Ruperi's hair was neatly combed.
He had definitely chosen a pale blue outfit, but the clothes he was wearing today were dark.
'Didn't he say he'd choose something bright, like a proper Kreuz?'
I was puzzled, but I did not have the energy to ask.
As Ruperi carried me into the hall, countless guests came into view.
The faint pressure I could sense made it clear that many highly skilled, high-ranking figures had attended.
'Stay alert, Nellis. You absolutely cannot be found out.'
The hall was decorated with a magnificent chandelier and an elegant yet charming aesthetic.
Since children would be attending, even the floor had been covered with plush carpets.
There were many other details suited to their ages, but I was too busy keeping my guard up to take them in properly.
'Father did not plant someone here, did he?'
Had he found my location in the meantime?
I knew it was an absurd thought, but anxiety made people think negatively.
Perhaps Ruperi could feel my tension, because he gently kneaded my stuffed arm.
"It's okay, Paul. Nothing you're worried about will happen."
Even so, I did not lower my guard, and the birthday banquet began.
Before long, many people flocked over to congratulate Ruperi.
"Ruperi, you are already eight. It feels like only yesterday that my sister gave birth to you."
"Hello, Ruperi. So you're my cousin?"
"I've seen Brother Praten, but you should visit our estate sometime too."
A gentle-looking man and twins who resembled him chattered away as they handed Ruperi their gifts.
"Hey, don't cut in line."
"Cut in line? When did I cut in line?"
"I got here first. I was about to give him my present."
CRACKLE.
Others, who clearly did not get along, argued in front of Ruperi over who had arrived first.
"……I am glad we were able to attend the banquet. The situation is not good, yet you insisted on holding it. In any case, happy birthday, Ruperi."
"Please understand. Your father has been hounding my husband to make his schedule fit the banquet."
"Duchess Streck."
"Oh, were you listening? My apologies. But my husband is being worked to death."
A man whose face looked utterly drained, as though his soul had left his body, handed Ruperi a present while being supported by his wife.
Duchess Streck, having received a glare from Duke Kreuz, was about to leave when she seemed to remember something and stopped.
"Oh, right. Sharos. Ah, there she is."
Sharos?
At the familiar name, I stopped watching the people around me and focused on Duchess Streck.
She was beckoning to someone.
"Sharos, hurry over. You wanted to give Ruperi a present, did you not?"
As someone approached, Ruperi tightened the arm holding me.
'What is wrong with him?'
The person who soon made her way through the crowd was a girl around Ruperi's age.
"Hello! It's been a while!"
"Why are you here?"
She had fluffy pink hair and fresh violet eyes like violets.
She was an adorable girl with a dreamy air about her.
At Ruperi's blunt words, the girl—Sharos—stuck out her lips.
"Is that any way to treat me? Why do you think I came to the banquet?"
"To see my brother."
"Oh my. Did you learn mind-reading in the meantime?"
"Go away."
"How mean."
Sharos puffed out her cheeks cutely.
Ruperi seemed displeased, because his arm tightened further around me. Sharos looked down at me.
"I heard the rumors, but you really do carry a teddy bear everywhere?"
"Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
"No. It just doesn't suit you. I thought you'd throw a teddy bear aside."
How did she know?
"Do you like that teddy bear so much?"
"Of course. He's my friend."
Ruperi lifted his chin proudly as he answered.
Perhaps because Sharos's words matched what had happened on my first day with Ruperi, I could not help letting out a dry laugh.
'He once said he was already seven and should not have to play with a stupid doll like me, then threw me away.'
Sharos also seemed surprised by his answer. Then, with a mischievous smile, she asked,
"Then can I hold him just once?"
"No."
"Why? You said he's your friend. If he's your friend, he's my friend too, so let me hold him once."
"Who is your friend?"
Ruperi avoided Sharos's outstretched hand faster than light.
I vanished in the blink of an eye, and Sharos withdrew her hand with a disappointed click of her tongue.
"You're still you, aren't you? I thought you were acting out of character, but I was wrong."
"Did you just insult me?"
"No, that was a compliment. Have you ever seen this Lady Sharos insult anyone?"
Ruperi and Sharos bickered.
Listening to them, I realized one thing.
'They are close. And Ruperi hates her.'
Anyone could have seen it from what happened in Praten's study, Ruperi's reaction when he first saw Sharos, and the conversation they were having now.
But Sharos did not mind Ruperi's attitude at all.
When did I insult you? What, you remember me insulting you? Even if you say we are not friends, you must think of me as one after all.
Her friendly chatter somehow held my attention.
It was the first time I had seen Ruperi lose a battle of words, and perhaps because I was mentally exhausted, Sharos's lively voice calmed me.
'She really has a good personality.'
As I stared at Sharos, Ruperi gripped my arm tightly. It was only stuffed with cotton, so it did not hurt much, but I could still feel the pressure.
'Why?'
But Ruperi did not answer. He only kneaded my arm with obvious displeasure.
Maybe it was because I kept talking with Sharos. I was making that guess when the girl herself changed the topic.
"By the way, why do you look like that?"
"Like what?"
"You don't look well."
He did not look well?
The surprising remark made me want to look at Ruperi's face, but we were in the middle of the banquet hall.
I listened carefully to Sharos.
"I think I didn't sleep well."
"Your complexion is far too bad for that. Well, if you were looking forward to your birthday, perhaps you didn't sleep at all."
"I wasn't looking forward to it."
"That's all right. This Lady Sharos understands you perfectly."
Sharos now spoke with an air of self-importance. Ruperi glared at her with growing annoyance.
They spoke for a while longer, but every time Sharos teased Ruperi, he flared up and gave her more material to use against him.
'Ah, I get it. He learned all of that from Sharos and has been using it on me?'
She was remarkably skilled at latching onto the ends of someone's words.
Ruperi bristled, and just before he could explode, Duke and Duchess Streck, who had been speaking with Duke Kreuz, seemed ready to finish their conversation.
Sharos then handed Ruperi her gift.
Though she had just been teasing him so sharply, the gift was clumsily wrapped, as though she truly thought of Ruperi as her friend.
"What is this?"
"A gift I wrapped myself. I don't have much dexterity, so my nursemaid helped me."
"Put it over there."
"What, you are not even going to accept my gift now? How mean."
"I don't have any free hands."
Ruperi lifted me to show her why.
At the ridiculous excuse, Sharos let out a small tsk and placed her present on the pile of gifts nearby.
"Then I'm leaving. I need to find Lord Praten."
"My brother is—"
She ignored Ruperi's words and seemed ready to disappear, but then she returned.
"Oh, right. I don't know if you've heard, but I'll be entering the temple soon."
"The temple?"
"I decided to become a Saintess and carry on my great-uncle's wishes."
A Saintess?
"So don't be too surprised if you see Lady Sharos at the temple."
"I won't be surprised. You've wanted to become a Saintess for a long time."
"Tsk, I hid it on purpose, but you're not even surprised. How boring."
Sharos pouted and grumbled before disappearing into the crowd.
A Saintess.
Then again, the current Pope of Horanus came from House Streck, so Sharos could certainly follow the Pope and become a Saintess.
Ruperi stared after Sharos for a while before muttering resentfully,
"He's my brother. ……I shouldn't go to the temple."
Afterward, the guests attending the birthday banquet continued approaching Ruperi.
Those who had sent gifts in advance only offered birthday greetings, while those who had brought gifts handed them to Ruperi directly.
The pile of presents gradually grew, and I saw many high-ranking figures from Horein.
Perhaps Sharos had helped me relax. As no one noticed my identity, I was gradually able to ease my guard.
When the banquet was in full swing and fewer people came to congratulate Ruperi, he whispered to me,
"Feeling better now?"
A little?
"That's a relief. Don't worry. I'll protect you."
He said it often, but perhaps because I was still anxious, it comforted me this time.
Ruperi seemed to pass warmth into me as though telling me everything would be fine, gently kneading my stuffed arm. I was just beginning to smile faintly when—
"Young Master Kreuz."
Someone called Ruperi.
When Ruperi turned, I saw pure-white priestly robes.