episode_0079

The main building of Hugo’s mansion. Main hall with a large table.

Siriel counted out loud the yellow candies in the red bag.

“One, two, three, nen…”

The pronunciation of counting numbers sounded a bit muffled.

For a ten-year-old girl, it was not like Siriel, who often showed a straightforward side, but when it came time to savor the candy her brother gave her, she unintentionally showed her immature side.

‘Now there are only four left. When is your brother coming…’

The candy package I received from the pretty maid definitely contained sixty-eight candies.

One pill a day. Encia, who claimed to be Siron’s faithful servant, said this to Siriel, but unfortunately, Siriel did not listen to what she said.

‘Then, will I be able to see Siron by the time I finish eating the candy?’

A somewhat strange thought occurred to my still immature head.

‘I might be a genius!’

In the end, the candy in the red packets dwindled faster than Siron expected.

One after morning training.

One after dinner and before brushing my teeth.

So gradually. When the number of candies in the package decreased and there were only four left, Siriel realized.

‘When I think about it. Siron, you don’t know how many candies I ate.’

“I am a fool…”

Siriel sighed and fell down. The table filled with delicious food was shaking.

This is not something a woman of high status would do. Eldrina, who was sitting across from him, cleared her throat slightly.

“Ciriel. Sit up straight. It’s against dining etiquette.”

“…Yes.”

With a meaningless answer, Siriel raised her upper body in a downcast manner. Siriel sighed heavily and grabbed her fork and knife.

“…Yum.”

Crack, crack, crack.

Cut the meat and put it in your mouth. Hold the bread and chew it with your mouth a few times. The series of processes naturally drained the viewer’s energy.

“…”

Even Hugo, who sat to Siriel’s right, was no exception.

Hugo narrowed his eyes and stared at his daughter.

I’ve seen Siriel for the past 10 years, but this was Hugo’s first time seeing her like this.

Seeing his daughter growing up every day, he would feel a little happy as he discovered a new side of himself, but Hugo felt a little uncomfortable because he didn’t know why Siriel was feeling listless.

Even asking how he was feeling was too much for Hugo. Is it because I have lived my whole life as a warrior? Hugo was clumsy in dealing with his daughter, who had started to become a little more sensitive.

I nibbled on my food a few times. Siriel put down her silverware.

“…I ate well.”

“Siriel.”

Siriel tried to get up, but Eldrina stopped her.

“You seem to have no energy these days. Do you have any pain anywhere?”

Even though Eldrina knew why Siriel was upset, she opened up a conversation with her daughter. Eldrina decided to step in to replace Hugo, who was often away from home and was not good at dealing with his daughter.

“Yes?”

Siriel’s eyes widened slightly at the somewhat unexpected question.

“I… I don’t have any pain. On the contrary, I am worried because I am overflowing with energy every day.”

“Well? It doesn’t really seem that way to me…”

Eldrina smiled and looked at the plate in front of Siriel. Until recently, Siriel never left any food behind. Would you say he is like a child growing up?

But what about now?

There was a lot of leftover food in front of Siriel. Half of the steak and half of the bread before the meal. I didn’t even touch the dessert that came after the meal.

“This mother is very worried. Not having an appetite when growing up is a big problem. If you have any concerns, talk them out.”

“Kuhm.”

Let’s clear our throats as Hugo urges us a little. Siriel began to purse her lips.

“Just. I was wondering when Siron would come. After all, a lot of time has passed, right? It’s been a while since I’ve been alone, so I feel a little empty.”

“…I see.”

Hugo nodded slightly.

However, while the question about what his daughter was worried about was resolved, Hugo still felt uneasy. In the end, Siriel’s concern about ‘loneliness’ was not resolved.

“3rd Prince… You don’t play with Viktor? I heard you’re pretty close these days.”

“Well?”

In response to Hugo’s worried question, Siriel pursed her lips and looked a little pouty.

“Victor said he didn’t want to be beaten to death by Siron and couldn’t come play until Siron came back.”

“…”

“Why are you getting beaten to death? Siron, there are times when he plays a little mischievous prank, but that doesn’t mean he’s never hit anyone.”

“Huh…”

“That guy is also a really strange guy. Who is hitting who? Really.”

Anyway, weak guy. Siron, you keep saying bad things while your brother is away. Siriel wrinkled her fair forehead slightly and began to nod her head a few times.

“…”

Hugo began to look at Siriel and Eldrina alternately with a slightly dazed expression. Siriel is the only one in this mansion who doesn’t know that Siron is acting like a fool. She asked for an answer in silence, but Eldrina just smiled, pretending not to notice Hugo’s gaze.

“It must be boring.”

“That’s right. Grandpa Johan also followed Siron, and the older sister of the knights went on vacation, saying she would return before spring…”

Siriel puffed out her cheeks a little and sighed softly.

“Can I go out now? The maid in the annex decided to watch my sword practice.”

“Okay…”

Hugo nodded and saw his daughter off.

*

“You.”

After Siriel left, the employees of the mansion began to organize the dishes. But Hugo and Eldrina did not leave the place. A somewhat serious atmosphere began to prevail between the two.

Eldrina took a few sips of coffee and smiled slightly at Hugo.

“You were staring at me earlier. Did you have any inconveniences?”

“…Stop teasing me. Don’t you already know everything?”

Hugo narrowed his eyes and showed Eldrina an uncomfortable look. Just like before, the fox-like wife acted noticeably at Hugo’s slight changes in expression. However, the moment Siron’s story came out, Eldrina acted like a fool and deliberately ignored Hugo’s glance.

Hugo wondered how this happened. Siron’s foolish behavior was known to everyone in the mansion, including Hugo. But to listen to what my daughter said just now, isn’t Siriel blindly believing in Siron as if something is written over her eyes?

Eldrina chuckled and smiled at Hugo.

“You definitely are. You said you wanted to make friends for your daughter, right? He said that there was no reason why he brought the children from his ‘home family’ here.”

“…right.”

“I was a little reluctant to bring someone else’s child into the house, but in the end, I wasn’t against your decision. Growing up without any friends is too much. It’s clear that it won’t be good for social skills or emotional development.”

Eldrina lightly touched her forehead and sighed.

Hugo wrapped his arms around Siriel and spun around in a way that seemed a little excessive. When he wanted to go out, he had dozens of knights follow him, and they checked guests who came to the mansion to a degree that seemed excessive.

Because of this, Siriel naturally began to go out less often and had difficulty making friends her own age.

However, Eldrina did not particularly resent Hugo or anything. Knowing that Hugo was a member of a special family called ‘Prien’, she swore to God that she would endure all the inconveniences because she truly loved Hugo.

“…5 years later. If you wait until the coming of age ceremony, everything will be resolved. It won’t be long. At that time, Siriel will be able to go outside comfortably like other children.”

Hugo closed his eyes with a confused expression. I always felt sorry for my daughter and wife.

“Yes. At that time, you will go to the academy, go to the prom, wear a dress, and dance with someone. Falling in love…”

“…”

“But I have some really interesting news. I don’t think you noticed.”

Eldrina covered her mouth with a fan and laughed.

“Ciriel is in love with a boy named Shiron, right?”

“……What?”

Very sudden news. Hugo’s eyes opened wide at that. Eldrina savored Hugo’s embarrassed expression.

“What on earth does that mean? Are you hooked?”

“Didn’t you notice? Siriel likes Siron. There are things I didn’t notice because I was still young… but think about it. Just now, Siriel didn’t mention her cousin’s name, Lucia.”

“…”

Hugo recalled his conversation with his daughter a little while ago.

‘Oppa Siron. Siron oppa…’

His daughter’s voice began to echo in his head.

“Are there even bean pods used in the eyes?”

Hugo swallowed a little bitterness and spoke to Eldrina.

“Well, the more you like it, the less you can see its flaws. However, it is also degrading for me to see that child’s evil face in front of him.”

“That’s right…”

Hugo felt an unpleasant feeling and swallowed back the nausea rising inside him. Then I looked out the window and looked around the garden. Hugo felt many footsteps approaching this place.

“…is it a theory?”

From far away, Siron was coming. However, in Hugo’s heart, rather than a feeling of welcome, something… a feeling of irritation began to arise.

‘what…?’

Hugo was startled and shook his head in his seat.

Why do I feel like this? Even Hugo didn’t know that. Isn’t it time to welcome my nieces and nephews who might be tired from the long journey?

Hugo turned his head a few times as if to shake off negativity and then stood up.