Episode 5 - My Brother Came Home
It was the morning of the fifth day since Martha had arrived at the mansion. As Lucy entered the bedroom, her footsteps were a little faster than usual. Martha knew that she was there just by hearing those footsteps.
“Princess.”
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Young Master Edward has arrived."
Martha looked back from the window.
"When?"
"A carriage just arrived. It seemed to have some luggage as well."
Martha thought for a moment. Edward Valois. Serena's older brother, twenty-four, currently working in administration at the Imperial Palace, and staying in the palace quarters; he rarely came home. Martha had already figured out from the documents why he rarely came home. It was because of Serena.
Every time his younger sister caused trouble, Edward had to clean up the mess, and as this repeated, the relationship between the two completely soured. In the end, Edward chose the palace quarters over home. Martha briefly wondered how difficult it must have been for his family to choose a workplace residence over their own, but then shook her head. That wasn't what mattered right now. Edward had arrived. She had to face him. And Martha had already decided what to do this time.
"I guess I'll have to go down."
Lucy opened her eyes wide.
"Now? As soon as the young master arrived?"
"Then should we go down after he comes and goes? It'll just get more awkward if we wait."
Lucy glanced at Martha for a moment, then quickly tidied her hair. Edward was in the entrance hall. He was instructing the coachman to handle the luggage when he froze upon seeing Martha coming down the stairs. Martha looked at Edward, too. Twenty-four. He was tall. His hair was golden like Serena's, but shorter and neatly styled. His eye color was similar, too. He was a young man with well-proportioned features. However, his face was now completely frozen.
Martha had come all the way down the stairs. Silence fell between the two. Edward was the first to speak.
“...Serena.”
His voice was cautious. Martha understood what it meant to be cautious when calling his younger sister's name. He was being cautious because he didn't know how the reaction would be. There could be an explosion, coldness, or perhaps something else thrust at him; he called out the name while guarding against all those possibilities. Martha looked at Edward. And she spoke.
"Oh my, your handsome face is exactly the same!"
Ah... crazy.
"You had a hard time getting here. Did you have a meal?"
Edward froze. He said nothing. He looked at Martha. He waited to see what would be said.
It seemed like he was thinking. As if the next words might be a trap. Watching that look in his eyes, Marta thought, 'He must have been burned a lot.' Martha was troubled by how much this man must have been hurt by his younger sister to be so wary over a mere greeting. It bothered her, but she didn't show it.
"It took you a long time to get here, didn't it? It takes two hours by carriage from the Imperial Palace to here."
“...One hour.”
"It's still a long way to go. Come in, don't just stand there."
Edward looked at Martha for a moment, then slowly entered. He sat down in the drawing room. Lucy brought tea. She placed two teacups down and quietly closed the door as she left. Martha knew Lucy was pressing her ear against the door. She pretended not to see. Edward did not pick up the teacups but placed them on the table. Martha took a sip of tea. Silence fell. Edward did not speak first. Martha did not rush, either. In a place like this, the one who could not bear the silence and tried to fill it first was bound to lose. Edward spoke first.
"Did you see I brought the luggage?"
“I saw it.”
"I just stopped by briefly. My parents are traveling, so I wanted to check on the house."
"Is it so?"
Edward saw Martha.
“That’s it.”
"I know."
Silence fell again. He could never get used to this old awkwardness, even as he got older.
"Oh my, it's hot. The weather feels just like the middle of summer."
"Serena, your tone is a bit... not right."
Edward twirled the teacup on the table with his fingers. It was an unconscious action. It was a habit he had of moving his hands when he was nervous or deep in thought. Martha saw it.
"When will my parents come back?"
"They said two weeks later."
Edward nodded.
"Young Master Edward."
“...Young Master?”
Edward raised his eyebrows slightly. Seeing that reaction, Martha realized her mistake. No younger sister would address her older brother with an honorific. Ah... bullshit again... Martha let it slide naturally.
“Brother.”
Edward's expression changed subtly. He seemed to be trying to read something—what intention was hidden in that title.
“What is it?”
"It's nothing. I just called out."
Edward looked at Martha. Martha drank her tea while meeting his gaze. Edward spoke cautiously.
"Serena, you've been acting a bit strange lately."
“Is it strange?”
"Yes."
Edward chose his words carefully.
"I heard that you personally took care of various things for the employees, and that you even went to meet the creditor in person."
“Is that strange?”
"It's strange for you to do that."
Martha looked at Edward. Edward was an honest person. He didn't beat around the bush. She actually liked that. Martha found it easier to deal with people who spoke directly rather than those who beat around the bush.
"People can change."
“So suddenly?”
"Can't it change suddenly?"
Edward could not answer. Martha said as she put down her teacup.
“Brother.”
"Why?"
“I have something to say.”
Edward was on guard. Martha saw his expression stiffen slightly. It was a wary look, as if she were about to push something in his face again. Martha just spoke.
"I've made things so hard for you all this time."
Edward stiffened.
"You must have been exhausted from cleaning up the mess. You cleaned up after them, comforted them, and eventually left home because you were worn out."
Edward didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry."
Silence fell. It was a long silence. Edward looked at the teacup, then at Martha, then at the teacup again. His fingers grasped the teacup and let go.
"...Why suddenly?"
“Because it has to be said.”
"The fact that you said you were sorry to me."
Edward stopped speaking and then spoke again.
“It’s my first time.”
“I guess so.”
“Are you serious?”
Martha saw Edward.
“I’m serious.”
Edward gazed at Martha for a long time. His eyes were complex. It was a look that wanted to believe but found it difficult to do so, yet found it hard not to believe either. He was wavering at that boundary. Martha quietly accepted that look. Edward eventually turned his gaze out the window.
"...You have to tell your parents that too."
"I know."
“Especially to our father.”
"I know."
Edward looked out the window for a moment and spoke.
"Your father had a really hard time. Family business and yours, too. But he's not the type to express himself."
"I know."
"You know, so why did you do that?"
Martha had nothing to say in response to that question. To be honest, she knew exactly why. She had a hunch why Serena had become that way. Whether she was lonely, scared, or just wanted attention. When those things got tangled up, people were bound to go in strange directions. But explaining that to Edward right now felt odd. Martha just spoke.
"I didn't know back then. I know now."
Edward saw Martha.
"Has that changed?"
"That's what has changed."
Edward looked at Martha for a while, then lowered his gaze to the table. He picked up his teacup. He took a sip of tea. Then he slowly set it down. Time passed as he thought about something. Edward spoke.
"I knew that creditors were coming and going from the house."
"I know."
“That it’s being processed.”
“I’m working on it.”
"Maxim told me. That the interest rate has been renegotiated."
Martha bowed her head. Edward paused for a moment and spoke.
"Tell me if you need help."
Martha looked at Edward. Edward spoke while looking down at the teacup. Without looking at Martha.
"Since I work at the Imperial Palace, there are things I can connect with. Whether it's issues regarding the territories or the legal department."
"...Thank you."
"Why are you thankful? It's family business."
As Martha listened to those words, she felt a sense of relief. He hadn't given up on the family. He had simply distanced himself out of exhaustion, but deep down, he was still worried about it. Even while living in the imperial residence, he was thinking about ways to maintain his connection. 'He's still such a kind person,' Martha thought to herself. Miss Serena had made things so difficult for him.
“Brother.”
"Why."
"How about commuting from home?"
Edward saw Martha.
"Staying at the Imperial Palace official residence is inconvenient, you know. If that place is more comfortable, then I have nothing to say."
Edward remained silent. Martha added.
"My parents are coming back soon, and it feels lonely having the house empty."
Edward stared at Martha for a long time. Her gaze had changed from before. It was a look where the wariness had lowered slightly. It hadn't completely dropped, but it was clearly different from before.
“...I’ll think about it.”
"All right."
Martha finished drinking her tea. Edward drank his tea as well. Silence fell again. However, it was different from the silence before. The previous silence had been awkward, but now it was just silence. Edward spoke as he put down his teacup.
"Can I see the family documents too?"
Martha looked at Edward.
"Do you want to see them?"
"Wouldn't it be better to watch it together? I'm the heir, after all."
Martha thought for a moment. It was true. Edward was the heir to the House of Valois. It was right for them to review the family documents together rather than Martha alone. Furthermore, Edward had administrative experience gained at the Imperial Palace. There might be things he could see from angles that Martha could not.
"Great."
“Can I see you tonight?”
“It’s okay.”
Edward nodded. Then he said.
"I'll have dinner at home."
"Yes."
Martha looked at Edward. He was looking down at his teacup. He seemed to know what she meant—the significance of someone who hadn't eaten dinner at home for a long time saying they would eat today. Martha didn't react strongly for no reason. She just spoke.
"Yes. I'll tell Helena."
As soon as Martha came out of the drawing room after Edward had gone up to his room, Lucy was in the hallway. She was pressed against the wall, pretending not to have done anything, but her ears were red. Martha looked at Lucy.
“You heard.”
"...I was just walking down the hallway."
"Yes.
“Really.”
"Yes."
Lucy held out for a moment, then burst out.
"The young master says he is having dinner at home!"
"I know."
"I've been here for two years, but I've never seen the young master eat dinner at home!"
"So tell Helena about dinner. Pay some attention to the menu."
Lucy nodded, her eyes shining.
"What does he like, the Young Master?"
"He likes meat more than fish, and he doesn't like anything too greasy. As for bread, he prefers soft rather than hard."
Lucy stopped while taking notes.
"Princess, do you know that too?"
“He's my brother.”
Lucy looked at Martha for a moment, then wrote it down in her notebook.
“Go and tell it.”
"Yes!"
Lucy walked quickly toward the kitchen. Martha watched Lucy's retreating figure, then looked toward the stairs. It was the direction Edward had gone up. Dinner was quiet. Martha and Edward sat at the table alone. Since their parents weren't there, sitting at opposite ends of the long table was too far. Naturally, they sat side by side on one side. It was evident that Helena had put some thought into it. The meat was grilled tenderly. The bread was also freshly baked today. There were various vegetables as well. Edward looked at his plate and spoke.
"Helena, your skills have improved."
"I fixed the hearth."
"Hearth?"
"They said the heat output was weak. I heard it works much better after the repairs."
Edward looked at Martha, then cut the meat. "Did you do this?"
"I told butler Maxim."
Edward put the meat in his mouth. As he chewed, he looked thoughtful for a moment.
"It's good."
“Is that so?”
The two ate in silence for a while. It wasn't awkward. It was just quiet. Martha was fine with the silence. She was comfortable at a dining table where she didn't have to force a conversation. Edward spoke as he tore off a piece of bread.
"Do you know about the estate manager problem?'
"I know, Felix Holm."
"I heard that person's name at the Imperial Palace. Not in a good way.'
Martha looked at Edward.
“Which way?”
"There was a similar pattern in other family territories as well—income suddenly dropping, coinciding with the replacement of the caretaker."
“Is he the same person?”
"The names are the same, so I need to double-check."
Marta thought for a moment. Then, it could be an organized movement in which this person goes around the family house stealing lessons. There was a possibility that he wasn't alone and that there was something behind it.
"Can you share the materials?"
"I'll bring it tomorrow since I left it at the Imperial Palace."
"Thank you."
Edward shrugged his shoulders.
"I told you it was a family matter."
Martha watched Edward tear apart the bread. It likely wasn't just because of Serena that he rarely came home. Even when he did, the atmosphere wasn't conducive to doing anything together. Bringing up the family would have led to a fight, and not bringing it up meant they were strangers; in that case, the Imperial Palace quarters would have been more comfortable.
“Brother.”
Edward saw Martha.
"Starting tomorrow, let's look at the family documents together. I think there will be things visible from your perspective."
Edward looked at Martha for a moment and spoke.
"I was the one who suggested it first."
“I see.”
Edward put a piece of bread in his mouth. He looked out the window as he chewed. The lights were on in the evening garden. The flowerbed, where Bruno had weeded completely today, looked neat. Edward said.
"The garden is tidied up."
"Bruno did it. He's going to plant lavender over there."
"Lavender?"
"Because it serves as an herb and smells good."
Edward looked at the flowerbed for a moment and nodded.
“Sounds good.”
The two ate in silence once again. That silence was different from the silence of earlier that day. If the silence before was one of weighing each other, this was simply the silence of being together. As Martha picked up a piece of meat, she thought to herself. This was enough. Today, there was no need to force everything out. It would actually be strange if long-held resentment were resolved in a single day. Today, they had shared the dinner table. They had decided to review the family documents together. They had decided to share information regarding the estate manager. It was sufficient. Edward finished his meal, set down his napkin, and spoke.
“It was good.”
"I'll give it to Helena."
Edward stopped while trying to get up from his seat.
“Serena.”
Martha looked. Edward seemed to be choosing his words as he looked at Martha. After a moment, he spoke.
"...I'll try commuting from here."
Martha did not answer. Edward added awkwardly.
"The office is also cramped."
"Yes."
“That’s it.”
"I know."
Edward nodded and left the dining room. The sound of his footsteps faded toward the stairs. Martha glanced at the empty table for a moment. A napkin was neatly folded on the spot where Edward used to sit. He was someone who cleaned up neatly after himself. He was a good person. Martha thought this again. There were good people in this family. Everyone was just exhausted.
As she rose from her seat, Martha called out to Lucy.
"Lucy."
Lucy appeared from somewhere. This time, she was behind the kitchen door.
"Tell Helena that dinner was delicious."
Lucy's eyes lit up.
"Young master, has he eaten?"
“He finished eating.”
Lucy clenched her hand tightly. She looked deeply moved. As Martha left the dining room, she spoke.
"Please prepare breakfast for the young master's room starting tomorrow. He says he's commuting to work."
Lucy followed, opening her eyes even wider.
"You mean the young master commutes from home?!"
"Yes."
“Really?!”
"Yes."
Lucy paused for a moment and let out a small gasp. Martha spoke as she climbed the stairs.
“How about your meal?”
Lucy answered as she climbed the stairs.
"I ate with Helena in the kitchen earlier."
"Right, you enjoyed the meal."
"What about the Princess?"
“I ate too.”
“A lot?”
Martha spoke as she walked. Enough. She heard Lucy chuckle softly from behind. Martha looked out the window as she climbed the stairs. It was night. The lamps in the garden were going out one by one. She thought she should ask Bruno when to plant the lavender. She also thought that they should look at the estate manager issue together once Edward's materials arrived. Another task had arisen.
Oh dear, Martha laughed quietly to herself.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 5]
Young Master Edward came today.
Shock No. 1: As soon as the Young Lady saw the Young Master, she asked, "Have you eaten?" I was nervous, expecting some major incident to happen, but her first words were about food.
Shock No. 2: The Young Lady apologized to the Young Master. Seriously, I heard it with my own ears.
Shock No. 3: The Young Master ate dinner at home. It’s the first time since I came to this house.
Shock No. 4: The young master has decided to commute from home.
Among the things the Princess said, there was a remark with the nuance that "long-held feelings cannot all be resolved in a single day," and upon listening to her, it was true. The Princess did not try to force everything out. She simply did only what she could do today.
The Princess keeps acting like an adult.
She's nineteen.
Weird.
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