Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

Today, at a tea party at the royal palace, Claire, 8 years old, was sitting with her younger sister in a child-only seat.

"Charlotte. There's Finanche around my mouth."

Claire whispers to her lovely sister sitting next to her.

"Really? Did you get it? Onee-sama!

When Charlotte rubbed it with his hand instead of the napkin, he raised his chin and drank the tea left in the cup.

"Eh... yeah"

Claire whispers to her sister as she feels the gaze from the people sitting at the same table.

"Wipe the area around your mouth with napkins. Then, when I get tea, I don't give you my chin."

Hmm?

That said, Charlotte threw the last Finanche into his mouth with a sip. After eating with one sip, she decided that it would not touch her mouth.

(Ah....)

All Claire's whispers were taught daily by Charlotte's dedicated tutor. But Charlotte doesn't know anything about playing outside rather than studying manners and etiquette.

All the famous children are invited here today. Not only the Duke of Martino, but also the nine-year-old Asbelt, the country's first prince, are on the same table. Claire lowered her head toward the attendant.

"I'm sorry. My sister is still seven years old. This is where the environment has changed and stayed. I want you to take a closer look."

"Claire came a long time ago. After all, it makes a big difference to be happy."

……

I realized that the opinion cared about Claire with a half-sister who was only one year old. But Claire glances at the Lord of the Voice with a faint smile.

--If my brothers were together, I would never have let them say such a word.

Claire's cold smile made the air at the table tingle.

Charlotte, the person in question, didn't seem to notice the intense disgust, but suddenly the conversation changed whether they sensed the atmosphere or not.

"So... speaking of which, the First Prince of the neighboring country seems to be very good. Last time, I went to Papeet country about my father, but my reputation stayed with me even in the village of Hadashi. Have you ever met Lord Asbelt?

"I've heard the rumors, but not yet.

"Of course, I am curious about the story of the Prince of the Great Powers... but my country, His Highness Asbelt, has the Duchess of Giorgio Martino."

Claire laughs nicely when she yells at Charlotte earlier.

"Yes, the Duke of Martino has two actresses."

The table froze again in Claire's quiet anger, which hardly subsided.

"... I thought it was complicated... but you guys are getting along."

"Yes, my dear sister."

Claire nodded in response to Asbelt's words.

◇

Meanwhile, at the same time.

"Please wait, Your Highness Vike.... Your Highness!

Keith's passing voice resounds in the corridor of the royal palace. But listening to that voice won't stop him. And without looking behind you, you're going to be 8 and 12 years old. Although there was supposed to be a considerable height difference, the distance did not shrink.

Without slowing down, Vik says.

"It's time for me to study with my tutor now. You start with that title somewhere."

Batan.

The door to the study room named the office that Week was given was tightly closed. Keith defeats before the cold feeling of the door. Today, too, it was a failure.

Keith knows Vike from the moment he was born. I remember everything from being watched and sleeping by my nanny in the deepest room of the royal palace to desperately grasping and standing. After Vike was able to run, he took a walk in the garden of the royal palace.

It's closer to Keith than his real brother, and closer to him than anyone else. That was Vik.

However, the other day, Keith changed the way he treated her when she turned 8 and left Vic. I reconsidered how I had originally treated Frank like my brother, following advice from my surroundings.

My master showed terrible discomfort to it. The result was this.

(She is already 8 years old. Vike's outstanding reputation has already begun to spread nationally and internationally. I can't wait to be there and think I haven't been able to build a subordinate relationship with my close relatives.)

Though I wanted to respect your master's will, Keith had a conflict.

"Your Highness, would you like to go to the castle town a little later?"

Keith invites Vik out of the study room.

"I don't have time for that. After that, there's a sword."

There was no island to attach, but even if there was no titles disturbance, this was his usual driving.

As the first prince of the great power Pafeet, he always carries all the expectations of the king and the people and tries to live up to them. Though it was due to natural excellence, Keith had a chest ache when he imagined it on a small shoulder that was still 8 years old.

Everything placed around him leads to the rule of the future Pfft kingdom, both close relatives and friends. I can't forgive even one girl I know very well. Keith has also been educated in talent as a mark of the Marquis, but it was clear that what Vike carried was not the ratio.

"Then, after that. Let's practice riding the city with horses today."

"I told you before. I'm not going. When the sword is finished, I still have to study."

"Oh, if you're not sure, why don't you ride the same horse as me?

Vik responded with a twitch to Keith, who had broken his respect for the first time.

"... I'll ride alone."

"Yes, yes."

Keith nodded with a smile like his brother to Vik with a stubborn expression.

The two men, who stopped by the magician of the royal palace and carefully protected them, rode on horses to the city of Ultz.

For the first time, I went out with my master. After running for a while, you enter the sidewalk and run up the cobblestone slope. Keith guided Vike to his place.

"Wow, here it is."

Vik murmured silently at the view of the castle town below him.

Silence flows for a while. There are a lot of people in the city in the evening before sundown. The sound of a carriage carrying loads, the sound of children playing, and the smell of starting dinner.

Keith tells Vik how he feels.

"Your Highness, learning and swordsmanship are not the only things to do. Of course, that's important, but we also need more time to be honest. For example, if you look at people's lives like this, it inflates a lot of imagination, and sometimes you play in the city."

To play in the city, in addition to knowing the life of the people, Keith's thoughts were also included that he wanted people to have age-appropriate fun.

"... you're absolutely right."

Vik nodded immediately after seeing Keith's thoughts. And continue.

"Okay. From now on, I will. Well, let me tell you something. Stop honoring and honoring me. The reason is, when I try to go the wrong way, you stop me. Don't be hesitant when it comes to trouble. I want to be in a relationship where I can always express my opinions."

……

Keith was relieved by the words of his younger master. Though his mind knew he was good, his words were beyond Keith's imagination.

I'm sorry.

Keith lowers his head.

"Don't do that either. Keith must have been thinking about me. Then apologies are meaningless."

"... okay."

Confirming that there were no lies in the words close to him and smiling, Vik leaked the truth with a cheek wand on the stone wall.

"... tomorrow, His Highness Oswald... arrives at this royal palace. It's the first time I've ever had a brother. Can I get along as well as you?"

The existence of his half-brother, who lived as a civilian, cannot shake Victor's position. It is also true that there are people in the royal palace who do not like the arrival of Oswald.

But Vik's eyes were mixed with a little expectation. Keith smiles at the sentiments of his master's age, which he rarely expresses as he gazes at the city at dusk.

"Vike will be fine. I'll help you when it's time. Me and my friends will be able to make it soon."