Chapter 14 – Part 8

Eric looked at the two of them, dumbfounded.

It was a blank face, but it was also a face that was thinking about a lot of things at the same time.

“So, uh, um…… here now…….”

Eric tried to be as open-minded as possible about the scene in front of him.

The two were engaged lovers, and until recently, things had been quite cordial, and his sister was an adult, very young and healthy.

“You seem to misunderstand something, Lord Evan.”

“…It’s okay. I’m not so nosy about my sister’s private life. Besides…”

‘Besides, isn’t it my sister who’s on top of Leonard now?’

He took a deep breath and looked at Joshua, who was sitting far away.

His mouth twitched for a long moment before he managed to calm himself.

“But even if you’re in a hurry… shouldn’t you restrain yourself in front of the child?”

“Brother, it’s not that…… my legs are…….”

“Come here, Josie. Let’s go have lunch.”

Eric called the child quickly, without even listening to Tenere’s excuses.

Joshua, who had been playing with embroidery and an old wooden doll, ran to his uncle at the word lunch.

Eric scooped him up in one arm and looked back at Tenere.

“I’m going to take him, so behave yourself and come downstairs. And, in case you forgot, …….”

Eric paused for a moment. He sighed, his face reddening.

“……The bedroom is on the second floor. The attic is…… not very soundproof.”

“Brother!”

With a shriek, Eric rushed down the stairs.

The child’s laughter faded with his footsteps.

* * *

“I told you it wasn’t like that. I fell over, and my leg went numb, so I couldn’t get up.”

“Yeah. That’s probably it. Of course, it just had to happen in that position, and just at that moment, your leg went numb again.”

“…….”

Tenere came to the dining room to explain as soon as the tingling went away, but Eric was too busy teasing his red-faced sister.

Leonard, who had initially joined Tenere in her explanation, shut up when he saw the corners of Eric’s mouth turn up.

“Oh, it’s okay? It’s possible if it’s urgent. Of course, it’s not good for the child’s education.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that, really.”

Tenere turned to Leonardas as if asking for help.

With a resentful glance that seemed to say why he was just standing there, Leonard finally coughed softly.

“No more jokes now, Lord Evan.”

“It’s not a joke, I’m serious. Although the attic is dusty and has poor soundproofing, it seems like both of you get along well with each other, even now…”

Only after an impatient Tenere pinched and twisted his forearm did Eric shut up.

But only for a moment, as he rubbed his tingling forearm and giggled.

Laura, sitting across from him, looked at him with a quizzical look on her face, then turned her head away.

“……?”

Eric gave her a questioning look, but she didn’t look at him, just clutching her fork.

“… … I’ll go to the eve party with Josie in the evening.”

“… … uh? Uh, okay.”

Eric turned around at the sound of the voice.

Even though he made fun of her, his brother was still his brother, Tenere calmed down her red face and asked him as if it was obvious.

“Would you like to come with us, brother?”

“Sure, why don’t you bring your nanny with you…….”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

Eric glanced at her, and Laura threw up her hands in exasperation.

“It would be nice if Laura could come along, it’s been a while since we’ve been to the capital Festival.”

“Well, no. It’s just a prelude anyway.”

Tenere urged, but Laura finally shook her head.

Eric looked at her with a puzzled expression.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

She had been quite cheerful this morning.

She’d been so excited to hear about the marriage proposal. But why does she suddenly seem uncomfortable?

‘Does she… still have lingering feelings?’

He thought she had completely given up on becoming the Empress, but maybe she still had some lingering attachment.

Or maybe she suddenly felt tempted when she saw the Emperor, who came to the mansion with a marriage proposal.

Eric struggled to look away and spoke.

“I’ll be at the manor today, too, …….”

“And you too brother?”

“Come to think of it, if I join, that’s just being shameless, right? Right, Josie?”

Eric asked, looking back at Joshua.

Joshua was concentrating on stabbing the dumplings on his plate with his fork in one hand.

“…Okay. So, since the three of us will go, brother and Laura can rest.”

Tenere replied as if she had no choice.

Eric glanced at Laura. Her awkward smile was strangely obtrusive.

* * *

After lunch, Tenere and Leonard took a final tour of the mansion.

After the renovations, the mansion was much cleaner and more beautiful than before.

The gardens were colorful with spring flowers.

“Laura is acting a little strange today. She was so excited this morning.”

Tenere spoke softly as she and Leonard strolled through the garden.

Leonard, who wasn’t looking at her particularly closely, tilted his head.

“Really?”

“She seemed uncomfortable the whole time.”

Normally, she would have asked her a few more times, feeling sorry for her alone in the mansion.

But she had been uncomfortable throughout the meal, and Tenere wondered if it was an unwelcome invitation.

Her brother’s late change of heart about staying at the mansion might have something to do with it.

“I’ve been so focused on you…… that I couldn’t pay attention to her.”

“…….”

Tenere glanced at him, unable to answer, but Leonard was in no mood for mischief.

Embarrassed and tickled, she laughed a little.

“You were silent the whole time.”

“Seeing you getting irritated like that was new to me, so I found it fascinating.”

“…….”

“I was also embarrassed, in case you caught me jealous of Lord Evan.”

Tenere stopped dead in her tracks at the hushed whisper.

When she looked up, Leonard coughed softly and turned away.

“You should not be jealous, Leon. He’s my brother.”

“……Yes.”

“Leon.”

Tenere said soothingly, but Leonard didn’t nod.

She wasn’t sure if she was frightened or embarrassed, but she found it a little funny to see a man a head taller than her acting like this.

“A brother is a brother, that’s what you said the other day when we were talking about your mother. Blood or no blood, it doesn’t make any difference.”

“It’s not about that, Tenere. I just…….”

He had always been jealous, jealous of her brother, jealous of the official who had greeted her so casually, even jealous of the horse who received her kiss.

Leonard swallowed hard at what was about to come out and let out a small sigh.

“You’d be surprised at how petty I am.”

“That’s not…….”

Tenere shut her mouth, unable to find the words to retort, but she couldn’t help but feel unnecessarily amused by his words.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to hide her childishness.

“You used to say it was okay to have a concubine after seeing a crown prince.”

“I can’t tell you how relieved I was whenever you said it wasn’t necessary, and didn’t you say the same thing to me?”

“…….”

“I was so sorry.”

“……Tenere.”

Leonard quickly took Tenere’s hand and wrapped it around his shoulder.

When Tenere turned her head shakily, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

“Tenere, huh?”

“…….”

“Now look at me, I’m not going to do that again.”

Tenere squirmed as if tickled, then smiled as their eyes met.

Seeing the corners of her mouth turn up, Leonard kissed her more insistently.

Tenere pushed his chest away.

“What if someone sees us?”

“They’ll just look away.”

“Really……!”

Leonard broke off the kiss when Tenere burst out laughing, but he didn’t seem to want to let go of his grip.

Tenere leaned her head lightly against his shoulder.

“……Now, if only my brother would find someone good, I wouldn’t want anything more.”

He’d always been so protective of his sister that he’d never thought of starting a family of his own.

Despite the possibility of not sharing half of his blood, he assured her that nothing would change.

So now, Tenere only wished for his complete happiness, as much as hers or even more.

“What kind of woman does Lord Evan like?”

“Well…… he said he likes someone tall, straight, and with eyes like this one.”

“And you?”

“Of course, it’s you, Leon…”

As Tenere was about to answer absentmindedly, she realized something was odd and closed her mouth.

There was a smirk on his face as if he’d heard what he wanted to hear.

Tenere nudged him, and Leonard opened his mouth with a small smile.

“Then, Tenere, Marchioness Salvatore would be fine, wouldn’t you say?”

“Alaina?”

Tenere’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected question.

“I think she would suit Lord Evan’s tastes, both in appearance and temperament, and she is on good terms with you.”

“Ah…….”

Tenere nodded slowly.

The Marchioness of Salvatore is also reeling from scandal, including Isaac Salvatore’s rebellion, it seems necessary to gain support through marriage.

Although Marquis Evan is from a family of rebels, he is also the empress’s relative, so it wouldn’t be a big loss from Alaina’s perspective.

“We should arrange something soon.”