Chapter 45: 46

Ted also had quite a good look, but his brother seemed to exude a different kind of atmosphere, as if he were on a different level.

The younger brother opened his mouth curtly, and the older brother affectionately patted him on the shoulder. Ted made a slightly disgruntled expression at his brother’s actions, but eventually broke into a smile.

Watching them from a distance, I couldn’t help but think that there was something special about being brothers.

In fact, Sir Ted had mixed feelings about his brother.

He had always admired and respected his brother, but he also had a feeling of inferiority towards him. As far as I was concerned, they were both great knights.

And when he was in the capital, Sir Ted used to be very troubled, not knowing what to do with that inferiority complex.

It was a relief to see him so comfortable with his brother now, perhaps thanks to some realization or event that helped him ease his mind.

If that was the case, then it was a blessing.

I kept my distance, not wanting to interrupt the brothers’ small talk, but when the conversation seemed to be coming to a close, I stepped closer.

“Welcome to Ensis, Sir Roelich.”

Edwin had already completed his succession as Count of Roelich, but he had been dispatched here as the first Knight Commander of the Royal Family, so it was only fitting to treat him as a knight.

Edwin, looking fondly upon his younger brother, soon turned his head towards me and courteously bowed his head.

“Greetings to the Lord of Ensis.”

I looked at him as if he was a handsome man I saw on a street saying, ‘Wow, what a beautiful face.’

“I’m grateful for the warm welcome, knowing that my sudden visit may have surprised you.”

“How could we neglect someone who is under the command of the royal family?”

Edwin responded with a handsome smile to my words.

“I personally express my deepest gratitude to you, my Lord.”

“Have I done anything to earn your gratitude, Sir Roelich? If so, I am humbled.”

“Did you not take in my lacking younger brother?”

At those words, Sir Ted, who stood like a shadow beside me, bowed his head in response.

I looked at Sir Ted in the distance, then turned to Edwin.

Then he smiled shyly and spoke.

“The whole family were all surprised when Teddius first said he would follow you, my Lord, but no one could prevent him from doing so.”

“…….”

“I was very worried but seeing him fulfilling his duty as a noble knight, I am deeply moved.”

He was an older brother who loved his younger brother very much.

Seeing him speak so benevolently from such a position, I faintly smiled without knowing it.

“Looking at Sir Roelich, anyone would think that you raised your younger brother with great care,”

Edwin responded to my mixed words of subtle laughter as if it were just a common joke, with no embarrassment.

“I just keep him in a corner of my heart [1] because of the significant age difference between us.”

“…. Sir Roelich, I understand how you feel, but…”

I had very few occasions to talk to Edwin Roelich.

That’s because he was always a knight who fought on the front lines with a sword, and me, well, me.

I was nothing more than an assistant overseeing them from behind the scenes, so there wasn’t much opportunity to meet him in person.

So when I met Sir Ted and learned that he had a deep-rooted inferiority complex towards his older brother, I wondered if it was purely because of differences in objective skills.

But now that I’ve met his brother directly… I felt like I had realized a lot of things that hadn’t been explained to me.

“To do one’s duty… Honestly, I don’t find that pleasant. The only person who can evaluate my knight is me.”

Edwin’s eyes widened at my words. I smiled at him as if it was a joke, but then opened my mouth firmly.

“Sir Teddius is an excellent knight who is too good for me. He’s an invaluable knight who serves me perhaps more than any other knight in this country.”

Including you.

The kind brown-haired knight, who made a good impression, blinked his eyes as if he understood the meaning of my words.
So let’s stop talking down about your perfectly fine younger brother and talk about what we need to discuss. That was my intention, but suddenly Edwin smiled faintly and said this.

“I apologize if I have come across as presumptuous.”

He bowed his head to apologize, but then looked up with a mischievous grin.

“… My brother has a good master.”

No, it’s not me, it’s your brother who’s a good knight.

I was about to say something more, but Sir Ted, who had been listening to our conversation in silence, spoke up instead.

“I will someday become a great knight who surpasses my brother and be a knight that is worthy of my master.”

With firm determination and passion, he made his vow, and his brother patted his shoulder with a broad smile.

“Yeah, keep striving for it.”

…And there I was, standing awkwardly between the two physically-oriented knights.

I’m not sure where this atmosphere came from during our conversation just a moment ago.

Taking advantage of the end of the conversation, I glanced at Sir Ted.

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I don’t know why it has come to that atmosphere, but looking at his face, which was now much livelier than before, if my knight has regained his confidence, then that’s all that matters.

・❥・

Afterwards, we moved to the office and decided to listen to Sir Edwin’s business over a cup of tea.

The young and uptight knight in front of me did not open his tightly closed mouth until my vassal had placed a steaming cup of tea before him.

I lifted my share of the teacup that was placed first and looked at the man in front of me again.

This man was certainly one of the characters I had seen most often when I was a reader of <I Picked Up My Husband>.

However, I had never had any contact with the main characters of the work and had only exchanged a few public greetings with the man in front of me.

No matter how big a role a character plays in a work, they ultimately don’t take up a significant portion of someone’s life.

As I sipped my tea, Sir Edwin, who had followed my lead and quietly set his cup down after taking a sip, soon spoke in a serious tone.

“I humbly presume that the Lord must be curious as to the reason why I am visiting Ensis.”

With that, the man who started the conversation began to tell a rather predictable story.

Recently, wizards from neighboring countries had united to investigate the mysterious phenomena and had discovered a specific flow of mana. And that they suspected that there might be some group with ill intent behind the phenomenon.

Well, it was a story that was convincing enough, even though it was hard to fully understand. After all, it was not uncommon to see in novels a villain who seeks to destroy the world.

Forgetting the fact that they will also be doomed if the world is destroyed… 

“Therefore, the royal family formed an organization to uncover the background of the mysterious phenomenon for the peace of the kingdom.”

It was the same organization that appeared just before the ending of <I Picked Up My Husband>. That’s what my intuition tells me.

The man soon declared in a solemn voice.

“The name of the organization is World Peace Committee.”

“…….”

“…….”

No, what am I supposed to do if you just throw out an old-fashioned name and just stare at me?

I looked at Sein, hoping to break the ice, but the gray-haired man merely stood wordlessly and solemnly beside me like an ornament. You just don’t want to get involved, do you?

“Hmm… the name is really… how should I put it, intuitive.”

“The prince himself named it.”

“Sure enough! No wonder it made perfect sense.”

“…….”

Sein, who had just been standing upright, couldn’t stand my tallulah [2]  talk and turned his head to stare at me.

What. What do you expect me to say?

“As expected, you are of the Catlan bloodline.”

Sir Edwin said with a hint of laughter in his voice.

My family’s reaction to the person who named that old-fashioned name was as predictable as the sun rising and setting, so I just decided to put on a shameless expression.

“Back to the main point, the committee is currently investigating the difference between areas with large and small damage after the mysterious phenomenon occurred.”

I could already guess even without hearing the whole story. I tried not to let my dignified face crumble under the mounting sense of crisis.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

“It’s not a particularly special thing.”

The man smiled.

“I came to find out the secret of the peace in Ensis.”

・❥・

My conversation with Sir Edwin ended earlier than expected.

Fortunately, the story he told was not much different from what I had heard from my father.

He didn’t even mention Hisch at all, which made me wonder if he really had just come to visit less damaged territories.

“…….”

Sein cleared the teacups with a clattering sound beside me. Sir Edwin had left first after asking permission to take a look around the territory.

I looked out the wide window toward the garden with my chin resting on my hand and spoke up.

“After listening to what Sir Edwin said just now, do you have anything in mind, Sein?”

My overly peaceful territory.

Hisch, who had been going out frequently lately, and his unusually tired appearance.

And Sein, who often accompanied him, was unlike his usual.

My vassal, who, with fervent eyes, wanted to utilize Hisch’s ability.

The gray-haired man, upon hearing my question, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I narrowed my eyes and asked again.

“The monsters in the territory. You’re not using Hisch to scheme something, are you?”

1. It means he always thinks and worries about Ted, and cares for him.2. It refers to a situation when somebody speaks ill of something and then suddenly changes her mind and praises the same thing just moments later.

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