Chapter 36
Oh, is this the beginning? I searched my memory.
Right. It seems to have been around this time in my previous life.
Belsach started to enter the Imperial Palace in earnest as a playmate of the First Prince.
In fact, it starts because Astana and Belsach were not so close.
Astana regards Belsach as an annoying trembling thing, but there is no real friendship.
It was quite a political intention.
"Aren’t you envious?"
Belsach said, shouting at me and my cousins at the table.
"No."
"I don’t envy anything."
“Why would I be envious of playing with that guy who is not kind and has a dirty personality?”1
"He was act mischievous to Tia as well."
The twins replied in a deep tone.
Perhaps the two are sincere.
It’s funny for Lombardy’s children, First Prince was not such an attractive object of play.
But would other noble families do the same?
"Huh. lie. Everyone was envious!"
Perhaps he had already boasted in several social gatherings.
And that’s what Viese and Seral wanted.
Of course, it wasn’t just to groan in front of people.
Rather, it was to show that the relationship between the First Prince, that is, the empress and the Viese couple, was so close.
“So half, you.”
Belsach said, pointing me with a pointed fork.
"Wouldn’t it be better to listen to me well in the future? Be as docile as before."1
What did you say, that idiot?
Anyway, I am not envious of any acquaintances with the First Prince, who will be brought down by the hands of Second Prince and sent to the battlefield.
However, I hated seeing Belsach’s elated appearance, who had no idea of such a future.
I quietly buttered the bread without responding.
Plenty, plenty. Very meticulously.
And lifted it.
Flinch!
And Belsach, who was looking at me, flinched.
But I brought Buttered bread into my mouth as if to behold Belsach, and asked.
It is only then that Belsach’s face, who has grasped the situation, turns red.
I deliberately spoke out loud, licking the crumbs on my mouth with my tongue.
“Chewy.”
You can hear twins squeaking from each side.
It’s a bonus that Astalliu’s cry for Belsach is a bit disappointing.
Oh my gosh.
At that time, the door of Eleanor Hall opened and I saw Grandpa entering.
The grandfather glanced at his grandchildren and granddaughters sitting around and walked straight to the big table.
The adults who were sitting stood up and greeted the grandfather.
The family banquet was just beginning.
I quietly shut my mouth and listened to the conversation coming from the big table.
* * *
"It feels good to see everyone gathered like this."
Lulak said with satisfaction as he watched the children and their spouses seated around him.
Lombardy was on the good side with the current Lord.
Just as proving that blood and flesh are of no use in the face of power, compared to the unfolding of situations that other families can’t even open their eyes to.
At least, the brothers haven’t poked swords into each other yet.
And it was a disproving that Lulak still exists.
If the time comes when Lord is weak and the vassals have to think about the next generation, then it will be difficult for everyone to sit around the table like this anymore.
Especially for those who will become the next Lord of Lombardy, and of course Lulak himself too.
“Get some food.”
Lulak ordered the butler.
After a while, more servants raised several silver trays.
“Wow, it’s amazing.”
At the back of the procession, the children lit their eyes when they saw the two male servants whine and come in.
It was big roast pork with a red apple in its mouth.3
The banquet hall was already filled with an appetite odor.
And the man dressed in clean clothes came in last.
He was the chef in charge of Lord.
For reference, Emperor Jovanes’ chef was his disciple.
The chef, who politely greeted Lulak, took his own knife and cut the grilled pigs to eat.
I could see the chef’s dedication to the house, how careful his hands were on each dish.
A plate was placed in front of the people, and the meal began in a rather free atmosphere.
Then, with a bottle of wine, Viese stood up and approached Lulak.
“I will serve a drink. Father."
Lulak nodded satisfactorily and took the drink of the eldest son.
Viese said as if everyone was asking for a listen.
“Thank you for allowing Belsach to enter the Imperial Palace.”
It was Vestian who responded First to those words.
"I guess it went well, brother-in-law."
“It is thanks to my father.”
Viese, quite resolutely, turned everything to Lulak’s eyes.
“Without permission, Belsach would have had to wait months before he was eleven.”
Viese was bitter, and he had a good relationship with Vestian.
It was also because Vestian was very good to everyone.
Of course, there was a bond between the two.
Lulak watched the conversation go back and forth, silently holding a red wine to his mouth.
"How glad your father made an exception for us Belsach."
Seral laughed, giving strength to the word ’exception’.
Lombardy’s children are not free to act outside the mansion until they are eleven years old.
However, it meant that Belsach was treated specially so that he could go to the Imperial Palace.
"It’s even an exception."
Shananet said quietly but coldly.
At the same time, Seral’s long eyelashes trembled.
However, he did not rebuttal.
None of Lulak’s children, the four siblings, can fight against Shananet.
It was the same with their spouses.
In the cold atmosphere, Vestian smiled and patted Shananet’s hand.
Shananet was the most steely to her brothers, but only to her husband, she showed a particularly weak appearance.
Even now, she could just erase the cold expression and laughing at pretending to be unable to win and continuing to eat.
"There is no such thing, to be so loud."
Finally, Lulak opened his mouth.
"If there is a good reason, there is no reason why you cannot travel outside the mansion before you are old. Besides, you cannot ignore the empress’s letter."
A subtle smile spread to Seral’s hardened face.
"Please make sure that Belsach does not make mistakes in the Imperial Palace."
"Yes, father."
Viese replied with a smile.
"With this gathering and eating, the food seems to be more delicious today. Isn’t that right, father?"
Vestian released the atmosphere with a unique soft smile.
"Yes, it is."
"It would be nice to gather like this often in the future! Oh, is it difficult because of the youngest brother-in-law? haha!"
Gallahan, who had been eating quietly on one side, opened his eyes round when he was mentioned.
"You mean me?"
"I can’t see the face of the youngest brother-in-law these days!"
"Oh, I’m sorry....... I’m busy with work."
Gallahan said, bowing his head.
"What’s happening."
"....What do you say, you?"
Viese laughed, and Seral rebuked her husband.
However, that did not mean that the smile that quietly disappeared from Seral’s face was not erased.
"It was noisy about opening a store this time, but what on earth are you doing?"
Viese asked Gallahan as if they were blaspheming.
It was a mockery enough to make other people listening, but Gallahan replied calmly.
"That’s exactly what you said. I’m trying to open a small shop."
"Without family support?"
"Yes. I’m going to do it this time on my own."
Gallahan replied, saying thanks to the butler for filling his cup.
"So, is it to be put on the Heslot market?"
A small sound of laughter flowed from Viese’s words.
Seral, Laurels, and Vestian shed it.
"I can’t carry my face because of you, who I’ve been proud of these days. If I try to open a store, I’ll be taking a seat in Sedakyuna. It’s a Heslot market.... Ohohoh"
"If you don’t have enough money, would we lend you some money?"
Laurels asked like an older brother who thought of his younger brother.
"...... It is not that I am running out of funds. Fine. Brother."
However, when everyone looked at his smiling faces, it was not an atmosphere to believe Gallahan’s words.
Seral put a horse here.
"If you need a place to open a store in Sedakyuna, shall I talk to my family? If you need help, please feel free to tell me, Gallahan."
"It’s really okay."
"However."
Seral exchanged eyes with Laurels’ wife, Ronet.
It seemed that women had already shared this story with each other.
I can easily guess the contents, and Gallahan laughed bitterly.
"I have Lombardy’s pride. It’s a business for the common people."
Viese condemned Gallahan.
"In the meantime, people even going to say, ’Isn’t it very much that I drive you out of the house.’"
"I didn’t know that."
"There’s no way a guy who doesn’t even light a nose at a social event knows. Ah, even if there’s no place to invite you, sometimes you should show your face."
At first glance, it seemed like Viese worried about his younger brother, but in the end, it was only words that looked down on Gallahan and raised herself, who was popular at social events.
"It would be better to think about making money from the business for the common people once again, Gallahan."
Viese said, dragging his tongue for the last time.
It was an attitude that completely ignored Gallahan.
Gallahan also has a way to get angry with Viese.
He just sat down and paired drinks with a strange face.
Viese and Laurels laughed, thinking it was because Gallahan had nothing to refute.
It was then.
Lulak, who had been dipping his mouth with a white napkin, threw out a word to see if he had finished eating.
"I’ll watch, Gallahan."
Gallahan was also surprised this time.
He stopped putting the cup down and stopped.
At the same time, Viese’s face was distorted.
Depending on how he interpreted it, it could be taken in a completely different meaning, but Viese looked at his father with glowing eyes as if it were just breathing fire.
Doesn’t it sound like you’re looking forward to Gallahan?
He was even feeling a sense of betrayal from his father, who had never shown such a figure to himself.
Gallahan looked at Lulak for a moment and answered in a calm voice.
"Yes, Father. I will try my best."
After that, the conversation started again at the initiative of Vestian, but they were only meaningless words.
Viese couldn’t hide her displeasure and drank alcohol, and Gallahan only sat with a thoughtful face from time to time.
* * *
I wasn’t the only one listening to the adult’s words coming and going at the table.
At the words of disregard for my father, the twins were restless as they looked at my face next to him, and Belsach was busy giggling with Astalliu sitting next to him.
"Tia, are you okay?"
Larane, who was taking care of Astalliu’s younger brother Vichy, looked at me and asked anxiously.
"What?"
"No, that’s.........."
Larane carefully reduced his words.
"I don’t mind? Oh, it’s delicious. I have to ask for more."
I said when I cooked the brown lean meat.
But really I didn’t mind.
No, I was rather excited.
I hope the time passes quickly.
So, after my father’s store opened, I was very curious about what kind of face those people would look like.
"Cook...... ."
A little evil laugh came from my mouth.