| Chapter 20

Words that might sound like a blessing to some, but Lucienne still seemed unable to believe the situation. Lars watched her small hands curled up tightly, trembling, as he picked up his teacup.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all… My father is not the baron. He was just a gambler who only drank. He was terrible at it too. Except for the fact that he died in an accident, he probably has nothing in common with the baron.”

“So your father died in an accident. What about your mother?”

“I don’t know where she is. I haven’t seen her since she sent me here when I was eleven.”

It’s a common story. In poor households, reducing even one mouth to feed is important. That’s why girls were sold off as maids or to brothels.

Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, Lars put down his teacup. Kirhin’s voice also softened.

“Don’t worry, Lucy. From now on, I’ll be your doting big brother who indulges all your whims. By the way, how old are you now?”

“Seventeen.”

“What? I thought you were at most fifteen! You’re too thin and small, our little pebble. You’ll need to eat a lot from now on.”

Lucienne flinched at the strange nickname ‘pebble,’ but her lips soon relaxed. Lars, who had been watching them with curious eyes, pointed his finger.

“Before feeding her a lot, why don’t you look at your sister’s neck wound first, caring big brother?”

“I was going to. Nina, bring some medicine.”

As Kirhin rang the bell noisily, Nina appeared from somewhere with a tray containing medicine bottles and towels. Lars, who sat down in the chair as if it had been prepared for him all along, silently observed Nina’s profile as she applied medicine to Lucienne’s snow-white nape.

Instead of the two useless sons, it was the head maid Nina and the butler Brook who were holding the helm and running the Bickman barony to prevent it from sinking.

There was a clear difference between these two capable individuals. While loyalty to the master was the priority for Brook, for Nina, creating greater profits was the priority.

“Ah, and Nina. Remember this well. From today, this child is my sister, Lucienne Bickman. Prepare what’s necessary with that in mind.”

For a moment, Nina’s eyes trembled faintly.

For her, who held power equivalent to the lady of the house in the current barony, the appearance of a new young lady couldn’t be welcome. Nina maintained an expressionless face, but in Lars’s eyes, he could see her quietly suppressing her anger.

Lars watched her intently with one hand on his chin. Nina seemed to be contemplating whether to quietly accept the new little master’s order or to assert her own opinion.

As if she had made a decision, she lowered her hand that was applying the medicine and raised her head. A strict voice flowed out.

“At the very least, we should be able to prove that the young lady is a member of the Bickman family. Otherwise, people will gossip that anyone can bear the Bickman name.”

The corners of Lars’s mouth curved slightly.

He had no intention of interfering in this matter. Since he made the decision, it was up to Kirhin to resolve this issue. Unlike Brook, who would naturally accept him as the master, Nina seemed to take the stance that she would only serve someone who met her standards.

On the other hand, Kirhin blinked his eyes, pouting his lips as though he hadn’t expected this reaction. Ignoring the gaze that was sneakily looking at him, Lars calmly picked a grape and put it in his mouth.

Huffing out a breath through his nose, Kirhin suddenly walked briskly somewhere.

“Sit down and eat something. You must be hungry.”

As he spoke to Lucienne, who was standing like a wooden pole, she turned her head with a start. Her face, clearly tense, resembled a snow rabbit. If she had fur, he would have held her and stroked it.

“I… can I eat… I’ll wait for the baron to return.”

The child, who seemed quick-witted, acted cautiously as if she had sensed the friction between Kirhin and Nina. She was certainly intelligent, but for some reason, Lars didn’t like that appearance and spoke indifferently.

“Kirhin Bickman will officially inherit the title of Baron Bickman, which means he has the decision-making power over everything that happens in this household. Those who don’t follow the instructions of such a head of the family are unnecessary to keep in the house. It means they’re not loyal. That’s why noble families used to kill or expel all the servants who followed the previous generation. If left alone, there are often cases where they get confused about who the master is.”

Sensing the coldness in his words with intent, Nina swallowed hard.

She didn’t know exactly who he was, but she had seen how the late baron treated him. Despite looking young enough to be his son’s age, the baron was very polite to him and always tense. It wasn’t difficult to figure out who was superior as he always bowed his head.

‘Don’t look at his face carelessly.’

When she first saw the man’s face as she entered with alcohol and snacks, and couldn’t help but stare, Bickman personally escorted her out of the room and said that.

Because her master’s face showed tension that was unimaginable under normal circumstances when he said those words, Nina made it a habit to lower her head whenever the man appeared.

The man’s status is very high. Probably high enough to make a baron family kneel at his feet.

Thinking this way, she couldn’t ignore his words even more.

Lars glanced at Nina, who lowered her gaze, and turned his head. Then he chuckled at Lucienne, who was listening with her ears perked up and a serious expression.

“Since Kirhin said he would make you his sister, you should think about how you can look like his sister and a member of the Bickman family, right? The more awkward you are, the more you’ll be tarnishing your benefactor’s face.”

Wrinkling her nose at him for adding such a spiteful comment, Lucienne carefully said.

“But, I’ve lived as a maid all my life. I don’t know what it means to act like a noble.”

While looking at that seemingly innocent face lost in thought, the medicine bottle rolled from Nina’s hand as she was tidying up the towels. Lucienne quickly bent her waist.

“Ah, I’ll…”

Lars lightly flicked his hand. The water glass on the table fell and shattered with a clang, drawing the attention of both of them.

Silently, as he leisurely crossed one leg, Nina hurriedly approached and began to clean up. Everything was happening naturally.

Lucienne, who had been rolling her eyes in confusion, flinched as if she had noticed something. Her gaze moved from the medicine bottle at her feet, to Nina picking up the broken pieces of the water glass, and finally to him, who was sitting still as if it was natural. When their eyes met, Lars spoke with an expressionless face.

“Start by practicing doing nothing. Think of using the people around you as your hands and feet. That’s the beginning.”

Her ash-gray eyes sparkled transparently. He could tell that Lucienne was absorbing his words exactly.

Teaching an intelligent student is always enjoyable. He generously added one more thing.

“Remember. Your inexperience could be seen as repaying kindness with enmity.”

Having said this much, even if Lucienne acted somewhat arrogantly, Nina would have to accept it. After all, it would be to follow his words. It might not serve as a perfect shield, but it would be better than nothing.

As he was leisurely picking and eating grapes, footsteps were heard. Kirhin, who had returned with large strides, placed something on the table with a thud.

“Lucienne appeared with this!”

The three people’s gazes focused on the small jewelry box placed on the table. It was entirely crafted in silver with fairly large rubies embedded in its four corners.

Nina’s eyes widened. Kirhin, with a face full of delight, proudly exclaimed.

“There are father’s favorite accessories inside. We can say he gave it to Lucienne when she was young as a sign of acknowledging her as his child, right?”

“…Of course, the things in there should be ones that people haven’t seen before.”

Lars coldly said as he picked up a new water glass brought by a maid he had beckoned.

“Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense that he gave it when she was young.”

As if he hadn’t thought that far, Kirhin’s face instantly lost its vitality like a withered flower. Swallowing a sigh, Lars stood up.

“Find more antiques. Preferably something with that unsightly rhinoceros engraved on it.”

“It’s a bull, you know? The golden bull that Rainar Bickman, the first hero of the Bickman family, supposedly killed with his bare hands!”

“Come to the study. There are things you need to know about the succession procedure. We don’t have time.”

As though the business was over, Lars gestured and walked to the study as if it were his own house. Kirhin, who had been staring blankly, let out a long sigh. After pouting his lips in dissatisfaction, he soon smiled at Lucienne.

“Lucy, you eat and rest. When I’m done with work, let’s go for a walk together.”

“Yes, Baron.”

“Call me big brother.”

After winking at Lucienne, who was politely greeting him, he hurriedly followed Lars. If he didn’t follow, he might get his butt kicked in front of everyone.