Chapter 95: Closure Part 1

“I’m going to tend to the flowerbed. I thought I’d try planting some new flowers.”

“…What?”

Although I was the one managing the flowerbed, when it came to decisions about the territory, I still needed the family head’s permission.

At the bold proposal I brought him first thing in the morning, my father blinked.

“Well, do as you like.”

His reply was a positive one.

More than that, his expression seemed to say, “Why are you even asking me that?”

“But what about Lady Ariel and Lady Lobelia? You’re not planning to just leave them standing there while you’re gardening, are you? If that’s the case, just call someone else to do it. I can spare the money.”

Well, I suppose if a noble was seen tending a flowerbed with their own hands, it wouldn’t exactly be well received.

People in our own territory might see it as being down-to-earth and kind, but elsewhere, rumors would spread that we were stingy despite having money.

After all, the reason we collected taxes in our territory was to create jobs in return.

But just this once, I had my own thoughts about it.

“They’re here on vacation, so wouldn’t it be nice for them to enjoy a bit of rural life?”

“You’re crazy.”

“You just don’t get it.”

Well, I guess it’s natural that my father, who was basically a countryman unfamiliar with city life, wouldn’t understand.

Knowing how they normally live, it’s hard to imagine they’d dislike simple, repetitive, productive work.

In their usual line of work, they were not doing anything productive. In fact, they were working to reduce the population.

“They’re used to uprooting terrorist organizations, so I figured they’d enjoy pulling weeds and flower roots too.”

“Watch your mouth. Someone might hear you.”

Even in our own territory, he had to be that cautious.

My father really does live a hard life.

“If you’re really that uncomfortable with it, I’ll drop the idea. But honestly, is there anything to do around here?”

“Well…”

“It’s not like we have any tourist attractions. All we’ve got around us is farmland. Oh, there is the sea a little ways out.”

“That place is kind of iffy too.”

“The scenery isn’t exactly beautiful, and there’s no real spot to enjoy water activities. Should I suggest fishing?”

“That’s not really it either.”

What can we do?

If you want to maintain noble dignity, the only real activity here is taking a look around the area.

Of course, the Damus territory will eventually build up more infrastructure.

That’s what the funding support from the Ether Duchy will be used for.

But that time hadn’t come just yet.

Since budgeting and planning couldn’t be resolved overnight, that meant there was nothing to do immediately.

“Still, that’s not it.”

“Well, if you insist that much, I’ll just drop it.”

“Yeah, good thinking.”

“But… is there a solution?”

“…We’ll have to start thinking from now.”

“I see.”

It couldn’t be helped. We simply hadn’t lived like nobles until now. We’d never felt the need to.

If anything, acting greedy and getting noticed by the Emperor could’ve put us in danger.

We had lived wisely up to this point.

Now, it was simply time for things to change.

“Oh, while you’re at it, take your brother with you and have him help.”

“Chris? For something like this….”

I paused mid-sentence to think.

“Well, he does suit it.”

In the past, even going outside with Chris would’ve been risky, but now, he was the strongest person in our territory.

And I was the one who made him that way.

“But do you think he’ll enjoy such simple work? It’ll probably be boring.”

“You really don’t know Chris these days. That guy now loves anything that involves using his body. Probably because he’s trying to make up for how powerless he used to be. Did you know? Chris likes meat these days.”

“I like meat too.”

“He says it’s because in the past, he couldn’t even chew meat, but now he can tear through tough cuts with his teeth.”

“Well, that’s a bit much.”

That sounded like something out of a barbarian’s story.

The reason itself was sad, but the vivid image it painted in my mind left me uncomfortable.

Still, compared to how he used to be, stuck in bed all day…

“Isn’t it a good thing, though, that he’s healthy now?”

“Yeah, if you think about how he used to be. But watching his muscles twitch around like that is a bit…”

“Creepy?”

“Don’t say things like that.”

Well, it was summer, and just looking at him made you feel hotter.

Even so, I had no regrets.

“Well, in any case, since I have your permission, I’ll be heading out now.”

“Alright. I’m heading out to inspect the territory, so don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone.”

“I don’t cause trouble. I’m the one who gets caught up in it.”

It’s not like I enjoy it.

***

The season was summer.

A time when the sun felt scorching.

Chris and I stepped into the front yard, each holding a hand trowel.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had fun like this with you, big brother! Kuhaha!”

“Y-Yeah.”

Honestly, you’re a bit much for me to handle.

“Big brother, so I’m just supposed to rip out all the flowers?”

“No, you’ve got to dig them out carefully so the roots don’t get damaged. It’d be a waste otherwise. We’ll transplant them into pots and give them out around the neighborhood.”

Kuhaha! Got it!”

Could you please do something about that laugh?

It’s just… a lot for me to handle.

Still, I wasn’t sure Chris would be any good at such delicate work.

I didn’t want to have this prejudice, but he really did seem like the type to solve things with brute force.

“Easy now.”

Crack!

The handle of Chris’s trowel snapped, scattering shards.

“Gently.”

Screeeeech!

The metal shaft inside the handle twisted with a disturbing screech.

“Big brother, like this?”

“Uh…”

But, surprisingly, the result was good.

Chris had managed to dig out the roots properly.

At this rate, we could place them directly into pots and cover them with soil.

Of course, the cost-efficiency was questionable if we were going through one trowel per pot…

“Alright! Let’s keep going like this!”

Well, if Chris was enjoying himself, then that was enough.

It seemed like he was concentrating and trying to be careful in his own way, so I didn’t have the heart to scold him.

And even if it was technically broken, the trowel was still usable…for now.

It would keep doing its job until it finally slipped from Chris’s hands.

It might’ve been screaming for someone to put it out of its misery, but what could you do?

A tool was born to be used, and breaking was part of its fate.

“Big brother.”

“Yeah?”

It was while Chris and I were tidying up the flowerbed in the backyard.

“How was life in the cradle?”

“……”

Horrible.

I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t bring myself to shatter Chris’s illusion.

He would have to enroll in the Cradle someday too, so I needed to say something that didn’t carry any anxiety.

“It was pretty nice. There were lots of things you could do that you couldn’t do here, and I got to eat all kinds of delicious food.”

“The food we had when we went to the capital last time was all so good. Hehe. I want to eat it again.”

“And there were way more people than here. You never had time to feel bored.”

In my case, I never had time to feel bored but for a different reason…

I believed Chris would get along with people better than I did. He wasn’t twisted like me.

Right now, he might seem closed off, like a wall, but that wouldn’t last long.

“Big brother. What do you think it’d be like if I entered the Cradle next year?”

“……”

“I was joking. I actually know that you’re struggling at the Cradle. I also know it’s all because of me.”

“Chris.”

“But don’t worry, big brother. I’ve grown up now. Can you see? These muscles. An iron body that won’t falter no matter what.”

“I think that’s something you can afford to lose.”

It was a bit much.

“Anyway, I’m going to do my best now, enough for both of us. If there’s ever anything you need me to do, just call me. I’ll show you how strong I’ve become.”

“Yeah.”

Chris didn’t know.

I had known for a long time that he’d already grown up.

Not when he got bigger like he was now, but even before that.

Even at a young age, Chris knew he had a limited time to live and that he had to be careful with everything he did.

He was a kid who had to grow up too fast.

That’s why our whole family worried about him.

“If you ever have anything on your mind, don’t hesitate to talk to your big brother about it.”

“Yes, big brother.”

But still, this was Chris’s choice too. Wanting to grow up quickly, that was a child’s dream as well.

In that case, we needed to accept the fact that Chris had grown up.

Telling a child to “stay a child” was just another way to hold them back.

“Still, don’t come to the Cradle right away. If I’m not here and you’re gone too, who’s going to watch over the territory?”

“Kuhaha, I told you I was joking, didn’t I? Big brother, I know. I have to protect Mother.”

“Because Father’s not exactly reliable.”

“Yeah, he’s kind of feeble.”

“By your standards, that’d make just about anyone… never mind.”

Looking at Chris who was so much bigger than he used to be, I thought to myself…

…Yeah, I guess there’s no need to make a potion that turns him back into his old self.

It was a bit overwhelming to look at, but no matter how I thought about it, it seemed like Chris preferred the way he looked now.

***

“Hoo…”

It was around noon.

Chris and I had managed to finish about half the work.

And by then, the sun overhead had become too intense to ignore any longer.

“Should we call it a day?”

“Yes, big brother. Let’s go eat.”

“Yeah.”

And with that, Chris and I walked side by side into the mansion.

“Oh, are you two done already?”

At the end of the hallway, Yuna waved at us with a bright smile.

Had she been on her way out?

“Where were you going?”

“Nowhere? I just felt like you two were coming back, so I came out to meet you.”

“Ah.”

Well, with Yuna’s level of skill, I suppose she could sense our movements even from inside the mansion.

“What were you doing while we were working?”

“Me? I was talking with Her Highness and Ariel. I spent my time quite productively.”

“You didn’t get into a fight, did you?”

“I had no reason to fight.”

Her tone made it sound like someone else did have a reason.

“Puhihi, I’m kidding. Nothing happened. After what went down yesterday, all we did was share information and exchange opinions.”

“I see. So in the end, Father didn’t do anything. There’s a limit to how negligent someone can be…”

“He tried to do something, though.”

“And?”

“We just told him we were fine and sent him off.”

“I see…”

Well, in that case, it couldn’t be helped.

I had been all set to criticize Father thoroughly, but now I had no grounds.

Come to think of it, if they were talking about what happened yesterday, it must’ve been about Alice and the Wonderland thing.

How much had they discussed? How much information had they shared, and from where to where?

“Ah, we didn’t say a word about Alice’s identity. I figured that kind of thing would be better coming from you directly, Johan.”

“Yeah? Then Ariel’s the only one who doesn’t know?”

“Seemed that way.”

Is it that Yuna’s just that perceptive?

Or is Ariel just that oblivious?

Maybe it’s both.

Lobelia? She probably figured it out through her own investigation.

After all, being shady is pretty much the imperial family trait.

“Johan, actually…there’s something I want to ask you real quick. Do you have a moment?”

“Chris, go on ahead.”

“Yes. Take your time, you two. Kuhaha!”

What’s he laughing about?

Anyway, thanks to Chris tactfully giving us space, I was able to talk with Yuna about what had happened the previous night.

“I see… So it really was that demon…”

One way or another, Yuna was the person I shared the most secrets with.

Right now, she was still the only one I could talk to about these kinds of things.

I did feel a bit guilty toward Ariel…

But talking about demons so carelessly wasn’t exactly a great idea.

Good thing Yuna already knew about the demon even before I did.

“Hmm, so then…”

After hearing the rough outline, Yuna paused for a moment, then looked straight at me and asked,

“You said the roles were decided based on your impressions, right? So the clothes we were wearing… those were all your tastes?”

“……”

“You like that kind of stuff, huh?”

As expected of a skilled assassin. She actually launched a surprise social assassination like that.