The Verchester Family’s coat of arms suddenly flashed in Lestia’s head. It was a lion with four different eye colors.
Lesita could easily tell that the jewels inlaid in the eyes of the lion represented the four major attributes that the Verchester Family could express and handle.
‘As expected, it’s better for me to know how to use attributed magic instead of reading a magic book.’
Even though Joel had consoled her kindly and gently, Lestia still had a lot on her mind.
“Liti! Liti! You don’t have to think those complicated thoughts!”
Mathias quickly reached his hand out to Lestia’s face that was now dimmed from overthinking before slightly pinching her cheeks. Lestia’s cheeks, which were as soft as marshmallows, stretched and bounced repeatedly.
“Bwother Mathiash…! Pwease let me go…!”
“Hmm. There, that’s a lot better. Liti, a stiff expression doesn’t suit you. Your eye color is very pretty. I said this the other day but I will say it again, you look good in anything.”
Then, he skillfully changed the subject.
“Ah, that’s right. Now that Liti is here, should we have a new family portrait drawn?”
“Hmm. That’s a good idea. Lestia, thanks to you, Mathias can now think and talk about productive things.”
“Great! That’s decided then! And since we’re already at it, let’s have them paint a lot of Liti’s portrait and hang them here and there! This desolate corner of the mansion will definitely be lively. Maybe we should hang one near the gate too! Let’s brag about our pretty younger sister!”
“Brother Mathias! What are you saying…!”
“Lestia’s solo portrait. Right, we definitely need that.”
Although Lestia had tried to dissuade them, Joel and Mathias seemed to have already decided where they should hang her portrait.
“I’ll ask Halo to invite an artist tomorrow. Let’s have dinner first.”
“That’s right. Let’s go eat first, Liti! We walked too much. Are you hungry?”
Mathias took the lead and announced that he would protect her from ghosts once again. Lestia looked troubled as she followed behind him with Joel on her side. That was when she suddenly realized something. She quickly turned to look behind her.
‘…Why isn’t Lysian-nim in the portrait?’
It bothered her that the family portrait did not have Lysian’s figure in it. But the portrait also did not have the image of the late Duke Verchester.
‘…Maybe he’s not just in this portrait. This can’t be the only portrait of the Verchester Family.’
“Liti! What are you doing! The ghosts might get agitated and take you away if you continue to stand there alone, you know?”
“I, I’m coming!”
Lestia quickly tucked away the question that popped in her head as she hurriedly ran after Joel and Mathias.
✢✢✢✢✢
“You’re here.”
Surprisingly enough, Gerard was in the dining hall. He was sitting alone at the wide and long table with his back lazily leaning on his chair. He looked like he was bored as he greeted his younger siblings.
“What’s this? Brother is also going to eat with us here at the dining hall?”
Mathias’ smiling face quickly crumbled and turned distorted when he saw Gerard sitting at the table. However, he did not confront Gerard as loudly as before. He just stood there calmly and looked at Lestia.
‘Ehem. This is an interesting sight.’
Joel watched the scene in front of him.
Ever since they were children, Mathias had always growled whenever he saw Gerard. He was extremely exhausted as he tried to stop this reckless guy. He had tried everything from persuasion, placation, intimidation and even threatening but everything failed.
He did not expect that the unruly and wild Mathias would suddenly become docile and gentle like this. In fact, he was already proud that he was staying in the mansion and not running away from home.
‘It seems like our youngest’s influence is much greater than what I thought.’
And it wasn’t just Mathias. Gerard’s attitude was also starting to get unfamiliar. This was the first time that their self-righteous eldest brother took the time to stay with his younger siblings.
For some reason, Joel felt that Lestia’s existence was mysterious. After all, she was able to create this strange and unfamiliar scene.
‘For real, I did not expect that the addition of a single person in this family can cause this much change.’
Joel never intended to give Lestia any affection. They only had the same father so he thought that he should just do his duties as her elder moderately. But before he knew it, Verchester was turning into a more and more disappointing place if it remained to be a place without Lestia’s figure.
However, Lestia just continued to bow her head without being aware of the tremendous changes that she had caused.
‘What should I do? If I make a mistake while eating with the duke then… he might end up hating me.’
Lestia was afraid of her Gerard since he was someone that she had just suddenly encountered. But what she was afraid of the most was that she would get scolded again.
‘…No. Let’s not worry about something that has not happened yet. The whole family has finally gathered together. This is a good thing.’
Lestia tried to soothe her frayed nerves by thinking positive thoughts.
‘And Lysian-nim definitely said that the Duke is just a man of few words. He also said that he doesn’t hate me.’
Lestia’s eyes turned around as she tried to look for Lysian. However, strangely enough, Lysian was nowhere in the dining hall.
“My lady, young master Lysian said that he will be eating in his room.”
The butler, Halo, spoke to Lestia lowly when he realized that she was looking for Lysian.
“Ah… is that so. Well, he must be tired.”
Lestia sat on the chair that Halo pulled out as she struggled to contain her disappointment.
Dinner was served on the spacious table the moment everyone sat down on their chairs.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time since our childhood that we’re eating together like this.”
Joel spoke skillfully but Gerard did not bother to answer him.
‘Still think that he’s above everyone, for real.’ was what Mathias mumbled to himself as he chewed on the bread in his hand.
‘Thank you for the food.’
Lestia mumbled to herself as she held the knife and fork in front of her. She began to carefully eat just like how she practiced the other day.
Their dinner continued under such an overwhelming silence. This clearly showed how unfamiliar and awkward for all of the Verchester siblings this was. It seemed like eating and having a harmonious conversation was something that was completely out of the ballpark for them.
However, the silence that seemed to be unbreakable, broke once the dessert came out.
Gerard, who had been acting like he did not care about Lestia at all, finally opened his mouth.
“Your table manners are unexpectedly proper.”
Lestia was surprised at his sudden remark but she made sure to reply in a small but clear voice.
“Ah, yes. I learned from Butler Halo. Because I wanted to eat on my own.”
Joel and Mathias smiled at Lestia’s words.
Lestia learning table manners and becoming close to perfect in such a short period of time was completely commendable. But Gerard’s assessment was completely harsh.
“But it’s still not enough. I’m sure you know that yourself.”
Lestia’s hands that were holding the fork and knife trembled. But she just accepted his words and stopped herself from bursting into tears.
“…I’ll try my best.”
Clang!
Mathias slammed his hand on the table as he complained.
“Brother, can’t you just compliment her? Liti tried her best to learn everything in such a short period of time but you still tell her that it’s not enough?”
Lestia immediately dissuaded Mathias.
“It’s alright brother Mathias. I’m sure the duke is telling me this in hopes that I can adapt well to the Verchester Duchy.”
“What? Liti, you don’t have to defend our eldest brother like that. You have to voice out when you feel bad. You don’t have to match with everyone.”
“I don’t feel bad. The duke is right. I’m someone that’s far too incompetent to be a part of the Verchester family.”
“What, Liti! You know that’s not true!”
“No, not at all. I don’t know how to read and my etiquette is awkward. I should do better, just like what the duke said.”
Everyone was focused on Lestia and she clearly expressed her opinion.
“Three escort knights pledged their loyalty to me. I want to be someone who can receive their loyalty and have my shortcomings filled. If I am a Verchester then I think that’s how I should live.”
It was a very mature response.
Joel and Mathias looked at Lestia in surprise. They thought that she was just a child but she was far more mature than anybody else her age.
Gerard, who was sitting there with no expression on his face, suddenly curled his lips up lightly.
“Good. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to give you an instructor that will teach you this and that. Make sure that you pay attention.”
“Thank you, duke.”
Lestia answered him but Gerard’s upturned lips immediately flattened after she called him duke.
“But you have to fix the title that you’re calling me with right now.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
Lestia was surprised. She did not know what she did wrong.
But what came out of Gerard’s mouth was something that she had never thought of.
“If we’re together in private, you should also call me brother.”
“But that’s…”
“That’s the correct title.”
“That may be so but…”
Lestia’s lips opened as she hesitated.
She did not have enough confidence to call the owner and master of the Verchester Duchy as brother.
Gerard asked her after seeing her hesitate.
“Lestia Verchester, do you think that you are not my sibling?”
“What…?”
“If you believe that everything is natural, then you don’t have to hesitate when answering. Just like when you thought of your escort knights.”
“Ah.”
Lestia couldn’t deny Gerard’s words.
If she had thought that Gerard was truly her brother, then she wouldn’t hesitate to call him that. However, it was difficult for her to bring up that she continued to suspect that she wasn’t related to them. She felt that it was rude towards Gerard who had guaranteed her own status.
And the quick-witted Joel immediately noticed this concern of hers.
The Verchester Family’s coat of arms suddenly flashed in Lestia’s head. It was a lion with four different eye colors.
Lesita could easily tell that the jewels inlaid in the eyes of the lion represented the four major attributes that the Verchester Family could express and handle.
‘As expected, it’s better for me to know how to use attributed magic instead of reading a magic book.’
Even though Joel had consoled her kindly and gently, Lestia still had a lot on her mind.
“Liti! Liti! You don’t have to think those complicated thoughts!”
Mathias quickly reached his hand out to Lestia’s face that was now dimmed from overthinking before slightly pinching her cheeks. Lestia’s cheeks, which were as soft as marshmallows, stretched and bounced repeatedly.
“Bwother Mathiash…! Pwease let me go…!”
“Hmm. There, that’s a lot better. Liti, a stiff expression doesn’t suit you. Your eye color is very pretty. I said this the other day but I will say it again, you look good in anything.”
Then, he skillfully changed the subject.
“Ah, that’s right. Now that Liti is here, should we have a new family portrait drawn?”
“Hmm. That’s a good idea. Lestia, thanks to you, Mathias can now think and talk about productive things.”
“Great! That’s decided then! And since we’re already at it, let’s have them paint a lot of Liti’s portrait and hang them here and there! This desolate corner of the mansion will definitely be lively. Maybe we should hang one near the gate too! Let’s brag about our pretty younger sister!”
“Brother Mathias! What are you saying…!”
“Lestia’s solo portrait. Right, we definitely need that.”
Although Lestia had tried to dissuade them, Joel and Mathias seemed to have already decided where they should hang her portrait.
“I’ll ask Halo to invite an artist tomorrow. Let’s have dinner first.”
“That’s right. Let’s go eat first, Liti! We walked too much. Are you hungry?”
Mathias took the lead and announced that he would protect her from ghosts once again. Lestia looked troubled as she followed behind him with Joel on her side. That was when she suddenly realized something. She quickly turned to look behind her.
‘…Why isn’t Lysian-nim in the portrait?’
It bothered her that the family portrait did not have Lysian’s figure in it. But the portrait also did not have the image of the late Duke Verchester.
‘…Maybe he’s not just in this portrait. This can’t be the only portrait of the Verchester Family.’
“Liti! What are you doing! The ghosts might get agitated and take you away if you continue to stand there alone, you know?”
“I, I’m coming!”
Lestia quickly tucked away the question that popped in her head as she hurriedly ran after Joel and Mathias.
✢✢✢✢✢
“You’re here.”
Surprisingly enough, Gerard was in the dining hall. He was sitting alone at the wide and long table with his back lazily leaning on his chair. He looked like he was bored as he greeted his younger siblings.
“What’s this? Brother is also going to eat with us here at the dining hall?”
Mathias’ smiling face quickly crumbled and turned distorted when he saw Gerard sitting at the table. However, he did not confront Gerard as loudly as before. He just stood there calmly and looked at Lestia.
‘Ehem. This is an interesting sight.’
Joel watched the scene in front of him.
Ever since they were children, Mathias had always growled whenever he saw Gerard. He was extremely exhausted as he tried to stop this reckless guy. He had tried everything from persuasion, placation, intimidation and even threatening but everything failed.
He did not expect that the unruly and wild Mathias would suddenly become docile and gentle like this. In fact, he was already proud that he was staying in the mansion and not running away from home.
‘It seems like our youngest’s influence is much greater than what I thought.’
And it wasn’t just Mathias. Gerard’s attitude was also starting to get unfamiliar. This was the first time that their self-righteous eldest brother took the time to stay with his younger siblings.
For some reason, Joel felt that Lestia’s existence was mysterious. After all, she was able to create this strange and unfamiliar scene.
‘For real, I did not expect that the addition of a single person in this family can cause this much change.’
Joel never intended to give Lestia any affection. They only had the same father so he thought that he should just do his duties as her elder moderately. But before he knew it, Verchester was turning into a more and more disappointing place if it remained to be a place without Lestia’s figure.
However, Lestia just continued to bow her head without being aware of the tremendous changes that she had caused.
‘What should I do? If I make a mistake while eating with the duke then… he might end up hating me.’
Lestia was afraid of her Gerard since he was someone that she had just suddenly encountered. But what she was afraid of the most was that she would get scolded again.
‘…No. Let’s not worry about something that has not happened yet. The whole family has finally gathered together. This is a good thing.’
Lestia tried to soothe her frayed nerves by thinking positive thoughts.
‘And Lysian-nim definitely said that the Duke is just a man of few words. He also said that he doesn’t hate me.’
Lestia’s eyes turned around as she tried to look for Lysian. However, strangely enough, Lysian was nowhere in the dining hall.
“My lady, young master Lysian said that he will be eating in his room.”
The butler, Halo, spoke to Lestia lowly when he realized that she was looking for Lysian.
“Ah… is that so. Well, he must be tired.”
Lestia sat on the chair that Halo pulled out as she struggled to contain her disappointment.
Dinner was served on the spacious table the moment everyone sat down on their chairs.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time since our childhood that we’re eating together like this.”
Joel spoke skillfully but Gerard did not bother to answer him.
‘Still think that he’s above everyone, for real.’ was what Mathias mumbled to himself as he chewed on the bread in his hand.
‘Thank you for the food.’
Lestia mumbled to herself as she held the knife and fork in front of her. She began to carefully eat just like how she practiced the other day.
Their dinner continued under such an overwhelming silence. This clearly showed how unfamiliar and awkward for all of the Verchester siblings this was. It seemed like eating and having a harmonious conversation was something that was completely out of the ballpark for them.
However, the silence that seemed to be unbreakable, broke once the dessert came out.
Gerard, who had been acting like he did not care about Lestia at all, finally opened his mouth.
“Your table manners are unexpectedly proper.”
Lestia was surprised at his sudden remark but she made sure to reply in a small but clear voice.
“Ah, yes. I learned from Butler Halo. Because I wanted to eat on my own.”
Joel and Mathias smiled at Lestia’s words.
Lestia learning table manners and becoming close to perfect in such a short period of time was completely commendable. But Gerard’s assessment was completely harsh.
“But it’s still not enough. I’m sure you know that yourself.”
Lestia’s hands that were holding the fork and knife trembled. But she just accepted his words and stopped herself from bursting into tears.
“…I’ll try my best.”
Clang!
Mathias slammed his hand on the table as he complained.
“Brother, can’t you just compliment her? Liti tried her best to learn everything in such a short period of time but you still tell her that it’s not enough?”
Lestia immediately dissuaded Mathias.
“It’s alright brother Mathias. I’m sure the duke is telling me this in hopes that I can adapt well to the Verchester Duchy.”
“What? Liti, you don’t have to defend our eldest brother like that. You have to voice out when you feel bad. You don’t have to match with everyone.”
“I don’t feel bad. The duke is right. I’m someone that’s far too incompetent to be a part of the Verchester family.”
“What, Liti! You know that’s not true!”
“No, not at all. I don’t know how to read and my etiquette is awkward. I should do better, just like what the duke said.”
Everyone was focused on Lestia and she clearly expressed her opinion.
“Three escort knights pledged their loyalty to me. I want to be someone who can receive their loyalty and have my shortcomings filled. If I am a Verchester then I think that’s how I should live.”
It was a very mature response.
Joel and Mathias looked at Lestia in surprise. They thought that she was just a child but she was far more mature than anybody else her age.
Gerard, who was sitting there with no expression on his face, suddenly curled his lips up lightly.
“Good. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to give you an instructor that will teach you this and that. Make sure that you pay attention.”
“Thank you, duke.”
Lestia answered him but Gerard’s upturned lips immediately flattened after she called him duke.
“But you have to fix the title that you’re calling me with right now.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
Lestia was surprised. She did not know what she did wrong.
But what came out of Gerard’s mouth was something that she had never thought of.
“If we’re together in private, you should also call me brother.”
“But that’s…”
“That’s the correct title.”
“That may be so but…”
Lestia’s lips opened as she hesitated.
She did not have enough confidence to call the owner and master of the Verchester Duchy as brother.
Gerard asked her after seeing her hesitate.
“Lestia Verchester, do you think that you are not my sibling?”
“What…?”
“If you believe that everything is natural, then you don’t have to hesitate when answering. Just like when you thought of your escort knights.”
“Ah.”
Lestia couldn’t deny Gerard’s words.
If she had thought that Gerard was truly her brother, then she wouldn’t hesitate to call him that. However, it was difficult for her to bring up that she continued to suspect that she wasn’t related to them. She felt that it was rude towards Gerard who had guaranteed her own status.
And the quick-witted Joel immediately noticed this concern of hers.
