Chapter 29: The Shadow Approaching Faniaal House
[space_man][space_man]”What in the world is going on!!?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Sandrea slams her hand on the desk in her office and yells. The butler who succeeded Tohlight and was giving the report makes a frightened expression at her voice.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Where’s Rufus!? Where did Rufus himself go!!?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”R-Rufus-sama went out a while ago, saying he was going to raise funds.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The other day, Rufus was suddenly dumped by his business partner, who told him they couldn’t do business with him anymore. That itself wasn’t a big deal. The problem was the debt that Rufus had apparently incurred. Sandrea raised her voice when she saw the dunning letter that had been sent.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It wasn’t an amount that Sandrea couldn’t repay with her own personal funds. However, she couldn’t decide whether to repay it or not without asking Rufus about this debt.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Tell Rufus to come to me as soon as he gets back!! You’re dismissed!!”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Sandrea yells at the butler and leans back in her chair.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Haa……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was probably Landred who had manipulated Rufus’s business partner. When she investigated him after his previous visit, she found that Landred’s family and the Faniaal family had a surprisingly long-standing relationship. However, there was a conflict during her grandfather’s generation, and after that, her father and Landred apparently reconnected, deciding to let bygones be bygones regarding their parents’ quarrel.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She had only heard Eld’s assessment of him, but just as she thought that he might be unexpectedly deep-rooted, this happened. Sandrea holds her head in her hands. At that moment, she heard a knock on the door. Thinking that Rufus had come, she looked up, and there were her half-siblings.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Sandrea-neesama, if you yell so much, the servants will become intimidated.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”And if you raise your voice too much, you’ll get wrinkles on your face.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Sandrea’s brow furrows as her half-siblings say such carefree things at this difficult time.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”There was a letter from Eld-niisama among the mail earlier, and he said that things have calmed down on his end, so we have his permission to visit him.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I’m thinking of heading there tomorrow, and I thought I’d invite Sandrea-neesama as a way to unwind, but what do you think?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Jaylot says, tilting his head.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Haa…… I can’t go right now. You two go on your own.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Sandrea says with an indifferent expression.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that so? In the northeastern Linus territory where Onii-sama is, it seems that the Olesia fruit that you like, Onee-sama, is already in season, so I’ll buy some as a souvenir.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Millenia bows and leaves the room with her brother.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Haa…… They don’t even have the thought of cooperating with me when I’m going through so much trouble…… What heartless siblings……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Sandrea sighs deeply.
[space_man]
[space_man]
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Jaylot, who left the office, returns to his room and starts packing. Then, he notices the letter from Eld that he had placed on his desk.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]A few days ago, when he was thinking of sending a letter to Eld, he met Al, who claimed to be Eld’s classmate. When he learned that Eld had been forced to resign as lord and had gone to his mother’s family’s territory, Al said he would go to see him, so Jaylot entrusted him with the letter for Eld.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The reply from that time had just arrived. Considering that it would take 1-2 weeks for a regular letter to reach Eld’s current territory, but it was returned in a few days, it seemed that Eld had sent it by express delivery, which would cost a bit more.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eld-niisama was fast, but I wonder how quickly that Al person went to meet Eld-niisama.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Since he was wearing a military uniform, he must have used a magic beast horse instead of a regular horse. He thought it was amazing that Al could handle one. At the same time, he felt a slight admiration for the way Al gracefully wore his military uniform.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Jaylot, I’m ready.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]His sister, Millenia, enters the room without even knocking.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Millenia-neesama, our departure is tomorrow.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’m so excited and can’t wait to see Onii-sama. Besides……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Her usually cheerful expression clouds over.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I want to get out of here quickly…… The thing clinging to Onee-sama is getting bigger and bigger, and it’s scary……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Millenia’s shoulders tremble. Perhaps because of her purity, Millenia had been able to see a black something clinging to Sandrea for some time now. Jaylot only had a vague feeling that there was something scary there, but Millenia could actually see it.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s okay. We’ll leave the house tomorrow. And when we see Eld-niisama, let’s have him come back here once and investigate the cause.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He hadn’t told his half-siblings that Eld couldn’t leave his current territory. Of course, that was out of consideration so as not to worry them.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, that’s right. I want to see Onii-sama soon. I want to ask him what kind of work being an adventurer is.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That’s right.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Jaylot gently strokes his sister’s head and sends her out of the room, saying that he hasn’t finished packing yet.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”She’s become strange since Eld-niisama left. If he comes back, maybe she’ll go back to normal…… But……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He also thought that even if Eld came back, it might not improve the situation, and it might just put Eld on the spot. In that case, should he cooperate with Sandrea and stay in this house until he becomes an adult, as Eld said when he left, or should he go to his uncle’s place? Or, although he knew it would be a burden, should he accompany Eld?
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]While packing, Jaylot was thinking of consulting Eld about what he should do.