Chapter 82

Hekate's gravestone caught his gaze as he scanned the tombstones. It had been two years since he started aging on his own, and he would have to spend three more years to be the same age as Hekate. Still, among the six of them, Hekate was the youngest.

‘I must be the odd one out.’

He started his civil servant life too early. If he had followed the normal route, starting last year or this year would still be considered early.

He stared at the gravestone for a long time. He should go back, but his feet wouldn’t move. He didn’t like coming here unless it was the memorial day because he didn’t want to see the tombstones welcoming him. But once he came, he wanted to stay a little longer. Human hearts are truly peculiar.

But what could he do by staying longer? He had already drunk two bottles, and whether he was there or not, he would be passed out drunk. If he were sober, he would probably tell him to scram without making a fuss, as usual.

‘See you next year.’

He might come back sooner than next year’s memorial day. When he does, he’ll come without any alcohol, so don’t expect it.

But he really sprayed a lot. Even though he touched the gravestone gently, his palms were damp. The smell seemed to have soaked in as well.

“Mew?”

“I’m not crying. I’m not.”

After saying his final goodbyes and turning around, the scene hit him. If he had made a mistake, he would have become a smiling psychopath. Still, this was the section chief’s way of offering comfort. Today was the day the section chief’s anger virus calmed down.

Apparently, these were not just special to him but also to the section chief.

“Section Chief, here.”

“Thank you.”

The first section chief, who had been watching from behind the section chief, ran up and handed him a handkerchief. His hands were so damp that he must have been bothered by it.

After wiping his hands, he handed back the handkerchief, now dyed yellow, and the first section chief pouted.

“I gave it to you to wipe your tears. What am I supposed to do with a stained handkerchief?”

“I’m not crying.”

He chuckled and pulled the first section chief’s lips. Since they were extended so conveniently, it was as if he was showing off, asking to be grabbed.

“Ugh!”

Why does he always do this, even though it hurts every time? Meanwhile, the second section chief, who was touching his own lips, nodded in satisfaction, pretending not to notice. You’re just getting what you deserve.

“Let’s go. Do you want to show them a violent superior?”

Despite his messy appearance, the section chief intervened.

“You must have seen a lot of that when the section chief was a division chief.”

“Damn you.”

He had a point. The section chief’s early steps to move his feet were quite impressive. If he had grown up with a violent superior, who else would he have learned from?

Then his gaze fell on the first section chief, whose lips he had grabbed. Of course, he had learned a bit from observing them.

“Are you going back now?”

“Yeah. There’s nothing to do at the department anyway.”

He nodded lightly in response to the deputy’s words. He had told the principal he would finish by the morning and return, so he had to go back to the academy.

“Section Chief, the first section chief might cry.”

“Oh.”

He let go of the first section chief’s lips, which he had forgotten to release. The sensation was so pleasant that once he grabbed them, he couldn’t let go.

“You should cherish and love your subordinates more.”

He ignored the first section chief’s whining, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Since there was nothing more to do at the department, he quickly returned to the academy. Even if he returned to the academy in the morning, there wouldn’t be much to do, but the longer he stayed at the department, the higher the chance of an unexpected summons. There was no need to take unnecessary risks.

After spending some time, he sat Erih down as soon as the club members arrived.

“Haven’t you been contacting home lately?”

“Huh?”

Because of his brother, who lived in a dorm and never contacted his family, he had to relay the greetings. It was a pathetic situation.

“The head of the family asked about your well-being.”

Erih flinched at the mention of the head of the family. He had always been intimidated by the head of the family, and it seemed he still was.

“What did he say...?”

“He asked if you were doing well.”

“Is that all?”

The suspicious look in his eyes seemed to say, “The head of the family doesn’t just ask about well-being.” I also wondered what was going on when the head of the family asked about well-being, but you should be more considerate.

‘I’m not his biological father.’

Of course, physically, he is the head of the family’s son, inheriting the head of the family’s blood. But the content inside is unrelated to the head of the family, and I was deeply hurt four years ago, so I’m not close to him. But what about you, who is practically his only child?

“There’s more.”

“Of course.”

“He said to tell you that for a martial artist, it’s more important to go far than to go fast.”

Erih tilted his head, puzzled. It was a simple greeting and a concerned piece of advice.

In reality, the head of the family didn’t care how we trained as long as we met the target values. It was unusual for him to express concern about our well-being now, leading to cognitive dissonance.

“Try to contact home more often. Even when I was at the department, I contacted home once a week.”

“Really? Who did you contact?”

“The butler.”

The skeptical look was a bit intense. To be honest, I also found it a bit awkward to contact the head of the family or my mother directly.

“Your father seems strict.”

As the conversation about the brothers’ family affairs ended, the club members, who had been quietly observing, approached. As always, it was Ruitis who spoke up with a light laugh.

“He’s not exactly warm.”

Erih’s firm response was a polite way of putting it. He was more indifferent and uninterested than strict. Today’s behavior at the national cemetery was quite unusual.

“Does the torturer teacher think the same?”

“I became independent a few years ago, so I don’t remember.”

“Ha ha, that makes sense!”

Four years ago, when I started my civil servant life, I became independent. Besides, I never felt any familial bond with the head of the family, so I never considered whether he was warm or strict.

“I have many siblings, so I don’t know what it’s like to receive attention from my father.”

I know Ruitis has two older brothers and two older sisters, and even more younger siblings, making him the fifth of many children.

But the way he said it makes it sound like King Armein neglects his children, which is not true. King Armein is known for cherishing his children, despite having many of them.

“If my father were half as good as King Armein, this wouldn’t have happened.”

I remember the crown prince, who had suddenly summoned me to drink alone, saying this. He ended up drunk, and the crown princess had to calm him down. I still wonder why he called me there.

Compared to the cold and violent royal family of Ribnom, the Lobens royal family is warm and harmonious.

“Having many siblings is a good thing. The burden is shared.”

“That’s true, but...”

Lather, the second of three siblings, responded awkwardly, as if he didn’t know what to say. In a normal family, three siblings might be fine, but in a royal family, three siblings are precarious. It’s better to have more princes to replace the crown prince if he dies.

Of course, in some cases, having many siblings can lead to them killing each other to reduce their numbers. Ainter, who is silent now, is an example of such a family.

“Is today’s topic about family? I have nothing to say, which is disappointing.”

Tanian, who had been watching the two princes’ conversation, laughed lightly. The conversation seemed to be drifting towards family affairs, probably because they started with family stories when the club began.

“Isn’t Saint Enen’s family the most impressive? He’s the father.”

“Ha ha, that’s true in terms of doctrine. I’m an orphan.”

The self-deprecating joke left Ruitis speechless. Impressive, making Ruitis speechless is really hard... If I had forced a spell, it would have been even more insane.

Ruitis’ pupils, which had been shaking, suddenly focused on me. Why are you looking at me? I have nothing to say.

I tried to look away, but when I saw Louise’s dark expression, I changed my mind.

“Let’s end the family talk here. If we keep going, we might hear royal secrets, and we’d have to cut off our ears.”

“Ah, that’s true. I was shortsighted.”

In response to my suggestion to wrap it up, Ruitis enthusiastically agreed, as if this was his only lifeline. I didn’t really plan to help, but I’ll do it this time.

“Louise?”

“Yes, yes! You called me?”

Louise’s expression was still dark, but she quickly brightened when I called her. I’m sorry, I forgot about it today because I was distracted.

“Do you remember the macarons? Can you make them again today?”

“Yes! I’ll make them right away!”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Her dark mood quickly disappeared, and she beamed, just like the usual Louise. If I didn’t know the situation, I would have thought I was seeing things.

‘I should have paid more attention to what I knew.’

A bitter smile formed on my face. I might be the only one who knows this fact in this world, except for the Naiad family. It was from the free chapters of the webtoon. No matter how much the club members like Louise, they couldn’t know about her childhood.

At the time, Louise experienced a tragedy far worse than Erih, who was merely intimidated by the head of the family, or Ainter, who had lost a half-brother but was already prepared.

‘The author must be crazy.’

I’ve never seen his face, but the original author must be crazy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have put such a trial on an 8-year-old child.

Isn’t it too much for her only sister to die hating her?