Sisters And Brothers

Once the riot among the Basic Course students had been brought under control, Rudel and the others were released from the confinement rooms. According to the teachers, the reasons were simple: the confinement rooms had become full, and this was a special measure in recognition of their role in stopping the riot. Unias was delighted, but only he had remedial classroom lessons waiting for him because he had fallen behind, so Rudel and Luecke decided to visit Bargas.

Izumi joined them, and when the three headed to the infirmary, they found Bargas looking blissfully happy as Basil fed him fruit.

“You certainly look carefree at a time like this.”

Luecke peered in from the entrance. Izumi watched the scene as well, wondering whether she and Rudel looked like that too… but Rudel strode boldly into the happy atmosphere.

“Are you all right, Bargas? I didn’t know the two of you were that close… I actually wanted to ask you for some advice.”

“…Rudel, you’re incredible.”

“Yeah, but then again, you’re Rudel.”

Luecke and Izumi awkwardly entered after him. Bargas immediately turned red and panicked, while Basil simply smiled.

“Th-This is, you know… well, it’s that kind of thing!”

Before Bargas could finish making excuses, Rudel immediately got to the point.

“Actually, I wanted some advice… I don’t really understand how siblings are supposed to get along, and I’m not sure what to do. Could you tell me? You said you had a lot of brothers and sisters, so I thought your experience might help.”

Along with explaining what had happened in the cafeteria, Rudel told them that his younger brother Chlust had become badly frightened. He had grown terrified of the first-year Fritz and had now shut himself away in his room. By the time Rudel finished explaining, Bargas was shocked that such a huge incident had happened while he was in the infirmary, but he was just as surprised that Rudel had ignored all of that and come to ask about his brother.

“You brothers don’t get along, right? I don’t think comparing Chlust, when you’ve got that kind of relationship, to my brothers and sisters is going to help much… More importantly, what are you going to do about that first-year, Fritz?”

Bargas was concerned about Fritz and the other first-years who had caused such a major disturbance. They had gone too far, but even if they had gotten carried away, they were fellow commoners. He was probably worried about what punishment they would receive.

“I’m not particularly interested, so I’ve left it to the headmaster. It’s not something I have the authority to decide anyway. More importantly, how should I deal with Chlust?”

After thinking for a moment, Bargas realized he could not give a direct answer, so he began talking about himself.

“Haah, I can only tell you about my own case. I looked after my brothers and sisters, and my younger siblings were attached to me, so it probably won’t be that useful… If they did something wrong, I’d scold them. If they came home after losing a fight, I’d teach them how to fight.”

“You didn’t step in and help them, Bargas?”

“No. Wouldn’t it be strange for an older guy like me to jump into a fight between younger kids? Besides, children fight all the time. So if one of my little brothers came home frustrated because he’d lost, I’d teach him how to fight and cheer him on by saying, ‘Don’t lose next time!’”

Rudel began thinking after hearing that. Basil looked at him curiously and asked a question.

“Chlust-sama is graduating this year, isn’t he? Why are you so concerned about him? I don’t think it’s revenge, but…”

The relationship between Rudel and Chlust was deeply twisted. Even when viewed as noble brothers competing over succession to the grand ducal house, their relationship was unnaturally distorted. Basil could not understand why Rudel cared so much about someone like that. Izumi was curious as well and asked him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop worrying about him, Rudel? I’m sure you both have your own feelings about each other, but I can’t imagine you would do anything to a younger brother who’s already that frightened… What are you planning?”

“Ah, I was thinking I’d at least help him recover somewhat before he graduates. If he stays like that, he’ll be useless even if he’s sent to the frontier, and in the worst case he could die. Chlust is loved by our parents… I don’t want my family to be sad.”

Luecke felt something slightly strange about those words.

“I heard your parents dislike you. Is there really any need to care about parents like that? My parents were strict as well, but that was because they wanted me to become a capable adult. I do not get the impression that Rudel’s parents were the same.”

With all four of them looking at him, Rudel thought for a moment before answering.

“I’m grateful to the parents who gave birth to me, and they raised me and even allowed me to attend the academy. Fritz was right—I was fortunate. It does hurt that they dislike me… but I don’t think that means I should hate Chlust.”

After hearing how Rudel felt, the other four still did not fully agree with him, but none of them opposed what he wanted to do. Bargas spoke for them and asked Rudel a question.

“So what are you planning to do for Chlust-kun? This isn’t as simple as teaching him how to fight.”

The question had been half in jest, but Rudel was serious.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll teach him how to fight one-on-one, and I already know who his opponent will be. I read in a book that overcoming fear isn’t so much about defeating the person you’re afraid of as it is about defeating yourself. …After the Basic Course interclass competition, I’ll have him fight Fritz.”

Izumi immediately objected. Helping Chlust was one thing, but involving Fritz seemed unreasonable.

“W-Wait, Rudel! Fritz is no good. His punishment is bound to be severe after what happened, and the gap in ability between him and Chlust is far too large.”

Luecke agreed.

“I am opposed as well. That boy underestimates us far too much. Even Unias was angry with him… The other noble students will not accept it if Fritz receives a light punishment.”

Rudel thought after hearing that.

“So fighting Fritz won’t work… I suppose it can’t be helped. I’ll give up on Fritz and just train Chlust instead. No, perhaps having him fight Unias would be good.”

“Chlust would die…”

Bargas sighed as he retorted to Rudel.

Whether Rudel’s wishes somehow got through or Fritz was simply lucky, Rudel’s desire ended up being fulfilled when a certain person secretly visited the academy. That person was Aileen, the First Princess and the story’s Main Heroine. The reason was that she had become interested in both her younger sister Fina and the academy.

After hearing Fina shout during the previous year’s interclass competition, Aileen had wanted to see for herself how her sister was living at the academy. She adjusted her schedule accordingly, and by coincidence, on the very day the riot broke out, the two sisters were having tea in Fina’s room while surrounded by Senior Knights.

“You seem well, Fina. I wasn’t able to ask much the other day, but it looks like academy life has been a good opportunity for you.”

Fina answered her smiling sister honestly. Aileen had hoped that academy life might help her expressionless younger sister learn to show a wider range of emotions.

“Yes, Onee-sama… The academy is the best place in the world for Fina.”

(I’m living the fluffy dream and enjoying every second of it! I was supposed to spend today cuddling with Mii, fluffing her to my heart’s content, and planning how to capture Master… but then you had to sneak in here and ruin it!)

“I heard you have someone you like… Father said it was that Rudel, but is that really true? Surely he was joking?”

“…No, it is true. He rejected me, but I still hold him dearly in my heart.”

(That black-haired girl is standing in the way of my path to Fluffy Heaven… I’ll definitely get the petting ban lifted and make Master mine! Still, nice work, Father! This lets me keep closing off every possible escape route.)

But Aileen’s expression suddenly changed.

“Fina, I cannot possibly approve of you liking a man like that. He’s barbaric and selfish… and I heard he even defied Father. I am against it! Father and Mother don’t seem concerned, but his family is one of the Three Dukes, so marriage is actually possible.”

“I understand.”

(That’s the whole point. This isn’t about love or romance… it’s destiny! Heaven itself must be telling me to pursue Fluffy Heaven! For the sake of my dream, I’ll gladly sell my soul to fluffiness!)

As the two sisters continued talking, the Senior Knights suddenly began making a commotion. When the sisters asked what had happened, one of them explained.

“There appears to have been a riot in the academy cafeteria. A commoner-born boy and the second son of the Arses Family became involved in a dispute… Rudel-dono, whom you were just discussing, apparently suppressed the riot, but the academy has asked us to remain on alert.”

“My!”

“…I see.”

(What the hell are you doing, Chlust? Making Master clean up your mess… More importantly, that commoner boy is probably Fritz, Master’s enemy, right? He really never does anything worthwhile.)

“Bullying a commoner together as brothers is unforgivable! I will speak to them personally. Gather everyone involved immediately!”

“Eh!?”

(What is she talking about? They said they got into a dispute, not that anyone was bullied, right? She hates him so much that she’s letting her assumptions run wild. And Master was the one who stopped the riot. Master really does have terrible luck.)

Even after that, Aileen refused to listen as Fina tried to explain that she had misunderstood. And so Aileen ended up meeting Fritz. The two of them experienced their fated encounter. This meeting would one day bring hardship to Rudel and the others…