CH 185

Seeing Friedrich’s clearly panicked figure, I relaxed a little. But on the contrary, Friedrich seems to feel a lot of anger towards me.

“Why did people like Lady Reingen and Princess Vandlenlissen choose someone like you, Flora?” Friedrich asked.

“Lady Flora is a schoolmate of mine and we are very close,” Christiane said. “This time as well, she invited me to visit her parent’s house during the Academy’s long vacation, so I came to visit as requested, but it seems I’m causing trouble for you and her family, please forgive me.”

She bows her head in shame. This is completely unacceptable.

“Please raise your head. Do take your time and relax in this small country house,” Friedrich said.

What did they call him again…? “The Prodigy of Carruzan”? The most gifted prodigy of the Academy since his first year? This is him…?

“Come to think of it, the carriages we rode in are still in the way,” Mikoto said. “We can put our luggage away later. Let’s just get them out of the way first.”

“Aah!” Friedrich cried. “I didn’t notice. Hey, you lot! What are you all doing!? Hurry up and unload Princess Vandenlissen’s luggage!”

“”Sir!”” Friedrich’s butlers say as one.

They try to unload the carriage. But why are these butlers so bad? They handle the luggage so poorly. How sloppy even though they’re tasked with the master’s guests’ belongings. This is rather rude.

“Wait! You guys don’t even know how to carry luggage!” Mikoto yelled. “Don’t even touch them anymore!”

Mikoto reached the limit of her patience, drove them away, and they withdrew accordingly. The butlers and maids that Friedrich is taking with him are all young and beautiful. But I have to say that their quality as servants is low. They aren’t the kind of people who would be able to entertain a noble.

“Then let them show you to your rooms!” Friedrich said.

“”Sir!””

It seems that Friedrich was worried about them exposing him any longer. He forced the good-looking butlers to guide Mikoto and others, and they hurried them into the mansion with our parents. The only ones left were me, Friedrich, Helmut, and Katharina.

The other House Servants and coachmen are unloading everyone’s luggage and moving the carriages. We 4 are the only ones facing each other at the entrance.

“You idiot! Don’t you even know how to introduce someone!?” Friedrich yelled, immediately after no one else was around.

Certainly, normally, as a courtesy, the highest-ranking person will be introduced first. If they’re number 1 in ranks, Mikoto would be her, then Christa, and then after Alexandra, it will be the same order as before. There is no doubt that it would be disrespectful to introduce Christa and Mikoto later than the others.

If I think about it normally, there are two methods I can take. First is to introduce them in the order they come in order to finish greetings simply because the carriages are crowding the way. This is not disrespectful. To put it simply, it would be natural to shake hands and say hello in the order in which they are lined up. It would be bad manners to interfere the line-up because you are a nobleman compared to the others.

The second is to introduce everyone in order of family status and rank according to etiquette. Then there was no problem. The order in which they are lined up above is really just a simple way to say hello, so if you want to say hello formally, this is probably it. But it turned out to be neither.

Since Mikoto was working things from the back, I had no choice but to introduce the people that Mikoto pushed forward one by one. If Alexandra, Claudia, and Louisa were introduced in such a way that their family status would gradually decline, it would be unavoidable to misunderstand that the rest were even lower. Certainly, if you think only about the proper order…

But if you look at Mikoto’s and Christa’s outfits and are introduced after the commoner Louisa, do you think they’re lower than that? You wouldn’t, would you?

The two are wearing fine dresses, if not too extravagant. So what kind of idiot would think that they would be commoners because they were introduced after a commoner? With Friedrich making that exact mistake, he seems to be lacking in the head.

In the first place, I don’t think he’s a good guy to judge people only by family status and rank. If it was my parents, they would have treated me properly and politely even when I took Claudia and Louisa with me. A person who behaves arrogantly because the other person is inferior to them, you can only think they’re quite petty.

However, arguing with my eldest brother is also not a good idea. If Father retires and Friedrich inherits the estate, he will be my neighbor even if I don’t want him to be. I don’t want to be stuck in trouble for decades after arguing over something trivial even though I’m the Lord next door, with whom we will have a lifelong relationship.

“I’m very sorry,” I said.

“Hmph!” Friedrich huffed. “This is why useless people can’t be…”

He’s still complaining, but maybe it’s settled for now I think? Rather than saying it directly to me, it feels like he’s muttering to himself. I think it’s fine to leave this alone.

“Well, it’s fine,” Friedrich said. “I have to head out now. Unlike you, who has nothing to do and is always free, I am busy every day in order to lay down the foundations of Carruthers’ future…. hmm? Have I seen you somewhere?” he asked, staring at Helmut.

……Does this guy also remember the face of a House Servant who served him in the past, and who he threw away because he didn’t want him?

“It’s been a while,” Helmut said “My name is Helmut von Royce.”

“Royce? Helmut… Helmut… aah!” Friedrich cried. “The butler I dismissed because he was useless? I see what it is. You’ve been assigned the servants I threw away? Hahaha! You’re such an idiot, this useless butler suits you!”

Helmut is useless, he said…? From what I heard, that Helmut was more popular with women than Friedrich was, and Friedrich was driven by jealousy that once he was going to the capital to attend school, he abandoned Helmut here at home.

“Helmut is so helpful that I don’t know what I’d do without him,” I said. “And this is all thanks to your handing him over to me, Big Brother Friedrich. I am very grateful.”

“Humph!… Hmm?” Friedrich said. “I’ve never seen this maid before. She’s quite pretty, isn’t she? Where did you find her? If you’d like, I’ll hire her as my maid. What’s your name?” he says, eyes on Katharina now.

He looks at my Katharina with a nasty grinning face as if he’s licking his lips. It’s extremely uncomfortable. Don’t look at my Katharina like that.

""

“I am Katharina von Royce,” Katharina replied.

“Royce? Oh? Does that mean you’re Helmut’s younger sister or something?” Friedrich asked.

Even someone like Friedrich can guess to that extent. I know it’s normal…. if two people with the surname Royce were close in age and were standing side by side as a butler and a maid, one would normally think that they were siblings.

“Yes. Helmut is my older brother,” Katharina said.

“Hmm… hey, you should be my maid from today,” Friedrich said. “Anyway, there’s no point in following Flora, who’s going to marry off and leave this House sooner or later. If you become my maid, it will be of great benefit to House Royce.”

Aaah, fuuuck…! You’re driving me crazy! You’re looking at my Katharina with such lewd eyes!

“I refuse. The only person I serve is Miss Flora,” Katharina replied.

“Katharina……”

She had completely rejected my brother. There must have been a threat involved since he mentioned their parents’ House. Despite that, Katharina immediately refused without hesitation.

“It looks like you didn’t understand what I meant,” Friedrich said. “Then so be it. You and your brother ought to be prepared for what you’re about to face,” he said, turning away from Katharina with a face that said he’d completely lost interest.

This older brother will throw away everyone who doesn’t get his way even just once. Looking at the people around my brother, there is no need to think about what kind of people are left behind to serve such a master.

“Flora, you are only an asset for the further development of House Carruthers,” Friedrich said. “You should know your place. Now let’s leave.”

""

“”Sir!””

Finally, after saying that, Friedrich left in the carriage that had been waiting for him. Even though he’s my eldest brother, I don’t know what to say… he’s pathetic… how did he grow up like that from my parents? At that age, the chances of his personality and behavior changing would be low. Friedrich may have a lot of trouble ahead.

If those sparks don’t fall on me, then I don’t care about him… how easy would it be to say that. But even such a man is my brother. I couldn’t help but wish that Friedrich could at least lead a peaceful life as I watched his carriage drive away.

When I entered the mansion, everyone seemed to be waiting for me. My second brother Georg was also there.

“Big Brother Georg,” I said.

“Hello, Flora, welcome back,” Georg said. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

This older brother is goodOr maybe someone like Friedrich is better as a feudal lord or nobleman. For someone like me, who has modern Japanese values, Friedrich is a guy that I can’t think of as a man of character. But I wonder if he could be as calm and carefree as Georg. It might be hard for him to live as a Feudal Lord if he was this relaxed.

I still like Georg. I’m sure I’ll have a good relationship with this brother. If I think of myself as a neighboring Lord, I’d rather have Georg become the Lord of Carruthers than Friedrich. It’s Father who decides that, not me, so I can’t say anything about it…

After everyone’s introductions were over and we got to know each other, we all had lunch together in the dining room. If Friedrich was here, it would have been absolutely unacceptable for Claudia and Louisa to sit together and eat with us. It was convenient for us that Friedrich had left.

Thanks to Friedrich’s being gone, we had a harmonious lunch, and when it was over and we were taking a break, I could hear Mikoto and the others talking. Let me just say that since we are in the same room, it’s only natural that I can hear them, and I’m not eavesdropping.

“But still, that Friedrich guy was a disgusting guy, wasn’t he?” Mikoto said.

“He was indeed…” Christa said immediately. “He was so different towards you and me, Princess Mikoto.”

After that, everyone starts to chime in with much the same.

“He was clearly looking down on us,” Alexandra said.

“Wasn’t he~?” Claudia said. “I don’t want to say too much because he’s Floto’s older brother, but he was a little much.”

“I… was a little scared,” Louisa said.

Friedrich has the worst reputation among everyone. Well, it’s impossible to have a good impression from that first meeting, but… everyone’s opinion seems to be he’s a terrible person even though he’s my older brother. It seems ever more blatant since my second brother Georg is a decent man.

I can’t help but wonder why how he grew up in this house and became like that. Raised by strict parents, he also has proper tutors. As proof of that, my second brother Georg is absolutely on the straight and proper. Still, I don’t understand why only my eldest brother Friedrich is like that.

“Umm, well… everyone?” Georg said. “I’m happy that you all speak so well of me, but I think it’s unkind to speak all that while we’re present?”

“Can you tell what everyone is talking about from here, too, Big Brother Georg?” I asked.

Well, I understand what Georg is saying. It’s not just us here, it even includes Georg. I don’t think it would be a good idea to openly speak ill of Friedrich in such a place. I can’t help but say that. If you meet someone like that as soon as you arrive and someone says something like that to you, you’ll immediately want to complain.

“I don’t know what eldest brother would say to me if I said anything of that to him,” Georg said.

“Then, wouldn’t it be better if you just kept it in your heart, Big Brother Georg?” I said.

Georg’s answer is predictable. Even if Georg tried to inform Friedrich, the mere hearing of it would cause Friedrich to lash out at Georg. In that case, there is no reason for Georg to go out of his way to inform Friedrich about the gossip. He will just keep quiet and leave him alone.

“It’s not about me… I’m just not impressed by these ladies criticizing a gentleman in broad daylight while others’ eyes and ears are present,” Georg said.

He’s so serious. Whether it’s a man or a woman, humans are like this. Anyone can complain or rant a little. Besides, I think everyone dares to say this in the presence of Georg.

Well, that’s just my guess, and everyone will probably have a long relationship with Georg and Friedrich from now on. So I think it’s important to talk frankly like this. Maybe everyone thinks so and dares to talk to Georg with all the feelings in his heart. Such a meal break passed slowly.