Pen and Paper Translations

The Marquis Baldwin household’s mansion was grand no matter how many times you came. From the entrance onward, the garden path was decorated in a way famed throughout the Berschut Empire as second only to the imperial palace.

Colorful flowers arranged within lush green circles ringed the fountain, and along every walkway the long trees arched in sweeping curves.

“Hello, Mr. Topper.”

Spotting Topper tending the garden, Riu greeted him. Perhaps because he’d seen him since childhood, Topper felt familiar to Riu.

“Welcome, young master Riu.”

Topper, holding garden shears and sporting a fluffy white beard, smiled kindly at Riu. He must have been pruning; a leaf had fallen onto the top of his head.

Riu stepped up without hesitation, plucked the leaf from his hair, and smiled faintly. But feeling Albert’s gaze a moment later, Riu pursed his lips and asked,

“What?”

“It’s just a little… unfamiliar.”

At Albert’s comment, Riu quickened his pace. Just as Albert said it felt unfamiliar, Riu himself felt shy showing that side of himself.

After passing through the varicolored paths and reaching the entryway of the house, the butler appeared as if he had been waiting and guided them in. Riu and Albert followed as if used to it, then halted when someone stopped them.

“Oh my, heavens. Isn’t that Riu?”

“Hello.”

It was Asha Baldwin, Rene’s eldest sister. Judging by her outfit, she must have plans; she was dressed more splendidly than usual. Wearing a green dress and with her hair done to the nines, Asha approached Riu, then turned her eyes at Albert’s call.

“Lady Asha!”

“What, you came too, Albert?”

“If you’re only going to welcome Riu, I might feel a little hurt, you know?”

Seeing Albert speak in a tone thick with joking, Asha’s long eyes curved brightly. As if she found him cute, she gave Albert’s shoulder a light pat, then looked at Riu.

“Albert is Albert, but it’s really been a while for you too, Riu.”

“Have you been well?”

“Of course. By the way, haven’t you been scarce lately? I told you to drop by even if Rene isn’t around.”

Perhaps because she’d known him since he was little, Asha doted on Riu almost as much as Rene did. With a face distinctly different from the one she showed Albert, Asha tugged lightly at Riu’s cheek.

“I’m really about to feel hurt.”

Asha still saw Riu as a child. Without causing any pain, she pulled his cheek and let her eyes tilt playfully.

To Asha, both then and now, Riu was as precious as Rene. He was like a younger brother.

“Were you on your way somewhere?”

Riu rubbed the spot she’d touched and asked. Asha, as if waiting for the question, jerked her thumb toward an attendant and said,

“I was thinking of going to do some shooting.”

Her outfit was rather too fancy for a shooting outing. With her skirt spread wide and her heavy-looking ensemble, Riu gave a sheepish smile.

“Ma’am, shouldn’t you tone down the shooting now? The marquis seems quite worried.”

“It’s fine. I win.”

At Albert’s words, Asha smoothly lifted her crimson-painted lips. As the rightful heir to succeed the marquisate, Asha exuded a spirited energy. There was a confidence that didn’t seem easily bent, and an overwhelming presence felt just by her standing there. Riu gazed at her in quiet admiration.

“If I’d known you were coming to visit, Riu, I wouldn’t have made plans… but it was arranged in advance, so I can’t help it.”

“It’s alright. I’ll come again next time.”

“Good. Let me know ahead of time then, too.”

“Yes, I will.”

“And what about me, ma’am?”

Seeing Asha’s attention go so much to Riu, Albert cut back into the conversation. Like someone wary of Asha, he stuck close to Riu’s side, a long curve at the corner of his mouth.

“Albert, you’re being a little obvious.”

At Asha’s remark, Albert gave a laugh that said he couldn’t win against her.

“Have fun, and also go and soothe that sulking friend of yours in the room.”

Thinking of Rene filled Asha’s face with fatigue. Like a parent looking at a willful youngest son, she let out a long breath. But she soon drew on a smile and waved to Riu and Albert.

“Well then, I’m really off. See you next time.”

Asha waved and left. With a haughty expression as she swept past, as if she’d never smiled at all, Riu couldn’t take his eyes off her for a moment. Seeing Riu watch her with eyes full of admiration, Albert nudged his shoulder.

“Is she that cool?”

“Huh?”

“Even I find Lady Asha a bit of a problem…”

Trailing off, Albert rubbed around his mouth with his hand.

“…What is?”

“Even I think she’s cool.”

When Riu still looked puzzled, not understanding why that was a problem, Albert ran a hand through his hair. His face troubled, he shook his head and said to Riu,

“It’ll work out somehow. Let’s head up. Rene will be waiting.”

Muttering to himself in a way only he could follow, Albert started walking in the lead.

After the staircase lined with a purple rug, a right turn brought Rene’s room into view. The attendant opened the door as if expected and stepped back. The very fact he’d asked them to come all the way to his room suggested Rene wanted to underscore that he was “sick.”

Even sensing their presence, Rene didn’t get up from the bed. He only blinked at the wall opposite from where Riu and Albert stood, not even looking their way.

“What, you’re not even going to look when we’re here?”

“Why did you come?”

Rene asked in a tone full of sulkiness. While he held himself tense like someone not easily appeased, Albert shook the box of egg pies in his hand.

“A friend’s sick, so of course we came to visit. We even brought egg pies from Creeper Bakery, the ones you like. Are you really going to just lie there?”

At the words Creeper Bakery, Rene’s body gave a twitch. Still with a prim face, he let out a small cough and carefully pushed himself upright.

“I’m letting it slide because of the egg pie.”

“Great, so hurry and have one. Everything tastes best warm.”

At Albert’s words, Rene took an egg pie from the box. Riu, thinking he might get thirsty, filled a glass from the carafe on the table and held it out.

“What’s that?”

“I thought you might be thirsty after just getting up.”

“Well, that you did right.”

Seemingly not disliking Riu fussing over him, Rene puffed one cheek with air. Hot-tempered as he was, he flared up easily but he cooled just as easily.

Contrary to their worries, Rene’s anger didn’t seem deep. Seeing that, Riu quietly downed a glass of water.

“I’m only letting this go because it’s… delicious.”

Like a squirrel, Rene stuffed one cheek and quickly demolished the pie. Watching him gobble like someone who’d been fasting for days, Albert clicked his tongue softly in exasperation.

“So you’re not coming to school tomorrow either?”

“Yeah.”

“Why.”

“I’m not going until Matthew comes to apologize in person.”

At Matthew’s name, a chill ran through Riu’s chest. Even now, just hearing the name made his heart race, and he clenched his hand tight.

“After all you’ve been through with Matthew, you still don’t get him?”

“Then what am I supposed to do? Just thinking of his name makes my blood boil.”

“What are you mad about this time.”

At Albert’s question, Rene threw the egg pie back into the box. His anger, barely settled, seemed to be stirring again; he tensed around the eyes and went on.

“Thinking about it again, it ticks me off. He’s from a mere count’s house, and it infuriates me that I can’t get my hands on him. It infuriates me that he won’t move the way I want.”

“That’s a sickness. How do you expect the world to move the way you want?”

Rene shot him a glare and said,

“I’m Rene Baldwin. Not once in my life have I failed to obtain what I want. No one has ever looked down on me, either.”

Albert sucked in a breath. Looking a bit weary, he ran a hand through his hair and fixed his gaze on Rene.

“So if there’s something you can’t have in the future, you’re going to take to your bed like this?”

“Yeah, I will. There shouldn’t be anything I can’t have. So I’ll have Matthew, too.”

Hearing Rene speak in a voice dripping venom, Riu’s eyes trembled faintly. Normally Rene and Matthew should have worked out but because of him, it felt like the original story had been twisted, and guilt welled up.

“Just watch. I’ll have him for sure.”

“You and Matthew are incompatible anyway, starting with your political leanings.”

“I don’t care. It’s not like I’m going to inherit the house.”

With a nonchalant expression, Rene stood up. His whole body must have been stiff; he stretched long and pulled on the jacket hanging nearby.

“So, about tomorrow, let’s change the drawing venue to my place.”

“If this is about Matthew, I’m against it.”

Rene frowned at Albert’s immediate objection. With his gaze sharpened to points at the corners, Albert only gave a small shrug.

“Think about it. He’s avoiding you as it is. If you say it’s at your house, do you think Matthew will happily come?”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I just said I’m ‘sick’. I can’t go all the way to Riu’s house.”

“Lay low for a while. Stay home and cool your head.”

“What?”