WNC SS 156

We began by chatting while standing, but as the conversation grew longer, we looked for a place to sit.

Ivan Bikoff is a grateful fellow who often visits me, even when he is pressed for time. He comes by every quarter to bring news of our friends and to brag about the nephew he adopted. He was the one who consistently maintained our connection, looking after me while I was busy raising Titi.

Since the portals appeared, the merchant guilds of the continent focused not only on moving more safely but also on how quickly they could transport the freshest goods. I had thought he lived a quite interesting life traveling from land to land, but when I asked the reason behind the deep sorrow on his face, I was startled.

“You’re bringing in a second child? I thought you had a child because of the succession issue.”

“That is exactly the problem. Camille is more introverted and timid than I expected. That little thing just says no to everything before even trying it properly…”

“How old is he now?”

“He turned eight this year. As soon as he passed five, I took him on a few merchant trips, and it seems he was frightened by the mercenaries teasing him for being cute. Even so, bringing in a second child immediately feels wrong when I have my closest blood relative, and since he is still young, I’m worried his mind might change. I’m conflicted.”

“Hmm. What does the Baroness think?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure where she learned it from, but she suggested trying to teach the child physical arts first… In my view, that’s not the core of the problem.”

“Wouldn’t it be best to do as your wife says for now?”

“…”

Ivan’s gaze briefly brushed over Rubel’s face. I also looked back at Ruben.

Ruben was smiling shyly and benevolently, as always. As Ruben lowered his long eyelashes and blinked softly, the corner of Ivan’s mouth twisted strangely.

“Hmm. Yes. You should listen to your wife…”

“…Pfft.”

Shayden and Jenny, who were sitting beside us listening to the story, swallowed their erupting laughter. I wanted to say that he didn’t mean it in that sense, but I stopped out of embarrassment.

As I hesitated, Jenny smiled brightly and pretended to straighten her skirt. I now know well that such a gesture is something socialite women do when they want to change the subject.

I readily gave her my attention. Jenny asked, as if she had been waiting.

“By the way, didn’t you bring Damian today?”

“No. Damian suggested we have two parties. If Titi were an ordinary daughter of a ducal house, we would just have a birthday party in the Duchy and there would be no problem, but in this case, the procedures are cumbersome. So, I agreed to that.”

“Two?”

“Yes. At the end of this month, I’ll take the child to the Duchy to pick up some belongings and hold another party. I can introduce her to the children of the vassal families then.”

“Aha. Indeed, that would be more convenient.”

Now I can guess the story Jenny swallowed.

In the future, Titi is scheduled to learn the art of kingship as an Imperial Princess. Rather than mingling with the children of the Duchy’s vassals, staying in the capital and mingling with the children of high-ranking noble families is a more convenient path for the child’s future.

However, I do not want to narrow the child’s world in that way.

“Yes. After all, staying in one specific Duchy for too long could be perceived as a privilege. This month, we’ll go to Duke Ernhardt’s Territory first, and I plan to visit a few more places during the year.”

“…You plan to travel the whole country?”

“I did it; why couldn’t my child?”

At that, a beaming smile formed on Jenny’s lips.

The generation where high nobles only mingled among themselves has passed. Under the protection of Ruben and me, Titi will have the time to observe and contemplate both the lowest and highest places.

Jenny chattered about her own stories in a cheerful tone.

It was here that I first heard that Jenny Tenessus is anonymously sponsoring three girls and two boys attending Shierun Academy. I felt proud just listening to how much she adored and took pride in the children, who were only a dozen or so years younger than her.

Shayden mentioned that he had gone on a few blind dates recently due to pressure from those around him. However, the results were not very promising. He didn’t disclose the details, saying it would be rude to the other party, but I could tell from his tone.

“Indeed, I thought that would be the case.”

“…What do you mean, ‘thought that would be the case’?”

“Compared to how well you take care of people with a gentle manner, you aren’t the type to reveal your inner thoughts recklessly. Even if someone likes you, if there’s even one thing that bothers you, you would have quietly rejected them.”

“…Mikael.”

“Having high standards isn’t a crime. But to love, it’s better to keep a corner of your heart open and be honest. That’s what I’ve learned living my life.”

“…”

Shayden, who had been looking at me quietly, let out a scoff of disbelief. Ivan also turned slightly and laughed.

I know why those guys are grinning like that. They all saw me, the slowest to love among my comrades, restless and burning with my first affection. But that is an old story from a time long enough for the mountains and rivers to have changed. I puffed out my chest confidently and nodded.

Then Ruben, who had been quiet the whole time, rested his chin on my shoulder and rubbed it lightly. Perhaps he was bored from sitting with my friends for so long. When I stroked the inside of Ruben’s palm with my thumb, the child gave a light eye-smile and became quiet again. It meant he wanted to stay here longer.

Watching us, Jenny, who had been laughing quietly for a while, spoke in a mischievous voice.

“…Wow, did Mikael just give Shayden dating advice?”

“Is that not allowed? At least I’m better than Shayden. I found a wonderful partner.”

“No, it’s just that I suddenly felt a surge of maturity… Is that so? I see. You’ve truly become a married man.”

“What… Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

Now Shayden also laughed heartily. He sank deep into the sofa and tilted his head back.

There was a small scar under his chin. I thought that he, like me in my previous life, might end up spending his whole life with a sword as his spouse. Still, I hoped he would find a good partner if possible. I hoped this gentle fellow would also know the happiness I first discovered because of Ruben.

As I looked at him silently with those thoughts, he winked and waved his hand dismissively.

“No, uh. I’ll try that. Thanks.”

“Right. You’ll probably do it better anyway.”

“Yeah. I’m suddenly wide awake. I should do my best, too.”

After that, various stories were brought to the table. We talked about the Philodendor couple and the current status of the professors from our school days. Recent stories and old stories mixed haphazardly, but it was all enjoyable.

Aside from me and my friends, it seemed that the seniors and juniors who graduated from Shierun Academy around the same time had all fared reasonably well.

I thought all of this was thanks to Ruben taking good care of the people around him, but Ruben insisted it was all because I used my heart kindly. Ruben, who attributed all the good things to me and all the bad things to himself, was truly cute and amusing.

Then, I looked up at the sound of a loud knock.

There aren’t many people whose hand-sounds and footsteps are this large. A giant of a man, who barely managed to follow the edges of etiquette as he flung the door open, bowed deeply toward Ruben.

The face of the man, who didn’t even wait [Read on Read BL Novels]for Ruben to acknowledge the unauthorized copygreeting and headed straight for me, was familiar.

“Brother! Congratulations.”

“…Hmm.”

Bill Brown. It was him.

Seeing the man bow, Ruben straightened his back slightly.

“That might have been the case when you were young, but you still intend to serve him as a brother?”

“What are you saying, so heartlessly? Brother saved my life several times—”

As Shayden pulled on Bill Brown’s collar, the man’s large eyes rolled around, and he stopped talking. He looked like an ox with a ring through its nose.

Right, did he say he remembered me from the days of Namgung Jeong-yeon?

Now that I’ve adapted to a completely new life, it’s funny to think of him as truly being from the Peng family. Even before I recovered my memories, Bill Brown had been restless, talking about being my life-saver and trying to give me something.

Peng Joo-hyuk of my previous life was honest and simple, falling into the enemy’s traps several times. Because of that, not only I but several friends had rescued him once or twice. Every time, he would beat his plump body like a drum and shout:

‘This Dunce shall not forget the grace of rescue even beyond this life and will surely repay it!’

Later, Jegal, who had heard the same thing several times, joked that he [unauthorized copy]should repay it in this life rather than Read on Read BL Novelsthe next, but the man would swing his large fists, saying he would [Read on Read BL Novels]repay it this time and definitely next time as well.

Recalling the promise I had thought was a bluff made me feel somewhat sentimental.

Looking at it now, I think one of the reasons Shayden can’t get married is because he has too many people to take care of.

Bill Brown sat down more modestly than expected. And with a very affectionate attitude, he squeezed out tears.

“I worried so much just in case, but seeing you form a family like this, I couldn’t wish for anything more. You’ve lived well. Yes, you are truly amazing at any time.”

“…That, ahem. Right… I heard you’ve been hanging around with Shayden lately?”

“Yes. I’ve actually joined the White Rose Knights. I’m learning a lot from the Viscount.”

Surprisingly, Bill said he had deep ties not only with Shayden but also with Ivan and Jenny.

Indeed, was it not a common occurrence for Shayden to weave the people around him together so they could help each other? Since they were all old acquaintances and classmates from the same Academy, it seemed he had looked after them, which put my mind at ease.

We shared various conversations about how hard the Imperial Administration had worked to perfectly prepare the palace where I would stay after moving completely to the capital, how many times a week I intended to commute to the Duchy, and the current status of the monsters’ habitats.

Meanwhile, Bill occasionally swallowed groans of distress like a dog hiding a bone, and no matter how I looked at it, he seemed to want to bring up stories of the previous life, so I ignored him. It wasn’t a story to bring up in the presence of Ivan and Jenny. That was likely why Shayden was keeping Bill’s mouth shut.

However, it’s a bit unsettling that Ruben’s gaze keeps drifting toward Bill.

Was there something in my previous life that Ruben should not know?

Now, Ruben knows roughly how I lived in my previous life. I told Ruben everything he asked without hiding anything. The scenery of the regions I mainly visited, the foods I mainly ate, the poems I liked, and even the fact that I didn’t like Baduk much because I lost every time I played.

But Ruben was a person who could read a lot from even a small clue.

Of course, the Peng fellow isn’t the type to speak ill of me behind my back, but he was born with a strong tendency toward bluffing. And he loved making the people around him look good, was gullible, and had a loose tongue. I could see, even with my eyes closed, him bringing up all the trivial fame that floated around the Central Plains to gild my face.

Still, it’s a relief that Shayden blocked him at the appropriate times so that Bill wouldn’t make a slip of the tongue. Every time Shayden made a gesture, Bill Brown swallowed the nonsense that was about to pour out quite well.

Thanks to that, we were able to laugh and chatter for a long time with even more cheerful hearts.