"This is Primeria, who shall be your sister from this day forth," the Duke announced with a wave of his hand. "See that you look after her well."
"..."
"..."
I stood frozen, staring at the scene I had once only glimpsed in game CGs. Yet, the girl before me was far more breathtakingly fragile than any digital illustration. Her hair, a soft shade of cherry-blossom pink, was cut neatly at her shoulders, framing a face with skin as smooth and pale as fine porcelain. Her large eyes remained cast downward, hidden from my gaze.
I felt a sudden rush of emotion. For three long years since my reincarnation, I had toiled for this exact moment. Memories of my struggles threatened to overwhelm me, yet one thought rose above the rest: Tell me beforehand, you absolute rubbish of a father!
* * *
That morning had started quite normally. I had finished my light training and sat in my office, reviewing documents as the acting ¹ of the ². It was the same dull routine I had established since the great purge of corrupt officials a year prior.
Nearly half of those greedy scoundrels had been sacked—or had their heads physically removed—following the orphanage scandal. Since the previous governor had also been "physically retired," I had slipped into the position amidst the chaos. When I had asked my parents to let me handle the work, they had wept with joy. Is that really all right? I had wondered. I am still in my early teens, you know.
My parents, however, preferred the glittering lights of the ³, rarely returning to their own lands. As long as the gold kept flowing, they didn't care what I did. I fully intended to cut them off eventually, of course.
I had been working diligently with Heliotrope's help when my father suddenly burst in, trailing a beautiful girl behind him. I knew the time was approaching, but the lack of a warning was staggering. Reporting, contacting, and consulting! Those were the basics! But my father, a man who lived for parties, clearly lacked such discipline.
"It is my own fault for not being on guard," I sighed internally. "Knowing how flighty he is... huff."
* * *
Flashback over.
I stared at my "favorite character," my mind turning white with shock at her sheer cuteness. It was a whiteness that would leave a detergent manufacturer in awe—desuwa.
Primeria kept her head bowed, refusing to meet my eyes. The silence in the room grew heavy and awkward. I must do something! I thought fiercely. As a former otaku and a new brother, I had to break this tension. I had studied the art of charm under Sebastian-sensei, whose mysterious past I dared not question.
Stepping forward, I knelt before the girl. I reached out and took her tiny right hand, enveloping it in my own. Primeria's shoulders jumped, and a crimson flush crept across her cheeks.
Her hand is so small! That blushing face is too precious! I fought the urge to grin like a maniac; I had no desire to be hauled away by the guards. I was a gentleman, not a pervert, I told myself. Heliotrope, please stop looking at me like I am a cockroach in the kitchen.
Flashing my most refreshing smile, I spoke clearly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Kraut von Weltheim. If anything troubles you, please, come to me. We are siblings now, after all."
Primeria looked up, startled. She looked away almost instantly, but her voice was like the tinkling of a silver bell.
"...I am... Primeria. Please... treat me well," she whispered.
So precious!
* * *
With the introductions finished, my father scurried back to the capital. He didn't even stay to inspect the lands. Now, I stood with Heliotrope and the trembling Primeria.
"Heliotrope," I commanded. "Tell Sebastian to prepare her room and a welcoming feast. I shall show her around the estate."
"There is still a mountain of paperwork," Heliotrope reminded me, her voice dry.
"Nothing that cannot wait. Governors are replaceable, but a brother is not!"
"...You think you are being clever, but that was quite chillingly dull," she replied flatly.
Her words stung! Over the three years we had worked together, her thorns seemed to have grown sharper. A beautiful rose truly does have its prickles, I thought with a smug internal nod.
"Truly chilling," she repeated.
"Yes, I am sorry. I am but a lowly maggot," I muttered.
I felt a gaze upon me and turned to see Primeria watching me with wide, surprised eyes. When I offered a smile, she snapped her head away again. My heart sank.
Wait... I haven't even bullied her like the game version did, so why this reaction? Do I already have a bad reputation?
Thinking back, grabbing the hand of an eleven-year-old girl during a first meeting might have been a bit... forward. In my old world, I would have set off every alarm in the neighborhood. Even in this fantasy setting, she was a young lady!
I've done it now! I thought, my stomach churning. It's a total disaster from the very start! If she thinks I'm some kind of creep, I'll never survive!"
Summary:
Kraut's father unexpectedly returns to the estate to introduce Primeria as Kraut's new adopted sister. Kraut, who has been preparing for this moment for three years, is overwhelmed by her beauty. He attempts a charming introduction by kneeling and holding her hand, which results in an awkward and shy reaction from Primeria. Despite his best efforts to be a good brother, Kraut fears he has made a terrible first impression and might be seen as a creep.
Character Insight:
Kraut demonstrates a massive gap between his internal 'otaku' fanboying and his external attempt at being a 'cool governor.' His intense dedication to Primeria is a double-edged sword; while he wants to protect her, his lack of social boundaries in a fantasy setting leads to immediate anxiety. Primeria, on the other hand, is portrayed as extremely guarded and fragile, suggesting a background of trauma or neglect that Kraut has yet to uncover.
Behind the Scene:
The author uses the 'H-L-S' (Hou-Ren-Sou) business acronym, which is a Japanese staple for corporate communication (Report, Contact, Consult), highlighting Kraut's past-life mindset still influencing his current world management.
T/L:
1 ↩ Governor (代官 - Daikan): A local official appointed to manage a territory on behalf of a lord. Kraut took over this role after purging corrupt predecessors.
2 ↩ Duke Weltheim Territory: The ancestral lands of Kraut's family, currently suffering from neglect by the Duke but being restored by Kraut's administration.
3 ↩ Royal Capital: The center of the kingdom where the nobility gather for politics and social events, often at the expense of their own territorial duties.
Notes:
• Primeria - A main heroine of 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'. Currently the illegitimate child of a Viscount family with high magical power and beauty. Tprotagonist's new stepsister, an eleven-year-old girl described as incredibly beautiful and fragile. She has shoulder-length, soft pink hair and porcelain-white skin.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.
• Sebastian - An elderly butler serving the Weltheim household.
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family (9 years old). He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Handsome and now he is slender.