The One Not Chosen

“Uwaaaa…!”

With Sieg’s birthday party two weeks away, Jonah visited the town tailor to have his outfit made.

The shop was filled with countless garments, and Jonah couldn’t help but let out a cry of admiration as his eyes were drawn to them.

For him, both coming to a tailor and having clothes custom-made for a party were first-time experiences.

That must mean this upcoming birthday party for Sieg was an especially important occasion for Duke Langheim.

After all, he often used such parties for business dealings.

“Lord Jonatan, welcome.”

“T-today, please take good care of me!”

The one who greeted him with a respectful bow was the owner of the shop, Lady Katarina Effenberg.

She was the exclusive designer for the Langheim family and had been granted the rank of baroness by the previous duke for her achievements.

“Now then, please come this way for measurements.”

Led deeper into the shop, the employees measured Jonah’s body.

Until now, Jonah’s clothes had simply been ready-made garments bought to match his height and altered by the mansion’s servants.

This time, Lady Effenberg herself would take his measurements and create a suit just for him.

At that fact, Jonah felt no small amount of emotion and excitement.

“The color of your attire has been specified by His Excellency Langheim as this one.”

“Y-yes!”

What Lady Effenberg showed him was a fabric of the deepest black.

‘Maybe… he chose it to match my hair and eyes?’

The moment that thought occurred to Jonah, his chest grew warm.

The fact that the father he believed had no interest in him had shown him this kind of consideration.

“Now, regarding the design…”

Lady Effenberg carefully explained while showing him a catalog, and Jonah nodded happily.

Before he knew it, the sun setting outside the window told him it was already evening despite having arrived just past noon.

“It will be ready in about a week, so I will deliver it to the mansion myself.”

“Yes! Thank you very much!”

Jonah bowed with a beaming smile, boarded the carriage, and returned to the mansion while being seen off by Lady Effenberg.

“U-um! Is Father in his study?”

The moment he returned, Jonah asked the butler Paul.

He wanted to convey to Duke Langheim both the joy of having clothes made for the first time and his gratitude for the thoughtfulness.

“Yes, but he is working at the moment. If you have business, perhaps at dinner…”

“It’ll only take a moment!”

“Ah, L-Lord Jonatan!?”

Jonah dashed off toward the study.

He paid no heed to Paul trying to stop him.

“Ehehe!”

So happy, he was so happy—Jonah’s face broke into a smile.

His movements were clumsy and not fast at all, yet Jonah ran with everything his control could manage.

“Father! Excus-”

Just as he was about to knock, voices came from the other side of the door and Jonah pulled his hand back.

It seemed Duke Langheim and Herta were talking.

“My dear… it’s finally in two weeks…”

“Indeed. Members of the royal family will attend this birthday party. It is the perfect occasion for an official announcement.”

“Oh my!”

Herta let out a delighted cry.

Duke Langheim’s voice also sounded somehow cheerful.

But the next moment—

“I will formally appoint Sieg as the next head of the Langheim house.”

Words from Duke Langheim that plunged Jonah into despair.

…No. Deep down, Jonah had already understood that this would happen.

Today was simply the day he learned it for certain.

And he also understood why his outfit had been specified as black.

In short, it was so he would fade into the background behind the star of the show, Sieg—an inconspicuous color. It had never been out of his father’s consideration.

“From now on he must study even harder than before. That boy tends to neglect academics because he’s too focused on swordsmanship and riding.”

“I’m sure once Sieg becomes the next head, he’ll be even more motivated! I will support him fully, of course!”

“Yes, I’m counting on you.”

The two spoke fondly of Sieg’s future.

However… Jonah was not part of that conversation.

“…!”

Jonah fled from the front of the study as if running for his life.

Aimlessly, simply letting his raging heart guide him.

The place he arrived at was the room with his late mother’s portrait.

“Mother… Mother…!”

Jonah collapsed to his knees and buried his face in the floor, sobbing.

In a moment like this, would his mother Marta comfort him if she were here? Or would she, like Duke Langheim and Herta, celebrate the appointment of the next head without Jonah?

Either way, Jonah would never know.

How much time had passed?

Moonlight streamed through the window of the room where his mother’s portrait hung.

“…Today was my clinic day, wasn’t it?”

Muttering that, Jonah slowly stood up.

With unsteady steps he left the room, returned to his own, took the bag containing the money for Günter’s consultation and medicine, and teleported to the imperial capital.