“Did you have a good class today?”
“Yes. Today we had history, liberal arts, and swordsmanship classes. I came straight here after washing up from the swordsmanship class.”
“That’s why your hairs are wet.”
“I missed Leonhard so much…”
As Luciard fiddled with his hands, feeling embarrassed, Icarus and Flora smiled warmly.
“You seem to like Leon the most.”
“He’s just so cute.”
Icarus burst into laughter at Luciard’s unreserved answer.
“I could look at Leon all day and never get tired. He’s so adorable that it’s hard to look away, and if he smiles even once, it makes me happy all day.”
“And?”
“Also… he smells so good that I just want to stay close to him. His cheeks are so soft. I want to keep touching them, but Leonhard might not like that, right?”
“Sometimes it’s okay. I think Leonhard might dislike it if he’s growing up, though.”
“No, it’s fine. Leonhard will be cute even when he grows up.”
Icarus and Flora couldn’t help but laugh at Luciard’s confident words.
Luciard, who didn’t understand why the adults were laughing, looked around and then focused back on Leonhard.
Icarus looked at his young sibling and his child peacefully with a contented expression.
Two years ago, after the wedding, Icarus had interrogated and harshly punished those who had tormented Luciard, ensuring they would never set foot in the southern region again.
They were now banned from entering the duchy or being employed by any other noble families.
While this was sufficient punishment, Icarus regretted not being able to impose further penalties.
“Still, thanks to that, the people who tormented Luciard have disappeared completely.”
With the turbulence in the ducal estate, those who had previously looked down on Luciard were now properly disciplined.
No one in the estate would dare to call Luciard a bastard anymore.
With his tormentors gone, Luciard naturally regained his vitality and health.
Half a year later, at a dinner, he had quietly thanked Icarus for his efforts, which was deeply touching.
Yet, after ten years of abuse, Luciard didn’t open up immediately.
He just tried to approach things slowly and in his own way.
Then, when Flora had Leonhard, Luciard’s wariness melted away almost instantly.
He adored Leonhard so much that the time spent with his family naturally increased.
Leonhard was the treasure of the Winston Ducal family.
At least, that’s what Icarus thought.
“Come on, Leon. Come to Daddy too~.”
However, beyond such unexpected effects, his firstborn child was precious beyond measure.
Icarus, with a silly grin, took Leonhard from Luciard.
Leonhard’s face scrunched up, and he began to squirm uncomfortably.
“Ugh… Waaah!”
“Oh?”
When the baby began to cry, a startled Luciard took Leonhard back.
Surprisingly, Leonhard immediately stopped crying.
“Sniff!”
Flora, who had been watching, tried to suppress her laughter, but the maid and attendants also turned their heads to hide their smiles, leaving Icarus feeling embarrassed.
“…It seems Leon likes his uncle more than his dad.”
“It might be because the way you hold him is uncomfortable. Brother, try holding him like this…”
Having learned how to hold the baby from Luciard, who was holding him for the first time today, Icarus drooped his shoulders.
Yet, surprisingly, adjusting the posture as Luciard suggested made Leonhardt whine but not cry.
“Oh, that’s really amazing. I’ve told you several times, but you never held him properly.”
“Yeah. It really is amazing.”
Actually, Leonhard had cried before, but only when Icarus was holding him.
Icarus had picked up a bit of the technique Luciard had suggested and was now able to hold the baby more effectively.
“Now that I think about it, I’m not good at learning through practice. Even with swordsmanship, I only mastered the basics.”
“Luciard, you have a talent for swordsmanship, don’t you?”
The subtle compliment made Luciard blush.
“It’s not really talent… just that I’m a bit better than others.”
“Isn’t that what the vice-captain said?”
Luciard glanced around nervously and nodded.
“Well, that’s the highest praise. When he taught me, they said that even a wooden puppet would move better than me.”
Luciard couldn’t believe that Icarus, who he admired, had heard such things.
“In reality, I’m not naturally talented at swordsmanship. But it seems like you have talent.”
“…But I’m not good at studying. I’m trying hard, but it’s not working out as I hoped.”
“Everyone has their own strengths. Learning the basics well will help you greatly later. The academy entrance season is coming soon. Have you thought about what I mentioned?”
Starting from age 13, one can enter the academy.
Luciard was 12 years old this year.
He needed to decide soon whether to apply for the academy.
When the academy was mentioned, Luciard had heard a rough idea of what he would learn there and what kind of friends he might make.
It was a good opportunity to experience more of the world and meet new people, but going to the academy wasn’t necessary.
The Winston Ducal family could provide a good education at home.
Unlike others who entered the academy for networking or better education, Luciard didn’t need to go.
“Besides, if I go, I won’t be able to come back for three years.”
Unless there were special reasons, it was common to not return home until passing through secondary education.
Now that Luciard was finally feeling comfortable at the ducal estate, getting along with Icarus, and seeing cute Leonhard every day, he saw no reason to go to the academy.
“I don’t want to go.”
“…Wasn’t the ducal estate uncomfortable for you?”
“It was uncomfortable at first, but not anymore. There’s no one bothering me, and only good people are around. I prefer staying here with you, brother, sister-in-law, and Leonhard than going to the academy and making new friends.”
His straightforward and sincere words touched Icarus deeply.
“I’m glad my efforts weren’t in vain.”
Icarus, who had carried guilt and regret about Luciard, felt as if he was being rewarded by his words.
Icarus smiled gently and patted Luciard’s red hair, which resembled his own.
“Alright, do what you want. But if you change your mind, let me know anytime. I’ll respect whatever choice you make.”
“Yes, brother.”
After that, they continued to talk and share a peaceful evening together.
* * *
After dinner, as Luciard was about to sit down to review his notes, he realized he had left his notebook in the training room.
“I should go get it quickly.”
He put on his outer coat and hurried to the training room. But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t find his notebook.
“Did someone else take it?”
He went to the lounge where the knights gathered, hoping to find it there. Fortunately, the lights were on in the lounge, and he sensed someone inside.
As he reached out for the door without much thought…
“Didn’t the young master say he wasn’t going to the academy?”
His name was mentioned.
The memory of past torment came rushing back, and Luciard unconsciously stiffened.
He focused on the conversation, trying to stay hidden.
“Does that mean he’ll stay here?”
“It seems so. A maid who was in the lady’s room today told me.”
“The academy… well, it’s not absolutely necessary.”
‘Aren’t they bad-mouthing me?’
Until now, whenever his name came up among the servants, it was usually in gossip, so he had been nervous. But until now, there hadn’t been any significant talk.
As he wondered if it was due to the different treatment he was receiving now, a knight spoke up.
“Isn’t the young master aiming for the dukedom?”
“What?”
“Think about it. The young master is receiving education almost equivalent to heir training. Moreover, in some respects, he’s even more outstanding than the previous duke. There’s no other noble child who studies as hard as he does. Only those aiming for the title would do that.”
“That sounds like too much of a stretch. The young master is just trying to make up for the education he missed.”
“Tsk tsk, how naive. Don’t you remember the past? He was treated like less than a person here for ten years. Do you think his resentment toward the dukedom would vanish just because he’s been treated well for only two years?”
“True. If he still harbors resentment, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s aiming for the title out of revenge from the deceased duke and his spouse.”
“Staying here instead of going to the academy must be a way to find a chance to strike later.”
Luciard felt as though all the blood had drained from his body.
What are they talking about?
Who is aiming for what?
It’s absurd speculation.
He had no intention of aiming for his brother’s position or harboring any revenge against the deceased duke and his spouse.
He just wanted to spend time with his family rather than at the academy…
‘Why are they doing this to me?’
Just half a day ago, they had praised his skills and treated him kindly.
The thought that they had such ideas behind their smiles made him feel nauseous.
‘I should tell brother about this…’
Just as he was about to leave, an inexplicable anxiety gripped his ankles.
‘What if I tell him and he misunderstands?’
That would be the worst. He would lose the precious protection he had gained.
“What should I do…”
Overwhelmed by helplessness and the fear of things going wrong, Luciard took a step back.
At that moment, he bumped into something.
Rubbing his sore nose and looking up, he saw Lloyd, the deputy commander of the knights.
“L-Lloyd.”
“Shh. Be quiet for a moment…”
Lloyd, who usually spoke little and was intimidating, put his finger to his lips and then hid Luciard next to the lounge.
He then entered the lounge.
“Did everyone plan to get punished?”
“D-Deputy Commander!”
“Knights of the Winston Dukedom daring to talk behind the back and even mention treason?”
“Treason? What are you talking about?”
“O-Our intentions are just as knights to express our concerns…”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be fine to report what you said to the duke right now?”
Those who were busy making excuses fell silent immediately. Seeing this, Lloyd clicked his tongue.
“I’ll let it slide this time. Do ten laps with duck walks.”
“…At this hour?”
“Fifteen laps. Oh, you’re not answering? Then twenty laps. The last one to finish will do ten more laps. Get moving, you worthless scum!”
At Lloyd’s roar, the knights panicked and ran out to the training grounds, and Luciard, who had watched the scene, was stunned.
At that moment, Lloyd came out with Luciard’s notebook.
“Were you looking for this? You left it behind, so I kept it for you.”
“…Thank you.”
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
While the knights were stumbling through their duck walks, Lloyd escorted Luciard to his room.
An awkward silence filled the air as Luciard followed Lloyd quietly. When they arrived at the room, Luciard finally spoke.
“…Does it look like I’m aiming for my brother’s position by staying here?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just the foolish talk of those idiots.”
“I want to understand it properly. Tell me, Lloyd.”
Lloyd made a troubled expression for a moment, rubbed the back of his neck, and then looked around. There was no one nearby.
“Even if the young master enters the academy, those who wish to distort things will twist the intentions.”
“If that’s the case, what should I do? I’m not aiming for my brother’s position.”
“…Well, the young master is indeed a special case. Ordinary nobles don’t receive this much education.”
“I was just trying to do well…”
The thought that his efforts might be perceived as a threat to Icarus made him anxious.
Lloyd, feeling uneasy, suggested what he had been contemplating.
“If that’s the case, you should enter the academy’s swordsmanship department.”
“The swordsmanship department?”
“Yes. Second sons or those who are pushed out of the heir position sometimes become knights to gain titles. If you focus on swordsmanship rather than other studies, people will think you have no interest in titles.”
“Swordsmanship…”
“And in fact, you have a great talent for swordsmanship. I think it’s not a bad suggestion.”
After Lloyd left, Luciard spent the night objectively assessing his position and thinking about how others perceived him.
He concluded that Lloyd’s suggestion was reasonable.
“I should go to the academy.”
At dawn, as a new day began.
Luciard made a new resolve for his brother and, moreover, for his beloved nephew.
