Chapter 131: Chapter 131

TL: Zimming

After calling Johann, I paused.

Elizabeth Nodelli’s expression is strange.

She looked at Johann with a dreamy look on her face, looked back at me and seemed to be hit by lightning.

“What’s going on?”

Johann glanced sideways and said. As soon as his eyes met her, Elizabeth’s face flushed red like a tomato.

‘This…I think it’s that.’

‘Should I test her?’

“Well Ms. Nodelli keep…….”

-when I said so, Elizabeth became stiff.

“Keep?”

“……telling me thank you.”

“Why would she?”

“I don’t know, but brother.”

“Yes.”

“A while ago, the ladies talking about marriage, did you also have a fiance?”

“No.”

This time Elizabeth’s face became brighter.

‘I’m right.’

Elizabeth must have a crush on Johann. Judging from the situation a while ago, I guess she didn’t know that Johann is my brother.

Elizabeth only started socializing a year or two ago, when Johann was very busy at the academy, and he did not enter parties that young nobles usually attend.

‘But are taste inherited?

Princess Ingrid chased my father around before she got married. The daughter is also hooked on his son, who resembled my father.

And this,

‘It’s a good thing for me!’

I made a very mean expression inside.

“You know, brother.”

“Yes.”

“Someone says I’m an orphan-”

Elizabeth was stiff again.

“Called me impure-”

Elizabeth twisted her skirt tightly with a pale face.

“A disgrace to the nobility-”

Elizabeth reached out her hand to me, but she pulled back and didn’t know what to do.

“Who told you that?”

“No one, just in case someone says that…”

“If there is such a person, make sure to tell me.”

“Yes.”

I said goodbye to Elizabeth, who was stiff, and then went back to the party.

After staying there for about an hour, I went home with my brother at sunset.

“It’s too bad.”

“See you next time, Lady.”

“Be careful going back.”

While receiving enthusiastic farewells from the ladies and lord, Elizabeth said, “Ex, excuse me-!” And approached me. When I looked at her, she hesitated and barely opened her mouth.

“Nothing.”

“Alright.”

“…….”

Elizabeth became tearful.

***

In the Dubbled mansion after dinner, I was lounging around with my family.I held a pen with a large piece of paper in front of me.

Isaac said who glanced at my letter.

“Why are you writing with old letters?”

“I want to give it to my godmother.”

“Why? It wasn’t used anymore.”

Henry said while correcting my letter.

“Older people still uses it. She will feel the sincerity if the young Leblaine uses it. There’s no one who doesn’t like a child who tries hard for them.”

Isaac clasped his chin and murmured, “That’s annoying.”

I wrote the words with hard work, but my joints couldn’t move as delicately as adults yet, so my writing is crooked.

Unlike when I was five years old, people could at least recognize the letters I wrote.

‘This damn child hands.’

Seeing the crooked handwriting with a disapproving look, I wrinkled my nose and took out another piece of paper.

“Why? You’re already finished.”

“The handwriting is not pretty.”

“Why does it matter?”

“At the party today, my godmother said she likes neat handwriting.”

So if I try to write it sincerely this time, she would adore me even more.

I should not neglect my efforts just because I have already captured her heart. My aunt said that we need to feed the caught meat steadily to make a strong connection. And I am a clever child who could make strong connections.

“Right, brother Johann?”

Johann nodded as I spoke.

‘I think we’re a little closer today!’

I heard a gloomy voice next to him as he nodded proudly.

“Brother Johann?”

“Br-other?”

It was Henry and Isaac who said so on both sides.

My father’s eyes grew a little bigger, and my aunt smiled slightly.

“Why brother?”

“But it’s true.”

Well, he’s not my sister.

When I looked at him with a puzzled look, Isaac frowned.

“Brother……. I didn’t hear that from kid either.”

Aunt Javelin shrugged as she flipped pages on the book.

“Do you really need to hear it? There are many brothers and sisters in the Empire who don’t call each other with that.”

She’s right. Although there is a title used for brothers and sisters in the empire, only commoners use ‘sister and brother.’ Since nobles receive titles, they naturally call them by their titles, also many of them change their status when they are older, so they usually omit titles when they are young.

‘My aunt also calls dad with your excellency.’

Henry’s eyes narrowed slightly at my aunt’s words.

“But the title is proof that we’re close. Why does the Marquess of Nodelli still call the Emperor her brother in public?”

“Yes! They are siblings with good relationship!”

‘That’s true.’

As he nodded casually, Henry and Isaac’s eyes seemed to burn more and more.

‘I feel pressured….’

I grabbed the pen and paper and slowly lifted myself up as I went out.

***

When Leblaine left, Theodore and Javelin also went out.

Henry and Isaac stared at Johann, who drank tea with a casual look on his face.

“What.”

“What did you do to the kid?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why is the kid only to you……!”

Then, Johann’s lieutenant approached.

“We have completed the investigation of Lady Nodelli, sir.”

“I’ll check.”

Johann pulled himself up after putting down the teacup. As he was leaving, he paused and looked at his two younger brothers.

“Leblaine seems to like me better.”

“Why does she call our big brother differently? Well, kid likes us better!”

To sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. While his younger brothers trembled with anger, Johann, who raised his mouth corners, left the room leisurely.

Isaac gritted his teeth.

Why do I only have brothers? There is only a kid in this family who was lovely.

“Why does she like older brother more?”

Did she get angry because he couldn’t eat carrots?

Is it good to call her kid?

Isaac looked at Henry sullenly. Henry didn’t reply like usual.

Henry was also thinking about it. The fool next to him must be thinking trivial things like carrots, but he really made a mistake.

Don’t tell me that she doesn’t really think of us as a family because she’s adopted.

“……I don’t think she hates us.”

Leblaine was a child of obvious likes and dislikes. She never lets a person she doesn’t like to be around her.

However, under the current circumstances, it was undeniable that Johann was ahead of the others.

“Isaac.”

“Cooperation?”

“Yes.”

It was the moment when the second war broke out for Leblaine.

At that time, Leblaine…….

“Why are my ears so itchy?”

“Are your ears itchy?! Doctor! Doctor!!”

The maids panicked hearing it, even though I said it casually.

***

I made up my mind that day.

‘Now that I have handsome brothers, let’s use them!’

I wasn’t a good kid who only thought my brothers were beautiful. I am a mean child who will use everything.

“Chairman.”

“Yes, little miss.”

“Let’s invite the young children of the family who own the abandoned mines. Starting with the abandoned mine that Nodelli is aiming for.”

“Do you want them to come all the way here? I’m sure Nodelli already contacted them so they’ll be careful. If not, they’ll try to tug-of-war to raise the price.”

“Tell them my brother’s coming.”

“……huh?”

I’ve lived as a beggar in my past life. When a bard famous for being handsome visits the city, the nobles flock like dogs.

When my older brothers are coming, the ladies will come even if they need to jump over the wall.

‘Of course, some of the parents wanted Dubbled as their son-in-law as well.’

“Would you like to have a party in the mansion?”

“Well, I don’t think the nobles would like it if I rent a saloon for a gathering.”

“Then I’ll have to tell master.”

“Yes!”

Looking at the clock, it was time for my father to come home soon.

I went down to greet him. But it was weird.

‘Why is it so noisy?’

People gathered in the room. Many doctors even came in through the open door.

‘What’s going on… the smell of blood.’

When I went down to the first floor, the more extreme the smell became. At the moment, I had an omnious feeling.

I squeezed through the crowd.

“Dad……!!”

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