CH 24

In the past, Julian used to say that he was full just by looking at me eating, and he would eat like a bird.

‘It’s fortunate that he is not very good at using tableware, so he is not very fast…’

I secretly helped Julian, whispering, ‘Next is that fork. No, that’s the knife.’ 

And when the main meal was all over…

Grandfather’s gaze shifted to me.

“And Rosie.”

“Yes.”

“Starting today, you, too, are a Noart who attends breakfast. So I’ll give you a seal.”

As he said that, the butler came up to me and handed me the seal.

On the seal, the word ‘Noart’ was engraved along with the symbol of Noart.

Everything was the same as Julian’s, except the color was pink.

“And…”

My heart skipped a beat.

I accepted the seal with a fluttering heart.

“Now, don’t use your thumbprint. It’s cute, but it wouldn’t be very effective outside. I was sure it was your letter because it was from Schulva, but I didn’t believe it because of that hindrance.”

Grandfather’s words reminded me of the letter I sent with my thumbprint. I smiled.

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“The symbol of Noart is a crow. I decided it myself.”

In a low voice, Grandfather explained directly.

“There’s no particular reason. It’s because the temple has declared crows to be bad omens.”

Everyone in the family listened in silence.

“I thought I should create a family with a crow symbol and make it prosperous. So that the rise of our family itself can lower the authority of the temple.”

I held the seal and nodded.

“Thank you, Grandfather. I’m very happy. I will not forget the meaning of the symbol.”

Our eyes met.

Grandfather smiled very slightly. The atmosphere was good for the first time since breakfast.

It was then.

“Rosie, by the way.”

Roystan suddenly intervened.

“You got a bracelet from Grandfather yesterday. Why didn’t you wear it?”

There was a mean glint in his eyes.

“Since Grandfather made it himself, I thought it would be natural for you to wear it to commemorate your first breakfast.”

Indeed.

It must be Roystan who broke my bracelet yesterday.

It was clearly a ruse designed to ruin the atmosphere during breakfast and make things awkward between Grandfather and I.

‘Huh. I expected it. It won’t be easy to survive here.’

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were focused.

I looked at Roystan and sighed deeply.

“That’s… uh…”

And I made a hesitant expression like I was embarrassed.

Murloc immediately supported his son.

“What is it, Rosie? Could it be broken or something like that? The one my father made himself?”

Murloc was frowning due to his hangover, but he was talking excitedly.

“No matter how young you are, even if you didn’t mean to make a mistake, it is very wrong!”

At Murloc’s outburst, Grandfather sighed and shook his hand.

“Even if she broke the bracelet, what’s wrong with that? Do I look like I’ll find fault with something like that?”

Grandfather clicked his tongue, but Murloc didn’t stop.

“No, Father! It’s not just a bracelet, is it? How dare you disregard the first gift of the family head. You have to be on probation for at least a few days!”

I quickly cut in before Grandfather said anything else.

“Ah… Do you really think so, First Uncle?”

“Of course! Didn’t my father make it himself? He even changed his route because of it!”

I lowered my shoulders as if I was more embarrassed. Then I took a deep breath and asked.

“You don’t remember what happened yesterday, First Uncle Murloc?”

“What?”

Murloc frowned.

I shook my head and murmured.

“I didn’t want to say this, but… This is what happened, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”

I looked away from Murloc and softly told Grandfather.

“Grandfather, actually, the bracelet you gave me yesterday is broken.”

Grandfather didn’t say anything and just looked down at me.

I continued slowly.

“While passing the backyard, I ran into Uncle Murloc. But he was too drunk… He took my envelope and trampled on the bracelet.”

At those words, Murloc jumped to his feet.

“What? What? You dare to frame…!?”

With every scream, the smell of alcohol got stronger.

At this moment, Ethan raised his hand and stood up.

“I-I saw…”

Nice timing.

“I, I am a witness…”

I grinned inwardly.

“Please speak up at breakfast later.”

“Of course. It happened because of me, so of course I have to step in too, right?”

Now, all eyes were on Ethan.

“Uncle Murloc got drunk and trampled on it… Since Rosie has been living in the annex, she didn’t know that she shouldn’t go to the backyard on days like yesterday…”

Ethan spoke with a face that was as if he had gathered all the courage in the world.

“If I hadn’t run to Rosie and pulled her out, I’m sure she would have been hit a few times too…”

Ethan trembled as if just thinking about it was horrific. His acting was unnecessarily good.

With a deep sigh, he put his hand on his chest and continued.

“And Rosie thanked me for bravely saving her, and promised me that she would treat me as her favorite brother from now on…”

‘Huh? This is something that we didn’t talk about at all?’

Julian’s mouth was wide open, his face in utter shock. In the meantime, Ethan’s words continued.

“Well, it was really, really courageous of me to go to the backyard that even servants don’t go to to save Rosie… Rosie was really affected and held on to me and cried for a long time.”

Julian and I exchanged glances of absurdity.

But now, in this situation, I couldn’t possibly say ‘It wasn’t to that extent.’

It was then.

“It’s a slander, slander! What are these rat-sized things doing now?”

Murloc jumped up and interrupted Ethan.

“Are you accusing me like this because I was drunk yesterday and have no memory of it? Huh?”

“Ah, you’re drunk and don’t remember.”

I spoke up.

“Since it happened last night, it hasn’t been long yet, but you don’t even remember that… Ah!”

And as if remembering something, I let out an exclamation and widened my eyes.

“I suddenly thought of a good idea! Just look at the soles of the shoes Uncle Murloc wore yesterday and the grass of the backyard! It’s been only a few hours since then!”

Murloc blinked in bewilderment. His confused face was expressing, ‘Did I really break it?’

‘You’re caught.’

I grinned inwardly.

Last night, Ethan and I snuck out to the backyard. Julian was excluded because he was on crutches.

Sure enough, Murloc was drunk and running wild.

We secretly tossed some broken shells into the backyard, and made sure Murloc stepped on them before returning.

In a grave voice, Grandfather ordered a servant standing next to him.

“Did you hear that? Return quickly.”

“Yes.”

The servant quickly left.

During the waiting time, Murloc’s face was full of uneasiness.

Only Roystan was struggling, biting his lower lip. Because now he couldn’t say he broke it.

And… 

“Count, I have confirmed. There were traces of shells on the grass of the backyard and the shoes that Murloc wore yesterday.”

The servant even brought Murloc’s shoes, showing it as he reported.

Indeed, the soles of Murloc’s shoes had shell powder stuck to them.

Instantly, Murloc roared.

“Hey! Why is this…!? Are you guys doing this on purpose to screw me? Huh?”

“U-Uncle… You are too self-conscious… What do you mean I did this on purpose?”

I sighed and answered.

“Anyway, First Uncle will have to be on probation for a few days, you did say that’s the value of the bracelet Grandfather made himself?”

Probation for a few days.

That was what Murloc had said earlier.

Even if you didn’t mean to do that, even if it’s a mistake, you should be on probation for a few days.

I continued in my usual slow tone. 

“I’m not an idiot to ruin the atmosphere of my first breakfast by deliberately destroying the bracelet I was given in one day, First Uncle.”

And I added with a sad expression.

“In fact, I didn’t want to bring it up even when Roystan pointed it out.”

Then Roystan’s face went white.

‘So don’t touch me, Roystan.’

I glanced sideways at the pale Roystan, and smiled slightly.

‘See, even without Julian, I can fully protect myself.’

Even though I smiled openly, Roystan couldn’t do anything but gritted his teeth.