Then, Will You Really Become My Real Oppa?
After the first day of the banquet ended.
Cecilia was walking down the palace corridor. Today, the protagonist of the banquet was clearly her.
The next saint candidate, receiving the expectations of the papal court.
Originally, she should have ended the first day in splendor, receiving the attention of numerous noble youths.
But.
"......"
No one could look her in the face.
"Don't laugh."
The corner of the escort knight's mouth hurriedly lowered.
"I didn't laugh."
"You laughed just now."
"It's your imagination."
"......"
Cecilia turned her head sharply.
She had washed her face and changed clothes, but the shame hadn't been washed away.
When she closed her eyes, it still vividly came to mind. The enormous strawberry cake that filled her vision.
"Ugh...!"
She would definitely find that rude man.
Cecilia had never been this angry since she was born.
As befitting the name of saint candidate, she had learned to always remain calm, and in reality, she rarely showed emotions in minor matters.
But this time.
This time was different.
Not only was her face stuck in the cake in front of people, but the culprit had fled.
And that too.
"Run!"
Leaving behind such a sound.
-Click.
It was still unbelievable.
-Click, click.
At that moment, a man was walking from the opposite side of the corridor.
Large build, a sword at his waist.
The escort knight first recognized him and straightened his posture.
"Count Marque."
One of the Empire's Seven Swords.
Caron Marque.
Cecilia had seen his face for the first time, but she knew his name well.
Just as Caron nodded shortly and was about to pass, Cecilia paused.
"...Wait a moment."
Caron looked at Cecilia.
"What is it?"
Cecilia hesitated for a moment.
If someone familiar with noble society, they might know the man.
"Perhaps you know someone?"
Caron's steps halted, and Cecilia continued as if recalling.
"Black hair, around my age. His speech is a bit... no, very bad."
"......"
"It seems he has a hobby of putting someone's face in a cake and running away."
Caron said nothing.
The escort knight beside him cautiously added.
"Do you have any suspicions?"
A moment of silence.
No change on Caron's face.
"I don't know."
A sense of disappointment crossed Cecilia's face.
"I apologize."
"It's fine."
They passed by.
-Click, click.
Caron walked through the palace corridor towards the banquet hall.
The events for today had already ended.
Nobles were leaving their seats one by one, and long lines of carriages from each family were lined up in front of the entrance.
"Father."
Rian was walking towards us. Upon closer look, Lucia was in his arms.
It seemed he had fallen asleep before the banquet ended, with his eyes tightly closed, burying his face in Rian's chest.
Rian was walking carefully, perhaps afraid she might wake up.
"Have you finished your business?"
Instead of answering, Caron looked at the two.
"......"
Black hair, similar age, bad speech, running away after putting someone's face in a cake.
And now holding a little girl in his arms.
"Rian."
"Yes?"
"What happened at today's banquet?"
Rian seemed momentarily surprised, then averted his eyes and said.
"...Nothing happened."
"Really."
"......"
"I don't know who you are either."
"Eh?"
They returned home after the sun had completely set.
The banquet had two more days, but we decided not to attend.
Just the first day was enough.
Very much so.
I exhaled a long breath as soon as I got out of the carriage.
"I survived."
Today was an unusually long day.
Attending the banquet, sticking Cecilia in the cake, and fleeing.
"Ah."
Thinking more made my head hurt. I looked around the carriage belatedly.
-Whoosh.
Lucia was still sleeping. Since she fell asleep in my arms earlier, it had been like that the whole time.
Perhaps the tension had eased.
"Lucia, we're home."
"...Mmm."
She opened her eyes but didn't move her body.
"Want to get down?"
"......"
Lucia, half-asleep, stared at me for a long time, then extended her arms forward.
"...Hug me."
"You hugged me earlier too."
"...Mmm."
Only answering, arms stayed as is.
I ended up hugging her again. Then, as if waiting, she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face.
"Let's go, let's go."
"Hehe."
A small laugh reached my nape.
"......"
Whether it was because she was in a good mood or still half-asleep, I didn't know.
I carried Lucia straight to the room.
As we arrived at the door, Lily was waiting.
"Lucia-nim, I'll take care of her."
"Leave it to you."
"Yes, young master."
If it were the old days, she would have shown surprise at just that one word.
Now, she seemed accustomed to me speaking properly to the servants.
I slowly lowered Lucia.
When her feet touched the floor, Lucia staggered and grabbed my sleeve.
"...I'm sleepy."
"So change and sleep."
"Mmm..."
Her eyes were almost closed, but she answered well.
Lucia tried to enter the room with Lily, then stopped once.
"Oppa."
"Yes?"
"...Sleep well."
"You too."
- Nods.
As if Lucia entered the room, before the door closed, her pure white hair peeked out again.
"...See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
This time, she really entered.
- Click.
"......"
I had definitely heard it.
The only way to end the war was this.
I just needed to spread Lucia across the world.
Wait for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Next morning.
As I entered the dining room, Mother and Father were already seated.
Lucia was quietly eating breakfast beside them.
"Oppa!"
Upon spotting me, Lucia waved with a bright smile.
The girl who only nodded her head yesterday had changed a lot in just one day.
"Slept well?"
"Mmm!"
The answer was energetic too.
I smiled faintly and sat down.
Lucia pulled her chair closer to me.
- Squeak.
"......"
Once more.
- Squeak.
"No, it's close enough."
"Mmm."
- Squeak.
She answered but didn't seem to want to stop. Eventually, she stopped after the chair was almost touching.
"...Good."
As if nothing happened, Lucia resumed eating.
From the side, the corner of her mouth was slightly upturned.
Mother on the opposite side also smiled softly at the sight.
While a normal breakfast continued.
"Lucia."
Father spoke quietly.
"Yes?"
"At yesterday's banquet..."
The hand holding the fork paused slightly in the air.
No, my perfect crime?
But Father's gaze was on Lucia, not me.
"Has anyone asked you for your name?"
"...Yes."
"What did you answer?"
Lucia lowered her gaze slightly.
"Lucia... "
"Was that all?"
- Nod.
"Understood."
Father continued casually.
"From now on, answer with Lucia Marque."
"......"
Lucia blinked.
No need to ask what it meant. It meant officially accepting Lucia into the Marque family.
"Lucia... Marque?"
A small mutter.
"Right."
"...Why?"
Mother smiled gently and answered instead.
"Because Lucia will become our daughter from now on."
"......"
"Then naturally, she'll become a Marque."
Her red eyes widened a bit.
"...Me?"
"Then."
"......"
I looked at Father.
The protagonist party who came to avenge the destruction of the Marque territory by Lucia.
And Caron Marque who blocked their path.
At the time, I didn't know why.
『Wrong, it seems she's already been brainwashed.』
I thought the same.
A Seven Sword couldn't protect the Five Great Calamities.
Especially one who destroyed her own territory and massacred people.
But seeing Father accepting Lucia as his daughter now, I thought differently.
Was she really brainwashed?
Or was he protecting Lucia like before?
『If you're here to discuss right and wrong, today I would be the wrong one.』
"......"
Anyway, he's an incomprehensible human.
At that moment, a small voice came from beside.
"...Then."
I turned my head, and Lucia was staring at me intently.
"Will you really become my real oppa?"
"...Aren't you already my oppa now?"
- Gasp.
Lucia's eyes shook as if she had learned a shocking fact.
"...Yes."
"Then it's the same."
"...Not the same."
"What's different?"
Lucia closed her mouth for a moment.
Her face was one of pondering what to explain.
After a while.
Lucia leaned her body towards me and whispered.
"More like..."
The story after that ended simply.
Father decided, and Lucia didn't object.
Mother was already excited, saying she'd look into the necessary procedures.
Thus, Lucia gained a surname.
Lucia Marque.
She seemed to like it quite a bit.
"Oppa."
"Why."
Pointing with her finger.
"...Rian Marque."
"Yes."
This time pointing at her own chest.
"...Lucia Marque."
"Right."
All morning like that.
"Hehe..."
I finished eating and stood up.
Since I decided not to go to the banquet, today was a rare free day. I could swing my sword, practice magic...
Ah, I should check the quest reward too.
It would be nice to spend a peaceful day.
"Young master."
Looking back, Sebas was approaching.
"Yes?"
"A letter has arrived for you, young master."
"For me?"
Elena?
Sebas handed me a luxurious envelope.
On the front, a design I didn't recognize was stamped with my name.
"What is this."
I opened the envelope.
The content was short.
No, just one line.
『I found you.』
"......"
I quietly folded the letter.
Fuck.
I thought I couldn't find it.