Jared headed to the Daum Barony, where his grandparents lived.
Although it was a considerable distance from the Alway Ducal Family’s residence, for Jared, who had been trained as a fighter, it would only take a few minutes to get there. He didn’t take a carriage, nor did he walk; he chose to run, a decision many dismissed as ungentlemanly for a noble.
Even his grandparents, though they never voiced it, wore troubled expressions when Jared casually leaped over walls or entered through windows of the mansion they lived in. Things would be different now that he was to become a Court Mage. Honestly, he had no intention of changing his ways, but he knew he needed to be more careful about not being seen by others.
Upon confirming that the mansion’s gatekeeper was a familiar face, Jared exchanged greetings and then vaulted over the wall.
“Oh, isn’t that Jared?”
Called by name, he turned to see a cheerful girl with bobbed, flaxen hair.
“Rena Daum, is it?”
“Please don’t call me by my full name like that. If you think it’s cool, you’ve got it all wrong.”
Rena Daum, dressed in a pale blue dress that emphasized ease of movement, was Yeny Daum’s older sister and Jared’s cousin of the same age. Jared didn’t particularly like her. Unlike Yeny, who adored him like an older brother, Rena was always picking fights with him, and they just didn’t get along.
Rena, who had reunited with Jared after he fled from Almeida, had matured considerably, but her tongue and attitude had worsened. In the past, their arguments were endless, a constant back-and-forth, but now he chose to ignore her. He suspected she was unhappy that his cute younger sister admired Jared like an older brother, but he saw no reason for Rena to interfere in his communication with Yeny. When he once told her this, she became enraged as if a fire had been lit beneath her, and since then, he had avoided speaking to her as much as possible.
“It’s good to see you well. Well, I have business with Grandpa, so…”
“Wait a minute!”
“…Is there something you need?”
Not wanting to waste time with Rena when he was keeping others waiting, his attitude was obvious. Rena’s expression contorted with anger. He braced himself for her to yell, but contrary to his expectations, Rena’s expression shifted drastically, and she wore a triumphant grin.
“I’ve decided to get engaged. It’s not official yet, but the other party has agreed.”
“Congratulations. Now, I have business to attend to.”
“Listen to me until the end! My fiancé is your younger brother!”
“Hah?”
He blinked, unable to believe his ears.
*What did this woman just say?*
He couldn’t understand why she looked so pleased with herself. Jared had two younger brothers, one fourteen and the other thirteen. He wouldn’t say it was wrong to get engaged to someone younger, but it depended on who it was.
“Since you look like you want to tell me, I’ll ask: which one is it?”
“Rex!”
“Of all people, him…”
He truly realized how incompatible he was with Rena. Rex Daum was the thirteen-year-old son of a consort and the third son of the Daum Barony. While he didn’t want to speak ill of his brother, Rex was selfish and arrogant. He was strong-willed and harbored animosity towards his other brother, whose mother was the main wife. As the son of a consort desperate to pass the family inheritance to her own son, Rex often caused trouble with his peculiar sense of superiority. To give an extreme example, he would blithely state that nobles were superior. If it were the Ducal Family, that might be true, but for a Barony, and one that was newly established, it was astonishing. Even his father, who only excelled with a sword and was loose with women, was proud to be a noble but didn’t consider himself a chosen being.
“…Come to think of it, Rex seemed to be bothering Yeny… Is it okay with his older sister? He’s something else.”
Perhaps he was aiming to succeed his grandfather. He was only thirteen, but his mother’s influence had instilled in him a strong ambition.
“If Grandpa and Grandma approve, then that’s fine. I wish you happiness.”
Rex didn’t see Jared as a brother. His older sister and mother didn’t either. In their eyes, Jared wasn’t an older brother but a fallen noble who couldn’t even inherit the family title despite being the eldest son. Jared didn’t try to make those he disliked like him, sometimes choosing to ignore them, so their relationship wouldn’t improve. If Rena, who knew of their sibling dynamics, had specifically chosen Rex as her fiancé, she must truly detest him.
As Yeny’s older sister, and having lived with them, Jared had once tried to approach her, hoping not to be disliked even if they couldn’t be close. But seeing this outcome, he understood it was all in vain. As he tried to leave, figuring there was nothing more to say,
“Wait!”
For some reason, she stopped him again.
“Grandpa and Grandma don’t approve. But Rex and I have decided, so you can’t complain.”
“No, I’m not complaining. I wish you happiness. Truly, that’s all.”
“…You. Don’t get ahead of yourself just because you’re going to be a Court Mage. What Court Mage? After your uncle wrote you off as lacking talent with a sword!”
“Can I go now?”
“–! You got that position through the power of the Ducal Family, didn’t you!”
In this world, some things are better left unsaid, even as a joke. Rena’s words had undoubtedly displeased Jared. He hadn’t wished to become a Court Mage this quickly. He had gained his position as a Court Mage upon the death of a pathetic magician named Barnabas Kaif, the deaths of the Court Mage Candidates he had killed, and the deaths of the retainers serving Tres Brauer, who had been caught up in the events unintentionally.
Despite the fact that Barnabas had committed his atrocities due to fraudulent acts, her words were unforgivable, regardless of whether she knew the circumstances. Jared clenched his teeth so hard they ached, suppressing his anger. It would be easy to unleash his fury upon her right here. However, she wasn’t worth that much effort. He didn’t know what reasons she had for picking fights with him and irritating him, but he couldn’t bear to deal with her any longer. Without replying, he cast a cold glance at her and proceeded towards the mansion. Rena was shouting something behind him, but he ignored it all and stepped through the mansion’s doors.
