A large cloud covered the winter night sky, blocking any light from the moon, which made the orange magic lights from the Rhangbalt mansion stand out that much more. At the moment, a young man by the name of Barth Rhangbalt was walking across the long, red-carpeted hall with his fists clenched. The blond hair he’d been so proud of had been shaved off, and his Verdant Eyes looked almost black from how he squinted in anger. He knocked on the dark brown door at the end of the hall and waited until he heard the person on the other side invite him in.
“Excuse my intrusion, father.”
The room he’d walked into was the main library. Waiting inside was his father, Evans Rhangbalt, who had a beard like a lion’s mane.
“What do you need, this late at night?”
“I will keep my request short, father. I’d like you to expel Lilith and Abel from our territory.”
Evans had not been expecting this and was at a loss for words. Eventually, he shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?! Expel those infidels!”
“Do you not remember me saying that Lady Lilith is not a mere maid? I owe her my life. I am not at liberty to go against her wishes.”
“What does that matter?!” Barth screeched into the dark night.
Barth had already heard from his father when he was ten that Lilith was not just a maid. The only reason that this village had been able to thrive in a geologically disadvantageous place like this had been thanks to Lilith’s specific instructions and advice.
“We don’t need to rely on those lowlifes anymore! Our family controls this territory. There should be no issue forcing them out now!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Barth.”
“What exactly am I wrong about?!”
“Daddy? Barth? What are you two doing? I can hear you from out there.” A sleepy Ted in pajamas appeared in the doorway. A cast for healing purposes had been firmly wrapped around his injured leg.
“You can walk, Ted?!” Barth exclaimed.
“Yeah, look! All better now!”
Ted looked indifferent to Barth’s utter surprise. However, Evans seemed to understand something from the situation.
“Barth, Ted... When the time comes, I will tell you the truth about my relation to Lady Lilith and why I pay her so much respect.”
“What reason could a noble like you have for bowing your head to her, father?” Barth asked.
Evans clammed up. He’d planned to tell them that Lilith was a demon, and that was why he was helping to shelter her, but at the moment he could sense that Barth was being spurred on by dark emotions. Even if Barth was his own flesh and blood, Evans had no intention of telling him such a deep secret at this time.
“No answer, huh?”
“As you are now, I am unable to tell you.”
“Fine! Fine, then!” Barth’s mood plummeted at his father’s vague words. After a little, however, it seemed like he began to calm down. “Father, won’t you send a recommendation on my behalf for me to attend Arthlia Academy of Magecraft?”
Evans slowly shook his head. “I will not. You will remain in these lands and learn how to become a lord. Do you not remember making that promise to me?”
Arthlia Academy of Magecraft was a distinguished school that produced elite mages. However, it took at least five years to graduate, so Evans was hesitant to enroll either of his sons.
“I want to learn stronger magecraft! I want to become stronger and smarter. I want to learn powerful magecraft that will allow me to mercilessly cut down my enemies and anyone else who stands in my way! Then, I will never lose to any commoner—nor any noble, for that matter. I will become the strongest mage!”
Evans was surprised. Until now, he’d seen his son as sensible—calm and collected in any situation. Perhaps he’d only been so sure of this characterization due to the contrast with how energetic his little brother Ted was.
“Barth, you don’t have to push yourself so hard...” Ted began to say.
“Shut up! You’re a disgrace to nobles!” Barth yelled, sending his injured brother flying.
Evans couldn’t believe his eyes. “Stop that, now!”
“B-But... I-It’s his fault... It’s his fault for getting friendly with a commoner despite being a noble!” Barth sounded like a child throwing a tantrum, and Evans was beginning to completely rethink his appraisal of his elder son.
Evans was coming to the realization that, with the way Barth was now, he could not in good conscience leave the lordship of their territory to him. In that case, maybe sending him away would be a win-win situation for both Barth and Evans.
“Fine, then. I’ll send in a recommendation for you.”
“You mean it?!”
“Yeah. Go see how big the world is with your own eyes.”
“I knew you’d see my side, father! My thanks!”
After shaking Evans’s hand, Barth left the room. Watching him leave elicited a pain in Evans’s chest as he wondered where he’d gone wrong with Barth’s education.
“Are you all right, Ted...?”
“It hurts a little, but I’m okay.”
“Good.”
Even after being the victim of unreasonable violence, Ted seemed calm. Evans was beginning to realize that perhaps he’d misjudged both his sons. Despite his energetic personality, it was possible that Ted was more mentally mature than his older brother.
“Ted, I think I’ll tell you the truth.”
“Daddy?”
“Ted, you see... I was once rescued by Lady Lilith.”
“Huh?”
“One snowy day, I’d been hunting and was attacked out of nowhere by a monster.”
He decided not to mention just how far into the past this story took place. It was well over twenty years ago when he had become acquainted with Lilith.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, and since then, I’ve been in her care. To me, she is like a good neighbor as well as my lifelong teacher.”
The relationship between Lilith and Evans somewhat resembled that of Abel and Ted. The day Lilith had saved Evans, he’d asked her why she was being so kind to him. To that, he received an unexpected answer.
“There will be a day when a person important to me shall awaken. I want to create a peaceful environment in which we may comfortably live.”
At first, he’d thought that she was crazy, but now he understood. The reason she’d saved him from the monster had all been for this day.
“Wow... I didn’t know that maid lady was like that.”
“Yeah. That’s why you can’t become like Barth. Okay, Ted? Be good to Lady Lilith and Master Abel.”
“Of course! Abel is my underling... No, my important friend!”
On one side was Barth, who’d rejected Abel for immature reasons, and on the other, Ted, who’d chosen to accept him. On this day, the difference between the two brothers had become clear.
✦ ✦ ✦
A month had passed since that day, and I’d lived in complete peace. Each morning I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping, had breakfast with Lilith, and spent most of the afternoon studying in the library, only taking a break to eat the lunch Lilith prepared for me before napping for an hour. When I woke up from that, I’d hole up in the library again and continue my studies.
The rays of the sun that flowed into the library made me warm and sleepy. I let out a yawn and looked at the window, seeing my own reflection. After that day, I hadn’t played tag with the young noble brat at all. I let out a sigh. I couldn’t let my body rot from lack of exercise. I looked back at my book, but almost immediately closed it. My ears picked up a loud noise from outside my room that I couldn’t ignore.
“Pardon! I look forward to your teachings today as well, Master!” Ted said, flinging open the door to the library.
Though we hadn’t played tag since then, he’d still been coming over every day. And there had been one small improvement to my life since my duel with Barth.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Come in quietly when I’m reading.”
“More importantly, teach me more about the magecraft from yesterday! I’ve already got the gist of it down!”
The improvement I mentioned was Ted finally beginning to respect me and look up to me as his teacher; he had even ended up calling me “Master.”
“Looks like your leg’s all better.”
“Heh heh, of course! This kinda injury is but a scratch for the great Ted!”
You shouldn’t lie. I distinctly remember you bawling your eyes out when you broke your leg.
“In that case, wanna go?”
“Go where?” Ted asked.
I grabbed my scarf and wrapped it around my neck. “Tag.”
His eyes began sparkling, like those of a dog realizing you were going to play with them.
“Yeah! I’m gonna win against you today for sure!”
“There’s nothing wrong with confidence, but make sure you use the Body Fortification magecraft I taught you yesterday. You got the gist of it, right?”
“Ha ha! Yeah, I got it!”
Answering with confidence was one of his few strengths, but he usually couldn’t put his money where his mouth was. I opened the window and a refreshing gust of air blew in, turning the pages of the books on my desk. And just like that, my peaceful, leisurely life continued.