Chapter 30
“Would you like to come visit our Brante County during this August summer vacation?”
“Sure.”
“Brante County is up on a plateau, so the weather is nice and cool. Our family runs an orchard—have you ever tasted fruit picked fresh and fully ripe right off the tree? It’s incredible. The wine is excellent, and the coffee has a unique character! We even hold a grand tasting festival every summer… Wait, did you just say yes?”
While enthusiastically listing all the reasons to tempt Darius, I realized something had slipped past me and asked again. Darius laughed out loud.
“Yes. I’d love to.”
“…!”
What? That wasn’t my imagination, right?
“R-Really? You’ll really come?”
“Yes. Simon already suggested it before. I said yes then, too.”
Is this a dream or reality?
So my so-called “registry mate” can actually be helpful sometimes.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I stopped on the landing and covered my mouth.
“Are you sure it’s okay? I’m sure you’ve received invitations from many prestigious families…!”
“They don’t have Simon and Miss Riez there. The people you go with matter most.”
Darius answered without a hint of hesitation.
“Ah, I can just go upstairs and ask Mother. She’ll most likely approve.”
As he strode ahead confidently, it almost felt like a halo shone around him. In a daze, I followed him to the duchess’s room, and after a brief consideration, she gave her consent.
Even Kyle, whom I expected to refuse immediately—or at least hesitate—ended up agreeing without much fuss. Though he did twitch his lips slightly, as if displeased that Darius was going too.
A summer vacation with my favorite character? This is insane.
It felt like getting accepted into a dream university I’d applied to on a wild whim, convinced I’d never make it.
I pinched my cheek hard to make sure this wasn’t some fantasy born of wishful thinking. A sharp sting followed.
“Ow, ow… Hehe.”
As I held my cheek and grinned foolishly, Kyle frowned at me.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Hehehe. I’m just so happy!”
When I burst into a wide grin I couldn’t contain, he let out an incredulous laugh. If Kyle hadn’t been coming, my happiness would’ve been at 90%. Now it was a full 100%.
“Let’s have tons of fun there! Boating, stargazing, fishing! Let’s do everything you can only do in the countryside!”
“Yeah… sure.”
His tone was indifferent, but the faint redness of his ears proved he was looking forward to it too.
We agreed to finalize the detailed schedule later through letters and left the Duchy of Diern. My steps were light and almost danced with excitement.
Is it really okay to indulge like this?
The Diern family would only be staying in our territory for about a week, but it would probably be the best week of both my past and present lives.
And for Darius and Kyle, too.
I want to give them the best vacation ever!
And so, the morning of our departure to Brante County arrived.
Under the blazing sunlight, five carriages bearing the Brante family crest rolled toward our homeland.
It was an eight-hour ride, but I didn’t feel the slightest bit tired. In just two weeks, I’d be on vacation with Darius and Kyle!
As I gazed at the clear blue sky outside the window, I couldn’t help humming. After chatting beside me for half a day, Father finally passed out, leaning his head against the opposite wall and snoring loudly.
Across from me, my brother was reading a book and muttering as he memorized something. I quietly slid over next to him so as not to wake Father.
“Don’t you feel carsick? What are you reading so intently?”
“I can’t waste travel time.”
Now that I looked closely, his face seemed pale and worn, as if he were exhausted.
“Vacation just started. Can’t you take it easy? Do you really have to work that hard to stay top of the class?”
Being first in the entire academy must be brutal, I thought. His reply came, tinged with frustration.
“…I didn’t get it this time.”
“Huh? You didn’t? Then who ranked first?”
Surely not.
“…Darius.”
…!!
I almost gasped in delight right in front of the now-second-place student. I quickly covered my mouth, but my brother shot me a look.
“Are you that happy? Your dear brother lost.”
“Oh, come on. How’d you know?”
“The corners of your mouth were about to pierce the ceiling.”
“Darius is really smart, huh? And he’s good at swordsmanship too?”
“When a genius starts putting in effort, how are you supposed to compete?”
He slumped back against the seat, grumbling. Hearing praise for Darius always made me feel proud, as if I were the one being complimented.
“That jerk was lazy and unfocused until midterms. Then he went back to his family estate and came back completely changed. Maybe his father chewed him out. Once he fixed his only flaw, he turned into a monster.”
Ah. So it was because of the duke’s discipline… I don’t love that.
Darius must’ve had a hard time. I’ll make sure he gets plenty of rest this vacation.
Naturally, the only ones visiting our territory were Darius, Kyle, and the duchess. The Duke of Selfius, who remained in the northern Diern lands, was the kind of person who had nothing to do with vacations.
“By the way, why did you invite Darius to our county? He’s your rival.”
If he lost first place, wouldn’t he hold a grudge? Is he more magnanimous than I thought?
“Hmph. Only amateurs burn with jealousy and antagonize someone superior. I’d rather get closer to him, learn what I can, and take what’s useful.”
Ah. So it’s just opportunism.
A bard deeply devoted to art and fine cuisine, and a principled man driven by ambition and hunger for power.
It’s amazing that Darius and my brother, with such opposite personalities, get along at all. Or maybe that’s exactly why they do.
Either way, I’m thrilled to have Darius within arm’s reach.
“I like that shameless mindset. Keep it up for life.”
I gave him a playful thumbs-up. He suddenly looked at me seriously.
“So. What about you?”
“What about me?”
He glanced at Father, still fast asleep across from us, and lowered his voice.
“Be honest. Are you after Darius, or his younger brother?”
Not this again! I’m so sick of it!
An exasperated sigh escaped me. I’d better make things crystal clear this time.
“If by ‘after’ you mean romantically, then neither. I’ve said that about three hundred times already.”
“You’re the one who should admit it. If it’s Darius, I’m willing to help. Not the younger one, though.”
“Listen carefully, you blockheaded idiot. I like Darius as a person, and Kyle is a pure friend. I don’t have even a speck of feelings beyond that for either of them.”
I clenched my fists and raised my brows for emphasis.
It was the honest truth. I absolutely did not want to get tangled up with either of them that way.
Darius’s destined partner is Adele, the heroine! My life goal is to watch their heart-wrenching, true love from the sidelines!
As for Kyle, he’s someone who needs guidance—and he’s truly my precious friend.
Judging by my brother’s snort, though, he clearly wasn’t taking me seriously.
“You really are terrible at being honest, you pathetic little sister. I’m offering to set you up.”
“Maybe your brain’s rotten if you think every interaction between a man and woman has to be romantic.”
“Hah? This brat’s gotten awfully mouthy.”
When he grabbed my cheek and pulled, I kicked him in the shin.
“Argh!”
“That hurts!”
The commotion woke Father, and our repetitive argument came to an end there.
After Father scolded us for fighting in the cramped carriage, we passed a few more winding hills, and the sign marking Brante territory slid past the window.
A cool, pleasant breeze—rare for summer—brushed against my nose. Soon, the beautiful landscape I had glimpsed several times in Riez’s memories spread out before my eyes.
Brante Territory, carrying the scent of the Swiss Alps, was perfect for a summer retreat with its unseasonably cool weather.
The count’s castle, ten times larger than our residence in the capital of Peln, wasn’t flashy or extravagant, but it felt serene and peaceful.
Before the Diern family arrived, I immersed myself fully in rest, savoring the green meadows and lake views.
In my past life, I had been too busy racing through life to properly travel even once. Now, as if making up for it, I spent my days eating, playing, and roaming every corner of the territory.
To serve as a proper guide when the Diern family arrived, I researched sightseeing spots and made plans.
I definitely have to take them to Lake Lagria and the fir forest—both famous for their breathtaking scenery.
Just as I was starting to grow accustomed to this fairy-tale landscape—and perhaps even a little bored—I woke up late as usual, finished lunch, and received good news from the elderly butler of the count’s castle.
“The guests from the Duchy of Diern have entered the territory.”
