Chapter 27
In Brielle’s room, books were scattered here and there, and dolls were also rolling around the floor.
“Young master.”
“Yeah…”
Marie eagerly called him by his side, but Brielle, concentrating on something, replied roughly and did not turn his head towards her.
“Look a little further away.”
“Huh.”
A sigh came out of Marie’s mouth, worrying that his eyesight would deteriorate seeing how close he was intently staring at the book.
It was comic books that Brielle fell into a while ago. Surprisingly, there were also comic books here, too. They weren’t cartoons with colorful colors or delicate touches like where Marie originally lived, but it was more like they added a little more painting to children’s storybooks.
Because the contents weren’t unscrupulous, he was allowed to read them. However, it turned out that Brielle would be reading and facing down like this whenever he had a chance.
Fortunately, he didn’t ask about last night’s incident again because he was so concentrating on comic books.
She told the Count that he seemed to be too into comic books, but he said it was all right, and told her to leave him in this phase for a while. And Ellie sat next to him, reading the book after the young master read it.
Putting the oranges in front of them while they were stuck in a typical posture.
Since his swordsmanship classes were canceled, for the time being, Brielle was having the most leisurely time in recent years, contrary to the atmosphere of the mansion. Marie, who watched his figure having the most fluffy area under his belly, eventually gave up and laid down next to him. She gazed up at the ceiling.
As she lay on the bed quietly with the children focused on reading, Marie finally felt her anxious mind subside a little.
‘Being nervous doesn’t change anything. Rather, there may be something I am missing.’
She quietly closed her eyes and drowned in thoughts.
“Ellie.”
After Brielle fell asleep, it was time for Marie and Ellie to return to their room. She called the child and suddenly let Ellie sit in her bed. Marie carefully combed her hair behind her.
“What’s wrong, sister?”
The child glanced back and asked as she was worried about Marie’s lower-than-usual voice.
“So surprising…”
Ellie knew that the knight who protected her had a different mind, and no matter how much she was acting as usual, Ellie wasn’t being deceived.
‘Ellie acted like an adult even though she was much younger than me…’
She waited patiently for Ellie, who was a little overwhelmed by her question.
“Yes…a little bit…”
Ellie laid down on her sister’s lap.
“I thought that knight really likes us and treats us kindly…”
Although it was just a short time, it was natural in some ways for a child hungry for affection to give a heart much bigger than others.
Marie pulled off the fine hair from Ellie’s forehead, she said. “That’s right… Our Ellie…Older sister wished I had paid a little more attention…”
“No! Sister has done me well enough.”
After she came here, in her mindless situation, she left Ellie for a few days. So, it might have created a more significant wound for Ellie. As if she felt her sister’s mood was getting worse, Ellie stood up from her seat, sat down, and hugged Marie. She began to keep talking about the things Marie had done in the meantime.
“Every day, you make me late-night snacks, brush my hair, and also to brother…”
When she first arrived, Ellie was wary of the chef, but when it was in the middle of the night, and she got hungry because of her growing body, her older sister would make snacks for her even at night. Marie bought her clothes every season, while she wore the same clothes every day. She also bought a sword for her brother to become a good knight. There was no end to Marie, who always put them first.
Marie, who listened closely to Ellie, was happy that the children believed and depended on her, although she was the substitute for the real Marie.
For Ellie to be grateful for everything she had done, Marie’s heart break as she remembered what she had done to the children. Perhaps the only people whose destiny has changed weren’t only the young master and the Count.
According to the original story, Ellie’s life was not so great either. ‘In the end, she was a child with a criminal older sister.’ At first, Marie thought that she wanted to protect the young master, but she was fortunate to be able to protect even Ellie this way as well.
She gazed at Ellie in her arms. She must have a lot of things she wanted to do and a lot of things she would like to have, but she had never asked for it. She was busy trying to be helpful and fulfilled with what she has. Even now, if she did something wrong or gets scolded, at night, Ellie still sleeps tightly hugging herself.
There was no way Marie couldn’t know that Ellie was afraid that she would be abandoned again. Her family, the name that came from this place, was engraved in Marie’s heart.
And she was increasingly determined.
Kentrail went to the Royal Palace.
Something happened within his family, but now that the background wasn’t revealed, he had to tell his own agitation to the outside.
“Chancellor.”
But when he met the person he hated the most, his irritation rose. It was the current queen’s younger brother and his cousin, Count Bent.
“It’s been a long time.”
The two were of similar age, and their positions were similar, so they could be close like friends, though that wasn’t the case at all. One person unilaterally had a complex and fell over on everything, and the other was annoyed by such a person.
The attitude of calling him ‘chancellor’ right now was just a controversial tone.
“You must be on your way to meet the queen.”
Originally, Count Bent also passed the administrative exam and was on duty, but since his sister became queen, he quit, saying he couldn’t hold a position lower than Kentrail.
The person who welcomed the idea the most was Kentrail, as he always had to clean up the mess he had made constantly.
That’s right. What happened to you before coming here, or was there nothing?”
Count Bent was referring to Kentrail’s plain clothes. Unlike the chancellor, he was wrapped in colorful clothes with luxurious embroidery.
“…”
The Count didn’t even bother to answer those questions. And when Count Bent saw the sour-faced chancellor, he made an impression that he didn’t particularly like it.
‘I dislike every single detail of the outfit he’s wearing.’
They were obviously related in blood, but they were completely different.
“No way, will my nephew also grow up to your tastes?”
Kentrail, who had no expression until this time, changed as he brought up Brielle.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Now, your real color comes out.”
The passing official and the nobles glanced at the two. However, they passed by silently, pretending not to see since they didn’t want to get in between the two who weren’t on good terms with each other.
“I’m watching over him.”
Bent flinched at Kentrail’s different voice, but with the gazes around them, he acted as if he was rushing at Kentrail in an exaggerated manner.
It was the king who mediated the conflict between these two men.
“There you are.”
Bent, whose momentum was equated with the appearance of his brother-in-law, peered at the Count.
Kentrail, who was looking at him with a pathetic expression, greeted the king and tried to evade the situation. It was because he knew the king who would make a drinking party to reconcile the two.
“I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“There are so many things I need to do, so I’ll leave now.”
The king knew all the documents that were piling up in front of the chancellor, so he had no choice but to let him go, leaving behind his regrets.
After turning away from them, Kentrail’s firm expression was visible again.
‘How dare you bring up Brielle out of your mouth?’
Had Bent knew the thoughts that came to his mind, he would have wanted to sew his mouth shut.
“Marie. Look at this.”
For the time being, for the children who were bored because they couldn’t leave the mansion, the Count decided to make a small house made of planks on a large tree so there would be something to entertain them in the mansion.
This place became a children’s hideout.
It was tailored for Brielle, but still, small Ellie could fit through. They were talking to Marie while standing under the tree.
“You have to be careful as you may slip when you come down.”
“Hmm~”
After answering, Brielle and Ellie went back into the small house. Then, moments later, Taylor came to Marie’s side.
“Oh, knight.”
“How are you doing?”
“Yes.”
“The Count asked me to stand guard closely from today.”
There were the knights next to them alternately at normal times, but from now on, she heard that the Count put a trustworthy person on close guard. Marie was still undisclosed behind the scenes, and she thought she had no choice but to follow.
However, when Brielle glanced at them from inside, his expression wasn’t good. Ellie peered up at the young master’s expression and shook. She knew the exact reason why and thought he was being quite cute.
[ Ellie, Taylor has a lover. So, I’ll allow him to talk to Marie. ]
Not so driven by what Brielle said, she could hear his story. Brielle wasn’t happy about the two getting along again.
In addition, is Taylor going to ask him to do the swordsmanship class again? Brielle pretended not to see him and went into standing on the tree. Also pretending to be unaware of this situation, Ellie tried to greet him happily and followed Brielle as he went inside.
“Why are you doing that, young master?” Asked Ellie, who bit her lips firmly in order not to laugh.
“Shh.”
Not knowing that Taylor already knew that the two were hiding in the wooden house, Brielle, alone, put a little finger on his mouth to insinuate for Ellie to quiet down.
After a while, Taylor summoned another knight and went in a hurry for a break in the bathroom.
“I told you to be careful when you come down.”
Brielle, who didn’t want to take his class while listening to Marie’s nagging, hurriedly pulled her hand.
“Marie, we go somewhere else to play.”
“Then, wait a moment for Sir Taylor’s to come.”
“What? Why?”
“Ah… Didn’t you hear? The Sir said that he would escort us.”
Brielle looked as though the world was collapsing.
‘You mean I have to take a swordsmanship class again? But since I promised to become a great lord for Brother Barry, maybe I shouldn’t avoid him?’ Brielle’s inner conflict was in full swing.
When Marie saw his appearance, she pondered about why the young master was doing it for a moment. At that moment, she realized the reason and giggled for a long time.
“Please rest assured, there will be no classes for the time being.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Brielle was not very interested in swordsmanship, perhaps he resembled the Count.
“Thank God.”
Brielle laughed brighter than anyone else. So, everyone didn’t know Brielle’s real heart.
[ I hate the swordsmanship class! I’m glad I don’t have to for a while, though. However, the atmosphere in the mansion is unusual. It would be helpful to everyone if I grow up quickly, but it’s so sad that all I can do now is play hard. ]
Until in a very distant future, someone finds a diary and weeps deeply in their heart.
His brother carried him. It was because he fell injured while running with the children of the neighborhood and injured his knee. The knights said they would carry him, though his elder brother insisted on carrying him up like this.
“I can walk.”
He made useless stubbornness. His feet also struggled. It would be heavy for his brother, but he just laughed.
“You know, it’s because I want to carry my brother.”
His own heartache also healed casually.
“Tsk.”
The color of his hair, resembling the current Brielle, shook in the wind. Even though he was happy, he cried. When he recalled Brielle, Kentrail thought this was a dream.
“Big brother.”
It’s been a while since he tried calling the title out loud, but unlike before, there was no answer coming back. Kentrail gave strength to his arms and held him tightly, as this nostalgic back had disappeared before his eyes.
“Big brother.”
And once again, he tried to call out the title he missed. Sadly, there was still no answer returning.
“I miss you so much…”
Even in this nostalgic moment, his brother’s face was not visible.
“Brielle is growing well.”
His voice turned into a cry. By the time his throat was choked, and his voice couldn’t come out, the hand carrying the young Kentrail fell to the floor.
“Big brother!”
Kentrail, in a haze, energized his arms at the last minute, but to no avail.