0% A thick solemnity and silence descended upon the club room after Father’s sudden confession.
It was so quiet that it almost felt like someone had cast a Silence spell. Was Father actually a magic swordsman rather than just a pure swordsman? As expected from a count of the Empire. He was extraordinary in unexpected ways.
After shaking myself out of that bizarre escape from reality, I glanced around. Everyone who’d overheard our conversation was wearing strange expressions.
The shock must be great.
Especially Erich, who looked as if he’d seen a ghost, to the point that I felt sorry for him.
It was understandable. I’d recently reconciled—well, more like I had finally opened up to Father—but Erich still had a somewhat awkward relationship with him. Plus, my lovers had only seen Father at formal events where he looked stern and dignified.
In such a situation, hearing something like ‘I’ve been kicked out’ was bound to cause shock. Honestly, I was also confused.
Preconceptions really are scary.
And I realized again how thick the prejudice I had been carrying for years was.
Why did I ever think he was a cold and strict person? He was just a quiet man who struggled to express his feelings—nothing close to being harsh or cold.
“Doesn’t he take good care of his people? I’ve never seen someone among his partners or juniors who hated Wilhelm.”
Suddenly, I recalled something that happened last year, specifically during the practical exam in the first semester of the first year. While walking around the dueling grounds with the Principal, we also talked about Father.
At that time, I thought it meant that he took good care of his faction as a noble. But now that I think about it, didn’t that mean that he was a simple person who really took good care of those around him?
Prejudice... it’s scary...
— Hmm?
Father seemed puzzled as I kept silent, unable to say anything.
— Carl, are those children with you by any chance?
Ah.
I glanced down slightly, spotting the pink and blonde heads still perched on my lap. Their faces weren’t visible to Father, but their hair must have appeared on his communication crystal.
“Yes, they’re all here.”
— ...I’ve shown an embarrassing side.
The sincerity in his voice nearly made me laugh. It made sense; having his authority as a father-in-law crumble in front of his future daughters-in-law would indeed be embarrassing.
“Ah, Father, it’s been a while.”
But despite the awkwardness, greeting their future father-in-law was a daughter-in-law’s duty. Irina recovered first, leaning forward and bowing politely. Father’s expression brightened a bit at that.
What a relief. Seeing his future daughter-in-law had helped him overcome his embarrassment.
— Yes, it’s been a while. Have you been well?
“Yes, I’ve been well, thanks to your concern. Are you alright, Father?”
At Irina’s polite question, Father’s eyes flickered briefly. It was subtle enough that she didn’t notice, but I certainly did.
To him, it probably sounded like, ‘Are you okay after being kicked out of the house?’ People with guilty consciences always flinched at innocent remarks.
“I heard you went to war too, Father...”
— I’m fine. How much can a marshal get hurt?
It wasn’t exactly convincing coming from someone who’d charged into the front lines himself, but Irina, who didn’t know the full details of Father’s reckless deeds, simply nodded along. After all, no one would imagine a Marshal personally rushing into battle.
Of course, Father and the previous Count Horfeld shattered that assumption completely. Maybe that was why Mother had kicked him out? After all, the former Count Horfeld had been banished after getting caught doing exactly that.
— Also, please thank your father for the ring he sent when you have the chance. I’d like to thank him personally, but he’s been too busy to reach lately.
Crazy.
I almost cursed instinctively at the mention of a ring.
If my 4th father-in-law sent him a ring, then it could only mean a matching half-ring. Did that mean I’d soon have to watch my parents wear matching half-rings, too?
“Ah, yes. I’ll make sure to tell him.”
— Good, I’m counting on you.
Father smiled faintly at Irina, who answered maturely despite my inner turmoil, and then turned his gaze elsewhere.
— It’s good to see you after a long time too, Louise.
“Ah, y-yes! It’s been a while, Father!”
Louise, who had been watching for the right moment to greet, hurriedly bowed her head when Father spoke to her first. She didn’t stop at one bow but kept nodding repeatedly, showing how nervous she was.
It was unexpected. Even our friendly and outgoing capybara Louise got timid in front of her future father-in-law.
— I’ll hang up now. I’d like to greet the others too, but it seems I’m interrupting a good time.
“No, it’s fine. You can talk more—“
— It’s alright. I’ve already been kicked out by my wife, so I can’t afford to be disliked by my son too.
I bit my lip hard at his self-destructive remark, as if he’d decided to go all out since his authority had already gone down. If I hadn’t been careful, I might have burst out laughing in front of him.
— Instead, I hope you all can come on the weekend.
“Yes, we’ll do that.”
With that, the chaotic conversation finally ended. As I glanced around again, Erich looked like his soul had fled his body entirely.
What a pity.
I had something to say, so I breathed life back into the departed soul.
“You have a lot of time on the weekend, right? You come as well.”
“Huh?”
It was a bit forceful, but it definitely snapped him back to reality.
“Me too?”
“You too.”
I nodded firmly to Erich, who was blinking as if asking what I meant.
Despite my firm answer, Erich still looked at me with questioning eyes. He was probably thinking, ‘Why should I tag along on a visit clearly meant for him and his lovers?’
But it couldn’t be helped. He had to come, too.
“I already told Mother you’d be joining us.”
On the evening of the victory ceremony, I’d reported my safe return to Mother. It was only right—I owed her at least that much, given how I couldn’t go to the territory right away and considering how worried she’d been.
And while reporting, I ended up mentioning that I’d go to the territory with Erich. I had no particular intentions; I just thought it would be nice for the whole family to gather since the head of the family and the heir had returned from war, just like a normal family gathering.
Of course, I hadn’t consulted Erich beforehand. Honestly, why would I need to ask someone who was just stuck in the academy anyway? If his older brother said go, he should just go.
“Hyung, I’m busy with training these days—“
I cut off his pointless excuses, gesturing impatiently. With a sulky expression, Erich reluctantly came closer.
It hurt my heart to imagine Erich missing a family gathering. Not having him there would feel like leaving him out entirely, and I couldn’t tolerate that as his older brother.
“I’m a titled noble now, so I don’t need the family’s count title anymore. While I’m there, I should probably recommend you as the heir too. That’ll be fine, right?”
“This weekend, right? I’ll start packing right away.”
Thankfully, my sincere whisper got through to him immediately.
Though it was a bit insulting, honestly. What was so wrong with inheriting the count title? Most people would dream of becoming an imperial count.
***Truthfully, I had no interest in visiting the territory. It wasn’t that I disliked it, but this visit was clearly for hyung and my six sisters-in-law to formally meet our parents. I’d just be awkwardly tagging along, painfully out of place.
However, I succumbed to hyung’s vicious threat.
Heir?
Just the thought made my blood run cold. Becoming heir was a burden too heavy and terrifying for a mere younger brother like me.
I grew up watching the Patriarch and hyung suffer under their workload. Who in their right mind would want to follow that path? I just wanted to inherit a baron title or something and live peacefully.
Besides, becoming heir while hyung was still around meant constantly living under his shadow. I already got enough attention without that pressure. Me as the next imperial count? I’d rather just bite my tongue and end it quickly.
Damn it.
Normally, nobody would ever casually hand over their title. After all, it symbolized a noble’s wealth, honor, and power. And especially not the imperial count title.
But hyung had never exactly followed common sense, so I couldn’t rule it out. I could already see a future where I became ‘Erich, heir to the Krasius family’ the next day if I stubbornly refused now.
“If you’re lonely coming alone, come with Sarah. It’s been a while since she’s seen the family too.”
At those words, my gaze unconsciously turned to Sarah.
Sarah, huh. Well, it would definitely be better to have her there than just sitting awkwardly by myself.
“Wouldn’t Sarah be too tired—“
“I’m fine! I’ll definitely come!”
Her enthusiastic reply put me at ease. If she said she was fine, then that was good enough for me.
“If you two come along, then it means the entire Krasius family will be gathering, right?”
“It’s natural for a family to gather after finishing a big task.”
Hyung nodded at the words of the duke’s daughter, who I was now getting used to calling my first sister-in-law.
Yet, hearing it said like that left a nagging feeling in my mind. Was it really okay to bring Sarah along to a gathering meant strictly for members or future members of the Krasius family? Was I selfishly placing an unnecessary burden on her just to ease my own discomfort?
...It’ll probably be fine.
Yes, it would be fine. Mother treated Sarah, the daughter of our nanny, like her own child anyway. And as for Father—
Well, let’s not think about it. The image of the Patriarch in my mind had completely crumbled.
***I feel like I’m going to burst. Watching my brother being this clueless was something that required an extraordinary amount of patience.
I told him to bring Sarah to the family gathering, and even Mar said, ‘With Erich and Sarah coming, the entire Krasius family will be gathering.’ We were literally handing him hints on a silver platter, but he was still acting dense.
Is he doing this on purpose?
I was starting to suspect that he wasn’t oblivious, but that he was deliberately ignoring it.
But that couldn’t be the case, right? It would be heartbreaking if my own brother had such malicious intent. If I had to choose between him being clueless or being a selfish jerk, I’d definitely prefer clueless.
It’s not like we were speaking in code.
I barely held back a rising sigh.
It wasn’t like I was using subtle hints that only an expert would understand. Right next to Erich, Sarah was blushing slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She clearly understood exactly what Mar and I had meant.
This won’t do.
At first, I tried supporting Sarah to give her an advantage since she was at a natural disadvantage compared to Count Horfeld’s daughter. But now that I thought about it, neither of them had any advantage at all. Both seemed equally doomed when it came to Erich’s cluelessness.
Actually, Count Horfeld’s daughter might be at an even greater disadvantage, given that she wasn’t around Erich all the time.
I should invite Countess Horfeld soon, too.
It couldn’t be helped if Erich disliked both and pushed them away. But pushing them away without realizing they liked him would simply be too terrible.
The Krasius family really is something else...
A father banished by his wife, an eldest son with six lovers, and a second son completely devoid of basic social awareness.
It was honestly amazing that our family had turned out like this.
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