Chapter 5
Chapter 5
As Roen loosened up from drinking, he shared various stories, and Ijin, curious about the north and the capital, listened with sparkling eyes.
Cassis leaned back lazily in his chair, listening to their conversation.
The only thing identical to the original story is how few words he speaks.
In the original, he was a taciturn and dignified knight grand duke, but why is he now a gloomy, worn-out one?
[Could it be because of the debt?]
It must be because of the debt.
I put a lot of effort into raising my younger brother without lacking anything, fearing he might grow up depressed from it.
It was an excellent choice.
Especially when he was fifteen or sixteen, a particularly sensitive age, our family went bankrupt. Moreover, with our parents gone, I made extra effort to keep him close.
When he was upset, I would even buy thin sugar-coated fruit slices to put in his mouth.
[Irina worked hard.]
‘But Ijin was born that way. He doesn’t get discouraged easily, doesn’t care about others’ opinions, and is easygoing.’
[Hmm, I’m not sure.]
[Yeah, I’m not sure about that either.]
Ijin seemed to like these people, perhaps thinking the grand duke was in a similar situation to us.
Or maybe it’s just because he’s a southern boy admiring the capital.
I quietly observed, taking a step back from the conversation.
Perhaps because of all that had happened today, my body felt tired.
My eyes kept closing.
My vision blurred and sharpened repeatedly.
‘I’m too tired.’
[You’ve been working almost without sleep recently, haven’t you?]
[You did overwork yourself, saying you’d pay off all the debt if you worked a little more.]
[Let’s go up first and rest a bit, Irina.]
The awkward atmosphere around Cassis from the afternoon had significantly improved thanks to his aide, Roen, and the lively Ijin, which also helped me relax.
I’m tired.
As I blinked to avoid dozing off, something red entered my hazy vision.
“Ah.”
I raised my body, which had been deeply sunk into the couch.
I had been rude.
I acted too casually just because he’s the original male lead.
No matter how bankrupt he is, he’s still the empire’s grand duke, a noble among nobles.
I, a mere count’s daughter, shouldn’t treat him so carelessly.
“I’m sorry, I’m a bit tired.”
As I lifted my head while mumbling this excuse, my eyes met Cassis’s.
He frowned and opened his mouth.
“It’s getting late, I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
“…I’m sorry. I’m unusually tired today, so I couldn’t concentrate.”
“No, I’ve been rude to you, my lady.”
How kind.
Since they seemed to be getting along fine without me, it seemed best for me to leave first.
“You said you’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yes, we need to visit the viscount’s territory.”
At Roen’s answer, I mentally organized what I needed to do now.
A rather big festival will be held in the south soon.
Because of that, most decent accommodations will be fully booked.
There aren’t any suitable lodgings for a grand duke to begin with.
Someone of the grand duke’s status would need to rely on a nearby noble family…
He can’t stay at the Viscount Keilak mansion where he owes debt.
“You two must be tired as well.”
“Not at all. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to rest comfortably.”
It’s best not to keep debt close, so it would be better if they left quickly and never came back.
But, Cassis Luwin is this world’s male lead, and he’s in this state because of me.
“Do you have a place to stay in the south for the future? If not, although it’s humble, you’re welcome to stay at our mansion while you’re in the south.”
By the way, the expression “humble” is not just a courtesy.
This mansion we’re staying in hasn’t been used for years except for my and Ijin’s rooms, a few servants’ rooms, the kitchen, and one reception room.
Because we didn’t have the capacity to manage it, the overall condition was terrible.
Although we use more of the mansion now than before, more than half of it is still dark.
This reception room where we’re currently entertaining Cassis and Roen is the only well-maintained room in the mansion.
So I was certain that Cassis would never stay, and I just asked out of courtesy.
“Oh, would that really be alright? Thank you! As expected, a successful businesswoman is different.”
Huh?
“Would that really be alright? Thank you, my lady.”
“If it weren’t for you, my lady, we might have had to sleep on the streets. Haha! We came in such a hurry that we couldn’t book accommodations.”
“…Roen, your work hasn’t been good lately.”
Cassis said that, and then casually mentioned something about the southern autumn being warm.
“But it’s early winter now? It’s November…”
Winter is coming, Grand Duke.
But both Cassis and Roen looked at me as if it was no big deal.
“But isn’t the weather warm?”
“…Northern people are amazing. I’ve lived in the warm south all my life, so I’m quite weak to cold.”
Both Cassis and Roen chuckled at my response.
Why are they laughing?
Is it funny that I’m weak to cold?
Feeling embarrassed, I turned my head abruptly and said,
“Shall I call the butler? Will you join us for breakfast tomorrow as well?”
“We need to leave early tomorrow. If you’ll allow it, we’d like to have dinner together.”
“Alright. I’ll prepare some Gracia wine made from grapes harvested around this time last year.”
“It would be an honor.”
Cassis stood up and elegantly extended his hand to me.
I smiled slightly and placed my hand on top of his well-maintained fingertips.
It was a formal etiquette I hadn’t encountered in a very long time.
“…!”
The moment I stood up with his escort, my vision turned black.
“…Lady Seike!”
My hearing seemed to be blocked too, as if I was hearing shouts underwater.
It felt like all my senses surrounding me were disconnected from the world.
Moreover, the headache piercing my head was severe.
So after blinking several times and breathing, when my vision finally returned hazily.
The first thing I discovered was Cassis right in front of me.
“Can you see me?”
“…Yes.”
I was sitting on the floor, and Cassis had followed me down, kneeling on one knee and holding me.
He was holding a soft cloth near my nose.
“Ah.”
“You’ve overexerted yourself.”
“…I’ve been rude.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Cassis handed me what appeared to be his handkerchief.
Then he stood up and extended his hand to me again.
As I placed my hand on his like before, his large, firm hand grasped mine in return.
I tried to stand up relying on him, but this time it seems I had really overdone it, as my legs gave way completely.
“Careful…!”
Fortunately, Cassis, being the best knight, didn’t let me fall.
Cassis clicked his tongue.
“Excuse me.”
Then, without even asking for my consent, he lifted me up.
I was startled by the suddenly elevated view, but the stable posture made me feel much better than before.
Flustered in the unfamiliar male lead’s arms, I didn’t know what to do and floundered before finally lightly placing my arms on his shoulders.
Cassis let out a breath close to a sigh.
Following the butler’s guidance up the stairs, he said to me,
“You should have said something if you weren’t feeling well.”
I mumbled, leaning fully into Cassis’s firm embrace as my eyes slowly closed again.
“…You’re right. I was foolish.”
Oh my, our male lead.
His personality might have changed a lot from the original, but his body seems to be just as described.
It seems he’s still the empire’s best knight.
“I’m not trying to blame you.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
But I’ve always been like this when I overdo things.
“…You don’t need to worry.”
“…”
“Thank you.”
By the end, I couldn’t even remember what I was saying or what Cassis had said.
“I feel ashamed.”
I just buried myself deep in the warm blankets, let out a big sigh of relief, and then my consciousness dropped off completely.
* * *
When I woke up in the morning, my legs felt heavy.
“Ijin.”
Ijin was sleeping, hunched over an old wooden chair placed next to the bed.
I gently stroked his hair, which was shining silver in the morning sunlight.
His curly hair broke between my fingers.
“Sis…?”
“Why are you sleeping so uncomfortably here?”
Ijin pressed his lips tightly as soon as our eyes met.
I reached out and lightly stroked Ijin’s cheek.
“Were you worried?”
“Yeah. I was worried.”
After squeezing both his cheeks and releasing them, I stretched.
My physical condition was fine.
“I think it’s because I’ve been pushing myself too hard recently. I’m okay now.”
“I wish you wouldn’t overwork yourself, sis.”
“I won’t do it anymore.”
“Okay.”
I burst into laughter at Ijin nodding his head.
“Because we don’t have any debt now.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, shall we go back to work now?”
Cassis and Roen had left the mansion early in the morning, I was told.
Remembering Cassis who had carried me to my room, I felt a strange flutter in my chest.
I had thought Cassis would be a cold and ruthless person.
Because in the original game, he had the typical image of a ‘northern grand duke’.
He actually had the appearance of someone with a chilly wind blowing around him.
[But?]
But the male protagonist I actually experienced up close was less cold and ruthless, and more…
‘I think he’s closer to someone who just doesn’t express his emotions unless absolutely needed.’
Although we only spent a short time together, the Cassis I felt was someone who would worry and readily extend his hand if a person collapsed from illness.
He just doesn’t smile unnecessarily or say flattering words.
“He’s coming back for dinner?”
“Yeah. The chef said to look forward to it.”
“Tonight’s dinner will be delicious too.”
Our chef is someone who makes the best taste with limited ingredients.
It was mostly thanks to the chef that we could live without starving and eating only delicious things in our poor household.
Ijin and I toured the winery together and tasted wine with the manager.
This summer had good sunshine throughout, so it seemed promising.
I was very much looking forward to the taste of this year’s wine.
If we’re lucky, we might be able to secure a few more bottles of high-quality wine.
Managing the quality of the wine, managing the inventory of places that had placed orders, checking the order volume from the capital, and so on.
While dealing with various administrative tasks, I discovered a white cloth placed in the corner of the desk.
“A handkerchief?”
Ah, it seemed to be the handkerchief Cassis had given me when I briefly collapsed coughing yesterday.
It was made of high-quality silk that I hadn’t even touched in recent years.
The head maid probably washed it well and brought it to me.
I unfolded the handkerchief without much thought.
“Huh…?”
And I paused.
The handkerchief had embroidery at the end.
It was embroidery done in a single color, showing a family crest with a violet in the center.
And this crest… wasn’t that of the Grand Duke Luwin family.
The Grand Duke Luwin family, befitting a northern family, has a black wolf and a white shield as their symbol.
“Edwin…”
This crest belongs to the Marquis Edwin family.
The symbol of the Marquis Edwin family is a violet and a spear.
I stared blankly at this crest and slowly opened the drawer.
And from deep inside the drawer, I took out a leather wallet that I cherish very much.
A black leather wallet that had become very luxurious with the traces of time.
When I opened the wallet with trembling hands, inside was a picture identical to the crest embroidered on Cassis’s handkerchief.
The reason I know this family is the Marquis Edwin family just from the crest is…
“Sir Violet.”
Because there was a kind knight in the Marquis Edwin family who was like a benefactor to me.
