NOVEL NEXT “Young Master, today the young lady is returning.”
“Adela?”
“Yes.”
Today marks the long-awaited debut of Kyle’s sister, Adela Eristirol, the eldest daughter of Eristirol.
I’ve never met her, but judging by Kyle’s looks, Adela must be a pretty girl as well.
Is she already 16?
Adela is probably around middle school age.
Honestly, I was a bit excited.
It was my first time meeting Kyle’s family.
The Duke was always away, so I had never seen him, and Adela had been absent from the territory until now.
I had no idea why they both were away.
They never told me, and I didn’t ask Kyle.
Anyway, it didn’t seem to be directly related to Kyle’s studies.
“Young Master, may I ask why the young lady has been outside the territory?”
I had to ask at least once now.
To prevent any slip of the tongue when I talked to Adela.
What would happen if I casually asked if she had a good time while recovering from a terminal illness?
I couldn’t even be sure it was a terminal illness, but one had to be careful when serving nobles.
“Adela? After mother passed away, she just went out having fun.”
Fun, huh?
I knew the Duchess had died.
But I only knew that fact.
“Um…”
Just having fun?
Honestly, I didn’t understand.
Spending at least five years traveling…
Since she wasn’t around when I arrived in Eristirol, that means her travel period could be even longer.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing my sister again. The last time I saw Adela was… six years ago.”
Six years ago would be before that incident with Kyle.
Well, it’s better not to know the details.
Kyle is completely different now compared to then.
Adela probably wouldn’t recognize him either.
*
It was like waiting for Catherine at an earlier time.
No, it was exactly the same.
It’s really cold.
It’s definitely March, but why is it so cold?
“Haah…”
I blew warm air into my hands.
Typically, that would warm my hands, but it didn’t help much.
Once Kyle grows up, I think it would be best to move to Oldenburg.
Since I’m already producing a good servant named Louise in Eristirol, it would be fine if I weren’t around.
I had already broken my contract, so Louise would be a free servant for seven years, including this year.
I hadn’t gambled yet, but… it was clear I would soon.
She’s that kind of girl.
“Oh.”
As I wasted time with such thoughts, a carriage came racing in.
It was painted bright white, symbolizing Eristirol’s scenery.
The jewels decorating the carriage were not as extravagant as the one Catherine rode, but it was still quite splendid.
The carriage stopped, and the door opened.
-Clack clack-
With the sound of heels hitting the ground, a girl with white hair like Kyle and sky-blue eyes stepped out of the carriage.
This must be Adela.
She looked quite different from Kyle.
Her impression was much cooler than his.
I heard she was 16, but she looked more mature than expected.
Anyway, above all, she was really beautiful.
How remarkable were the looks of the Duke and her mother to have such outstanding children?
I really wanted to meet the Duke soon.
“Welcome back to the territory, young lady. My name is Sophia, and I am the private tutor and direct servant of Young Master Kyle.”
“No need for greetings; let’s go inside. Whether it’s for you or brother, everyone must be freezing, right?”
As Adela said, the servants, including me, were shivering from the cold, unlike her.
“Yes, then let’s head straight to the castle.”
I said that and signaled the other servants to move the luggage.
I wasn’t the head butler, but I was indeed Kyle’s direct servant.
In the absence of those two, I was the highest authority.
Of course, not counting Adela, who was right behind me.
Throughout the time we entered the castle, Adela didn’t say a word.
Usually, noble kids would ask questions if they saw a new servant…
“Adela!”
“Brother!”
The siblings’ long-awaited reunion took place in the dining hall.
Kyle, wanting to eat first since it took so long for her to arrive, brought her right here.
As soon as they faced each other, both smiled brightly and greeted one another.
“You’ve grown so much, brother! You used to be smaller than me back then.”
“Haha… what are you talking about…”
It was certain that Kyle was smaller as a child.
At 12 years old, he was definitely smaller than other boys his age.
But now, it was completely different.
To Adela, who seemed slightly smaller than me, Kyle would appear much taller.
“Why, it’s true! Back then, you were shorter than me. You were even smaller than your one-year-younger sister. Thanks to that, you were always my pillow, weren’t you?”
“….”
Kyle, oh Kyle… what were you treated like when you were younger?
Being used as a pillow by your younger sister?
Isn’t that a bit too weak a portrayal?
“That was then, this is now. Now, let’s eat and talk. You didn’t have much to eat on your way here, right?”
“Yeah.”
With that, they started their meal.
The dining spread was usually extravagant and great but was far beyond the usual this time.
There were icevine, eintopf, mac and cheese, salad, and a variety of other foods.
I couldn’t help but salivate at the sight.
I wanted to eat so badly…
But I couldn’t.
During meal times, my role was to stand still in the back.
The servants had separate meal times.
I had to eat when I wasn’t around Kyle or anyone else.
However, since I was practically always by Kyle’s side, I had to come eat quickly during his classes and then go back.
Or eat while he slept and then wake him up afterward.
So, I decided to eat a lot for breakfast and then have dinner later.
I preferred skipping lunch rather than hastily eating it.
“By the way, brother, is father still out and about?”
“Yeah. Recently, he even sent a deer head.”
A deer head…?
I have no idea when he sent that, but it seems like the Duke is definitely not normal.
It’s not bad to have such feelings toward one’s employer, but it’s definitely strange for him to be wandering outside all the time without coming home.
“By the way, who’s that pretty lady back there? She’s a fresh face.”
“Oh, Miss Sophia?”
“Yeah.”
“She came a year after you left.”
“Aha.”
As Kyle said, she came a year later.
Kyle had allowed me to work here, and I’m still here now.
“She’s really pretty… Brother, is that your type?”
“W-what?”
Calling her pretty is a really nice compliment.
When I was 18, I thought I was gorgeous.
At that time, the average beauty around me was pretty low, so I thought that way.
But living here, I realized I’m pretty average.
Compared to Catherine or the other nobles, I was lacking.
So I was thankful to Adela for complimenting me like that.
“What’s that, Sophia? Want to become my servant?”
“…..”
I didn’t hesitate when asked about becoming her servant instead of Kyle’s.
I was, after all, Kyle’s servant.
At least until he turned into an adult, I planned to remain his direct servant and tutor.
“I’m sorry. I’m already with the Young Master.”
“Oh, I see?”
Adela looked at me with curiosity.
For a servant to show loyalty to their master is a virtue.
Loyalty, filial piety, and respect are virtues.
Those are values a person should have, but for a servant, loyalty is most important.
Isn’t it common in stories involving servants or knights for them to die in place of their lord?
Reality is not like that, though.
How many people would truly stake their lives for their employer?
It’s not as though I would stake my life, but I definitely wouldn’t betray Kyle.
“Well, it can’t be helped… Anyway, I hope we can get along from now on?”
“Yes.”
Adela said to me that she hoped we could get along.
But I’m just Kyle’s servant; was there anything she could ask of me?
She already has her direct servant, so I really wouldn’t have much to do.
Although she’s not here right now, she probably will be.
“You should mind your posture, Young Master.”
In the meantime, I pointed out Kyle’s posture, which had once again gotten sloppy.
In the past, I wouldn’t have done this while eating, but now Kyle had a debutant event right around the corner.
Even in these trivial moments, he had to keep up his manners.
“Yes…”
Maybe because he got scolded in front of his sister after a long time, Kyle’s voice was quieter than usual.
“Hm… Brother. Are you seeing anyone these days?”
“Huh? Not yet.”
“I see… That’s a relief in many ways.”
“…?”