CBOM 51

chapter 51

The pleasant mood from the previous day carried over into the next morning, allowing Grace to wake up with a fresher, lighter expression than usual.

“You really slept well today!”

Esi said, smiling brightly at her.

“Yeah. I really did.”

Normally, she would wake up in the early dawn and just lie around, counting sheep to pass the time, but today she had truly slept deeply.

Because she woke up at the same time as Esi.

She had never thought she could sleep this well—it was a new discovery.

After changing into her work clothes, she headed toward Riveanu’s bedroom, but already, noises were coming from the garden early in the morning.

Curious, she peeked outside and saw that Riveanu and Ahin had already woken up and were training.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet?”

Grace hurried toward them, worried.

Balanced meals are so important for growing teenagers!

“Heh. I’ll go to Leto, so you go to Master Riveanu.”

“Uh, okay. Thanks for your hard work today.”

“Yeah, you too, Grace. Fighting!”

After exchanging greetings with Esi, they naturally parted ways.

Since Sophien had disappeared, most of Grace’s attention went toward Riveanu, so Esi took care of Leto’s morning routine.

Grace grabbed her meal from the kitchen, along with a towel and water, and quickly headed to the garden.

“Master! Eat breakfast before training!”

At Grace’s call, Riveanu immediately stopped his training—like a playful dog—and ran over with a bright smile.

As he approached, Grace naturally wiped his sweat with the towel she had brought and handed him water to hydrate.

“You must be tired. Why did you wake up so early? You startled me.”

Gulping down the water, Riveanu shook his head.

“Morning exercise makes me feel refreshed.”

“That’s good to hear. Will you continue morning training like this?”

“I won’t do it if Grace tells me not to.”

“No, it’s not like that. I just wanted to take care of you.”

“Ah. Then I want to do it…”

“Go ahead. Do whatever you want.”

“Thanks.”

After cooling down and catching his breath, Riveanu sat at the table and began eating the meal Grace had prepared.

Standing awkwardly nearby like an idle sack of barley, Ahin asked,

“What about mine?”

“Go eat in the dining hall.”

“…Wow, there are limits to favoritism. I’m so disappointed.”

“…I’m sorry to disappoint you, but go eat in the dining hall.”

Grace was firm.

Ahin wasn’t someone she needed to take care of. Even if she did, he was someone who could be handled with money, so there was no benefit.

Riveanu felt good about Grace’s unexpectedly firm approach, despite claiming to know him.

Eating the breakfast Grace prepared by himself, he ignored Ahin’s gaze entirely.

“You’re really unfair. I even train you diligently, and you just ignore me? What if I go on strike?”

“I’ll bring yours tomorrow, okay? Today, I came early, so there’s no choice. Also, you didn’t tell me about the morning training in advance.”

“…What am I supposed to do with Master coming at dawn?”

Ahin pouted slightly.

“I didn’t know. I’ll make sure to bring yours tomorrow.”

For now, Grace knew that Ahin needed something, so she accommodated him.

After all, if he did go on strike, Riveanu would be the one in trouble.

“Fine. I’ll let it slide today.”

Simple or adaptable, Ahin accepted it without fuss.

“So, how’s our Master? Doing well?”

“He’s doing great. He’s motivated, and his illness is improving quickly. I think he’s truly an Infinitio Danio. There’s really nothing I need to teach him—teach him one thing, and he absorbs ten more.”

“How much will his skin recover…?”

“Hmm. I can’t say for certain. He developed it around age seven, so it’s been about eight years now. Maybe it’ll fully recover, maybe not.”

But there was hope that it could be much better than when he learned swordsmanship as an adult. Just the fact that the odor disappeared quickly was a good sign.

“Grace, I’m done.”

“Wow. You finished it all. Great job.”

“Yeah.”

Grace, who had been distracted by her conversation with Ahin, immediately turned her attention to Riveanu.

When she offered the empty dish, Riveanu smiled broadly as if he had been waiting for her praise, laughing softly.

To Ahin, it seemed as if he was like a dog craving compliments.

“Honestly, you two get along really well.”

At first, it looked like Riveanu liked her one-sidedly, but over time, it became clear that Grace also paid close attention to him.

“Of course.”

Grace said proudly, as if it were obvious.

“Hmm…?”

Ahin was curious at how happy she seemed.

“Why?”

“…Nothing.”

Seeing Grace so pleased, Ahin wondered if he had said something significant, but simply assumed she was happy about the compliment on their relationship.

After finishing breakfast and washing up, Esi and Leto came to find Riveanu.

After Sophien’s death, Leto had been acting indifferent, but the lingering effects of Sophien’s presence were still apparent.

“Master, you’re here.”

“Yeah.”

“What will you be doing today?”

“…I’ll take a walk, read, and have meals together…”

Since he had never done anything alone, he didn’t know how to spend his time without someone guiding him.

“Anything else?”

“Um…”

“Don’t you want to do something?”

These were things he had done daily even when Sophien was alive.

Leto couldn’t answer beyond that.

He seemed to have added walking to his routine since he enjoyed it, but even then, he always waited for Esi’s permission before doing anything.

“I don’t know.”

“Then think about it and tell me.”

“Alright.”

While having a brief conversation with Grace, Leto glanced back.

Grace smiled faintly and stepped aside, allowing Leto to approach Riveanu.

“Hello.”

“Hi.”

“Yes. I saw you training this morning.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You were amazing.”

Leto’s cheeks turned red as he spoke.

He had previously watched Riveanu train in swordsmanship for quite some time and clearly found him impressive.

“Do you want to learn too?”

Riveanu asked casually.

Leto jumped like he’d been burned by fire, trembling in surprise.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“…I don’t think I can do that.”

“Do what?”

“Something as cool as what you do…”

“…Ah.”

Riveanu didn’t overreact like before.

But he wasn’t completely unbothered.

Embarrassed, he scratched his cheek slightly and averted his gaze.

“…Thanks for saying that. Don’t you want to try?”

Riveanu felt a bit sorry for Leto.

He himself hadn’t had a particularly happy childhood, so he could understand how Leto felt.

Although the new half-sibling relationship was still awkward, it was more comfortable than with the previous duke who had been his “real family.”

It didn’t mean he suddenly became kinder or softer, though.

“Take your time to think about it.”

Encouraging Leto, who couldn’t answer immediately, he replied slowly:

“I… want to, but…”

“Then let’s do it. Come out later.”

“What? But not right now…”

Leto froze at the immediate answer.

“Why?”

“…Once I start, I feel I must do well, but I don’t think I can.”

“Who says you have to do well?”

“Sophien…”

“Sophien isn’t here now.”

“…That may be, but what if I’m terrible?”

“It’s fine to be terrible. Everyone has different strengths, and you’ll probably have your own talent.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you think I’m good at…?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll find out for yourself. Why ask me?”

All the things he had studied or memorized were related to Sophien, so Riveanu hadn’t praised him for those.

He believed Leto must have something else he was good at, even if it wasn’t swordsmanship.

“Ah.”

“Do you really think you have nothing?”

“…Yes.”

Leto answered, lacking confidence.

“Then you don’t have to learn, but do you want to at least watch?”

“Can I?”

“…Well, if you’re okay just watching.”

“Yes. I want to watch.”

Leto nodded, looking slightly brighter.

Riveanu also nodded, thinking it was good that Leto wanted to do something, even if only to observe.

“You already have something you want to try.”

Esi, watching with satisfaction, said.

“…Yeah.”

Leto responded shyly.

“By the way, Riveanu, Leto.”

At that moment, Grace softly called out to them.