By Zephyria 
Winter had arrived in Yorkshire.
Thanks to an ample supply of firewood, the manor remained warm from morning until night, to the point where one could hardly feel the change of season.
“It is well-maintained.”
The assessment from the one who had returned from inspecting the interior of the manor was not bad. MacQuan nodded and gestured toward an empty chair, inviting him to sit.
“Since you mentioned you did not want live-in servants, it is managed by non-resident staff, though I personally oversee most of it.”
“When you first told me you were staying here, I was worried because the exterior looked so dilapidated, but it seems my concerns were unnecessary.”
Sipping tea warmed to a pleasant temperature, Caliven Wisfield let out a sigh of relief. Contrary to his worries, the interior of the manor was extremely clean and pleasant. While the lack of servants was a drawback, as the man had said, there were no signs of neglect.
“It would be best to station medical staff nearby. It will be difficult to survive the winter otherwise.”
Silence followed the remark. The hand setting down the teacup trembled, but it was only for a fleeting moment, and no one noticed.
“I am paying special attention to that.”
The conversation ceased for a while.
Outside the window, a midwinter blizzard was falling. The cedar forest in the distance had faded to white under the snow that had fallen throughout the night. It was a moment where the entire world seemed to be purified.
“It is snowing heavily.”
“Yes.”
“It will be difficult to return immediately… Would it be alright if I stayed for a few more days?”
Despite it being a simple request, MacQuan did not answer readily and played aloof. He swirled the half-remaining black tea in his cup once and then set down the teaspoon. His expression, now devoid of any trace of a smile, was colder than the midwinter frost.
“I do not particularly like visitors.”
It was unclear who the subject was—who exactly did not like visitors—but Caliven assumed it was a reference to his brother and nodded.
“I am aware, but since we are family, perhaps he could be a bit more generous. I wish to stay, even for a short while, to see my brother’s condition. Of course, I have instructed the servants to find other accommodations, so you need not worry about any commotion. As soon as my brother wakes, I will go up and ask for his permission myself.”
“…….”
MacQuan’s lips pressed firmly together, his expression twisting slightly with displeasure. He looked down at the tea table for a moment before shifting his gaze back toward the corridor leading to his lover’s bedroom. Caliven, failing to read the chilled atmosphere, continued his business with a gentle smile.
“I have brought some foods and medicines that are said to be good for health. I have also brought all the medicinal ingredients personally granted by the King.”
“I pay my respects to the authority and honor of the Queen.”
Contrary to the familiar phrasing, there was no awe or respect in his eyes, expression, or tone. Unaware of MacQuan’s irreverent heart, Caliven instructed the servants to bring the items to the drawing room.
Once things were somewhat settled, silence fell again. In the awkward air, Caliven coughed softly and drank his tea.
“More importantly, is my brother still…”
An indelible worry clouded his affectionate eyes.
“…continuing his sculpting work?”
“…He cannot do it as often as before. He cannot sustain it for long. Since the start of this winter, he has not been able to work at all.”
“I see… I do not know whether to say that is a relief or a regret for my brother.”
“What do you mean?”
Setting down the teacup carefully, Caliven swallowed a groan. After hesitating for a long time, he cautiously brought up his request.
“It is a difficult favor, but…”
One of MacQuan’s thick eyebrows arched sharply.
“Please ensure that my brother’s sculpting time is reduced as much as possible.”
“…I still do not understand what you mean by that.”
“I heard that the dust produced when carving stone is fatal to the lungs.”
The hand tracing the surface of the remaining warm cup slowed. Hmm. The groan that escaped in the interim did not sound particularly positive.
“I am worried that his worsening condition each year might be related to that. His health has been especially poor this year…”
“I wonder.”
Drawing out his words, MacQuan rested his chin on his hand.
“There may certainly be such a factor… but I do not know if it is the right thing to do to act against the Duke’s will in the current situation.”
“I am not unaware of my brother’s wishes. It is simply that he is my only remaining family, so my concern is great.”
“I do not agree with Sir Caliven Wisfield’s thinking.”
The firm voice sliced through the air between them. The combative gaze directed at Caliven perceived the other not as a guest who had visited his manor, but clearly as a nuisance or an intruder.
“He might become a bit healthier if he stops sculpting, but wouldn’t he break down further in other ways?”
“…….”
“I have found that decisions made for the sake of another are sometimes not truly the path for that person’s benefit.”
“…Ah.”
“I say this because I have always made such mistakes. I apologize if I have offended you.”
“…No. I was the one who made a mistake. I packaged it in kind words, but in the end, I almost made the same mistake the previous Duke made.”
Accepting the other’s words with a calm expression, Caliven brought up the thoughts he had kept buried in his heart.
“Sir Lester. Please take good care of my brother. In my heart, I wish to bring him to London immediately… but the fickle weather of London does not seem to have a good effect on him. I am only sorry to place such a burden on Sir Lester.”
“That is not something Sir Caliven Wisfield needs to worry about in the slightest. If he went to London in his current state, as you said, his condition would only worsen.”
The voice that snapped back was sharp, unlike before. Though packaged as concern, the reality was that he wanted to take his lover away immediately. Bringing up family and blood ties. Even knowing it was an extreme interpretation, MacQuan let his thorns show.
Only then did Caliven notice MacQuan’s wariness toward him. Setting down his cup, he carefully called the other.
“Sir Lester.”
“My apologies. I am sensitive due to the Duke’s health. My words were too harsh.”
“I have no intention of stealing my brother away from Sir Lester.”
“…….”
“So there is no need to be anxious at my words. Please do not worry too much. Regardless of the past, for now, I feel only sincere gratitude toward the Baronet who stays by my brother’s side.”
It was a strike to the heart. It was a statement that faced his clumsily hidden anxiety head-on. MacQuan, unable to even offer an excuse that it wasn’t so, kept his mouth shut with a stiff face. He felt uncomfortable that his inner thoughts had been exposed, but since it wasn’t a lie, he did not deny it. A twisted nature that could not accept goodwill as goodwill had already become one of the roots of his personality for a very long time.
Caliven watched the awkward MacQuan and gave a sheepish smile. He recalled part of a letter exchanged with his brother a few months ago. It was before he had been bedridden.
He is an incredibly tedious and bothersome person. I cannot fathom how greedy and covetous he is. As the days pass, his obsession grows worse; he follows or monitors me all day long, to the point where I have often wondered if he is mentally ill. I can even feel a sense of madness. I do not know how long he will continue such ridiculous behavior.
Since even his brother, who rarely spoke his mind, had written such unfiltered words in a letter, it was hard to imagine how great the feelings locked inside that man truly were.
If not for that, life here is not so bad, as there is no useless interference or noise.
He merely guessed that it was a heart based on affection. Neither of them had defined the relationship, but Caliven could now naturally accept and understand the relationship between his brother and that fierce Baronet.
“I heard you are disposing of the Enfield estate and manor. I also heard you requested to return your Baronetcy.”
“Ah.”
The man answered half-heartedly, his eyes tilting languidly. It was a leisure and boredom that did not suit the reputation of the ‘Lion of Westminster,’ who had once defeated countless people with speeches in the reading room for the bill to dispatch troops.
“Is it not a title that cannot be inherited anyway? There is no need for it. Even if I obtained a heritable title, I have no family to pass it to, nor will I marry some innocent lady of a noble house, so it would be useless. As for the estate and manor, I have decided to dispose of them as I have no reason to return to Enfield.”
It was a blunt answer, hard to believe it came from someone who had once engaged in countless bribes and lobbying to obtain a higher title.
“I see.”
Quietly catching his breath, Caliven brought the now-cooler teacup to his lips. Once the clumsily maintained topic ran out, the conversation ceased and silence returned. As his brother had written in the letter, it was a quiet space with no noise and no interference from anyone.
✧ ✧ ✧
Aaron blinked slowly, feeling a heavy headache. A sensation that made it difficult to distinguish between reality and a dream dominated his body. It was a sensation he had become accustomed to at some point. It was a different feeling from when he had lived immersed in opium in the past. His eyes, containing the dawn, wandered in the air for a while, unable to focus easily.
Closing and opening his eyes a few more times to adjust to the darkness, he felt a presence not far away and turned his gaze. The person dozing in the chair by his bedside was certainly a man he knew well.
“Caliven.”
In the desolate space, the voice calling the man was exceptionally clear. Despite the voice not being loud, Caliven snapped his eyes open and straightened his posture.
“Brother. Are you awake?”
“…When did you come?”
“I arrived this afternoon. You were asleep when I arrived, so I was downstairs with Sir Lester.”
“…I see.”
Breathing with little energy, Aaron slowly pushed himself up. Caliven, stepping forward to help, stopped in his tracks at the sharp gaze that immediately poured out.
“I shall decline to be treated as an invalid.”
“My apologies. That was not my intention.”
“You seem to be doing well.”
“Yes. Thanks to your concern…”
Smiling bitterly, Caliven pulled over a chair and sat beside Aaron.
“I was relieved that the manor’s environment was better than I expected.”
“It is not bad.”
“The Baronet is paying a lot of attention.”
At the mention of the familiar man, Aaron gave a light snort and lit the candle inside the lamp. A soft red light circulated around the bed where the two were. It was a warm color.
“I am worried about your health, Brother.”
“A useless worry.”
“Out of concern, I asked the Baronet for a few favors, but I only received a scolding.”
“A scolding?”
“I asked him to stop your work, saying that the stone dust produced during sculpting is bad for the lungs.”
At the words that sounded like a joke, Aaron frowned unpleasantly.
“What an arrogant thought. If I had any strength, you would have been hit once with that lamp.”
“I thought the same. Thanks to that, I was thoroughly reprimanded.”
“That sounds like him.”
Laughing weakly, Caliven clasped his hands. It would be a lie to say that seeing his brother’s appearance after several months was not shocking. His dignified appearance amidst the luxury remained, but the sickly pallor mixed within it was distinct. A candle, flickering as if it might go out and then burning as if it might flare up, entered Caliven’s sight. His eyes, watching the precarious flame, were stained with fear.
“Are you performing your duties as proxy well?”
“My abilities are utterly lacking. In the first place, it is not my place, nor is it a garment meant for me to wear.”
“Who is there that fits into that garment? You should know if you’ve attended the House of Lords reading rooms. It is hard to count the number of thoughtless, empty-headed fellows. That is why they are a foolish crowd, unaware that they are being eaten by the House of Commons.”
“…….”
At the scathing evaluation, Caliven didn’t know what to do and laughed awkwardly. At his soft nature, Aaron chuckled and glanced at him.
“You are still the same.”
“Brother.”
“With such weakness, you will be eaten by those snake-like fellows before long. Do not be relieved just because the Duke of Devonshire became so. Those below will try to pull you down, and Buckingham will try to crush you.”
“…By then, won’t you have returned, Brother? I believe my role is to hold this position until you return.”
His brother’s smile deepened. The sound of drinking water echoed particularly loudly.
“Caliven.”
“…Yes.”
“Do not forget. Until I die, I have absolutely no intention of ceding the dukedom to you, so do not even dream of it.”
“Brother, please don’t say such things…”
“Forget one more thing. To put it another way, the fact that you will be the next Duke of Cornwall once I die.”
“…….”
“You keep forgetting that fact.”
There was no way he could dare answer those words. Speechless, Caliven eventually kept his mouth shut. The low laughter mocking his frozen state was agonizing.
✧ ✧ ✧
The heavy snowfall, which he expected would stop in a day or two, only barely ceased after a week. Even then, it took about three more days for the roads to melt enough for people or carriages to pass.
Although he had stayed at the manor for nearly two weeks, Caliven Wisfield had not been able to properly meet or even exchange greetings with his brother until the final day, except for the first day he arrived in Yorkshire. This was because his brother had spent most of the day unconscious due to worsening pneumonia and high fever.
It was becoming difficult to further postpone his Westminster schedule as the proxy for the House of Cornwall. Leaving his anxiety behind, Caliven made the final decision to leave Yorkshire. He began tidying up busily from the morning, and it was only by late afternoon that he called for a carriage to the train station.
“I will prepare renowned medical staff from Scotland and send them to Yorkshire immediately. I ask that they reside at the manor and look after your brother’s condition.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“If you find any effective medicinal ingredients or foodstuffs, please send a letter at any time. No matter what, I will search all of England to find them.”
“I am grateful for the thought alone.”
Even though everything was packed, his feet did not move easily. The fact that his brother’s condition had not improved at all for a considerable amount of time played a large part.
After taking a few steps, Caliven turned back again. MacQuan, who was brushing snow off his shoulder, noticed the presence and immediately frowned.
“…Please give my regards to my brother. And tell him I will visit again when spring comes. And that he will surely recover his health.”
“I understand. Please depart now.”
His face was still full of reluctance. After a moment of silence, Caliven bowed deeply.
“What are you doing?”
“I truly wanted to apologize once.”
“If I receive an apology from you, I must apologize as well, and frankly, I am not very inclined to do so.”
There was no lie in the candid expression and words. Anyone could see he was clearly uncomfortable. Caliven felt a strange sensation. The man before him was quite different from the image of the past he knew, yet that atmosphere was not entirely unfamiliar. Caliven searched his thoughts for a moment, and upon realizing the déjà vu he felt, he ended up laughing helplessly.
“Do you know?”
Just before boarding the carriage, Caliven asked with a face full of smiles. At the words of unknown intent, MacQuan frowned slightly and asked back while handing the remaining bags to the footman.
“Know what?”
Haha. A clear laugh filled the space between them.
“Sir Lester’s reactions and attitude are truly similar to my brother’s.”
“…….”
“You have changed in many ways from the past.”
As if it were an unexpected comment, one of MacQuan’s eyebrows rose.
“Should I take that as a compliment?”
“Haha, let’s say so. Because I sincerely respect my brother.”
Looking out at the endless snowy road, Caliven continued in a calm voice.
“War is being mentioned again in the reading rooms. This is because the trade deficit and financial matters have not changed significantly since the last negotiations.”
“…….”
“The objective is the same as in the past, but the greed has grown even larger. I witness the scene where humanity is annihilated every day.”
“Hmm.”
“Until the decision to dispatch troops is made again… it will not take long.”
“I see.”
The snowy road, untouched by anyone, was as fine as silk brought across the sea. That pure path would, over time, be trampled by the boots of soldiers and the wheels of carriages, turning into a dirty gray. Or perhaps it would be stained with the blood from duels fought by hot-blooded men.
“That, too, is history,” MacQuan replied calmly, looking at the path the carriage would soon traverse. Complex emotions intertwined in the gaze that met directly.
“Even if not right now, will there not come a day when the present becomes history and is judged?”
“…….”
“Then my name shall remain for a long time in the records of posterity.”
The man’s eyes curved as he wore an expression of genuine amusement. A hollow laugh scattered across the roadside. In the meantime, the footman, having loaded all the bags and luggage into the carriage, approached.
“Shall we depart?”
“In a moment. Go inside first. Keep the door closed.”
“Understood.”
Only after the man climbed into the servants’ carriage and checked the door did Caliven turn back. The man still stood there with a look of evident annoyance. He looked very much as if he had been dragged here against his will.
“I heard that you are establishing an institution to support the treatment of opium addicts.”
“Ah.”
MacQuan gave a small smirk, nodding with an indifferent expression.
“Put aside any accusations of deception. I have already heard it to the point of exhaustion from the Duke.”
“…I have no such intention. I was simply curious about the reason. I know that it requires a significant amount of funding. I know it could not have been an easy decision.”
“It is not some grand reason like the one you are imagining, Sir.”
“I do not believe the reason is necessarily important. As the Baronet said, if the present is one day evaluated as history, the assessment of the Baronet may be split into two opposing views. Regardless, endless reflection on the past will be interpreted in a positive light by future generations.”
“My… Sir Caliven Wizfeldon.”
This time, MacQuan laughed loudly with his arms crossed, his face looking as if he truly found it ridiculous. It was a situation insulting enough to warrant a challenge to a duel, but for some reason, Caliven did not find the reaction unpleasant in the slightest.
“You are under a great delusion. I do not act by attributing some grand meaning to my deeds.”
The man wiped away the moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes. His cold self-derision did not easily subside.
“I feel no sense of debt or guilt toward the unspecified masses who need treatment. That is not to say I did nothing wrong. It is simply that if I had any conscience left, I would not have committed such acts in the first place. I would not have lived that way. Unless I am reborn, I am a villain in this life. No excuse or rationalization for the sins I committed is of any use.”
MacQuan took a short breath and immediately continued.
“It is too late for me to repent and reflect; I have lived with such a heart for far too long. If there is one thing I can tell you, Sir Caliven Wizfeldon, it is that one’s nature does not change so easily. Unless, of course, one is merely pretending to have changed.”
The gesture of wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes almost looked cheerful. After watching him for a moment, Caliven asked back with a questioning expression.
“Then for what reason did you do such a thing?”
“Haha.”
A hollow laugh blended into the cold air.
“There is no particular reason. It is just…”
In the dead of winter, snowflakes fluttered amidst the harsh breath of the wind. A deeply sunken gaze followed the breeze.
“Because it feels as if that person is paying the price for my sins instead.”
There was no trace of the previous laughter anywhere on his darkened face. His loosely crossed hands trembled. It was clear fear. Trying his best to appear composed, MacQuan beamed a wide smile.
“I simply could not bear it.”
Numerous aftereffects followed his lover like a curse. Sometimes they were the remnants of injuries, and sometimes the aftereffects of opium addiction. Even after a long time, the price of opium visited his lover in the form of various nightmares. Most of the nights the two spent together were far from comfortable. MacQuan wished that all that pain would be directed toward him instead, but God knew exactly what the most effective and cruel punishment for an opium merchant was.
“That is all.”
Snow fell upon the shoes made of high-quality leather. The snowflakes were quite thick, suggesting they would pile up throughout the night. Brushing them off carelessly, MacQuan pointed toward the carriage with a polite gesture.
“Looking at the sky, it seems it will snow again soon. If you delay any further, you will have difficulty on the way to the train station. Please depart now.”
“I shall visit again when spring comes.”
Only one of his straight eyebrows slanted upward on his forehead. It was a highly irreverent expression.
“…Do not come too often. It takes time to prepare, and frankly, it is uncomfortable. In that time, I would rather devote more attention to Sir Caliven’s precious brother. Of course, that is my wish.”
“You do not even bother to dress it up with minimal lies.”
“I felt there was no need to do so with you, Sir.”
“Haha.”
Caliven bowed his head slightly and laughed softly.
“Still, I shall visit again when spring comes.”
There was no further reply. Knowing that the silence was a form of permission in its own way, Caliven boarded the carriage with a slightly lighter heart.
“Lord Lester.”
“…Speak.”
“I entrust my brother to you.”
The man simply waved his hand dismissively, as if even responding was now a chore. Seeing this, Caliven let out the laugh he had been holding back.
He was truly a man without roots and full of arrogance. It was an arrogance on par with any great noble—no, even the royal family. He was brazen and humble to no one. In that moment, Caliven slightly understood why his cold brother had opened his heart to this man of all people.
“My brother never opened his heart to anyone in his entire life.”
“….”
“He never once made room for anyone by his side.”
“….”
“I believe the Baronet is likely the first.”
“…I know, so please just go.”
Even in this short conversation, the man’s interest was entirely directed toward the mansion where his brother resided. Seeing those distinct and clear emotions actually made Caliven feel relieved. Caliven smiled more brightly and requested a final handshake.
“I shall be going now.”
The moment he turned to go to the carriage, he heard the sound of footsteps walking toward the mansion. He was truly a man honest with his desires and emotions.
A vicious selfishness smiled with satisfaction. A man who gave up everything for my brother.
The one who would protect my brother until the end.
The one who would not let him be lonely.
Though he himself had been rejected from that role, the fact that this man was permitted was enough.
“We shall depart now,” the footman announced through the open door. After nodding for him to do so, Caliven leaned his completely relaxed body against the carriage seat. With a rattling sound, the carriage slowly began to move.
The world reflected in the window was so transparent that it almost felt as if it had a bluish tint. That color reminded him of someone, and so Caliven could not take his eyes off the scenery outside for a long while.
The cold of the deep winter was passing.