The atmosphere was grim and martial.
Mounted soldiers in uniform stood in formation and waited in silence. At their head were Father and the other members of House Willard.
Rayford Willard, the current head of House Willard.
Eisen Willard, the marquis family’s eldest son.
Ryuk Willard, its second son.
Shia Willard, its eldest daughter.
These four members of House Willard would participate in the coming war.
“……”
Seeing them off were Father’s official wife and his three other wives, one of whom was my mother. I stood at the edge of their group.
I alone among the siblings wouldn’t participate in this war. I was the only one with the earth attribute.
“Noah!”
A photograph was taken before their departure.
Once it was over, Sister Shia descended from the carriage and approached me.
“How did I look? Did the photograph capture me looking properly adorable?”
“Yes. You always look adorable, Sister Shia.”
“Hmph!”
Sister Shia proudly puffed out her chest at my compliment.
“Well, I’m off.”
“Please be very careful. Take care of yourself.”
“I will. I’ll definitely return, so don’t worry.”
“…Noah.”
As Sister Shia and I exchanged our usual words, Brother Eisen did something unusual and addressed me.
“Father intends to go to the battlefield, fulfil the minimum expected of him, and then return immediately.”
“Yes. That’s what I heard.”
If the head of House Willard died on the battlefield and Brother Eisen, his heir, then died as well, the marquis family would be finished.
Brother Eisen should ideally have remained behind, but battle was considered a noble’s honor and reason for existence. Noble society wouldn’t tolerate both the current and future heads of the family refusing to participate.
Father had married quite late for a noble and was already elderly. Since he was too old to distinguish himself on the battlefield, Brother Eisen would participate in the war in earnest.
“Father is old. If something should happen to both Ryuk and me, the position of next head might fall to you… though I don’t wish to imagine entrusting it to a clod.”
“Yes.”
As his son, I might be next in line, though with all our relatives it was doubtful things would proceed so smoothly.
“…However.”
After uttering that word, Brother Eisen paused before continuing.
“…However, if the responsibility does fall to you, I can imagine a future in which ‘clod’ has become a word of the past. I’ve always acknowledged your abilities outside magic.”
“…Brother Eisen?”
Brother Eisen looked down on me as a clod and, unlike Brother Ryuk, wouldn’t even approach me. I frowned slightly at what I sensed in his words.
“Remain as you are. Protecting House Willard is the duty of those born into this noble family.”
“Of course.”
“…Heh. Yes, that’s right. You’re that kind of man. There isn’t the slightest falsehood in that ‘of course.’”
“…What?”
Was there any place for a lie in what I had just said?
“Good. If the responsibility falls to you, do your best. Shia, come back. We’re leaving.”
“What? You interrupted us, so I haven’t had any time to enjoy myself!”
“Enough… We’re going.”
Brother Eisen led the dissatisfied Shia back toward the formation—the column that would now depart for the battlefield.
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