MLNLMSM - Chapter 5

MLNLMSM - Chapter 5

The Male Lead's Nephew Like Me So Much

Irian Lafrance.

This sweet-natured young lady with warm brown eyes and brown hair grew up in a less-than-friendly environment.

'She was ignored a lot by her peers.'

Because the family was poor.

Still, the Viscount Lafrance and his wife described in the story were decent people. They have a good sense of reality and have reduced the number of employees on a large scale.

Just one thing. Except that he couldn't give up his mansion in the capital.

'It wasn't because of a desire to show off.'

In an aristocratic society where arranged marriages were prevalent, the Viscount and his wife had a rare love marriage.

It was a mansion filled with their memories. It is said that he thought about selling his mansion and moving to a smaller house, but eventually gave up in tears. Let's live while saving more money on the salary of the Viscount, an official in the imperial castle.

"But the cost of maintaining the mansion is so enormous."

Viscount Lafrance was a family that slowly fell, as is the case with aristocratic families that were headed by heads of households without large estates or commercial acumen.

Because of this, the capital mansion was large. No matter how much they saved, there was nothing they could do because a lot of money was being wasted on the maintenance of the mansion.

Right before or right after the start of the original work, the Irian situation will be quite bad.

The reason Irian accepted the contract engagement with the Grand Duke was also because of the money exchanged between them.

According to the original work, there was a high possibility that the current Irian would not receive the transaction money at that time, which she would receive in about a month.

'I am the problem...'

It's my fault, so I should take care of it.

So the conclusion I came to was this. Let's support Irian's talent!

Irian may consider it pity and reject financial support for no reason, but sponsorship is a different matter.

So, I thought I should approach Irian as soon as possible, but I didn't expect it to be this way.

"..."

Originally, I was planning to donate anonymously.

'There are rumors going around that Irian Lafrance is painting.'

Although it was only minor gossip due to Irian's limited background, it was definitely a story that existed.

This is because it is a repertoire that Irian mainly listens to when she is ridiculed by her peers.

'I heard a rumor by chance and became interested, so I looked for the painting and liked it. I was planning to announce my intention to sponsor anonymously.'

Although it took a little more time, the reason for choosing anonymity was simple.

If I approach Irian first, who will be involved with the male protagonist Calix, I'm sure I'll still be called a douche!

...Yes.

I am the only one who knows that the future is known by being reincarnated in a book I read, so to others, that claim would be the same as saying a Princess is a prophet, but my reputation is so low that even that sounds plausible... 

'How did I live?'

I became solemn for a moment.

'But Irian was ignored more than I thought.'

I think it was more because she was a Young Lady with no back.

So even if she has a sponsor, if it's anonymous, this won't change much.

'She didn't have to suffer the humiliation just now.'

Although it will only be a month since the down payment was received, Irian was originally scheduled to be living comfortably at least physically in the Grand Duke's residence.

Since it has been ignored multiple times, there is no way it wouldn't matter if it were added one more time.

If it's hard for me to ruin the original work, it must be hard for me. What on earth is Irian's fault?

"Hey, Lady? Don't you go to the bank?"

"...... Yes."

I trudged on with a feeling of repentance

Even when I arrived, Irian was still sitting down.

She must have been gathering something, whether it was a painting or her thoughts.

I felt like a clueless extra, but it was even weirder if I waited and spoke.

Irian seemed to have noticed the long shadow and raised her head.

"That looks like great work. Did you draw it?"

..... This really couldn't be helped!

There is a Duke's knight behind me, and he would be shocked if I were to teach someone else.

Then, of course, he will report it to the Duke, and upon hearing the report, the Duke will be shocked and come to see me.

The reason I can guess that series of situations so easily is because I have already experienced it.

My head was already pounding. I didn't want to see the duke's tearful eyes again.

"Yes."

At that time, Irian, who responded briefly, moved her hands again as if trying to straighten the picture.

I squatted down next to her. 

"Miss!"

I thought I heard a shocked voice from behind, but I ignored it.

"Hmm, can I take a closer look?"

Irian rolled his eyes once and nodded.

I looked closely.

The Duke, who still has a lot of money. Thanks to this, I learned a sense of aesthetics from a young age, and my knowledge of beauty was ingrained in me.

Although it looked rough, it actually made the painting style more attractive.

"You drew it well."

I wasn't saying this to impress the female lead, I meant it.

"You must be a painter."

"..."

"Are you planning on selling this painting to me?"

Irian looked at me with wary eyes. Well, it might look strange if you say this on the street.

I took a quick look around.

"There's a coffee house over there. How about having a longer conversation?"

"No, you don't have to."

"Why?"

"Isn't it a pity?"

At that moment, I had a strange thought. Was this why Sasha's loveliness was needed?

Since it was a character created by an author, I thought that the relationship between order and succession was strange.

Irian would not have accepted the Grand Duke's offer of a contract engagement if she had not had Sasha following her. She was very alert like a cat with her fur pulled up.

'I think about Sasha and miss him. How is he doing?'

What would you do if you held a ball at the Grand Duke's house? I can't go there.

'If I go there will be chaos. Not being able to enter is unusual and may just ruin the atmosphere.'

It was a little disappointing, but visiting the Grand Duke was truly crazy.

I had no intention of ruining Sasha's first introduction to the nobles.

I tilted my head.

"It's not a pity."

"In this situation, seeing me for such a short period of time and saying those words, how can you think it's not sympathy?"

The first plan, in which an anonymous benefactor who was impressed by Irian's work and wanted to sponsor it through my recommendation, was likely to fail.

I had a feeling that Irian, whose eyes were full of wariness like now, would refuse.

"I can not help it. Charlize Rienta, have you heard of it? I guess you've heard of it. That's me."

Irian pursed her lips. From the looks of it, she had heard not only the name but also rumors.

I quickly agreed. It's amazing to hear just one set.

"Who do you think I will help with my sympathy?"

"..."

Irian was silent.

It was a question I was hoping for an answer to, but when silence returned. I, somehow solemn, remained silent.

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"Okay, so do you want to go to the coffee house now?"

Irian held the picture tightly and pursed her lips.

Then, after a while, she nodded very slightly.

***

The window was tightly shut, not allowing even the slightest breeze in.

The dark brown wooden rocking horse placed nearby was high enough for its small owner to easily climb on it alone.

If you take about 10 steps at an adult's pace, there is a bed.

Unlike the splendor of the mansion, it was cozyly decorated, so it seemed like he could get a good night's sleep in no time. 

The child was lying on a soft bed, with the bedding covered up to his neck, leaving only his small face exposed.

His thin, hollow cheeks glowed white, but he was still far from the plumpness of a child his age.

On the other hand, the man sitting on the chair near the bed had a noble appearance, as if he had never been a nobleman. The posture of his legs crossed and his chin resting on him just felt relaxed.

The child's voice spoke urgently. 

"I'm really fine."

Sasha shook her head fervently.

"You don't have to read me a storybook....."

"Well, that's.... "

"Isn't that okay too? Then what about staying with you until you sleep?"

A sad look appeared on his handsome face. Sasha hastily shook his head.

"I like it! Just......."

Sasha glanced at Calix's gaze and pursed his lips.

"I'm afraid uncle might be tired......."

"I'm not tired."

"Yes, thank you."

Sasha answered softly and closed his eyes. Then he slowly opened one of his eyes.

The side of Calix's face, glancing at the window, was bathed in moonlight, giving off a strange atmosphere.

Pretty........

The face, with an appropriate distribution of graceful curves and straight lines, was more beautiful than any man Sasha had ever seen.

Then, his blue eyes fell on a face that suddenly came to mind.

[ You have to get along well, happily. Ate a lot of delicious food. Understand?]

'Yes, Master Charlize.'

Sasha answered in his mind to the vivid sound of the words.

[ Sasha. It's your name. ]

The first time he learned his name, he really liked it.

A name that overlaps one letter with Charize. He liked it so much that for a moment he stamped his foot without realizing it.

'How are you?'

Sasha wants to see her.

There was a lot he wanted to say.

There is a room on either side of the bedroom full of toys for him. He saw a portrait of his parents. Everyone in this mansion must be kind to him.

When he said that, Charlize tilted her head and said. 

"That's good." 

She seemed to laugh lightly.

She might have reached out his hand slowly and gently touched his head, so as not to startle him.

Sasha carefully recalled the friendly smile that Charlize showed him in the garden the day before they parted ways, just once a day, before going to bed.

Sasha laughed silently and closed his eyes again. Time was already deep, and his young body was quickly submerged in water.

Hearing the sound of heavy breathing, Calix lowered his gaze and looked at his young nephew.

[ He eats well and smiles a lot, but he looks depressed somewhere.] 

This was what Livan reported with a more gloomy expression.

"I eat well, laugh well, and sleep well."

Calix stared at Sasha.

"You're crying again."

A teardrop ran down the temple from the corner of the closed eye. As he wiped it with his fingertips, the child touched his lips.

Calix slowly lowered his upper body. The child mumbled again. The pronunciation was a little clearer than before.

"Master Charlize..."

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