The Beloved Bastard (4)
"Thank you for the invitation."
"Not at all, my lady. I am the one who should thank you for gracing us with your presence."
I bowed my waist at a precise forty-five-degree angle, the corners of my mouth lifting ever so slightly.
It was the angle that best showcased the features I had inherited from my dancer mother.
"Hold it!"
I had been certain it was perfect.
The etiquette instructor—hastily summoned from the imperial court for my birthday party less than a week away—stopped me cold.
"Is something wrong?"
"Young Master Nox, your eyes are far too dangerous."
The stern-looking instructor wheeled over a freestanding mirror.
"...Ahem."
The boy reflected in the glass looked far too sly and worldly to be a pure ten-year-old offering thanks to a noble lady.
"That is not gratitude. That is seduction."
"Pfft! I was thinking the exact same thing!"
Emily, lounging on the sofa and watching the whole affair, chimed in without mercy.
There was no real way to argue.
"Ahem. My apologies. I was trying for a kind expression and overdid it."
"No need to apologize. You are doing remarkably well, Young Master Nox. To be honest, I was quite worried."
"Worried?"
"After all, it has not been long since you received the Rubrum name."
Ah. So what he really meant was: for a brat who spent ten years locked in a back room, your manners are suspiciously polished.
"Haha, I pick things up rather quickly."
"I quite agree. Among all the noble children I have taught, none have been as sharp as you."
"Oh... our little brother is pretty cool, huh?"
"Ahem."
My flawless etiquette was the product of ninety-four regressions, but hearing praise still felt good.
"Very well, let us try again. Young Master Nox, please mind your gaze."
"Yes, understood."
I reset my posture exactly as instructed.
"Thank you for the invitation."
"Not at all, my lady. I am the one who should thank you for gracing us..."
I was confident with the eyes of a smooth-talking thug or a hero carrying the hopes of the world on his shoulders.
The pure, innocent gaze of a ten-year-old brat, however, was another matter entirely.
Still, I tried my best—no scowling, eyes opened as gently and kindly as possible.
"Hmm..."
The instructor still looked faintly dissatisfied, but it seemed I had scraped by.
"We will leave it at this for now. There is still a mountain of material left to cover."
"A mountain..."
Pretending not to know things I already knew inside and out, learning them one by one all over again—my head was already spinning.
"Come on, isn't that a little harsh? Our Nox is only ten."
Emily, who might as well have been a completely different person these days, laughed and took my side.
"I am aware, but time is short. Moreover, both madams have declared that this birthday celebration will be held on a grand scale."
The instructor pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and fixed me with a look.
"The impression Young Master Nox leaves at the birthday party will determine the epithets that cling to him thereafter. Nothing is more important than a first impression."
It had been a long time since I last saw this particular etiquette instructor, and he was exactly the same.
Whether the student was a bastard or some random orphan scooped off the street, as long as the payment cleared he gave everything he had.
In a capitalist society instead of this rotten class system, the man would have amassed a fortune.
"I can't argue with that. But...!"
"Huh?"
Emily shot up from her seat, strode over, and seized my hand in a firm grip.
"What are you going to do if we just run away?"
"R-run...?"
"Heehee! Let's bolt!"
Still clutching my hand, Emily bolted straight out the door.
Her sudden impulse happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time I came to my senses, I was already sprinting down the corridor.
"Lady Emily! Young Master Nox!"
The instructor's voice floated faintly after us.
"Hahaha! Nox! If you don't want any more of that boring etiquette lesson, run!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
We ran until our lungs burned, then ran some more.
Ever since her personality had flipped, Emily had taken up dawn jogging as a hobby; even in a dress she ran remarkably well.
Once we left the mansion grounds and neared the central avenue, she gradually slowed.
"Hah... hah... Think we've lost him by now?"
Bent over and gulping air, she grinned up at me.
"Yes... huff... I believe... so."
"Whew. Feels good to run after so long. Shall we go, then?"
"Go where, exactly?"
"Where else? The market! Merchants have poured in because of your birthday!"
She pulled a small pouch from her bodice.
The soft clink of coins told me this had not been entirely spontaneous.
"I didn't bring any money."
"It's fine, it's fine. Just trust your big sister!"
She clapped me on the shoulder and strode ahead.
I let out a dry laugh inside, but thanks to her I was outside nonetheless.
It was still early summer; the sun was hot, yet the breeze remained cool.
Perfect weather for a stroll.
"Hoo... ha..."
Trailing after Emily, I opened my nose and drew in the clean air.
No matter how many times I experienced it, the air in this world was always excellent.
A little farther on, the main thoroughfare opened before us.
Levanna, capital of Rubrum County, bustled with people exactly as she had promised.
The announcement of my birthday party had only been made the other day, yet word had already spread through the entire region.
"Cheap! Dirt cheap!"
"Hey there, miss! Come take a look! Buy now and it's five for three silver!"
Merchants from out of town shouted themselves hoarse, hawking their wares.
In this world, a noble's birthday was treated like a festival.
Especially when the noble house in question was as influential as the Rubrums—crowds flocked in droves.
"Nox! Look at that! Looks delicious!"
She pointed toward a street stall half-hidden among the throng.
Meat skewers glazed with a sweet-and-spicy sauce sizzled over the fire, sending up smoke that made the mouth water.
The smell was pure violence.
"Excuse me, how much for one of these?"
"Oh my, a pretty young lady! Just two silver."
"Two—no, three, please!"
Emily boldly dug silver coins from her leather pouch and dropped them into the not-particularly-clean hand of the vendor.
Every time I saw her act like this, I felt the urge to grab her by the collar and demand a full account of whatever had happened to her.
"Here you go! Enjoy!"
She handed me two skewers, then took a huge bite of her own.
"Ooooh!"
Emily's eyes sparkled.
Apparently it tasted even better than expected.
The refined young lady of a count's house began tearing into street-meat skewers right in the middle of the road with zero dignity.
"Nox, hurry up and try yours. It's really good!"
"I wasn't particularly hungry, so..."
"Ugh, you're no fun. Just eat already!"
Without waiting for permission she shoved the skewer she had been eating into my mouth.
"Well? Delicious, right?"
Spicy seasoning and rich, fatty juices exploded across my tongue without mercy.
There was a reason Rubrum County was famous for high-quality meat. Even a skewer sold on a market street corner tasted excellent.
"...It is good."
"So dishonest. Your cheeks are stuffed to bursting and you're still pretending."
Emily poked my cheek with a finger.
My mouth was too full of meat to dodge in time.
Apparently pleased that I was eating well, she began dragging me from stall to stall.
"Let's get this too! And that!"
The runaway Emily was smiling with pure, radiant energy—more alive than I had ever seen her.
I had no choice but to let her lead me around the market.
She treated me with the easy familiarity of a real younger brother.
After so many regressions the dissonance hit hard, yet I kept swallowing it down.
Before I knew it my arms were full of snacks.
"Let's sit over there and rest."
We settled on the bench she indicated and began working through the mountain of treats.
Whether I wanted to or not, the chatter of the local townsfolk drifted into my ears.
"Honestly, I was pretty worried."
"Worried about what?"
"Well, Young Master Nox whose birthday it is this time is a bastard, right?"
"Oh, come now. Being a bastard doesn't mean he isn't the count's blood. And do you really think the count is the sort to cast aside his own flesh and blood?"
"The count isn't that kind of man, true... but you know how the madams can be..."
"Hey! Watch your mouth or you'll get us both in trouble!"
"Ahem. Anyway, what I'm saying is it's nice that things are peaceful."
"That much is true. I figured they'd keep the birthday quiet, never expected them to invite other nobles and throw something this grand."
"But I hear the second young master is coming back just in time for the party... You think it'll really be all right? I can't shake this uneasy feeling. Like something's going to go wrong on the day itself."
One of the townsfolk sitting nearby spoke with a dark expression.
"There you go again. What could go wrong with the count right there?"
"Exactly. Don't say such unlucky things. It's Young Master Nox's first birthday celebration—if you can't bless him, at least keep quiet."
"...Sorry. I've been sleeping poorly for days; I got too jumpy."
After listening carefully to the others, the man bowed his head briefly in apology.
"Tsk tsk. Here, eat this. Skewers I bought over there—taste is incredible. Have a couple of these, knock back a drink, and get to bed early tonight."
My standing among the territory's people was not bad.
Unlike the two vicious madams, I had only just become a member of the Rubrum family, so that was only natural.
What bothered me was...
"You're worried about Second Brother, aren't you?"
"Haha..."
"Don't overthink it. He wouldn't bully you the way First Brother does, would he?"
Famous last words.
Whenever a birthday party was held, the second son returning from his maternal relatives always made a point of tormenting me.
So if the two madams' plans matched those of previous regressions...
This time, too, the second son would challenge me to a duel, lace my food with laxatives, or publicly pick apart my etiquette and humiliate me in front of everyone.
"You're right, of course."
"Even Second Brother wouldn't harass the guest of honor on his birthday."
In truth, it hardly mattered.
Whatever schemes our second son cooked up with the madams, to the current me they were all wasted effort.
"Ah, I wish our Nox's birthday would hurry up and get here."
She ruffled my hair with casual affection.
Then, very quietly, she murmured:
"This birthday is going to be one you'll never forget for the rest of your life."
It was nothing special.
Yet the moment the words reached me, goosebumps raced down my spine.
My long-dormant survival instinct began screaming.
"Pardon?"
"Hmm? What?"
Emily's face, lit by the evening glow, looked utterly pure and innocent.
No matter how I looked at her, there was nothing threatening about her.
Then what had I just felt?
Wondering if someone else was targeting me, I scanned the surroundings.
The street was simply crowded with merchants and townsfolk. No one dangerous stood out.
Besides, the guard patrols made regular rounds.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. Still, shouldn't we head back soon? The instructor must be furious by now."
"Ack! You're right! I only meant to play for a little while—how did it get this late? Sorry, Nox."
"It's fine. I enjoyed myself. I'd only ever heard about Levanna's streets from Susan, but seeing them in person, they're even more lively."
"Well, that's a relief at least..."
Emily's face crumpled into a pout.
Watching her, the strange sensation from a moment ago began to feel like pure imagination.
"You don't need to worry either, Sister. We'll just go back and catch up on the lessons we missed."
"No, that won't do. Then I'll stay and help you!"
Emily clenched both fists with determination.
"As you wish."
The sight was rather adorable.
Together we returned to the mansion.
As expected, I was forced to endure makeup lessons late into the evening.
Similar days continued right up until the birthday party.
Time flew like an arrow, and before I knew it the day of my birthday celebration had arrived.
On the day when nobles of every rank and station, gathered by the two madams, filled the banquet hall...
I finally understood exactly what Emily had meant.
My ninety-fifth tenth birthday party...
I would never be able to forget it.
Not even if I somehow made it back home.