Chapter 39

Costance was meant to be the masterpiece of the Orsi family.

Costance Dieter Orsi, age 15.

“The festering wound has burst again. If you don’t apply the ointment regularly, it will scar later, Young Master.”

Despite the maid’s concerned words, the boy shook his head.

“It’s fine.”

The boy spoke in a calm voice.

“Fine? With so many scars already… Young Master, you’re already 15. Doesn’t the Marquis plan to stop the beatings? This is really…”

“It’s because I made mistakes. So please be careful with your words.”

The maid’s face turned pale. She closed her mouth and focused on treating the wounds on Costance’s back.

His back was so full of scars and wounds that it was hard to believe it belonged to a mere 15-year-old. There were more than a few festering wounds, and the bruises that hadn’t faded were dark and discolored.

However, Costance himself was indifferent to the scars.

“Nergal Galinne.”

The boy suddenly spoke.

“Pardon?”

“I heard Nergal Galinne had a daughter.”

“Really?”

The maid nodded.

“She seems to have died in the explosion… Anyway, she’s the first child my father ever expressed pity for. Whenever I feel unfortunate, I think of her.”

The boy spoke softly.

“Why?”

“Because my misfortune can’t even compare to hers.”

The maid remained silent at the boy’s words.

“Where is Alonso?”

“…If you mean the little master, the nanny should have him in the last room. But Young Master, if the Marquis catches you visiting the little master again…”

“This treatment is enough.”

Costance pulled up the shirt draped over his arm.

Before the maid could stop him, Costance stepped into the corridor and walked to the last room. Even before he opened the door, he could hear the baby’s sorrowful cries.

Costance knocked and opened the door, shivering as the cold air rushed into the room.

“The room is cold.”

“…Is it?”

The nanny, who had a kind impression, said with a smile. Costance noticed Alonso in the nanny’s arms and looked around. The fireplace was out. The oil can next to it was completely empty.

Costance immediately brought the oil can from his room and lit the fireplace. Only then did the warm air circulate in the room.

“…The crying has stopped. It seems little brother was cold.”

Costance quietly watched Alonso, who had stopped crying.

“No, Young Master. The little master stopped crying because his brother came.”

“…Because I came?”

“Look, the little master is looking at you.”

Costance looked into Alonso’s eyes, who was looking up at him.

As soon as their eyes met, Alonso smiled bashfully. Costance’s frozen heart melted like the now-warm room. The corners of his lips moved slightly.

“May I… hold him?”

“Of course. The little master will love it.”

Costance carefully held Alonso. Alonso’s wriggling was so endearing that Costance felt happy. Although they had different mothers, Alonso shared some similarities with him.

This child also has long thumbs.

Costance sat down in a chair with Alonso in his arms. In his gray eyes, the child’s smiling face was reflected.

Costance lowered his head and kissed the child’s forehead. There was a milky scent.

The skin was soft. Without a single scar, the child’s skin was very soft and tender.

“I hope Alonso… grows up quickly.”

The nanny laughed at the boy’s words.

“He will grow up soon.”

“I hope he grows up quickly. I hope he talks soon. Will Alonso… like me when he grows up?”

“……”

“Our cousins, the Medrick brothers, don’t like each other. I’m afraid and scared that Alonso and I will end up like that.”

Costance held Alonso closer. Alonso giggled and reached out to Costance.

Alonso’s behavior, wanting to touch his black hair, made Costance chuckle.

Costance lowered his head, letting Alonso touch his hair. Alonso lightly grasped and tugged at Costance’s hair.

Even that action of Alonso seemed cute to Costance.

“That’s because those two don’t love each other.”

“Nanny.”

“But you love the little master very much. You’ll surely be good brothers. The little master will respect and follow you greatly.”

Costance nodded.

“I hope… it turns out that way.”

A year later, even on the eve of entering the Officer Academy, Costance stayed up all night caring for Alonso.

Just being by his mute little brother’s side made Costance feel abundant and comfortable.

He looked forward to his brother’s growth. Later, when he graduated and returned to the mansion, he hoped Alonso would call his name…

Imagining that made Costance feel, for the first time, that he might miss the mansion.

* * *

Four years passed quickly.

“We will now have a speech from the valedictorian, Costance Orsi.”

The Officer Academy, which he entered due to the Orsi family’s policy, suited Costance better than he expected. He built amicable friendships there and experienced many things.

And he graduated.

Before he knew it, Costance had grown from a boy into a man.

That wasn’t all. Costance, who had been stiff and reticent, became a little more expressive of his emotions. Although his peers still teased him for being rigid, Costance had certainly changed.

“Congratulations on graduating.”

“How have you been, Senior Elvin?”

“Well, I was recently promoted to Lieutenant.”

“You must be very busy.”

“Busy, my foot. You wouldn’t say that if you saw the seniors.”

Elvin handed over a bouquet, congratulating him on his graduation. Not wanting to come empty-handed, Elvin had bought a bouquet from the flower shop vendors lined up at the school gate. As expected, the bouquet he brought was the first Costance received; there were no other flowers in his hands.

“It’s yours, Orsi.”

“…I should buy a pretty vase before going to the mansion.”

“Huh?”

Elvin looked at Costance’s delighted face with a curious expression. He thought Costance wouldn’t like it, but… Costance was smiling.

Seeing him shyly sniffing the flowers, Elvin couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thank you, Senior.”

“Ahem, anyway… Did no one from the Orsi family come?”

Elvin looked around. 

For the eldest son’s graduation, shouldn’t at least one person from the family come, even if not the father?

But there was no one. Costance silently nodded in affirmation and checked the time.

“It’s too far for my young brother to come here alone.”

“No, I meant family or relatives…”

“That’s why I should hurry to see my brother.”

* * *

Stepping out of the carriage, Costance looked up at the Orsi mansion.

Unnecessarily large with many windows. Costance glanced at his father’s study and then at the last room. From the outside, the window of Alonso’s room was firmly shut. The curtains were drawn, making it impossible to see inside.

Is he not in the room?

Perhaps the room had been changed. Alonso was now five years old. The last room was cold and dark, quite inconvenient for living. He hoped his father had given Alonso a room as big as his own…

“Oh my, Young Master!”

Costance spotted a maid running towards him with a broom.

“Hello, Angela.”

“Oh my, you’ve become a man, Young Master.”

“I’ve grown a bit taller.”

Costance said.

“By the way, is today a holiday? Or are you just visiting and then returning to school?”

“Today was the graduation ceremony.”

“…Oh.”

Angela finally noticed the graduation certificate in Costance’s hand. Costance couldn’t hide his bitter feelings. He expected it, but no one knew about his graduation.

“Father isn’t at the mansion, is he?”

“But he’ll come immediately once he hears the news.”

“It’s fine. Alonso is at the mansion, right?”

“…Pardon?”

How much has he grown?

Costance’s heart swelled with anticipation. For four years, he wanted to come to the mansion to see Alonso, but he hardly had the chance.

“I mean Alonso. Oh, is he playing outside? He’s at that age now.”

“The, the little master… isn’t at the mansion.”

“Then where is he? Alonso probably doesn’t remember me, does he?”

“……”

“Angela?”

Costance looked at Angela.

“Y-Young Master.”

“Did something happen to Alonso?”

“…T-the little master isn’t at the Orsi mansion.”

Costance’s brow furrowed. Angela was uncomfortable with the conversation and kept avoiding Costance’s gaze.

“What… do you mean?”

“I’m sorry. While you were away, the Master sent the little master out of the mansion.”

“Out of the mansion… did he go to a relative’s house? Whose mansion?”

Costance felt uneasy.

“…The Master sent the little master to an orphanage. It was shortly after you went to school.”

Costance couldn’t believe his ears.

Not to a relative’s house or a school, but an orphanage…? The orphanage he knew? Why would Alonso, who had a father and brother, be sent to an orphanage…

“Where is that man, my Father, now?”

Costance’s face turned icy in an instant.

With clenched teeth, Costance looked as if he might strangle his father at any moment.