The Russell Family, Part 2

Glossy, flowing red hair. The locks cascading down her smooth skin harmonized with her crimson lips, creating a striking impression. She possessed the kind of beauty that would make anyone gasp in admiration.

I stared at Grace, completely dazed. But it wasn't because I was captivated by her elegant appearance. It was because her red hair was currently dunked right into a glass of even darker red wine.

"Ehehe, is that really true? You were in the special class? Stop lying! Pwahaha."

Grace slurred her words heavily, dropping all formalities with Oliver. I stared at her in sheer horror.

Was this really who she was?

The fierce, imposing knight who had protected me at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Imperial Palace just a few days ago was nowhere to be found.

"It's the truth! Are you looking down on me just because you're the vice-commander?!"

Oliver was equally wasted. And tragically, the only ones left to witness this disaster were Albert and myself.

Liam and Isaac had long since passed out on the table. The dining room was filled with a harmonious blend of their snoring and the bickering between Grace and Oliver.

Great, another drunk to deal with.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Oliver and Grace continued their heated debate.

"Must be nice to be so talented, huh? Valedictorian, beautiful, and a vice-commander! You must be incredibly popular!"

"Ehehe, who told you not to join the knights then? If you were from the special class, you would've been treated like royalty. You're an idiot, an id-i-ot."

I couldn't adapt to Grace's drunken tone. Honestly, if I hadn't seen her serious side at the palace, I might have found it somewhat cute.

"Right! Maybe I did waste my talent. But... my brother is different!"

"Huh?"

"Yeong-sik, you see, Yeong-sik is... he's a genius. He's more than capable of becoming the class representative!"

"Pfft, him? You think just anyone can be the representative?"

...Why were they dragging me into this? I was sitting right next to them, for crying out loud.

"Are you insulting my brother right now?!"

"No, it's not like that. But how could someone like him be the class representative? That's just hilarious, eheh."

Oliver suddenly stopped talking.

"...Oh? Shall we make a bet then?"

"Are you serious? The loser has to grant the winner a wish?"

"Don't regret this. How dare you look down on Yeong-sik, the genius of effort of the Russell family."

"Pfft. Don't try to back out later."

A headache was starting to form.

"Young master, shouldn't you stop them?"

"I want to, Albert."

I had been trying to intervene for a while, but there was simply no opening. The two of them were smiling politely, but their eyes were practically ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shooting lasers at each other. If I showed even the slightest hint of trying to stop them, those fierce glares would immediately redirect toward me.

Should I just leave them and go...?

While I was agonizing over what to do, Oliver suddenly spoke in a surprisingly serious tone.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hey... Grace, since I'm drunk, let me ask you one thing."

"Huh? What's this all of a sudden? Trying to set the mood? Don't think that's gonna make me fall for you. Pwahaha."

How was Grace going to face the consequences tomorrow? If I had a smartphone, I would have recorded this instantly.

"Do you know my mother?"

"...Huh?"

Oliver's question snapped me out of my thoughts. His intention was clear. He was trying to figure out if Grace was an ally or an enemy.

"I asked if you know my mother."

"Pfft, how would I know your mother? Why, you wanna introduce me to her? You're getting way ahead of yourself. Eheh."

Grace was still completely wasted. I couldn't be absolutely sure, but judging by her behavior, she didn't seem to be lying.

Oliver stared at Grace for a moment before speaking quietly.

"Then that's fine."

Oliver nodded solemnly. Perhaps I had worried for nothing. As expected, my brother wasn't someone to be underestimated—

Thud.

The moment the thought crossed my mind, Oliver faceplanted onto the table. Seeing him pass out, Grace smiled triumphantly.

"Heh, what a lightweight..."

With those final words, Grace's head dropped as well.

"Sigh."

I let out a deep sigh. Looking at the four bodies slumped before me made my chest feel tight.

It was my first day back from the Imperial Palace. After flying for half a day, all I had done was listen to their drunken ramblings for hours. My eyes were practically begging to close from sheer exhaustion.

"Young master, we will handle the cleanup. Please go upstairs and rest."

"...Would you mind?"

"Of course. You've worked hard today."

It would have been polite to help carry them to their rooms, but I simply didn't have the energy. Leaving the cleanup to Albert and the other servants, I headed back to my room.

Early the next morning.

A gentle morning rain drizzled through the quiet stillness. Wearing a raincoat, I stepped out into the mansion's front yard as usual.

Morning jogging had become a routine for me. Since I couldn't freely go outside during my stay at the Imperial Palace, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my body had been itching for a run.

However, my high expectations deflated the moment I saw what was waiting for me.

"Uh... what exactly is going on here?"

Standing by the main gate were Isaac and Grace, both wearing raincoats. Their faces made it painfully obvious that they were still hungover.

"It is only natural... I came out to escort you as usual, young master. Let us go... urgh."

"Whew... I received your daily schedule from Sir Isaac. I will also be escorting you from now on."

Both of their faces were contorted as they tried to endure their splitting headaches. I couldn't help but sigh. Massaging my throbbing temples, I walked over to them.

"Why don't you two just go rest instead of pushing yourselves?"

"As your bodyguard, I cannot do that. Hic..."

"Me neither. This is an order from His Majesty the Emperor."

"...If you're both so responsible, why did you drink so much last night?"

Neither of them had an answer for that.

"Sigh, do whatever you want. By the way, Grace."

"Yes?"

"You certainly had a lot to say last night."

"...P-please forget about that."

Grace's face instantly flushed red at my words. Realizing it herself, she quickly covered her cheeks with her hands.

She's surprisingly easy to read.

A moment later, the three of us ran through the Russell Territory in silence. It was clear that both of them were struggling with their hangovers, but they were doing their absolute best not to slow me down.

Considering the rain and their poor condition, I lowered my pace. I could definitely feel how much my stamina had improved.

Even if she was hungover, the person running beside me was the vice-commander of the Imperial Knights. In the past, maintaining this kind of pace would have been unimaginable.

Flash.

Hmm.

Considering that all my stats started around 10, this was a significant improvement. It seemed the Learning Talent wasn't just empty words.

I had felt the direct effects of this growth during the ambush at the Imperial Palace. Right after defeating the enemies, all my stats had increased.

So real combat experience is what matters most?

It was something I had already suspected. There was a limit to practicing alone. And my only sparring partner was Isaac, who was currently waddling beside me.

I activated the status window of Isaac, who was panting heavily as he kept up.

...What is that debuff at the end?

The system showed more details than I expected. This time, I looked at Grace, who was running on my left.

Though her expression was grim, the gaze visible through her fluttering hair was completely different from her drunken state yesterday. Her eyes burned with a fierce determination to fulfill her duty. As expected of the vice-commander of the Imperial Knights.

Her debuff is even worse?!

I couldn't help but shake my head at her status. At this point, wasn't she basically still drunk? I threw a worried question at the two running beside me.

"Are you two really okay?"

"Of course, pant... young master, pant... don't worry at all."

"There is... no problem."

...Fine, whatever. Shaking my head, I picked up the pace. I heard faint groans from behind me, but I pretended not to hear.

After breakfast, I was summoned by Liam and Oliver, just as I had expected. We sat facing each other in Liam's private study.

Both of them still looked hungover, but they seemed to have cleared their heads a bit after eating. Their reason for calling me was obvious.

"Yeong-sik, do you really have to go to the Academy?"

"Wouldn't it be too dangerous?"

It was a reasonable concern. Having just survived an assassination attempt, I was well aware of the risks.

"I understand your concerns. But to be honest, I want to hone my skills at the Academy."

Perhaps they had anticipated my answer, as Liam and Oliver fell into deep thought. They had likely seen my dedication and understood how strong my desire to learn was.

Though that's not the only reason.

My immediate goal was different: to get revenge on those Rosemary bitches. But I couldn't tell that to the two men sitting in front of me.

"Even so, your life is at stake. I cannot lose you too, Yeong-sik, not after your mother."

"Brother, do you really think so?"

"What do you mean by that...?"

"If there are enemies targeting me, wouldn't it be more dangerous here?"

Neither Liam nor Oliver could easily answer. In reality, I had only survived at the Imperial Palace thanks to Grace's help.

On the other hand, what if assassins invaded the Russell estate? I couldn't picture a scenario where I survived.

Realizing they couldn't easily dissuade me, Liam let out a heavy sigh.

"I understand your point for now. Let us think about it for a few more days."

"Thank you."

"That aside, do not trust that woman, Grace, too much."

"...I'll be careful."

"You do know that Oliver and I, ahem, only offered her drinks yesterday to test her, right?"

Sure, let's go with that.

"I understand."

"Good. You may leave."

I bowed to them and stood up. Fortunately, they didn't oppose me too strongly. At this rate, I should be able to convince them.

Just as I was about to leave the study, the door suddenly burst open.

"M-My Lord!!"

Albert rushed into the study without warning. He was drenched in sweat from running so hard. Startled, Liam immediately stood up.

"Albert? What is the matter!"

"Right now... in the territory, pant... pant..."

"What happened? Take a breath and speak slowly."

Albert's face was completely drained of color. I had never seen him look so pale.

"M-Monsters have appeared."