episode_0036

“Arrived.”

The carriage came to a smooth stop.

Just like when we started out, there was no sound of wheels scraping the ground.

“What.”

Ellen turned her head out the window absentmindedly and flinched.

“Everyone is here to greet us.”

It was because there were servants lined up with Nia.

“Hey… Are all nobles like this?”

Anne opened the carriage door, sticking out her tongue.

Nia, who had been waiting, smiled gently and bowed her head.

“Welcome to Princess Elin of Bertain, the pillar of the empire’s center from the magical family Berkin, who is not afraid of change.”

It was a dignified welcome that was hard to believe was from a 14-year-old.

“Um… .”

Ellen looked at Luke, hesitant.

Let’s roughly interpret the look in their eyes.

Don’t I have a cool greeting like that?

It meant that.

Luke shrugged and answered with his eyes.

Let’s meet someone and say hello, Princess.

“… … ”

Ellin’s lips slightly protruded as she succeeded in interpreting it.

“… Hello, Nia Youngae.”

Eventually, a short, sullen greeting came out.

Did that look cute?

Nia smiled faintly.

“Come in. Bena Youngae is waiting inside.”

Nia cautiously walked ahead and began to guide us.

Ellen followed behind and whispered to Luke.

“Why don’t you tell me that? Shouldn’t you teach me etiquette when you teach it?”

“The Duchess taught you, but you forgot it, didn’t you?”

“… … ”

Elin kept her mouth shut, wondering if it was the right answer.

“I’ll let you know later.”

Just when I was finally able to cheer up by touching Ellen’s cheek.

“You prepared it so splendidly.”

I let out a small exclamation of admiration.

The servants lined up from the main gate to the entrance of the mansion all bowed at once.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”

“You’re finally back.”

“Now, your highness, you are in big trouble!”

The servants welcomed Luke very warmly.

But I think I just heard something strange.

“… Long time no see.”

I thought I had misheard and waved my hand awkwardly.

Surely, they are all memorable.

But this was Luke Bucklin’s memory… so it was very ambiguous to pretend to know it.

After the welcoming ceremony, the servants dispersed in unison and returned to their work.

“I knew it, but this kid lives in a nice place.”

Anne, who had been keeping her mouth open, poked Luke in the side.

“And you risked your life to spar over lunch? Did you want to get food from a commoner?”

“Please speak quietly.”

Anne, who had returned as a classmate at the Academy rather than a dedicated maid, was reminded of her current position.

“Yes, yes. How could I dare disobey your words, Master?”

Anne chuckled and walked away again.

“… … ”

Luke, who suddenly felt wronged, clung closely to Anne.

“I’ve never won a bet.”

“That’s right. Because you were weaker than me.”

A frequent lunchtime magic sparring bet.

In duels where only physical strengthening magic was used, Luke never won a single match.

“… … So I just bought it for you?”

“I just meant it as a nuisance. That the higher-ups were betting on the lower-ups to get their money.”

“I didn’t mean to do that.”

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have trained with you, so I made a bet.

If you had intended to win from the beginning, you wouldn’t have just used physical strengthening magic.

“So if you won, you wouldn’t have gotten it?”

“I guess I got it.”

“Look at this, this. It’s like they’re trying to prey on the common people who don’t have anything.”

“Isn’t the world of competition a cold-blooded one?”

Kook kook.

Before Luke could even express his grievance, Ellen pulled at his collar.

“Where are you going now?”

“Well, I don’t know either.”

“… … ?”

Even looking at you like that, I really don’t know.

This is my first time visiting the Bucklin family in person.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, so I don’t remember very well.”

But I can’t tell you the truth straight away, so I just beat around the bush.

“If you have any questions, please ask Nia directly.”

“Huh? What kind?”

“Uh… ….”

Nia, who was walking ahead, looked back and smiled.

Ellen instinctively hid behind Luke’s back.

“Ahaha, I won’t harm you.”

Nia smiled awkwardly, as if she had reached out to a kitten and been rejected.

Ellen just peeked out her eyes.

His actions were no different from those of a cautious kitten.

“Where are you going now? I’ve been walking for a while now… .”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just walked without any directions.”

Nia covered her mouth with one hand as if she had forgotten.

“I think the place that says guest room earlier is too much.”

Ellen now stuck her face out slightly.

“You have a keen eye. That’s right. We passed the guest room earlier. We’re heading to the VIP room now. ”

“VIP room… ?”

Bucklin has two rooms to welcome guests.

A guest room that mainly welcomes the upper class who do business.

A VIP room for those who need special treatment.

The latter is not open to anyone except those of a certain class called the “Minga,” Nia explained.

“Am I that special?”

“Yes?”

Nia blinked.

“Yes. She is the princess of Bertain who has been taught space magic.”

Space magic.

Bertain.

Princess.

If you break it down one by one, it’s a strange status that isn’t special.

Nia laughed it off, thinking that Ellen was joking.

It was a serious question, without any hint of laughter.

Okay, let’s put all of the special keywords that just came out together.

And voila.

Elin Bertain, whose self-esteem has hit rock bottom due to 12 years of abuse, is completed.

Ellen really didn’t know she was a VIP.

“Okay, this is the VIP room.”

Nia pointed to a magnificent room from the door.

dripping.

Let’s knock on the door.

“I’ll go in, Vena.”

-Yes, four!

I heard a thumping sound inside.

What was visible beyond the gently open door?

“Oh, welcome, Princess, Luke… !”

It was a bena that was frozen solid in a straight posture.

“… ?”

Aren’t you a guest of Benado?

Why are you acting like a prisoner?

“Did you catch some military supplies?”

“No. I told you to relax since a while ago, but you still do that… .”

Nia laughed as if she had been liberated.

It was the expression of someone who had already tried to the limit.

Of course, I can understand Bena’s position.

Invited to Bertain as a promising wizard exchange student.

Not long after, I was invited to the magic academy Berkeley.

It must have been a terrifying experience for the baron’s son.

“I missed you, Your Majesty…!”

I feel a little less nervous after meeting Ellen.

Bena nodded with a hehe.

“Did you bring all the dolls?”

Elin, who had been walking briskly, sat down next to Bena.

Maybe it’s because of the bond I built with my dolls last time.

It looked much more comfortable than Nia’s.

“Oh, of course! I even made a doll that didn’t exist before…!”

“Yes…? There’s no need for that―”

“No…! I have to show the princess a puppet show, how can I just come? I’ve prepared diligently so that I can do it in 3 days and nights…!”

Madness burns in Bena’s eyes.

Hot breath came out.

Elin took a step back as the distance suddenly became closer.

“You’re only staying for one day, but you brought 3 days’ worth… ?”

“Huh… !”

At Nia’s words, Bena kept a safe distance from the road.

“Sigh.”

Elin, who had been unable to move and was being hit by the breath, let out a sigh of relief.

“Sorry, sorry… I was so excited that I overstepped my bounds… .”

“Oh, no! If you can’t show it all today, you can show it to me next time.”

Nod nod.

Elin quickly agreed with Nia’s words.

“Next time too…? Will there be another event like this?”

“Of course. I guess we’ll be seeing each other often in the future. Bena Youngae is a great magician too, right?”

“Ah… … .”

Bena covered her mouth with a moved look in her eyes.

“Thank you… I can’t believe such great people… … .”

If left alone, it seemed like it would soon ascend.

Nia quickly added, because they couldn’t let the Baroness Youngae, who had a bright future in the Bucklin family, die a natural death.

“Can we postpone the puppet show for a little while? Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Yes, yes! I understand!”

Bena, who was about to summon a bunch of dolls, hurriedly took her hand away.

“And oppa.”

Nia turned her head to Luke.

“Huh?”

“My brother came to the office.”

It was a shocking sound.

“Right now?”

“Yeah, right now.”

“… Do I really have to go?”

“If I don’t go, won’t it be more difficult for you, oppa?”

That’s right.

Luke closed his eyes tightly.

Yeah, I guess it can’t be helped since we’ve come this far.

I’ve been avoiding it for 4 years.

I can’t wait to meet my family in this world.

Luke put his hand on Anne’s shoulder with a grave expression.

“Please take care of the princess.”

“Why are you talking like you’re going to die?”

“If you don’t come back today, put the princess to bed.”

“Anyway, it’s unusual.”

Leaving Anne behind who did not accept him at all.

Luke headed to his office.

* * * * *

I walked slowly on purpose.

That’s because I thought I should memorize the geography of the mansion while I was there.

It wasn’t that I wanted to increase the time it took me to get to the office, even just a little bit.

“Hoo.”

I tried to learn the geography as thoroughly as possible, but I already arrived in front of the office.

I raised my hand to knock on the door.

Who might be inside?

mother?

father?

It would be awkward no matter who I met.

I moved my hands very nervously.

dripping.

-Who are you?

A man’s voice was heard.

He’s too young to be a father.

Then, surely…?

“This is Luke Bucklin.”

I answered, trying to hide my trembling.

―… … Come in.

The answer came a long time later.

Let’s open the door carefully.

“… !”

My eyes met with those of the man sitting at his desk in the office.

This must be the first time you’ve met this guy.

The instincts that remained in my memory worked as they pleased.

The head naturally lowers and the hands are clasped together politely.

Luke took on a reflective attitude without even realizing it.

The man opened his mouth as if it were a given.

“It’s been a while, little brother.”

The eldest son of the direct Bucklin family.

Luke’s older brother, who is considered to be the next head of the Bucklin family.

Victor Bucklin looked at Luke calmly.

“I’m sorry, bro.”

I immediately bent down from the waist.

My brain cells screamed that it had to be that way.

“I told you to come home every vacation.”

Knock knock.

Victor got up, dragging his chair.

He slowly came closer to Luke.

“You’re finally coming after graduating.”

“… … I have nothing to say.”

“You can’t have that. If you do, I’ll break your neck.”

I kept my mouth shut at the brutal threat.

“Even after graduating, you don’t come here on your own.”

“… … ”

“Raise your head.”

Straighten your back.

“You came home only after meeting Nia… .”

His golden eyes, as blazing as Luke’s, made the hairs on his body stand on end.

“Tell me. How did you become Bertain’s tutor without any contact? ”

A deep anger washed over me as I watched my younger brother not come home for four years without any contact.