NOVEL WEB Chapter 302
300. Siblings Ep – The Marriage
“What? Marriage?”
Reriana’s eyes widened in surprise as she repeated the question.
She often found time to visit her older brother while playing with her peers, but today she heard something astonishing. Her brother casually shared incredible news while wringing out a cloth.
“Yeah. Soon.”
“What do you mean suddenly? Marriage? Who with?”
“There’s someone. They’re not from here.”
“When? Where did you meet? What do they do?”
“About two weeks ago… it’s been that long already. I met them by chance. They’re an actor.”
“Met by chance?”
“Yeah.”
Reriana put her hands on her hips and pouted. She scrunched her nose to look firm.
“You mean you’re going to marry someone you just met by chance? And you’ve only known them for less than two weeks? Marriage is for being together with someone you love for life. I think you’re making a mistake, brother!”
“Is that so? Where did you hear that? Did a teacher teach you that?”
“Not from a teacher…”
Now that she thought about it, who said that? A faint memory of a haggard face and a silver ring came to mind.
“Ah! I don’t care! Anyway, I won’t accept it!”
“You haven’t even seen their face? I just told you they mentioned you. They want to meet this week.”
“Ugh! I’m busy! I hate you, brother!”
With a huff, Reriana stomped off in a huff.
Why am I acting like this?
She didn’t understand why she was angry, but she wanted to be alone, so she ran into the storage room.
She slammed the door shut and pouted…
“Reriana.”
Surely there couldn’t be a latch in the storage room. If it was locked, it must be on the outside.
Lean opened the door and walked in. Reriana curled up against the wall under the blanket.
“Go away!”
The heavy blanket was tugged at.
Her brother’s voice came from right next to her, beyond the blanket.
“Why are you acting like this? Do you not want me to get married? Should I not get married?”
“……”
“Got it. Then I won’t get married. If my little sister doesn’t want it, I won’t do it at all.”
His hand gently patted the blanket, stroking her head.
Reriana felt like he was treating her like a child, and it made her uncomfortable, as if she were the one acting spoiled.
A burden who knew nothing but to follow along, he fed her, clothed her, and sheltered her. Recently, he even provided her with a nice room (storage).
But why was she so upset? Wasn’t her greatest skill to listen to her brother?
With her chin resting on her knees under the blanket, Reriana fell deep in thought.
The memories of metal brushing against her lips, the night sky, and a few snippets of conversation came to mind.
– “What’s marriage?”
– “It’s a promise to marry.”
– “What’s love?”
– “Um, well. It’s being together with the person you love for life.”
– “What’s love?”
The haggard man’s face wavered in her memory.
Where had she seen this? She seemed to have dreamed about it. The feel of the silver ring against her lips was vivid. Soon, the troubled man had answered.
– “Hmm… Ah! Princess. You like the prince here, right?”
– “Yeah! I like my brother.”
– “That’s love.”
– “Then will I marry my brother?”
– “That’s not exactly it…”
– “No?”
A flustered expression. It wasn’t a sufficient answer, but it was clear that marriage wasn’t meant to be with her brother. She understood why she was feeling this way.
She wanted to live with her brother forever.
Having a warm home would be icing on the cake; she wouldn’t wish for anything more.
She feared that if her brother got married and left, she’d tremble alone trying to sleep while he went off to find food.
But that was her side of things, and she knew how much he had suffered because of her. Should she really whine and stop him from getting married after all he’d sacrificed, giving her food, water, and clothes?
She didn’t want to do that.
She didn’t want to, but…
Reriana suddenly felt somber. Perhaps? She thought as she flung off the blanket and spoke.
Her brother was staring right at her.
“Brother. W-wait… is the marriage because of me?”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“You’re handsome, you know. I mean, if you’re trying to get married quickly to find a home because of me…”
What should I do? Could it be that he’s planning to marry someone he doesn’t even love for money?
Reriana had recently learned that looks could matter. She was also aware that she was pretty. Clutching the blanket, she said,
“Well… then I’ll just get married myself. That would be better…”
– Pop!
She got a love tap on the head.
Ouch! Tears sprang to her eyes, and looking up, she saw her brother with a furious expression.
“You little thing, saying all sorts of things.”
Lean took a deep breath and comforted his tearful little sister.
“It’s not like that. We haven’t known each other long, but I love that person. Let’s just go meet them. You might end up liking them too.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
Lean made a solid promise.
As he stroked her red forehead from the love tap, he muttered, “Everything will be fine.”
“But I still don’t want you to get married.” – In a shabby storage room, the sobbing little sister and her brother, wrapped in an air of melancholy, embraced each other.
*
Reriana went back to her studies, and Lean continued his cleaning.
Today’s task was to mop the floor.
It was a tile-surfaced floor that needed scrubbing.
The tiles were an expensive finish made from baked clay. Naturally, they couldn’t be laid down just anywhere, being exclusive to the shared entrance and the dining area belonging to the Rauno family, along with parts of the corridor.
One could say it served as a substitute for marble. Lean knelt down and scrubbed hard.
After cleaning the entrance and dining area, he went to the second floor corridor when suddenly a shadow loomed over him.
Looking up, he saw the towering figure of Oberg looking down at him with a stern expression.
“……”
“Mr. Oberg? Do you have business with me? If not, could you move your legs, please?”
But his legs didn’t budge.
He had a serious look on his face.
After staring at Lean for a while, Oberg let out a sigh that seemed to resonate.
“It’s my fault for bringing you here. Leave at once. Take your sister with you. I didn’t find you.”
Lean scrubbed the mop in the bucket and asked, “Why?”
“Just go. Honestly, what’s happening is a big deal for me too. The boss ordered me to bring you. What on earth have you done? Didn’t you ride in a carriage on the way back all dressed up…? Anyway, if you don’t want to die, get out of here. Just make sure to keep your sister’s identity hidden.”
He misunderstood.
Lean began to understand why Joseph Rauno was calling for him.
Last week, Joseph saw me on a date with Ksenia at Ellen’s exhibition.
He probably found out I was dating Ksenia and maybe even visiting the House of Count Peter, so he must have summoned me thinking we were in trouble. Oberg seemed to think he was trying to get us killed.
Lean chuckled softly.
“You’re laughing? Is this really…?”
But he wasn’t mocking Oberg. It was kind of him to advise them to run away, fearing the little ones he brought might get into trouble, even against the boss’s orders.
Lean reveled in Oberg’s gentle nature, his face reddening. He was such a warm-hearted person. No wonder he wasn’t close with Kasia…
Lean boldly replied, “I’m sorry, but I can’t right now. I need to have dinner… the timing is just awkward. Let’s think about it tomorrow; you lead the way to meet the boss.”
The sound of grinding teeth could be heard.
Oberg seemed to want to retort but then turned away dejectedly. Joseph Rauno was waiting in his office.
“I brought them.”
“Welcome. Please, sit.”
“Uh… boss. I have something I’d like to say before that.”
“What is it?”
Taking a deep breath, Oberg said, “Our family has never harmed civilians without special reason. I take great pride in that.”
“Indeed.”
“Also, I haven’t forgotten the grace of taking me in when I was a beggar. You’re like a father to me, boss.”
Joseph, who had a fair amount of gray in his hair, tilted his head. He rubbed his jaw with his thick fingers and asked, “You express such gratitude, but what are you trying to say?”
“I’m not good with words. I don’t know what this guy did wrong, but could you forgive him? He’s a bit rash, but he’s sincere.”
“Oh my, really.”
Joseph was taken aback and waved his hands. He quickly continued, just in case Lean misunderstood.
“It’s not my place to forgive. I called this individual because I wanted to ask something. Lean, it seems this guy misunderstood something.”
“Haha. It seems so.”
“Oberg, please wait outside for a moment.”
Oberg’s expression turned blank.
He looked back and forth between Lean and the boss with wide eyes before awkwardly stepping outside. In front of the large fireplace, Joseph invited Lean to sit.
His attitude was quite polite.
Lean sank into the plush sofa and momentarily recalled the past.
He had lit incense here before. At that time, it was a moment worthy of commemorating just to light incense alongside the family boss.
Without even thinking of smoking incense, Lean said to Joseph, who held a much more formal attitude,
“Seems like I haven’t disappointed your expectations.”
“…That’s right. Please feel free to speak your mind.”
“Shall I? But I’m not sure how much you know about me.”
“You’re currently dating the only daughter of Count Peter, aren’t you? I also heard about your visit to the Count’s house. How embarrassing.”
A commoner dating a noble lady.
Joseph struggled with how to address this boy who seemed like a young man, finally bowing his head.
“I didn’t recognize your standing. It was my oversight. If there was anything unpleasant, and I’m sure there must have been, please forgive me.”
Engaging in affairs related to nobility could easily lead to severe repercussions. He cautiously apologized while observing Lean, who thankfully accepted the apology with a carefree, “Hahaha.”
“It’s nothing to be riled up about… On the contrary, I appreciate all the help I’ve received. So don’t worry about it. But.”
“…But?”
“I’d like to stop cleaning now. Can we settle my share of meals with something else?”
Lean rubbed his damp knees.
Joseph sighed, “Of course.” — he was going to say it when he hesitated. After forming the words under his tongue, he asked,
“Of course. I will do as you wish. It’d be best if I prepared a new room for you.”
Were you asking if I plan to stay here? — This was a roundabout question.
Honestly, he wanted Lean to leave because he didn’t enjoy getting entangled with nobility, but Lean nodded.
“Yes. Please set up a room for my sister. As for me, a guest room will suffice… no, if possible, I would appreciate a room not too far from my sister’s. It doesn’t need to be large or fancy since I won’t be using it often.”
Yes. I’ll be wandering around, but my sister will stay here. That was the implication. Joseph didn’t add any remarks.
“I understand. I’ll make the changes right away. Is there anything else you need?”
“Nothing in particular right now.”
“…Got it. If you need anything, just let me know at any time.”
Joseph thought inexplicably that he had gained a new master.
The House of Count Peter… he was now contemplating how to escape this situation again when Lean asked,
“So is this all? Didn’t you say you had something to ask me?”
“Yes. I did, but it has been resolved.”
He realized Lean and his sister would not be staying here for long. Lean seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.
“My sister and I won’t be here long. Please keep my relationship with Ksenia a secret for now… Ah, there’s something I want to ask as well.”
“What is it?”
Joseph asked nonchalantly. Then this inconvenient master suddenly posed an unexpected question.
“Why is the Rauno family named ‘Rauno’? Is it perhaps related to ‘Laono’?”
The wrinkles on Joseph Rauno’s face, which conveyed a benevolent impression, deepened slightly. Although it was just a minor shift, Lean didn’t miss it.