Chapter 246 - Chapter 239: Brothers
Julian Kivileft, who had been missing, arrived at Noeina, the capital of the Arqvist territory, along with his family.
It was unbelievable news, but judging by their belongings, it seemed certain that they were at least people of noble status.
Given his position, Noein could not simply turn them away without meeting them, so he decided to see them for the time being in the drawing room of the manor. He brought Matilda as a guard and had his wife, Clara, attend as well. As a precaution, he did not let Yuri or Pence, who had ties to the Kivileft family, attend.
After having the so-called "guests" shown into the drawing room first, Noein steeled himself and entered—and there, he found the hateful half-brother he remembered. Perhaps to blend in with commoners while fleeing, his clothing was plain, and it was considerably dirty, suggesting a very harsh flight.
Beside him sat an unfamiliar woman in similar attire with an anxious expression, holding a baby in her arms. Likely Julian's wife and their son or daughter. He had heard they married about two years ago, but it seemed they already had a child.
"...Juli—"
"A, ahh! Big Brother~!"
Just as Noein tried to speak with a bitter expression, Julian suddenly stood up half-crying and tried to rush toward Noein.
Noein and Clara were stunned by the sudden action, and Matilda stepped forward to protect the lord and his wife.
"Young master!"
"You must not, Julian-sama."
However, before Julian could reach Noein and the others, he was grabbed by the shoulder by a servant and a man who seemed to be a guard and was forced back into his seat.
Looking closely at the servant—since she wasn't wearing her usual apron dress, he didn't recognize her immediately—but this was also a familiar face.
"Ugh, Rottenmeier..."
"...It has been a long time. Noei... excuse me, Excellency Arqvist."
It was the head maid Rottenmeier, who had once cast countless unpleasant looks at Noein in his childhood home. Matilda, who had been severely bullied by her, also noticed and her expression became slightly bitter.
Noein was inwardly surprised that she was still working actively, as she should be quite old by now.
The man beside her was likely a military officer serving the Kivileft family, but Noein did not know him. While he looked like a dirty mercenary, judging by his refined movements, he was likely a knight.
The two who had seated Julian stepped back. Noein sighed once, told Matilda "It's okay" while signaling her with his hand, and sat beside Clara opposite Julian and the others.
"I don't even know where to start..."
Scratching his head, Noein sighed again.
"...I have heard that the Earldom of Kivileft became the first landing point for the Betumia Republic Army. I heard the members of the Earl's family were missing. It seems you managed to escape... but why did you come here? Why only you? What of Earl Maximilian Kivileft and Countess Dietlinde?"
"Ah, uh, that's, uh, Laden became a mess, and Father and Mother, and so I ran, and then..."
Julian spoke in incoherent words, appearing restless. Noein turned his gaze toward Julian's wife beside him, but...
"Hie, sorr, sorry..."
She said this with teary eyes and, for some reason, froze while apologizing. Conversation was impossible. Noein sighed again.
While Rottenmeier placed her hands on their shoulders from behind and said, "Young master, Bridget-sama, please calm yourselves," the guard man knelt on one knee and spoke to Noein.
"I am Baronet Ernst Alessandri, a member of the warrior nobility serving the House of Kivileft. If it pleases you, I shall explain on behalf of Julian-sama. I request permission to speak."
"...Permission granted," Noein answered, raising an eyebrow slightly at the family name Alessandri.
"I am grateful. First, on September 29th, when the invasion of the Betumia Republic Army began, His Excellency Earl Maximilian Kivileft ordered his legitimate son Julian-sama and his wife Bridget-sama to escape Laden and seek refuge, taking their grandchild with them. I was appointed as their guard and left Laden with Julian-sama and the others."
"...And the Earl?"
The voice with which Noein asked trembled slightly.
"His Excellency, together with Dietlinde-sama, remained in Laden to fulfill their duties as the head couple of the House of Kivileft, leading the territorial army to confront the Republic Army. Given the circumstances, it is almost certain that they have fallen in battle."
"...They died?"
Hearing this, Noein's expression became vacant. He remained silent for several seconds.
Clara gently placed her hand over his left hand. Feeling this, Noein regained his composure slightly. Now was not the time to indulge in personal sentiment.
"...Then, why did Julian and the others come here?"
"Since my mission was to protect the lives of Julian-sama and the grandchild, I first aimed solely for the north to distance them from the Betumia Republic Army's invasion zone, and planned to head toward the Royal Capital by circling around from the northern part of the Kingdom."
Ernst explained matter-of-factly.
"However, just as we were about to set course for the Royal Capital, I heard that even the Royal Territory had come under invasion by Betumia. Judging that the Royal Capital was no longer safe, I asked Julian-sama if there were any northern noble houses to whom he could request protection in order to decide on a new place of refuge..."
"And Julian suggested the name of the House of Arqvist as a candidate."
"Yes. Rather, Julian-sama did not know much about the Kivileft family's connections, and he seemed unable to think of any place to turn other than to the care of his half-brother, Excellency Arqvist. Therefore, prioritizing the safety of Julian-sama and the grandchild, we came here, despite knowing it might be a nuisance."
"..."
Noein agonized over how to respond. To this, Ernst continued his words with a slightly troubled expression.
"...Furthermore, Julian-sama said in a convinced tone, 'If it is Big Brother, he will surely help us.'"
"...Julian said that. Sigh."
Noein let out a sigh for the nth time.
This Ernst likely knew that Noein was a natural child of Maximilian. However, it wouldn't be strange if he didn't know the extent of the friction between Maximilian's natural child and legitimate son, or how much Noein hated Julian. He was, after all, merely a military assistant to the House of Kivileft.
Because Julian said, "He's my half-brother, so it's fine, he'll protect us," Ernst believed it to be so. He could not be blamed.
"B, Big Brother! You are my brother, aren't you!"
As Julian spoke, he looked at Noein with clinging eyes. Noein looked back at Julian's face expressionlessly.
"Our mothers are different, but we are brothers, aren't we! So, please help us, Big Br—"
"Do not call me Big Brother!"
"Hieee!"
Noein slammed his fist onto the table and shouted.
Julian let out a pathetic scream, and Ernst braced himself so that he could throw his body in front of Julian to protect him at any moment.
Clara, who had never seen Noein shout before, opened her eyes wide in surprise, but placed her hand over Noein's hand again. "Dear..." she called out worriedly.
"Bu, bueeeh! Bieeeen!"
Perhaps startled by the shouting, the baby held by Julian's wife, Bridget, began to cry.
In the room where only the baby's voice echoed, Noein took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"It's okay now, Clara, thank you... Madam, I ask that you leave the room for a moment with the child. I apologize for startling you."
"Y, yes..."
Told so by Noein, Bridget stood up half-crying herself and left the drawing room, led by Rottenmeier.
Having confirmed this, Noein looked at Julian expressionlessly once more. Just by receiving that gaze, Julian flinched and shrank back.
Though the influence of his parents' education was great, Julian had also always looked down on Noein, made fun of him, and held him in contempt. Julian had never once respected Noein as a brother or shown him any courtesy.
Above all, Julian had been raised given everything as the "correct" son, simply because he was the child of the legal wife. Unlike Noein, who had been deprived of freedom as the "incorrect" son.
He could not stand being called "Big Brother" so conveniently now by such a man.
"...Julian, you should know what kind of relationship we've had until now, and what kind of words we've exchanged. Even someone as dim-witted as you should understand that there is no way I like you. Despite that, why did you think I would help you?"
"T, that, that is... I, I don't know."
"Hah?"
At Julian's unexpected response, Noein involuntarily let out a deflated voice.
"I, I didn't know what to do, nothing at all, but I, I have to protect my wife and son. I couldn't think of any other acquaintances besides Big Br... Noein-dono, so I came here. I, I'm sorr..."
"..."
Seeing the overly pathetic, weak Julian, Noein lost the will to even be angry.
"That's right. I, I have 20 million Rebro. I used a little while fleeing... but most of it is still left. I, I'll give it to you. So, please... if not me, could you at least help my wife and son? I beg you... please, have mercy."
Saying so, Julian bowed deeply to Noein.