“How were you able to destroy as many as eleven enemy warships with just a single ship at the Battle of Phenicia?”
“Ah, back then….”
Edward paused briefly before letting the brandy—distilled from white wine—sit in his mouth. It slid smoothly down his throat.
Kias and Hesdeo mixed their brandy with soda water, but Edward preferred to drink his neat. It seemed Fabian felt the same; a short while ago, he had set a bottle of brandy at his side and had been steadily working his way through it alone.
His face flushed from the alcohol, Fabian pressed him eagerly.
“How exactly did you do it back then? Some around me even say that you keep a mage in your service, my lord. Is it true that you changed the direction of the sea wind in the middle of the Mediterranean?”
“That is not the case. The rumor circulating among the Iota Navy that the Peorn Navy secretly deploys mages into operations is nothing but baseless hearsay.”
In the era when ancient civilizations had developed with astounding wonder, it was said that mages split the earth and called down lightning, but in the present age, those were merely records passed down like legends.
Those who continued the legacy of olden times were not mages, but scholars who studied ancient history, like Hesdeo.
“If you look through ancient maritime geography texts of the Phenician Sea, you will see that the mana waves in that area are extremely complex. Even the mages of old would have fainted, unable to endure it.”
“Then what exactly did you do?”
This time, Hesdeo pressed the question.
Hesdeo, who studied ancient history at the Academy, was thoroughly captivated by Edward’s vivid way of recounting the battlefield exactly as it was. He could not help but marvel at Edward’s vast knowledge, which extended even to ancient maritime geography texts.
War, when seen from a macroscopic perspective, was also a current of history, and Edward was a peerless hero who had commanded from the very heart of that history.
Only now realizing this fact, Hesdeo focused on Edward with eyes shining as brightly as Fabian’s.
*What kind of torment is this?*
Yellodia, who had watched her brothers from start to finish, pouted sulkily and took out her frustration on innocent fruit.
She was reaching a point of self-pity over how pathetic she seemed for having tossed and turned the night before.
Seated far apart from her brothers, she had been unable to join the conversation from the beginning, and by the time the four began drinking competitively, she had been treated like air.
*And you said you’d act as if you were poisoning the drink…. I can’t even tell whose fiancé he is.*
Yellodia ground apricot flesh with her molars to vent her anger. Edward glanced at her, cleared his throat with a “hem,” and turned toward Kias.
“It seems we have all finished our meal. Shall we move to another room?”
“Damn it, I’m not done yet! If I do not hear with my own ears how you crushed the Iota warships at the Battle of Phenicia, I will never send the Baron back.”
Fabian’s eyes gleamed with persistence as he insisted. Hesdeo nodded with a flushed face in agreement.
“I wish to hear it very much as well.”
Edward hid his troubled expression and took a sip of brandy.
Kias had a headache over his younger siblings’ fanatical antics.
“……Butler, is the tea ready?”
“Yes, I shall bring it out at once.”
“Then let us move to the drawing room.”
At Kias’s suggestion, Fabian and Hesdeo immediately made dissatisfied expressions.
“Already? It isn’t even midnight yet.”
“It is almost midnight.”
Thinking that his younger brothers truly lacked propriety, Kias rose from his seat.
He had been worried about his younger sister, who had been wearing a sulky expression for some time. Though she had been seated across from him at the head table under the pretext of being the lady of the mansion, she was a sister whom he would normally have placed at his side.
If it were Yellodia, she would have quickly realized Kias’s intention to keep her away from her fiancé. That must be why she was pouting with such a sulky face.
“Get up at once. Stop acting like an inconsiderate child in front of the guest.”
“How is Baron Adrian just a guest? He is going to be family soon.”
“He is not family yet.”
Kias spoke flatly. Fabian could argue no further, for Yellodia abruptly rose from her seat.
“……”
Yellodia went to stand beside Edward and stared straight at her brothers with eyes filled with all the loneliness and grievance of having been excluded on her own until now.
Only then did Fabian rise obediently from his seat.
“Time has flown, hasn’t it? I hope the meal was to your liking.”
As soon as they sat on the sofas in the drawing room, Kias began the conversation with dignity. Edward responded.
“Every dish was filled with sincerity. The chef’s skill appears to be exceptional.”
“Thank you for the compliment. I shall pass it on to the chef directly.”
Kias took a sip of the black tea the butler had personally poured and offered some to Edward.
“The aroma is not bad. Do have some.”
“Thank you.”
Edward did not refuse and drank the black tea. While he would have preferred to drink more of the brandy from the dining room, the slightly bitter taste of the black tea sliding smoothly down his throat was not unpleasant either.
“Now, tell us. How did you secure a great victory at the Battle of Phenicia?”
Fabian came in holding the same glass from the dining hall, sat cross-legged carelessly on the sofa, and asked without reserve.
On any other day, Fabian would have hounded Edward all night, but today, as it was a family gathering, he had kept up appearances.
With Fabian, Hesdeo, and even Yellodia focusing their gazes on him, Edward cleared his throat with a “hem.”
*Anyway, all three of them have been naive since they were young; they don’t know how to hide their inner thoughts.*
Watching them quietly from the head seat, Kias clicked his tongue inwardly.
Because they had been burning with determination as if ready to duel at any moment, he had been nervous thinking something serious might happen, but when the lid was lifted, the two brothers were lowering their guard toward Edward with almost laughable ease.
Kias liked Edward considerably himself, but he could not help finding his siblings, who wore their hearts on their sleeves so openly, rather pathetic.
*Come to think of it, isn’t he the one who captivated His Majesty the Emperor?*
Thinking that far, the way his siblings had softened completely, as if they would offer up their very livers, became somewhat understandable. Though it was a bit vexing.
Edward checked the pocket watch he had taken from his vest and opened his mouth with an apologetic air.
“It has grown too late. I am afraid that story will have to wait until next time.”
“Wait, you are leaving just like this? If you leave like this, I will not be able to sleep.”
Fabian raised his voice as if grievously wronged. At this point, it was no different from throwing a tantrum.
Kias deliberately spoke in a stern voice.
“Fabian.”
“Brother, stop him for a moment. No, the mansion has plenty of rooms. Can we not put him up in a guest room?”
“I cannot put Yedi’s fiancé in just any room. Above all, you are saying you will detain a baron in this mansion to satisfy your curiosity?”
“Agh! So what if I do……”
“Fabian Sabie.”
At Kias’s stern summons, Fabian raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.
A groan of frustration escaped Fabian’s lips. His temper flared to the point where he wanted to lock Edward in an empty room and interrogate him all night long.
“When shall we meet next? Tomorrow? The day after?”
“It will be difficult for the time being, but I believe I can make time around next weekend. I would be even more delighted if Lady Sabie were to accompany you.”
At those words, Yellodia’s expression brightened considerably.
Fabian’s face twisted into a scowl. If his sister tagged along, the next gathering would undoubtedly proceed with nothing but noble and refined conversation.
At that moment, Kias’s calm voice cut in again.
“I hear there is a Vice Admiral inauguration ceremony for the Baron next Wednesday.”
“Yes. It seems there will be quite a grand military review as well. Ah, if you happen to be free that day, might you attend? His Majesty plans to visit personally and bestow a decoration.”
“If it is an event of that scale, I would certainly like to attend and offer my congratulations, but unfortunately, palace affairs keep me busy. Fabian, as a Royal Guard knight, will be in attendance.”
“Then the other two of you……”
“I shall bring Yedi and attend.”
When Hesdeo readily volunteered, Edward smiled as if genuinely pleased. Yellodia stared blankly at Edward, forgetting herself entirely.
“Thank you for readily accepting despite such a sudden invitation.”
“I had been wanting to see a navy military review anyway.”
Hesdeo answered like a scholar burning with intellectual fervor. Any hostility toward Edward could not be found even if one washed their eyes and searched.
At that moment, the butler opened the drawing room door and spoke.
“The carriage is ready.”
Edward rose from his seat.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Go safely.”
Edward offered a bow with a posture that showed not the slightest disorder, then calmly followed the butler.
At that, Yellodia looked at Kias like a whimpering puppy.
Kias gave a hollow smile and said, “I shall allow you to see him off to the lobby.”
“Thank you, brother.”
Yellodia sprang up from her seat and chased after Edward like a newly hatched chick. Needless to say, the three brothers clicked their tongues.
When Edward emerged from the cloakroom wearing his jacket and gloves, he looked surprised to find Yellodia standing by the door.
Yellodia spoke as if offering an excuse. “To the lobby. My brother gave permission.”
“Yes. Only to the lobby, it seems.”
Edward smiled faintly and began to walk. Yellodia naturally stood at his left side.
Edward suddenly opened his mouth.
“You have fine brothers.”
“Were they not a bother?”
“Not at all. It was a pleasant conversation. As it was my first time being formally invited to the ducal residence, I was inwardly nervous, but everyone treated me so unpretentiously that I quickly felt at ease.”
“Is that so…….”
Yellodia blinked quietly, feeling somewhat puzzled as to whether Edward’s evaluation was good or bad. Seeing his favorable expression, it seemed to be a good one.
Edward opened his mouth again.
“You must have been disappointed to dine all alone, my lady.”
“Um, that is, yes. I was, somewhat.”
Edward smiled gently and looked down at his fiancée’s face, which was honesty itself. He was suddenly reminded of how she had sulked throughout the formal dinner, unable to get a word in.
When Yellodia mashed up all her dessert with a sulky face, he had nearly burst out laughing in the middle of the meal.