Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Bible Ordeal and Father's Honor
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“Job 31:10, 11.”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t know? Then read it again.”
The “simple” problem my sister had prepared was reciting Bible verses she picked at random.
“Even so, no human can memorize every single Bible verse, right?”
I figured that while one might recall key points or summaries, no one could possibly memorize every line from a thick tome pushing two thousand pages.
“I’ve memorized it all.”
“What? Then, what’s Proverbs 6:23?”
“‘For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.’”
My sister had genuinely memorized it all.
“What about Genesis 17:29?”
“Doesn’t exist. Genesis 17 ends at verse 27.”
No matter what verse I threw at her, she recited flawlessly. Even when I tricked her with impossible numbers, she knew exactly how many verses each chapter had.
“No way...”
“What’s no way about it? I just proved it’s possible. You can do it too—you’re smart.”
That was when I realized things were taking a serious turn.
I paled and hurriedly pored over the Bible.
“Epistle to the Romans 13:13.”
“Uh... ‘Let us not carouse and get drunk, or indulge in sexual immorality and debauchery, or rivalry and jealousy. Rather, let us live decently, as in the daytime.’”
“Well recited.”
“Phew...”
The Bible memorization session—billed as a “simple problem”—had started in the evening and dragged on until the next morning before finally wrapping up.
It ended quicker than I’d whined about, but only because my sister went easy on me.
She never said it outright, but she’d deliberately limited the verses to those about morals and conduct.
Had I not noticed the pattern midway through, I’d have spent days buried in scripture.
“Watch your behavior from now on. I don’t want to witness the tragedy of a sister personally judging her wayward brother.”
“Yes...”
After soaking up every last bit of her thorough scolding, I finally escaped the room.
Dragging my leaden body out, I was met not by Emily with an
“Oh,”
or
“Wow,”
but by Father and Brother, who had been watching the door to my sister’s room with faces full of curiosity.
“Finally done?”
“Yes.”
“Good work. Be more careful from here on out.”
“Yesss...”
Father was first, giving me a sympathetic look and patting my shoulder.
“You really pulled through. I thought we’d have to cancel Hayes’s engagement over your funeral.”
Brother laid out something dreadful while lightly thumping my back.
It was meant as a joke, but after nearly dying for real, it didn’t land that way.
“Father? Edward? What are you all doing here?”
As a chill ran through me amid the affection from Father and Brother, my sister emerged from the room a step behind, eyeing us curiously.
“We were waiting to see when you’d come out since it’s been so long since we’ve seen your face... but you grabbed William like a rat the moment you arrived.”
“Sorry. How could I just stand by after seeing my long-lost brother living such a debauched life?”
“Fair enough. It must’ve shocked you—he’s changed like a whole new person in just a few months.”
Father detached from me the instant my sister appeared, subtly showing his disappointment toward her. Strangely, the conversation’s arrows suddenly turned back to me.
I’d already taken all my scolding—why was round two starting?
Ugh... please, just stop... My life’s already at zero...
“His current self looks good though, doesn’t it?”
“Good? Sigh... You and Mother have always been too soft on William. He needs a good, stern thrashing for this.”
“When the Imperial Family’s involved, even I can’t do much.”
“Imperial ties or not, treating women like a prodigal son is a separate issue.”
“True, but isn’t this better than before, when he showed no interest in women at all? Until last year, I thought he’d never marry.”
“Ugh... Sigh...”
Stumped by Father’s awful false choice of “lazy bum vs. skirt-chaser,” my sister thumped her chest in frustration and glanced at me.
“He does seem more lively now, for sure.”
“......”
If even a priestess was admitting a playboy was better than a hermit, just what kind of life had I been living before...?
Hmm, zero friends versus life with two girls—yeah, the latter wins.
“Some slip-ups in the changing process. He’ll get better gradually. Everyone messes up when they’re overly eager at first.”
“Yes... William says he’ll be careful from now on, so probably.”
Father’s desperate cover-up and my awful past behavior let round two fizzle out.
World War II was worse than the first—thank goodness this one’s second round was tame.
“Edward, you’ve grown so much more mature now that you’re married and ready to inherit. Feels like yesterday you were even more of a rascal than William.”
Father’s attention naturally shifted to Brother next, who unlike my laundry list of misdeeds, had nothing on his record except being hopelessly devoted to his wife. Even my sister spoke to him more gently.
“Aw, why bring up stuff from years ago? I was just going through puberty then.”
“Hmph, Dorothy behaved perfectly. No excuses.”
“That’s because she put on airs in front of you, Sister. You should’ve seen the tomboy she was with us.”
“Why couldn’t you pretend like that?”
“How could I put on a false front before you, Sister? A true brother always shows his honest self.”
“Not mature—slyer now. So cunning it’s killing me.”
“Kyaak...!”
Brother played around like old times before she’d left for the Holy Kingdom and got his nose pinched, but compared to a Bible to the head, it was lighthearted fun.
“Evelyn, how long will you stay in the capital?”
“Just long enough to show my face at the ascension anniversary, then see Mother and my sister-in-law before heading back.”
“Hm... Probably too tight for Hayes’s engagement?”
“Yeah. I’m swamped as it is—came rushing because this guy got tangled in such a noisy mess.”
“That was rough, alright. Still, the kid’s got luck; more people helped than expected, so it wrapped up quick.”
“Then why no friends?”
“Good question...”
“Hey, why do you two keep picking on me whenever you’re bored?”
Three times felt excessive, so I pouted at Father and my sister.
“If you hadn’t rotted the family core so much, would we?”
“William, pouting and grumbling in front of Father?”
“Hng...”
No chance of dodging a real hit, so I quickly ducked my head.
The world’s too harsh on me alone.
“Anyway, I’ve kept you tired kids too long after your all-nighter. You’ll need stamina for tomorrow’s ascension ceremony, so both of you rest up.”
As I sulked at the world’s unfairness, Father glanced at his pocket watch and signaled the end of the talk.
Felt too quick for a reunion after so long, but she was here—and work was work.
“Right. Father and Edward have to head to work?”
“Yes. We’ll pick up tonight.”
“Sure, tonight.”
My sister knew the drill too, sending them off with a bright smile instead of holding on.
After waving goodbye to Father and Brother’s retreating figures, my sister and I
“headed to bed now.”
“Yes.”
turned right back to our rooms the moment they vanished.
It was a weekday, so I should’ve gone to work too, but I’d just be dead weight today. I flopped onto the bed and shut my eyes.
Emily or Charles or someone would hear about it...
After sleeping away the day and greeting a new one, I headed to the palace with Father, Brother, and my sister to commemorate the glorious and momentous day of His Majesty the Emperor’s ascension. Unlike before, when Brother’s doting had left me solo-tanking all the attention, this time I had three buffers above me—and with the ultra-rare big sister in tow, no eyes fell on me at all. I enjoyed a rare, utterly comfortable ceremony. “It’s been fully twenty-one years since I donned the crown. So many events have passed, and the countless trials and tribulations along the way were overcome thanks to my loyal retainers and subjects.” His Majesty the Emperor dropped a profoundly meaningful line with a sly grin. “Thus, beyond merely celebrating the moment I ascended the throne, it’s only fitting to honor those who’ve greatly aided in leading the Empire from this very stage.” The heralds bustled around His Majesty. I’d seen this vibe a few times before—one was when he’d tossed the barony my way. The exact same atmosphere had my legs trembling and cold sweat pouring. I couldn’t forget his words then: “Marquis... even...” “Heavenly Father, please—not me this time...” I clasped my hands tight and prayed to the sky. Sadder still: Father and Brother didn’t stare like I was crazy. They just shook their heads and patted my back. Even they figured His Majesty’s hidden card was aimed at me. “Earl Suffolk, Baron Dudley...” After a brief hush, nobles receiving end-of-list surprises were called one by one from His Majesty’s lips. No exact headcount given, so tension gripped tighter with every name. “Baron Latimer, Marquis Butte, and finally.” Nine down, and as the tenth arrived—the last—His Majesty announced it with the brightest smile of the day, staring right at us. “Ah...” No hope left. He’d waited until the very, very end on purpose. To watch me shrivel up under the spotlight. “Damn...” I sensed my fate and closed my eyes. Now “Baron Howard” would come from His Majesty’s mouth... “Earl Hume.” “Eh?” Not me?