I looked at Carsion with a puzzled expression.
Carsion, who must have been looking at me the whole time, immediately made eye contact and had a light smile on his lips.
“Are you okay. I’m with you.”
I wasn’t particularly nervous, but it somehow made me feel at ease.
Thanks to this, I felt like I could press the button on the recording pen in my pocket without shaking.
I followed the servant who led me to the living room and whispered playfully in Carsion’s ear.
“If I get angry and throw water at Fjord in a fit of anger, can you help me get it over with?”
The answer came right away.
“I’ll take care of the hot water.”
“Phew. What, are you going to tell me to go to the kitchen and boil it?”
“You can instantly increase the temperature with magic, so just spray Lien at any time.”
I was joking and looked at Carsion, embarrassed by his overly calm tone.
His expression was extremely serious. This means that he was never in an atmosphere of playing games like I was.
I meant it …?
“I don’t mean to hurt you. I was just asking as a joke.”
“Okay? I thought you wanted to taste it again.”
“What are you going to do if I really do something wrong?”
Carsion smiled and answered without hesitation.
“Lien, do whatever you want.”
“Do you know what I’m going to do?”
“Anything is fine as long as it doesn’t result in instant death. Anything, really.”
So does that mean I can hit you until you die?
Although I was dumbfounded, I asked with the intention of seeing how far I could go.
“Then what do you remember?”
“The side effects are severe, but there is a magic that erases them…. What would happen if I did a little work? You can say I hit you.”
Looking at his attitude as he was about to leave, I once again realized that the rumors about Carsion were not widespread for no reason.
If you think about it, among the rumors related to him, there was something like a serial wrist demon.
I said with a grin.
“Don’t do anything you want and just stay still.”
Please don’t raise the temperature of the water in the teacup.
* * *
We were ushered into the living room and sat side by side across from the man.
When Fior tried to sit down in the remaining seat, the man narrowed his eyes.
“Scram. I have something to say to the guests.”
“They are my friends.”
“You are my guest now.”
“What does he have to say to my friends?”
“I don’t think you need to know that much.”
“Why? Are you going to say something you can’t say in front of me?”
From the moment he met his brother, Fjord could not contain his excitement. On the other hand, the man looked extremely relaxed.
I sipped my tea slowly.
First of all, if you look at it from the outside, it’s a landslide victory for my brother.
The man gave an order to congratulate Fjord with an even colder expression.
“Scram. You have to distinguish between where you can wear it and where you can’t.”
Fior glared harshly at the man and then left, slamming the door. You idiot. If you go out like that, it seems like you lost the fight.
…It’s true that I lost.
“It’s probably because of the wind.”
Ah. After making an excuse, it seemed even more lame. Sorry, Fjord.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on the man’s face at my crude excuse.
“It’s okay. As a member of the family, I know best that Fior is spoiled.”
It was a strange sounding statement.
You, your family, know best. Was he also pretending to be someone else and keeping Fjord in check?
Moreover, the part where he said it was rude as if it were natural was very annoying.
Because Fjord wasn’t just a kind face like everyone else, he was really kind.
…Except for the affair-related thing.
“Before we begin the conversation in earnest, Prince Carsion. Can you cast a spell to prevent our conversation from leaking out?”
The man asked politely, Carsion lightly nodded and cast the spell.
Only after confirming that the magic had been applied did the man seem at ease and put his hand to the car.
“I think my cute little brother is pricking his ears at the door.”
Click.
The man put down the tea cup he was drinking and held out his hand with a relaxed expression.
“Prince Carsion is already acquainted with me, so let’s move on…. It’s late, but let’s start with the full statement. I am Lou, the eldest son of Marquis Ananas.”
Roo? Is it true that you said your full name and not your nickname?
After feeling puzzled for a moment, I remembered that he was the marquis’ illegitimate son.
It was common for commoners to intentionally keep their names short to make them easier to call.
I lightly grabbed his outstretched hand and shook it.
“My name is Lien.”
Even though he spoke without a last name, he did not show any change in
his expression.
I don’t think they are the type of people who are looked down upon as commoners.
Or maybe he was relieved that Fjord’s new friend was a commoner and not a high-ranking person.
“It’s a fitting name.”
Carsion heard those words and glared fiercely. Even though it was just a common greeting.
In fact, it seems like he was glaring at Lu from the moment he offered to shake his hand.
Lou, whether he knew it or not, fixed his eyes on me and continued speaking.
“How is Fjord doing at the academy?”
It was a typical question that families would be interested in. There is a low probability that the interest will be positive.
By the way, I gave you respect from earlier…. I said, straightening my posture.
“Please speak comfortably. I am a commoner and you are Fjord’s older brother.”
“My mother’s side is also a commoner. Besides, there is no reason why you can’t be treated well just because you’re young. Just because you’re friends with my younger brother doesn’t mean you’re friends with me.”
I must say that he is very polite. Should I say that it is inflexible?
But it was a hundred times better than speaking informally at first meeting.
“Then let’s go back to the question. How is Fjord doing?” “Hmm….”
Should I say this honestly or not?
Couldn’t get along seemed like he was admitting that he was mentally driven.
However, there was no way to explain that Fjord, who came running to Marquis as soon as spring break began, was able to pretend that he was doing well.
As my worries grew longer, Lou spoke as if he understood the whole situation.
“I used to be doing well, but I haven’t been able to get along since this semester.”
It was the perfect answer.
“Is that why you came to visit the fjord?”
I decided that even if I lied, they wouldn’t believe me anyway, so I admitted to what he said.
“Yes. I’m worried as a friend.”
“As expected, it was like that. I feel relieved that Fjord has a friend who will take a few days to visit us.”
It was an unexpected reaction.
Are you playing the kind older brother?
But that doesn’t mean his attitude toward Fjord was anything but cold. What is their intention?
“Actually, the reason I have prepared this event is because I have
something I would like to ask of you.”
“Please speak.”
After hearing what the request is, you might decide.
“Before that, do you mind if I ask you one more question?”
“Yes. As much as you want.”
“Thank you. From now on, please answer honestly and without misunderstanding what I am saying.”
It was a long introduction for asking something insignificant. I have to be careful not to be surprised.
“I’ll try.”
“Great. Then let’s ask a question.”
He asked with a serious face, clasping his hands together.
“Have you ever committed murder?”
“…Yes?”
“I’ve tried cutting off someone’s body parts or poisoning food. Or have you ever been driven to the brink of death?”
What kind of crazy talk is this?
My promise not to be surprised, I looked at Lu in bewilderment. The man nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Looking at the reaction, it seems like there isn’t one. I’m glad that Fjord has made a proper friend this time.”
“You’re a proper friend this time. Then what kind of friend did you have before….”
Lu’s eyes quietly turned to my side. I looked at Carsion in surprise.
Now that I think about it, except for the first time I asked for a soundproofing spell, Lu’s eyes were only focused on me.
It was as if Carsion had become invisible. You were already filtered by Fjord…?
“Now let me tell you what I really wanted to ask you.” Right. This question wasn’t the end.
I fixed my gaze on Carsion again on Lu.
He opened his mouth with an extremely serious expression. “I hope you two can stop Fjord from skipping a grade.”
…Is it because he is afraid that it will interfere with his ability to inherit the title?
“I will refuse. I think that’s Fjord’s choice, not something we can do or stop.”
Of course, the reason we came to the fjord was because we skipped a grade.
However, since the relationship between the man and Fjord was a relationship, I should not have told him that I would cooperate, so I had to pretend not to be here.
“I know what Miss Lien is worried about.”
He smiled briefly, but then quickly erased his expression.
“I would have respected Fjord’s decision. If it weren’t for the choice my father made after he announced that he had decided on a successor.”
The man slowly closed his eyes and opened them.
“Don’t you know that choices made when pushed into a corner are not perfect?”
“But a choice is a choice.”
“Miss Lien. In fact, this is the first time Fior has been this happy while attending the academy.”
“This is your first time?” It was an incredible story.
Even though Fjord grumbled often, he was the type to laugh easily
enough to laugh out loud even at small things.
“yes. He was always busy with his grades, but he seemed happy once he reached senior level.”
Lu’s eyes became blurry as if he was remembering the past.
“We joke around like we used to, and our laughter has increased considerably. Oh, of course, I maintained my top grades.”
Was it a mistake on my part if I could smell a subtle hint of disdain in his afterword?
He suddenly looked at me with clear eyes.
“I guess it’s thanks to my friends there….”
“I think it’s an illusion. Kaon has been friends with Fjord for a long time.”
“Then it won’t be thanks to Prince Carsion, but it will be thanks to Miss Lien.”
“Well. I don’t know if Lu’s guess is correct.”
I accepted his words calmly.
“Rather than that, if you knew that we were close to Fjord in the first place, wouldn’t it be right for you not to ask for such a request?”
“Why?”
Why? Are you asking because you really don’t know?
“Lu is currently competing with Fior for succession. You know that if Fjord doesn’t graduate from the Academy now, it will be against him.”
“Ah. That’s my mistake. I should have said this first.”
“…?”
He twisted his mouth and spoke firmly, as if hammering a nail into his mouth.
“The person my father chose as his successor is Fjord, not me. We have already discussed it with me.”
…What?
If that’s true, there was no need for Fjord to keep Lou in check and force him to skip a grade.
No, there was no reason for Fjord to try to regain his position before that.
