43. Beggar Siblings – Expectations

Shoving Kasia aside, Leo returned to the mansion, reporting his conversation with the Marquis to the Boss before finding Lena’s room.

He knocked on the door in the corridor, filled with a soft scent of wood and warmth.

“Lena! Big Brother’s here~.”

“Brother!”

Lena, who was reading in her room, hurriedly opened the door. As it swung open, Leo instinctively pulled her cheek, and Lena shook her face, exclaiming, “Hey! Let go of me!”

“Lena~ our pretty Lena. I brought you candy.”

Lena caught a whiff of alcohol on her brother. He wore a grin that wouldn’t leave his face.

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it. But why are you in such a good mood?”

“Just. Something good happened.”

Saying that, Leo sat down on the edge of the bed.

Lena pulled a chair beside him, and the usual trivial banter of siblings continued.

Yet Lena couldn’t fathom why her brother was so happy. It seemed related to his work, yet he never spoke of what he did.

‘He knows. He knows everything.’

She had heard that her brother was involved in managing businesses, supposedly chasing away thugs who bullied small vendors, but why he wouldn’t just say so perplexed her.

Lena felt a bit disappointed but chose to change the topic instead of pressing him.

“Brother. I played with Tian today. You won’t believe it~.”

“Tian? Who’s Tian?”

“San-Tian.”

“Oh. So you call Santian ‘Tian’? You must be pretty close.”

Santian Rauno was Joseph Rauno’s grandson, a boy one year younger than Lena.

“Yeah. I played with Tian today, and he seems to…”

Lena whispered softly.

There was really no one around to overhear.

“I think he likes me.”

As she said this, Lena covered her face and giggled.

Tian was cute.

Being younger, he still tried to show a manly side to her.

‘Oh no! I spilled it to my brother!’

She peeked at Leo through her fingers, only to find him wearing a mysterious expression.

What’s with that face?

“What do you think?”

“……”

“Why the silence?”

“Um, I’m not sure how to say it.”

“Why? Is it because he’s the Boss’s grandson?”

“Not that exactly… but I don’t know if it’s the right time to chat about that.”

His serious tone and expression left Lena a bit baffled.

“Who said anything about dating? I’m just saying he seems to like me. What do you think?”

“Oh, um… Well, it’s only natural. Who in the world wouldn’t like you?”

“Hehe. You’re just flattering me.”

Lena chuckled.

She thought her brother tended to overthink things.

No wonder he’s never had a girlfriend. There are so many girls who like him, yet he seems too wrapped up in his own worries.

Leo had breakfast with Lena every morning before heading out, often eating on the street without bothering to come home for a meal, but to Lena, he only seemed busier than ever.

‘With the family not connecting like this, I guess I’ll have to step up!’

Lena clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Brother. You know Soirin, right?”

“Soirin? Sure.”

“Are you friendly with her?”

“Friendly or not… I really haven’t spoken to her much.”

“I heard she works at a flower shop. We should go check it out together sometime.”

“Why? You need flowers?”

Leo looked around the room.

“Oh, right. We don’t have any pots. I didn’t think about that. Should I buy one for you?”

Hearing his suggestion, Lena narrowed her eyes in exasperation.

As expected, her brother was so clueless and a bit thick-headed. He knew a lot, but was just too principled.

‘Still, saying he’d buy a pot is nice of him.’

This kind-hearted brother deserves a good woman.

Coincidentally, Soirin seemed like an exceptional girl even from Lena’s perspective.

She seemed to have a subtle affection for Leo… most likely true, since Soirin often seemed to wait around just to share breakfast with him. She’d have to wake up at dawn looking her best for that early meal.

However, Leo paid more attention to his sister’s meal than the girl fidgeting anxiously nearby…

“No way. I’ll pick myself. Just take me there.”

“Okay. Let’s go together tomorrow.”

Their sibling chatter continued a bit longer.

Finally, Leo urged Lena to sleep since it was getting late, tucking her in before patting her head gently and exiting the room.

Lena lay in her warm bed, wriggling about.

‘I’m so happy.’

A caring brother, fun friends, kind family, warm food, and a cozy bed, things she had never even dreamt of before.

It had been almost half a year since she got here, and finding any flaws in her happy days had been quite a challenge.

With her mind at ease, Lena began to think about the future.

‘Brother will probably get married someday, right?’

Unfortunately, that vision of the future felt rather unsettling.

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

While it’s great for her brother to find a good partner and get married, she hoped he wouldn’t disappear far away.

‘Will I also… get married someday?’

Suddenly, Tian popped into her mind.

How silly! Why is he forcing his way into my thoughts? That little brat. I like strong men, even if they’re not as tall as my brother.

Lena pushed away the memory of Santian Rauno’s smiling face and continued her worries.

‘I want to live with my brother in the same house forever…’

Despite already living together in this mansion, Lena still didn’t quite feel this place as ‘our’ home.

The family members treated her kindly, but that was all because Leo was part of this place, and she felt like she was still relying solely on him.

‘If I get married in this family and my brother does too, can we live together?’

That seemed possible. If her brother married someone from the family and she found a partner in this mansion, they could all live together, right?

Then Lena might finally see this place as ‘our home.’

‘But does Brother even like Soirin?’

To Lena, Soirin was the only one among the family who suited her brother.

But still, no matter how much she dreamed of living with her brother, his feelings mattered more than her desires. If he didn’t like Soirin, there wasn’t much she could do.

Lena shook her head.

‘No. In my opinion, Soirin is pretty and kind-hearted. He would likely like her.’

First, she should try and get them to see each other more often.

‘And regarding my marriage…’

As Lena began mulling over her future marriage, thoughts of Tian barged back into her mind, hindering her contemplation.

Why does he keep popping up? Can’t he leave me in peace when I’m thinking?

Tossing about in her bed, she couldn’t suppress a smile.

*

War broke out.

The Austin Kingdom declared war and mobilized its army.

In response, the Bellita Kingdom’s capital, Oberg, also sent out its troops.

The thousands of soldiers that the Bellita royal family had recruited and trained throughout the winter marched through Oberg with great dignity, as citizens cheered them on.

“Come back safe!”

“Show those arrogant barbarians who’s boss!”

Straw tossed by the citizens scattered over the heads of the marching soldiers.

As winter was just wrapping up, they had no flowers to throw, so straw was used instead.

“Wow! It’s the Knights Order!”

The procession included the 3rd Knights Order. They displayed their gleaming armor while riding their horses, and the cheers of the citizens reached a fever pitch.

But despite the seemingly relaxed commencement ceremony, the situation on the front lines was anything but optimistic.

The Austin Kingdom’s army, filled with many barbarian warriors, minimized ‘rookie training’ and rapidly marched south.

The troops departing now were slated to arrive at the front by summer, so in the meantime, the ‘Northern Barony’ needed to gather forces from various fronts and engage in skirmishes with the Austin army.

With a pressing need to bolster their strength, the elegantly marching 3rd Knights Order wasted no time after the ceremony and hurriedly urged their soldiers to keep up.

However, the 1st and 2nd Knights Orders had yet to depart. They remained in the capital, awaiting orders from Count Hermann Forte.

Many scratched their heads at the fact that the Swordmaster himself wasn’t participating, but Count Forte firmly stated, “We will depart after assessing the movements of other kingdoms,” and none dared to contest his decision.

The parade concluded.

As soldiers and knights disappeared, the empty streets filled only with straw that rolled about forlornly as citizens returned to their daily lives.

Amidst this scene, Leo scanned his surroundings intently.

A carriage was set to arrive any moment now.

While waiting, he recalled his meeting with the Marquis just a few days prior.

+ + +

“Execute the commission.”

Marquis Benard Tatian summoned Leo to finalize the contract.

Since Toton Tatian had ultimately refused to participate in the war, the father with an uncooperative son grimly announced his child’s situation.

“You’ve been frequenting the royal palace these days, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Understood.”

The Marquis wished for the assassination to occur outside the mansion.

Truth be told, if he intended to kill inside, he wouldn’t have even hired thugs.

The mansion was like the Marquis’s own womb.

Leo took a deep bow and momentarily hesitated, while the Marquis stared at him, contemplating.

What an odd young man.

He was well-versed in imperial etiquette, incredibly handsome, yet a thug.

Not a single aspect seemed to mesh together, and amid it all, his eyes sparkled golden.

He called himself a bastard, but the Marquis didn’t buy it. If this peculiar-looking man was truly the child of his family, he wouldn’t have treated him poorly even if he were illegitimate.

‘A fallen noble. Or perhaps exiled.’

Marquis Tatian easily saw through Leo’s lie. While he evaluated the bowing young man, Leo finally spoke after his contemplation.

“I will carry out the mission on the day the soldiers are dispatched.”

Leo believed that day was optimal.

It was chaotic with the deployment ceremony, making it favorable for assassination and also sending a politically charged message.

It would be said that he killed him because his son refused to participate in the war.

The Marquis nodded as if satisfied.

+ + +

And now, Leo hid in a small shop, surveying the street.

In his hand was a handy single-edged sword, and it was rather short.

The blade glistened with poison.

“Whoo… Haa… Huf…”

Leo glanced at the shopkeeper.

This merchant, drenched in cold sweat from anxiety, had received help from the Rauno Family and accepted the family’s cooperation request without a second thought.

Nevertheless, the jittery merchant kept rubbing his thighs.

Contemplating whether to give a few words of reassurance, Leo spotted a luxurious carriage approaching from a distance.

It was Toton Tatian’s carriage.

When Leo tapped the back of an old woman beside him, the gang member disguised as an elderly woman crossed the street slowly.

– Crack!

The coachman cracked the whip against the ground, and a sharp sound echoed.

It was an angry shout, demanding her to move immediately, but the old lady continued with her leisurely pace, seemingly unfazed.

“Oh dear, is this old hag trying to get herself killed… tsk!”

The coachman clicked his tongue and halted the carriage.

It wouldn’t be a problem to run over one old woman, but he too had aging parents. The slightest incident would result in a scolding from the butler, which he feared.

And since Toton Tatian was not the type to get angry if the carriage halted, he had no choice but to stop; yet he had no idea that this action would strangle his gentle master’s neck.

‘Now!’

As the carriage halted, Leo charged in.

He knew exactly where the target was seated, and the door was ajar.

Bursting the door open and stabbing with his sword, he could then escape through the shop’s back entrance.

A knight accompanying Toton’s carriage received orders from the Marquis. Thus, the knight wouldn’t protect Toton Tatian.

Leo gripped the doorknob tightly, filled with determination.

But then,

– Click.

The door was locked.