ONE DAY THE DUKE ASKED IN PASSING WORDS.
“My son, don’t you need a friend?”
I thought he was just saying it, or asking it with the intention of trying to distance me and Lucian because I was with him often.
The Duke still disapproved of Lucian. Of course he is more relaxed than before, but I must have misunderstood what he said.
That’s what I thought while I was looking at the group of young people my age in a garden that was filled with white roses.
“Should I start socializing?” White roses are special and meaningful roses in the Leoniss Empire. Therefore, it is a flower that no ordinary person could raise or get.
However, if someone has so many white roses, that they are enough to fill an entire garden, it is especially worth bragging about.
Oh, but even the duke has his limits. Out of our five gardens, only one is filled with rare flowers.
The tea tables in the garden filled with white roses were elegant and cute.
There was a lace tablecloth carefully placed overtop and a white cushion on the chairs where young children would sit.
The tableware is all pink.
The ceramic figurines hidden as gifts in their respective cups are rabbits, flowers, or butterflies, all cute things that young children would like.
In addition, the table is occupied by numerous sweet desserts, such as colorful macarons, shortcakes with lots of strawberries, and chocolate cake with delicate chocolate garnishes.
Still, I smiled as I saw the cute girls and cute boys staring at me like I am an elegant and high-class nobleman.
Guys, you guys have some drool around your mouth. I’m not kidding, both sides of their mouths were shiny.
“It’s my first time seeing you. I am Raphael De Leon.”
After the Duke said that I would be registered in the family roster his words of promise were quickly implemented. That’s why I am De Leon now.
“Nice to meet you, prince. I’m Bellisa from Marquis Bourne’s house.”
As if a red rose slipped into the wrong place through a gap in the white roses, the red-haired Young Lady greeted me.
After that, each of the four young children around us introduced themselves.
Some are from baron houses, some are from a Count’s house, and some other young people from various other aristocracies. I don’t remember any of the other young people very much.
Of the people sitting in a circle in front of the round table, I only had to remember Belissa sitting on my right side.
She also raised her chin in pride as if it was the right thing to do so.
Oh, she’s a little cute.
It seems that I like the fancy type of beauty rather than elegant beauty or somber beauty.
Though not as impressive as Lucian’s colorful appearance, Belissa is also a person that will be quite popular when she grows up.
“May I call you Belissa?”
“Oh, please speak comfortably, prince.”
As the small children spoke with aristocratic speech, I had the image of children that were playing house from my original life pop into my head.
But I’m used to this world now, so that’s good. Making friends is rather expected now that I’ve adjusted.
“By the way, Belissa, would you mind speaking comfortably too?”
“… Raphael, you are warmer than you look huh?”
In aristocratic societies, it is rare to call someone by their first name during the first meeting.
But I saw how Noah did that to Lucian yesterday.
His impression didn’t look too bad. And I also liked the social purpose of the salon.
There are bound to be restrictions because the world here is a class society, but I wanted to have a friend who I can meet comfortably like in modern society.
But while living here, I had to admit to myself that I had picked up many mannerisms and ideals of this world.
Because among the young children, I only interacted actively with Belissa, the Marquis’s young miss.
I wanted to be fair to everyone, but that would make me a laughing stock.
I shouldn’t make a fool of myself as a child. These are aristocrats.
They are young predators who would eat me alive if I showed any weakness.
I lifted up the tea cup with an overbearing flourish. This is because I could leisurely listen to the young children who came as guests.
“Come and see me often, young ladies and masters.”
I don’t know what’s going to happen if I get sent out of the duchy later, so I don’t mind building a house at the hill in advance.
The tea was fragrant and delicious.
“How was your tea time today, Raphael.”
Cutting the calf steak, the duke asked me a question. I put the small cut of meat in my mouth and tasted it before I answered him.
“I liked the young marquess of Bourne, Duke.”
“Whoa, I see.”
The duke smiled graciously and looked at me as if liked my answer.
I smiled at him as if I were responding, and I saw Lucian sitting across from me, cutting his steak.
Oh, he’s eating so well.
It’s been a while since the three of us started having dinner together. Maybe it was after Lucian saved me.
It would be great if the Duchess could join us. But she is still struggling with her mental illness.
“When will my son call me Dad?”
“…….”
I rolled my eyes when I heard the sudden request. Well, that sounds a little difficult, Duke.
Strangely, I couldn’t call the duke dad. I tried to open my mouth because I wanted to call him father, but I didn’t succeed again this time.
Two pairs of eyes were staring at me with only my lips twitching.
Oh, it’s really burdensome. What should I do?
“Daddy is fine with waiting. I can wait forever.”
The duke said with a grim look.
Ugh, I’m not good at this.
Unlike Lucian who has a colorful impression, the duke is a man with a grim look. Even though they are related, their faces are very different.
The duke was just like the late Duchess (his mother), while Lucian was just like the Late Duke (his grandfather).
During dinner, Lucian didn’t say a word.
I wanted to talk to him, but the moment I opened my lips the Duke noticed and made an expression that looked like it said ‘you shouldn’t talk to him’.
After eating dessert deliciously, I went up to my room. I tried to read a book before going to bed after washing up.
Then there was a knock.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
I got up smiling and ran towards the door. It’s because I already knew who it was with just the sound. I opened the door and said.
“Brother, are you here?”
What brings you here at this hour? Usually, ramen doesn’t come at this time.
[Author’s Note: It is said that Ramen or Ramyeon, is like an implication for spending more time with someone. Korean women would say, “Do you want to eat ramyeon?” it implies that “I want to spend more time with you so I am asking you this.” as eating ramyeon takes time due to its temperature.]
As I swallowed my words and smiled broadly, Lucian began to loosen his stiff face little by little.
“Come on in.”
When I opened the door and let him in, Lucian came into the room.
Every time he comes to my room, he hesitates to look as if he is familiar with my room and these interactions, and immediately gives me a look.
His golden eyes that have a magical light shining in their depths are very beautiful.
Everytime, or at least most of the time, I end up being entranced by those eyes.
By the way, when did he grow taller? My neck is sore now.
I had to lean back on my shoes to look up at Lucian, who had grown up all alone. As if he was going to ask something extremely important, he quickly opened up his lips.
“Do you want some fruit?”
“Fruit?”
Apparently, he had a basket in his hand.
It may be just my imagination, but when I held it, it was a big basket that I had to hold in my arms, but he held it nonchalantly in his hand.
I smiled broadly when I saw a basket full of fruits that I usually enjoy eating.
It was a gesture as gentle as a sweet fruit, so I could never refuse it.
I had already become accustomed to holding his hand by this point. So I casually took him to the couch in front of the window.
I put the basket down on the table in front of the sofa and picked up one of the grapes and brought it to his lips.
“Knock, knock, knock, knock, grapes are here.”
After the knock, which is just like a signal between the two of us, the last of the stiffness in his expression melted away.
Unlike the usual knock, the rhythm-driven knock quickly became a joke between the two.
Lucian looked down at me at an angle and opened his mouth slightly.
How long has it been since I first started feeding them to you, are you still shy?
When he is shy, I thought I was going crazy because he is so cute when he looks at me sideways.
Oh, you’re so cute. No, he’s so cute. I’m going crazy.
Pant pant, somehow the sound of breathing was going to get rough.
“Oh? It might rain a lot tonight, brother.”
Then I heard the sound of rain hitting the window. Lucian looked at the window for a moment when he heard me.
It was dark and I couldn’t see the outside properly, but I liked the sound of rain hitting the window.
Listening to the pitter patter of the rain on the glass, I turned around.
I looked straight at him and whispered.
“Brother.”
“…..”
He looked down at me, munching on the grapes.
I covered my mouth with my hands and whispered softly as if whispering.
“Do you want me to tell you something scary?”
With him still silent, I squinted and continued.
“On a rainy day like this, there’s a path open for ghosts. Did you know about that brother?”
It’s a lame story, but he listened to me seriously. Although he didn’t say much, he answered back to the degree of shaking his head or nodding.
“When the ghosts are standing in their way…”
I blurted out my words after long pauses to make it more dramatic.
I used to hear that I was good at scary stories in my early years. The most important thing was facial expressions.
It was more effective when I opened my eyes widely and spoke with a nuance of “Only listen to me.”
“He thinks the ghost is his friend, so he goes with him holding his hand.”
I tried to finish the story by lowering my murmuring voice and putting my face even closer.
“And he says, “This is what it says….Keek keek…”
Boom!
Screeechhh!
My plan to finish by imitating a ghost failed miserably.
It was because the flash of lightning and the loud crack of thunder came at once.
“Ahhh! Aaahhh!”
Lightning flashed and thunder rang and it felt as if the window was going to break, so I jumped up and sat on his lap out of surprise and fear.
Actually, I hate thunder. I didn’t expect the rain to be accompanied by thunder now.
I buried my face in his shoulder and trembled, then his big hand landed on top of my head.
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