After an awkward greeting, the three of them headed to the Waieos Mansion in response to Aster’s request that he had something to say.
Simon opened the door and smiled kindly. “It’s very shabby.”
“It’s very shabby.”
“… It’s alright.”
Aster entered the door and slowly looked around the room. He was serious and careful as if he was tracing old memories. Elusiana, who was watching from the side, smiled faintly.
“Please excuse me for a moment, Your Excellency. Lusi, please guide Your Excellency.”
“Yes, Father.”
While Simon was away to bring tea, Elusiana took Aster to the living room.
“It’s still the same.”
Everything was still there, from the heavily worn-out carpet and curtains to the roughly stitched sofa fabric. What has changed was that padded fabric has been added to some of them. The railing leading up to the second floor was also worn, with all the paint peeling off.
Aster chuckled and entered, taking a deep breath. He walked only a few steps, and before he knew it, he was in front of the sofa.
“Do you want to sit on the sofa?”
“Thank you, Elusiana.”
Elusiana responded to Aster’s kind reply. “Please let me know if there is any inconvenience, Your Excellency.”
“It’s nice and cozy. I like it.”
“Huh. You only grew older. Would you like to rest for a moment?”
“…Where are you going?”
“I’m going to change into something comfortable.”
Elusiana, smoothing the front of her dress, frowned. Although faint, the marks of spilled champagne still remained.
Aster cleared his throat and spoke softly. “…Come back quickly.”
“Yes, then. Rest for a moment, Your Excellency.”
Elusiana gracefully greeted him by unfolding her dress and running to the second floor. Aster, who stared at the scene, swept his red face and sat on the sofa. Creek.
“I can’t believe you’re going to change your clothes for a man. Why do you still keep… saying that…? You don’t know what men are going to think. Sigh… Anyway, you’re still lacking caution, Lusi.”
The sofa, which was worn out, was hard and sunken rather than soft. Nevertheless, Aster thought this feeling was very comfortable. His body still vividly remembered the warmth of that time.
A warm teacup was placed in front of Aster, who had a smile on his face.
“I apologize that we don’t have any good tea leaves. Still, it’s the best tea leaves in my house, so please understand.”
Simon sat sideways and laughed. Aster nodded as he raised the cup he handed over.
Gulp, gulp. It was when Aster, who had emptied half of his tea. Elusiana came down from the second floor, having changed her clothes.
“Sit down, Lusi.”
“Yes.”
Elusiana sat next to Simon. Simon, who put down a warm cup in front of her, smiled graciously.
“It’s still warm.”
“Thank you, Father.”
When Aster saw the father and daughter sitting on the sofa, he felt a sense of elation filling his chest. A strange tickling and warm feeling brought a smile to his face. At the same time, he had a strong feeling that he should take these people to the Grand Duchy as soon as possible.
However, nothing has been resolved yet. There’s still suspicion about the special ointment given by the temple that caused the death of the previous head of the Waieos family and the current Viscountess. Count Eragost and Genoyer were in collusion with the temple. And the whereabouts of the Waieos family butler who disappeared 10 years ago. No conclusive evidence was found. Moreover, what about Camilla, who was anxious because she cannot harm Elusiana, and Noel, who was trying to stay with her at all costs? But right now, he had to deal with Genoyer, who was trying to get his place back…
The fact that the special connection given by the temple killed the owner of the Waieos family and the current Viscountess, that the author of the Eragost Baek and Genoyer colluded with the temple, and that the butler of the Wyeth family, who went missing 10 years ago, still had was suspicious but he had found no conclusive evidence.
“…Your Excellency? Grand… Duke?”
Lost in thought, Aster didn’t even hear the voices coming from around him.
“…”
“Your Excellency! Are you okay?”
Aster suddenly felt a hold on his arm and snatched it away.
“Ugh!”
“…Oh, Lusi?!”
Startled, he let go of the wrist he grabbed.
“S-sorry.”
“Hahaha. It’s okay.”
Elusiana laughed as if it wasn’t a big deal after massaging her wrist a few times. But Aster’s eyes clearly saw her wrist, which had turned red. The fact that he hurt her, even because of his instinct, shocked him.
As Aster’s expressions gradually subsided, Simon smiled emptily and said, “Don’t let it take too much of your mind, Your Excellency. My daughter is not hurt, so it’s okay.”
“…No. This is my mistake.”
“Hoho. Then it looks like both sides were at fault.”
Aster still looked at Simon. The marks on Elusiana’s wrist were bothering him. Still, Elusiana, like a spring breeze, remained warm-hearted with her generous and considerate nature. Still, they probably hoped to let this slide, trying to match the rhythm.
“That’s right. I touched Your Excellency… without your permission.”
“Hohoho. Then we can pretend it never happened, right?”
Simon looked at Aster with a friendly smile. Aster nodded reluctantly.
From then on, Simon began to talk in a hurry. “Thanks for your support the other day. The children are doing well without any shortage.”
“I’m glad it helped them.”
“Ah, and I planted potatoes in the field with those children the other day, and they grew really well. We even ended up falling while trying to stop each other from digging in first. Haha. I made rösti with canned potatoes, and it was really delicious. Next time, I will make sure to treat Your Excellency.”
When talking about the children of the Angel’s House, Simon’s face was full of affection that could not be hidden. Aster, who wasn’t bothered by it, listened silently and nodded or sometimes showed empathy by adding comments such as ‘I see’ or ‘Oh my.’
After some time like that, the water in the teapot was about to show its bottom. Aster, who had remained still for a long time, opened his tight lips and spoke. “Viscount Waieos, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes. Feel free to say anything, Your Excellency.”
“In fact, I worried a lot about it before I came to Waieos Mansion. Whether to say this or not.”
Huh? Worries? What worries? Elusiana tilted her head and looked at Aster.
“But I don’t think there’s any point in delaying it anymore. Delaying doesn’t mean my share of responsibility will disappear.”
“That’s right. It’s wise not to delay it.”
“From now on, please believe there is no lie in what I say.”
No way, right? So suddenly, like this? Elusiana’s scarlet eyes trembled, which had nowhere to stay.
“Actually, I…”
“Your Excellency!”
Elusiana, who jumped from her seat, alternately looked at Aster and Simon’s faces with wide-open eyes. She thought it was strange that he suddenly had something urgent to tell, but it seemed like he came with the intention of revealing his identity.
“Lusi, what’s wrong?”
“No, it’s… It’s not that…”
“Sti down, Lusi. I will explain it well.”
“…Will it be okay?”
“Hmm?”
Simon’s face, which had been smiling kindly, was then filled with questions. This was because the friendly tone exchanged between the two couldn’t be seen as something that only lasted a day or two.
“What’s going on? Elusiana.”
Simon’s expression hardened as if he misunderstood something. Of course, Aster was happy and grateful that Simon misunderstood him. But there were still issues to be resolved.
With deep regret behind him, Aster got up from the sofa and looked Simon in the eyes. “I’ll greet you again, Viscount Waieos. My name— is Astein.”
* * *
“I thought it was unusual, but I didn’t expect you to be from the Sestein family.”
“Please speak comfortably, Viscount.”
Pour. Simon poured hot water into a teacup and smiled as he pushed it in front of Aster.
“That can’t be possible. I’ll just accept your heart. Do you have something else to say to me?”
Aster said after swallowing a sip of grassy tea. “Before that, let me ask you one question.”
“Haha. I feel nervous when you ask with this tone. Yes, what are you curious about?”
“Are you sure that the Waieos family butler is dead?”
“…”
Holding a cup of tea, Simon looked at Aster with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you suddenly asking about him?”
“Did you ever think it was weird?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Waieos family’s wealth was so rich that it could keep even the current emperor in check. Even if there was a trick by the nobles, it wasn’t enough to make it fall just in ten years.”
“So?”
“Just because there is a drought, the water that fills the lake cannot suddenly dry up. It’s even more suspicious that the Waieos family, which had grown rich with solid financial power, fell without even having a chance to do anything about it?”
“…Do you think the butler did it?”
“In fact, he disappeared with the rest of Waieos family fortune.”
After an awkward greeting, the three of them headed to the Waieos Mansion in response to Aster’s request that he had something to say.
Simon opened the door and smiled kindly. “It’s very shabby.”
“It’s very shabby.”
“… It’s alright.”
Aster entered the door and slowly looked around the room. He was serious and careful as if he was tracing old memories. Elusiana, who was watching from the side, smiled faintly.
“Please excuse me for a moment, Your Excellency. Lusi, please guide Your Excellency.”
“Yes, Father.”
While Simon was away to bring tea, Elusiana took Aster to the living room.
“It’s still the same.”
Everything was still there, from the heavily worn-out carpet and curtains to the roughly stitched sofa fabric. What has changed was that padded fabric has been added to some of them. The railing leading up to the second floor was also worn, with all the paint peeling off.
Aster chuckled and entered, taking a deep breath. He walked only a few steps, and before he knew it, he was in front of the sofa.
“Do you want to sit on the sofa?”
“Thank you, Elusiana.”
Elusiana responded to Aster’s kind reply. “Please let me know if there is any inconvenience, Your Excellency.”
“It’s nice and cozy. I like it.”
“Huh. You only grew older. Would you like to rest for a moment?”
“…Where are you going?”
“I’m going to change into something comfortable.”
Elusiana, smoothing the front of her dress, frowned. Although faint, the marks of spilled champagne still remained.
Aster cleared his throat and spoke softly. “…Come back quickly.”
“Yes, then. Rest for a moment, Your Excellency.”
Elusiana gracefully greeted him by unfolding her dress and running to the second floor. Aster, who stared at the scene, swept his red face and sat on the sofa. Creek.
“I can’t believe you’re going to change your clothes for a man. Why do you still keep… saying that…? You don’t know what men are going to think. Sigh… Anyway, you’re still lacking caution, Lusi.”
The sofa, which was worn out, was hard and sunken rather than soft. Nevertheless, Aster thought this feeling was very comfortable. His body still vividly remembered the warmth of that time.
A warm teacup was placed in front of Aster, who had a smile on his face.
“I apologize that we don’t have any good tea leaves. Still, it’s the best tea leaves in my house, so please understand.”
Simon sat sideways and laughed. Aster nodded as he raised the cup he handed over.
Gulp, gulp. It was when Aster, who had emptied half of his tea. Elusiana came down from the second floor, having changed her clothes.
“Sit down, Lusi.”
“Yes.”
Elusiana sat next to Simon. Simon, who put down a warm cup in front of her, smiled graciously.
“It’s still warm.”
“Thank you, Father.”
When Aster saw the father and daughter sitting on the sofa, he felt a sense of elation filling his chest. A strange tickling and warm feeling brought a smile to his face. At the same time, he had a strong feeling that he should take these people to the Grand Duchy as soon as possible.
However, nothing has been resolved yet. There’s still suspicion about the special ointment given by the temple that caused the death of the previous head of the Waieos family and the current Viscountess. Count Eragost and Genoyer were in collusion with the temple. And the whereabouts of the Waieos family butler who disappeared 10 years ago. No conclusive evidence was found. Moreover, what about Camilla, who was anxious because she cannot harm Elusiana, and Noel, who was trying to stay with her at all costs? But right now, he had to deal with Genoyer, who was trying to get his place back…
The fact that the special connection given by the temple killed the owner of the Waieos family and the current Viscountess, that the author of the Eragost Baek and Genoyer colluded with the temple, and that the butler of the Wyeth family, who went missing 10 years ago, still had was suspicious but he had found no conclusive evidence.
“…Your Excellency? Grand… Duke?”
Lost in thought, Aster didn’t even hear the voices coming from around him.
“…”
“Your Excellency! Are you okay?”
Aster suddenly felt a hold on his arm and snatched it away.
“Ugh!”
“…Oh, Lusi?!”
Startled, he let go of the wrist he grabbed.
“S-sorry.”
“Hahaha. It’s okay.”
Elusiana laughed as if it wasn’t a big deal after massaging her wrist a few times. But Aster’s eyes clearly saw her wrist, which had turned red. The fact that he hurt her, even because of his instinct, shocked him.
As Aster’s expressions gradually subsided, Simon smiled emptily and said, “Don’t let it take too much of your mind, Your Excellency. My daughter is not hurt, so it’s okay.”
“…No. This is my mistake.”
“Hoho. Then it looks like both sides were at fault.”
Aster still looked at Simon. The marks on Elusiana’s wrist were bothering him. Still, Elusiana, like a spring breeze, remained warm-hearted with her generous and considerate nature. Still, they probably hoped to let this slide, trying to match the rhythm.
“That’s right. I touched Your Excellency… without your permission.”
“Hohoho. Then we can pretend it never happened, right?”
Simon looked at Aster with a friendly smile. Aster nodded reluctantly.
From then on, Simon began to talk in a hurry. “Thanks for your support the other day. The children are doing well without any shortage.”
“I’m glad it helped them.”
“Ah, and I planted potatoes in the field with those children the other day, and they grew really well. We even ended up falling while trying to stop each other from digging in first. Haha. I made rösti with canned potatoes, and it was really delicious. Next time, I will make sure to treat Your Excellency.”
When talking about the children of the Angel’s House, Simon’s face was full of affection that could not be hidden. Aster, who wasn’t bothered by it, listened silently and nodded or sometimes showed empathy by adding comments such as ‘I see’ or ‘Oh my.’
After some time like that, the water in the teapot was about to show its bottom. Aster, who had remained still for a long time, opened his tight lips and spoke. “Viscount Waieos, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes. Feel free to say anything, Your Excellency.”
“In fact, I worried a lot about it before I came to Waieos Mansion. Whether to say this or not.”
Huh? Worries? What worries? Elusiana tilted her head and looked at Aster.
“But I don’t think there’s any point in delaying it anymore. Delaying doesn’t mean my share of responsibility will disappear.”
“That’s right. It’s wise not to delay it.”
“From now on, please believe there is no lie in what I say.”
No way, right? So suddenly, like this? Elusiana’s scarlet eyes trembled, which had nowhere to stay.
“Actually, I…”
“Your Excellency!”
Elusiana, who jumped from her seat, alternately looked at Aster and Simon’s faces with wide-open eyes. She thought it was strange that he suddenly had something urgent to tell, but it seemed like he came with the intention of revealing his identity.
“Lusi, what’s wrong?”
“No, it’s… It’s not that…”
“Sti down, Lusi. I will explain it well.”
“…Will it be okay?”
“Hmm?”
Simon’s face, which had been smiling kindly, was then filled with questions. This was because the friendly tone exchanged between the two couldn’t be seen as something that only lasted a day or two.
“What’s going on? Elusiana.”
Simon’s expression hardened as if he misunderstood something. Of course, Aster was happy and grateful that Simon misunderstood him. But there were still issues to be resolved.
With deep regret behind him, Aster got up from the sofa and looked Simon in the eyes. “I’ll greet you again, Viscount Waieos. My name— is Astein.”
* * *
“I thought it was unusual, but I didn’t expect you to be from the Sestein family.”
“Please speak comfortably, Viscount.”
Pour. Simon poured hot water into a teacup and smiled as he pushed it in front of Aster.
“That can’t be possible. I’ll just accept your heart. Do you have something else to say to me?”
Aster said after swallowing a sip of grassy tea. “Before that, let me ask you one question.”
“Haha. I feel nervous when you ask with this tone. Yes, what are you curious about?”
“Are you sure that the Waieos family butler is dead?”
“…”
Holding a cup of tea, Simon looked at Aster with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you suddenly asking about him?”
“Did you ever think it was weird?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Waieos family’s wealth was so rich that it could keep even the current emperor in check. Even if there was a trick by the nobles, it wasn’t enough to make it fall just in ten years.”
“So?”
“Just because there is a drought, the water that fills the lake cannot suddenly dry up. It’s even more suspicious that the Waieos family, which had grown rich with solid financial power, fell without even having a chance to do anything about it?”
“…Do you think the butler did it?”
“In fact, he disappeared with the rest of Waieos family fortune.”
