Soon, the most delicious and best part, glistening with oil, was placed on my plate.
Two chunks, at that. Klen, across from me, smiled faintly at the sight.
[It looks delicious~]
“I happened to be nearby at the time, and since I heard you weren’t well, I prepared this.”
“To sway like that, shouldn’t you eat something restorative? You need a good meal before you go back.”
“Ah, th… thank you.”
I quickly cut a piece of meat and tasted it, trying to hide my surprise.
Lord Fabian, who was quietly watching me, seemed unaware of just how much ‘that much’ was.
Perhaps he just thought I collapsed from exhaustion while touring the estate.
“It’s delicious.”
I wasn’t just saying it; the meat tasted wonderful, as expected of the best cut.
The moment I chewed, the juices flowed, and the meat, which I expected to be tough, melted down smoothly.
A look of satisfaction crossed the faces of both brothers, who observed my reaction.
My two brothers, having hunted together, are quite compatible after all.
“I can take care of my own wife.”
“Even so, please accept this as a token of goodwill.”
“Besides, it’s delicious.”
The thought in Nesser’s mind was plainly visible in his eyes as he glanced at Klen, his mouth shut.
He seemed to want to say that Fabian stepped in because Klen couldn’t take care of me.
But if I had truly been in a bad condition, Klen would have taken even better care of me.
I munched on another piece of meat and then turned my head.
“But you’re going back?”
“I left without a word, so they will worry if I’m gone too long. I plan to leave as soon as the meal is over.”
“Father said he has something to send, so why don’t you wait a moment before leaving?”
“Ah~ In that case, I suppose I have no choice.”
“The thing you’re sending…”
“It is a gift being sent to Caldric.”
The answer flowed from Nesser, standing behind Lord Fabian.
This meant that while he wasn’t officially welcomed since it wasn’t an official visit, everyone knew he was my brother.
Of course, with so many eyes and ears watching me, the information wouldn’t have failed to leak out.
The very fact that Lord Fabian had him seated across from him also implied he knew Lord Marcus’ true identity.
“I wondered who was hunting on our estate without permission, and it turned out to be your brother.”
“I didn’t tell him. That one figured it out first.”
Lord Fabian let out a small smile and looked back and forth between me and Lord Marcus.
“Isn’t it strange not to recognize that you are brothers?”
“…”
No, your brother didn’t know, though?
The person who had attacked us on our first meeting without recognizing that we were brothers was sitting across from me.
But he met my eyes and smiled, as if he knew nothing.
The meal ended with a slight warmth added to the otherwise cold and awkward atmosphere.
Thankfully, no one brought up a topic that would threaten Klen’s and my performance.
Just as I was leaving the dining room with a sense of relief, Lord Fabian lightly tapped my shoulder.
“I know you want to look strong in front of your brother, but don’t overdo it.”
“?!”
Lord Fabian. He must find it strange that I, who collapsed yesterday, am perfectly fine today.
I only ate a lot because the meat was delicious.
He seems to think I’m straining myself to gain Lord Marcus’s approval.
He really is a good person.
That consideration and worry somehow made my heart swell.
We soon saw Lord Marcus off.
The farewell gift was so large that the luggage was piled precariously high on the horse, and it was even fitted with a magical tool to reduce the weight so as not to burden the animal.
The two brothers stood before it, clasping hands and exchanging farewells.
“Well, I hope you return safely.”
“I’d like to speak with you a little longer next time. Please also extend my gratitude to Count Valuncio.”
“I will do that.”
And he gave a light wave of his hand.
“Lord Fabian.”
“Hmm. I suppose I must go now.”
Lord Fabian was practically pushed out by Nesser’s words.
Disappointment was written on his face, but he didn’t slow his departing footsteps.
Did he carve out time from his tight schedule just to hunt and eat?
“Then, while the baggage is being sorted, how about we have a little chat?”
Lord Marcus, who was still looking at the luggage being piled onto the horse, led us to one side.
Once I confirmed people were out of earshot, I spoke first.
“If this bird appears, can you come right away?”
Aren flapped his wings vigorously above my head.
[Next time, I will fly straight to you, so remember that well!]
“Understood. If something like that appears again, contact me immediately.”
Brother nodded seriously.
More than anything else, that huge presence we encountered in the forest seemed to have given him quite a deep shock.
Perhaps a tiny bit of regret that he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes was also mixed in there.
I wasn’t calling him for that reason, but since I couldn’t come up with another excuse, I didn’t correct him.
“The biggest reason I came here, as I stated at the beginning, was my concern for your safety.”
“Ah, yeah. Thank you.”
He then glanced at Klen and continued.
“The second was curiosity about how you were doing. And I wanted to check out the guy you married.”
“Ahaha.”
Klen hadn’t acted much in front of Brother, so I don’t think he made a bad impression.
But I couldn’t tell what Brother thought.
“And lastly, to confirm a rumor.”
“A r-rumor…?”
“It’s a ridiculous story, but there’s a guy saying you’re so frail you collapse at any time~”
“Cough!”
I nearly burst into a cough.
I had hoped the rumor wouldn’t spread outside the estate.
But that was a vain hope after all.
The rumor, which traveled faster than the wind, must have reached Caldric.
“So, I politely persuaded him to never spread such a rumor again.”
“It was just words, right?”
Brother shrugged, as if asking if I didn’t trust him.
Then it must have been persuasion using only words.
Albeit words imbued with immense pressure and killing intent.
“But now I know why such a ridiculous rumor spread.”
“Huh? Why?! Ah, no? I didn’t do anything?”
Although Brother hadn’t accused me of anything, I quickly poured out my denial, feeling guilty.
A low laugh escaped his lips.
“No. It’s because you are overprotective.”
He was pointing at Klen.
Was it because Klen carried me over his shoulder in the forest?
Merely because of that, to not even let me walk, it must have seemed like overprotection to Brother.
Brother’s face, as he looked at Klen, was quite serious.
“Our Adrian isn’t that frail, so you don’t need to protect him.”
“I believe I am the one in this castle who knows best just how strong my wife is.”
[And I would be the next~]
That was true. Klen was the only one in this castle who had directly witnessed my skills.
“Hmm…”
Klen’s answer seemed satisfactory, and the stern look on Brother’s face softened.
“Please tell Father not to worry about those rumors.”
“Huh? Don’t worry. Father never heard them.”
Only then did a sigh of relief naturally escape me.
If that story had reached Father’s ears, he would have come before Brother did.
And he wouldn’t have left so quietly.
The thought alone was terrifying.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
“Be careful on your way.”
“Please take care.”
Brother, who had given a light greeting, took only a few steps before turning back.
And he opened his mouth with a mischievous expression.
“Actually, I’d been thinking about replacing him if you were having a difficult marriage.”
“…!”
“While it can still be annulled, think about it carefully.”
“Brother.”
