Chapter 12

It has been decided that I will attend Mr. Gorman's and Ms. Irena's wedding.

Just thinking about it makes me feel heavy-hearted.

Why must I, who had my engagement broken, celebrate Mr. Gorman's marriage?

I did want to bless Ms. Irena, who is my cousin. But since Mr. Gorman is involved and the Ophels family is behind this as a form of harassment... I am not a saint, so there's nothing I can do.

However, since I received a formal invitation from the Ophels family, I have to attend. There's no choice.

With Fil, I'm sure everything will be fine.

I'll consult with him about various things during the break!

...Or so I thought.

It seems that Fil has to cut his one-month break short.

This morning, he was lying on the floor, sighing deeply.

"I don't want to work. I don't want to return to the capital. ...There's still some vacation left, so why?"

In his hand was a letter that arrived yesterday.

Yesterday, a serious-looking knight came galloping on a sweating horse.

When I was surprised, he had a letter for Fil. But even as the knight tried to press it into Fil's hands, Fil wouldn't even look at him.

Albes-niisan happened to return from the fields just then, and the knight, almost in tears, handed over the letter and left without waiting for a reply.

I was stunned, but Albes-niisan seemed to understand immediately and forced the letter into Fil's back.

That's how Fil ended up receiving the letter.

...I still don't understand the customs of the kingdom's knights.

In the end, Fil didn't open the letter until after dinner.

And now, even though he needs to leave this morning, he's still lying on the floor.

"Fil, I made you a bento, so try your best."

"...I'm glad you made a bento, but I don't want to try. I still want to rest. I want to stay here. I want to eat Lucia's home-cooked meals. I wonder if the river will flood and wash away the bridge."

"Don't say such ominous things. The bridge is the only one on the way to the capital that's in our territory. If it floods again, we'll be in trouble this time."

"You're right. I'm sorry. ...I'm such a bad man. I want to die."

The gloomy Fil is sincerely apologizing to Albes-niisan.

He didn't expect such a quick apology. Albes-niisan smiled wryly and looked at me.

Since there's nothing I can do, I brought a plate of freshly steamed buns and squatted next to Fil.

"I'm not angry, so get up. I'll give you a bean-filled steamed bun."

"...I might feel better if Lucia feeds me."

What is he saying? This person.

But his dejected appearance was pitiful, so I tore off a piece of the still hot steamed bun and offered it to him.

"Here, open wide."

Fil's eyes snapped open.

He looked back and forth between my face and the steamed bun in front of him, then opened his mouth wide.

...Is this really what he wanted?

No matter how beautiful his silver hair and appearance, a grown man in his mid-twenties reverting to a baby is not cute.

Internally, I felt a bit awkward, but since Albes-niisan was pleading with his eyes, I pushed the steamed bun into Fil's mouth.

"...It's delicious. There are a lot of beans."

"I've packed a lot of these in the basket for your bento. I also made a lot of the potato and bean stew you like, so I put that in too. You can return the containers when you come next time."

"Then when I come next time, I'll bring sugar. Or maybe gold dust would be better."

"Wait, why is gold dust coming up now?"

"It means it's that valuable. ...Ah, I don't want to go. I want to be a child of this house."

Fil is becoming a bad person again, but he seems a bit more positive, so let's call it good.

He stuffed the rest of the steamed buns into his mouth and chewed with incredible speed.

After finishing everything, he licked his lips wistfully and finally stood up.

"There's no choice. I have to go back to work."

"Fil working is so cool!"

"...Okay, I feel like I can try. Albes, thanks for everything. I'll come back."

"Anytime you're welcome."

Albes-niisan smiled and responded, then took Fil's luggage and headed outside.

Fil, who had been getting ready, suddenly turned around.

"Lucia, can I talk to you for a moment?"

I, who was about to follow Albes-niisan, stopped in my tracks.