3-3 - Sisters Are Romantic Interests, Right? (2)

Claire-nee only came to visit once every few days. I’d figured she’d drop by eventually if I waited, but the opportunity came sooner than expected.

The next day, after finishing breakfast, I was relaxing in my room when Claire-nee suddenly burst in.

…Hadn’t something like this happened before?

“Claire-nee, what is it this time?”

“What do you mean, what is it!? Is it true that you had an argument with Blake-nii!?”

“Huh? How do you know about that?”

“Because Blake-nii brought it up at breakfast!”

…Seriously? I’d thought he might say something, but I couldn’t believe he’d actually done it. Good thing I’d spoken to Father yesterday.

No, it was still too early to relax.

“How did Caroline-san react when she heard?”

“She was angry at first, but Father intervened. After that, they said they needed to speak privately and sent the rest of us away.”

“I see. Sounds like Father’s keeping his promise. Now it all depends on Caroline-san.”

“The way you say that makes it sound like you did something, little brother. Actually, what happened yesterday in the first place? I’ve never seen Blake-nii in such a foul mood before.”

“Was he really that angry?”

“He was saying whatever he pleased! According to him, you picked a fight with him for no reason and attacked him, but he defeated you with his superior strength.”

“…Well, it’s true that I provoked him and ended up getting punched.”

“What!? He really hit you? Are you all right?”

Claire-nee leaned forward, her platinum-blonde hair swaying as she began feeling around for injuries.

“Claire-nee, that tickles. I’m fine. I managed to deflect the blow.”

It was true that I’d managed to deflect his punch when he struck my face. Of course, the places he’d repeatedly kicked afterward were covered in bruises, but as usual, I put on a brave face because I didn’t want her worrying.

“Well, as long as you’re all right… But seriously, what happened?”

“Actually…”

I began, before explaining how Blake had tried to abduct Alice yesterday and how I’d negotiated with Father to guarantee her safety.

“I see. So that’s what happened.”

“Yeah. It depends on Caroline-san’s reaction now, but do you think it’ll be all right?”

“Hmm, I think so. Mother is extremely wary of you, little brother.”

“Wary? Is it because of the influenza incident?”

“Exactly. After that, some people even started suggesting you should become the next head of the family. So if you explicitly declare that you won’t compete for the succession, I’m sure she’ll accept conditions like those.”

“I see. Then I guess I can relax a little.”

“I think so… Still, you really do treasure Alice, don’t you?”

“Well, she’s taught me all sorts of things.”

I answered with the intention of expressing my gratitude for Claire-nee’s help, but for some reason, she gave me a mischievous smile.

“All sorts of things… I wonder, does that include knowledge about sex?”

“H-hey! Where did that come from!?”

“What do you mean…? Didn’t I tell you to study so you’d be able to take the lead with me?”

Take the lead? What was she talking about…? Oh, right, I remembered. That thing she’d said about rather having her little brother be her first than some older man she didn’t even love.

“You were serious about that…?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like that, you know?”

“…Honestly, I’d rather you had been joking.”

Actually, did Claire-nee seriously love me as a member of the opposite sex? …No, I wasn’t going to ask. I had a feeling I’d be shocked no matter what answer she gave me.

“But I see. If Alice has been teaching you all sorts of things unrelated to sex, then it sounds like she really did possess the knowledge you were hoping for.”

“Thanks to you, yeah. Actually, didn’t I tell you?”

“I had a vague idea, but Marie is always around, so this is the first time I’ve had a chance to ask properly.”

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since we were alone together.”

“…Alone together?”

As though she’d only just realized it, Claire-nee’s cheeks suddenly turned pink, and she shifted her seat a little farther away from me.

…Hey, what’s with that maidenly reaction? Don’t start getting self-conscious around your little brother. After our earlier conversation, you’re making it awkward for me too!

—That was what I wanted to say. I really wanted to say it! But I had a feeling things would take an irreversible turn if I did, so I restrained myself. Instead, I pretended not to notice and continued the conversation.

“Alice really knows an incredible amount. She knows about magic, she’s so knowledgeable about plants that I wouldn’t be surprised if she knew everything about them, and she’s well informed about the neighboring countries too.”

“…Magic? Can that girl use magic?”

“Apparently, her magic is currently sealed by the mark of her slave contract. But she still has the knowledge, so—”

I raised my right arm in front of my chest and began converting the mana I’d absorbed into my body into magical power.

Incidentally, mana was apparently an invisible substance floating throughout the atmosphere, and I suspected it was some kind of elementary particle. Since it was the source of magical power, I supposed calling it a magical particle, or mana, was appropriate.

I drew it into my body and converted it into magical power.

“There’s a pale blue light gathering around your arm. Is that magic?”

“No, I’ve only generated the magical power needed to use magic. Normally, you’d use this power to cast the spell you want, but… Alice says she can’t teach me that part while her own magic is sealed.”

Technically, there was a way to learn magic without the assistance of a mage, but apparently it was extremely difficult. I’d tried it myself without success and eventually given up.

“Was there… any point in learning that, then?”

“Of course. When I eventually learn magic, having a solid foundation will make a big difference, right? It’s the same reason you train your body before learning swordsmanship.”

“…Well, as long as you’re satisfied, little brother.”

“I’m more than satisfied. Honestly, I think Alice knows almost everything I’ve ever wanted to learn.”

“For you to praise her that highly, she must really be something. Perhaps she’s one of those legendary High Elves.”

“A High Elf?”

“They’re said to be a superior race of elves. They possess a blessing that allows knowledge to be transferred, so they inherit knowledge from their parents generation after generation. That’s why they’re incredibly knowledgeable.”

“Oh… In that case, it’s certainly possible that Alice is a High Elf.”

“…Just so you know, I was joking.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Of course. High Elves are a legendary race, with only a handful ever appearing throughout history. And if they really existed, their left and right eyes would supposedly be different colors.”

“I see.”

I’d thought it might explain Alice’s extraordinary knowledge. But both of her eyes were deep blue… Maybe I’d just been imagining things after all.

“—More importantly, little brother!”

Claire-nee suddenly leaned right up toward me.

“W-what?”

“I just realized something! Could you put on the same act you used to rescue Alice at my marriage meeting!?”

“…Of all the things you could ask. No way. Caroline-san would kill me.”

I imagined myself bursting into the marriage meeting shouting, “Hold it right there!” before announcing that Claire-nee was secretly involved with me. The mere thought made me want to cry.

Well, it would undoubtedly ruin the marriage arrangement. Along with my entire life.

“Hmm. I guess that won’t work after all… I thought it was such a good idea.”

“Don’t ask the impossible. Anyway, is the situation really that bad?”

“My prospective husband is a marquis. Mother is extremely enthusiastic about it too, so I don’t think I’ll be able to escape this time.”

“In that case, I guess I’ll have to obtain some commercial rights valuable enough to use as a bargaining chip.”

“…A bargaining chip? What are you plotting this time?”

“The reason we’re forced into political marriages is that they’re beneficial to House Granches, right? So I figure we could gain our freedom by offering something even more valuable in exchange.”

“…Wait, little brother. Are you trying to do something about my marriage?”

“I’ve been considering a few possibilities.”

“I see. You’re worried about me too, little brother. …I see.”

Claire-nee murmured with a hint of surprise, but she looked even happier than she did surprised. The way she pressed the fingertips of both hands together in front of her chest was rather adorable, but—

“Why are you so surprised? Of course I’m worried about you.”

“Hehe. I see, I see. Of course you are…”

“C-Claire-nee? Hellooo? Come back to reality.”

I called out to her cautiously, but there was no response. Crap, had I gotten her hopes up too much? If I let her expect too much, she’d only be disappointed if things didn’t work out.

“H-hey, Claire-nee. I have been working on a plan, but I’m still having trouble with it. So I’m glad you’re happy, but nothing’s certain yet, you know?”

“…A plan?”

Ah, she’d finally come back to reality.

“Yeah, a plan. I’ve been thinking about obtaining some kind of commercial rights, but without funding or distribution channels, starting something from scratch would take far too long.”

At first, I’d considered establishing a way to produce inexpensive sweets like pudding and selling them throughout the country… But frankly, given the current situation, I wouldn’t even need to make sweets. Simply establishing sugarcane plantations and mass-producing sugar should generate substantial profits.

The problem was securing the people and funds needed to make that happen.

“So you need someone to cooperate with you?”

“Exactly. Do you know anyone who might be interested?”

“Let’s see. Lord Gramp seems quite enthusiastic about business ventures, so I think he’d be interested if you approached him, little brother…”

It was a name I didn’t recognize, so I asked who he was. She told me he was the marquis she’d been introduced to as a prospective husband. Well, that defeated the whole purpose.

“If we end up owing someone like that a favor, we won’t be able to refuse the marriage.”

“I know, but… In that case, I can’t think of anyone else.”

“Yeah, I figured. The only people I know outside the family are the Sphiels… Wait a minute. What about approaching House Sphiel?”

“…What are you talking about? Wouldn’t that make it impossible for you to refuse your own engagement?”

“No, unlike your marriage arrangement, Sophia and I are the second son and second daughter, so I think we could negotiate something.”

Sophia’s older brother was supposed to inherit House Sphiel, and taken to the extreme, Sophia and I could probably even arrange some form of adoption instead.

“You think it’s possible… But what will you do if the negotiations fail?”

“Well, in that case… I think I’d be fine marrying Sophia.”

“Judging by your reaction, did you take a liking to Sophia-chan? You met her yesterday, didn’t you?”

“She’s a good girl, and she’s cute too. As far as political marriage partners go, I’d say she’s quite a catch. It’s just that she seems a little young to me, so I can’t help thinking of her as a little sister.”

“But if she’s like a little sister, that makes her a romantic interest, doesn’t it?”

Et tu, Brute?—Wait, Claire-nee had been saying things like that from the beginning.

Truthfully, I was feeling a little conflicted. In fact, on my way back from House Sphiel, I’d been thinking that marrying Sophia might not be such a bad idea.

But something Father had told me was bothering me.

Father had married someone he thought of as a little sister, only to discover that he couldn’t love her romantically. As a result, he’d fallen for another woman, leading to the situation we were in now.

In other words, I was worried that I might end up following the same path as Father.

If I were inheriting the title of count, I could probably make things work even if I followed Father’s example, depending on my partner. But in my case, I’d be marrying into House Sphiel, so I couldn’t exactly keep mistresses.

It wasn’t as though I particularly wanted a mistress or concubine. But the thought that I might never be able to see Sophia as anything other than a little sister bothered me.

“Little brother? Is something wrong?”

“Ah, sorry. I’m fine. Anyway, let’s consider that possibility for now. I’ll probably visit them again soon, so I’ll bring it up then.”

“…Sophia-chan of House Sphiel, huh? …Yes, when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound bad at all.”

She murmured to herself. Watching Claire-nee, I felt a sudden sense of foreboding. After all, she had exactly the same look she’d worn when she first came up with the idea of bringing Alice here as a slave.

“Claire-nee, what are you plotting this time?”

“How rude! I’m not plotting anything!”

That sounded incredibly suspicious… But oh well. Alice’s arrival had surprised me too, yet things had ultimately worked out for the best. Surely everything would be fine this time as well… Probably.