Chapter 27: Same as Me

That was the first time Urien heard Theobald had ever called Rodrick ‘Elder Brother’.

Urien didn’t point it out as the person himself realized what he said. In fact, he even took the trouble to rephrase his words and asked again.

“His Excellency is?”

“Yes. He’s wondering what he should give you for your birthday.”

“…”

“He came to me to ask for advice, but I figured it’d be quicker if I were to ask you directly.”

“Pfft.”

Theobald let out a dry laugh as he muttered, “His Excellency, huh?”

From his reaction, it was clear that he didn’t believe Urien’s words at all. This brilliant lack of communication between the two brothers once again left Urien amazed. He still tried to tell the truth, though, “I’m not lying.”

But Theobald only chuckled at that.

“Sure, you aren’t.”

“I really am not.”

“That guy? Want to give me a gift?”

“Mhm.”

“Ahaha.”

“What’s so funny?”

Theobald narrowed his eyes, shaking his head as if trying to brush his previous reaction off.

“I just find it hard to believe that His Excellency remembers my birthday. Did you tell him, Yuri?”

“I don’t even know when your birthday is.”

“Right? I never told you. That’s what makes it strange, though.”

“Lord Rodrick’s the one who told me your birthday’s coming up.”

“Huh… Are you sure you didn’t hear the wrong thing, Yuri?”

At this point, Urien just found this pitiful. The elder brother cared so much about the younger one, yet his feelings couldn’t even be properly conveyed.

Then again, it wasn’t something too far-fetched. Rodrick had been away from the mansion for many years and things had only settled down for him in the past few years. He even went on an expedition to Barca recently, so it was more than likely that the two of them hadn’t had the time to talk properly.

It was hard to bridge the gap between family members. In fact, it was much harder than getting two complete strangers to get along. Theobald, unwavering in his belief about his elder brother, told Urien such words with a firm tone.

“His Excellency dislikes me.”

Urien blinked in confusion.

Just now, Theobald didn’t say that he disliked Rodrick, but rather the reverse.

“Huh…”

‘They really are brothers, huh?’

‘It’s fascinating.’

“Honestly, I didn’t think that His Excellency would let me interact with you, Yuri.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Theobald raised his eyebrows slightly. At this, Urien muttered with a chuckle.

“That’s not what it looks like to me.”

Theobald stared at him with a curious look, in which he muttered a reply softly.

“I got a loose tongue, you see.”

“…I don’t know what it was that you were talking about with him, but we don’t talk much, you know?”

He said the same thing as Rodrick. Which meant that it was probably just the way it was between the two of them.

Theobald took a sip of his tea and cast his gaze out of the window. The new shed was quite well-built, even the windows’ frames were of exceptional quality. A warm breeze flowed through the slightly open window, causing the embroidered white curtain to flutter softly.

The table where Marx’ box was placed was separated from the table where the two set up their tea set. It was near a different window from Marx’, letting him rest peacefully in his box.

On that note, only Ella and Theobald knew about Marx’ existence.

Urien hadn’t told Rodrick about this, nor did Theobald. The latter probably because they weren’t close enough to tell each other about such things.

At that moment…

“It was only after Yuri fell sick that I started talking with His Excellency.”

Theobald said in a low voice.

Urien’s memories of the previous winter were hazy. But he did remember that on top of Rodrick, Theobald also talked to him often.

But in any case, after Urien ‘fell ill’, it seemed like the two brothers started to talk about non-work-related matters, or to be more specific, him.

“I told His Excellency about your favorite food and the books you like to eat.”

“…Mm.”

“That was the first time we’ve talked about anything other than the matters regarding the estate or the kingdom’s relationship with the neighboring countries.”

Theobald said in an almost yearning tone.

“That person…” He continued, still carrying the same tone.

“Doesn’t interact much with people of the estate.”

“I heard he never interacted with the previous head maid.”

“That’s right. In fact, he only ever talked to a select few butlers and maids. Their interactions are also so dry that it’s hard to even call them ‘interaction’.”

“Does Lord Rodrick hate interacting with people?”

“…I don’t know.”

Rodrick always wore a stern expression when talking with the servants, including the chief butler, and he really did seem distant with everyone, as if there was a wall separating them.

But, the Rodrick in Urien’s mind was different. He was way more expressive than what everyone thought—often showing his flustered face, or even anxious face like when he tried to stop him from snitching him to Theobald.

“They call him a warmonger.”

Theobald muttered softly.

His tone made it sound like he was talking to himself.

“Even people of the estate fear him.”

‘I see. That’s why he’s distant with the servants. They’re afraid of him.’

Of course, it wasn’t like Rodrick wished to wage wars.

…At that moment, the things that were scattered on Rodrick’s table flashed in Urien’s mind.

Sleeping pills, tranquilizers, anti-depressants…

Urien had heard of sickness that was caused by wars. A book he read stated that around 30% of the soldiers or knights who participated in wars caught that sickness. Memories of the battle, starvation or disease in the battlefield, all suddenly came to their minds, weakening their bodies and minds, making them have difficulty breathing.

It also caused other things such as sleep disorders.

Rodrick had always seemed exhausted.

From the first time they met, when they signed the contract, when they ate breakfast together in the morning before he departed to Barca, and even on the day he returned, the shadow of exhaustion always lingered on his face.

People on the street would call him a cruel, ruthless, and merciless warmonger, calling him the ‘God of the Silent Battlefield’, but Urien thought otherwise.

Maybe, at one point, he just fell silent. Perhaps, even raising his voice was too exhausting for him.

“I think…”

Now that Urien had the time to reflect on that…

“Calling someone a warmonger when he didn’t have any choice but to be dragged into wars is unfair.”

“…Ah.”

Theobald stared at him, his eyes seemed almost in a daze.

“Right…”

He didn’t exude the atmosphere of someone who had just realized such a thing for the first time, but rather that of someone who secretly believed in a God and found a fellow worshipper.

Theobald took another sip of his tea. There were no maids here, just him and Urien, the two of them in the building where their friendship bloomed. When his cup was empty, Urien quickly poured more tea in, prompting his eyes to narrow in happiness.

“Thank you.”

He said.

The sight was fascinating, almost magical even. As Theobald took a sip of his newly-poured tea, his expression grew softer, more child-like. The duke’s younger brother, who had been entrusted to take care of the duchy, was only 22 years old, not much older than Urien. His smile was so innocent and child-like, it reminded Urien of this fact.

“What did His Excellency tell you?”

“Huh?”

Theobald narrowed his eyes and let out a mischievous smile.

“When you two got married.”

Theobald and the chief butler were aware of the two-years contract. He didn’t have any reason to hide that from Urien, so he didn’t bother to.

In any case, apart from the term of contract, the only thing that Rodrick told Urien verbally was…

“Live quietly.”

Theobald bit his lower lip and let out a soft smile.

With a troubled grin, he…

“Same as me then,” said those words.