A City Outing with Helena
Clutching my stinging back, I glared at my brother with watery eyes. "Why'd you hit me...?!"
"You disappear without a word and don't show your face for a whole day, and now you've got the nerve to talk back?"
"……I forgot."
With nothing left to say, I rubbed my back and muttered under my breath. My brother grinned broadly and slung an arm around my neck, pulling me along.
"Let's go. Father's waiting."
"Why's he up so early?"
"That's just how he is."
……Says the guy who was already out training at this hour. Of course, if things were normal, I'd probably be training too. Thinking about it, our whole family really were model citizens.
Helena watched us with a small smile, looking pleased. She greeted my brother politely.
"It's been a while."
"Oh, Helena…!"
My brother looked between us and grinned, raising a hand in acknowledgment.
"Very proper."
"……What is?"
"None of your business."
"It feels like it is my business, so why don't I need to know……"
Feeling oddly left out, I grumbled as my brother poked my side and strode into the inn with his usual energetic steps.
"You must have it rough, dealing with such an oblivious little brother!"
"Tell me about it."
Frowning at their exchange, I shook my head and followed after them. The Felice Helena liked was already dead, so what was she even talking about?
The first floor of the inn was completely empty when we entered. It looked a bit shabby for lodging that housed a count and his heir. As I glanced around, I spotted my father already chatting with Helena and let out a small breath.
"Helena, you're here."
"Uncle! It's been so long!"
"It has. Some ungrateful brat never brought you around to see me."
"……Hehe, sorry."
Father, with his unusually smooth skin for his age and the air of a handsome middle-aged man, spoke to Helena with a slightly sulky expression. Helena was busy trying to cheer him up with aegyo.
"Come visit more often."
"Of course!"
Watching Helena drag out her words with cute charm, I saw Father's lips twitch. I shook my head and walked over to him.
"……Father."
"Felice. So you finally showed up, you unfilial brat."
"Ahem."
I had no comeback. Even if I was possessing Felice's body, from their perspective, I hadn't contacted them once in the month since entering the Academy. And I'd vanished without a trace from yesterday's banquet too, so I couldn't complain about the scolding.
I coughed awkwardly and avoided his gaze. Father clicked his tongue and looked at me disapprovingly.
"What kind of person disappears without even showing his face?"
"……Yesterday was chaotic."
"I suppose it was. You were escorting Her Highness the Crown Princess, after all."
"……"
My expression stiffened at his words. Father continued, his gaze unchanged.
"Zenon."
"Helena, we should give them some space."
"Ah…… Yes."
Helena blinked in confusion at the sudden shift in atmosphere before following my brother out. Father didn't even glance their way as he spoke to me.
"Sit."
"……Yes."
I carefully took the seat across from him. Father regarded me with his usual calm expression and continued evenly.
"I heard about the Third Prince."
"……"
"And that you were involved."
This was unexpected. I sat there like a mute who'd swallowed honey, unable to speak. Was I going to get scolded over Leonhardt? That had clearly been his fault.
"……Felice."
"Yes."
"You are an Astria. Don't forget that."
"……Yes."
I nodded, lowering my head slightly. Father looked at me with utmost seriousness.
"A single word from you could speak for the entire Astria family."
"Understood."
"Regarding the Third Prince—starting from when you fought him, all the way to beating him half to death—"
Urk……! I couldn't help but furrow my brow. He knew that much?
"You need to understand that it's not just your life on the line with every word you speak. Even if you're not the heir."
"I'll keep that in mind."
From that moment on, all I could do was nod. ……I'd been careless. I had to remember once again that I wasn't responsible only for myself. This was a noble society, not the democracy I knew. As long as I carried the name Astria, every action I took could represent the family. Even if I didn't intend it that way, the world might interpret it that way regardless. And I had to remember how many people were bound under the name Astria.
"A noble is someone who bears responsibility. Remember that, Felice van Astria."
"……I'll engrave it deep in my heart."
"You may have done the right thing, but it could still be seen as representing all of Astria."
"Understood."
From insulting the prince to beating him—without Achillea, any of it could have become a serious problem.
"……If you're reflecting on it, that's enough."
I looked at Father as he exhaled softly, then stood up with a bow. One wrong move could have put everyone in danger. Father waved me off.
When I stepped outside the inn with a heavy heart, Helena and my brother were standing there waiting.
"Did the talk go well?"
"……Yeah."
My brother probably knew everything too. From the bitter smile on his face, it seemed he'd known but pretended otherwise. I gave him a small smile, and he patted my shoulder in silent comfort.
Thud…! Thud…!
……It felt more like he was scolding me. After pounding my shoulder hard enough to break it, he grabbed it and spoke in a low voice.
"Don't forget, Felice. You are an Astria."
"……Yeah."
"Even if you ever cast that name aside, Father and I… our Astria family will always be on your side."
Grinning as usual, my brother ruffled my hair and raised his voice.
"Now go on, get out of here."
"Got it……"
"No, don't go back to the dorms."
"……Huh?"
My brother cut me off firmly. I blinked slowly at him, and he shook his head.
"You've got too much on your mind. Going back today won't do you any good."
"……"
"Since you're already out, go have some fun with Helena. There's plenty to see around here."
I recoiled in horror at his playful wink, my face twisting in disgust.
"Stop it, that's gross."
"……Calling your own brother gross. That hurts, you know?"
"Whatever. I'm going."
Seeing him treat me the same as always, I felt some of the weight lift from my chest and waved lightly. He smiled and waved back.
"……What about my opinion?"
Helena, who had just finished saying goodbye to Father and my brother, hurried after me in confusion. I laughed playfully and shrugged.
"Since when was your opinion important?"
"……What did you say?"
Helena burst out laughing in disbelief as I poked her side and started walking.
"If I say we're going, we're going."
"Pfft…… You're so selfish, as always."
I took Father's words to heart and my brother's words to mind. I was Felice, and Felice was me. Therefore, the heavy shackles of the Astria name were mine to bear as well. Helena smiled brightly as she watched me try to shake off my heavy mood.
I spoke to her in an even brighter voice than usual.
"So, where should we go first?"
It had been a while since I'd gone out, and this was my first time freely exploring a city in this world. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited.
"Felice, you don't know anything about this stuff, right? Just follow me."
Helena marched ahead with surprising reliability. I exaggeratedly bowed at the waist and answered.
"Yes ma'am, as you command!"
"……Don't tease me!!"
And so, our city outing with Helena began.