Our Family -1-
A bright morning in the capital. I woke up earlier than usual, slipped into my familiar butler uniform, and headed to the kitchen.
Tap tap tap. As I descended the stairs, I heard the sound of a knife chopping on a cutting board from the kitchen. Along with a humming tune, I caught sight of a woman's back as she worked. I quickened my steps.
"Good morning, Lady Rosanna. But... why are you cooking?"
Rosanna, apron tied around her waist in the kitchen, turned and gave me a bright smile.
"Why'd you wake up so early? Go back to sleep."
"I always get up at this time."
"Really? You're quite the early riser."
Rosanna poured finely chopped king oyster mushrooms into a sizzling oiled pan and said, "I felt like cooking for once in a long while."
"You could have just ordered the servants... no need to tire yourself out."
"It's home cooking, Ricardo."
Rosanna smiled again and focused on her task. I quietly washed my hands and helped out with the cooking. From the mushrooms and minced meat, I could guess she was making risotto for breakfast.
I took a spot in the kitchen and handled rinsing the rice.
"Oh? Helping me out?"
"Truth be told, I was planning to prepare breakfast myself. I didn't expect you to beat me to it, Lady Rosanna."
"Lady Rosanna? Call me Mother-in-law, nice and casual."
"You're joking too much."
Rosanna let out her signature noble laugh and playfully punched my shoulder. I responded to her affectionate teasing with a small smile of my own.
The kitchen filled only with the sound of rinsing rice and chopping. A brief silence fell, and I cautiously opened my mouth.
"Lady Rosanna..."
"Yes?"
"Don't you resent us?"
Thud. The knife sounds that had been ringing in my ears stopped abruptly.
This wasn't something I said lightly. Last night had passed in warmth and harmony, but I figured the people involved might feel differently. The status she should have enjoyed. The fallout because of us. The fact that she, who should have ruled high society like a beast, now had to watch her step—it wasn't something a simple "sorry" could fix.
What I really wanted to know was her true feelings about something deeper, perhaps unforgivable. Having no family of my own, I couldn't understand her resolve.
As an awkward tension dried my mouth, Rosanna spoke in a somewhat heavy voice.
"I do resent you."
"..."
"A ton, actually."
"Back then, I didn't even want to see your faces. I thought the family might as well collapse, or maybe I'd go back to adventuring."
Rosanna resumed her chopping and continued.
"But then I saw your faces, and all those thoughts vanished. Especially when I saw Olivia couldn't walk—it broke my heart."
A bitter smile crossed her face as she focused on the cooking, but I could read tenderness in her expression. I stood there blankly and said to her, my voice calm but laced with doubt that this could really end so simply.
"Still... we..."
"Ricardo."
Rosanna gave a gentle smile and beckoned me over.
"Could you grab the onions?"
Her gesture was a clear signal not to pry further. I bowed my head. Having lived without family, I suddenly felt like I understood a little of its preciousness.
"Of course."
And just as the food was finishing up—
-Air raid alert!!! -Imperial emergency!!!
The serene chime brought smiles to our lips.
"Pfft!"
"Miss!! Haah..."
Rosanna and I seemed to be on the same wavelength.
*
"Hmnya."
"Humnya."
The father and daughter rubbed their sleepy eyes as they sat at the table. With mushroom risotto and steaming soup before them, they kept dozing off. I placed knives and forks in front of Olivia and Darbav, greeting them with a bright smile.
"Good morning, Miss. And Lord Darbav."
"...Not morning."
Olivia yawned, peering at the dawn-tinted sky through sleepy eyes. Having woken a full hour earlier than usual, the world probably looked like midnight to her.
"The world's ending."
"No, it's just sleepiness. Here."
Olivia nodded off mid-greeting.
"Olivia!"
"Hmnya!"
"No dozing at the table! And you too!"
"...Snore."
Darbav had his head on the table, fast asleep. Like father, like daughter—their habits were eerily similar.
Rosanna sighed deeply, grabbed Darbav's cheek, and shook it. It might look disrespectful to the family head, but it was fitting, so I stayed quiet. Instead, I grabbed the dozing Olivia's cheek and shook it the same way.
"Eeeek!!! It's ripping!"
"Time to wake up."
"O-okay, already. Hic!"
Olivia and Darbav shook their heads wildly, welcoming the morning. Their cheeks nicely puffed from the treatment, the two picked up spoons and shoveled in the hot risotto.
"Oh!"
"Delicious."
Their eyes widened, sparkling with delight. Rosanna and I exchanged small smiles and nodded.
"Glad you like it."
"Yeah, must be because Ricardo helped—it turned out even better."
"No, it's all thanks to your skill, Mother."
"Hohoho. Did you just say Mother? You cheeky thing."
"..."
Rosanna's teasing knew no bounds.
After the chaotic breakfast, the stuffed Olivia and Darbav sipped the cocoa I'd prepared for dessert, their eyes now serious.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"What're you doing today?"
"Playing around."
Olivia's eyes went wide.
"...Daddy's unemployed?"
Darbav nodded with a childish pout, a bitter smile like a man who'd lost 8 billion crossing his face as he hung his head.
"Yeah. Didn't you make me unemployed?"
"Sorry..."
"Nah. I'm loving the break for once. Feels like I could do this forever."
Rosanna, who'd been listening, let out a deep sigh and said to Darbav,
"Dear."
"Why call me? Your unemployed husband's wife?"
"You should have said you took the day off."
"...No fun."
Darbav looked disappointed but turned to Olivia, whose eyes were welling up with guilt over making her dad unemployed. She nodded at his half-denial.
"Daddy's rich, so he doesn't need to work."
"I'm unemployed, so I can't work..."
"...Lucky."
For a moment, Darbav let his true feelings slip.
Contrary to his words, the Desmont family was swiftly recovering its fortunes. Eldest son Kyle, inheriting Darbav's full talent, was expanding the family businesses at a dazzling pace, and Darbav was regaining influence across the empire. Not quite the golden days of two years ago, but financially, they were back to their old level.
In other words, busy Darbav had taken the day off just for Olivia.
Relieved he wasn't truly unemployed, Olivia gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
"Daddy... not unemployed?"
"Nope. The world won't leave the greatest family head in history alone."
"Oh..."
Olivia's respect for her father grew. Darbav smiled contentedly and said to her,
"So, how about Daddy takes you out for some fun? I've got money to burn, and I want to make up for missing your birthday this time."
Olivia hesitated, then vaguely shook her head.
"Ugh... no. I promised Ricardo we'd go to the tteokbokki place today."
Darbav's face fell in shock. The doting father, reeling from not getting to play with his daughter, turned to me.
"Can't you go another time?"
"Sure."
"Then today you can hang with me, Olivia."
Olivia looked at me.
"We can skip?"
"Tomorrow works."
"Oh..."
Olivia nodded, flashed a bright smile at Darbav, and said,
"Daddy... let's go!"
Darbav quickly got ready to head out. Dressed in fine attire with the black cane nobles carried slung at his waist. He gripped the handle of Pexri No.1, his face lit with excitement. His twitching lips betrayed his anticipation.
Rosanna sighed at the sight.
"Can't you leave that cane behind?"
She eyed the cane—the one blemish on his perfect outfit—with another sigh. Darbav shook his head firmly.
"Can't leave behind a noble's symbol."
"Haa..."
Rosanna's sighs were mounting by the day. Ignoring her plea, Darbav eyed Olivia's wheelchair with sparkling eyes and asked,
"Hey, Olivia."
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I take it for a spin?"
"...No."
Darbav looked crestfallen.
"Too bad."
*
The next morning, the mansion's servants bustled about. They cleaned the estate and prepared a lavish meal, while Rosanna stared tensely at the front gate.
"Olivia."
"Yeah."
"No matter what your brother says, don't take it to heart."
"..."
Olivia, out front to greet him, couldn't hide her tension. Even Darbav, who always smiled at her, stared grimly at the gate.
"What should we have for dinner tonight?"
I must have misheard.
A short time later, the heavy mansion gates creaked open, revealing a man with a cold impression. Blue eyes, sharp gaze, dressed in a black uniform. The weary-eyed man spotted me and Olivia at the gate and let out a deep sigh.
"Haa..."
Desmont Kyle. The empire's prodigious mage. Heir to Desmont. And Olivia's brother.
Kyle stood before me and growled fiercely,
"Get out. Now."
Grind. Olivia's eyes trembled as Kyle clenched his fists, teeth gritted.
"Get out of our mansion right now, before I throw you out. Olivia."
In Kyle's "our," Olivia wasn't included.