Puberty? (2)

As I entered the mansion, a soft light greeted us. I habitually took off my robe and handed it to a nearby servant. Then, I quickly left. I walked away as if fleeing, without even taking the time to offer my greetings. I could guess why. It was because of Hairak, who was standing next to me with an icy expression.

The servants nearby cleared out without needing to be told. Shuriel had subjugated a Demon and returned safely, but his older brother was grinding his teeth with bloodshot eyes instead of congratulating him. The servants hastily fled at the sight of the ‘Iron-Blooded Young Master,’ a rare sight indeed.

I carefully walked through the parting maids, like the miracle of Moses. Hairak headed to his office, passing through the gazes of pouring questions and fear.

“Sit.”

Then, he commanded in a rather calm voice. Shuriel and I nodded and took our seats. My butt felt heavier than usual today. The contents of the letter kept swirling in my mind. Assault causing injury… destruction of property… insulting nobility…. That kid who was always smiling and laughing, swearing and hitting people? I couldn’t even imagine it.

As I breathed heavily with a very troubled expression, Shuriel straightened his back and said,

“Hyung-nim. I’ll explain-“

“Get out.”

“….”

“Get out. Right now.”

And he was kicked out.

Shuriel frowned at the sudden order to leave. But given the situation, he couldn’t resist. It probably didn’t mean he was being completely kicked out, but rather that he should wait outside for a while and come back when called. Shuriel and I quickly exchanged glances and stood up.

“No. You stay.”

As we stood up at the same time, he pointed at me and said. Hairak closed his eyes with a more composed face than before. Emotions fading quickly. Truly, the nickname ‘Iron-Blooded Young Master’ was well-deserved for his rapid emotional control.

I raised my eyebrows at Shuriel, signaling that I was okay, and he left the room with a disgruntled look.

The office was quiet with just the two of us. It had a different atmosphere from Shuriel’s office, which was filled with a lot of things. Books and documents arranged at perfect right angles, as if he had obsessive-compulsive disorder. And a clean carpet floor with not a speck of dust.

As I took in the well-organized surroundings, Hairak spoke.

“We even held a knife to each other, so I’ll drop the formalities.”

“You remember.”

“Did you think I’d forget? Well, back then, I didn’t have any status, honor, or merit, so I might have been a bit edgy.”

Was that when the seed of life was still wriggling? I struck first before the quick-witted Hairak could pull any tricks. I had drawn out threads of Mana and set them up around me. I thought he wouldn’t notice, but I guess I was wrong.

He seemed to have a lot he wanted to say. But he didn’t even think he could resolve this matter. And neither did I. Cutting off limbs and living while being raped resulted in a precious and lovely daughter… Hmm. Sounds like a crazy bitch. Not that I’m not a crazy bitch, but I sound seriously crazy.

I said to Hairak, who was making a great effort to choose his words, as if throwing it out there,

“If it’s not too much of a faux pas, would you like me to tell you a cliché love story?”

If I cut out a little bit here, I could complete a romance story.

The problem is that I’d have to cut it down to the bone.

“No, no. It’s okay. The urgent thing isn’t that right now.”

Hairak waved his hand and shook his head.

Then, he said as if it was a bit of a headache.

“Let’s forget the past, which is full of bad feelings.”

“Which means?”

“This is an opportunity. For me, and for Lushellini as well.”

Hairak tapped the table and smirked. He had been acting like he could kill someone with just his eyes, but now he was acting innocent, as if nothing had happened. I wondered if all of this was an act. The look in his eyes, which had been looking at a troublemaker, had already changed to the eyes of a cold-blooded person calculating profit and loss.

“Hey.”

After tapping the table for a few seconds, he changed his tone again. The excited air like a child disappeared in an instant, and he returned to a flat tone. He said with indifferent eyes.

“Can you answer just one thing?”

“…What. If it’s simple.”

“Lecante. Did you establish it? You sent Shuriel with you, so don’t even think about denying it.”

“….”

Tsk.

I see.

“To be honest, I can’t believe it either. Lecante was a land with nothing, but before I knew it, a magic city was established and became a key area in the Northwest. If I said something like this, I’d be treated like a sick person, but it’s definitely reality and everyone is coveting it. But the lord is blocking the door and being closed off….”

Was this what he called me here for from the start?

I answered with cold eyes.

“…You said you’d only ask one thing, but you’re talking a lot.”

“Ah, right. Sorry.”

“Cut it short. There won’t be a second time.”

“Hmm.”

Hairak changed his tone again, this time asking in a serious voice.

“What’s your relationship with Shuriel?”

He asks the lord of Lecante.

What is your relationship with the proxy residing in Lushellini?

“Haa….”

I deliberately let out an annoyed sigh, as if for him to hear. Whatever I answered, there was too much of a possibility that it would be used for political purposes. Hairak was asking knowing this. He knew that we were inseparable at a glance, so he knew that a positive answer would come out anyway, so he threw out such a question.

“Whatever answer I give.”

How impertinent.

“Lushellini will not become close.”

Fuck you.

“Uh-huh. Shuriel might be sad, you know?”

“I need someone to cry for me.”

“I see. Interesting. No, maybe a little old-fashioned.”

“Aren’t love stories usually cliché?”

Hairak smiled bitterly and twirled his finger. He was cut off at the source before he could even test the waters. Well… if Shuriel asked me to, I’d gladly give him my liver and gallbladder, but I can’t say good things in front of this sly fox.

Hairak changed his tone again and said playfully.

“Then you don’t need my tears? I’d gladly cry for the territory-“

And at that moment.

-Kwajik!

“….”

An energy blast grazed Hairak’s sideburns. The attack, which slightly grazed his hair, made a clear hole in the wardrobe behind him and faded away. Hairak froze in place, only rolling his eyes slightly.

I covered my mouth with my hand and laughed, kuhuhu.

“He also said there won’t be a second time.”

“Crazy bastard.”

“Hehe. You have a foul mouth, too.”

Don’t pull any tricks.

I had many cards in my hand. As Hairak said, I was being closed off, but, well. I plan to continue to do so. I don’t have any ambitions to build a city and establish a kingdom. And it’s a place that runs perfectly without external support.

Hairak said with disgust.

“Okay. Let’s move on. Geez. You two have quite the temper.”

“Then.”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

-Seueuk.

Hairak took out a letter envelope. A blue envelope with a constellation pattern engraved on it. It was an envelope that flew in from Astra.

I carefully took the envelope and read the contents. As he had told me, Aileen’s rampage was written down as is.

“Adoption?”

“She’s my biological daughter.”

“Bullsh-, um. You don’t look like you could have given birth.”

“If you see her in person, you’ll believe it even if you don’t want to.”

Hairak’s gaze turned to his younger brother outside.

“Well… if that’s the case. Anyway. The student representatives written in the letter. Do you know them?”

“There are quite a few spread across the Southeast.”

“Yeah. Except for one baronet family, they’re all fairly famous families.”

I closed my eyes and made a mournful expression.

‘She only picked out nobles to beat up? Why?’

Did she hit puberty or something? If not, did the nobles bully her? Yeah. There’s no way Aileen would have just raised her fist. There must be a reason. But whatever the reason, I couldn’t imagine that Aileen, who was like an angel, would use violence.

Hairak said to me, who had suddenly become depressed.

“Do you have a plan? Well, I can throw some crumbs at those guys and they’ll be happy to crawl. This place is more abundant than you think.”

“That goes for me too.”

Me too.

I have more cards than you think.

I-

“Then.”

“….”

“You’re going to be a little busy.”

Hairak said with an amused face.

“I’m very curious what conditions you’ll set to cover up this matter.”

“….”

“You’re not going to try to solve it with violence? Like the kid written here?”

-Kwajik.

“Watch your mouth.”

I roared, splitting the table in two. Hairak just kept laughing.

Ha. Was he faking being scared of Shuriel’s attack?

They’re terrible people. The nobles. I guess I forgot because I haven’t had a chance to meet them lately.

I threatened, spewing murderous intent.

It was useless as expected.

Hairak chuckled and said.

“Is it okay if I tell them to eat and get lost? If you give them a little bit, little by little, you’ll see yourself being swayed before you know it. Well, if you don’t care, there’s nothing I can do, but from that moment on, you won’t be able to escape the dirty chains.”

Still.

“Do you think I’ll be bound to the political world?”

“A dog that barks well isn’t necessarily a good dog.”

“A person who speaks well isn’t necessarily a wise man either.”

Hairak’s eyes looked like he was looking at a child.

“Do you really think they’ll only ask for that one thing? No. No way.”

“A snake must swallow something that suits its size.”

“Tsk. What snake? Those guys are hyenas worse than back alley thugs.”

It’s really annoying, but I admit it to some extent. I can’t solve everything with force. But even if I try to solve it with words, those guys won’t listen. There’s no forgiveness without a clear profit. I, who have no desire for material things, will easily hand things over as Hairak said.

I calmed my excited heart and asked back.

“Then I’ll ask Hairak-nim, the rightful heir of Lushellini and the proud first branch.”

“Don’t flatter me. Yeah, you can speak.”

“Do you have any plans in mind?”

He shrugged his shoulders as if he understood that I was being sarcastic.

‘Is this how it ends up after all?’

I roughly grasped what Hairak was going to say. No, it was obvious. But the reason I was annoyed was that we had returned to square one, despite what I had said at first. -Whatever I say. I will not become close with Lushellini. The words I had said as soon as we met, as if affirming it.

“I’ll take care of it.”

But Hairak.

“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll take care of it myself. The families written here? They’re all in the palm of my hand. I made it that way, and it’s destined to be that way.”

He skillfully turned this hopeless situation into his turn.

“What do you think, mysterious magician who holds all the power of Lecante? My proposal.”

I took a long breath and said.

“What’s the condition?”

-That’s right. His face, which brightened as if he had finally done it, was extremely annoying. The reality is that he just coaxed a snot-nosed kid who was terrible at politics, but what’s so good about it.

Well… it wasn’t a bad proposal. I didn’t want to step into the political world. I just want to live quietly, being raped as much as I want.

However, Hairak’s proposal was a bit embarrassing.

“Attend the imperial palace event with Shuriel.”

“Huh?”

Imperial palace event.

The only event scheduled for this month is the 3rd prince’s birthday…

“If my thinking isn’t wrong-“

“You’re asking why I have to go to a birthday party or something like that, right?”

“-What’s the reason?”

“What else could it be? I’m telling you to go dance with my brother or something.”

…Tsk.

You sly bastard.

“…You said you’d take care of it, but you’re planning to plant me in the political world altogether.”

“I don’t lie. You really don’t have to do anything.”

“The moment I enter the banquet hall, I’ll be blowing the trumpet and announcing that I’m the owner of Lecante, how shameless.”

“It’s better than getting involved with those hyena-like guys.”

The lord of Lecante, shrouded in mystery, appears holding hands with Lushellini’s son? The aggro that would be drawn would be no joke, just imagining it was terrible.

‘…Still. If it’s just dancing.’

Hmm.

It doesn’t seem bad.

I blushed for no reason and mumbled my lips.

“Ah, and.”

At that time.

Hairak said fiercely.

“Don’t even dream of demanding power under the pretext of being a collateral relative. I don’t care if you two have a ceremony or have hundreds of children. But if you try to invade my territory-“

“I wouldn’t take something like that even if you gave it to me.”

“-Swear.”

“Ha. Okay. I swear to God.”

I covered my mouth with my right hand and pretended to cut my throat with my left hand.

Geumeon (禁言) promise.

A seal is made that causes the heart to explode and die if it is revealed to the outside.

“Is that enough?”

“Yeah. If that’s the case.”

Tsk.

I was going to go to the imperial palace anyway, so let’s think of it as a substitute.