Chapter Text
We decided to perform a harspiel duet as entertainment at the tea party.
The two of us exchanged glances as we played music.
This new song is dedicated to Cuococalura, the god of cooking. It's a fitting song for Ehrenfest, which is spreading new trends such as kartkarl. According to Onee-sama, it was originally a song about making croquettes, but Rosina revised the lyrics. It's a mystery why she would write lyrics and compose a song about making croquettes, but Onee-sama's eccentricities are also cute.
Onee-sama's main melody is powerful and beautiful. I play the secondary melody to match Onee-sama's main melody.
Everyone listens to the song in awe.
"My, you're so in sync, it's adorable."
"That was a wonderful performance."
"It's like you're symbolizing the harmony of Ehrenfest in the future."
Everyone praises us after the performance.
Following my sister's example, I started practicing the harspiel at the second bell, and I also practice the harspiel in a secret room before going to bed. Today's performance was excellent, so I'm glad I was able to entertain everyone. The tea party was a success.
But...
During practice time, the castle musician says.
"Your performance at the tea party the other day was splendid. Now, let's switch the main and secondary melodies today."
My sister and I look at each other.
I'll play the main melody, and my sister will play the secondary melody. We start playing, but the tone is awkward. It's obviously clumsy compared to the performance the other day.
"Since Charles is playing the main melody, you should play more confidently so that you don't get overwhelmed by Rozemyne's sound. Rozemyne, please stay back and play in a way that brings out the main melody."
The castle musician says this easily, but it's difficult.
"The secondary melody is difficult..."
"The main melody is difficult..."
After the practice, they both muttered.
They looked at each other.
"Is that so? The main melody is easier to remember and requires fewer hands, isn't it?"
"There are more hands, but the secondary melody has a lot of repetition. The main melody, which requires you to step forward, is more difficult."
"Rozemyne is good at rushing ahead, while Charles is good at adapting to others."
"Damuel."
"No, nothing."
It's just as Damuel said. My sister is good at leading the sound, and I'm good at supporting from behind. Personality is also reflected in the performance.
I've always acted in accordance with others. I always observed the situation around me before deciding what to do. I think that's what my personality is showing.
That's not good.
As part of my training as the next lord, I started helping the lord with his work. I feel nervous when I enter the lord's office.
For some reason, Wilfried is with me.
"Why Wilfried too?"
"Yes. It seems that it would be better if I could assist the lord as well."
"There's no harm in learning. If I can assist the lord, I'll be valued in Ahrensbach."
Father explains.
It was easy to see that his goal was not to give me an early education, but to make sure Wilfried wouldn't get into trouble when he went to Ahrensbach.
Oswald looked at me with a triumphant expression. We both felt bitter.
"Besides, I thought it would be better for me to have someone to compete with. That's what Rozemyne suggested."
"Rozemyne?"
Father brought up my sister to shut me up. I feel indescribable. It's strange that Father is asking my adopted sister to advise us on our education, and that my sister is treating me and Wilfried fairly without favouring her fiance.
However, my sister's suggestion was correct, and I worked hard at my work, so that I would not lose to Wilfried, and Wilfried worked hard at my work, so that he would not lose to me. My uncle even said to my father, "Aren't your sons better than you?" I couldn't lose to either my father or Wilfried.
One day, my uncle came to the lord's office and my father ordered all of his aides to leave the room.
When it was just my father, uncle, Wilfried, and I, my uncle handed me a piece of paper.
"You two must memorize this."
"What is this?"
My father grinned with amusement.
"It's a code book. When we were in the aristocratic academy, Ferdinand and I used to communicate in code."
"My father and uncle?"
My father spoke of the code in a fun way, as a "brother's secret," but for my uncle it was a way to protect himself from Veronica. Without a doubt.
Wilfried looks at the code list with a sparkling expression. "Uncle, I don't think you'll be able to remember it right away. May I have the civil servants keep it aside?"
"You idiot. He won't even tell your aides. If you marry into the family, you'll have Ahrensbach's aides."
...And the Veronica faction is the same. I mutter to myself.
"Wilfried, show me you can at least remember one code. We use other codes too."
"You remember several codes?!"
We're surprised.
"You should remember this code so that we can communicate in secret."
My father learned it. I'm sure I can remember it too.
We practice the code together and exchange simple sentences with each other. This code is a type of code that changes the angle of the letters to include different words in the sentence. First, we have to write a normal letter. I've never exchanged letters with Wilfried before, so this is kind of fun.
"Wilfried's handwriting is more idiosyncratic, so it's easier to create a code."
"Should I write a bit more poorly?"
"...Yeah. The letters that are the code stand out. Change the way you write the other letters as well."
Uncle corrects it.
I'm honestly happy that it's a code that only Wilfried, my father, and my uncle know, and not even Wilfried's aides - Veronica's subordinates.
I ask, thinking of something. "Uncle, can I write a letter to you with this?"
Uncle looks surprised. Father interrupts. "Charles, why are you writing to Ferdinand and not to your father? Isn't that strange?"
"Eh?"
Do you ever write a letter to your father?
"Hmmph. I'm looking after Charles."
Uncle makes a triumphant face in front of my father, and my father and uncle start arguing lightly. I'm dumbfounded. I've seen them interacting in a friendly manner before, but this is the first time I've seen them get along this well.
Wilfried doesn't seem to mind their interaction at all and is absorbed in the code.
"I did it, Charles!" Seeing Wilfried's triumphant look on his face makes me feel very sad that he's going to Ahrensbach.
"Now we can keep secrets even after Wilfried becomes a husband."
I smiled at him to shake off the loneliness, and Wilfried made a slightly unpleasant face.
"Are you that worried about me?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but is there anything about me that makes you feel at ease?"
"Hmm. You're a worrier."
I'm just worried.
After practicing the code, my uncle handed me a box of magical tools. We each registered our magical powers.
"Keep it in this box and never take it out of the secret room. Got it?"
"Okay. Consider this a secret of Ehrenfest."
My brothers and I answered my uncle and father's words in unison, "Yes!"
I had something I wanted to talk to my uncle about, so I asked him to make time for me.
My uncle's office is at the end of the main building. He does the lord's work, so he should have a room in a more accessible place, but knowing my uncle, he'd probably feel more comfortable in a less crowded place.
I use a magic tool to prevent eavesdropping because there are his aides.
"Uncle, when would you use that code?"
"Why not have Wilfried find out what Ahrensbach is up to?"
My uncle says it as if it were obvious, but I can't imagine Wilfried leaking information to me.
I can already see who Wilfried will prioritize, Dietrinde or me. If it were between my sister and Wilfried, I would prioritize my sister without hesitation. Mother tells me to treasure the bond between siblings, but I don't believe in the bond between Wilfried and me.
When I complained like this, my uncle said.
"You idiot. There are still more than three years until Wilfried graduates. You can train Wilfried until then."
"Me, train Wilfried?"
I had never thought about such a thing.
My role was to stay quiet so as not to get in Wilfried's way or upset him. I had never thought about influencing Wilfried in any way.
Imprinting is a scary thing. I still unconsciously act in a way that I should not stand in front of Wilfried.
I have no confidence.
"...May I consult with you, sister?"
"You are the next lord, so don't rely too much on Rozemyne."
"Huh? But father, the lord, also rely on your sister, right?"
My uncle taps his temple.
"Don't imitate him."
He calls the lord that.
"I think Charles is a better match for Wilfried than Rozemyne."
"Huh?"
"As the next lord, your skill will be shown in how you gain Wilfried's trust, who is going to Ahrensbach, and how you can bring him in to benefit your territory. A good lord is someone who has the power to attract people. I think Sylvester has that quality, and I think you have inherited his qualities."
I was dumbfounded. My uncle praised my father.
But my uncle's words were persuasive. Uncle truly trusts Father. It's not like Mother told him to get along. I need to work on Wilfried so that he doesn't betray Ehrenfest and so that he puts us before Dietrinde.
I've always been at Wilfried's mercy. But that's not good. I need to be the one to lead Wilfried.
I've been thinking about what my uncle said ever since.