TSRTL 21⏳

Chapter 21

<Where are you going? You still have homework left!>

“Right now, studying can wait. My brother comes first!”

Tiya immediately bolted toward the mansion’s entrance. Among the crowd of gathered servants, a tall familiar figure stood out.

Pale platinum hair flowed softly down to his shoulders, and on his finely handsome face—accepting greetings from servants—rested a straight yet gentle smile.

Unlike Rev, who hadn’t grown much in the last four years, her brother—now fifteen—already looked like an adult.

And yet, Tiya recognized Rodion instantly.

On the day she had left the capital:

“Tiya, stay with Grandmother in the North, and I’ll come fetch you. Until then, live very, very happily, alright?”

Just as the boy had once chased after the carriage carrying his sister, now it was Tiya’s turn to run toward him.

“Brother!”

Rodion, startled, turned his head toward her. For a brief moment, the polished smile vanished from his face.

“Tiya?”

In its place, a raw and familiar joy spread across his features. He stretched out his arms, naturally, as if to catch her.

Like before, Tiya hurled herself toward him like an oversized puppy.

“I’ll give you a heart attack huuuuug—!”

Thud.

Instead of Rodion’s arms, Tiya collided with the ground. Stunned, she blinked up from where she lay sprawled.

Had she imagined it? Or—

“Did brother just dodge me? My heart attack hug?”

<Good grief, what an embarrassment. Get up quickly before people stare!>

Even at Winter’s scolding, Tiya couldn’t pick herself up right away. Instead, she looked up at Rodion with a face wounded by shock.

“Why…?”

Her trembling, tearful gaze made Rodion falter. He signaled quickly to a servant, and Mia rushed forward to help Tiya stand.

But her heart still felt unsteady.

“I’m sorry, Tiya. I just came back from outside, so I’m dirty. No, more importantly—why are you here? When did you come to the capital?”

Why was she here?

The question sounded almost troubled.

Tiya, feeling wronged and betrayed, pouted.

“I’ve been here for ages! I’ve been craning my neck out the window every day, waiting for brother to come, until it got this long.”

She rose on tiptoe and thrust her chin out proudly to show how much she’d grown.

But Rodion wasn’t listening.

“You’ve been here that long? Then why didn’t anyone tell me….”

His expression grew grave, and then he sighed, turning behind him.

At last, Tiya noticed the girl standing there.

She seemed hesitant under the weight of so much attention, but after a moment’s pause, she stepped forward. A hushed awe spread among the onlookers.

Even Tiya, forgetting her resentment, was entranced.

Curly golden hair, eyes of pale lilac—flawless and porcelain-doll-like in beauty.

Rodion introduced her belatedly.

“She’ll be staying at the mansion for a while as Rev’s playmate.”

The girl tried to step forward and greet everyone, but—

“Uh, I—I… ah!”

Her feet tangled, and she fell forward. Rodion reached out instinctively, but before he could catch her, a thick patch of plush flowers blossomed out of nowhere, cushioning her fall.

“Oh my.”

“Heavens, what is this?”

The servants gasped in wonder, but Tiya knew exactly what it meant.

A miracle as if spring had been summoned to that spot.

It was the mark of a Spirit of Spring.

“I—I’m sorry. I’m still clumsy at controlling spirits….”

It was the very dream Tiya had once yearned for.

Rodion offered his hand to the girl, helping her to stand. She clasped her hands together nervously, chirping like a lark.

“M-my name is Valentina Dantal. Please take care of me.”

“Everyone, as you saw, she is a spiritist who has subdued the Spirit of Flowers. She’s a precious guest, so treat her well.”

Tiya stared without blinking, a heaviness pressing into her chest like a bundle of cotton.

Even though she hadn’t fallen hard, her knees throbbed. Rubbing them absently, she muttered:

“He didn’t even help me up….”

Then Winter whispered, voice tinged with shock.

<Yes… Dantal. How could I forget?>

It was unlike him—his tone carried a faint horror.

Tiya froze, anxiety prickling.

“What is it? You know her?”

Of course he knew.

Or at least, he had thought he did. But perhaps all he had known was a hollow shell of information.

Winter revealed only the facts.

“The Dantal family… They later gain the trust of the current crown prince and, in place of the fallen Vladizev, rise to the rank of Archduke.”

Rodion found no rest after returning home.

As the manager of the mansion’s affairs, people came flocking to him, demanding final decisions on countless matters.

“Dismiss these two new servants.”

“Postpone the central hall renovations until spring. For now, make sure the servants’ quarters are repaired so they can stay warm through the winter.”

“Place that petition on my desk; I’ll present it to the Count myself.”

After clearing the backlog of urgent issues, it was evening by the time Rodion finally headed toward Count Valoz’s office.

He had heard his father was already back from the palace. Surely he must have known of his son’s return—yet he hadn’t shown his face.

Rodion wasn’t disappointed. He no longer expected anything, having been worn down by years of indifference.

Knocking, he entered the office and spoke without preamble:

“I have returned.”

Four months absent from home.

His father still regarded him with the same unchanged eyes—void of feeling, bottomless with futility.

Compared to this, the expression he wore while poring over bothersome paperwork was almost more human.

Rodion did not avert his gaze. He met it directly as he continued.

“I’ve filed for a leave of absence from the Academy next term. I won’t be leaving the estate.”

He had only been enrolled for half a year, and already he was taking a break. Any parent might have asked why.

But Schurka’s response was about something else entirely.

“So, you dragged in something unnecessary. A bastard child of the Dantal family, I hear.”

Rodion glanced briefly toward Anton, who stood there fidgeting nervously. He wasn’t angry at him—it was his duty, after all.

Still, a warning beforehand would have been nice.

Suppressing a sigh, Rodion forced a smile.

“She’s to be Rev’s playmate. He needs friends his own age.”

“I doubt he needs them.”

Rodion didn’t ask why. He already knew the answer wouldn’t be pleasant.

“The Emperor is currently investigating large-scale embezzlement among the southern nobles. The Dantal are one of the South’s leading houses. And you’ve brought one of their blood—even if illegitimate—into this home? Are you out of your mind?”

And of course, the one spearheading that investigation was none other than Count Schurka, Minister of Audit.