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42. Beggar Siblings – Same Dream, Different Stories

“Brother, what’s that outfit?”

“What do you think? Cool, right?”

My brother came in wearing a fancy outfit.

The fit was flawless, with a lush neck scarf and a golden brooch that matched his golden eyes perfectly.

I imagined that if he stepped out onto the street, there would be plenty of women holding their breath at his appearance, which made Lena frown.

“Hmm~ You look like a gigolo.”

“Is that what you’re saying to me? I’ll be off now.”

“Okay. Bring me something delicious when you come back.”

Leo left the mansion in high spirits.

His younger sister was doing just fine at the mansion. She had brightened up a lot while spending time with kids her age, and the little sister who hardly spoke had even started to take the lead in conversations.

Though it was just trivial chatter, seeing Lena full of vigor made him exclaim lately, “Life feels good!”

Leo didn’t hold back as he eagerly hopped into a carriage.

“Take me to Eralin Avenue, please.”

Eralin Avenue was where the noble mansions were clustered.

The avenue was wide enough for three carriages to pass side by side, and guards ambled about among the attendants of the noble families walking along the boulevard.

Leo stopped the carriage in front of one mansion. It was the mansion of Marquis Tatian.

On the surface, it didn’t look much different from the surrounding mansions, but there was one distinct difference: this mansion was surrounded by tall bars instead of stone walls, allowing a clear view of the garden inside.

What a lavish waste to use expensive iron just to fence in a garden… for the sake of bragging rights.

Leo was well aware of how this triviality would be seen as a luxury in this world, compared to modern society.

He shook his head and approached the guard stationed at the mansion, extending a letter envelope.

Upon confirming the seal on the envelope, the guard quickly introduced him to a stern-looking butler who led him inside.

To his surprise, the inside of the mansion was calm.

Despite being filled with all manner of decorations, murals, paintings, chandeliers, carpets, antique furniture, statues, stairs, drapes, and curtains, the overall atmosphere was remarkably cold. The servants moving about seemed as heavy as part of the decor, with their expressions and demeanor.

The butler guided Leo to the reception room and, noting that the marquis’s schedule was still ongoing, offered him some simple refreshments.

The butler stood stiffly without taking a seat. Leo tried to engage in small talk, but all he got in return were curt responses like “Yes” and “Indeed,” with no continuation in the conversation.

After a while, the butler, checking the time, led Leo into another room.

“Master, there is a guest with a seal.”

The butler noted that Leo was a commoner after confirming he was not a noble. Had he been of noble birth, he would have announced his arrival to the marquis in a more formal tone.

A voice that seemed a bit weary came from inside.

“Let him in.”

The butler ushered Leo inside, handing the letter envelope to a middle-aged man leaning over a massive desk, before politely retreating.

Leo stood before the man who appeared to be the marquis.

Seeing him clarified why the mansion’s atmosphere felt both lavish and subdued.

He resembled this cautious-looking man.

Even in his opulent attire, the marquis exuded a restrained charm with his thin yet pronounced eyebrows, ice-blue eyes that seemed frozen, and colorless lips.

The marquis examined the envelope and sent a knight stationed nearby out of the room. Only then did Leo adopt a respectful demeanor.

The marquis flinched slightly and stood up.

“You are no common thug. My apologies.”

He returned Leo’s greeting in the etiquette of the Acaian Empire, which was fine as Leo was familiar with it thanks to his knowledge about the Noble Society.

Nobles established relationships among themselves through customs that commoners could never hope to understand. They communicated their standings through gestures of etiquette.

The marquis motioned for Leo to take a plush seat and sat across from him as well.

“Your etiquette is excellent. Which noble family do you hail from?”

“I’m just an inconsequential illegitimate child.”

Leo lied. Bastards were common among the debauched nobility, making it a perfect excuse, but the marquis raised his thin brows.

“Hmmm? This envelope seems to indicate a commission sent my way… but I heard that the Rauno Family has no noble protection?”

“That’s correct.”

So the Rauno Family had no noble looking out for them. I get it now.

Leo continued to play it off.

“I was born into a humble household and have entrusted myself to the Rauno Family with my lackluster swordsmanship. It’s not that there’s any connection with my family and the Rauno Family.”

“I see. I wondered why such a young person would show up.”

The marquis nodded as if understanding now and stood up to fetch an elegant liquor bottle and glass from a nearby display.

“I would like to offer tea, but… alcohol would be better.”

Leo was glad about that, silently wishing the drink would be quite strong.

“Please, have a drink. Was your journey here comfortable?”

“Thank you. What discomfort could there be? Ah! I saw flowers blooming on the way here, even in winter. They must have been artificially made.”

Leo brought up the topic of the princess.

Nobles enjoyed avoiding direct conversation by employing clever banter to ascertain each other’s interests.

It wasn’t mandatory, of course. They could spill their thoughts out in urgency or anger, just as the marquis had when he was surprised by Leo’s noble etiquette.

Leo could directly ask why the marquis wished to cut off his lineage, but since the marquis suggested they take some time to get to know each other over drinks, he decided to oblige.

The marquis took a sip of his potent drink and spoke.

“Now that’s something rare you’ve seen. Artificial flowers like those…”

Although their conversation was laden with metaphors, Leo learned a lot.

He could see the marquis was clearly perplexed by the situation. It seemed he had no idea why the princess acted that way. The marquis was definitely not communicating with the king.

However, Leo avoided touching on sensitive topics. Perhaps the marquis preferred it that way, as that theme was smoothly passed over. Soon, as the effects of their drinks set in, their conversation took a more direct tone.

Marquis Benard Tatian pressed an ice cube into his drink with a teaspoon and said, “It’s concerning when crew members lack courage in avoiding storms. As a captain, one must do their utmost to prevent the ship from sinking.”

“That’s true, but wouldn’t losing a first mate impede the voyage?”

It seemed that the marquis’s suggestion was rejected by Toton Tatian.

The son of a Swordmaster adhered to his father’s words, but the marquis’s son seemed to be stubborn for some reason.

Was he infatuated with the princess?

The marquis succinctly concluded the captain’s decision.

“We’ll have to hire crew from another ship.”

He intended to kill his own son and adopt another. At hearing this, Leo’s eyes sparkled.

“You certainly require a fine sailor. But it’s unlikely any other ship would willingly part with such a sailor…”

Leo cleared his throat.

“You’ll need to seek out an unrecognized sailor.”

With that remark, he subtly clenched his fist.

The marquis didn’t miss Leo’s gesture. He smiled and settled Leo’s excitement with logical talk.

“That’s a difficult task. You need to see them in action as well. It takes time.”

However, it wasn’t a rejection, so hope blossomed within Leo.

“Exactly. What’s harder than personal selections? In fact, I’ve been on a ship before and met someone there. At that time…”

He revealed his little sister’s existence to the marquis.

This was a declaration that he was not the only asset they could procure, but the marquis simply changed the subject as if it didn’t matter.

“Oh, that’s true. There’s no one closer than blood relatives. A long time ago, a friend of mine broke a plate…”

Breaking a plate meant an accident occurred before marriage.

Leo felt a twinge of disappointment but was satisfied enough with the opening that had been made, moving onto a new topic of conversation.

The only close friend he had rushed to marry and produced a daughter, who the marquis claimed was quite a handful—this story was somewhat trivial.

Yet, upon closer examination, it seemed there was a hidden message there, but as the inebriated marquis rambled on with empty tales, Leo began to think different thoughts.

‘If I can leverage the marquis’s power, I can make Lena a princess.’

An incredible event was hidden here.

Though the marquis didn’t show much interest at that moment, it was something to gradually prove.

He had a son with knight-level swordsmanship and a daughter beautiful enough to shake the kingdom. If Leo was to take the job, demonstrate his skills, and present Lena to the marquis, he would undoubtedly adopt them as siblings, son and daughter. Then…

In Leo’s eyes, chasing off the prince of the Conrad Kingdom seemed much easier than this.

Having brooded over the lack of information on the Conrad Kingdom, he struggled to conceal his desires as he engaged in further conversation with the marquis, bidding his goodbye.

Finally, Leo elegantly bowed, promising to return to arrange the time and place for the commission, and the marquis assured him that he would offer a generous reward to the family.

As Leo stepped outside the mansion, he found himself holding a pass given by the marquis.

He hummed a melody under the influence of the liquor as he hopped back onto the carriage.

It felt like something was finally going to unravel.

And from the tall window above, Marquis Tatian neatly arranged the liquor bottle and glasses.

He had never been drunk in his life.

*

Leo felt the sharp sting of intoxication as he returned to the leather district.

His meeting with the marquis was satisfying.

He had nearly completed the task assigned by the boss, and he had found a way to make Lena a princess.

‘Oh right, Lena asked me to bring back some snacks.’

He glanced around but saw that it was too late for any shops to be open.

Leo hesitated for a moment in annoyance, but recalling how happy Lena would be with the snacks, he turned around and headed for the resting place in the leather district. Oberg was probably still on duty.

Oberg always had food on him. He enjoyed snacking, but despite his rough appearance, he had a kind heart and occasionally shared food with beggars.

“Oberg! I’m back…”

As the snowflakes began to fall, Leo shook off the snow and was about to greet Oberg when he stopped short.

“Oh, Leo, you’re here.”

He was with Kasia.

Lena’s smile faded a bit as she took a moment to gather her thoughts and brought up the matter. She didn’t even look at Kasia.

“Do you have any snacks? I promised I’d bring some for Lena, but I forgot.”

“Something for Lena? Just a moment.”

As Oberg rummaged through his drawer, Kasia stared at Leo, who she hadn’t seen in a while.

Leo found her gaze very unsettling and unpleasant.

He didn’t like that woman.

It wasn’t something Kasia had done now, but the resentment from the past lingered, and he stood waiting in silence, not greeting her at all.

“Here you go.”

Oberg handed him a paper bag, the crinkling of thin wax paper filled with candy inside.

“Thanks. I’ll definitely repay you.”

“Repay? We’re family.”

Oberg gave him a look full of goodwill. Was it the effect of his achievements? Leo was quite popular within the Rauno Family.

Leo thanked Oberg and hurriedly made his way back toward the mansion.

– Click-clack

However, Kasia quietly followed him. Leo pretended not to notice, but she stubbornly kept up behind him.

‘Just how far does she intend to follow me?’

She truly was a strange woman.

Kasia had stopped by to inform Oberg before heading to her work.

She did this regularly. She was sharing information she had gathered from the brothel yesterday under the pretense of protection.

She hadn’t always done this, but to Oberg, she was someone like a savior.

Long ago, Oberg shouted at Kasia when she was about to take her own life. He sternly told her that even in the depths of despair, sunny days would come, and with his rough yet sincere demeanor, he turned her around.

With those heartfelt words, Kasia chose not to die. It was meaningless, but still, she continued to live.

Then she met this young man.

Just seeing him caused her heart to flutter. Kasia bit her lip, watching his back.

‘Why am I acting this way?’

Before she knew it, she was trailing him.

They were walking in a direction opposite to that of the brothel.

Leo had run off to the Rauno Family, but Kasia couldn’t forget him.

And now, after six months, this man had transformed from a gaunt figure to someone robust, with a calm strength that rendered him unrecognizable.

Kasia held her breath, trailing behind the grown-up version of him, when Leo suddenly spun around in a narrow, dark alley.

His face was hidden in shadows. Kasia wanted to see his face and moved closer.

I want to embrace this man.

‘That annoying woman.’

This woman had reached out to him like this before.

The smell of old leather and dust, the jangle of scattered coins, curses spat from Lena’s sweet lips, and her fleeing figure.

And the struggle… Leo felt the sensation of the palm that had strangled Kasia’s neck returning to him, making him nauseous.

He exerted a bit of strength and pushed Kasia away. Startled by the shove, Kasia curled her hands back in surprise.

Whatever the case, Leo simply turned away. Brutally, without a single farewell, he strode back toward the mansion.

Kasia, lost in the dark, was at a loss for what to do. She stood motionless, just watching his retreating footsteps in a daze.

Her bumped shoulder felt like it might break.

As snow piled up on her head, she stood absentmindedly in the alley until finally, she burst into tears.

It had been ten years since her father’s funeral.