In the Eyes of Your Parents, You’re Always a Child

40

Knowing it was exactly what the other woman wanted, Celine, her patience finally wearing thin, gave in and spoke.

“Tell me, Christina. What exactly do you know?”

“Huh? About what?”

Christina tilted her head, feigning ignorance to the question’s intention, which only fueled Celine’s irritation as she continued.

“Spare me the clumsy act. You’ve been circling me since earlier, gazing meaningfully at the report I’m working on, and covering your mouth as if you’re sneering.”

From the start, it was strange that she’d come to observe me working when the Minister wasn’t even here, saying she was simply bored.

At first, Celine thought she was just restless, and said it was fine, but she soon realized that wasn’t the case.

Christina was gloating.

Acting like she knew something that Celine didn’t.

“It’s not like I wasn’t already wrestling with more than a few doubts about this case…”

Dark auctions, by their very nature, were a far cry from the ordinary, but the one held recently had been particularly strange.

Most bizarre of all was the appearance and subsequent disappearance of ‘Las,’ one of the seven stars left behind by the Moon Goddess, as the final auction item.

The auction participants called in for questioning, including the Dark Auction’s own organizers, unanimously testified that Las had gone berserk.

“Artifact rampages aren’t exactly commonplace, but they’re not unheard of either. The problem is *how* it was subdued.”

Even after the panicked organizers and bidders fled, the Minister and Christina had remained at the epicenter of the chaos.

The Minister claimed Las had self-destructed in its frenzy, but swallowing that whole felt like a gamble of sorts.

“Las’s rampage had the force to vaporize an entire building. And yet, Minister and you, *how* did you manage to stay unscathed?”

“Oh, you’re unhappy that the Minister came out alright?”

Without hesitation, Celine swung her hand. Christina didn’t dodge it.

Far from dodging, she even turned her head to cushion the blow, ensuring Celine’s hand wouldn’t hurt.

Immediately after, it was not the hitter, but the receiver that bowed.

“Sorry. That joke crossed a line. And I apologize for hindering the investigation.”

“…Fine, whatever. So? Does the Minister actually possess magical abilities or something?”

Christina shrugged, subtly averting her gaze from Celine’s curiosity-filled eyes—appeased by the sincere apology.

“The Minister didn’t do anything. Las really did rampage and then vanish.”

“You’re impossible…!”

“Calm down. I’m not teasing you. Besides, you could just ask the Dark Auction organizers we apprehended.”

Celine sighed at the clumsy attempt to change the subject.

“Those guys only handled the auction proceedings. The ones who collected the items and organized the auction probably didn’t even set foot in the Empire. Why ask when you already know?”

The information had been extracted through direct ‘interrogation’ by Intelligence operatives; there was no room for doubt.

“Is that so? Well, isn’t everything neatly wrapped up, then? We had a dark auction, an artifact went on a rampage during the auction, caused an accident, but self-destructed and it was over. Something like that should work, no?”

Silently studying Christina, who maintained her innocence to the end, Celine gave up on hearing the truth and returned to her seat, saying,

“Fine. Seeing as you’re refusing to open your mouth this much, I assume the Minister directly ordered you to remain silent. In that case, I won’t complain either.”

“…But you are curious, aren’t you?”

“I’m so curious, I could kill you to find out!”

Seeing Celine slumped over her desk, kicking her legs in the air, Christina burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

—

Francesca had asked me to attend Leo’s wedding with her, and after a moment’s consideration, I’d agreed. It wasn’t exactly a difficult request, and it was true that I owed her a favor.

The day of the wedding.

Following the solemn declaration, announcing to all that they were now husband and wife, the newlyweds exchanged rings and kissed. Alongside Francesca, and all the guests, I offered a fervent applause.

That little Leo, already a grown man, and now married… it’s truly something.

Live well, you rascal.

Seeing the ceremony conclude without incident, I rose to leave, to return, but Francesca snagged my sleeve.

Why?

“Oh? Ervin, where are you going?”

“The wedding is over, so I’m returning to the Intelligence Bureau.”

“What are you talking about? The reception is still to come.”

The reception, eh?

The wedding buffet wasn’t exactly to my taste.

Though I am hungry.

“Relax a bit on a day like this. Is the Empire going to crumble because Ervin takes a day off?”

Hardly.

Besides, if I return now, I’ll only end up killing time in the Minister’s office until quitting time anyway. Taking a day off, under the guise of the reception, isn’t the worst idea.

“Understood.”

Francesca took my hand and, together, we headed toward the reception venue, a hotel next to the park.

Leo and his bride had already arrived, changed clothes, and were greeting guests.

Impressive speed.

“Ah, Brother Ervin! Thank you so much for coming!”

Only after exchanging greetings, and being introduced to the bride, was I able to enter the hall where the reception was being held. I couldn’t hide my surprise.

The quality of the food is better than I expected?

But I couldn’t rush to the buffet immediately, as familiar faces approached to offer greetings to Francesca and me.

“Erm…Minister Barmut! I’m overjoyed you could attend!”

“Your words are appreciated, Marquis Munteanu. The Marchioness is as radiant as ever.”

“Oh, you.”

“Nonsense, don’t be so formal! You can still call me Uncle Munteanu like you used to!”

At my age? That’s a bit much.

Besides, you called me Minister a moment ago, so what are you even saying?

“Oh, and isn’t that Miss Chirner next to you! We are always receiving great help from your father!”

“Thank you. Though I suspect our Chirner family has not assisted you as much as you have assisted us, Marquis.”

“Haha! To hear such words from the Commander of the Third Order, I’m beside myself with joy!”

Uncle’s energy is something else. Must be the wedding making him so elated.

After that, a steady stream of people came to offer their greetings, leaving me unable to even approach the food.

Feels like even more people are striking up conversations with me today. Or is it just my imagination?

Whatever the reason, I just want to eat, please.

“Brother!”

“Big Brother!”

Just when I’d finally managed to escape the greetings and was about to head for the food, my siblings called me back. Again.

Oh, Karl actually brought a proper partner. Excellent.

But Angela’s come alone again, huh?

Not just because she’s my sister, but how could the men at the Magic Tower let such a kind and beautiful girl be single?

“Brother! If you haven’t eaten yet, let’s dine together!”

“That’s right, Big Brother! Father and Mother are also waiting!”

Are they?

Wait a moment, wouldn’t that make Francesca uncomfortable?

“Francesca…”

“I’m fine, so let’s go!”

I didn’t even get to ask yet.

And why is *your* energy suddenly so high?

I was puzzling over Francesca’s quick primping and smoothing when Angela came to my side and linked her arm with mine.

“Angela.”

“Yes?”

“Let go.”

“No!”

I tried to forcibly detach her, but only succeeded in being reminded that I’m no match for my little sister’s strength.

Damn it. My big brother authority is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It’s a breach of etiquette to be arm-in-arm with another woman while having a partner… but she’s my sister, so it should be alright, right?

With no other choice, I led Angela and Francesca, one on each arm, towards the table where our parents were waiting with beaming smiles.

What is it?

“Oh my, Lady Chirner! Don’t you look absolutely radiant today? It simply won’t do if a guest outshines the bride!”

Francesca waved her hands in flustered denial, especially at Mother’s words, which carried a distinctly unsettling air.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing like that…”

“Come, sit down over here. Erwin! Karl! You two, take a seat now! Angela! Get away from your brother this instant!”

At Mother’s sharp reprimand, my sister clicked her tongue and slunk away, while Karl and I quickly settled into our seats.

Never mind that I am an intelligence minister, university professor, heir apparent to the dukedom, and head of the Magic Tower’s First Magical Development Division; to Mother, the three of us are still just children, it seems.

While Mother was deep in conversation with Francesca and Karl’s partners, I was about to go fetch some food when Father called me over.

“Erwin. I have something to say.”

Unlike just moments ago, his face was serious.

Will I even get to eat dinner tonight?

“What is it, Father?”

“Don’t play coy. About that matter.”

That matter?

What matter could he be referring to?

Having no clue whatsoever, I wanted to ask him what he meant, but Father didn’t give me a chance to respond.

“I’m not about to meddle in your affairs, you know that. But this father of yours has his own position to consider. Therefore, I expect you to be certain, too.”

My position is that I’m hungry, and what I want to be certain about is the identity of the food that’s been tickling my nose since earlier.

However, it didn’t seem like that’s what he was asking about, so I decided to seriously consider it.

Hmm.

There are three keywords in total.

That matter, position, certain.

I see.

I have absolutely no idea.

Maybe it’s because I’m hungry, but my brain, which wasn’t exactly top-notch to begin with, has completely shut down.

“Silence implies that my assumption is correct, then.”

I was about to ask what assumption he was making, but again, Father nodded to himself as he pleased without letting me get a word in, and then got up from his seat.

“My dear, I’ll be excusing myself for a moment.”

“Yes, yes. Anyway, as I was saying, Miss Chirner is…”

Ignoring Mother’s perfunctory response, Father turned and disappeared somewhere.

Is he going to the restroom, perhaps?

In any case, finally free, I was belatedly able to start eating.

—

A room set slightly apart from the hall where the banquet unfolded.

As the door opened, the nobles, their faces etched with anxiety, straightened from their seats as one.

“Your Grace!”

“What news? What was the Minister’s reply…?”

Though besieged by their fervent gazes, Duke Barmut did not answer immediately.

Instead, he settled into his chair at the room’s center, his fingers pressed to his forehead, lost in thought.

Sensing the ill-omened air, the nobles exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to do.

Finally, Duke Barmut spoke.

“Erwin, or rather, Minister Barmut, is not one of our aristocratic faction. We merely presumed him to be of like mind, perhaps he never was from the start.”

“Does that mean…!”

“Do not misunderstand. It does not mean he is of the anti-aristocratic party either.”

To the Duke’s query, Erwin had offered only silence.

Which implied he belonged to neither side.

“He permitted our aristocratic faction to believe as we wished, to act as a deterrent against rash action on our part, but, as you all know, that restraint has recently been broken.”

The Minister had not only approached members of the anti-aristocratic party but also daughters belonging to those of the aristocratic faction, extracting information.

And then, he orchestrated matters so these relationships would become known to us.

The meaning of this is clear, I trust.

“Minister Barmut warns, by unsheathing his blade himself, that there is one among us plotting something dangerous.”