It’s because they are worried I might have collapsed after being caught up in this commotion.
That was the fruition of my long-running acting efforts, but it must be an incomprehensible question for Brother Marcus, who has never seen me seriously hurt.
“W-Well… Maybe it’s because he might be an assassin disguised as my brother?”
“What? You’d fall for something like that?”
When I whispered to him so only he could hear, he fortunately also whispered his reply.
Vis, who arrived in front of us, looked at me with his eyes trembling anxiously, then at Klen, and finally turned toward Brother.
The anxiety quickly vanished from his gaze fixed on Brother, replaced by a solemn determination, similar to Linda’s.
‘No. Don’t do that…’
That look contained the will to fight firmly, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
Fortunately, the person in front of him is not an enemy right now.
Moreover, Brother is stronger than Vis.
I apologize for saying this, but even if ten people with similar skills to Vis attacked, they wouldn’t be able to subdue Brother.
“Vis, it’s alright. Could you please guide him?”
“Hmm. I understand. If Lord Adrian says so…”
He glanced at Klen.
“Please prepare the best room in the annex.”
“Please follow me this way.”
Vis seemed to revert from bodyguard to attendant, withdrawing his hostility and bowing at the waist.
Brother carelessly followed behind him as he walked ahead.
We also followed them. It was a little uncomfortable to walk since Klen was still tightly holding onto me.
“Did Aren just return today?”
“That is correct.”
[This distance is nothing. I could have come even faster!]
Aren, sitting on my head, finally opened its mouth to grumble.
“…Though I didn’t expect to be dragged here by my brother.”
“Did Aren bring him? That person.”
At that, the warmth on my head flinched and its legs firmly pressed down on my scalp.
[N-No! Don’t misunderstand! I didn’t guide him! That fellow forcefully grabbed and dragged me along!]
As the chilling gaze from Klen seemed to pierce down sharply, Aren’s wings began to flutter.
The sound of rapid wingbeats and loud shouts from above my head noisily struck my ears.
[Speak quickly! Convey it properly! Is my life not on the line?!]
“Aren is being loud. What is it saying?”
“…It says it didn’t bring him.”
“Hmm.”
Aren’s legs, full of discontent, gripped my head.
It seemed displeased with my explanation.
Just then, I remembered the cookies I had put in my pocket.
Although some time had passed since I put them there, they would still be edible.
I quickly took out the pocket and searched inside.
And I held out the cookie I grasped in my hand toward the top of my head.
[…Hmm?]
Aren’s mood completely changed.
The little creature hopped onto my palm and began pecking at the cookie.
The sweetness entering its mouth seemed to have calmed it down a little, and it quieted down.
Klen’s gaze, which had been staring at Aren, naturally lowered to my hand.
“It’s a secret from Linda.”
[Keep it a secret.]
“I understand.”
The cold stare had already softened.
Klen’s hand moved over Aren’s head and gently stroked it.
The creature, which usually reacted hypersensitively when others touched it, calmly submitted to the touch.
“By the way, what is your ideal type?”
“…Pardon?”
“Not your brother, but your ideal type.”
[Is he asking for your spouse’s ideal type now?!]
Why is he asking that now?
Aren’s words contained that question, and I also felt doubtful.
Isn’t it pointless to ask for an ideal type now?
“Ah. Um, I…”
I tilted my head at the sudden question.
Since it was a question I had never thought about, nothing came to mind.
What vaguely flashed by was the image of Klen right beside me.
Why did he come to mind?
Was it just because my gaze happened to fall on him since he was nearby?
Various questions passed by, and I put the words that surfaced in my mind into my mouth.
“Someone stronger than me…?”
“Someone stronger than you?”
“Ah, probably.”
A faint smile crept onto Klen’s lips.
The expression that had looked unpleasant until now melted away.
And what overlaid it was a look that seemed to say, ‘That’s me, isn’t it?’
Surely he doesn’t actually believe he is stronger than me right now.
[Hmm? In that case… Am I your ideal type?! This body is a Divine Beast. How awkward~]
“…”
And Aren also started spouting strange things.
How can these two think they are stronger than me?
We’ve never fought.
Should I properly fight them both right now?
“Ugh?!”
Lost in thought, my foot stumbled.
But my swaying shoulder was caught and pulled back toward him.
“More importantly, aren’t you uncomfortable walking?”
“Am I uncomfortable?”
His steps, as he held my shoulder, were light.
When a slight commotion arose, Vis glanced back toward us.
And seeing Klen joking around even in this situation, he lightly shook his head.
‘What should I do with this irresponsible master?’
The expression I glimpsed seemed to convey those words.
Linda, who came to greet us at the entrance, smiled gently, apparently relieved to see me walking fine.
“Dinner has been prepared.”
And she guided us to the dining room.
It was a relatively modest place, not a massive, overly elaborate banquet hall that would be overwhelming for just three people.
That said, it wasn’t a distance where people sitting at opposite ends of the table could reach each other.
A vase was placed in the center, seemingly as a courtesy to us, decorated mainly with purple flowers and small yellow flowers around them.
The subtly spreading floral fragrance gently enveloped the table.
Elaborate silver candelabras were placed on either side of the vase, and the tablecloth laid beneath was a clean white, embellished with lace trim at the edges.
‘They really put some thought into this, didn’t they?’
The meal was prepared excellently despite the sudden arrival of a guest.
Klen and I sat at opposite ends of the table.
Brother Marcus took a seat next to me.
The place settings were immediately sorted, and forks and knives were laid out.
The empty glass beside me was filled with red wine.
The deep, dark-red color and rich aroma confirmed that it was a fine one.
The first course, soup, contained clams and shrimp, offering a clear and refreshing taste.
And just as we finished the soup, the main course arrived.
Occupying the center was beef generously seasoned with spices and roasted differently by cut.
The tenderloin, glistening with oil and looking delicious, was served separately on each of our plates.
Grilled mushrooms, sautéed vegetables, and a salad followed, and a plump roasted herring was placed on one side.
It seemed they had put thought into the food as well as the decorations.
[Oho. This is quite good too.]
The birdseed prepared next to Klen for Aren was a special dish suited to the occasion.
The seeds of a flower that people sometimes ate as snacks.
They could be eaten as is, or they tasted even better when roasted sweetly.
Of course, since Aren was to eat them, they were placed raw.
“Hmm…”
Brother’s hand, whose taste buds were similar to mine, primarily reached for the meat.
I pushed more meat toward him and even added some of my own portion to his plate.
Perhaps hungry after rushing here without proper preparation, he ate the food faster than usual.
Despite that, the ingrained habit made every single movement exude elegance.
“…”
“…”
No one spoke during the meal.
Rather than everyone being engrossed in the food, Brother was busy eating, and Klen and I were too far apart to comfortably whisper.
In this way, the food quickly disappeared, most of it into one person’s stomach.
“I will bring the dessert.”
The post-meal dessert was Klen’s favorite raspberry tart.
With the addition of fragrant black tea, the excellent meal concluded perfectly.
[Hmm… Hmm-hmm~]
The humming sound of Aren echoed in the quiet dining room.
To others, it would just be a chirping with a slight melody, but to me, it clearly sounded like singing.
I cautiously watched that direction, checking if there was anything that would make it so happy in this space.
“…!”
Then, I clearly witnessed the scene.
