Ch.30First Date (1)

The bright sunlight announcing eleven in the morning filtered through the transparent window, caressing my eyelids.

Today, as always, the sun rises high in the sky and stretches.

While washing up and about to put on my formal uniform, I lost all motivation.

Flop!

I lie back down on the bed in my disheveled uniform.

“Ah…”

Staring blankly at the jewels embedded in the ceiling, I pondered what to do today.

“There’s really nothing to do.”

Even if I killed time until evening and greeted the next day like this, no one would bother me.

The mansion was spacious and there were many servants, but there was no one who forced me to do anything.

Yes, they no longer exist.

“So this is what it means to feel empty because someone’s gone.”

It had already been two months since I rescued Charle and treated Miren.

The cool autumn weather in the islands was gradually giving way to chilly winds.

That day, the Emperor reversed his imperial decree in the audience chamber.

[Now that Marquess Justitia knows the truth, I can withdraw my previous imperial decree. The two marquesses must have had a difficult time.]

[Do you mean…]

[Yes! I’m withdrawing the surveillance duty on Marquess Alteon. The imperial family has no reason to be hostile toward Marquess Alteon.]

[I… see.]

[I understand…]

[Hmm? Why such reactions? Enjoy your newfound freedom! Hoho.]

The Emperor’s expression being so smug that I wanted to punch him must surely be a distorted memory.

After the imperial decree was reversed, Irefi returned to Marquess Justitia’s Manor with Miren.

The mansion where the two marquesses had lived became completely my space.

Even so, since I didn’t roam the entire spacious mansion, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my actual space was just my bedroom.

“I have a marquess title, a mansion, and even an allowance from the imperial family… yet somehow it’s no different from when I lived in a studio apartment in my previous life.”

If I had to describe it, it was like studio apartment living with an enormously expanded floor space.

That’s about it.

They say only those who know how to play can truly play, and that seems true.

“I get plenty of invitations to social gatherings, but I need confidence to adapt. I should have properly read some romance fantasy novels to learn noble etiquette.”

Sigh.

What jolted me up from rolling around in bed was the clear sound of knocking.

Knock. Knock.

“Marquess, may I come in?”

“Ah, yes! Just a moment!”

I quickly straighten my disheveled uniform. When it seemed presentable enough, I opened the door myself.

“Is there something that needs to be done?”

“No, that’s not it… you have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“Marquess Justitia has arrived, and I showed her to the reception room as usual…”

The maid couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Wahah! Really? It’s been so long! Thank you, Emma. I’ll go right away!”

My intense reaction cut her off mid-sentence.

“Finally, finally… I can see her. I’ve been waiting so long!”

There was no time to waste. Reducing the time to see her by even a minute or second would be an unforgivable sin!

I pushed past Emma and dashed off.

“The Marquess is really excited about this,” she muttered.

◇

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

Slam!

I flung open the reception room door with such force it nearly broke. The hinges screamed in agony, but I didn’t care.

Right now, my attention was solely focused on her—the woman with beautifully flowing snow-white hair.

I threw all dignity to the wind and leaped toward the sofa in the reception room.

Calling out her name.

“Mireeeeeen!”

“Nepy oppa.”

“Kuhuk!?”

Oppa.

Oppa.

Nepy oppa.

Ah! What a beautiful sound that is!

I nuzzled her cheek, lost in ecstatic appreciation.

“That tickles, Nepy oppa.”

“Yes, yes. Is Nepy orabang sorry? Miren.”

Miren’s golden eyes curved into a smile. Just seeing that made me feel like my stomach was filled with sweet food.

While I was thoroughly enjoying this happiness, a troublemaker with dagger-like eyes interrupted.

“Hey, Nepy. Did you perhaps injure your eyes while fighting Zikharun? Strange, you’re supposed to be immortal. Can you not see me?”

“Oh, you were here. Good morning, Irefi.”

“It’s afternoon!”

She sighed deeply and obviously.

Ignoring Irefi, I stroked Miren’s hair and offered her refreshments.

“You’re still so thin. Won’t you eat this? Are they starving you at the manor? Should you just come live with oppa, Miren?”

“There are a lot of vegetables…”

“Veeegetables?! At an age when you should be devouring pork belly and whole steaks?!”

This doesn’t make sense.

Miren, who should be gaining twice as much flesh, can’t just be nibbling on grass like a goat.

I glare at Irefi and protest.

“Irefi, what are you feeding this child! You’re not qualified to be a guardian. I should really take custody of Miren…”

“She’s my little sister! And the chef at Marquess Justitia’s Manor prepares the best dishes with proper nutritional balance for Miren!”

“Says the person who eats cake and chocolate for three meals a day!”

“I can still beat you even if I only eat those!”

“Ugh, you really leave me speechless.”

What ended the custody dispute over Miren, which seemed like it would continue for a while, was none other than the person in question.

“Nepy oppa, Elfi unni. I don’t like… when you two fight.”

“Yes, yes, oppa is sorry, Miren. Was my voice too loud and scary? Want to eat meat? Should I bring steak from the imperial palace?”

Irefi seemed dumbfounded by my attitude, which was no different from that of a doting parent.

“I’m really speechless.”

“I’m practically family to Miren now.”

“No, you’ve only known Miren for two months…?”

“The time we’ve known each other doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m Miren’s oppa.”

I declared myself family and nodded firmly.

Until I actually met Miren, I had thought:

As an only child in my previous life, I would never understand Irefi’s feelings, even if I died and came back to life.

That was an arrogant misconception, which I realized when I saw the golden-eyed girl looking up at me from beside me.

Miren Justitia.

‘I can see why someone would become the Destroyer.’

That was the thought that flashed through my mind like lightning when Miren first called me oppa.

The sound was so sweet that I thought tears would well up in my eyes for a moment.

Since then, I’ve spent my days just waiting for Miren’s visits.

“I’d like it if Nepy oppa was family too.”

“Did you hear that, Irefi? Miren wants to live here.”

“How optimistically selective is your hearing, Nepy?!”

Her eyes now seemed to embody the concept of contempt.

“So I want to go out with Elfi unni and Nepy oppa… is that not okay?”

“Of course it’s fine! I could go with just Miren too!”

“I want all three of us. Nepy oppa.”

“Let’s go, Irefi! Let’s embark on an adventure from Eldrion to the Great Cavern!”

“You must be truly insane…”

A direct condemnation finally escaped Irefi’s lips. It was a record-breaking event, but there was no time to care about such trivial matters.

I hurriedly requisitioned the most luxurious carriage in the mansion.

I made such a fuss that the servants, who finally had something to do, busily brought out a carriage gleaming with five colors.

I tapped the seat and backrest of the carriage, evaluating it with satisfaction.

“Hmm, this level of comfort could rival the unwavering comfort of S-class.”

“Your exaggeration is truly world-class.”

Irefi continued to shoot me glances filled with contempt.

What can I say? As long as Miren is comfortable, I don’t care if Irefi and I have to sit on a bed of knives.

Just seeing Miren board the carriage and curiously touch the cushions makes me feel full!

“Miren, is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“I want to buy clothes. And see a play.”

“How decisive she is!”

I gently pinched both of Miren’s cheeks and took my seat in the carriage.

Irefi, clutching her throbbing forehead, was outside my sphere of interest.

The carriage drove vigorously and quickly entered the center of Eldrion.

Miren’s hands were firmly holding mine and Irefi’s, and I truly understood the meaning of the expression “hands like little ferns.”

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of a famous clothing shop in the islands. I lifted Miren like a princess to help her disembark.

“Miren is old enough to get down by herself…”

“How can she get down alone when she’s so thin?”

Until just two months ago, she had been bedridden and emaciated.

If her legs were to give out and she fell…

And if she hit her head while falling…!

I shook my head vigorously at the terrible thought.

“Thank you, Nepy oppa.”

“Not at all! Now, what would suit Miren? I’ve been saving all my allowance for this moment.”

“…Considering the budget allocated to Nepy, it must be an enormous sum.”

“Really? Actually, the imperial family takes care of everything, so I don’t know much. Well, as long as I have money to buy Miren clothes, that’s all that matters.”

“When did you develop this personality…”

“You’ve done well to restrain yourself until now,” Irefi muttered dejectedly. I can understand her feelings, as I didn’t know I’d be like this either.

Slam.

As we flung open the door of the clothing shop and entered, everyone’s attention immediately turned to us.

First, they were shocked by Irefi’s visit, someone who rarely frequented clothing shops.

Second, their mouths fell open at the sight of the Justitia family’s second daughter, who had been veiled from public view.

Finally, they questioned the presence of me, who had been a shut-in, avoiding social circles.

‘Well, it seems quite a few people don’t know me.’

Most probably guessed who I was based on the keywords: a black-haired, red-eyed man accompanying Irefi.

Miren’s golden eyes blinked in confusion.

“Ah, welcome! Marquess Justitia!”

The shop’s madam, suddenly coming to her senses, rushed over. Her eyes seemed to burn with passionate enthusiasm.

“Thank you for your warm welcome.”

“The honor is mine for your visit! Are you here to have clothes made? We have mountains of dresses that would suit you…!”

“I’m sorry, but today we’re here to look at clothes for this child, so I’ll have to postpone that for another time.”

Irefi’s hand gestured toward Miren. The madam bowed and raised her eyes dramatically.

“My, what a beautiful young lady with such gorgeous eyes! I want to dress her in everything we have…”

“Right? Money is no object, so please feel free to recommend whatever you like!”

At my bold declaration, the madam’s entire face bloomed with a smile.

“Oh my, you must be Marquess Alteon? All three of you out together!”

She made a strange expression, then closed her mouth that seemed to be itching to say more. She simply maintained a pleased smile and guided us to sit on plush sofas.

“Here’s our catalog. The displayed clothes are nice, but we have many other designs too. By the way… doesn’t Marquess Justitia need any clothes?”

“Unfortunately, due to the nature of my position, I must always wear a uniform. …… At least, for now.”

For now?

Does that mean she might be able to wear other clothes later?

What made me instantly forget Irefi’s suspicious statement was a single remark from Miren, tinged with sadness.

“I wanted to see Elfi unni in a dress…”

“Put one on right now, Irefi!”

My reflexive shout drew everyone’s attention.

Irefi buried her face, which had turned as red as if lava were flowing over it, and trembled.

“Elfi unni…”

“Ugh… uugh…!”

“What’s the big deal? This is a clothing shop, so trying things on is normal. You only need to wear your uniform outside, right?”

Miren’s puppy-dog eyes and my subtle persuasion took turns.

Our efforts bore fruit as Irefi finally nodded weakly.

Miren and I secretly high-fived each other.

The madam, seemingly pleased, couldn’t hide her excitement and recommended various items.

“How about this? Oh, for Marquess Justitia, perhaps this would be…”

“Um… hmm…”

While Irefi was being swept away by the madam’s eloquent speech, Miren’s decisive index finger put an end to the discussion.

“Elfi unni, this one.”

“Mi-Miren…?”

“Young Lady Justitia. This dress is…”

“I like this one.”

Irefi and the madam were visibly flustered.

The two women exchanged bewildered glances.

I turned my eyes, wondering what kind of radical outfit Miren had pointed to.

“Nepy oppa, you can’t look.”

“Hmm? Miren?”

Miren’s small hands were already perfectly covering my eyes.

While I was floundering in the suddenly darkened view, the determined madam made a bold decision. Was it just my imagination, or did her voice sound mischievous?

“Oh my, oh my, oh my! Young lady, your taste is truly ex.qui.site! Come, come, Marquess! Let’s get you dressed quickly. Hurry!”

“Ma-Madam? Really, that…!”

“When the young lady pleads like this, I cannot turn her down as the owner of this clothing shop!”

Even as Irefi was being dragged away, she expressed her resentment toward her little sister.

“Miren, you really…!”

“Elfi unni will look really pretty.”

Of course, it had no effect on Miren.

Miren’s hands retreated from my eyelids only after Irefi had completely disappeared.

“Nepy oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Elfi unni is wearing this with difficulty. It’s an opportunity. Please compliment her.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Our Miren did so well~.”

I gently stroked Miren’s head.

“…Not me, Elfi unni.”

“Oh, you were talking about Irefi. What kind of dress did you recommend that made her react like that?”

“It’s a secret.”

A faint smile lingered on Miren’s lips. Ah, so cute.

“A girlish dress perhaps?”

“I don’t know.”

“A dress with a radical sense of style?”

“No.”

“Something like a clown costume…”

“Even for Nepy oppa, it’s a secret.”

“Argh!”

What kind of clothes would Irefi come out wearing? Miren would surely have recommended something that suited her sister well…

‘Miren recommended Irefi’s debutante dress too, after all.’

“You understand, right, Nepy oppa? You must, must compliment Elfi unni a lot. If it’s you, you can even go a step further.”

“A step further? Hmm, I’m not sure what you mean.”

While I was pondering the meaning of Miren’s cryptic words, her hands suddenly darkened my vision again.

“Miren?”

Just as I was about to ask her intention.

Click, click.

In the darkened world, I heard the clear sound of shoes. And numerous exclamations from those around us.

Some voices sounded dumbfounded, while applause broke out elsewhere.

As my curiosity grew, Miren whispered in my ear.

“Nepy oppa, you know, right? Make sure to tell her it suits her well, that she’s pretty. And beyond that… I’m okay with it.”

Slowly…

As the footsteps stopped a few steps away, Miren’s fern-like hands gradually allowed light to return.

Finally, with my sight fully restored, I saw Irefi standing demurely.

She couldn’t look straight ahead and had turned her head at an angle.

“…Uh, um, …… wow.”

The moment her appearance registered on my retina, I unconsciously uttered stupid noises.

Her attire, which I had never imagined, her figure that made my heart pound—I felt like my brain was melting.

Pure white, embodying innocence, covered her from toe to shoulder line. A light white veil obscured her face, and somehow, Irefi was holding a beautiful bouquet in both hands.

She must have been made up during the fitting, as her youthful beauty had found a maturity befitting her age.

There was only one word to describe the woman before me.

Bride.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell over the previously noisy clothing shop.

Irefi, wearing a wedding dress and not knowing what to do, and me, frozen stiff, unable to find appropriate words.

The awkward scene between the man and woman captivated the attention of many customers.

“Nepy oppa. The compliment.”

“Huh!”

Snapping back to reality, I saw Miren smiling sweetly and pulling me along.

One step, then another.

With each step closer to Irefi, my chest creaked severely.

Now, if I extended my hand halfway, I could touch her shoulder.

The madam was watching us intently, covering her mouth with a desperate attitude. She looked ready to publicize whatever was said here.

Unable to resist Miren’s sparkling golden gaze, I finally opened my mouth.

“…Irefi.”

“Yes…”

She had said in the past.

That I couldn’t even give proper compliments…

I clearly remember when we briefly argued, and Irefi was indignant alone in the imperial garden.

‘I too… need to change a little.’

Swallowing hard, I finally parted my lips, which felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, to convey my honesty.

“You’re beautiful. The most beautiful in the world.”

“Mwuh!”

Irefi’s head turned sharply at the compliment.

Like a kettle with steam rising, heat seemed to rise above her head.

I suspect my state was no different.

“Oh my… oh my…”

The madam’s murmuring, dripping with ecstasy, danced through the silent clothing shop.

And Miren’s hand, trying somehow to extract more of a reaction from me, pushed me forward.

Perhaps that was the first time I became aware of my true feelings.