Chapter 5

"But I wanted to wash it for you..."

"Stop it, Cynthia..."

Shiraya, who had been thoroughly washed and was now clean, lay buried in a clean bed in one of the rooms of the Ludran Viscount's mansion. The doctor who had examined his health had already left, and the knights for the investigation were scheduled to arrive the next day.

"More importantly, Cynthia. I need to greet your parents... Involving their precious daughter in such a situation and having them prepare a bed for me..."

"Shiraya, don't think about that at least for today. Your parents said they won't show their faces to you until tomorrow. It's not that they dislike you; they are concerned about your health. Please rest well."

"I see... I'm sorry. Thank you."

And another reason is that I have a scolding session with me afterward, so I won't have time to talk to Shiraya. The rescue operation for Shiraya was something I did personally. Yes, personally. His Highness the Crown Prince had nothing to do with it. He just happened to be there.

"Actually, I think I should leave too. ...Can I stay a little longer?"

"Stay, Cynthia. I'm asking you. I've always wanted to hear your voice. I was afraid that we might not be able to talk like this anymore."

"Shiraya..."

She lay down next to him as if to snuggle, stroking his shimmering silver hair.

"It's okay, Shiraya. No matter where you are, I will come to save you."

"...You're so cool, Cynthia. But how did you do it? The knights who broke open the attic door were the Royal Guard, right? Even if it's His Highness the Crown Prince, searching a Duke's mansion without permission is not allowed. Even if the abuse was revealed, few nobles would show sympathy. Instead, the criticism for searching a noble's mansion without notice would be louder. If the faction leaves His Highness because of this, the position of Crown Prince would be in danger. His Highness must have recognized that..."

"It's okay, Shiraya. Because His Highness the Crown Prince was just running away from a swarm of bees."

Shiraya's eyes widened at my words. His innocent and adorable face was endearing.

"From a... swarm of bees? Such a convenient reason..."

"There are many witnesses, including the Royal Guard and the Duke's servants. Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince will gain absolute support from two of the Four Dukes. Once that happens, his position will be secure, and he won't be troubled by the succession dispute until he ascends the throne."

"Two? I understand the Gridmore Duke, but the other one?"

"Of course, the Brook Duke."

Shiraya's well-shaped eyebrows changed height, one higher than the other. It was fun to see his various expressions, but he would change his expression even more afterward.

"Are you... threatening my father?"

"No, once the Royal Guard captures and hands over the current Duke of Brook to the Kingdom's Knights, his condemnation is inevitable. The abuse of relatives was a bit weak, but the Duke of Brook made false statements to His Highness. He will be promptly stripped of his dukedom, and the next Duke will be chosen from the direct line. Incidentally, the Duchess of Brook was also considered to have been involved in confinement and violence, so she has already been arrested by the Knights. Therefore, she will not serve as the acting Duke. The title will go to the eldest son first. However, he will soon be pointed out as lacking the ability, and after an investigation, the head of the Brook Duke's family will be you, Shiraya."

"...Huh? What?"

Shiraya, who took some time to understand, jumped out of bed with a pale face.

"You must be joking! Me, a Duke!? That's impossible..."

"It's not impossible. Shiraya is officially registered as the third son of the Brook Duke's family in the noble registry and has a legitimate direct lineage."

"I would be immediately deemed incapable and removed as a successor. Then, a suitable relative would be chosen..."

"You won't be deemed incapable. In addition to your academic performance, you are already involved in the management of the dukedom."

Shiraya showed surprise again at my assertion.

"How did you know that..."

"When you stopped attending school, I investigated everything about the Brook Duke's family. I noticed something odd about the handwriting in the documents they handled. Both the current Duke and the eldest son, who assists the Duke, had the same handwriting. And it matched the handwriting in the notebook you gave me. This has already been submitted to the royal palace for handwriting analysis and will be published at the appropriate time. Once that happens, the report will state that the eldest son lacks the ability to manage the territory, while the third son, who was forced to work due to abuse, has the ability. The final decision will be made by His Majesty, but it is almost impossible for the report to be ignored. Your future as a Duke is already decided."

Shiraya sat on the bed as if his soul had left his body.

When I found the documents signed by the Duke of Brook, written in Shiraya's handwriting, I was so happy. I was sure that Shiraya was alive and that he wouldn't be killed immediately. Once the Duke of Brook, who had learned to be lazy, had such an excellent worker, he wouldn't let him go. He is a man who is loyal to his desires.

And it inadvertently became a clue to Shiraya's place of confinement. If a sudden report was sent to the Brook Duke's family, requiring submission by the end of the day, the document would be directly handed over to the messenger by the Duke's family. Of course, it would be in Shiraya's handwriting.

Once I knew where Shiraya was, the Bee Operation would be carried out.

The honey from the Ludran Viscount's territory. I hid the beehives that produce the honey behind the grand carriage of His Highness the Crown Prince. To prevent the bees from making a warning sound and alerting the Duke of Brook, they were put to sleep with carbon dioxide, a natural resource from our territory. Even though the bees are gentle, if they are given excessive warning, they are more likely to attack, so this was necessary. I couldn't let His Highness be in real danger.

His Highness said something like, "It would be fine to get stung once," but I ignored it.

Adjusting the amount of gas to wake the bees at the best timing is something the beekeepers of the Ludran Viscount's territory can do easily. Using gas to capture and divide the bees is part of their regular work.

By the way, the bees that appeared in the room were kept in ribbons sewn into my skirt. The beekeeper said he let them go outside after everything was over, so they might be in the Duke of Brook's mansion, finding a flower bed and collecting nectar. The beehives will be collected at night after the bees return and brought back to the Ludran Viscount's territory. I want to make many beautiful flower beds for the bees who did such a great job.

What would be a good thank you for the beekeeper? Besides the reward, maybe a lifetime supply of protein... I remember there was protein in the game, so it must be sold somewhere.

"But... if I become a Duke, I can't be the Ludran Viscountess. I can't accept that. I can't marry you, and I absolutely don't want that."

While I was lost in thought, Shiraya seemed to have sorted out his confused mind and said firmly, stopping his daze.

"I don't want that either. So, I will become the Duchess of Brook, and my father will be asked to extend his retirement. Shiraya and I will have more than two children, and each will inherit the dukedom and the viscountcy. This is my ideal at the moment."

"Wait, if that happens, Cynthia, you won't be a viscountess. You've been aiming to be the head of the family, haven't you?"

"I wasn't aiming to be the head. I just wanted to protect the important viscountcy with my own hands. As a duchess, I can still achieve that, and I plan to actively help my father. I even want to get a power of attorney from my parents and manage the territory myself. I want to let them have an easy life as a way to show filial piety."

"Then... really, I will become a Duke..."

"We can coordinate with the Gridmore Duke, who is allied with the Crown Prince, and the Ludran Viscount's family will support Shiraya. Since you are already handling the dukedom's business, you will be welcomed without causing any confusion. There are no problems. Shiraya, the hard times are over. You've done well all this time."

I pulled Shiraya, who had gotten out of bed, and laid him down again. I considered not talking too much today to let him rest, but I thought removing his worries might help him sleep. It's a gamble, but it might work.

"...I was forced to handle the dukedom's business even before I entered the academy."

Shiraya's words, spoken softly. I thought about comforting him, but since he seemed to want to continue talking, I just nodded quietly.

"It was tough, but I didn't hate it. I finally felt needed in the dukedom. I thought maybe my family would treat me well. But their attitude towards me didn't change, and it even seemed to worsen. After entering the academy, I worked hard, thinking that if I achieved excellent grades, my father would be proud of me. But my father never paid attention to me, and I felt a limit when he wouldn't even recognize my engagement to Cynthia. For the first time, I raised my voice in protest to my father. But that only made him angry, and I was chained and even had my clothes taken away. I was told to realize my position and that I would eventually be removed from the family register and made to work as a slave for life."

I clenched my teeth as I listened, feeling Shiraya's regret.

Or maybe I was feeling regret myself. Knowing that the person I love had suffered for so long. If I had chosen Shiraya instead of Edi at the first engagement, would things have been different? I regret not seizing that opportunity.

"Why did you even bring me into the Brook family if you were going to treat me like this? I asked if it was because you felt some familial affection. But my father laughed and said that he thought if I was brought in as a son, his favorite beautiful maid wouldn't run away. But the maid left without hesitation, leaving her child behind, and you were a huge disappointment. Trying to gain my father's approval was a waste of effort from the beginning. I had disappointed him for so long."

"You don't need to be recognized by such a man. He is an unworthy father. It's a disgrace for him to even call himself your family. Your family is me. I won't recognize anyone