One of the things that changed in the Bastion Mansion after that today.
The servants became noticeably quieter. They all shut up and practiced silent communication. There were also some people walking around on tiptoes in the hallway.
Now, the second difference.
The glow that emanated from Vivi. It was so shiny that it was like a bodhisattva with a halo. Of course, every time she saw me it rotted away rapidly.
And the third thing that changed.
“Hey.”
I twitched. More details on this would follow.
As I squatted in the back with the wolves and pretended to spit hard, Benjamin looked at me and asked.
[Baset: I think she’s doing the gangster squat and spit.]
“Aisha, what’s wrong?”
“Crazy… No, I need to regain my composure a little bit.”
“That’s it?”
Are you done talking? Do you have anything else to say?
When I glared as hard as I could, Benjamin closed his mouth on his own.
After that turbulent dawn, the incident ended with Tony’s scream as he ran out of the apartment a step too late.
By the way, Tony almost fainted.
Feeling a little hurt, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and understood him. I was so miserable looking that I instantly thought, ‘Ouch, I deserve to be stepped on.’
Yeah, it looked as if I’d just hatched from an alien egg that dreamed of invading the Earth.
Anyway, I took a hot bath, and I devoutly vowed.
‘Let’s have a crazy year in this area.’
This has always been the case, but I should be even more diligent and seize the Duke’s residence. Whether it’s the Duke or the Young Master, I’ll beat them all up!
“Ohoho!”
“I don’t care how much I see…”
“So noisy, give me your presentation.”
That’s the thing I had you prepare, that one.
When I tapped my finger, Benjamin began to speak with a solemn nod.
“Name; Levi Bastion. He’s eleven years old this year. He has a father and a brother, who is two years younger than him.”
“What about his mother?”
“The Duchess passed away six years ago. She was hanging on until a mild case of pneumonia worsened.”
I see. I heard that the Duchess of Bastion died, but this was the first time I heard those details.
If it was six years ago, Levi would’ve been five years old.
The second son, who was the same age as me, would’ve only been three years old. Do either of them remember their mother’s face properly?
My interest eased a little, and I nodded as if to continue.
“He enrolled in Rev Academy last year, and he’s going on to higher education. As soon as this spring break is over, he’ll be a sophomore. I also prepared his report cards for you, do you want me to read them for you one by one?”
“A brief summary.”
“He’s been the top of his class since entering school.”
Wow. Cool and annoying.
I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s amazing that he’s the top student at Rev Academy, right?”
“I don’t know. It’s the best academy in the Amanta Empire in both name and reality. I had many friends who spent their time hanging out, and they ended up repeating a year.”
Benjamin replied in a way that said he knew the place well. Even his gaze was distant, as if he was recalling an old memory.
“Did Benjamin graduate from there too?
“Well, yeah.”
“What was your rank?”
“I was at the top of my class from the time I entered school until I graduated.”
Wow, that’s not a good sign.
I waved my hand so that he’d move on quickly.
Benjamin, who didn’t learn life management at the best academy, continued his presentation.
“He excels in all aspects, but especially in swordsmanship, which no one in his age group can match. Perhaps it’s because he resembles His Excellency. Friendships within the academy… I’ll skip that part.”
Yeah, I know it well. I’m not even curious.
I nodded my head, as I leaned against January’s back.
The previous information was actually basic details that didn’t require much effort to collect. Now it was time to hear the most important points.
“Why is his personality broken?”
Like the way he speaks.
When I asked this nervously, Benjamin scratched his nose as if he was feeling troubled.
“Well, it’s not confidential, but it’s information that only people on the inside know.”
“As of today, the people on the inside are plus one.”
“You’re right. As far as I know…”
Having sold his faith completely to the Plus One, he said in a deadpan voice.
“He was born that way.”
“What?”
“He was a little different at birth. He has trouble feeling emotions.”
He was born like that? It’s just that.
“Born to be rude…”
“No, it’s not that simple. There’s the case of Young Master Franz… Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Pretend I didn’t hear anything when the voice of your true heart popped out.
Was there a problem with my brother-in-law’s personality? What kind of family was this?
I touched my forehead slowly.
What kind of family was this? It’s the house I’d be getting married to. And it was a family I wanted to become the boss of.
It’s not too late for me to educate you in human nature after I become your master.
I grabbed onto my shaky mind, and asked Benjamin again.
“…Please explain it exactly. What did you mean when you said that they’re not as good as others at feeling emotions?”
Benjamin agonized for a long time with a face that said he didn’t know how to explain, until he eventually took out an example.
“So, this happened when Master Levi was four years old. He was enjoying tea time in the garden on a sunny day with the Duchess. From one of the surrounding trees, a baby sparrow fell out of its nest, but the Young Master found it first and…”
Crunch
Benjamin stomped down hard with one foot.
The lush green grass of the backyard was ruined beneath his foot.
At that moment, the hoof of the black horse that had tried to trample me in that way came to mind, and goose bumps appeared on my arms.
“Whine.”
January and April, who were lying beside me, rubbed their warm bodies against me.
It was a comfort more tangible than words, I patted them with a faint smile.
“…Why did he do that?”
“He just killed it quickly because it was going to die anyway.”
Suddenly, a thought struck my mind.
Psychopath.
I wasn’t writing it like a curse or comparison, but wasn’t it like that?
When they were young, they’d hurt small animals first. When they grew up, they’d eventually kill people…
However, it seemed that he cared about Ignite.
He was also under the misconception that I’d harmed Queensbury, and that’s why he tried to kill me.
I sighed at my complicated and twisted thoughts.
“First of all… If it’s an innate characteristic, I might not be able to fix it.”
“Yes, according to the gossip, His Excellency was also like that as a child…”
Hmm, Benjamin suddenly shut his mouth. He looked confused about whether to say this or not.
“What, why did you stop talking?”
“Because I’m not sure. I haven’t been with His Excellency that long… You’d be better off asking the butler, Hugo. I think I’ll stop here.”
Benjamin had finished what he had to say, addressed me politely, and then looked at me excitedly.
It was time to pay for the presentation.
It’s better to get it over with swiftly.
I spoke quickly without breathing.
“What do you call it when a cow sings? Moosic.”[1]
“Pfft!”
“What do you call a group of cows singing? A Moosical.”
The wolf also gave Benjamin a cold look as he rolled on the ground laughing.
I wanted to file a real group lawsuit.
[Baset: Please look at 1 for an explanation of the original joke.]
I whispered to the growling, teeth-baring wolves to be patient, and left.
Benjamin’s short break time was over, and I was also thinking of going somewhere else.
Information wasn’t only available from humans.
“Then, let’s go see.”
Benjamin, who wiped away tears at my farewell, asked with a confused face.
“Won’t you go to the office with me? It’s teatime now.”
“Yeah, I’m not going today. I’m a little busy.”
I hurried off, leaving behind a flustered Benjamin and the wolves, who wagged their tails as if to see me off.
My destination was the stables.
Walking hard with my short legs, I stopped for a moment in front of the entrance to the stables, exactly where I almost died.
When I think of that moment, my breathing would fluctuate.
“Whoo. One, two, three…”
I could enter the stables only after a long time meditating with my eyes closed.
I walked towards the deepest and quietest part of the barn, greeting each of the horses, who welcomed me with a stomp of their hooves.
At the back of the stables, there was a perfect family.
“Queensbury.”
“Puru!”
Queensbury, who was feeling much more energetic than when I last saw her, showed her face outside her stall.
Next to her was Ignite and the foal that I saw yesterday.
“Wow, the baby is already walking around? Huh? Really? A horse walks as soon as it’s born.”
Unlike at dawn, when he was covered in amniotic fluid, the foal looked really cute. Queensbury pushed her baby with her head so he could greet me.
However, the foal kept hiding behind Queensbury’s hind legs like a child hiding while holding onto their mother’s skirt.
At the same time, as if he was curious, he stuck his head out and looked at me.
So cute! A small, shy foal was so cute!
Grabbing my heart, I carefully entered the stall and greeted him.
“Hi.”
“….”
“I’m Aisha. I’m a friend of your mom’s.”
Then Queensbury nodded, and affirmed it.
‘Hurry up, go to your aunt, and say hello.’ I smiled, thinking that she was already playing the role of a mother who was urging her child along.
After Queensbury and I indulged him for a little while, the foal finally started to approach me.
I slowly reached out and stroked his black shiny coat, which resembled his mom and dad.
“Nice to meet you, baby.”
When I greeted him as affectionately as possible, the foal replied with a small nasal sound.
“…Purun.”
The appearance was agonizingly, and I grabbed my heart again.
He’s so cute!
No matter how new the baby was, it was still a colt and its size was similar to mine.
But it’s okay! So big, so super cute!
Queensbury and Ignite were also looking down lovingly at their young foal, who wasn’t very good at moving around yet.
In particular, Ignite kept glancing at me all the time, but when our eyes would meet he would flinch a little bit.
What’s wrong with him?
My question didn’t go unanswered for long.
“Puru, Puru.”
Suddenly, Queensbury began to hit Ignite’s neck with her snout. Whenever her nose bumped, his long, hard neck bent pitifully.
‘Apologize! Hurry up and apologize to my savior and friend, you punk!’
In response to Queensbury’s prodding, Ignite bowed to me with a dejected expression.
In fact, I had to count before I entered the area of the stables where Ignite was located, but I answered brightly as if I didn’t care.
“It’s okay!”
“Pur…”
“I know you couldn’t help it. It’s not your fault.”
I touched Ignite’s face with my slightly trembling fingertips.
Once, then twice, I built up my courage and touched his warmth. My fear gradually diluted.
‘Yeah, it’s really not because of this kid.’
The mana and control I felt at that time was not the kind an animal could overcome.
I was willing to forgive the black horse, who was literally leashed by a devil.
“Will you answer my question instead of apologizing?”
Ignite cried confidently, as if he was saying I could ask him anything.
I looked around and whispered in a hushed voice.
“…Your master, does he hurt you secretly?”
***
[1] The original jokes were: What if a cow sings? Lawsuit.
One of the things that changed in the Bastion Mansion after that today.
The servants became noticeably quieter. They all shut up and practiced silent communication. There were also some people walking around on tiptoes in the hallway.
Now, the second difference.
The glow that emanated from Vivi. It was so shiny that it was like a bodhisattva with a halo. Of course, every time she saw me it rotted away rapidly.
And the third thing that changed.
“Hey.”
I twitched. More details on this would follow.
As I squatted in the back with the wolves and pretended to spit hard, Benjamin looked at me and asked.
[Baset: I think she’s doing the gangster squat and spit.]
“Aisha, what’s wrong?”
“Crazy… No, I need to regain my composure a little bit.”
“That’s it?”
Are you done talking? Do you have anything else to say?
When I glared as hard as I could, Benjamin closed his mouth on his own.
After that turbulent dawn, the incident ended with Tony’s scream as he ran out of the apartment a step too late.
By the way, Tony almost fainted.
Feeling a little hurt, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and understood him. I was so miserable looking that I instantly thought, ‘Ouch, I deserve to be stepped on.’
Yeah, it looked as if I’d just hatched from an alien egg that dreamed of invading the Earth.
Anyway, I took a hot bath, and I devoutly vowed.
‘Let’s have a crazy year in this area.’
This has always been the case, but I should be even more diligent and seize the Duke’s residence. Whether it’s the Duke or the Young Master, I’ll beat them all up!
“Ohoho!”
“I don’t care how much I see…”
“So noisy, give me your presentation.”
That’s the thing I had you prepare, that one.
When I tapped my finger, Benjamin began to speak with a solemn nod.
“Name; Levi Bastion. He’s eleven years old this year. He has a father and a brother, who is two years younger than him.”
“What about his mother?”
“The Duchess passed away six years ago. She was hanging on until a mild case of pneumonia worsened.”
I see. I heard that the Duchess of Bastion died, but this was the first time I heard those details.
If it was six years ago, Levi would’ve been five years old.
The second son, who was the same age as me, would’ve only been three years old. Do either of them remember their mother’s face properly?
My interest eased a little, and I nodded as if to continue.
“He enrolled in Rev Academy last year, and he’s going on to higher education. As soon as this spring break is over, he’ll be a sophomore. I also prepared his report cards for you, do you want me to read them for you one by one?”
“A brief summary.”
“He’s been the top of his class since entering school.”
Wow. Cool and annoying.
I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s amazing that he’s the top student at Rev Academy, right?”
“I don’t know. It’s the best academy in the Amanta Empire in both name and reality. I had many friends who spent their time hanging out, and they ended up repeating a year.”
Benjamin replied in a way that said he knew the place well. Even his gaze was distant, as if he was recalling an old memory.
“Did Benjamin graduate from there too?
“Well, yeah.”
“What was your rank?”
“I was at the top of my class from the time I entered school until I graduated.”
Wow, that’s not a good sign.
I waved my hand so that he’d move on quickly.
Benjamin, who didn’t learn life management at the best academy, continued his presentation.
“He excels in all aspects, but especially in swordsmanship, which no one in his age group can match. Perhaps it’s because he resembles His Excellency. Friendships within the academy… I’ll skip that part.”
Yeah, I know it well. I’m not even curious.
I nodded my head, as I leaned against January’s back.
The previous information was actually basic details that didn’t require much effort to collect. Now it was time to hear the most important points.
“Why is his personality broken?”
Like the way he speaks.
When I asked this nervously, Benjamin scratched his nose as if he was feeling troubled.
“Well, it’s not confidential, but it’s information that only people on the inside know.”
“As of today, the people on the inside are plus one.”
“You’re right. As far as I know…”
Having sold his faith completely to the Plus One, he said in a deadpan voice.
“He was born that way.”
“What?”
“He was a little different at birth. He has trouble feeling emotions.”
He was born like that? It’s just that.
“Born to be rude…”
“No, it’s not that simple. There’s the case of Young Master Franz… Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Pretend I didn’t hear anything when the voice of your true heart popped out.
Was there a problem with my brother-in-law’s personality? What kind of family was this?
I touched my forehead slowly.
What kind of family was this? It’s the house I’d be getting married to. And it was a family I wanted to become the boss of.
It’s not too late for me to educate you in human nature after I become your master.
I grabbed onto my shaky mind, and asked Benjamin again.
“…Please explain it exactly. What did you mean when you said that they’re not as good as others at feeling emotions?”
Benjamin agonized for a long time with a face that said he didn’t know how to explain, until he eventually took out an example.
“So, this happened when Master Levi was four years old. He was enjoying tea time in the garden on a sunny day with the Duchess. From one of the surrounding trees, a baby sparrow fell out of its nest, but the Young Master found it first and…”
Crunch
Benjamin stomped down hard with one foot.
The lush green grass of the backyard was ruined beneath his foot.
At that moment, the hoof of the black horse that had tried to trample me in that way came to mind, and goose bumps appeared on my arms.
“Whine.”
January and April, who were lying beside me, rubbed their warm bodies against me.
It was a comfort more tangible than words, I patted them with a faint smile.
“…Why did he do that?”
“He just killed it quickly because it was going to die anyway.”
Suddenly, a thought struck my mind.
Psychopath.
I wasn’t writing it like a curse or comparison, but wasn’t it like that?
When they were young, they’d hurt small animals first. When they grew up, they’d eventually kill people…
However, it seemed that he cared about Ignite.
He was also under the misconception that I’d harmed Queensbury, and that’s why he tried to kill me.
I sighed at my complicated and twisted thoughts.
“First of all… If it’s an innate characteristic, I might not be able to fix it.”
“Yes, according to the gossip, His Excellency was also like that as a child…”
Hmm, Benjamin suddenly shut his mouth. He looked confused about whether to say this or not.
“What, why did you stop talking?”
“Because I’m not sure. I haven’t been with His Excellency that long… You’d be better off asking the butler, Hugo. I think I’ll stop here.”
Benjamin had finished what he had to say, addressed me politely, and then looked at me excitedly.
It was time to pay for the presentation.
It’s better to get it over with swiftly.
I spoke quickly without breathing.
“What do you call it when a cow sings? Moosic.”[1]
“Pfft!”
“What do you call a group of cows singing? A Moosical.”
The wolf also gave Benjamin a cold look as he rolled on the ground laughing.
I wanted to file a real group lawsuit.
[Baset: Please look at 1 for an explanation of the original joke.]
I whispered to the growling, teeth-baring wolves to be patient, and left.
Benjamin’s short break time was over, and I was also thinking of going somewhere else.
Information wasn’t only available from humans.
“Then, let’s go see.”
Benjamin, who wiped away tears at my farewell, asked with a confused face.
“Won’t you go to the office with me? It’s teatime now.”
“Yeah, I’m not going today. I’m a little busy.”
I hurried off, leaving behind a flustered Benjamin and the wolves, who wagged their tails as if to see me off.
My destination was the stables.
Walking hard with my short legs, I stopped for a moment in front of the entrance to the stables, exactly where I almost died.
When I think of that moment, my breathing would fluctuate.
“Whoo. One, two, three…”
I could enter the stables only after a long time meditating with my eyes closed.
I walked towards the deepest and quietest part of the barn, greeting each of the horses, who welcomed me with a stomp of their hooves.
At the back of the stables, there was a perfect family.
“Queensbury.”
“Puru!”
Queensbury, who was feeling much more energetic than when I last saw her, showed her face outside her stall.
Next to her was Ignite and the foal that I saw yesterday.
“Wow, the baby is already walking around? Huh? Really? A horse walks as soon as it’s born.”
Unlike at dawn, when he was covered in amniotic fluid, the foal looked really cute. Queensbury pushed her baby with her head so he could greet me.
However, the foal kept hiding behind Queensbury’s hind legs like a child hiding while holding onto their mother’s skirt.
At the same time, as if he was curious, he stuck his head out and looked at me.
So cute! A small, shy foal was so cute!
Grabbing my heart, I carefully entered the stall and greeted him.
“Hi.”
“….”
“I’m Aisha. I’m a friend of your mom’s.”
Then Queensbury nodded, and affirmed it.
‘Hurry up, go to your aunt, and say hello.’ I smiled, thinking that she was already playing the role of a mother who was urging her child along.
After Queensbury and I indulged him for a little while, the foal finally started to approach me.
I slowly reached out and stroked his black shiny coat, which resembled his mom and dad.
“Nice to meet you, baby.”
When I greeted him as affectionately as possible, the foal replied with a small nasal sound.
“…Purun.”
The appearance was agonizingly, and I grabbed my heart again.
He’s so cute!
No matter how new the baby was, it was still a colt and its size was similar to mine.
But it’s okay! So big, so super cute!
Queensbury and Ignite were also looking down lovingly at their young foal, who wasn’t very good at moving around yet.
In particular, Ignite kept glancing at me all the time, but when our eyes would meet he would flinch a little bit.
What’s wrong with him?
My question didn’t go unanswered for long.
“Puru, Puru.”
Suddenly, Queensbury began to hit Ignite’s neck with her snout. Whenever her nose bumped, his long, hard neck bent pitifully.
‘Apologize! Hurry up and apologize to my savior and friend, you punk!’
In response to Queensbury’s prodding, Ignite bowed to me with a dejected expression.
In fact, I had to count before I entered the area of the stables where Ignite was located, but I answered brightly as if I didn’t care.
“It’s okay!”
“Pur…”
“I know you couldn’t help it. It’s not your fault.”
I touched Ignite’s face with my slightly trembling fingertips.
Once, then twice, I built up my courage and touched his warmth. My fear gradually diluted.
‘Yeah, it’s really not because of this kid.’
The mana and control I felt at that time was not the kind an animal could overcome.
I was willing to forgive the black horse, who was literally leashed by a devil.
“Will you answer my question instead of apologizing?”
Ignite cried confidently, as if he was saying I could ask him anything.
I looked around and whispered in a hushed voice.
“…Your master, does he hurt you secretly?”
***
[1] The original jokes were: What if a cow sings? Lawsuit.
