By Zephyria 
“Have a safe trip, Master. We will take responsibility for the mansion and keep it safe without any problems.”
The chief butler and Mrs. Seymour, who were at the front, bowed respectfully to the Count and Countess. After the outing to the south, which was originally planned for a week at most, was extended to almost a month, a strange tension began to circulate in the mansion.
The issue of whether I would return the farm in Bartolo to Allen or not was no longer even a problem. After the rumor spread that the Hamilton family’s atmosphere was a complete mess, the engagement proposals that had poured in for Andrew and Frederick also decreased like a lie. Even if the atmosphere changes again later, how can you readily send your precious child to a family that treats even their own children harshly in an instant? Even my father, who hadn’t shown much urgency in Andrew and Frederick’s marriages, eventually expressed his displeasure at the marriage market, which had shrunk to an extreme level.
“Then I’ll trust you and Mrs. Seymour. Please take care of it.”
So this outing now could no longer be a simple family trip or a leisurely vacation. This is a kind of advertisement to show the upper class, which is narrow if narrow and wide if wide, that the atmosphere of the Hamilton family is not as bad as you are rashly predicting.
“Okay, let’s go. Andrew.”
“Yes, Father.”
As my father got into the carriage and handed over the role of the driver to Andrew, Andrew slowly led the horse forward and took his place at the very front of the procession. At the same time as he lightly waved his hand down from above, the group that had been stopped began to move at once.
In the row right behind Andrew were Frederick, the chief of security, and Kyle, who was my escort knight, but was by far the best in terms of skill among the knights belonging to the family, were placed side by side. As expected, the security personnel became more cumbersome than originally planned because not only the direct descendants of the Hamilton family but also a big shot like Carlisle Graham were included in the group. Whether Carlisle himself felt the need for security or not, from the perspective of preparing, they had no choice but to prepare for the worst.
“Get some sleep, Father. You don’t look well.”
I whispered worriedly, looking at my father’s tired face, who seemed to not be able to sleep well these days. My father sighed deeply, as if for my mother next to him to hear, and opened his mouth, saying thank you.
“Among all these family members, you are the only one who worries about this father, Noah.”
My father, my mother, and Allen were in the carriage. Carlisle must have been riding a horse somewhere behind Frederick and Kyle. Judging by the status of the group, Carlisle should have taken the lead. However, this outing was a Hamilton family event from the beginning, and due to unexpected changes in the situation, it became necessary to emphasize that it was a ‘family’ event to the outside world, so Carlisle and the knights from the north that he brought were placed as far inside our family’s knights as possible, so that they would not be easily seen.
“What are you talking about? Everyone’s heart to worry about Father must be the same.”
“Hmph… I don’t know if that’s true.”
My father, still ignoring the Countess who was pretending not to hear, and Allen, who was awkwardly looking out the window, alternated glances before clicking his tongue again. His displeasure was evident. Considering the immense damage my father, this Hamilton Family, had suffered over the past few days due to the unexpected misfortune brought on by a few lines of news articles, it was understandable.
If the matter were to end with mere embarrassment due to the rumors and a temporary halt to Marriage market proposals, my father wouldn’t have been so furious in the first place.
The Count Hamilton Family was experiencing a bottomless fall from grace after being criticized by public opinion for an unplanned adoption discrimination scandal. Places that had been doing business with them for a long time suddenly changed their attitudes, saying they didn’t want to be involved, and the stores and products that Hamilton had been managing internally and externally were gradually being removed from people’s choices.
“How did it come to this, how…”
My father kept sighing disapprovingly. The ellipsis he couldn’t bring himself to say seemed to imply that it would have been better if his biological son hadn’t returned at all. It was clear just by looking at the Countess, who couldn’t dare to rebel against my father but only wore a resentful expression.
Strictly speaking, my father was on my side, but…
“You’re the only one I can trust after all. I trust only you, Noah.”
“…I’m glad you trust me.”
This man only exists as the father of a child who will protect his reputation and perform his functions as a successful trophy to the fullest. It didn’t feel good to have a fact I already knew confirmed so thoroughly.
“Wow, snow!”
Allen, who had been glued to the window since earlier, unable to take his eyes off the scenery outside, shouted as he jumped out of the carriage. There was a fairly high Mountain Range on the way to Bartolo, not as high as in the north, but as they reached a higher altitude, quite a bit of snow that hadn’t melted yet was piled up in a secluded manner.
“It’s dangerous, Allen. Even if it’s completely frozen, snow that has already fallen is most dangerous just before it melts.”
Carlisle quickly followed Allen, who was running out as if he were about to jump into the snowdrift, and unusually gave him strict instructions. But Allen still looked cheerful, regardless.
“Hey, what does it matter if it’s dangerous? Carlisle will protect me.”
“Allen.”
“Won’t you? You’ll protect me, right? No matter the situation.”
He turned to me at a subtle angle and smirked. He was pretending not to be aware of it, but it was as if he saw through the fact that I actually coveted Carlisle’s thoughtful affection and protection, the most normal, the kindest, and the most considerate of all the Love interest in this world.
“Huh? Carlisle.”
“…That’s right.”
Carlisle smiled faintly with a weak voice and tapped the top of Allen’s head. Then, he immediately turned to Frederick and said something before disappearing.
“Oh, dear? My baby? It’s good to see the snow, but what if you catch a cold? Come here. Put on your gloves.”
“Oh, Mother. You worry too much. How could I catch a cold from just this? Back in the day, I…!”
Allen cheerfully rattled on about how poor and extreme his environment had been before coming to the mansion. His mother looked like her heart was breaking and kept agreeing with him, saying, “Oh, really? Our baby endured so bravely,” and even my father, who had been subtly cold to Allen lately, seemed concerned and ordered the servant to bring Allen’s fur scarf and cloak.
“Frederick.”
“…Huh? Noah?”
I took the opportunity to quickly talk to Frederick. Frederick widened his eyes and tilted his head, as if he didn’t expect me to speak to him first.
“What are you so surprised about?”
“I know. What’s so surprising…”
Frederick muttered bitterly, then leaned his head towards me affectionately, asking, “But why? What’s wrong?” His eyes sparkled like someone expecting something.
“Ah. It’s nothing much. Just now, Carlisle… no, Grand Duke Graham, seemed to say something to you and disappeared. I was wondering what happened.”
“…Is that the only reason you talked to me?”
“If not? Do I need another reason?”
“……”
“Frederick?”
“…No, nothing.”
The verdant eyes, sparkling with anticipation, drooped dejectedly. However, it was none of my business.
“Maybe Allen will insist on seeing more of the snow… so he said he’s going to go ahead and clear up any dangerous places…”
Ah. I’m jealous after all. Especially when I think that all this attentive protection and thoughtful consideration used to be mine.
“But Noah.”
“Why?”
“This place, does it remind you of anything?”
It’s my first time here, so what could it remind me of? But Frederick, even in his dejection, somehow didn’t give up hope and asked again. I pretended not to know what he was expecting. When I trailed off, saying, “Well…”, his broad shoulders shrank instantly.
I had heard about this rugged Mountain Range that protruded like an uninvited guest between Bartolo and the capital from early on. It was in Frederick’s letters, in which he would suddenly go off to train as a knight and tell me every little detail, even though he didn’t say a word to the other members of the family.
I wasn’t completely clueless. Even after it was revealed that Allen was his biological brother, Frederick hadn’t completely turned away from me like he had in past Iterations. I had already seen him hovering around me several times, unable to speak properly, like a dog that needed to pee.
Nevertheless. I couldn’t emotionally forgive or accept Frederick, who had rapidly grown closer to Allen… It was an excessively spoiled complaint. It wasn’t the time to be picky about what I ate. Whether Frederick was unlucky or not wasn’t the issue. Now was the time to snatch even one more person away from Allen’s side. After all, Allen had stolen even Carlisle, whom I had already captured, right before my eyes with an ability I hadn’t even grasped. I smiled brightly at him for the first time in a long time and continued.
“Oh, right. Now that you mention it, this is the place. The place Frederick told me about in his letters.”
“That’s right! You remember after all!”
A simple face that brightens up.
Affection: 71%
※Caution※ This is not affection as a romantic interest. It is not expressed as either ‘pure love’ or ‘desire’.
I wanted to take away anything, even a discarded dog bone, if it was on Allen’s plate. I smiled even more brightly at the foolish and simple, dear Frederick. I just had to not trust him.