Ch.76Origin Point (4)

I first removed the wine from my hands, which the twins had been holding. Since servants were approaching, I accepted the food they offered with thanks.

As each dish adorned the table, a strange tension flowed between us during the ensuing silence.

No matter how much we tried to ease the atmosphere, centuries of hostility wouldn’t disappear in an instant.

As if to prove this point, Nera Ice, the eldest daughter of the Ice Family, was looking at me with a slightly displeased expression.

They might be a noble family, but do they still have people like her? The moment her gaze changed was clearly after hearing I would be expelled from the family… probably some kind of superiority complex.

Well, this is a society with a strong class system after all.

When you quietly observe, you notice some peculiarities. The high nobles, especially the heads of families, don’t seem to place much restriction on social status.

Grandmother Riana was like that, and so is Duke Ice. They don’t seem to care much about my commoner origins.

Rather, it’s the powerless nobles, or those distant from responsibility like Nera Ice, who seem to look down on me.

It’s not particularly important, but it was interesting.

Of course, there might be more to it. I shouldn’t judge hastily.

Nera Ice opposed my becoming a vassal. She was the first to say they would accept me if I married Judy.

Perhaps she’s simply wary of the Praester Family.

But suddenly, I wondered if she might dislike Judy as well.

Considering she didn’t give me that look when I first arrived as a Praester, but showed it after the expulsion was mentioned, the issue must be about status.

Come to think of it, Judy also had difficulties in the family as an illegitimate daughter… could Nera be the cause?

That’s why she made that proposal—which seemed unthinkable at the time—that I would only be accepted into the family if I married Judy.

These are just my private speculations, but I couldn’t help seeing Nera differently now.

When all the food was placed on the table, the servants bowed and left.

Various dishes were arranged in the center of the table, and wine filled each glass. It was early for drinking, but it would be odd not to have alcohol at such a gathering.

Especially for the Ice Family, who lived in a cold region and were close to alcohol.

Grandmother was the first to pick up her utensils.

“Let’s eat.”

“Before that, shall we make a toast to celebrate this occasion?” Duke Ice said, raising his glass. Grandmother followed suit, and then everyone raised their glasses.

“To Ice and Praester.”

“To Praester and Ice,” Grandmother replied.

We each clinked glasses with the person across from us.

Asena with the eldest son, Sid Ice.

Me with Judy.

And Kirsy with Nera.

*Clink*

“Ah!”

Amid the clear ringing of glasses, a young voice cried out.

*Splash! Tinkle!*

Kirsy, who had clinked glasses with Nera, dropped her glass, spilling wine on herself. The wine poured over her elegant two-piece outfit.

“Kirsy!”

I put down my glass and stood up simultaneously with Kirsy.

Kirsy blinked her eyes indignantly, looking at Nera.

“Why… why did you hit the glass so hard…”

Seeing Kirsy shrink back, I glared at Nera more sharply than I had intended. I’d been uneasy from the start… was she going to act like this?

Nera blinked for a moment, then composed herself and said, “…I’m sorry.”

When Nera apologized, I withdrew my glare. Sighing through my nose to calm myself, I grabbed a white napkin from the table and wiped her clothes.

“…Are you okay?”

Kirsy answered, “…I’m fine…”

But her eyes didn’t look fine at all. I found her so admirable for saying she was okay.

She probably didn’t like being here… but she was trying to endure it, perhaps remembering what I’d said before coming to the meeting. I could see her trying hard to hold back.

But no matter how much I wiped her clothes, the stain wouldn’t disappear.

“…Do you want to change clothes?”

I asked her, but after thinking for a moment, Kirsy shook her head.

“…I want to stay here.”

As Kirsy sat back down, I became aware of the many eyes watching us.

Duke Ice spoke first.

“…Lady Kirsy. I apologize. Let me apologize on behalf of everyone. Nera, be careful.”

“Yes, Father. Lady Kirsy, I apologize again.”

Nera readily admitted her fault to Kirsy.

Without realizing it, my eyes turned to Sid Ice. For some reason, perhaps because of my mood, I wanted an apology from him too.

Sid Ice saw my look but said nothing. Though we were discussing marriage to make peace, he seemed to be engaging in a power struggle, not forgetting we were still enemy families.

Of course, I’m not really rooted in the Praester Family… but I am the eldest son of the family.

I didn’t want to avoid Sid Ice’s gaze.

As I continued to meet his eyes, Asena grabbed my hand again.

“…Brother… calm down.”

Asena’s reaction was quite different from before. When she brought up the expulsion earlier, I thought she wanted to break off the marriage talks, but now she was trying to maintain the atmosphere of the meeting.

Was she bringing it up earlier because it was something that couldn’t be delayed?

But that doesn’t explain why she shook her head right after, as if telling me not to go.

All these worries can’t be resolved without looking into the person’s heart. And I can’t ask about it here.

Putting aside all complicated thoughts, I sighed and withdrew my gaze from Sid Ice.

“…Let’s eat,” Grandmother Riana said, changing the atmosphere.

Everyone picked up their utensils again at her words.

“…Ugh.”

At that moment, Kirsy groaned.

Having become sensitive to her reactions, I asked, “…What is it, Kirsy? Do you want to change clothes after all?”

“Ah… no.”

Her response was strange, but I turned my head forward at her dismissive gesture.

Judy was looking uncomfortable, as if feeling sorry.

Forgiving was Kirsy’s choice, but my anger subsided as I looked at Judy.

Yes, it must have been an accident.

My anger was due to my own assumption that it was intentional.

I’m judging people based on looks and hearsay.

To lighten the mood again, I took a bit of a risk.

I picked up the glass I hadn’t even sipped from and extended it to Judy.

“Since this is a gathering for us.”

Judy blushed, then slowly took her glass.

*Ting*

The glasses clinked with a clear sound.

Duke Ice smiled, and even Grandmother Riana gave a small smile.

“Ugh..!”

At that moment, Kirsy groaned again.

Turning my head toward her, I saw Kirsy grimacing.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked her in a more serious voice.

“Ah… nothing.”

Kirsy tried to dismiss it again, but this time I wouldn’t let it go.

If she couldn’t say it because of the people watching, I could lend her my ear.

Leaning toward her, I asked quietly, “What’s bothering you? Tell your brother.”

Kirsy hesitated, then whispered in my ear.

“Brother… can you not make a big deal out of this?”

“…Tell me what’s happening.”

Anger was gradually filling my voice.

“…Nera Ice… keeps kicking my shin…”

At those words, I felt my face flush with anger.

Had Nera been kicking under the table all this time?

And Kirsy kept enduring it to avoid disrupting the atmosphere because of what I said?

“…..”

But even as I felt this anger, I’m embarrassed to admit… I had a doubt.

If I confronted Nera based on Kirsy’s words, the atmosphere of the meeting would be shattered.

And from the beginning, Kirsy… and even Asena… didn’t like this gathering.

What if… this was an act? Kirsy hadn’t told me many big lies, but this might be the first time she was lying to me.

It was truly shameful for me, who had promised to be a support for the twins, to think this way, but I needed evidence.

“…Let me see.”

Our continued whispering drew attention again, but I had something more important on my mind.

Kirsy shook her head.

“…No… no. It’s fine, brother.”

“I said let me see.”

My voice was already raised.

Kirsy hesitated, then turned in her chair.

Her leg faced toward me, and I carefully lifted the hem of her skirt.

And on Kirsy’s fair shin, red blood was trickling down.

That was enough.

I raised my head and immediately glared at Nera.

“What is the meaning of this, Nera Ice?”

My words weren’t gentle. The sight of my sister’s blood, which I had never seen before, excited me.

Nera seemed flustered, rolling her eyes before biting her lip and saying, “…You started it first.”

Sensing my mood, she also adopted a hostile tone.

“Kirsy started it?”

“Yes. She kicked first and glared at me.”

Turning to Kirsy, she shook her head.

“I… I accidentally hit her first… but I wasn’t glaring, I was trying to apologize…”

“And then?”

“Then I didn’t do anything else. But she spilled wine on me and kept kicking my shin…”

I turned my gaze back to Nera.

“Nera Ice. It’s ridiculous to compare degrees, but it seems you went too far.”

“………”

“My sister is bleeding in this situation, and you can’t apologize?”

“I already apologized earlier.”

Judging by Nera’s demeanor, it wasn’t that she didn’t know she was wrong, but rather that she wanted to pick a fight with us.

Yes, I see now that it wasn’t just the twins who disliked this marriage arrangement. I’m not sure about Sid Ice, but Nera clearly viewed this gathering negatively.

“Nera. Read the room,” Duke Ice said in a threatening tone.

But Nera, as if something had burst within her, defied him.

“Father, didn’t I say they started it first..!”

“It was a mistake, and she tried to apologize, didn’t she? Which side made the other bleed and ruined their clothes?”

“……”

I gritted my teeth and said, “Now I see the wine was intentional too.”

“……”

“…Haha… I can’t believe this…”

“Father. Let’s stop this now,” Nera said coldly.

“What?”

“This charade. Let’s stop it now. We can’t make peace with the Praester Family after all.”

Grandmother Riana intervened.

“Don’t speak of the Praester Family so carelessly. Especially not like that.”

Nera finally flinched, averting her gaze and closing her mouth.

But it was difficult to calm the heated atmosphere.

Judy’s surprised eyes were wandering everywhere. It was a shame considering how nicely she had dressed up.

“Apologize to my sister,” I said.

“I have no intention of apologizing to a Praester. Especially one of commoner origin.”

This was now confusing. Was she always like this, or was she being extra hostile because we were enemy families?

At that moment, Asena abruptly stood up.

And she picked up her wine glass and splashed it directly on Nera.

*Splash!*

“Ah!”

Nera was too slow to avoid Asena’s quick movement.

Her clothes became soaked like Kirsy’s.

“Don’t speak to my brother that way.”

Nera wiped her wet face and replied without backing down.

“…Hmph. You mean your brother who came to a meeting with a kiss mark on his neck?”

Since it was about me, and not involving my sisters, I wasn’t particularly angry.

But considering my position, I couldn’t just let such remarks slide.

“…Nera Ice. Will you take responsibility for that insult?”

“How do you intend to hold me responsible?”

“I’m thinking of tarnishing your family’s reputation through an open duel with Sid Ice.”

Sid Ice’s eyes found mine. Again, I didn’t avoid his gaze.

“Enough!”

Duke Ice slammed the table and stood up.

Following him, Sid Ice, who had maintained silence, also stood.

Judy was still floundering, looking at me as if asking for help.

Nera bit her lip, wiping off the remaining wine, and stood up.

Duke Ice spoke.

“…Lady Riana. I apologize for all the rudeness today.”

“…I’m sorry too.”

Grandmother rarely apologized.

Duke Ice continued.

“…The rift between our families seems deeper than I thought.”

“…Indeed.”

“…Let’s reconsider the marriage proposal after some time.”

Judy exclaimed in surprise.

“Fa-Father..!”

“Judy. Get up now.”

And Duke Ice began to walk away.

Judy looked at the departing Duke Ice with a pained face, then met my eyes again.

I was in pain too, but clearly, this wasn’t right. I didn’t want to submit to the Ice Family after the humiliation my sister endured. This wasn’t about Judy.

When I couldn’t give her any reaction, Judy slowly rose from her seat. She bowed to Grandmother Riana and likewise left.

Yes. In the end, this is what a meeting like this is for. To see if the families can get along.

…But we didn’t match.

****

It was just a mistake.

A leg extended incorrectly while sitting down hit Nera Ice’s shin, which was also extended incorrectly.

Kirsy looked up at Nera in surprise, but Nera simply turned her gaze without any reaction.

Was it because she didn’t want to show weakness? With such a lack of response, Kirsy doubted whether she had actually hit Nera.

Kirsy slightly bowed her head to apologize to her.

Nera still didn’t react.

But since Kirsy’s attention wasn’t focused there, she could just let it pass.

What was important… was what Asena had said.

The news that Caden would be expelled from the family. With those words, everything was supposed to work out well.

But because of Grandmother’s promise, that plan was beautifully shattered, and Kirsy had to taste deep despair.

Now, by what means?

By what means could she keep Caden from leaving? She had no idea.

Looking up, Nera was still glaring at her.

Unlike before, Kirsy felt a surge of anger at this sight.

Her earlier apology wasn’t because she had lost the battle of wills. She had averted her eyes because she was focused on Caden.

But seeing Nera still glaring at her, as if determined to pick a fight, seemed so ridiculous that Kirsy met her gaze.

She stared at the other person for a long time.

Then, when it was time to clink glasses, Kirsy saw Nera’s hand approaching faster than expected.

In that split second, she made a judgment. Along with a plan.

Kirsy slightly loosened her grip on the glass, and as it collided with Nera’s extended glass, wine spilled on her.

Immediately after, she acted like the kindest person in the world. As much as she didn’t want Caden to hate her, she played the role of the admirable sister.

In fact, it wasn’t a difficult act. She was better than anyone at pretending to be nice to Caden. Better than anyone at whining to Caden.

She felt no guilt about it. All she had done was accidentally hit Nera’s leg and hold the wine glass weakly.

She was just seizing an opportunity.

Nera, pushed by Duke Ice, had to apologize to her.

And Kirsy, when no one was looking at her, lifted the corners of her mouth and slightly mocked Nera.

She hadn’t thought she had such a malicious side, but it didn’t matter if it was for protecting Caden.

And besides, she was in a bad mood because the plan she had set up to protect Caden had fallen apart.

Nera Ice, seemingly frustrated, stamped hard on her shin.

With that pain, Kirsy felt ecstasy.

She saw a path. Considering Caden’s personality, it was a very clear path.

“…Ugh.”

Kirsy made an exaggerated expression to show she had been hurt. Immediately after, she smiled at Nera as if to say, “Is that all you’ve got?”

The pained voice was for Caden to hear. The smile was for Nera to see. Doing two things at once, Kirsy proceeded with her plan.

Thus, Caden saw her blood, and Kirsy had to calm her racing heart as she watched Caden get angry on her behalf.

It made her so happy that she felt like her head was melting at the thought that he would stand up for her even at a meeting like this.

Indeed, she couldn’t be without him. She absolutely couldn’t be without him.

As Caden grew angry on her behalf, Duke Ice made a decision.

“…Let’s reconsider the marriage proposal after some time.”

At those words, her heart raced madly. Like a blocked airway opening up, the burden on her shoulders disappeared.

Not laughing or crying with joy was the best she could do.

Right after those words, Kirsy used all her strength to hide her emotions.

Rolling her eyes, she saw that Caden still looked angry, and Asena was hiding her emotions.

But like her, judging by Asena’s trembling lips, she knew Asena was also suppressing intense pleasure.

.

.

.

The pleasure didn’t last long.

The next day.

Grandmother summoned the three siblings again.

When everyone had gathered, she said,

“Caden. I’ve found your next fiancée.”