Chapter 84

 

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As time passed, it became time to conclude the banquet.

The Tower Master returned to the tower in his carriage. He expressed his happiness for being invited to such a splendid banquet, lifting Ronny’s spirits sky-high.

Claude decided to stay one more day before returning to the academy, apparently not wanting to part with Loretta, whom he had met after a long time. The way he held the little girl’s hand and joyfully interacted with her, saying, “Oh my, did our princess say that?” was proof enough.

Ronny secretly hoped Jeremiah would also stay for a day, but unfortunately, he had to return to the central prison.

Though young, Jeremiah had already received the title of a magician and had duties befitting that position.

“Well, then.”

Jeremiah had conversed well enough with the family during the banquet, but somehow, he seemed awkward as he stepped out to the entrance.

He seemed unsure where to place his gaze, making one wonder if he acted more naturally when he resented his family.

“I have to go back for work. Father.”

“Alright.”

The Duke reached out to Jeremiah’s head, hesitating slightly due to the long history of being rejected.

Fortunately, the child did not refuse his touch, allowing him to fondly stroke his commendable son’s head.

“Don’t overdo it. And I’ll visit the central prison soon.”

“The prison? Why… ah.”

Jeremiah asked for a reason but then nodded in understanding.

It seemed the Duke would discuss the handling of Physis, who had been recently imprisoned. The Emperor, whom the Duke served, disliked them enough to call them ‘monsters.’

“I might see you then.”

“Of course, we will meet.”

After exchanging farewells with his father, Jeremiah awkwardly nodded at his brothers.

“…….”

He seemed to have something more to say, hesitating to open his mouth.

“Well, I… I’ll be going.”

Those were the only words he managed to say.

Jeremiah hurriedly boarded the carriage without properly receiving his brothers’ farewells.

Strange.

It seemed like they had gotten along reasonably well during the banquet, but now, back in a mundane setting, the awkwardness returned.

“……Ahhh.”

As soon as Jeremiah sat in the carriage, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. The carriage slowly began to move.

“You look tired. Not overdoing it, are you?”

Hearing the question from across, which was clearly Ronny’s voice, Jeremiah was so startled he inadvertently stood up in the carriage.

“Whoa!”

“Why are you so surprised? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Naturally, Jeremiah was shocked to find Ronny in the carriage.

“Sit down, it’s dangerous to stand in a moving carriage.”

Jeremiah looked at him warily before slowly taking his seat.

“Why……?”

And he finally managed to open his mouth to ask a question, though it was just a single word.

“Why?”

Ronny glanced at Jeremiah with a look of disappointment.

“I can’t let my brother go back alone, can I? It’s late, and it’s dangerous for a kid to be alone.”

Jeremiah felt a bit uncomfortable with Ronny treating him like a child, especially since Ronny himself was just a kid.

“The Duke’s coachman won’t take me to some strange place.”

So, he responded with a slightly grumpy tone.

“Still, if I can see you safely inside, everyone can be at ease.”

“Everyone?”

“Father, brother, Loretta, and…”

Ronny paused, touching his cheek before finally mentioning the last person included in “everyone.”

“Me, Melody too.”

“Just to be sure, I’m asking.”

Jeremiah inquired, noticing Ronny’s unusually embarrassed demeanor.

“Do you also think of Miss Melody in a special way?”

“Not at all!”

Ronny, with a flushed face, shouted and stood up in the carriage, forgetting his own advice about the danger of standing.

“I see.”

Jeremiah nodded calmly, having assumed as much since Ronny included Melody in “everyone.”

“Unlike you, I can’t shake off the feeling that she’s special to me.”

“What?”

Ronny blinked with his face still red and quickly sat down as the carriage rocked.

“Is she really just the daughter of a simple slave trader?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve researched the work she’s done since coming to the ducal house. Butler Higgins’ records were helpful. There are a few points that seem unlikely for an ordinary person.”

“Not ordinary?”

“Yes. At times, I’d like to have her by my side to study… to see.”

“St, study?!”

Hearing that sounded somewhat terrifying, so Ronny quickly shook his head.

“You absolutely can’t dismantle Melody! Loretta really likes her. And I also… consider her a friend.”

“Dismantle? Of course not. I treat my research subjects with the utmost care.”

Jeremiah clasped his hands together and smiled.

“I’ll treat her very preciously, very preciously.”

Of course, that was if Melody would allow the research.

The carriage slowed down a bit. Looking out, a large bell tower was approaching. It seemed they were already near.

“We’re almost there.”

Ronny murmured, feeling regretful. He had wanted to have a good conversation in the carriage, but ended up flustered by the questions about Melody.

“Since we’re close.”

Soon, the carriage stopped at a large entrance guarded by knights.

“I’ll get off here, so you should go back.”

“Eh? But isn’t it okay not to take you right to the front of the prison?”

“I can walk from here. If you try to go through the entrance, it’ll just take more time because of all the procedures you’ll need to go through.”

“…Alright.”

Ronny reluctantly opened the carriage door and stepped out first.

Then, he reached back into the carriage to offer his hand. Being the older brother, he wanted to help his younger sibling down.

Jeremiah hesitated but then grabbed his hand and jumped out of the carriage.

“Thank you…”

After bowing slightly and looking back at Ronny, he saw that his face was filled with worry.

‘Is there something bothering him?’

With that thought, Jeremiah gazed intently at Ronny.

Then, soon, Ronny, with a determined look, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Hey, listen.”

“Yes, brother.”

The boys were still holding hands, looking at each other.

“Were you upset about today?”

“Today, as in?”

“When I invited your Master. And that… was to call you over.”

“Ah.”

Jeremiah remembered something he had momentarily forgotten and smiled sheepishly.

He recalled being very angry at first, wondering how dare they use his Master in such a way.

“The banquet was so enjoyable that I forgot about it.”

“So, you were upset at first?!”

“Well, yes.”

When Jeremiah didn’t deny it, Ronny quickly bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, really sorry.”

At that moment, hearing his apology,

Jeremiah gripped Ronny’s hand that was touching his fingertips.

He finally realized.

Why it had been awkward facing his brothers after leaving the banquet.

It was because Jeremiah hadn’t done what he should have, trying to gloss over it instead.

So, he quickly bowed his head.

“No, please lift your head, brother.”

“Eh?”

At his request, Ronny slowly lifted his head.

“Jeremiah?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? You just followed the Tower Master.”

“No, not that.”

Jeremiah lifted his face, twisted with embarrassment.

“…I was to you.”

He recalled a moment that had always bothered him.

“Don’t tell me what to do! Stop being so noisy! I don’t even think of you as a brother!”

Back at the mansion, he had hurt Ronny.

At the time, Jeremiah always thought of himself as the ‘victim,’ so he felt no guilt immediately after hurting him.

But since his ‘now’ had changed, that moment always weighed on his mind.

“For saying terrible things to my brother, words I never want to utter again…”

“Ah, that?”

Fortunately, despite the vague explanation, Ronny seemed to understand which moment he was referring to.

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s… that can happen.”

Ronny’s light response made Jeremiah shake his head.

“That shouldn’t happen.”

That was because thinking he didn’t regard Ronny as a brother was a blatant lie.

“I respect you as my brother.”

Jeremiah thought Ronny’s magnanimity, not changing his attitude no matter how badly Jeremiah behaved, and his deep care for family were truly remarkable. Of course, his strictness in always offering apologies for even minor rudeness was also noteworthy.

“I wish to be like you someday.”

“What? You want to be like me?!”

Ronny responded with a face that said ‘Are you joking?’, but Jeremiah’s expression was very serious.

‘What to do.’

His younger brother’s sincere words of affection made Ronny want to jump up and down with joy.