The Count Family's Young Master
Chapter 7 - Love (1)

Valias spent until noon in the reading room. Interspersed some of the rest sessions that Alister forced on him.

Valias didn't feel as weak as yesterday, but he knew Alister wouldn't allow him to resist either.

Alister left Valias briefly alone in the reading room continuing his affairs before returning with a plate and cutlery.

"Have your lunch, young master."

Valias immediately delayed peeking at the books and sat down at the table that Danial used yesterday. As he reached for the fork Valias decided to speak.

"Have you eaten?"

"I was flattered the young master asked me. But I've eaten, young master."

Alister showed a fake smile.

Valias nodded and began to feed the food into his mouth. Vegetables with sauces that Valias doesn't know what they're called.

"I hope I can get young master Valias to talk without making you think that I am presumptuous, young master."

Valias turned his head and looked at the fake smile.

Look at this old man.

"Hm." Valias doesn't care anymore.

"I was quite surprised by the change of young master Valias. It's not usually that young master is willing to eat the food Alister has prepared."

Valias began to be curious about the old servant's words.

Maybe that was the reason Valias' body was so weak?

Valias doesn't eat much.

But then where did he eat all this time if he refused the food that Alister had provided?

One cannot live without eating at all. That is not logically possible.

"..What do you think I've been eating all this time?"

"Young master always ate what was in the garden belonging to the young master. Like animals."

Alister did not say the last.

Just be right.

While Valias cursed the real Valias. He did not know what to eat in the park because Valias had not observed much at that time. But one can guess that all the real Valias ate were fruits.

I was quite surprised I was still able to eat that meat after this hull got used to eating fruits without any other food.

Valias should be grateful he did not suffer from stomach pains with how badly the original Valias treated his own body. Especially stomach.

But I heard vegetarians also only eat fruit?

Valias began to think that it was natural.

"Great master Count Hadden and Lady Ruri had already worried a lot about the condition of the young master Valias' body. I wish I could serve you more nutritious meals."

Alister smiling. Of course a fake smile. Valias begins to think that Alister has only two kinds of expressions. A fake smile, and a flat face.

"Hm." Valias will just say whatever Alister says.

Valias considered something and finally spoke.

"Do you know how I lived before I started living here?"

"The great master told me when I appointed you to be the personal servant of young master Valias Bardev."

Oh.

Valias used the opportunity to seek further information.

"How did you tell me about my life?"

Valias did not hear any answer for a few seconds.

Valias slows down his eating to use the chance longer.

"The great master said that young master Valias lived alone with his ailing biological mother before the great master finally picked you up and brought you here."

"You know what makes me behave like I did before?"

"Perhaps after hearing the reason the great master left you and your mother?"

Valias feels funny.

"Don't you know too much as a waiter?"

Valias felt Alister's smile widen.

"I think it's normal as young master Valias Bardev's personal servant."

Valias thought Alister's answer was enough to justify his guesses and felt no need to dig any deeper.

It might be good to not know too many things.

Valias feels he still has to make a limit in digging up someone's life. After all it was the life of the real Valias. He's not Valias. He doesn't have to live in the entanglement of Valias' original past.

"Can you tell me about my family's daily activities?"

"This Alister is grateful that young master Valias has opened his heart to the Bardev family I serve."

Alister did not stop observing his young master. Valias Bardev sat up straight devouring his food little by little. His striking red hair among the families and even the people as well as the noble families in the other regions swayed along with the movements of his body.

How my young master ended up finding out more about his family would be an interesting show for me.

Alister looked at Valias who did not respond to his teasing and finally began to answer the question of the red-haired quiet young master.

"Great master Hadden spent most of his time in the study working on territorial documents. Lady Ruri attended many meetings of the wives of the nobles of the region. Young master's sister, young master Danial and young lady Dina have a tutor schedule every day."

"Dina's interested in learning to fight, you know?"

Alister watched his young master again. Quite surprised by his knowledge.

Maybe this rat has also been observing his family?

Alister felt his young master was adorable.

"I don't know, young master."

Oh.

Valias thinks maybe Dina is still hiding this.

"There is no need to tell father and mother. Let Dina tell him herself."

"Sure, young master. This alister's gonna lock his mouth tight."

Valias wanted to grimace with the selection of the servant's words. Thinking that he had nothing else to find out, Valias finished his meal and gulped down the water Alister had provided. He will continue his activities.

When Valias got up, the door opened.

"Sister."

Dina walked quickly towards Valias.

"Dina? Is your study schedule over?"

Valias looked at Dina's face which displayed a surprised but also pleased expression.

"Do you know what my activities are?"

Valias smiles. "certain."

Valias looked at Dina who seemed to have her pleasure increased.

"A-I! I also want to know my sister's activities!"

"My activities?" Dina nodded quickly.

Activity huh?

Valias feels funny because actually he is now someone who does not have any activities.

Maybe I can try to help Hadden with the paperwork?

Alister said the man spent the day in the study. That means there's a lot he takes care of, right? Maybe Valias can help him?

"I don't have any activities."

Dina recalled that Valias also never let anyone into her room. The only ones who ever set foot in the room were his brother's personal servant, Alister, and a healer who later received a pen from his brother drenched in blood from his nose.

Dina saw all that. And so are the people who are there.

The room was full of paper. Dim room. And Valias was in the middle of the room, surrounded by red-stained papers and some open books.

Dina cried with her mother watching the commotion. Dina heard, a servant who passed through Valias' room smelled blood and reported it to his father. And when the door opened, that terrible sight was all that was seen.

For Dina the incident was the most terrible event she had ever seen. A person drenched in blood in a dark room, and threw things at the person who tried to approach him. Then the father's cry and the stiff expression of her brother, Danial, Dina felt that she would not be able to forget that time.

Dina observed her brother from below. Now the blood-soaked figure inside the dark room was no more. There was only a red-haired man with a thin body and a pale face who put a smile on him.

The figure that always ignored him was also nonexistent. Valias responded yesterday to all his words. And now Dina is very happy.

Valias did not take his eyes off Dina.

What did Valias write?

Valias can't read it at all. And he hasn't had a chance to check it again.

"That's a secret." Valias answered. Feeling funny at the same time because he felt that he was also knocked out of the secret.

"Oh.."

Dina felt her shoulders drop. Even now she could not know what her brother had written back then. What is the content of the scattered papers. And what makes her brother so focused on writing that he ignores the blood that stains his face and the clothes and papers around him. But she knew her brother must have had a reason to hide it. And Dina will respect her brother's will.

Just as her brother did not oppose his desire to make a wooden sword that should not be owned by a noble girl like him.

Even she was supposed to wear a dress like the other girls. But he's not comfortable with that. And his mother's father confirmed his wish. It's just that he has not dared to convey his desire to learn swordsmanship.

"Then, can you tell me what you're doing?"

"You want to accompany me?"

Dina did not expect the offer would come from her brother but she would naturally not refuse.

"Come on."

"Yes!"

Dina followed Valias in the direction of one of the shelves. Dina glanced at Alister who was smiling at her as she tidied up her brother's dishes and cutlery and thought the maid would be out in a moment.

I'll be with my sister again.

Dina was not aware her face was flushed.

"What did your tutor teach you?"

"Mallory teacher taught and told me many things. Teacher taught me what to do as a father's son. He said as the son of the lord of the territory I should be a good girl."

"Hm. Your teacher is right."

"Guru is good as father and mother. She didn't defy me when I told her I didn't want to wear a dress like any other noble girl."

"Have you ever met them?"

"Yes. Sometimes my mom takes me to meetings. There I met some girls my age. There's a Danial age and a big brother too."

Dina did not know how to express how happy she was right now. She wanted her brother to continue talking to her like he was doing right now.

Brother's voice is very soft. I feel calm hearing it.

Dina had never heard her brother's voice before dinner and the unforgettable events of that time. But at that time her brother's voice rang out a heart-slicing.

So this is the real voice of my brother.

Hearing Valias' voice now, Dina felt that her brother's voice back then was not too bad either.

"You met them?"

"T.. No. gabe. My mother told me to meet them. But I'm too nervous."

Dina recalled how her teacher had advised her that it was not a proper thing for a noble girl to do. Stiffly Dina looked up wanting to see her brother's face still with a small smile picking up a book, read it for a while, then returned it again.

"Is brother angry?"

Hm?

Valias lowered his head to look at Dina's face that was fixed on her. His expression looks nervous. It was like when they were in the park yesterday.

"Why should I be angry? Nervousness is natural. I'm sure Dina can gain courage sooner or later. If Dina is afraid, Dina can ask your mother, your teacher, or me to give you tips."

Valias returned his gaze to the book in front of him.

"...Really true?"

"Yes. You're smart and strong-spirited."

Valias recalled how Dina forced herself to talk to him even though she looked nervous. Then with the information he had heard, Valias could guess that Dina had trouble approaching Valias before.

But he kept trying.

"You didn't give up on approaching me. Now you've made it, haven't you?"

Valias was certainly not aware of what effect his words had on the girl standing up to him.

So, brother changed because of me?

Dina can't believe this.

My efforts all this time, finally making big brother change and talk to me in his soft voice like this?

That's what Dina thought.

A sense of happiness and a sensation of pride surrounded his heart and body. Dina felt her body so light that she felt that it could float.

I want to hug my sister.

Dina wanted to be the first to touch her brother.

Dina does not remember that she was preceded by others.

"Sister!"

"Yes, Dina."

"Let me hug my sister."

Valias turned his face to Dina again.

Why is it with him all of a sudden.

Valias realizes that the real Valias has never acted as an older sister to Dina.

As I possess this body, let's satisfy this child's will.

Valias lowered his body until one knee touched the floor, then spread out his hands. One small body sprinkled towards him and a pair of small but strong hands coiled around his neck.

"I've always wanted to do this."

Dina hugged her whole family. Danial had also hugged her. But Valias hasn't. Dina felt her wish was achieved. She permeated her brother's body sensations and scent.

Skinny sister. Dina could feel Valias' bones. Dina has never touched someone's bones like that. Even her late grandmother was not as good as her brother.

I'll make you eat a lot.

Dina set that on herself secretly.

Brother also scented.

Actually the whole family has a distinctive fragrance of each. His father smelled paper and ink and trees. Her mother smelled Lavender flowers. Danial scented apple. While the fragrance of her brother who she was hugging at this time was the fragrance of roses. He loved the smell of his whole family. Including Valias.

"Yes, Dina." Valias answered Dina's words that were right near her ear. They continued to be in that position without anyone making a sound.

Dina was so tightly hugging him and Valias used her one hand to pat Dina's back slowly.

His father always did that when he hugged Valias before he died. Valias follows his father's behavior as a clue to the person who hugs him. This time he could move his hands easily because Dina's body was smaller than him.

"Thank you brother! I'll go first!"

Dina let go of her embrace and ran away from Valias just like that. Realizing that Dina was not the one who could get lost in this mansion, Valias let Dina go alone.

"I just saw a heartwarming sight, young master."

Alister, emerging from behind a shelf put on a smile. Valias shrugged and grabbed the book again.