Side Story: Title “The Person I Admire”
Warning: Contain spoilers of final chapter of WN.
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School of the Horfalt Kingdom.
Colin Fou Bartfalt, who had just entered the school, was in a very delicate position.
He is the younger brother of his older brother, who was called the Fiend Knight, and is now the king of the new dynasty.
However, only Leon’s children can succeed to the throne; Colin does not have the right of succession.
Although he was the king’s brother, he was only the third son of his family, the “Viscounts” Bartfalt.
” ―― The world is wrong”
The boy was pure and innocent, and as he grew into a young man ―― he became lethargic.
The three turbulent years in which Leon was active have passed, and the kingdom is now in a period of change, with reconstruction and new systems beginning to take root.
Ange is leading the transition to a new national structure.
Having spent time as a child watching such times from afar, Colin is unnerved, but not because he wanted to be active in such turbulent times.
Frankly, he thought he could not do what his brothers did.
He can’t be like Leon, and even Nix ―― his eldest brother, is now supporting his family and assisting his father.
He survived a major war and should inherit the position of head of the family in person.
He got a wife from Count Roseblade, and by the time Nix inherits the title, he will be a “Count”.
Leon said so.
In front of Nix, who is having a hard time with Dorothea, his sister-in-law, Leon said, “It’s not cool that my family is a Viscount, so when my brother becomes the head of the family, I’ll promote you to the title of Count!” He said with a laugh.
Reminds him of the most devilish look he had ever seen on Nix’s face.
However, from the outside, Nix is also a winner.
Besides, although he was plain, his work performance was also appreciated.
The eldest brother changed from a Baron to a Count.
The second brother became king.
Thanks to his talented older brothers, Colin felt inferior.
However, that is not the only reason that made Colin lethargic.
As he sat on a bench at the school, hanging down, Finley, now in her third year, approached him.
It’s quite rough.
“That rotten former crown prince ―― I’ll be○at him!”
She made some pretty disturbing statements, but Colin was not interested.
“Nee-san, you’re in rough shape today too.”
Finley noticed Colin and yelled at him when he saw his lethargic face.
“Isn’t that just normal and makes me mad! Because of him, my engagement was canceled! Even though I was going to be a Count’s daughter-in-law thanks to Aniki’s legend~~~!”
Colin thought Finley’s high-pitched voice was annoying.
Honestly, he wasn’t even interested in his sister’s marriage.
He feels like “I see” that the engagement talks have been broken off.
“You should look for a man of your worth. For nee-san, a Baron or a Viscount is okay.”
Finley is annoyed at the lethargic Colin.
“Haah!? Tell that to yourself. How long are you going to stick with someone who is disproportionate to you?”
Colin’s shoulders slumped.
“T-That’s”
The cause of Colin’s lethargy ―― that is.
“Ah, there he is. O~i! Are you two fine~”
A woman who is not a student at the academy approaches them, waving her hand.
Seeing the person, Colin stood up and straightened his back.
His eyes, like those of a dead fish, regain their light.
“Noel-nee!”
Her hair, which had been in twin-tails, was now down and long.
Noel talks to his escort and then approaches Colin and the others.
Colin’s heart beat faster.
The person he admires ―― is still beautiful today.
Finley treats a person like that in a bad way.
“What do alumni do here?”
Noel laughed.
“That’s mean. This is just a job. Today I’m inspecting the school. I thought I’d check on the two of you while I’m at it.”
Colin thinks as he looks at Noel’s smiling face.
(Noel-nee looks beautiful today too)
She didn’t look like the mother of one child.
Yes, Noel is the woman that Colin has always longed for ―― a married woman.
Moreover, her partner is his own brother ―― Leon.
It was Leon who shattered his childhood love feelings.
What’s sad is that Leon has always been kind to Colin and cannot be hated.
If he is a nasty guy, he would complain and think about stealing her, but――.
“Yeah, Colin looks great in his uniform. It’s strange that that little Colin is already taller than me.”
――Noel seemed very happy.
“Y-Yeah”
The person he admired who approached him smelled good.
Then Finley notices.
“Are? Your belly’s a little big.”
Noel was embarrassed.
“Ehehe, it’s the second one.”
Hearing that, Colin shouted inside his mind.
(Damn iiiiit!!)
What’s sad is that he can’t resent Leon.
Despite all that has been said, Leon is still basically family-friendly.
When he was a little boy, he was very much loved by him.
So he can’t resent him.
Noel remembered something.
“That’s right. Leon has a request for Colin.”
“A request from aniki?”
Colin, who does not know what his busy brother ―― no, it is Ange who is busy, receives Leon’s letter wondering what he wants.
What was written there was――.
Colin! I’ve decided to make you Count for your future! ――You’ll help your brother out, won’t you?
――Simply put, that’s what it was written.
The area under the direct control of the Kingdom of Horfalt has become larger with fewer nobles due to wars and other things.
Some of the nobles did not find that amusing, so Leon came up with a way for the kingdom to essentially manage the place with his own people involved.
In other words, they are like a magistrate ―― or rather, a governor.
The position is lighter than that of an ordinary count, but it’s that brother of his ―― no doubt it will be used to his advantage.
“Noel-nee ―― T-This is a bit”
He tried to refuse, but Noel was happy.
“It’s great that that Colin is going to be a Count, isn’t it? I bet you will be popular from now on.”
Colin feels like crying.
(I’m not happy even if other people like me!)
But when he saw the happy look on Noel’s face, he couldn’t refuse ―― so Colin agreed.
“I’ll think positively when I graduate.”
Hearing that, Noel hugs Colin’s arm.
“Thank you, Colin!”
That made him sad and strangely happy ―― and when he looked complicated, Finley muttered.
“Men are really stupid”
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