Chapter 45

I just stared at the person listed in the family register, who suddenly started to cry in front of me. Honestly, I had no idea what to do.

“Hey, why are you crying…?”

“I’m not asking for your forgiveness.”

Of course not.

It was true that I was an idiot. It was also true that I got into a lot of trouble and tarnished the family name. All the foolish things I did were handled by Akain and Zerno. Especially Akain, who had to take responsibility instead of Zerno, who was the heir and often had to be away.

“Doing this won’t erase the wounds I’ve already given you.”

“….?”

“But even so, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I’ll keep regretting it again and again, always feeling sorry for what I did to you.”

“…So?”

‘Seriously, why is he crying? What is he even trying to say?’

“So from now on, tell me when you’re hurting…”

“Huh?”

“Don’t hold it in, resent me, and if you want to hit me, I’ll let you hit me anytime… so hit my chest and ask me why I didn’t believe you while doing that…”

“…Did you eat something weird?”

“Just… keep living as my younger sibling.”

‘What’s wrong with him…?’

I pulled Akain’s hand off me.

The only reason I didn’t make a disgusted face was to maintain at least a minimum level of courtesy as siblings. Then, I turned to the carriage stone and spoke reluctantly.

“Open the door again.”

The sharp coachman had closed the door the moment my sibling and I started talking.

It would have been better if he hadn’t been so perceptive. If he hadn’t, I would’ve just slipped my hand away and walked right out like nothing happened.

I stepped out of the carriage and glanced around.

‘Minerva’s Library… hmm, it must be over there.’

The salon where the social elite book club would meet, 〈 Minerva’s Library. 〉 Even among the salons on this street, it stood out as especially extravagant.

‘Since today happens to be the day of the book club meeting, he’ll probably show up.’

—The Grand Duke of Akelos.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

The Delosif family’s carriage set off down the road again. Even after Nikaearsha had gotten out, the atmosphere inside the carriage remained heavy.

Akain muttered, fists clenched tight.

“Idiot…”

“….”

“A fool who can’t even curse at such a useless brother like me.”

In his mind, Nikaearsha was now nothing but ‘the pitiful, sickly little sister, too burdened by misunderstandings to ever get close.’ Even just running away because she was annoyed got interpreted as ‘poor Nikaearsha, who’s so understanding of her older brother.’

“I’m going to live for Nike from now on. I don’t care what you say, big brother.”

“I’m not planning to say anything.”

“…So you do feel a little guilty, huh?”

“No.”

Akain sighed in frustration.

His cold-hearted brother remained indifferent, even when faced with his sibling’s earnest side.

“I just find it bothersome.”

That was his way of saying he was sorry and that he pitied her.

From the moment Zerno was born as the heir of the Delosif family, he was taught to have no personal desires. All desires had to be directed solely toward the family.

‘Honestly, whether it’s Nike or brother…’

“So, what am I supposed to do first?”

While Akain was mulling things over with a thoughtful “hmm,” Zerno spoke up.

“What are you even planning to do?”

“Something I can do for Nike. Even if I offered to give that kid anything, she’d never tell me what she wanted. So I’ll have to figure it out myself.”

You couldn’t pay back guilt with feelings alone. It would’ve to be paid back with money and tangible things, too.

The second son of the richest family in the Empire had learned the world worked that way.

“She seemed to like jewelry. She’d pay absurd prices at auctions, so… hmm, maybe diamonds…”

While Akain was still pondering, Zerno picked up his communication stone.

“It’s me. Bring in the biggest jeweler in the capital. I’ll buy everything in their store.”

Being the eldest son in a wealthy family didn’t mean he had been taught any differently.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

There were countless social gatherings in the capital.

There must be around forty different book clubs alone, though only one group had the right to call themselves the 〈 Book Club. 〉

‘That’s the social gathering held here at Minerva’s Library.’

Only people with the title of duke or above could join. People with titles such as chancellor, grand general, or commander of the knights, who could act as the emperor’s representative in an emergency, were also eligible. This gathering of such influential men alone was called the 〈Book Club.〉

‘Grand Duke Akelos is also a member of this book club.’

“It really is ridiculously grand…”

I’d heard that the book club members gathered on the second floor, but even down here on the first floor, it was packed wall to wall. And almost everyone there was from well-known noble families. Most of them were probably just hoping to network with the book club members in any way they could. Besides, just being seen on the first floor during a book club meeting was enough to flaunt your own status.

“Oh my, Lady Delosif.”

A group of women gathered in the middle of the courtyard, laughing brightly, turned to look at me.

The one who spoke to me was Diorsi, the second daughter of the Grand General and the younger sister of the Second Empress.

“It’s so nice to see everyone here. Did you come with your father? I brought my father along as well.”

This was a gathering of the highest elite, which meant even my father, the Grand Duke of Delosif, who wasn’t even in the Empire right now, was also a member here.

“Oh, I didn’t realize Grand Duke Delosif was back in the Empire.”

“No, I didn’t come with my father.”

“Is that so? Oh, then has Lord Zerno finally joined the Book Club…?”

Diorsi looked very interested.

Since the Second Empress was determined to pair her up with Zerno, of course, she was interested.

‘But it seems like my brother Zerno isn’t the least bit interested.’

Diorsi treated me with the same friendliness as every other noblewoman trying to get closer to Zerno.

“Why don’t you come over here and join us? For some reason, there are people here today who don’t really belong, so things are a little chaotic.”

As she said this, Diorsi glanced toward the nobles by the door.

“This first floor is supposed to be a lounge for book club members’ children, right? But ever since all sorts of flies started showing up, it’s gotten rather dangerous.”

“Yes, my father always ends the meetings quickly because he’s worried I might get involved with some men I shouldn’t.”

When another young lady chimed in with a complaint, Diorsi shook her head.

“Men need confidence, but when it’s excessive, it becomes a problem. They start reaching for branches way out of their league.”

“That’s right. Even the family that just sent me a marriage proposal, do you know who they are? They’re only baronets! And they’re just merchants, too.”

“Oh my, how dreadful. Still, Lady Delosif, you really have an eye for things. I have to admit, I was surprised when you first got engaged to Lord Cleas.”

“None of us said it, but I’m sure all the other book club children felt the same way. But now even Lord Cleas’s family is being considered for membership in the book club—”

That was when it happened—

“If I want to be a man worthy of Nike, I’ve got to try, don’t I?”

—Just my luck, a face I never wanted to see showed up.

It was Cleas.

He casually slipped his arm around my shoulders and smiled.

“Nike, I was worried something had happened, but I’m glad to see you look okay.”

“….”

“So, what brings you here? You don’t usually like crowded places.”

Yeah, unlike your precious Mikarin. After being compared to her so much during our marriage, I could practically hear the whispers behind my back.

I brushed his arm off and replied.

“I have a business to take care of.”

“What kind of business made you come all the way here yourself?”

“That’s none of your concern.”