The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

Chapter 472: Chapter 471 - Turmoil Ceased!

The gentle morning breeze continued drifting across the training grounds as the leaves of the towering oak tree rustled softly beneath the warm sunlight. The training ground that had only moments ago echoed with the deafening clash of spear and sabers had now fallen completely silent, leaving behind only the peaceful sounds of nature and the distant voices of knights continuing their drills elsewhere within the estate.

Kyle looked at Luca with an unmistakably puzzled expression.

Then he looked toward the old oak tree.

Then back toward Luca again.

His brows slowly furrowed.

"What exactly did you—"

Before he could finish speaking, the branches of the ancient tree swayed gently once more.

A familiar figure slowly stepped out from behind its broad trunk.

Long crimson hair shimmered beneath the morning sun.

Violet eyes carried a mixture of nervousness, embarrassment, and hesitation unlike anything Kyle had ever seen from his older sister.

Aurelia stood there quietly.

For perhaps the first time in years—

She looked completely unsure of herself.

Kyle blinked once.

Then twice.

His gaze instinctively shifted toward Luca.

Then back toward Aurelia.

Then toward Luca again.

The confusion written across his face was almost comical.

"...Since when was she there?"

Luca smiled innocently.

"For a while."

Kyle’s eyes widened.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

Luca merely shrugged.

"I thought it would be easier if certain people heard certain things with their own ears."

Kyle slowly turned back toward Aurelia.

"...You heard everything?"

Aurelia nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I did."

The training grounds became quiet once more.

Luca looked between the two siblings before quietly taking several steps backward.

Neither of them noticed.

Their attention had already shifted entirely toward one another.

Kyle rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before letting out a long sigh.

"So..."

His voice sounded strangely uncertain.

"...I guess we should probably talk."

Aurelia gave a small nod.

"I think we should."

Neither moved immediately.

The distance separating them suddenly felt much greater than the few meters between them.

Not because of space.

Because of everything left unsaid.

Eventually, Aurelia gathered her courage.

She took a slow step forward.

Then another.

Until she stood only a short distance before her younger brother.

Her violet eyes lowered briefly.

"I’ve been trying to apologize ever since yesterday."

Her voice carried none of its usual confidence.

Only honesty.

"But every time I tried, you disappeared before I could say anything."

Kyle looked away awkwardly.

"...That may have been intentional."

Aurelia couldn’t help letting out a helpless laugh.

"I figured."

The laughter quickly faded.

She clasped her hands together lightly.

"When I said that your existence was the problem..."

Her expression tightened.

"...I wasn’t talking about you."

Kyle remained silent.

Aurelia continued.

"I was angry."

"Not at you."

"Not even at Grandfather."

Her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.

"I was angry at the situation."

Her voice grew softer.

"At traditions."

"At expectations."

"At the fact that everyone seemed to have already decided what our futures should look like."

A faint breeze lifted several strands of crimson hair across her face.

"I never once wished that you didn’t exist."

The words trembled slightly.

"If anything..."

A small, bittersweet smile appeared on her lips.

"...I can’t imagine growing up without you constantly causing trouble."

Kyle laughed quietly.

Despite himself.

Aurelia smiled a little more.

"You’ve always been my little brother."

"The one I worried about."

"The one I argued with."

"The one I protected whenever I could."

She shook her head slowly.

"So when I realized what my words sounded like..."

Her voice nearly broke.

"...I hated myself for saying them."

Kyle remained completely still.

Listening.

Really listening.

Aurelia took one final step closer.

"I’m sorry."

There was no pride within those words.

No noble dignity.

No excuses.

Just sincerity.

"I hurt you."

"I never wanted to."

"And no matter how frustrated I was..."

She lowered her head.

"...I shouldn’t have let those words leave my mouth."

Silence settled over the training grounds.

The wind continued moving gently around them.

Kyle looked at his sister for several long moments.

Then—

He smiled.

Not his usual mischievous grin.

A small.

Warm.

Genuine smile.

"You know..."

He laughed softly.

"I really am an idiot."

Aurelia looked up in confusion.

Kyle rubbed the back of his neck again.

"I already knew all of that."

She blinked.

"Huh?"

"I knew you didn’t mean it."

His smile remained.

"I’ve known you my entire life."

He shook his head.

"I knew exactly what you were trying to say."

"Then why—"

Kyle interrupted her with a sheepish smile.

"Because even when you understand someone’s intentions..."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"...sometimes the words still hurt."

Aurelia’s expression immediately softened.

Kyle continued.

"I wasn’t angry because I thought you hated me."

"I was hurt because..."

He laughed weakly.

"...you’re the last person I ever expected to hear something like that from."

The honesty in his voice struck her heart far harder than any accusation could have.

Aurelia slowly reached out.

Then gently took hold of his hand.

"I’m sorry."

Kyle looked at her.

This time—

He squeezed her hand back.

"And I’m sorry too."

Aurelia blinked.

"You spent days trying to apologize."

Kyle smiled awkwardly.

"And I spent days pretending to ignore you because I thought making you panic would be funny."

Aurelia stared at him.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"...You did what?"

Kyle immediately realized his mistake.

"...In hindsight, perhaps admitting that wasn’t the best decision."

For a single heartbeat—

Silence.

Then Aurelia stepped forward and lightly hit his shoulder.

"You unbelievable idiot."

Kyle laughed.

"I learned from the best."

"You most certainly did not."

"I absolutely did."

Despite her attempt to remain annoyed, Aurelia couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

A real smile.

One that reached her eyes.

Kyle smiled back.

The heaviness that had hung between them for days finally dissolved beneath the warm morning sun.

For the first time since returning to the estate—

They weren’t arguing.

They weren’t discussing succession.

They weren’t speaking as rivals.

They were simply...

Brother and sister.

Just as they had always been.

The tension that had weighed heavily upon the training grounds only a short while earlier had disappeared almost entirely, replaced by the familiar warmth that naturally existed between siblings who had finally spoken honestly to one another.

The breeze carried the scent of fresh grass across the courtyard while the sunlight continued illuminating the expansive arena in brilliant shades of gold.

For the first time in several days—

Both Kyle and Aurelia looked genuinely at peace.

Kyle rubbed the shoulder that Aurelia had lightly struck moments earlier before dramatically placing a hand over his heart.

"I came here expecting emotional reconciliation."

He shook his head with exaggerated disappointment.

"Instead, I was assaulted."

Aurelia looked at him with complete innocence.

"You call that assault?"

Kyle stared at her.

"You hit me."

"I corrected your behavior."

"There was physical contact."

"There was necessary physical contact."

Kyle turned toward Luca as though seeking justice.

"Did you hear that?"

Luca nodded thoughtfully.

"I did."

Kyle’s expression brightened.

Then Luca continued.

"I think she should have hit you harder."

Kyle looked personally betrayed.

"I thought we were friends."

"We are."

"Then where is the loyalty?"

Luca smiled.

"I am being loyal."

"To who?"

"To common sense."

Aurelia couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

The clear, cheerful sound echoed throughout the training grounds, causing several nearby knights to glance toward them before quietly returning to their own practice.

Kyle looked between the two of them with an expression of exaggerated despair.

"This is unfair."

Aurelia folded her arms proudly.

"It is perfectly fair."

"You have recruited allies."

"I simply have better judgment."

Kyle pointed dramatically toward Luca.

"He crossed an entire territory just to support your side."

Luca immediately raised an eyebrow.

"I distinctly remember sparring with you."

"That doesn’t count."

"It very much counts."

"You beat sense into me."

"I considered it a public service."

Kyle sighed dramatically.

"I truly stand alone in this cruel world."

Aurelia smiled mischievously.

"Oh?"

She took a small step closer.

"Should I remind you who used to hide behind me whenever Father caught you sneaking out of the estate?"

Kyle froze.

Luca’s eyes immediately lit up with interest.

"...This sounds like an excellent story."

"It absolutely is."

Kyle immediately raised both hands.

"We are not discussing ancient history."

Aurelia ignored him completely.

"He couldn’t have been more than ten years old."

Kyle groaned loudly.

"Aurelia..."

"He convinced three young knights to help him build a wooden raft because he wanted to sail across the estate lake."

Luca already looked amused.

"And?"

Aurelia’s smile widened.

"The raft sank before it reached the middle."

Kyle covered his face with one hand.

"I was conducting research."

"You were rescuing frogs."

"They looked lonely."

"You nearly drowned."

"I was learning."

"You were screaming."

"I was communicating."

Aurelia burst into laughter once more.

Even Luca couldn’t hold back anymore.

Kyle looked at both of them before eventually surrendering.

"...Fine."

He sighed dramatically.

"I admit it."

"I was an idiot."

Aurelia smiled warmly.

"Were?"

Kyle looked offended.

"I walked into that one."

"You certainly did."

The three of them laughed together, and the sound carried naturally across the quiet training grounds.

For a brief moment, it almost felt as though nothing complicated existed beyond those walls.

No succession disputes.

No political expectations.

No responsibilities waiting within the mansion.

Only three young people enjoying a peaceful morning.

Eventually, the laughter settled.

Kyle glanced toward Luca.

Then Aurelia did the same.

The siblings exchanged a brief look before quietly approaching him together.

Kyle was the first to speak.

His usual playful tone had disappeared.

"...Thank you."

The words were simple.

Yet completely sincere.

Aurelia nodded gently beside him.

"I don’t think either of us would have solved this today without you."

Her violet eyes carried quiet gratitude.

Luca looked at both of them for a long moment.

Then a gentle smile slowly appeared on his face.

It wasn’t a proud smile.

Nor an embarrassed one.

It was simply the quiet smile of someone seeing two people important to him standing together again.

"I didn’t really do much."

Kyle immediately snorted.

Aurelia laughed softly.

"I honestly don’t know how you manage to make impossible situations seem so... simple."

Luca looked toward the two siblings standing side by side.

Seeing them smiling again.

Teasing one another again.

Looking like brother and sister once more.

The contentment in his expression deepened ever so slightly.

"If the two of you are smiling again..."

He spoke quietly.

"...then the trip was worth it."

Neither sibling said anything.

Because neither knew how to answer that.

The morning breeze drifted gently through the training grounds once more, carrying away the final remnants of the heaviness that had surrounded them.

After allowing the peaceful silence to linger for a few moments, Luca’s expression gradually became more thoughtful.

The smile remained.

But now curiosity joined it.

He looked from Kyle...

Then toward Aurelia.

Finally, he folded his arms lightly across his chest.

"There is still one thing I don’t understand."

Both siblings looked at him.

Luca’s voice remained calm.

Yet the question had clearly been sitting in the back of his mind ever since Aiden had spoken to him.

"Now..."

He paused briefly before looking at both of them with quiet seriousness.

"Can either of you tell me..."

His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

"...why the discussion about choosing the next heir is suddenly happening so quickly?"