Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

If you think about it, Regen’s personality changed abruptly in 〈Esmeralda’s Crescent Moon〉 when his magic awakened in the forest and wounded the knights of the Grand Duchy and others.

Regen was obviously abused by his older brother

His personality didn’t change all of a sudden.

– Maybe, if I had had an older brother like the First Lord, I would have been upset earlier…….

As I reflected on Procyon’s words, I heard the vivid voice of the live Procyon breaking through my thoughts.

“Your Grace, you called the second Lord by name very naturally.”

I replied a bit late.

“Really?”

“Are you going to keep calling him by name? I think the Lord will be very pleased.”

Procyon was filled with anticipation, and his eyes shone brightly.

If I said yes, he was going to be much happier than Regen, who was called by name.

“Can I believe that?”

“It’s a word of loyalty!”

Thuban was wandering around at that time and finally walked toward me as if he had finished his chores.

Tuban was holding something different from before, but as the distance got closer, he immediately held it out to me.

It was a knee blanket with a plain design that was a far cry from that used by the nobles.

“Your Grace, this.”

“Thank you.”

He wandered around like a hawk looking for prey.

It seemed that Thuban also witnessed me wearing a knee blanket like an alter ego when I had just arrived in the North.

I’m grateful for the sincerity you worked hard to show, but……

I was going to leave soon, so I was a little flustered.

I was very sleepy, and Thuban, the knight of the Grand Duchy and the servant of Aedis, was watching me to see if I covered my lap with a blanket or not.

If he was a knight of the Morgana family, I would have easily declined, but thinking that he was Aedis’ subordinate, my conscience twitched strangely again.

Even in 〈Esmeralda’s Crescent Moon〉, the knights of the Grand Duchy did not give up their loyalty to the end.

Uhh, let’s give it another five minutes.

Procyon checked the time while I covered my lap with the blanket.

“Your Grace, have you not slept yet?”

I thought for a moment about my husband who had become an iron wall or an iron fortress.

“Aedis broke down for a moment.”

“Broken?!”

“Yes, he’s broken.”

His eyes didn’t blink; he didn’t breathe, and he cut off his wife’s approach like a knife.

Maybe it was a mistake to sleep in the same bed with Aedis today.

There was no reason to feel resentful that he had the highest alert for just one kiss, which seemed like it could be passed by. It’s not like we’re a married couple who sleep in separate rooms.

Procyon, who was in shock, stammered.

“Uh, come to think of it, Lady Shaula was also in a bad condition.”

“Shaula in a bad condition?”

“They said that what we would get for the rest of our lives, she got it all in one day.”

Oh my…..

For some reason, it was no wonder that she didn’t come out when I was talking so loudly on the first floor.

I guess the key I provided was of no use at all.

No, on the contrary, Aedis might have been even more angry at that. I had a good enough idea of what had happened.

Procyon and Thuban escorted me to the bedroom while I was nodding off.

I think I heard Aedis contemplating whether or not to split the bed in half because of me stretching out my hand in search of warmth.

Still, I’m glad I didn’t get kicked out like I used to.

If I woke up listening to Paimon’s chatter, I think my head would have ordered that too.

Anyway, when I woke up, Sarah informed me that while I was sleeping, Gilbert had gone unpredictably.

And that he was driven out by the knights who stood guard.

“Oh, and he said that he promised revenge again, but this is not very important. Rather, Your Grace, you should go to the dining hall immediately. The Lord will also arrive soon.”

Sarah urged me, saying that the morning appointment with Regen was more important than Gilbert’s vow of revenge.

Paimon followed as if waiting on the way to the dining hall.

He had a trick to become transparent so that people couldn’t recognize him, but perhaps because he had a contract that would never disappear for the rest of his life, Paimon only looked a little blurry to my eyes. Even Aedis’ eyes can see him.

However, it seemed that it had become invisible to Regen’s eyes, although he was wearing magic tools.

“Your Grace!”

Regen greeted only me.

“Good morning, Lord.”

Paimon looked at Regen blankly.

[“Eh? Where have I seen that face before?”]

He is the benefactor who unlocked your seal.

However, Paimon thought for just three seconds and gave up.

[“Ahhh, it must be because of the mood. Except for Eve, all humans look the same.……”]

After showing off his astonishing memory, Paimon lay flat on his back, showing his plump stomach by the sunny window.

Regen, completely unaware of Paimon’s atrocities, pulled the chair out for me.

“Your Grace, please sit here!”

“Ah yes. Thank you, Lord.”

After I finished eating while trying to ignore Paimon, I spoke.

“I have something to tell you.”

Regen looked at me with dazzling eyes.

“Is it about Brother?”

Regen had already noticed that Gilbert had been kicked out while trying to enter the castle this morning.

I readily admitted.

“For the time being, Gilbert won’t be able to enter the castle. He was going to do something very horrendous. So I did something worse to stop him.”

[“Huh? Was the Regen that Gilbert killed his brother? What a mess?!”]

Whether Regen is serious or not, Paimon behaved like he was watching a crazy drama, flapping his front paws.

“By any chance, is the terrible thing you mentioned he was going to do aimed at me?”

“Well, it won’t be comforting, but Lord as well as myself are included on his list.”

Suddenly Regen’s face darkened.

[“It’s okay, Eve! You have this body! I can transform into a human. Like that, like that……!” ]

Stop talking.

I focused all my attention on Regen, tightening the corners of my eyes so as not to open my triangle eyes.

“Lord, aren’t you curious about what I did more horribly?”

Then Regen said a little bit as if he was grumpy.

“I’m not curious. There is no way someone as gentle as Your Grace could have done a terrible thing.”

In any case, the people of the Grand Duchy have a knack for stabbing my conscience, something I didn’t even know existed.

Paimon couldn’t stand it and intervened again.

[“Hey, our Eve is a bit kind. If you know, do well.”]

Oh, come on!

I gathered my facial expressions.

Regen licked his small, plump lips non-stop and talked about the past.

“My brother always said that everything went wrong because of me. All I need to do is do it well, but I couldn’t, so I ruined everything.”

Regen unconsciously fiddled with his bracelet.

It was a magic tool that Aedis gave him.

Before I could free my mind of distraction from Paimon and retort, Regen abruptly spoke.

“I’m not going to let my brother torment Your Grace. I’m fine, but I can’t let Your Grace..”

No, you’re not okay either.

[“Of course, of course. You can and Eve cannot. Eve is very weak.”]

Paimon, you really!

I bit my lip.

It seemed that if I was careless for even a moment, I would lose my mind.

“…… Lord, will you grant me one request?”

“Any word from Your Grace!”

Please, Paimon. Please be quiet for just one minute from now on.

As I wanted to tell an important story, I tried to control my emotions.

“To Lord, please remember that Lord is very precious to me just as Gilbert is an older brother whom you cannot hate. When the Lord gets hurt, my heart aches. Therefore……”

Regen looked at me with soft strawberry jelly eyes.

“You don’t want me to get beaten up?”

It was such a straightforward question that I tilted my head without realizing it.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“But the bruises from being hit get better in a few days?”

As if Regen asked if it was normal for him to get dirt on his hands while playing on the playground, he spoke calmly, making me a little embarrassed.

Is it because I’m not used to talking to small children, so I feel uncomfortable?

But it was the first time I felt this way with Regen.

Unsure, I said.

“For those few days, my heart will hurt like a bruise.”

“Gasp! I don’t want that!”

Regen quickly returned to the face I knew and cried.

“If Your Grace gets hurt, it’s a big deal. Your Grace is different from me.”

I was genuinely concerned, but I couldn’t be happier to accept Regen, not like a child but a caregiver with responsibilities as he was restless.

Since when was I recognized as the weakest?

That even Regen is sympathizing with me?!