The week had passed since Isaac first met Pamela, and it seemed he had finally calmed down—at least that's what everyone thought.
"Someone's coming to visit," Lucia told him.
"I understand. Who is coming?" Isaac asked with curiosity.
There was something off in her tone compared to the usual announcement of a guest. If a troublesome person was coming, he would need to prepare himself. Lucia looked slightly troubled.
"You noticed, didn't you?"
Isaac's perceptive glance caught on to her unease, and Lucia began to explain.
"It's a friend from my student days—someone your age," she said.
"Mother's friend?"
――A friend from her student days.
The words immediately made him think of his own university friends. While he had childhood friends, none had personalities as striking as those from university. The variety of people gathered there had initially shocked him. Of course, he would later realize it was just those few friends who stood out.
(Ah... I see. She's nervous about letting me meet such a strong-willed friend.)
Recalling his Previous Life, he understood. His mother's unease likely came from concern that such a friend might negatively influence his character.
"She was a child of the Viscount family under WarwickMarquis. We were very close back then," Lucia said, smiling at the memory before her expression darkened.
"But after I got engaged to Randolph, her behavior changed... and gradually, I felt distance growing."
"I understand," Isaac replied, piecing it together.
(She was jealous because I married into the Marquis family, heir to a Viscount peer.)
From equal standing as a Viscount daughter, she now saw Lucia as the wife of a Marquis heir. No wonder the distance had grown.
Lucia continued, "Until now, since both of us had children, we only exchanged letters. But I wanted you to have a male friend, so I tried to arrange this meeting. Still... I'm a little worried."
She placed a hand on her cheek and tilted her head, nervous. Isaac understood immediately. She likely worried that if the conversation went awkwardly, he might disrupt the tea gathering.
(Seriously... so sweet-faced, yet so clever... is this a Noble thing?)
By hinting rather than stating clearly, she avoided taking direct responsibility while still achieving her goal. Isaac, a child of high Noble blood, understood this subtlety. Even Lucia, who usually showed only her kind motherly side, revealed herself as Noble in this instance.
"No! That's not what I wanted!" she quickly denied.
"You're supposed to bring a boy your age, so you can play together in the garden. But now that I think about it, this is your first male friend... I'm not sure if it will go smoothly."
Lucia's worried gaze met Isaac's. She doubted whether he could get along with a boy friend. Isaac felt a twinge of embarrassment at her overthinking. Bringing a child was no problem at all.
"It's fine. I'm used to having male friends," Isaac said proudly.
Unfortunately, in his Previous Life, all his friends had been boys. In fact, having only girls around now would have been the more unsettling situation. With his chest out, he reassured her.
Lucia looked puzzled. "Used to... but weren't they all girls?"
(Ah...)
――A slip of the tongue.
Isaac swallowed and felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine. Silence would only raise suspicion, so he quickly put on an innocent childlike smile and explained.
"Well... Patrick is a boy too."
"Yes... that's true..."
The excuse worked. Though improvised, Lucia believed him. But it worked a little too well—her expression teetered on the verge of tears, likely from regret at never allowing him same-gender friends before.
Isaac felt sorry but could not apologize. Revealing it was from a Previous Life would only confuse her further. Instead, he changed the subject.
"I'm looking forward to meeting them," he said with a bright smile.
"I've heard they're good children... I hope you get along," Lucia replied.
"Yes!"
Isaac's innocent smile—his secret childlike weapon—covered his nervousness. In moments like this, he was glad to be a child.
When Lucia's friend arrived and the parlor door opened, Isaac immediately understood the situation.
The servants had opened the door to reveal a mother and child in perfect 90-degree bows. The child's bow was slightly shallow, corrected by the mother to a full ninety. After a few seconds, the mother raised her head.
"Long time no see, Lucia-sama," she said, her smile unmistakably ingratiating.
'But after I got engaged to Randolph, her attitude suddenly changed... and gradually, I felt distance.'
Isaac understood the meaning.
――A former equal from a Viscount family, now seeing their friend married to a Marquis heir, naturally changed her behavior.
(Ah—so that's what it means. I get it. If a friend suddenly acts like this, it'd feel distant.)
No one around Isaac had ever displayed such behavior. Not Adela, not Karen, nor any other parents of the girls. They had all maintained propriety without ingratiating themselves.
Recalling this, he understood that even Lucia likely felt the same sadness.
"Catherine Fosbury. Damian Fosbury, we are here at your service," the mother said formally.
"Cathy..."
"To be addressed in such a way by Lucia-sama is the greatest honor," Catherine added, bowing repeatedly.
――Ridiculous.
Isaac initially thought so. But then he reconsidered.
――If a friend from a Previous Life became the son-in-law of a prominent politician, how would I react?
Even if not to this extreme, he would likely alter his behavior. Isaac could no longer ridicule Catherine.
The Noble world was both vast and narrow. Perhaps she sought to support her husband's career, displaying ingratiation she would never normally show. From that perspective, she even appeared as a devoted wife, despite sacrificing pride.
(Though a devoted wife, she might not be a good mother.)
Isaac had noticed Damian being forced to bow earlier. Proper etiquette should have been taught ahead of time; yet even if done imperfectly, the child's earnest effort would suffice. Complete enforcement was unnecessary.
Isaac approached Damian with a smile. If the boy was the jealous type, he would step in to help. But if Catherine merely aimed to ingratiate, it was best for them to speak slowly among themselves.
Then, the child would only get in the way of the conversation. Isaac decided to invite Damian to play early, clearing the room for a smoother discussion.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Isaac," he said, smiling warmly.
It wasn't a formal introduction using his father's name. He wanted to show ease and friendliness.
"I'm Damian," the boy replied, returning the smile.
But Catherine pressed down on Damian's head, forcing him to bow.
"Lower your head properly. You are from the Marquis family. I apologize, Isaac-sama," she said, flashing a fawning smile at him.
Isaac felt a twinge of discomfort. Of course, as a Noble, it was natural that he, with inheritance rights, outranked her. But he had no desire to see an adult smile ingratiatingly at a child. He decided to speak up.
"Sister, friends shouldn't have a relationship where one bows to the other. I want to be friends with Damian. So, let go of him, please."
"Y-yes, Isaac-sama," Catherine stammered.
Catherine released Damian. But Isaac's goal was not just to stop the bowing.
――Friends shouldn't be in a hierarchy of bowing.
By saying this, he made it easier for Lucia to talk with Catherine afterward. Manners were necessary among friends, but fawning was not.
(Hopefully, this will at least slightly improve Catherine's attitude.)
Isaac thought, though ultimately it was up to her. Even if she failed to understand and the friendship with Lucia broke, it wasn't his responsibility.
"Hey, Damian. Adult talk is boring. Want to go play?"
"Y-yeah."
Damian glanced at his mother, who of course had no objection. If anything, she encouraged it with a nod.
"Then, Mother, Catherine-san, please enjoy yourselves. Let's go," Isaac said, taking Damian's hand and heading toward the room where Patrick was. There, he planned to play and observe how boys in this world spent their time.
Catherine, left behind, turned to Lucia. Her earlier fawning smile was gone, replaced with confusion. Lucia, still looking a little sad, began to speak.
"Cathy, we're adults now. Mothers of children, too. Everything is different from our student days. But... I still consider you my friend," she said.
――So stop acting like that!
Lucia's gaze carried a plea, and Catherine's eyes welled with tears. Isaac could see that his words had reached her.
"I'm the wife of a Viscount family... not even in charge of a town or district. You're the wife of a Marquis. Are you saying I was wrong to act that way?"
Lucia stepped forward and hugged Catherine tightly.
"As a Noble, you weren't entirely wrong. But as a friend, your attitude was off," she said gently.
Tears spilled from Catherine's eyes.
"You weren't the only one whose attitude changed. Many people treated me differently. But you are my friend, and I felt lonely until now."
Lucia's voice trembled slightly, though she didn't cry.
"I'm sorry. I just thought that was the right thing to do."
"That's fine. It's normal. But from now on, be the friend you once were," Lucia replied.
"Lucia..."
Catherine repeated "Thank you" and "I'm sorry" as she hugged her back, crying softly.
That night, Isaac went to bed feeling content. He had made his first male friend. Though Damian had been a bit timid, it would improve with time. Lucia seemed to have reconciled with Catherine as well; her eyes were still puffy, but she was in good spirits. Today had ended on a positive note, and that was enough for now.
(Still... I was surprised Damian cried when his face was licked, even though he was fine being touched by Patrick.)
Being a child, he probably couldn't fully control his emotions. Isaac assumed it was just his first time experiencing that. While typical for a five-year-old, it also seemed a little helpless.
(But Damian is from another Viscount family... he won't be reliable in the future anyway... Future... Damian...)
Isaac sprang from the bed with sudden energy.
"Damian Fosbury!"
His voice vanished into the darkness of the room.
(Whoa! Why... why is Damian here at my place!)
――Damian Fosbury.
One of the game's supporting characters, a retainer-like figure for the WilmenteMarquis heir. A character that seemed inconsequential, yet somehow part of the plot.
As Isaac prepared to sleep, he remembered him. He'd been so trivial that Isaac had completely forgotten.
(Wait, what? I'm a Marquis too, but is he going to act like my retainer?)
Unexpectedly, he had encountered a main game character. How would this affect events? Isaac scratched his head frantically.
(I was about to sleep peacefully, but now I probably won't be able to.)
Isaac's plan followed the game's ending. Any major deviation could ruin everything. He realized he had to consider the influence he had on those around him. Simply the presence of an unexpected character could have unpredictable effects.
(...Well, whatever.)
What mattered most was Pamela. As long as the prince ended the broken engagement with her, minor deviations could be tolerated. Wasting time worrying about unsolvable problems was pointless; better to focus on what he could manage. Isaac shifted his thoughts and finally drifted off to sleep.
Notes:
• Ran - She is a gentle orphan, appeared as Mobu's close friend, surviving the demon attack in their secret hideout.