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306. The Siblings Ep – The Vanishing Siblings

‘But there’s nothing I can do.’

Lean thought so. Iina de Isadora, his aunt, expressed her delight by saying,

“Congratulations on your engagement. I’m even more pleased that my nephew is safe.”

However, he knew the future.

Including her, Prince Vivian de Isadora and his party would be leaving Oberg next week. Princess Chloe de Tatalia would be kissing Gilbert Forte.

The very invitation to Prince Vivian was part of Astroth’s plot disguised as the king, and Lean had no way to stop it.

Hadn’t he already tried?

When he killed Gilbert, the princess kissed someone else, and when he stopped Gilbert, she ended up kissing him. No matter how far he sent him away, it was the same.

He couldn’t just send the people who had traveled for months back home… Even if the prince asked them to return, they wouldn’t.

So, as long as Astroth was around, {war} was inevitable.

It had just changed its target.

Moreover, trying to prevent this might draw attention from that creature. He could talk, but that ancient beast wouldn’t hesitate to tremble with joy upon seeing him.

It had waited a long time.

If he came into that guy’s sight, it would be the end.

He would be devoured by Astroth, and his younger sister’s happy ending would be lost. Lean did not forget what mission had been entrusted to him.

“It would be a great joy if my aunt and cousin could attend my engagement party in the week after next. And this is a humble gift.”

He took out two invitations that revealed his purpose for being there. Princess Iina accepted them with a puzzled look.

It was a mirror. Ordinary.

Lean felt the gaze of Marquis Tatian fixate on it and smiled gently.

“Having it will surely bring you good fortune. It will be around the time you have ‘returned’ to the Aisel Kingdom. It’s not enchanted, but please have it verified as soon as you arrive at the palace.”

It was common for a noble to check with a sorcerer when gifting something to another noble or royal to ensure no strange magic was placed upon it. Prince Vivian, who received the same gift, nodded.

“Thank you. It’s a nice mirror. But I rarely use mirrors, so I’d like to give it to someone else. Would it be alright if I presented it to Princess Chloe de Tatalia?”

“I would be even happier if you did so.”

Of course, that wouldn’t happen.

As Lean finished his business, he spotted Marquis Tatian pursing his lips slightly. Now all that was left…

Prince Vivian called a servant to take the mirror.

As expected of the Aisel Kingdom.

True to its reputation as a magical kingdom, there seemed to be a sorcerer among their party. Vivian ordered a sorcerer with some middle name ‘Jayken’ to take the mirror and turned away.

“However, I’m not sure if there’s any room in the schedule. If there’s time, I will definitely attend. Congratulations on your engagement again. I hope I can be in your position as well.”

He laughed heartily, showing his white teeth. Naturally, his intentions were concealed. Iina de Isadora played along with the intent.

“My nephew will have to work hard. I don’t think he lacks anything, but… Princess Chloe is said to be the flower of the continent. Marquis Tatian, may I ask what kind of person she is?”

It was like a serious matchmaking setup between a young man and his mother.

However, meetings among royals could rarely be so innocent; it was politically motivated.

Having not touched a single morsel of food, Marquis Tatian painted a vague picture.

“You won’t hear anything different from what you’ve heard. She is a modest and beautiful princess. There’s nothing more I could tell you.”

Except that she sometimes loses her mind. Over five chamberlains have secretly been dismissed due to her nerves, but Benard chose not to mention that. Whether the marriage goes through or not isn’t my concern.

Also, Lean de Yeriel’s words bothered him… What’s that guy up to?

“But you must have some advice to share, right? For instance, things that Princess Chloe likes…”

Iina asked somewhat insistently. Marquis Tatian answered casually.

“She likes nuts.”

She sometimes devoured them in heaps, seeming quite angry. Iina sensed the marquis had no intention of helping and shifted direction.

“Nuts, huh. Thank you. I won’t forget your advice. Dear, how about you…”

A light sigh.

“How have you been?”

“…”

Lean observed Count Forte with his arms crossed. Iina’s exhaled sigh and the Count’s attitude were all calculated actions.

It struck him as a rather cold couple, and he speculated on their relationship. He felt the need to do so.

+ Reriana, born in Rutina Castle… (Omitted) …noticed Lean de Yeriel’s strange behavior and pressed him. Reriana disguised herself to infiltrate the Forte household to help him as she investigated Count Hermann Forte’s past while utilizing the Count’s routine of frequenting the royal palace… +

It was a detail from the last chapter.

During the scenarios involving the childhood friend and two engagement relations, ‘I’ moved freely. Yet there was a unique action taken among them.

It must have been because his younger sister was being stubborn, but he sent Reriana to the Forte household. The bit about digging into the Count’s past caught his eye.

Why did he do that?

At that time, he didn’t even know that the Swordmaster was suppressing the evil god who had usurped the throne.

Count Hermann Forte was simply a target he would one day seek revenge against, nothing more, nothing less, yet ‘I’ wanted to know about the Count’s past.

Perhaps it was because I had become free, noticing the Swordmaster’s reason for existence or maybe because it was widely known that Count Forte had been divorced, leading him to investigate it.

Iina de Isadora.

Being so closely related to her, he must have poked into whether there was something useful to find.

Nevertheless, at that time, Iina hadn’t even appeared there, so it seemed he achieved little. Then Marquis Tatian spoke up.

“I’ll take my leave first. Prince, if it’s not too intrusive, may I greet your retainers as well? It wouldn’t be polite to return just like this.”

He was trying to steer the situation. The marquis would meet with ‘Baron Oliver Trudy’ alongside the prince while Lean, Gilbert, and the divorced couple remained in the tent. Lean excused himself, claiming he needed to relieve himself.

“Do you happen to have any spare tobacco?”

“I don’t smoke, but… Hey, Chase! Lend me some tobacco.”

“Thanks. Sorry to bother you, but do you want to share? I can’t get a fire going.”

Lean went behind the tent and lit up with a knight who looked like a relentless smoker.

“The scent is quite unique. What is this?”

“It’s leaves from a plant called Bellflour. The scent is strong and nice. The only downside is how hard it is to procure.”

“Haha. I’m sorry for taking what you save. Thank you. I will definitely repay you someday.”

Having exchanged only trivial chatter due to the lack of anything else to discuss, Lean was listening intently at the tent. Normally, it wasn’t appropriate to stand this close to a royal’s tent, but since he came out from there, no knights were stopping him.

Voices could be heard from inside.

“…You came again to do this… I’m so tired of it. Your majesty…”

“Right! Begging… What are you…”

“Haha! Just hearing such words from noble royalty gives me glory that will last for generations. Even if I haven’t married.”

“…Do you think that’s why I’m doing this? I also…”

“That guy’s anxiety… Enough! I’m the one who asked…”

“Please stop!!”

In a brief silence, Lean puffed out a cloud of smoke and asked,

“What’s that about? Royalty?”

“Hmm? You are royalty, right? Oh, does the Belita Kingdom differ?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you talking about the royal family of the ancient Acaian Empire?”

“…………. You’re something else. But for today, you two…”

“That’s partly true and partly not. What I’m asking you about is um… to clarify, the Manzamon (卍) royal family.”

“…Ah, you’re talking about the royal family of the Aisel Kingdom. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Given how you speak, that seems to be the case. But with hair and eye color like that, haha!”

The voices grew silent again.

Lean dropped the nearly burnt-out tobacco onto the ground and parted ways with the knight he had shared a chat with. He casually glanced back and saw him picking up the butt.

Lean did not return immediately.

Taking a moment to stroll, he looked back at the marching entourage preparing to move again, but there wasn’t a significant reason for it. He used a makeshift restroom and saw a mage dressed in blue examining two mirrors. The flags that were pinned here and there all had droplets painted on them.

Lean produced a broken necklace.

[ Necklace – A pretty necklace. ]

His mother’s necklace.

With the appearance of the bound item, the white necklace he had was gone. Of course, Reriana’s didn’t disappear, so it seemed only his had been replaced.

Just like the white necklace, this green necklace had patterns too.

Three raised droplets embossed and inscriptions carved upon them.

Successively representing the House of Isadora, the Cornel Magic Tower, and the Jayken faction, it depicted the complex political structure of the Aisel Kingdom.

This would also be something we would have to unravel someday.

But,

‘That’s not something to deal with right now.’

The beggar siblings would soon vanish. Lean tucked the necklace into his pocket.

The reason he let Prince Vivian de Isadora endure humiliation was because, after all, ‘Reb’ would change everything.

Reb would capture Oriax. Once Oriax was apprehended, the history of the Conrad Kingdom would change as the Asran Kingdom did. Brother Eric de Yeriel wouldn’t expel him, and he speculated that his mother would likely be revived.

Then the ‘beggar siblings’ would disappear. Born as royalty, they’d still be royalty even if the chapter started anew, and even after the ending, he and his sister would regain their bloodline without losing it.

That was the endpoint of this beggar siblings scenario. A perfect conclusion where no tragedy ever fell upon his sister.

Lean raised his hand to make the sign of the Cross Church. He looked up at the city, Oberg, which had only brought them suffering, and burst into laughter, “Haha, hahaha!!” contorting his face.

Soon, with a final laugh fading away, Lean turned around without a hint of regret. Returning to the tent, he bade farewell to the now subdued Gilbert, Iina, and Count Forte, then returned to Oberg with Marquis Tatian.

He had found a way to capture Astroth.

Thanks to being unbound by that ‘shackle,’ the ancient beast that could still make judgment suited to the situation would die based on his decision.

In Lean’s mind, the remaining two rounds, the future that could change, time, relationships, and the vast continent all unfolded at once.

But for now…

“Rena, I’m back.”

His sister’s happiness came first. Reriana shouted, “I’m Reriana! Don’t call me that, it’s disgusting!”

“I don’t want to!”

“Gah!!”

Once again, Reriana’s cheek was stretched long. Just wait and see.