༺ Single, 21 years old, and very influential (5) ༻
There are times in life when things don’t work out, and then there are times when everything is going so well that you might wonder if it was even okay to be that happy.
That’s how it was for me right now. I hadn’t even gotten used to the small joys yet, and here I was, facing a happiness so great that I never even dared to imagine it. Could it be that the heavens were favoring me?
Being invited to Carl’s family residence might’ve just been a small first step considering the life we would lead together, but knowing that only progress lay ahead made it all the more exciting. After all, I would be the one by Carl’s side—there was no rush.
However, it seemed like the heavens wouldn’t be satisfied with just that. Otherwise, such an event wouldn’t have happened.
I had been invited by Carl’s mother to come to the territory of Count Tailglehen. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect an invitation from her and not Carl.
‘Things are moving too fast…’
And I like it.
I left the room Carl showed me to and strolled down the corridor. I couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.
Was this a positive sign? It must be, right? Then, should I seek out his mother first and greet her? After all, it was only proper to thank the hostess who invited me.
So, I asked a servant and made my way to his mother’s room—
“Make sure to keep in touch more often and talk to her. Mother seems to be worried about you.”
For some reason, I stumbled upon Carl, who was lecturing someone.
I hid, not wanting to interrupt them, and their brotherly exchange continued. To be honest, it sounded more like a one-sided scolding from Carl.
‘They don’t really keep in touch, do they?’
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it was hard not to overhear from this distance. The two brothers rarely communicated with their parents.
It felt a bit odd. I had a strange feeling ever since I met Carl’s parents outside the mansion. It was well-known in social circles that Carl’s father was aloof and Carl had also mentioned it a few times before, so I didn’t think much of it.
But there was something unusual about his mother. She wasn’t brusque, nor was she overly warm. It couldn’t be a lack of interest in her children, given how her gaze often lingered on Carl and Erich. However, she wasn’t proactive either.
I wondered what the reason could be, but it made sense if it was simply a lack of communication.
I had worried that the mother-son relationship might also be strained like the stiff father-son relationship. It would be too pitiful if that were the case for Carl.
‘So it’s just awkwardness.’
If it was just a problem arising from a lack of communication, then that was a relief.
Our family also had awkward moments due to a lack of communication.
Because father had retired and brother managed the duties in his place with the assistance of my sister-in-law, they were so busy that they had little time to pay attention to their children.
“Have you ever cared about what I do?”
That was how the heir of the Valenti family nearly went astray. Fortunately, after a heartfelt talk in what father called the ‘Room of Truth’, my brother and sister-in-law began to show proper affection to their children and things got better.
So, a conversation with his mother should help Carl ease the awkwardness between them. He doesn’t even seem to hold any grudges against her.
Carl was surprisingly honest with his emotions. If he really disliked his mother, then he would have already expressed his discontent several times.
What should I do? Should I encourage Carl to talk more with his mother, or should I tell his mother that Carl was just shy?
“The youngest should be the one to brighten the mood.”
“I’m the one at fault, so let’s stop this…”
While I was thinking about it, Carl’s lectures became even more intense. That must be his way of caring for his brother, right?
Watching Erich shrink more and more, I decided to intervene. After all, he was going to be a lord; it was only right to lend a hand.
“Carl, Erich.”
“Mar?”
“Lady Valenti.”
As I appeared, Carl’s lecturing stopped and Erich’s expression brightened. It seems you owe me one, young master.
***
In the midst of my efforts to rehabilitate the wickedly unfilial son, Marghetta’s voice came from behind.
“I heard Carl’s voice, so I came over. What’s going on?”
“Oh, I must have been too loud.”
It seems that my voice was the only thing that had grown as I grew up as the Prosecutors’ Office’s Executive Manager. Spending time with the minister had made me louder, too.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I forced a laugh and sneaked a glance at Erich. Now that the flow of the conversation was broken, it was time to end this.
“I was just giving some brotherly advice.”
“Did I interrupt you?”
“Not at all.”
Erich hastily replied to Marghetta, who was tilting her head. Perhaps he was worried that I might scold him again after she left.
Seeing Marghetta suddenly brought another thought to mind. The Valenti Dukedom was a large family spanning three generations, so would Marghetta’s words be more convincing when talking about family warmth and communication? Objectively speaking, I was also an unfilial son who left home and never contacted them.
To be honest, I was entrusting Erich with the duty of filial piety because I couldn’t really call myself their son, but I was still a legitimate child from others’ perspective. Here I was, the older unfilial son lecturing the younger brother about filial duties. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on me.
“Carl?”
Ah, did I stare at her too much?
“Mar. How do you get along with the Duke?”
“Yes?”
Marghetta’s eyes widened in surprise at my unexpected question, and then she let out a small laugh. I felt a bit embarrassed for being so abrupt, but I was genuinely curious.
Wasn’t there a significant age difference between Marghetta and the Iron-blooded Duke? Despite that, I’ve never heard of Marghetta feeling awkward around the Duke, or him being indifferent to her. In fact, they seemed to have a close relationship.
Their relationship wasn’t just parental but almost like that of a grandparent and their grandchild. Meanwhile, there was only a small age difference of twenty-two years between Erich and Mother.
“Is there a reason not to get along? Spending time together naturally brings closeness.”
“Is that so?”
“Even if we’re separated, we can still talk to each other every day using the communication crystal.”
That was exactly what I wanted to hear. Right, that made sense. Erich didn’t seem to know that.
“Parents would be happy if their children did that.”
It was no longer just my opinion, but Marghetta’s, too. If Erich had any sense, he wouldn’t neglect to keep in touch from now on.
“If the eldest does it, they’d be even happier.”
The conversation took a turn.
Marghetta’s smiling face made me feel a bit sheepish. It seems she saw Erich and me in the same light.
“Parents always worry about the eldest. And when the eldest moves, the younger siblings follow. That was the case with the Valenti family.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Perhaps because he now saw an opportunity to counter-attack after being beaten down unilaterally, Erich chimed in from the side, subtly supporting Margareta.
Marghetta, who was solidly backing me just a moment ago, had now returned with a fatal blow. And it was even more difficult because she wasn’t wrong.
“Of course, that’s how it was for the Valenti family. Krasius must have its own ways.”
“We’ve been getting by without a particular method.”
“Fufu, is that so?”
Watching Marghetta chuckle behind her fan, my thoughts became tangled.
I already knew it. If I take the lead, Erich will follow. How could a brother be any different if the elder doesn’t care for their mother?
I was already aware of it. If I made the first move before scolding Erich, he would follow suit. After all, why would the younger be any different if the older brother doesn’t pay attention to their mother?
‘If I didn’t know that, then there must be a problem with my brain’
But I couldn’t help but feel reluctant to approach Mother. Part of it was because she wasn’t my real mother, but the bigger reason was because I wasn’t her real son. Pretending to be her real son would feel too much like a deception.
Mother might not be the most proactive person, but she did show concern for my marriage prospects and health. She also considered Erich’s potential partners —she was willing to perform the role of a mother.
Deceiving such a person didn’t sit well with me. That was why I’ve been distancing myself, relying on the memories from before the possession and trying to act as the real Carl used to. I didn’t expect Erich to build walls too, so now I was belatedly trying to bring them together.
‘It’s shameful.’
I don’t want to do it, but you have to do it—how was that any different? I thought that inwardly, but it was quite embarrassing to hear something similar from Marghetta.
“I was just thinking of visiting your mother.”
Just as I was beginning to feel a twinge of guilt for lecturing Erich, Marghetta continued.
“As an invited guest, I should greet her properly.”
“Really? Mother would be happy to hear that.”
She was already struggling between the royals and nobility, so a greeting from a fellow noble of the Empire would be quite welcome.
“Will you come with me, Carl? How about you, Erich?”
I hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
“Mother was in the rear garden last I saw her. She might still be there.”
After all the advice I’d given, I couldn’t just make an excuse and flee.
Upon reaching the garden, I saw that Mother and the head maid were still there. The maids had disappeared, perhaps leaving the two to get some fresh air before heading in.
“Mother.”
Mother, who had been looking at the flower beds with the head maid, flinched and turned our way. The head maid also seemed surprised, as if she hadn’t expected the person who had just left to return so soon.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to come back so soon either. Meeting again so soon after parting would be awkward, so I had hoped that she wouldn’t be here.
“Oh, nanny is here too?”
Erich, who was following behind, waved to the head maid, causing her eyes to widen further.
“I brought them because the guest wanted to greet you.”
Watching them, I turned my gaze back to Mother. She nodded in a somewhat dazed manner but then turned her attention to Marghetta, who was standing behind me.
Observing Marghetta modestly bowing her head and Mother returning the greeting, I spoke again.
“The guest mentioned it would be fine for us to stay together. Are you alright with that, Mother?”
It took more courage than expected to do this right after finishing the tea party.
“I’m not sure when I’ll be able to visit our territory again, so I’d like to spend as much time with Mother as possible.”
The head maid hurried off after hearing that, presumably to prepare some refreshments.
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