864 – Crassius Assemble – 5

I waited for my younger siblings, wandering around the banquet hall.

He inspected the decorations with his wife and double-checked with Elin that there were enough souvenirs.

Actually, if you look back now, you won’t see anything you missed or anything you need to improve. How perfectly the wife and daughters-in-law prepared the banquet. How Elin and I squeezed out our lacking memories to make it fit our younger siblings’ tastes.

I just felt like I had to move like this to relieve my tension. I wanted to see my younger siblings with at least a little bit of a clear mind.

“father.”

After wandering around like that for a while, Carl’s voice was heard from the entrance.

“Uncle August and Aunt Christine are here.”

News that one of the long-awaited younger brothers has arrived. News that August, the one who initiated this gathering, has arrived.

At those words, I took a deep breath and turned my body. In the direction where I heard Karl’s voice. In the direction where August and his sister-in-law were.

‘ah.’

I almost sighed as soon as August came into view.

August, my younger brother. He was the second of seven children, and was always teased by my father whenever I showed my bad side.

Since the eldest son, August, was qualified to be the next successor if I, the eldest son, did not please my father, he was the one who had to suffer if this older brother failed to fulfill his role as the older brother.

I feel sorry for all my brothers, but if I had to pick the most painful finger, it would be August. He suffered pain that he wouldn’t have had to go through if I had been a better brother.

“Long─”

“Then I will go back.”

The moment he was about to open his mouth, the sword that had brought August and his sister-in-law retreated in an instant.

For a brief moment, I felt resentful of the sword. I barely mustered up the courage to greet him first, but I failed because of my son, of all people.

But the resentment quickly subsided. I knew why Karl was so desperate. No matter how much he was, he was acting like that because of an unavoidable ordeal that a father could not avoid. As Karl’s father, I should understand.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

And if the greeting was interrupted for a moment, just resume it. Fortunately, it was surprisingly easy to regain the courage I had once shown.

“…Yes, brother. I’ve been doing fine.”

“I see. Oh, I’m glad that your sister-in-law is healthy too.”

He turned his attention, which had been focused only on August, to his sister-in-law who was next to him.

This banquet is not just for my younger siblings, but also for my husband and wife. My sister-in-law is a guest I invited, and a person I am grateful to for caring for my younger sibling’s wounds. I should treat her with due respect and kindness.

“Please speak comfortably, Grandfather. I feel embarrassed to be addressed formally by you.”

It’s just embarrassing when the person who should be respected asks to be spoken to informally.

Of course, I am older than my sister-in-law, and my husband’s older brother, so it is common to speak informally to her. But didn’t my sister-in-law give August more comfort than me, who is incompetent? Wouldn’t it be better for August to have one sister-in-law than to have a hundred of me?

How can I speak to such a person? Even if I cannot be the eldest son who is respectful to my younger siblings, I must be respectful to my sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

“I’ll try to make it easier for you to speak before the banquet is over.”

However, I couldn’t refuse my sister-in-law’s request right in front of her. I tried to pass it off as vaguely as possible. I think my sister-in-law would be convinced by this.

“Before the banquet ends. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

As expected, my sister-in-law also had no intention of complaining about this topic, so she nodded in agreement.

“Elin. Where is your brother-in-law and why are you alone?”

“He said he just left the mansion, so he’ll be back soon.”

Meanwhile, August greeted his wife and then spoke to Elin with a look of bewilderment.

Elin was alone in the banquet hall, even though she, her wife, August, and her sister-in-law were all present. It must have been a strange sight for August, who had just arrived at the mansion.

“No, why didn’t you come with me from the beginning?”

“I came early yesterday. My husband said he would come earlier than anyone else today because he was conscious of coming first. I never thought my second brother would come first.”

“I see.”

August, who had a complicated expression on his face, eventually nodded as if he understood.

The youngest brother-in-law is our family, but unfortunately he is being investigated by the same family. Although he inherited the earldom, it was not a title inherited for positive reasons. Therefore, even though he received a legitimate invitation, the youngest brother-in-law cannot help but be cautious.

Even the most courageous person would not be comfortable looking at the person who once held his lifeline and the fate of his family in his hands. He would want to see them as little as possible until his startled heart calmed down.

“I think it’s a needless worry. Looking at my nephew, he doesn’t seem like the kind of person to give a hint that something is already over.”

At those words, everyone in the banquet hall turned their attention to August.

“I just saw your nephew for the first time today, but have you figured him out already?”

His sister-in-law smiled brightly and tapped August on the shoulder.

This is probably the question that all of us here are wondering. August is seeing the sword for the first time, and the reputation of the sword that has spread throughout the world is somewhat mixed with a sinister reputation. It cannot be helped, as it is the fate of the Minister of the Inspectorate and a war hero.

Yet, within an hour of meeting Karl, Augustus was discussing his character. And he was giving a mild evaluation that was different from the world’s perception.

“What can you call understanding? He is a father who pulls a cart by hand for his children. Even the most oblivious person can tell that he has a gentle personality. Even if he is cold-hearted, it means that he is warm to his own family.”

After saying that, August turned his gaze to me again.

“older brother.”

“Speak.”

“I guess you’ve been a good father.”

It was a short statement, but it was more beautiful than any other words.

Because I think I know why August said that.

The mansion of the Ashilon family, once known as the greatest marquis of the empire, who dared to insult His Majesty and the imperial family.

Although the original owners of this mansion were cursed, they were truly powerful. As such, the mansion built by Ashlon in the system was grand and splendid even compared to the mansion of our Krasius family.

Thanks to this, the banquet hall was also superior to the banquet halls of even the most noble families. Perhaps only the banquet halls of the imperial palace or duke’s castle could be said to be superior to this place.

There were only 14 people gathered in such a splendid place. My siblings, my companions, and I, just 14 people.

‘I should have told you to come in from the beginning.’

Except for the servants who were there to maintain the banquet, there was only us. It was so empty and quiet that I regretted it for a moment.

If I had known this would happen, I would have asked the daughters-in-law to fill the position. At first, I would have told them to say what they wanted to say among themselves as siblings, and then when they became close, I would have grabbed the daughters-in-law who were holding back and told them to introduce themselves.

But it’s too late to regret it now. Besides, don’t you know full well why your daughters-in-law made that decision?

‘This is a problem we have to overcome.’

If you call someone else because you feel awkward, you will forever have to rely on others for help. Family members, who should be closer than anyone else, will only feel safe if they have the mediation of others.

That’s terrible. Of course, considering the past when we didn’t even see each other’s faces, that’s a huge step forward. But I didn’t set up this place to be satisfied with that.

So, just like when I greeted August, this time I was trying to muster up my courage as the eldest.

“Big brother.”

“Why, why are you doing that?”

I stuttered when I heard the call from Josefina, the eldest of our siblings.

The courage I had finally raised my head with suddenly lowered it, and embarrassment and shame began to eat away at my heart.

As the eldest, I should show a strong appearance. In front of you, I am always the immature and lacking eldest. Even when my father was alive, and even after we separated about 20 years ago.

“This gift. Did your older brother prepare it?”

“Ellen and I prepared it. After all, women know best what to give to other women.”

Still, it’s fortunate that I still have the presence of mind to instinctively answer Josephine’s questions.

The box that Josephine held in her arms throughout the banquet. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that these were gifts that Elin and I had prepared alone.

“When my older brother was looking somewhere else earlier, I secretly checked the contents. It was an egg tart that was somehow light.”

“Because when you were little, the snack you often ate was egg tarts. If I’m mistaken…”

“No, that’s right. The egg tarts we eat during tea time were like the joy of the day.”

I let out a sigh of relief at Josephine’s faint smile.

As expected, the right result came out when the two put their heads together. Both Elin and I were worried that our memories might have been corrupted, but the collective intelligence prevented the worst from happening.

“Actually, it’s not a very good memory. It’s true that I liked egg tarts, but whenever I looked at them, I felt like I had gone back to that time. Maybe that’s why I rarely ate egg tarts since I became a monk.”

‘ah.’

His hair turned white.

That’s right. That’s right. Because of the trauma, my younger siblings never came to the Taiglehen County. With such a severe shock, it’s only natural that the things they enjoyed as children would be affected.

This idiot. He didn’t think of such an obvious thing. He was so focused on preparing a gift that he made this mistake.

“But it’s strange. It’s definitely the same egg tart as before, it’s an egg tart that hasn’t changed at all… but now it feels different.”

Josephine opened the box, took out an egg tart, and took a bite.

“Nothing has changed, you know. The past never changes, it’s strange.”

“Josephina.”

“Shall we all open the boxes? You don’t plan on making me the only fool who opens presents in front of my master, do you?”

“Oh, right. I have to open it.”

“I was just wondering what was inside.”

At Josephine’s words, the other siblings also began to open the boxes.

Then, cognac, salami, gin, cheesecake, and cheese cookies appear.

Lastly, the whiskey that his wife quietly handed him.

“Looking at it this way, it seems like there is no unity.”

“Well, I didn’t know it then, but everyone has a strong personality. When my father was around, we were just controlled.”

I blankly stared at the presents as I listened to my siblings’ words.

“Big brother. Since there’s some food here, why don’t we all share it? It’s a gift, so we don’t care how you use it.”

“that.”

“I’m even calling my niece and niece-in-law who are outside.”

“Yes, sir. I was really surprised when I first saw you in the garden. I was so out of it at the time that I passed out, but I’m feeling better now, so I’d like to talk to you.”

I looked at my younger siblings who gave courage to their clumsy eldest sibling.