Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Main Family Education
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At that moment, cutting through the tense atmosphere so thick even breathing felt too loud, I spotted Dad walking over from the side.
Dad, dressed in his military uniform, had the exact same face as Grandfather.
"What is this about?"
Grandfather twisted his lips as he stared for a moment at Dad, who had immediately pulled me and Dietrich into a hug upon arriving.
Grandfather's gaze swept in turn over Dad, us siblings, and Uncle's family.
His eyes lingered especially long on Marc, who was still sobbing in Mom's arms, and on Dietrich, whose shirtfront was splattered with Marc's nosebleed.
It was the look of a family head assessing racehorses at a track—not that of a blood-related grandfather.
"Dietrich and Mariella have reached the age to receive main family education."
Uncle's face went pale in an instant.
He panted as if about to say something, glancing back and forth between us and Grandfather.
But Grandfather didn't give him a chance to speak.
"What do you think?"
Instead of Uncle, Grandfather addressed Dad.
I threw my arms around Dad's leg and pleaded with my eyes.
'I get that main family education is a big deal.'
I'd heard all about it from Florian before.
'But I'm still only four!'
Knowing the imperial script and a few numbers was plenty. Studying alongside big sisters and brothers twice my age or more? No way!
I looked up at him, convinced Dad would take my side and refuse. He reached out and stroked my head.
Of course, my dad would...
"When should we start?"
"The sooner, the better."
"Understood. We'll prepare."
Even as Dietrich and I gaped in shock, Dad didn't spare us a glance.
He was too busy discussing main family education with Grandfather.
...Traitor!
He fought with Grandfather all the time, but when it mattered, they saw eye to eye!
I barely remember how we got through dinner.
Uncle's side was predictably stormy, and our side was subdued because Dietrich and I spent the whole time spaced out.
'What a waste of Grandfather's setup.'
After the meal, Dietrich and I ignored Dad in perfect sync and bolted back to the annex.
"How could Father do this to us!"
"My Mari!"
"At our age, we should be running around playing, not studying!"
"My Mari!"
"Besides, baby Ella's just a talking potato!"
My words... what did you call that, man?
"And Ditri's a talking sweet potato!"
"Sweet potatoes taste better than potatoes."
"No they don't? No they don't? Sweet potatoes are too sweet and get boring fast?"
"No they don't? No they don't? Potatoes are so bland you don't even want to eat enough to get sick of them?"
Florian, watching our hypersensitive bickering, let out a soft chuckle like a sigh.
He'd pulled us—huddled in his room to dodge any potential Dad visit after returning to the annex—apart just before we started a real fight.
He handed Dietrich a chocolate bar and me a glass of milk, then spoke in a low voice.
"Main family education from the Northern Duke house. If anything, I'm jealous of you two."
"Huh?"
"Wha?"
Florian smiled faintly at our simultaneous goofy noises.
"It's a great honor. As nobles, you should learn as much as possible, as early as possible, thinking of your futures."
His position was precarious, but he was still the empire's most legitimate heir.
His words carried real weight.
It was the firm tone unique to someone who knew the burden he carried.
Dietrich and I exchanged glances.
Even in his resolute speech, Florian's voice held a hint of regret.
Even oblivious Dietrich picked up on that much.
Dietrich cleared his throat lightly and ventured cautiously.
"Well, if we're splitting hairs... you're the first of us three to start lessons. Father's checking your work every day, right?"
Really?
I hadn't known that, but Dietrich—who'd started sword training alongside Florian's recovery—seemed aware.
"I'm grateful to Lord Leopoldt. I know it's no small thing for him to make time every day despite being so busy."
Dad probably needed three bodies to keep up right now.
Patrols of the camps, distribution of spoils, reports on minor issues in occupied territories—every day.
And on top of that, overseeing Florian's studies daily.
Yet Dad never neglected Dietrich or me.
He'd sometimes come to my room and read picture books until I fell asleep.
"But I want to grow faster."
Florian clenched the fist on his knee.
Dad was swamped, so even his attention couldn't fully satisfy Florian.
For Florian—who'd been anxious about the emperor's condition even before arriving—it must feel like an unending thirst.
'If I asked Grandfather to let Florian do main family education too...'
No. That wouldn't do.
It'd look bad for the crown prince to join the duke house's program.
That was separate from having Dad as a personal tutor.
The emperor appointing Dad as Florian's teacher was barely within protocol and tradition.
A bit excessive entrusting the prince entirely, but still.
But participating in the Northern main family education system itself? It'd seem like the imperial family excessively favoring—and submitting to—one vassal house.
Totally different from privately hiring a Northern family member.
I pondered briefly.
'Dad's going to get even busier.'
As long as Uncle wouldn't leave our family alone, Dad would have to keep beating him down—and shoulder all the blame instead of us kids.
Handling Florian's extensive studies solo would be impossible.
"...But right now, circumstances leave no choice. I'll have to make do."
True to his familiarity with resignation, Florian quickly shelved his desires.
Dietrich and I exchanged glances again.
Interpreting it his way, Dietrich scratched his neck awkwardly and stepped in.
"Hey, then maybe you could secretly do my homework for me or—Ow!"
"Ditri's a dummy!"
So clueless! Not the time for that!
Florian burst into quiet laughter watching me poke Dietrich's side and scold him.
His mood hadn't fully lifted, but for now, it was enough.
The grand assembly's dates approached.
Nobles without specific roles from the main house usually stayed at their estates or townhouses in the capital.
The day they all converged on the Northern Duke house was a true spectacle.
The entire duke residence buzzed from early morning.
With even the corridor carpets replaced, the already majestic atmosphere grew even more imposing.
'Gotta stay as quiet as possible.'
Uncle and Aunt were graciously and elegantly greeting guests as if they'd never been scolded by Grandfather, so our house couldn't cause a ruckus.
Out for a walk with Laura, I spotted Grandfather approaching with a horde of retainers and quietly prepared to turn away.
I'm small, so if I sneak around...
"I hear Lord Leopoldt has moved into the main house to stay."
"That's right."
"Well done, Your Grace. He's your eldest son—can't have him wandering outside forever."
"The boy's so headstrong, who knows when he might bolt again."
"Now he has kids of his own—surely not. Besides Erich, who stayed here... that other pair."
"Dietrich and Mariella."
The hot topic was, predictably, our family.
I shelved my plan to slip away unnoticed and eavesdropped from behind the shrubbery.