55
…That guy. How romantic.
“What’s the occasion for Young Master Cedric to send flowers?”
While I was unwrapping the gift to check it, Redward, the head butler who was beside me, muttered in puzzlement.
I was startled, having a guilty conscience.
“R-right? I should put them in a vase first.”
I hastily brushed it off and quickly took them to my room. After putting the stems in an empty vase and placing it where the sunlight came in well, a smile unconsciously spread across my face.
‘Not bad.’
…Would dating him be similar to this?
Just as I don’t know about romance between trait types since I’m a beta, I don’t properly know about same-sex romance either since I have heterosexual tendencies.
But I thought the situations I’m experiencing now don’t seem much different from other ordinary romances.
Of course, since I’ve never directly dated anyone else, this is just how it feels to me.
Anyway.
Even if I had dated another woman, it probably wouldn’t have been much different from now. The emotional exchange with him isn’t as awkward or uncomfortable as I had worried.
Though I’m still anxious, my heart felt strangely light.
‘…Mm. I should send a return gift later too.’
After staring at the flowers and pondering for a while, I got up from my seat. I needed to go see Father soon and ask him to lift the house arrest.
I went straight to the office and knocked lightly on the door.
“Father. It’s me.”
“Come in.”
When permission came from inside, I carefully opened the door to find Father, who had been working for a while, turning his gaze toward me.
“What is it?”
Instead of answering that question right away, I smiled sheepishly and slipped into the office, sitting on the sofa placed in front of the fireplace.
Father showed a kind smile on his face.
“Looks like you have something you want permission for?”
“…Ahem. I’ve been resting quietly and well all this time, haven’t I? There haven’t been any dangerous incidents either. So I thought it might be time to lift the house arrest.”
But Father shook his head.
“The reason there haven’t been dangerous incidents is because you’ve been staying home under protection. The matter of rooting out the behind-the-scenes culprits hasn’t been resolved yet either… Are you trying to make this father worry again?”
“I’m an adult too. This is overprotection.”
“Just because you’ve become an adult doesn’t mean you’re no longer a child precious enough that it wouldn’t hurt to put you in my eye. If you wanted to worry me less, you should have taken your sword lessons more seriously.”
He even nagged me for slacking off in my lessons.
“I practiced the sword diligently in my own way, but my skills just didn’t improve.”
“Anyway. I wish you had some awareness that you’re the only son of the Lowell family.”
“Mm. I think it would be nice if I had a younger sibling.”
“Tsk.”
“…”
“Sigh. I’m even declining His Majesty’s urging to come up to the Imperial Palace once so he can meet you now that you’ve become an avatar.”
“If you’re that worried, please assign me guards.”
“Just where do you want to go so badly?”
“I want to go to the Leonhardt family villa with my friends.”
Father’s expression hardened even more upon hearing my answer.
“That’s a distance that takes a full week just to get there.”
“Father. If something bad is going to happen, whether it takes seven days or three days, whether I’m at someone else’s house or our house, it’s bound to happen eventually.”
“…”
“So please assign me guards with people Father can trust. Wouldn’t that work?”
Father scowled with a sullen face.
Hmm. It’s not easy to persuade him.
I know he’s worrying about me this much, but…
“Then your son will run away from home without a word.”
“…”
“You don’t want to see that sight even more, do you?”
This would be rebellion. Fortunately, it seemed my stubbornness got through to Father, as he appeared to be deliberating much more than before.
Eventually Father gave in to my persistence.
“Hah, fine. I’ll assign guards for the journey.”
No parent can win against their child.
I curled up the corners of my mouth in a grin.
“Thank you.”
“Really, you must be careful and come back safely.”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
“I’m going to get scolded by your mother again…”
I pretended not to hear Father’s last mutter. Father, who had been holding his forehead and shaking his head, suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke up.
“Ah. Come to think of it… son.”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do about the marriage meetings?”
…Right. That problem was still remaining.
Since I had been busy with various things happening like being chosen by Prometil when I went to play at the temple and getting kidnapped, the second marriage meeting had been continuously postponed.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“Well… I’ve changed my mind.”
“Hm? You’ve changed your mind?”
“I think I don’t need to have any more marriage meetings.”
Suddenly Father’s eyes became mysterious.
“Your mind changed again all of a sudden?”
“Mm, yes.”
“Did you find someone you like?”
“Huh? N-no? It’s not like that.”
I unconsciously waved my hands vigorously in denial. I had thrown him bait. His expression looking at me became even more cunning.
“Who is it? Is it Ret after all?”
“…Ret is a friend.”
I quickly got up from my seat before the conversation could go on any longer. If by any chance Father mentioned Cedric’s name, even just to probe, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to manage my expression.
“Anyway, I need to send letters saying I got permission, so I’ll go back to my room now.”
“Eddie, wait…”
I heard a voice trying to stop me from behind, but I pretended not to hear and quickly left the office. Somehow, my heart was pounding.
“Phew.”
After taking a small breath, I went straight to my room and took out paper.
After writing about how permission for going out had finally been granted, though conditionally, and that guards would likely accompany us, my gaze lingered on the letter to be sent to Cedric.
Two letters with the same content… but the bottom of the letter to be sent to Cedric was longer than usual.
…And I received the flowers you sent well.
They look pretty when put in a vase.
What I’m sending along is my return gift.
I wrote that far and fell into deep thought.
‘What should I send as a return gift?’
The time spent pondering was quite enjoyable.
* * *
Thump.
Count Lowell, ‘Elian de Lowell’s’ beloved only son ignored his attempt to stop him and went out heartlessly.
The silence that followed.
“…Oh my.”
Elian shook his head gently.
Then he soon propped his chin and rolled his eyes.
‘If it’s not Ret, then who could it be?’
It’s Edgar, who isn’t good at hiding his emotions. Judging by his reaction, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he either has a hidden lover or someone he’s courting.
‘I just can’t figure out who it is.’
Especially since his son isn’t active in socializing with others… There was a pile of unfinished work, but currently all his attention was completely focused on his son’s romantic affairs.
‘Could it be that Eiriden daughter who visited recently?’
The daughter of Count Eiriden’s family, Viola.
She seemed to have feelings for Edgar. She was also one of the few people Edgar interacted with besides Riette and Cedric.
‘Hmm. Whatever it is, it’s good news.’
A warm smile soon spread across Elian’s lips. Because his son seemed to have really grown up.
Elian, who resolved to tell his wife Camilla this news later, decided to focus on his work for now.
Until then, Elian couldn’t even imagine that the person Edgar was courting might actually be Cedric.
* * *
Some time later.
The day to go play at the Leonhardt family villa in the west.
About five people from the Lowell trading company who would serve as guards came to our mansion.
Their leader was Lionel. Thanks to having met the others at the temple, they were all people I was somewhat acquainted with.
Moreover, Riette and Cedric also visited our house. Since we would be accompanied by guards, our family had prepared all the carriages we would ride.
While watching the busy preparations for departure, Cedric quietly approached my side.
“Eddie.”
That quiet voice felt exactly like warmly heated tea. Instead of answering, I only turned my head to face him. Though he had just called me as usual, strangely the inside of my chest felt ticklish.
“Have you been doing well?”
He whispered softly, pressed his body close to mine, and invisibly took my hand behind my back. Heat rushed to my face for a moment and I frowned for no reason.
“Why are you even asking how I’ve been? We only didn’t meet for two days.”
The day before yesterday, Cedric had come to see me again.
The schedule to leave had been firmly set for about a week ago, so he just had to wait a little longer, but he couldn’t stand that brief time and whined in letters, so I ended up meeting him secretly without Riette knowing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
