episode_0165

I barely managed to overcome the crisis of having my head split in half while being screamed at by the priests with “This impious one!”, but that didn’t mean I could cleanly undo the already ruined first impression.

Even though it had softened a little, the gaze that stared at me murderously was still there, to the point where I felt a stinging sensation all over my body.

I had been attracting aggro for the past few months, and there was almost a confessional pass incident, so it was only natural and I had to accept it as karma, but the problem was that the service hadn’t even started yet.

I had to be in the cathedral for 10 hours from now, and if I dozed off or made a mistake in the middle?

I might not be able to go home today.

“Keuh…”

Every time I felt drowsy, I pinched my thigh and, with Emily’s help, made a desperate effort to watch the service with a clear mind. I was very fortunate to finish the service without making any mistakes and was able to leave the cathedral.

Even though the content didn’t register in my head, it was boring, and yawns came persistently at any time to pry open my jaw, I didn’t make a single mistake.

I don’t even know how it was possible.

I can only cautiously speculate that the crisis of death awakened me.

“Th… Thanks for your hard work.”

“Yeah…”

While receiving encouragement from Emily, I forced my trembling legs and came out of the cathedral. I got into the carriage with difficulty and returned home as it was.

With my mind in a daze, not knowing what I was doing, I roughly changed my clothes and collapsed on the bed. As soon as I blinked, it was already morning.

“Wow, this isn’t easy.”

It felt strange to experience something I usually only experienced when staying up for several nights, just because of the service.

Well…

Anyway, I attended His Majesty the King’s birthday alone, invited Elizabeth to my house, and almost became a heretic on the Holy Day. It was a spectacular and exciting week.

Thanks to such a fulfilling week, my stamina for external activities was running low, and I was worried about whether I could endure it any longer.

“Young Master, the Head of the Family and the Young Head have returned.”

“What? Really!?”

These days, the world has been severely oppressing me, but perhaps God hasn’t completely abandoned me. As I prayed earnestly with a desperate heart, I was very fortunate that my father and brother returned to the Imperial City around sunset.

Now I don’t have to attract the aggro of the surrounding nobles.

And now I don’t have any reason to meet and greet high-ranking nobles.

Also, I can postpone the upcoming New Year’s greetings to my father or brother.

“Father…! Brother…!”

Overwhelmed by the sense of liberation that the heavy responsibilities that were pressing down on me and hindering the progress of my work had fallen away, I ran out barefoot and hugged my father and brother, who were entering the townhouse, tightly.

“Oh my, William, why are you being so sudden? Did something happen?”

“Hehe, this is the first time in my life that William has greeted me so warmly.”

My father and brother seemed embarrassed that the guy who used to come out hesitantly and only say ‘You’re here?’ was suddenly performing a hug, but they patted me on the back lightly as if they didn’t dislike it.

Our father and sons shared a deep hug for a few seconds, then released our arms and took a step back.

“William, did anything happen while we were away?”

“Not really, it’s just that I was doing something that didn’t suit me, so it was a bit of a headache.”

“Haha, but you’re a noble now, so you have to get used to it, you’ll be called to such events more often in the future.”

“… Is there a way to live leisurely in a secluded territory?”

“Dream on.”

“Ugh…”

It was once like my dream, but now it has become an unattainable ideal.

Well… other than the hardship, it’s not bad now, but I wish I could somehow reduce social activities.

“By the way, how is sister-in-law? Is she okay as mother said?”

“Yes, she was so healthy that I was able to meet Wilhelmina, who was leisurely strolling around the mansion as soon as we arrived. She was so embarrassed as soon as she saw my face and Edward’s face, I was embarrassed for her.”

When I asked what happened that made me suffer so much and made my brother and father rush to the territory.

My father, who stared blankly at my brother without hesitation, gave an explanation full of sarcasm and let out a sneer.

“Geez… Father, even so, my wife was said to have bled a lot, how can I not worry?”

“Why do you leave out the part where your mother said she was okay?”

“No, how do I know if she’s just saying it formally?”

“Do you think your mother would say something formally?”

“Of coourse… But wouldn’t you rush to her right away if mother said she bled a lot?”

“I believe Helen when she says she’s okay.”

“I would have believed it if Wilhelmina had said she was okay…”

“You unfilial fellow, even if you’re a fool for your wife, are you doubting your own mother? You haven’t been hit by Helen enough yet, do I have to step in myself for you to come to your senses?”

“No, I was wrong… I’m sorry…”

My brother, who was fully aware of how embarrassing he was acting with his regained sanity, blushed and made awkward excuses, but when my father glared coldly and made a gesture of lightly waving his fingers as if he was about to cast a spell, my brother immediately backed down and admitted his mistake.

Just as my brother’s weak spot is my sister-in-law, my father’s weak spot is my mother, so it was best to avoid getting on his nerves and getting something broken.

“Haa… William, it’s good to love your wife, but don’t become like that, if two of you are like that, your mother and I will collapse holding the back of our necks.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

My father, who sighed and rubbed his head at my brother, glanced at me and conveyed sincere advice to me.

I don’t know what the future holds, but my brother’s appearance this time was so pathetic that I don’t think I’ll be like my brother in the future, no matter how much I think about it.

I don’t want to get hit by my mother even after I become an adult and have children.

Besides, I can vividly picture a future where, about 10 years later, when my nephew has grown to waist height, my sister-in-law will have a gentle smile on her face and say, ‘When our Ashley was born? Your dad…’ and permanently immortalize his embarrassing history for generations to come.

How can I live with that shame?

“Cough, cough! Ah, geez, did I ride the carriage for too long? I suddenly feel tired, so I’ll go in first… Ouch~”

In the end, my brother, unable to bear the gaze of contempt from my father and me, made an awkward act and ran upstairs as if fleeing.

“”Aish~””

While watching his retreating figure, my father and I shook our heads and sighed at the same time.

Will my brother get better when he has his second nephew?

Or is he so scared of this that he won’t have a second child?

That was that.

To be frank, what if he heads to the Holy Kingdom and becomes a priest like my older sister?

In that case, if there is no other heir, the family inheritance will be transferred to me, causing a major disaster.

Of course, my sister-in-law will properly control my brother, so it’s not a problem to worry about.

If it doesn’t work, my mother or father will solve it with mental healing magic (physical).

“More than that, Father…”

I erased the future that hadn’t happened from my head and turned to ask my father if he had eaten, but I frowned when I found a servant struggling to move something behind my father.

“Father, what is that?”

“Those are your childhood portraits, I drew them every year on your birthday.”

“Yes?”

Portraits out of the blue?

No one asked for it, and there was no reason to put it here, so I blinked and looked at the servants, who were twitching one corner of their mouths and shoulders.

“The Imperial Family suddenly asked for them.”

“The Imperial Family? Why would they want something like that?”

“I don’t know, they just asked me to bring them.”

It costs quite a bit of money to draw a portrait, but it’s not that expensive.

It’s not like they have to be newly printed, and I can gladly hand over a few that have already been made.

“Ugh…”

However, the situation of handing over the portraits itself was inexplicably unsettling.

It’s strange that they want my portraits and no one else’s.

It’s even stranger that they want something that’s not recently drawn but from years ago, and I don’t know why they need it.

“Is that okay?”

“It’s suspicious, but what can you do with a portrait? I also missed His Majesty the King’s birthday due to personal matters, so I have to listen quietly even if it’s strange, or are you going to meet the Emperor and His Majesty the King who are full of spite instead?”

“Aish~ It would be a profit if I could replace the compensation with a portrait.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Still, it was better to be suspicious than to face the Emperor, who was full of spite, so I immediately changed my stance and smiled brightly.

And I pretended not to see the portraits, quickly erased them from my head, and turned my head slightly.

“Father, more than that, have you had dinner?”

“I’m about to, have you eaten?”

“I’m about to too.”

“Okay, then let’s have dinner.”

“What about brother?”

“Edward…”

When the story of my brother, who had run away, came out, my father, who trailed off, frowned and glanced at the ceiling.

“Tsk, tell him to skip a meal today, I feel like I’ll only nag him all the time during dinner if I see his face now.”

“Ah, yes…”

I clicked my tongue and followed my father, who was moving to the dining room.

The quick-witted servants also did not go upstairs and scattered in all directions to do their jobs as they were.

I’ll tell the butler to bring my brother something to eat later, I guess.