I didn't have a rebuttal ready, so I decided this was a good opportunity to reinforce my image as the pitiful younger brother oppressed by his older sibling.

It was a little disappointing that the only witness was the butler, since Hárðr had dismissed all the maids.

Still, considering the authority and influence that accompanied the butler's position, it wasn't a bad audience.

Just as I came to that conclusion, slumped my shoulders, and lowered my gaze—

"The familiar's ability is the owner's ability. Why are you separating the two in your thinking?"

Ragfrid silently set down her teacup and intervened.

Her rival was busily damaging his own reputation by bullying a younger brother seven years his junior.

Was she trying to protect the victim and cultivate a benevolent image for herself?

"What exactly are you doing?"

"I'm the one who should be asking that. Why are you so determined to crush the youngest child's spirit?"

"It seemed he'd lost his sense of self because of his memory loss, so I was merely trying to enlighten him as his older brother."

"From my perspective, you're the one lacking self-awareness, not the youngest child. As your older sister, I'll have to educate you personally."

Watching the situation unfold, it seemed only a matter of time before rumors spread throughout the Ducal Castle that the two of them were bitter rivals.

The succession struggle was likely about to enter its true phase as well.

Personally, it would be far more advantageous if the firstborn—who harbored no hostility toward the body I possessed—became the next Duke.

So in my heart, I was quietly cheering for Ragfrid.

"Karvaldr. Is that everything regarding your familiar?"

Hárðr asked, completely indifferent to the battle of nerves taking place between the succession candidates.

If I wanted to talk about Yor's greatness, competence, and cuteness, twenty-four hours wouldn't be enough.

Unfortunately, I had no desire to hold that conversation with Hárðr.

So I decided to mention only the things that might become a problem later if I omitted them.

"Yor was born with a special precious orb. It can ring like a bell, transform into a bracelet, and store objects inside it."

"I see. So that was it."

Hárðr's reaction wasn't surprise.

Nor was it suspicion.

It was simple acceptance.

In other words—

"It seems you've already received a report about the precious orb. Its functions, the unclear circumstances surrounding how it was obtained, and everything else."

"Yes."

"I see."

The Imperial Family and the Four Great Ducal Families considered familiars extremely important.

Hadn't Ragfrid immediately concealed the fact that she'd recognized Yor's sky blue eyes?

Hárðr had undoubtedly ordered an investigation into Yor as well, and during that process had learned about the orb.

That was precisely why I had brought it up first.

Since he was going to ask anyway, I preferred to address it preemptively.

"That precious orb is essentially part of my familiar's body. To begin with, nobody except Yor can use it. Therefore, please don't confiscate it under the pretext of conducting research or finding a more valuable use for it."

"...It is unusual that a familiar was born carrying an artifact, but that is all. It is not an object I covet."

As he spoke, Hárðr's brow furrowed.

Apparently he found it unpleasant that I had treated him like some greedy adult eager to steal a young familiar's toy.

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Then I'll be leaving first."

True to his nature, Hárðr immediately acted on his words and departed the dining hall together with his familiar.

I had been certain he would say something about Yor being born with sky blue ether.

The fact that he let it pass without comment was genuinely unexpected.

Was it because he considered weather manipulation too valuable to criticize?

Or had he judged that complaining about an innate ether color and attribute—which could never be changed—would simply be a waste of time?

Being an extreme efficiency fanatic occasionally had its advantages.

"Well then, I'll be going as well..."

There wasn't much reason to remain here.

And there was even less reason to chat with the body's siblings.

After confirming that Yor had finished her dessert, I quietly pushed back my chair.

Normally, scraping a chair across the floor while standing was considered improper etiquette—

"Drrrk!"

Valtraus committed exactly that offense as he abruptly sprang to his feet.

Whether he did it intentionally to express his displeasure or not, I couldn't tell.

"Valtraus. Sit back down. I have something to discuss with you."

"I have nothing I wish to discuss with you, Older Sister."

"Even so, you will sit. Did you not hear Father's earlier instructions? I am responsible for ensuring you stop saying foolish things, and you have an obligation to receive that education."

As I rose from my seat, the atmosphere between the two was so tense that I felt completely out of place.

I was admittedly curious about how Ragfrid intended to educate Valtraus.

However—

"Youngest child, you may leave."

If I insisted on staying after being told that, I'd only look like a weirdo.

More importantly, there was a very real possibility of getting caught in the crossfire.

So Yor and I departed.

Until the dining hall doors closed behind us, Valtraus continued glaring at his older sister with a face full of dissatisfaction, yet he never took a single step away from his seat.

For the first time, it truly struck me that Hárðr's word was law within this household.

By the way, how much longer are those two planning to stay in the castle?

I wish they'd hurry up and return to the capital.

Lost in those thoughts, I eventually reached the corridor leading to my room.

The reason my narration resumed in the hallway rather than inside the room was simple.

"Young Master...!"

Because the moment he saw me, Yohrn—who had been standing outside my door with tears practically welling in his eyes—called out anxiously.

Had he already heard about Valtraus verbally attacking his younger brother?

Or was there some other reason?

"Let's go inside first."

As soon as I entered the room, I sat at the table and gestured for Yohrn to take a seat as well.

The young attendant sat down immediately and opened his mouth. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I heard the Eldest Young Master said some terrible things to you. Are you all right?!"

"Has it already become a rumor?"

"It isn't a rumor. I'm your personal attendant, aren't I? One of the maids warned me that I should know."

"I see. So that's what happened."

Apparently one of the maids who had served dinner possessed an impressive amount of curiosity.

Or perhaps concern.

Maybe she had worried that the prickly youngest young master might vent his frustration on his attendant.

"So... are you really okay?"

"Thanks to the warning you gave me beforehand, more or less."

"Ah! That's a relief!"

"Yes. It really is fortunate. Rationally, I know it's absurd to claim that I killed my mother. But hearing my older brother say it with such sincere anger felt..."

I lowered my voice and smiled bitterly.

"You know. If I'd heard that without any preparation, I might have ended up blaming myself and wondering whether it truly was my fault."

"Nyaaaaang..."

Yor wrapped her long body around me and let out a pitiful cry.

Yohrn, completely unaware that we were acting, looked so distressed that he practically stamped his feet.

"Young Master..."

He hadn't called me that because he had something specific to say.

He simply didn't know what words could possibly comfort me.

So I remained silent and pretended to gather myself.

I slowly stroked Yor's back with a gloomy expression before casually steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Come to think of it, my older brother feels very different from Father and Older Sister."

"People who've served in the castle for a long time say that the young masters inherited the late Madam's personality."

"I thought so. Even I could tell that my older brother and I are far too different from Father."

"If only the Eldest Young Master didn't hate you... your personalities are similar enough that I think the two of you could have relied on one another."

I couldn't disagree.

The Duchess had been dead for eighteen years, yet Valtraus still couldn't let go.

In that sense, he seemed every bit as starved for affection as Karvaldr.

Could that tendency have come from the Duchess as well?

If so, she must have spent a terribly lonely life within this castle.

"I don't want to think about possibilities like that. It only makes me sad for no reason."

"Ah... that was thoughtless of me. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. You only said it because you felt regret, didn't you? So don't blame yourself."

After reassuring Yohrn, I asked a question that had been on my mind.

"Still, something puzzles me. Older Sister inherited Father's cold rationality. Yet there are still vassals who support my older brother as the successor?"

"The faction supporting the daughter of the Ducal House is larger, but there are also many who support the Eldest Young Master."

"Do you know why?"

"Some support him simply because he's a man. But most seem attracted to his humanity."

So those uncomfortable with Hárðr's emotional detachment had gathered around Valtraus.

Whether that discomfort was merely instinctive.

Or whether they hoped to leverage a sense of personal closeness for future gain.

I couldn't say.

The more you advertise your humanity as a strength, the more carefully you should control your emotions.

What a foolish mistake.

Instead of voicing that thought, I merely nodded.

"I see."

Nothing good would come from openly criticizing Valtraus.

"Um... but..."

Yohrn hesitated.

"Did His Grace the Duke say anything in particular?"

"About what?"

"About the familiar."

"No. I was certain he'd object, since Yor was born with an ether that doesn't belong to the family."

That alone was an enormous relief.

If Hárðr had shown even the slightest displeasure, Valtraus would have seized the opportunity to attack both Yor and me endlessly.

"That's really surprising!"

"It is. Internally, I was quite worried because Father seems uninterested in me but very interested in the familiar."

"Well, isn't that a good thing? Maybe we can just accept it and move on."

It wasn't so much that I could accept it.

It was more that I had no choice.

After all, I couldn't exactly march up to Hárðr and demand an explanation for why he hadn't commented on Yor's ether.

"Anyway, now that His Grace has effectively approved it, I can finally ask without worrying."

Yohrn's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"What exactly is Yor's Ether Attribute Ability?"

He had clearly wanted to ask for some time but had restrained himself out of concern for my feelings.

Now that he felt safe, the question finally came out.

I answered readily.

Afterward, I sent Yohrn away under the pretext that I needed to rest.

Unfortunately, not long after he left, another visitor arrived.

As a result, my rest would have to wait.