Chapter 7

Before I knew it, half a year had passed and I had turned fourteen. Tomorrow would be the day Ian enrolled in the academy, and today was—

“Ian, happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

Ian’s birthday.

Just before the meal, I handed him a gift box containing cufflinks I had personally chosen. I thought he would be happy and check it since it was his birthday, but contrary to my expectations, he didn’t even open it. Rather, his expression was stiff, as if he had committed a mortal sin.

“What? Aren’t you curious?”

“……I’ll open it later.”

Ian today was definitely way too strange.

What was Ian like in the beginning when he was wary of me? Even though he ignored me and grumbled, I could feel the liveliness characteristic of a child. And as time gradually passed, perhaps because he became comfortable with me, he would initiate conversation or play pranks. He, who was always expressionless, would smile or show various emotions like being annoyed with me.

But now he was excessively calm. As if he had thrown away all emotions like anticipation or joy.

And that wasn’t all.

‘But today is Ian’s birthday……’

It was too modest for a duke’s son’s birthday. On the table was the same simple breakfast spread as usual. At first, when they said they weren’t having a birthday party, I accepted it.

‘Ian enjoying a birthday party while socializing with people is a bit……’

Given his personality, he would have actively refused to hold his own birthday party.

But shouldn’t at least Duke Bellocchio, as family, eat together? He remained holed up in his office as usual and didn’t show his face in the dining room. Moreover, there wasn’t even a single cake on the table. It really was exactly the same scene as usual.

“Finish eating.”

He clearly hadn’t started eating long ago, but Ian got up from his seat. He had barely touched his food, so the meal remained as it was.

“You’re already done eating?”

“Yeah.”

Why does he have no energy?

‘What on earth is this situation?’

I hurriedly put down my knife and fork and followed Ian.

Normally, Ian would head toward the entrance for sword training after breakfast. But this time, unlike usual, he was walking toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

“Where are you going? Aren’t you going to train?”

“Don’t follow me.”

“What are you going to do?”

Perhaps to shake me off, Ian’s footsteps became even faster.

“Let’s go together!”

Since it was the day before academy admission and Ian’s birthday, there were no classes today. Therefore, Ian shouldn’t have anything particular to do today either. That’s why Ian’s behavior of heading somewhere while trying to shake me off was too strange.

I panted and chased after him almost at a run. Ian passed the second floor where our rooms were and went up to the third floor. Walking down the long corridor, he opened the door to the room at the very end, went in, and slammed it shut.

Click. I heard the sound of the door locking from inside, as if telling me not to come in.

“Ian? Ian!”

I tried knocking, tried turning the doorknob, and tried calling his name, but there was no response. Only then did I look around. This place had a structure where doors faced each other across a corridor, no different from the second floor.

‘But it feels unfamiliar……’

Though it had been almost a year since we married, this was my first time here. Our rooms were on the second floor, and according to the maids, the third floor was rarely used. I had never seen Ian go up to the third floor either.

“Ian……”

I traced the door he had entered with my fingertips. He was the protagonist of a birthday when he should be happiest, yet he seemed particularly consumed by melancholy.

Why was that? And what are you doing in there? If I wanted to, I could eavesdrop using the Crescendo funnel I got from Lala before. But I didn’t want to. That’s just how I felt.

‘The answer now is to just leave him alone.’

Surely, if it were a situation that needed immediate resolution like the etiquette teacher incident, Lala would have suggested a quest. But right now, no quest window appeared. It meant I didn’t need to step in immediately.

‘Or is Lala still sulking?’

Half a year ago, was he upset that I had refused the quest? Since then, Lala hadn’t come with any new quests.

‘I don’t know.’

I just crouched down next to the door. Hoping Ian would come out soon.

After a long time had passed, when the sun was setting and the sky was being dyed with sunset colors—

“What, you weren’t here the whole time, right?”

“I wasn’t.”

Finally, the firmly closed door opened and Ian appeared. As if he hadn’t expected me to be waiting in front, his eyes were wide with surprise.

‘Bad timing.’

Since I had been crouching next to the door, I couldn’t see what kind of place that room was or what was inside when Ian opened the door and came out. I clicked my tongue in disappointment, dusted off my dress, and stood up.

“What were you doing in there?”

“Just.”

“You were in there for a really long time. Was there something fun?”

I was curious. He had refused even lunch and stayed in that room for a long time.

“You don’t need to know.”

“Stingy.”

I decided not to ask anymore. Looking at his behavior now, even if I pried, he would only find it annoying and wouldn’t tell me properly. I quietly grabbed Ian’s wrist and headed to the dining room.

“This is……”

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat quickly.”

“Why on earth is that there?”

Ian sat down in his chair and pointed at the cake with his chin. A whipped cream cake topped with strawberries.

“Why? Because I want to eat it.”

It was a lie. But since it was Ian’s birthday, I thought it would be nice to at least have a cake, so I had asked the chef.

In fact, when Ian went into that corner room on the third floor, I had asked the butler. Why was he depressed on his birthday, and why did he go into that third-floor room?

“Master Erlian goes into that room every year on his birthday.”

“Why?”

“That’s not something I can freely tell you. Please take good care of Master Erlian.”

“What’s in that room?”

“That’s also difficult to say.”

What came back to my questions were irresponsible answers. They leave Ian alone but ask me to look after him.

“See, cake is delicious.”

I took a forkful of cake and deliberately muttered loudly. If I created a warm atmosphere by lighting candles and saying “happy birthday” like others, Ian would obviously be disgusted and run away.

But since it’s his birthday, shouldn’t he at least eat cake? So I naturally induced it as if I were eating a snack.

Ian was looking at me. Highly conscious of that gaze, I ate with an affected expression like an actor filming a cake commercial.

“It’s really delicious. Aren’t you going to eat?”

“……”

“What? Should I feed you again?”

When I pointed the fork with cake toward Ian, he raised the corner of his mouth as if he had no choice.

“Never mind. I’ll eat it myself.”

Finally, Ian grabbed his fork and started eating the cake. I watched him and then put the cake I was going to feed Ian into my own mouth. The sweet whipped cream melted smoothly in my mouth, improving my mood.

Was it the same for him? Ian was also smiling. With the melancholy that had surrounded him until just before completely gone.

And it was much later that I learned the reason Ian became depressed on his birthday every year.

***

After Erlian’s birthday passed, the day finally came for him to leave for the academy.

“Ian, you must behave yourself well.”

“……You meant ‘be careful,’ right?”

No, I said it correctly.

I wouldn’t see him for a while, but I greeted him, hoping he would grow up kindly even without me, so why is he glaring at me?

“Remember what I told you all this time? Please speak with a smile.”

“……”

“People talking to you aren’t trying to use you. It’s just for friendship. Friendship.”

“……”

“So please go around smiling. I’m telling you to maintain amicable relationships with people.”

I had emphasized it again and again over the past half year. Please smile and don’t ignore others. The unfortunate fact was that even if I taught him like brainwashing, I couldn’t check whether his personality had gone up or down.

Still, was it thanks to my diligent education? Ian had reached a level where he could naturally converse with Angelo, who often came to visit.

And on a slightly different note, surprisingly, Angelo was second place in academy admission. Unlike Ian, who excelled at swordsmanship, Angelo was apparently amazing at magic or something. Anyway, I was glad that Ian had at least one friend at the academy.

“Got it? You absolutely can’t forget. Get along well with others!”

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you come?”

“……I’m not a student at that academy.”

“Can’t you stay in the dormitory either?”

“They said no.”

At the Verditi Academy Ian would attend, all students had to live in dormitories. However, in the case of the top student, if they wanted, they could commute by teleportation. It seemed they would lend out a magic circle that helped with teleportation to the academy.

Ian had considered commuting, but—

“Dormitory. Definitely the dormitory.”

“……Do you hate being with me that much?”

“It’s not that, but anyway you have to go to the dormitory.”

I had blindly encouraged him to stay in the dormitory. That was because Ian was scheduled to frequently encounter Ethel on his way to and from the dormitory. For the smooth romance between the two, dormitory life was essential.

“I’ll send you letters. Go.”

“Alright.”

He boarded the carriage with a sullen expression.

‘Please let Ian not cause any trouble.’

I prayed as I watched the back of the carriage gradually becoming a dot in the distance.

***

Two months later.

「Hello, how are you?

 

(~~~~)

 

I’m doing well, so don’t worry. I haven’t fought with anyone yet.」

I sighed in relief as I read Ian’s letter. Perhaps it was due to my diligent coaching of Ian. Based on the letter, it seemed he was having an uneventful time at the academy so far.

We often exchanged letters like this. Of course, I always included the advice to smile constantly and told him not to be overly defensive, as everyone probably meant no harm. Ian, however, only replied that he was doing well. Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first. However,

「Hello, Sia. I hope you are well.

 

(~~~~)

 

Contrary to your worry, Ian is doing fine. Take care and stay healthy. See you during the vacation.」

I was put at ease by Angelo’s letter. Ian was doing well, after all… My coaching must be working.

Of course, I didn’t only receive letters from those two. My father’s letters also arrived occasionally, always instructing me to continue obeying Duke Bellocchio. I didn’t reply to them. The silver lining was that my father didn’t rush me for a reply, thanks to Duke Bellocchio’s continued sponsorship of our family.

Duke Bellocchio was currently quite pleased with my performance. What was that performance, you ask?

“Welcome, Little Madam.”

“Let’s finish quickly today, too.”

“Excellent. Thanks to the Little Madam, work has become incredibly easy.”

I was assigned to assist Dario, Duke Bellocchio’s finance manager, and I was doing an exceptional job.

To be honest, I’m not particularly good at math. However, the people in this world are so incredibly bad at it that they seem to think I’m a genius when it comes to money calculations.

It was a month ago. When I went to the office, I found Duke Bellocchio and Dario engaged in a serious conversation.

“Then let’s settle on raising the monthly salary by 2 gold for the servants and maids who have worked for more than two years.”

“Understood. We currently have 15 servants and 17 maids who have been here for over two years. So, how much has the monthly labor cost increased by…”

2 plus 2 plus 2 plus…

Amazingly, Dario started adding them one by one. The concept of multiplication didn’t exist in this world.

“64 gold.”

“Little Madam, calculating money is not that easy.”

“64 gold.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll be finished soon.”

“64.”

He didn’t believe me and continued adding them one by one. And then,

“My heavens! Little Madam, you are amazing! To calculate it so easily!”

“It was nothing for me.”

Thanks to this, I repaid the disgrace of my academy failure through finance work, and I could stand proudly before Duke Bellocchio.

And so, as I enjoyed these comfortable days, another four months passed.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has.”

Our greetings upon meeting after a long time were extremely dry. But perhaps because both Ian and I were glad to see each other, we acted nonchalant but had a slight upturn in the corners of our mouths.

Ian had remained at the academy over the weekends and only returned to the Duke’s mansion for the vacation. Thanks to his dedicated school life, he maintained his top rank for the next semester. Frankly, the Duke’s mansion was boring without Ian. I wondered if I had relied on Ian more than I thought.

I stared intently at Ian’s face, seeing him after a full four months. He must have diligently practiced swordsmanship at the academy, as his cheek fat had reduced slightly.

“Did you get taller?”

“A little.”

Our eye level was clearly similar before, but now, I was looking up at him just a tiny bit.

“Let’s go eat quickly. Father is waiting.”

Perhaps because his son had returned home after a long time, Duke Bellocchio, who usually dined alone in his office, suggested we eat together. So we headed to the dining room, but…

“…”

“…”

“Wow, this looks delicious…”

The awkwardness was suffocating. We ate in complete silence for half the meal.

‘If he was going to be like this, why did he suggest we eat together?’

It was incredibly uncomfortable, but the trout steak was so astonishingly delicious that I kept eating it. When the meal was almost finished, Duke Bellocchio finally spoke to his son.

“Was there anything notable at the academy?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. You must continue to maintain the top rank. Until graduation.”

“Yes, sir.”

I wondered if he wouldn’t be able to do it with that kind of pressure… Moreover, this next semester might be his last time at the top. Ethel would likely maintain the top spot starting next year. But since I was an unadmitted failure, I pretended to focus on my meal quietly.

“And… how was the magic lesson?”

For a moment, I suspected someone else had possessed Duke Bellocchio’s body. I knew Duke Bellocchio was more interested in magic, but to ask about the magic class instead of swordsmanship, which maintained the family’s prestige, was completely unexpected.

‘Does he wish Ian would switch his major to magic, like him?’

I remembered the sewing teacher once mentioning that Duke Bellocchio had focused on magic research instead of swordsmanship after the Duchess left. Was this an eccentricity stemming from grieving his wife, who was a mage?

‘But I thought he seemed to care more about Ian’s swordsmanship lessons.’

Unlike the daily swordsmanship classes, Ian’s magic classes were only four times a week. It felt a little strange for him to ask about magic rather than swordsmanship.

But what was even stranger was that he asked in a careful tone this time, whereas he usually spoke with an overbearing voice.

“It is not ‘her.'”

“It seems not yet.”

He even wore a look of disappointment. This was a completely different appearance from the Duke I had seen until now.

‘Who is “she,” anyway? Tell me, too.’

I silently shouted in my mind, but no one paid any attention to me.

“Just wait a little longer, and the day will come when she notices you.”

She? I unconsciously raised my head and looked at Duke Bellocchio. His expression was subtle. Should I call it a mix of affection and bitterness? Didn’t he say before that Ian had to grow up perfectly to be seen favorably by ‘her‘?

‘Could “she” be at the academy?’

I was extremely curious, but unfortunately, there was no more conversation between Duke Bellocchio and Ian. So, I couldn’t find out who “she” was until the meal ended.

“Do you have something to say?”

Before going to sleep, Ian, who was lying straight as if he was about to fall asleep, finally asked, perhaps sensing my intense gaze.

“Wow, how did you know?”

“You were staring at me with a curious expression since dinner.”

He knew I was so curious but pretended not to notice all this time, only asking now. What a petty jerk.

“Yeah. I have something I’m curious about… but I’m not sure if I should ask it.”

“That’s why I pretended not to notice, too.”

I definitely thought Ian had become quite nice when we were exchanging letters… I guess I was wrong.

“Anyway, I’m too curious, so I’ll ask. Who is ‘her‘ that Father mentioned?”

“…”

“He said you need to be seen favorably by her. Is that person at the academy? As a magic teacher?”

“…”

“Why do you need to be seen favorably by her?”

I asked repeatedly, like a question-mark killer, but he kept his eyes tightly closed and didn’t answer.

“Ian, are you sleeping? I know you’re not.”

“I’m going to sleep, so you should too.”

He completely turned his back, as if refusing to answer.

Hmph. I didn’t expect much anyway. ‘She‘ seemed to be an important clue related to Ian, so it wouldn’t be revealed this easily. I gave up and kept quiet. And so, the day ended.

***

No special events happened just because Ian was back. Ian spent his days attending etiquette, magic, and swordsmanship classes, just as he did before entering the academy.

The change was that I, who used to follow Ian’s schedule, could no longer be with him. I was busy assisting Dario with the financial work. When I was too busy, I would work continuously after breakfast and only see Ian again right before going to sleep.

“It seems you’re busier now.”

“Are you lonely because I’m not trailing after you?”

“…No.”

Ian seemed a little disappointed that I had suddenly become so busy.

And two weeks passed since Ian’s vacation began.