Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Family's Return and the Portrait Request
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I barely managed to survive the crisis of having my head nearly split in two while the priests shouted, "This blasphemer!", but that didn't mean I could neatly undo the terrible first impression I'd already made.
Even though their glares had softened just a bit, the piercing stares directed at me still made my whole body prickle uncomfortably.
Over the past few months, I'd drawn some aggro, and I'd nearly triggered a failed confession of sins, so it was only natural—karma I had to accept sweetly. The real problem was that the service hadn't even started yet.
I had to spend ten hours in the cathedral from here on out. If I dozed off or made a mistake in the middle?
I probably wouldn't make it home today.
"Ugh..."
Whenever my mind started to haze over, I pinched my thighs and leaned on Emily's help, desperately trying to stay sharp for the service. Fortunately, I made it through without a single slip-up and finally exited the cathedral.
The content didn't sink into my head at all, it was boring as hell, and yawns relentlessly tried to pry my jaw open every chance they got, but I didn't mess up once.
I have no idea how I pulled that off.
Maybe the brush with death had awakened me? That was my cautious guess.
"Um... good job."
"Yeah..."
With Emily's encouragement, I dragged my trembling legs out of the cathedral and barely climbed into the carriage before heading straight home.
In a half-dazed state where I didn't even know what I was doing, I changed clothes haphazardly, collapsed onto the bed, blinked, and suddenly it was morning.
"Whoa, this isn't easy."
Going through the kind of all-nighter fatigue I'd only experienced from sleepless nights, all because of a church service—it felt utterly different.
Well...
In any case, a spectacular and thrilling week had passed: attending the Imperial Princess's birthday alone, inviting Elizabeth home, and nearly getting branded a heretic on Holy Night.
The week had been so packed that my stamina for outside activities was hitting rock bottom, making me wonder if I could keep going.
"Young Master, the Earl and Young Earl are back."
"What? Really!?"
Lately, the world had been screwing me over hard, but it seemed God hadn't completely abandoned me. In my desperate state, I fervently prayed, and fortunately, just as the sun was setting, Father and Brother returned to the Imperial Capital.
Now I wouldn't have to draw aggro from the nobles around me anymore.
And I no longer had any reason to mingle and greet high nobles.
I could even push the upcoming New Year's greetings off onto Father or Brother.
"Father...! Brother...!"
Overwhelmed with relief at the heavy burden of duties that had been crushing me finally lifting, I rushed out barefoot and threw my arms around Father and Brother as they entered the townhouse.
"Hey now, William, what's this all of a sudden? Did something happen?"
"Heh heh, this is the first time in my life I've seen William greet us so warmly."
The guy who usually slunk out mumbling just a "You're back?" had suddenly gone full hug mode, so Father and Brother looked flustered. Still, they didn't seem to hate it, chuckling lightly as they patted my back.
We shared a heartfelt embrace for a few seconds before releasing and stepping back.
"William, anything happen while we were gone?"
"Not really, just some headaches from stuff that didn't suit me."
"Haha, but you're a noble now, so you need to get used to it. You'll get called to more of those from now on."
"...Isn't there a way to live leisurely in a quiet estate?"
"Dream on."
"Ugh..."
It used to be my dream once, but now it felt like an unreachable paradise forever.
Well... aside from the tough parts, things weren't bad now. If only I could cut back on the social stuff somehow.
"By the way, how's Sister-in-Law? As Mother said, she's fine, right?"
"Yeah, she was so healthy that we ran into Wilhelmina leisurely strolling the grounds the moment we arrived at the estate. She was so flustered seeing our faces—you should've seen it. I was embarrassed for her."
I asked what had come of the reason I'd suffered so much and Father and Brother had rushed back to the estate.
Father glanced at Brother without hesitation and launched into a mocking explanation, sneering all the while.
"Urgh... Father, even so, she lost a lot of blood—how could you not worry?"
"Why leave out that your mother said she was fine?"
"How do I know if that was just polite talk?"
"You think your mother would say something like that formally?"
"Well... no, but if Mother said she lost a lot of blood, you'd rush over too, right?"
"I trust Helen when she says she's fine."
"I would've trusted Wilhelmina if she said—"
"You unfilial brat—even if you're a doting husband, doubting your own mother? Looks like Helen hasn't disciplined you enough yet. Do I have to step in myself?"
"No, I was wrong... I'm sorry..."
With his senses fully returned, Brother clearly felt the shame of his actions, his face flushing as he stammered lame excuses. But when Father glared coldly and flicked his fingers in a gesture like he was about to cast a spell, Brother immediately tucked tail and admitted his fault.
Just as Sister-in-Law was Brother's reverse scale, Mother was Father's. Best not to poke that and risk getting smashed.
"Sigh... William, loving your wife is fine, but don't go that far. If both of you end up like that, your mother and I would clutch our necks and collapse."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
Sighing and rubbing his temple at Brother, Father glanced at me and gave sincere advice.
No telling the future, but Brother's display this time was too pathetic—I couldn't imagine myself turning out like that no matter how I thought about it.
I'm an adult with a kid on the way; I don't want Mother beating me.
Plus, imagine ten years from now, when my nephew's waist-high, and Sister-in-Law smiles kindly saying, "When our Ashley was born, your dad..."—embalming the black history for generations.
How embarrassing would that be to live with.
"Ahem! Ah, jeez, did the long carriage ride wear me out? I'm suddenly tired, so I'll head up first... Oh man~"
Unable to withstand the pitiful stares from me and Father, Brother fled upstairs with awkward acting.
"Sigh~"
Watching his back, Father and I shook our heads and sighed in unison.
Would he improve by the time the second nephew comes?
Or would he avoid a second out of fear? That'd be its own problem.
What if he went off to the Holy Kingdom to become a priest like Big Sis?
No backup heir would mean the succession falling to me—a disaster.
Of course, Sister-in-Law would manage Brother properly, so no worries.
Worst case, Mother or Father would fix it with mental therapy magic (physical).
"More importantly, Father..."
I shoved the unhatched future out of my mind and turned to ask if he'd eaten, only to spot servants grunting and hauling something behind Father. I frowned.
"Father, what's that?"
"Your childhood portraits. We had them done every birthday, remember?"
"Huh?"
Portraits out of nowhere?
No one had asked, and no reason to bring them here, so I blinked at the servants. Father twitched one corner of his mouth and his shoulder.
"The Imperial Family suddenly requested them."
"The palace? Why the heck do they want those?"
"No idea. They just asked us to bring them."
Portraits cost a pretty penny each, but they weren't insanely expensive.
Not like they needed new ones—just handing over a few existing ones was no big deal.
"Urgh..."
Still, the whole situation of handing over my portraits felt inexplicably creepy.
Especially since it was my portraits they wanted. Weird.
Not recent ones either—old ones from years ago. No clue why they'd need them.
"You sure that's okay?"
"Suspicious, sure, but what harm can portraits do? We already skipped the Princess's birthday for personal reasons, so even if it's odd, we have to comply. Or do you want to face a pissed-off Emperor and Princess instead?"
"Whew~ If substituting with portraits covers it, that's a win."
"Exactly."
Still better than facing a fuming Emperor, so I switched gears and grinned brightly.
Pretended the portraits didn't exist, erased them from my mind, and turned my head slightly.
"Father, more importantly, have you eaten?"
"About to. You?"
"Me too."
"Alright, let's eat then."
"What about Brother?"
"Edward..."
At the mention of our runaway brother, Father trailed off, furrowing his brow and glancing at the ceiling.
"Tch, let him starve today. If I see that face now, I'll just nag through the whole meal."
"Ah, yeah..."
I trailed after Father as he clicked his tongue and headed to the dining room.
The quick-witted servants scattered to their tasks without heading upstairs.
Brother could get a snack from the butler later anyway. Whatever.