By Zephyria 
“Well, it sounds like a pretty good idea, but you know. My first brother said it’s still twenty years too early?”
Adrian had to shake his head, thinking of the Hamilton Little Count, who rarely kept his reason when it came to his youngest brother and whose personality flipped out.
“Goodness, I thought ten years was long, but now it’s twenty years? How did it increase even more?”
“He said that you took me away on your birthday last time and monopolized me for a week, so it wouldn’t do.”
“Even though you got the Count’s permission?”
“Even though.”
“Oh dear… I wonder when I’ll be able to come to my palace.”
“Why don’t you wait twenty years, Your Highness? Are you worried that you won’t be able to wait until then?”
The confident smile of someone who knew too well that he wouldn’t was dazzlingly bright. Adrian playfully glared and readjusted the boy in his arms, striding forward. The sound of leaves rustling in the pleasantly blowing wind was finely broken, and the sensation of the softly swaying rays of light gently caressing his dry skin was excessively peaceful. If it were a novel or a play, it would be a scene that would only make you yawn because there was no conflict or crisis. But Adrian, and those who guarded the boy, thought that such a peaceful atmosphere suited the boy best. They were willing to pay any price to protect that peace. Only if one person, Noah Hamilton, was happy.
“…Have you come again?”
“Sir Andrew. Even if you are the older brother of my one and only consort, this won’t do. Isn’t it too rude?”
His words and eyes were too insolent for a vassal greeting the Crown Prince. But no matter how much Adrian threatened with a seemingly dignified tone, it had no effect within this Count’s residence.
Andrew Hamilton, Noah Hamilton’s most respected and dearest older brother in the world, naturally snatched his younger brother from the Crown Prince’s arms. Noah Hamilton seemed to be very happy to see his eldest brother, who had been busy preparing to inherit the title recently. You said you were busy, how did you come…, his shy voice was filled with undisguised joy.
“Have you grown a little in the meantime?”
The Little Count coldly turned his body away, leaving the Crown Prince behind, and began to walk towards the main building. It seemed like he hadn’t seen him for about fifteen days because he had been to the territory, and the weight felt in his arms increased a little more pleasantly, as if his young brother had grown in the meantime. The unique warm temperature of a young child wrapped around him pleasantly.
“Hey, let’s go together!”
“Tsk… I can’t banish the Imperial Family…”
Andrew Hamilton muttered unhappily, as if he was truly annoyed by the Crown Prince, who was following him closely as soon as the distance widened. It was so natural and familiar to the young Noah that the relationship between his one and only fiancé and his respected eldest brother was not very good, so the boy comfortably rested his chin on his eldest brother’s shoulder and swung his legs.
The legs, which had not yet fully grown, swung so excitedly that the silk shoes he was carelessly wearing eventually fell to the ground. Leaving aside swinging his legs, he was playing in the dirt in the garden with his shoes folded down in the first place. It was not a very elegant act to be the behavior of a dignified noble’s son selected as the prospective Crown Princess, but no one pointed it out. To everyone who knew Noah Hamilton, the boy was simply perfect enough with his own brightness and loveliness.
Adrian, who was busily following Andrew Hamilton and Noah Hamilton in his arms, was about to bend down and pick up the shoes covered in dirt as if it were natural.
“Leave this to me.”
…Really, these brothers are so annoying. When we have the Royal Wedding, I’ll send them to the territory right away and make sure they don’t even come near the capital. Adrian only grumbled inwardly. He was outmaneuvered again. The hand that snatched Noah’s shoes from his eyes was very different from Andrew’s and Adrian’s own. It was clearly a knight’s hand, calloused and hardened. It was the hand of Frederick Hamilton, a genius swordsman who was considered unmatched in his age group.
“Freddy!”
“You little rascal. How long has it been since I bought you new shoes, and you’ve already ruined them again?”
The dark hair and emerald eyes, the only one of the three brothers to resemble the Countess, sparkled playfully. Frederick teased him for no reason, flicking the nose of his younger brother, who was smiling happily at him, without hurting him. It was Frederick who willingly took on the task of looking after Noah Hamilton’s every move, replacing the Little Count, who was so busy with the work of practically managing the territory in the distant capital and inheriting the title, so it was also Frederick who had matched the worn-out silk shoes that could no longer be worn.
He only scolded him, but he was not ordinary in his sincerity, ordering shoes made only of soft silk and young calfskin so that his young brother’s feet would not develop calluses.
Unlike his eldest brother, who was taciturn to others but kind only to him, or Adrian, who was as soft as sunlight, his second brother, who often played teasing jokes that seemed quite sharp, was always Noah Hamilton’s most faithful and easygoing friend. It was only when Frederick Hamilton was in front of him that the angelic boy showed a mischievous side that was quite devilish.
“Hmph, that’s Freddy’s job to take care of.”
“Tsk tsk, my brother and Your Highness have spoiled my brother too much! I’ll have to talk to Mrs. Seymour and get rid of the snacks that come out for Noah for a while.”
“Eek…!”
Noah knew very well that Frederick was the only person who could really do such a thing just to tease him. The boy looked around as if he was upset, and then brightened his face as if he had a good idea, and quickly beckoned the Crown Prince, who was a few steps behind him.
“Adrian, come here. Quickly, quickly!”
Whether he was the Crown Prince or not, Adrian closed the distance in an instant. Noah Hamilton took turns kissing Andrew, who was holding him, and Adrian, who was approaching right next to him, on the cheek.
“I won’t kiss only Freddy. Just you wait.”
And the way he proudly raised his chin was quite dignified. The two men who received the feather-light kisses had to do their best not to burst into laughter. Perhaps because he had grown up so preciously, the boy had a personality that was not easily resolved once he was upset. Frederick also thought about matching his younger brother’s cute appearance, but soon gave up the idea.
“Hmm? Whose lips are saying such ugly things to my brother?”
“Eubub…! Eubbeubeub…!”
When he went even further and pinched and shook his lips, which were sticking out like a duck’s, his personality, which was not ordinary even though his appearance was like an angel, burst out. Noah Hamilton resisted with all his might, thrashing his limbs without even pretending to notice that Andrew, who was holding him, was staggering. He seemed to be angry. His small face was all red from how much strength he was using. Tears even welled up in his blinking eyes. Frederick knew better than anyone that he had pinched him without hurting him, but he was startled for a moment and quickly released his finger.
“Aaaagh!”…I guess this is a situation where you give a ‘do’ and receive a ‘mal.'” The empire’s leading talent was almost about to have his finger cut off that day for the crime of pinching and shaking his lips for a moment without hurting him. Noah Hamilton bit his brother’s finger mercilessly. The Crown Prince and the Little Count had to stop him, so that was all that needed to be said.
“Oh my, my sons. What’s all the commotion again?”
“Mother! Noah!”
“Mom! Freddy!”
“…….”
In response to the Countess’s question, who noticed the commotion and came out of the door, the two brothers, who had different appearances but the same resentment in their eyes, raised their voices at the same time. The Little Count quietly put Noah down and retreated. Then, he suddenly met the eyes of the Crown Prince, who was scoffing in disbelief. The Crown Prince picked up Noah Hamilton, whom the Little Count had put down, as if he had been waiting for him, and Noah Hamilton rubbed his forehead against the Crown Prince’s neck, saying, “Waaah, I hate Frederick the most.” He was trying to pretend to cry, but the tears that had been swaying in his angry heart had already dried up.
In the end, the Countess threatened that both of them would have no dinner tonight if they didn’t reconcile immediately, and the two brothers, with their mouths sticking out a foot, sullenly apologized. Everyone watching laughed, holding their stomachs at this farce that happened almost every day. It was, as always, a peaceful time that was boring enough.
“Adrian, I….”
It was definitely like that until one day, an absurd tragedy came like a disaster to Adrian, who was always waiting for Noah Hamilton to grow up.
“I have someone I love.”
His soft cheeks, flushed like a four o’clock flower, still looked lovely. That tormented Adrian Pearson the most.