding. .......

Then my brother brought Fiona over and we all started eating lunch together.

”Yes, it's good to eat at home.

It's partly because the food here is good, but it's always better to have a meal with your family.

I know. You have to eat alone in the dorms, don't you feel lonely?

That's not true. I've got Bell.

I've been eating with you every day since the day you made me cry.

Now that you mention it, you wrote me a letter from Amélie. You said Leo was very fond of the beastman's maid.

Amelie's letter?

'What?　Have you been exchanging letters with Miss Amelie?

Isn't it obvious?　If you're a parent, you're going to be wondering how your kids are doing . Especially since Leo is a child who can't be quiet.

Oh, really?

'Yes. . When you can crawl, move around the house and talk, you're forever asking me questions that even adults would have trouble with: ....... You've always been curious, even when you were little.

My memory is fuzzy, but that happened to me: .......

I'm pretty sure I was desperate to be able to use magic back then. .......

'It's been a long time ago . After all, Sebastian was the only one who survived Leo's questioning attack, wasn't he?

Yeah. You know, Leo eventually asked only Sebastian a question.

Maybe it was: ......

You've been a great help to Sebastian: .......

'Well, it's still the same now.

I know. He rescued a kidnapped princess with his own hands, and owned the best trade association in the empire... You don't seem like a child, do you?

Is that so?

'It's no big deal . When I saved Shelley, I was able to get Mr. Cliff to tell me where it was, and as far as the Fermor Chamber of Commerce is concerned, I just got behind it, and we have a proper chairman, right?

As for the Fermor Trading Company, I'm just a guy who comes up with product ideas .

No, no, they're both great things, you know?

Hmm. Leo-kun, I think you should have more confidence in yourself.

Fiona laughed a little and warned me.

'Oh, really?'

Confidence. .......

'No, take it. You became one of the few dungeon treaders in this world, got engaged to a princess of a big country, and got the Great Chamber of Commerce on your side?　If you're so humble, you're going to lose some friends in return, aren't you?

Umm, yeah, ...... yeah.

My dad's amazingly convincing words convinced me.

”Yeah, Leo's awesome. I can't believe he's my brother.

There you go, brother Alex's negative comments.

I've found out recently that my brother has a tendency to think negative thoughts easily .

”No, no, you're classified as a genius. It's not normal for you to graduate from a magic school at the top of your class, right?

'Really?　Leo could easily be the master of the house, couldn't he?

No, no. It's not going to be that easy.

The reason I can study at school now is because I have memories of my past life and not because I'm smart.

”Mm-hmm. I don't need to be good, but I'm happy as long as my kids are healthy.

That's what I'm talking about, Mom. You're like a good mother.

You're right. The kids are healthy enough.

Yeah, sure. So, back to the point, I read in Amelie's letter that Leo has a buddy in his personal maid.

Huh?　Do you want to go back to that?

We were talking about that, weren't we? Oh, that beastly girl?　Surely, I'd dote on you if you had the same personality as my dad.

As I was saying this, my dad was nodding at the bell standing behind me .

Don't everyone say the same thing: ....... I guess you really liked the beastmen, Grandpa.

I asked Amelie to do it. I asked Amelie to help me get away from my parents when I was eight years old?　So I've decided to always have a personal maid by my side who I think Leo will like so that he won't be lonely.

It was: .......

'If you ask me, maybe I didn't feel lonely.

I've always had Belle by my side.

She talked to me, trained my magic with me, helped me to make magic tools, ...... and she's been really good to me.

You know.　You can thank Belle for that, right?

Yeah, okay.

I'll have to thank you later.