Chapter 117: 31.53

translator: mii

editor: sleepchaser, ASplashofMusic

It’s early afternoon on a sunny day at the beginning of the week.

On the open terrace overlooking the courtyard are a round table and a set of chairs made from the native Leis wood. A covering made of thick fabric has also been placed on the terrace to shield it from sunlight.

The winter flowers have begun to bloom little by little in the courtyard garden. Different varieties of flowers are always in bloom in this garden all year round. Apparently, Lowendal and the gardener have designed it to be that way. That kind of thing doesn’t interest me, so I don’t really understand the specifics. But I do often see old people happily chatting about the garden. Maybe it’s because they’re already old.

As I sneak away from the study—no, as I walk along the corridor on my break, I find Lian on the terrace, bathing in the gentle sunlight with documents spread out on the table before him. He’s reading through them, leisurely taking a sip of his tea every once in a while.

My Lian spends most of his afternoons checking and organizing the documents. If the weather is nice, it’s likely for me to catch sight of him sitting at the open terrace located in the corner of the courtyard.

When I once asked why he liked to frequent that place, he told me that he liked the peace and quiet of the terrace. There’s also the fact that he can view the garden from there, which he finds rather calming, the same feeling one would get when sitting on an engawa. I don’t know what an engawa is, but from Lian’s explanation, I’m guessing it’s some sort of foreign terrace.

Aside from the documents, there are also books piled up on the table. Today, any of them look to be of the technical kind like grimoires, books on magic techniques and magic tools, and illustrated encyclopedias of monsters. The genres of the books on that table also vary from day to day.

Lian’s a very studious person.

But, it’s also kind of charming to see detective mystery novels and adventure novels casually mixed among those thick and seemingly esoteric technical books.

After stacking a bunch of finished documents in a pile and placing them on the table, Lian raises his head and turns toward the garden.

His profile looks listless… Somber.

Lian rests his elbow on the table, props his chin in the palm of his hand, then stares at the distance with a sigh. For some reason, he looks very… very charming. My heart skips a beat.

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Recently, my cute Lian sometimes… within a moment, he’ll unexpectedly turn amorous. It’s quite bewitching… I feel like his actions have recently begun to startle me more.

Maybe it’s his age.

He’s at that age where his features have already lost all sense of childishness but haven’t matured enough that he looks like an adult or young adult. Although he can’t be called delicate, he doesn’t have a muscular physique either. He just looks sinful, oozing a dangerous air that’s capable of arousing men a lo—no! What I mean to say is, he has a fascinating aura to him.

It may just be my imagination, but he’s become beautiful like a blooming flower recently. It could be his age… ah!

No way… maybe this change is because he’s in love?!

Chancing upon this realization, I grow shocked.

In love?!

How outrageous!! Inexcusable! Impossible! Who’s he in love with?!

I have to get rid of that person at once… wait. Calm down.

My cute and intelligent Lian shouldn’t have a lover or anyone like that.

Because Lian’s number one is… me!

Besides, no man around him is more reliable and good-looking than me. Not to mention, our family is the richest and has the highest social status in the territory. So…

No way…

So he’s in love with me!!!

Ah, that’s not good, Lian… I’m your older brother… But if you tell me that you’re in love with me, then as your older brother, I have the responsibility to respond to your feelings.

Alright.

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And even if that’s not the case, it’s still my duty to listen to him and give him advice if he’s having some troubles. I’m his reliable older brother after all!

I’m currently sneaking away from my wo—I’m currently on a break, so I decide to go have tea with cute Lian. That way, I can both heal my heart and listen to Lian’s troubles. Two birds with one stone.

With such thoughts, I head to the terrace.

When I get there, I spot Lian still looking at the garden, his chin resting on his hand.

From behind him, I call out, “Lian! You seem to be daydreaming. What’s wrong? Anything on your mind?”

Lian seems surprised to hear his name called. He jumps a little, exclaiming, “Huh?!” Then he turns his head toward me. “B-brother… You surprised me! Ah, it’s nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”

“But you were sighing, right? Maybe I can give you some advice if you’re fine with that.”

“No!! No, it’s not a big deal. Please don’t worry about it.”

“Is that so?”

As I sit on the chair across from him, the servant who has been awaiting further orders in the distance approaches us with a silver tray in hand. On it is a newly brewed pot of tea. She then pours tea for me and Lian.

“Brother. Um… What about your work?”

“Hm? Ah… I’m taking a small break. What about you, Lian? Have you finished your tasks?”

“Yeah, I was calculating the amount of orders we have to place based on the estimations of the materials we still lack. I just finished a while ago.”

“I see. Hm, you’re really good at arithmetic. Lowendal is also impressed.”

Despite my praises, Lian knits his eyebrows and averts his eyes, looking troubled. “No, I’m not that good at it… so…”

Lian has always been this reserved. I’d even say that he’s too humble. In my opinion, it’s okay for him to puff his chest out in pride sometimes. Lian always denies it, but he really is skilled when it comes to arithmetic and computations.

Even the person responsible for the territory’s financial affairs thanked him with tears in his eyes, saying, “My work has become a lot easier ever since Lian-sama started helping me. I don’t have to work overtime as much anymore. I can finally go home on time more often!”

All of a sudden, I notice a faint redness on the back of Lian’s neck. Each of the marks resemble faint semicircles, but all together, they look to be forming a red line.

“Lian, the back of your neck’s red,” I said, pointing at the marks.

“What?” Lian touches his neck and cock his head in puzzlement.

“Were you bitten by bugs?”

He probably can’t see the marks. So, I take out the mirror I carry with me and use it to show him the marks. When Lian saw this reflection, he widens his eyes.

“Look, there are marks on your nape… Hm? Your shoulder has some too—”

“Wahhh!” shouts Lian, turning a bright red before tightening his collar. “I-I didn’t notice! That bra—”

“Hm?”

“Ah! No, uhh, that… err, let me heal these marks right now!” Afterward, Lian leaves his seat in a panic and runs back into the mansion.

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What’s with that reaction? He doesn’t have to become that frantic, right? Now I can’t have my afternoon tea break with cute Lian anymore…

I let out a sigh, regretting ever mentioning that.

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