[Leont]

Morning of the day El got lost, dining hall.

The morning sun that s.h.i.+nes through several windows left open illuminates the room where yesterday’s disastrous scene was completely hidden.

…it was really harsh to the eyes.

With dark circles under my eyes, the obviously haggard me breathed out a small sigh as I recalled the night before while setting the food on the table.

I wonder since when was it? Before I noticed it, everytime Lucsher-sama needs something, she calls for me instead of her own son Matthias. It’s not that the West Vern House’s parent and child relations.h.i.+ps are particularly bad. Lucsher-sama is strangely close with my mother, that it seems as if both Matthias and I have two mothers together.

When I was a child, I heard it once. While I was being put on clothes like a dress-up doll, she said ‘Why is it not you?’ Then she hid her mouth behind her folding fan and while laughing, she told me this.

“I mean, Leont. Aren’t you more interesting than Matthias?”

Is that it? Isn’t it because Matthias is just a cold child that I got dragged into it as a result?

I can’t forgive it! d.a.m.n Matt…!

It wasn’t only that. Simply because I was always together with him, so many misfortunes happened to me, I grasp the knife in my hand unconsciously as I remembered that.

During that time, Lucsher-sama who finished eating her meal, placed down the spoon quietly and spoke about Little El.

“About El-chan, I think it’s better for him to learn various etiquette, so I asked for a teacher.”

Etiquette… teacher… it somehow awfully sounds familiar.

But, Matthias reacted to those words faster.

“Etiquette, you say…!?”

Even if I can’t see his face, I know by his voice that he was panicking.

“Yes? Since Shuri taught you, too, I thought it would be better that way. Besides, I already asked her. I’m sorry. From today…”

Lucher-sama laughed delightfully, thinking there was nothing was wrong with this situation.

“First of all I promised him I’m going to be his teacher today for his studies.”

My mother’s lesson on the first day is harsh.

When El-boy was asked for his consent, as if he was bewildered for being addressed so suddenly, he faced towards me and nodded his head. Because I didn’t say anything about studying today, it’s natural that he’ll be surprised.

“Is that so? It can’t be help, he’ll just take the lessons tomorrow.”

It seems she hadn’t even considered it at all.

Once she decided on something, it can’t be overturned anymore. The only thing I can do now is give support.

After all, Matthias should make sure that no one knows about it.

─── That the object of his first love is actually that person.

“Alright? Mother, El-boy just arrived here yesterday that’s why, just finish it the morning.”

“Of course, I know. Why are you checking so much since a little while ago? Mother is hurt~”

“Because…”

“Mother is so hurt~”

“Aa, sorry, sorry.”

It’s no use. I sat down next to Matthias who was already siting since ealiier.

“Is it alright?”

Immediately, Matthias leaned forward on the table and asked in a low voice so Mother can’t hear it.

“Do you think it’s alright?”

On the contrary, I asked to his direction.

“I don’t think so.”

That might be so. If I thought about it, this man infront of me doesn’t seem like the usual Matthias von West Vern.

Mother’s lesson started. This is the place from the other day that now became one of El-boy’s rooms. We’re looking over the situation from a corner in the room so as not to get in the way.

“Which reminds me…”

I began to talk to Matthias as I took my eyes off Mother and El-boy.

“What is it?”

“When I entered El-boy’s room I thought, was that there before?”

I noticed this a while ago but most furniture were charred. I came here after Father requested me to check it, so everything should be normal.

But Matthias had the expression that he doesn’t know what I was talking about.

“Even though it’s from practicing magic?”

“Aa. I was surprised for a moment. My bad.”

“I don’t really mind…”

The new furniture will be paid by the West Vern family. I just order them. Especially since it’s for El-boy, should I replace them with short furniture? I feel like that guy is not growing taller. Even now, he’s still small.

At any rate, it’s unusual that Matthias doesn’t have a control over his magic. Whether you’re good or bad at magic, it depends on how you can manipulate them perfectly. Naturally, if it’s this guy, it’s impossible that he can’t do it. What in the world could have happened? Well, it’s impossible to imagine that.

Speaking of which. Mother, it’s lunch time, y’know?

“Oi, Leont!”

It’s Matthias’ voice. What is it? This troublesome person…

“Leont!”

Shut up.

“Leont! It’s Edna!”

“What’s wrong!?”

When I answered his words that can’t be allowed to pa.s.s, Matthias looked at me with an astonished expression.

“You were sleeping!”

If I remember correctly, after talking to Matthias, I lost my consciousness a while later.

The sun had already set when I looked at the window. As I feared. Before my eyes, El-boy is being taught table manners.

“El-sama is doing his best, so do your best to!”

“Wa~a.”

The reason that we’re here though is that there’s nothing to do in particular. That’s it. My mother is very gentle. That’s usually the same in lessons, too. But there’s one weakpoint.

She forgets the time. Even though we’ve decided until only a certain time, she doesn’t bring the lesson to an end. Moreover, the lessons unexpectedly uses up stamina. Matthias and I took them together. I got through it painfully with the thought that it’s not just me. But this time, El-boy is alone. It’s too painful… That’s why we’re giving moral support.

Rather, now that I think about it, I shouldn’t need those manners. Surely, it was so I can keep Matthias company.

Speaking of lessons, I quarrelled with Matthias several times in the old days which to choose if we have to, either my mother’s lessons or Lucsher-sama’s fitting room…

“I suddenly remembered.”

For some reason, Matthias begun to talk with a serious look.

“Why, you… why did you make the knives, forks and spoons this morning completely extinct?”

What was that? This time it was my turn to ponder on it.

Morning? I see! This morning!

“It’s all your fault!”

He began to remember the grudge he was starting to forget, and raised his voice.

As a result, Mother glared at us. Really, she ignores her own faults that she already extended for how many hours.

You noticed my voice, but do you not notice that your student is already half-dead in front of you?

El-boy, you’re not bad. Next time, you absolutely need to exert yourself in your study hours.

Alright! We have plenty of time. Today, the man with the cool-looking face sitting next to me seems to say that as he complained to his heart’s content.