95 94. Redemption Of The Coward
After finishing his meal slowly, Wolfe received a new glass.
Gouad was asking for a drink with a long name when he did it, which was red wine, apparently.
poured It was quite spicy and heavy, even though it smelled sweet and gorgeous. The taste of wine lingers in the mouth for a long time.
“Isn’t that unusual? I’m going to be fooled by the scent, but it’s a good dry one.”
Apparently, what I was thinking was on my face. Gouad told me first.
“It feels strange. What brand is this?
“‘I want to fall in love at first sight. Pretty beauty, be my wife and be strong’… I don’t think it’s the name of wine, and I can never ask for it when I have a wife”
“That’s a name you’re not going to forget once you hear it.”
“He said it was a wine made in honor of his late wife. You must have been a good wife.”
The name of the wine is hard to say good or bad. But I was somewhat convinced by the beautiful red and sweet aromas and the taste of wine left on my tongue.
“… Volfredo, I’m late, but that’s what I’m talking about today. Well, I’d like to apologize.”
“If it was the other day, already”
“No, it’s nothing. I’m sorry I disturbed you and Chairman Rossetti yesterday.”
To my brother’s unexpected words, the taste of alcohol flew.
“Is that your brother?
“Oh. Um… I was ordering you to protect me from everything outside, but I made you anxious. I should have told you first.”
“Is that what happened…”
I’ve always been concerned, Dalya and her tail when she returns from the South Side. I find that to be by my brother, and I’m just a little relieved.
But never before, questions also arise.
“Why do you suddenly do that?
“I know your strength. However, fighting while protecting people can be difficult… so I became worried”
“Was it…”
If you think of the time, there was certainly a fear of fighting while protecting Darya.
I’ve never thought about it before, but depending on where you’re going, it might be safer to have an escort.
“If you need an escort, don’t hesitate to tell the man in the mansion”
“Thank you”
“And then, suddenly, I decided to have a carriage stable at home. At the edge of the West End, near the green tower, there’s a section for sale. I bought it for one of my investments.”
A little quicker said brother, those blue eyes haven’t seen themselves.
The edge of the West End is a sparsely populated area in Wangdu in the first place. Save the carriage stable for the feed carriage, I don’t think it’s very profitable.
“Brother.”
“Look, Wolframe, too, would it be useful to have a horse on the move? There is also a distance from the Royal Castle to the West End. Whether you’re coming or going from the royal castle or to another district, you should use it as you like, because I’ll make sure to put horses and carriages away. The building will take a while, but the horse can keep you waiting in the makeshift cabin for a week.”
My brother explains it with a smile, but so far so obvious that it is more impossible not to notice.
“Brother, you’ve been checking my behavior since you got back from the expedition, haven’t you?
“… oh”
Probably since the day after the Harpy Crusade, when I went to the Green Tower, I’ve been tailed. It was floating when I could see Darya, and it was like I didn’t notice.
“Thank you very much for your concern. Horses, thank you. However, when you are with the Chairman of the Rossetti Chamber of Commerce, if you can, please remain calm…”
“I’m sorry for everything…”
Wolfe’s terribly flat voice, subtle air flows.
After a silence that lasted awhile, Gouid coughed lightly.
“One more thing. I have something I want to give you.”
A squire, who had refrained behind him, opens a case of black leather and puts out a bunch of parchment paper. The bundle was gently placed in front of Wolfe.
“… of the Chairman of the Rossetti Chamber of Commerce, a resume.”
“Did you look into Darya?
“Oh. I made him look into it for your safety.”
Gouid, clearly stated, with the same blue eyes as my father, stared at Wolfe.
“From birth until the beginning of this month, she was only a serious and research enthusiastic young lady. There was no one scandal.”
“Of course, Darya is.”
“Until I went out with you right after the engagement was broken.”
I can imagine what they’re saying, and I know I’m the cause. Still, it still pisses me off that Darya is badly told.
“Darya is my friend. I’m responsible for all the bad reviews, not her fault.”
If I looked straight back at my brother’s eyes, he nodded happily for some reason.
“He’s a competent magician, a research enthusiast, a serious woman, and your dear friend. That’s what I understood.”
“… thank you”
“Do you want to take this document home?
“I don’t need it. If you want to know, ask the person.”
“I thought they’d say that. Now, keep this.”
Gouid has given me one folded note.
“They say there’s a lot of content back in college that might be changing. But it’ll be a little helpful.”
“… Favorite color, white, water… Favorite confectionery, baked cheesecake…”
It said what I liked, what I didn’t like, what I used to eat in the dining room, etc.
Wouldn’t he who knows this be quite close to Darya?
“Who is this from?
“… asked the intelligence department”
“What?”
To my unexpected reply, my mouth remained open for a few seconds.
For your own safety, I know you wanted to verify Darya’s identity, and you should think that the information is on its way too.
But it’s definitely not the kind of content you would ask the national intelligence department to do.
Also, I get a lot of anxiety about how much the hell it cost, or what the consideration was.
“Brother, what are you doing?!
“No, I know someone at the intelligence department, and they let me accommodate them, I’m not pushing through”
“Nothing’s that far…”
“No, you should have information about women. They kept smiling at me for forcing me to eat something I didn’t like, or for sending flowers full of rooms I didn’t like the smell, because when I find out later, I regret it so much”
“Brother…”
“… I want you to use my brother’s experience”
I bowed my head to Gouid, who said it was a blur, and put the note in my jacket pocket.
“And then I got the ‘fairy crystal’ I was asked to. I’ll have it delivered tomorrow. I’ll take it back when I find it.”
“Thank you. Pay Later”
“Wolframe, let me stand up for you as my brother. I haven’t done anything for him in the last 14 years.”
“… thank you, then, let me sweeten you”
I feel I have already received enormously in one day today, but to my brother’s plea, I bowed my head again.
Think thanks, but I can’t think of one thing. I don’t even know what Gouid likes, so I asked him honestly.
“Brother, is there anything you want? I may have a lot of difficulty…”
“What do you want now…… oh, there was one thing. If you’ll forgive me, I’d like to call you ‘Wolf’ too.”
“What?”
In unexpected words, I could barely drink anything.
I was called at a young age, but when my brother tells me he wants to call me again, I’m just a little embarrassed.
“Well, go ahead and call me. You don’t have to check anything…”
“Oh, you might as well be called ‘Brother Gouid’ as you used to be”
“Give me a break about that…”
My brother laughed heavily at Wolfe, who accidentally turned into a troubled face.
“By the way… Wolfe, are you seriously going down to the city well?
“Yes, we think any day”
“… say something tough, but I want you to listen carefully. It’s not easy.”
Wolff was just a little surprised by his brother’s voice, which suddenly changed from before.
“There are still many who speak to Wolf. Without the title of the house, there will be those who speak out this fortunate, and those who will come forward with their hands.”
“If you leave the house, I don’t think it’s worth it.”
“Even if you’re not doing anything, there will be people who move with unilateral thoughts or fools who come at random resentments. It is possible that the orientation will be directed towards the family or loved ones you may have. That’s when Wolff can’t protect him without his powers.”
“Power, is it…”
I thought if we got away from the Scalfalots, that would be it.
If I were to live in Ichii any day, I would have no problem with even fairy crystal glasses, I just had to keep knighting, work or turn some storage around.
Even when I left my nobility, I never thought about being handed to be chased, about the danger to people close to me, to loved ones, etc.
“If I could, I’d be more comfortable letting you daughter-in-law the Chairman of the Rossetti Chamber of Commerce as the adopted daughter of our relatives…”
“That’s not how Darya and I relate. She is a magic conductor and president of the Rossetti Chamber of Commerce. You don’t change your name, you don’t change your job. I don’t want that either.”
All of a sudden I deny my brother’s words, with all my might. But Gouid didn’t pull.
“We’re both still young, and our relationship could change. The day may come when I want to live with the chairman of Rossetti’s business.”
“As a friend, I’ve always wanted to be with you. Same with the work of the Chamber of Commerce. Still, we decided to be friends with each other.”
As I said, my chest hurt dull.
From that day when we promised to be friends with each other, our distance from Darya approached.
But now that I’ve gone down to the city well, it’s definitely her that gets me into trouble.
I don’t have the power to just rip it off.
“… Wolf, I’m not telling you never to go down to the city well. I just want you to think carefully for your safety.”
“Thank you. I seemed to think too easily. I remember the liver.”
“No, it’s me and my father who haven’t said anything before. It’s bad. If you have any problems or are lost, please talk to me.”
“Yes, let me talk to you if you need anything”
To Wolfe, who replied so, Gouid laughed relieved.
Late at night and letting the carriage out first for Wolfe returning to the barracks, Gouid stayed in the store.
Instruct the squire beside you as you pour ice water down your throat.
“Check the names of everyone who went after Wolfe today, for information on the house. The unmarried have a fiancé or not.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you”
“And I want a list of all the participants. First, no, second and third, including the Magic Brigade, if anyone seems to have personal grievances against Wolfe, I want information.”
“I’ll add you, too.”
The man who nodded moved from next door to across the street.
“Master Gouid, if you’ll excuse me, may I speak to you?
A man who has been a squire for many years and a friend since college looks terribly nasty.
“… oh, I can predict, but I don’t mind. It’s just us. Sit down and talk easy.”
“… ok”
The man sat in the chair across the street and talked straight out.
“Though there is only the Knights in the Royal Castle, stop traveling alone. The escorts were turning blue.”
“It’s on my mind. I’ll be careful next time.”
“I’ve had a lot of moves since I decided to make my way up to the Marquis. Be really careful.”
“Oh, okay”
“What would Mother say if she found out about wearing a jacket in a chair or eating oysters by hand…”
“Keep it to yourself. Because Wolfe seemed unable to talk to me. Well, sometimes I wanted to try it once.”
The man looked at Gouad, who laughed like a prank.
“In the first place, I also disagree with you two eating alone in a private room. Master Wolframe is third in the title inheritance. If anything.”
“What did Wolfe do to me and want Count status?
“I don’t think so, but consider your position and safety.”
“If it’s what Wolf wants, I’d like to do anything for him.”
“Goood!”
“I’m just kidding.”
Gouid laughed with only his voice, looking out the window, into the darkness of the sky.
“If Wolf hadn’t protected me that day, this is how I wouldn’t be alive.”
Even if you stop having nightmares, you’ll never forget them.
That day, it was blood. I was off the hook, little brother.
Right hand, right foot was not already there, holding the sword with the left hand with a bone view, and still trying to move on.
Next to his own mother who died, Wolfe was just alone, fighting.
He sank the few remaining enemies with water magic, and managed to return to the king’s capital with those who lived.
My father’s fury, my mother’s confusion, the Second Lady’s struggle with her parents’ home, the death of another brother.
After a few days that I didn’t even know why, when I finally went to the temple, I saw my little brother crying as he slept.
My cowardice took everything away from my little brother.
I lost that guilt, I couldn’t hug Wolf, I didn’t comfort him, I ran away without a face to match again.
I ran away, kept running, and dropped one still young brother, loneliness and nightmares.
I am a coward who lived without a scratch, at the expense of the knight of his life and his brother.
Naturally they resent me, they’ll hate me to death, that’s what I’ve always thought.
But now that Wolf finds out he won’t wave this hand away, I won’t hesitate.
No, even if the day comes when you’ll be swept away, will you ever let go again?
“Now I’ll protect my brother, is that normal?
That’s the only thing I can do, protected by my little brother, a coward’s redemption.
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