Chapter 102

A soft light was leaking through the crack in the attic door of the County’s mansion.

In front of the fireplace, Kentrail rested his head on Marie’s shoulder, delivering the story he heard from Finngrella today to her. At the same time, she could feel her shoulders tingled from feeling his half-dry hair.

“How…”

As Marie listened to his story, her face turned white in astonishment and red in anger.

“I can’t forgive my uncle. I’m going to give it back as much as my family gets, no, more than that.”

She stroked his sorrowful face as he said so. She was worried about the thorny road he would take in the future.

“What are you going to do with Young Master’s aunt? If she stays here, he’ll get to know her someday.”

“I’m thinking of moving her to Derek’s house as soon as things get better.”

“Then, what about Derek?”

“Derek should stay here.”

Kentrail straightened his neck right away. The more he leaned on her, the more weight she would feel on her shoulders. This time, on the contrary, he moved her head towards his shoulder.

Marie followed his hand and laid her head down.

“The shoulder height isn’t right.”

Since he was much taller than her, Marie had her head on his arm.

“Ah…”

As he stretched out his arms to embrace her, Marie’s body lost its center and began to lean. She fell over in an instant, and her head rested on his leg.

“What’s this?”

A laugh burst out of Marie’s mouth. Soon, she was seated properly on his lap. Finding this situation funny, too, he smiled and stroked her hair.

“It will be hectic in the future. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Yes…”

Marie would be happy if she could help him a little, but it was a pity she couldn’t.

‘If I could at least handle the work the Count is doing…’

As he looked at her, he touched her forehead and kissed her.

“Just having you by my side gives me strength. So, don’t think useless things.”

Like last time, he was afraid that she might think of becoming bait.

“It’s always open. If it really is the only way, please reconsider.”

As Kentrail didn’t say anything, Marie pulled his hand and took it.

“If you’re so worried, will you do something you can do well?”

“What is it?”

Caring for Brielle was something she always did, so he didn’t seem to be mentioning it now.

“The donation work. You were the first to give your opinion, and you’ve been supplementing. Now, why don’t you do it yourself as the person in charge?”

“Is that okay?”

Marie jumped up and asked.

“Of course. You’re the most suitable person, so why not?”

Hearing his answer, her eyes lit up.

‘If I had known that you liked it so much and wanted to do it, I would have entrusted it to you sooner.’

Kentrail looked at her, whose eyes were sparkling.

“Instead, you shouldn’t overdo it.”

“Yes. I know. I will not neglect taking care of the young master. I’ll work while Ellie and the Young Master are studying.”

“Yes. Good idea. If there’s anything difficult, just tell me.”

At that, she nodded her head cheerfully. She was glad that there was another thing she could do here. It was a pity as it would have been better if not for the current situation of the Charant family.

‘…If I start with the task I am assigned to, I will be of great help to him someday.’

Marie smiled at the thought as she pictured the distant future.

* * *

“Master.”

The next day, Derek came to visit him.

“What’s going on?”

Kentrail, wondering what had happened to Brielle’s aunt, twisted one eye.

“I have something to tell you.”

Sitting on the sofa, he glanced at Derek, who seemed to have a long story. Derek followed him and sat down.

“What do you want to say?”

“I want to leave the capital for a while.”

It wasn’t long after he returned here, and Kentrail didn’t understand why he was going to leave in the current situation.

“Leaving?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of going to the West.”

With the mention of West, Kentrail’s expression hardened. His reason for going west was something he could guess.

“You don’t have to. When I asked you to be with me, that’s not what I wanted.”

“I know. I just thought the time had come. I have to find my place.”

Even he Derek said so, Kentrail knew he was doing it for him.

The western part of the Kingdom. The place where the family with the greatest military power was located, and Derek was the son of the family.

The head of Derek’s family had three sons, him being the youngest. The family was almost expelled, but recently the head of the family had changed to the second older brother. They were the family that was most friendly to Derek, and they had recently sent a letter to Charant telling Derek to return to the family.

Because of that, Derek was about to return to the house now and ask them to fight on the side of Charant.

Kentrail was grateful and sorry for knowing what his family meant to Derek.

“Don’t worry. If I really didn’t want to go back, I would have refused even if Master asked.”

When He reassured him that he would be back as soon as possible, Kentrail had to nod his head.

And so, Derek left the Capital again.

* * *

Kentrail went to look for Siege.

“Count.”

As he came to the training ground, it seemed that it was so unexpected that Siege looked bewildered. It was because, of course, he thought that Kentrail was looking for Barry.

“Shall we walk for a while?”

“Yes.”

Siege hurriedly moved along the leading Kentrail.

The two entered the garden a little away from the training ground. Following him, Siege wiped his sweaty hands on his trousers, seeing that Kentrail seemed to have something serious to say. He wondered if it was about his older brother.

“Do you know about the events that happened in our family?”

Kentrail stopped and opened his mouth.

“Yes…”

“Then, it will be easy to say. I want you to return to your estate.”

“Why?”

“Our family is no longer safe. There are too many enemies. And now, we must draw our swords against them.”

“I want to be with you, too. Isn’t my brother also involved?”

Siege said to Kentrail, with trembling eyes.

“Yes, but think of your family. Even though you are still a young head of the family, you are undoubtedly the head. Each step you take determines the fate of your family. You’re already taking great risks while staying with our family. That’s not how it should be anymore.”

“The vassals will understand.”

“Siege.”

Kentrail sighed as he looked into the boy’s stubborn eyes.

“Do you know where our family’s sword is headed?”

“….”

“It’s Caveran.”

Siege nodded his head as if he had expected that.

“And, the Royal Family.”

“….!”

The following words made his eyes widen. Siege’s lips parted a little.

“Do you understand what I am saying now?”

“No way…”

“Yes, the Royal Family is involved in the death of the two heads of the Charant family. So, you should leave our family as soon as possible.”

After he said that, Kentrail left the garden with those words though Siege couldn’t move for a while.

* * *

“Ellie.”

“Yes.”

Brielle, who was drawing at the desk with Ellie, suddenly raised his head.

“Why?”

“You see, who is in the annex?”

“What?”

Ellie, who had been told by her sister that the Young Master should never go to the annex, was shocked.

“Well, the knights are guarding it like that. Siege also moved his luggage to the main building.”

“Um… a very naughty person has been arrested, so the Young Master can’t go anywhere near there.”

“Why does a very naughty person stay in our mansion?”

At those words, Brielle tilted his head. She didn’t know what to do.

‘I need to divert the Young Master’s attention elsewhere. What to do?’

As she was contemplating which subject would be good, Ellie jumped up as if something just came to mind.

“Where are you going?”

Brielle asked her.

“I’m going to see Sir Taylor.”

“Taylor…?”

“Yeah, it’s time for him to be in the training ground by now.”

“Are you going to ask who is in the annex?”

“No! About Dog…! I haven’t seen it in a long time, so I’m going to ask if it’s doing well.”

“That’s right! He said he would take it with him, but he hasn’t brought it yet.”

Ellie sighed in relief as she felt Brielle’s interest return.

“Then, shall we go together?”

“Good.”

The two children held hands and walked side by side.

* * *

“It’s Brielle.”

“Yes?”

“It’s Brielle, Gideon.”

Gideon’s gaze turned to follow where his wife was pointing. She was looking out of her window, gently pulling the curtain that covered the window. Brielle was coming out of the main building holding the hand of a girl she had never seen before.

Although he had grown up, she instinctively knew it was her nephew.

“Then, Brielle will see us. Stop pulling the curtains.”

Gideon said, looking at Finngrella nervously.

“…I see. It would be impossible to meet him in person.”

“To Brielle, we are sinners, too. Don’t forget that.”

Finngrella was forced to nod her head following her husband’s words.

“Still, I am glad Brielle is alive and well… I mean it.”

Gideon nodded his head in agreement before opening his mouth again, “…If we hadn’t made some stupid choices back then, we wouldn’t have taken his family away from that child.”

Finngrella wiped her tears away with a handkerchief.

“The best thing we could do for him is not to show up in front of him. Soon, we will be moving to a new residence.”

“Yes… was that where Derek lived? I don’t see him these days.”

“Well. Maybe, he doesn’t want to see us anymore.”

Besides Finngrella, he was the only one Gideon depended on, so his chest became empty as if there was a hole in it. In addition, for some reason, he had a feeling that this would be the last time to see Brielle.