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Dinner that evening was just between Letticia and Ezkhiel.
Normally, promotional models have free time while others are busy making plans. Plus, Marianne, who had come home after work, only greeted them and shut herself in her room, saying she wanted to rest alone.
Instead of a heavy main course like steak, quail roast and a salad made from fresh vegetables were served. Thanks to that, Ezkhiel was able to eat comfortably, and just watching him helped Letticia feel like the stress that had built up all day was melting away.
For dessert, they enjoyed lemon tart and a low-alcohol dessert wine. Later, they sang a few songs in the music room, and by then, Ezkhiel looked completely relaxed and at ease.
That’s when Letticia thought it was a good moment to bring up what she had heard earlier from Matthias.
“Ez, how have the Baron and Baroness been lately?”
“…Why are you bringing them up all of a sudden?”
Ezkhiel’s expression hardened as he leaned back on the sofa.
Even with the mild alcohol, the moment his parents were mentioned, it seemed to sober him up immediately.
“Did my mother come see you? Or did she send a letter? Don’t tell me you actually met her—”
“No, nothing like that. I just heard some things from friends.”
Letticia quickly denied it. Ezkhiel seemed a bit calmer, but a hint of unease still lingered in his face.
Seeing that, Letticia got up from the piano bench, walked over to him, and held his hand, which had been resting on his knee.
“Besides, from what I’ve heard, they made things really hard for you, Ez. Honestly, I don’t like the idea of people like that still being close to you.”
“Just wait a little longer. Once my older brother inherits the title, we’re planning to have them move to the countryside.”
“And when exactly will that be?”
Ezkhiel’s expression darkened.
Sensing something ominous, Letticia pressed further.
“Why? The Baron is getting old, isn’t he? Isn’t it about time he handed over the title? That’s why you mentioned inheriting the title too, right?”
“Well… that’s true, but…”
“Don’t tell me he expects you to wait until he dies before taking it?”
“…He’s the kind of person who would never do that, not even over his dead body. Besides, the doctor has recently recommended rest, so he's preparing for retirement. The transfer of the title will go ahead as planned.”
“Then what’s the issue? Don’t tell me it’s the succession ceremony?”
In noble families, when a title is passed to an heir, it’s customary to formally announce the change of family head in front of other noble houses, followed by a celebratory banquet.
For the current head, it’s a final moment to appear in public as the family leader. For the successor, it’s the moment they are officially recognized as the new head—so naturally, there’s a lot to take care of.
But knowing the circumstances of the Bright barony, it would be more surprising if problems didn’t arise.
“Is it that what the Baron wants and what’s realistic are too far apart? Is that why the succession keeps getting delayed?”
“…Letty, you’re already dealing with enough yourself. I can’t burden you with my problems too.”
Ezkhiel was stubbornly trying to keep his mouth shut.
It was the reaction of someone unaccustomed to opening up about their problems or asking for help.
If he were just someone else, Letticia might have left him to handle it on his own—but Ezkhiel was her lover now. And Letticia couldn’t just let her partner suffer in silence and deal with everything alone.
Especially since, according to Matthias, Ezkhiel was still being harassed enough to take time off work. If such people stayed around him for even one more day, Letticia might seriously consider paying a visit to the assassins’ guild herself.
“Ez, I know you don’t want to worry me or burden me unnecessarily. But it upsets me more to see you struggling alone with something we could resolve faster if we handled it together.”
At the word 'upsets me,' Ezkhiel flinched.
Seeing that it struck a chord, Letticia decided to push forward along that line.
“We’re a couple, right? Couples talk about things like this and decide together what to do. But when you tell me not to worry because you’ve taken care of it all yourself, it feels like you’re treating me like a stranger.”
“That… I didn’t mean it that way at all…”
Ezkhiel murmured in a daze, clearly not expecting that.
“I just didn’t want you to have to suffer just because you’re with me. You already go through enough—dealing with people who envy you or pick fights for no reason. Adding my parents on top of that… I felt so guilty just imagining it. But I didn’t realize that would end up hurting you more…”
“In life, you meet all kinds of awful people. Have you ever seen me shrink away from them?”
“But my father… when he’s angry, he’ll throw whatever’s in his hand without a second thought! And my mother, she’ll blame me for things I didn’t even do! If I imagine them treating you like that…”
As Ezkhiel spoke, his body began to tremble.
Even biting his lip to steady himself didn’t help.
To a child who’s been at the mercy of a tyrant at home, that tyrant becomes the most terrifying person in the world.
Even if they later realize that person is actually insignificant in society, the fear instilled in them remains stronger than rational thought.
He knew—logically—that even if Letticia were to meet the Baron and Baroness, they wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her.
But the mere possibility of it clouded his reason.
“…Ez, look at me.”
Letticia gently took Ezkhiel’s face in her hands, making him look her in the eyes.
She smiled at him with quiet confidence.
“I have three bodyguards. If your father tries to hit me, they’ll all block it. And if your mother tries to say something nasty to me, I can drop all pretense and hit back with even nastier words. Didn’t you know even my brother gets scared when I don’t watch my mouth?”
“Letty…”
“And if they really cross the line, I could run straight to Her Majesty the Empress and beg her to kick them out of the capital. You know she treats me like a niece.”
Letticia rarely brought up her connection to the Empress, but she was willing to bring it up as many times as needed—for Ezkhiel’s peace of mind.
And as soon as he heard 'the Empress,' some of the tremor in his body began to subside.
Even if the Baron was terrifying, Ezkhiel seemed to realize that no one could stand against the Empress—at least not rationally.
“So tell me everything, Ez. I’ve got plenty of money,
and there are lots of people I can ask for help. I’ll also speak up if there’s something I truly can’t do, so feel free to tell me anything. I won’t push myself for your sake either, I promise.”
“…Can you really promise not to push yourself just to help me?”
Ezkhiel asked, his voice a little hoarse. Letticia released his face and spoke seriously.
“I swear. I only ever do what I know I can handle.”
Ezkhiel lowered his head.
He stayed silent for about a minute, then finally began speaking in a tone that sounded like he was trying his hardest to stay objective.
“Originally, I discussed it with my brother, and the plan was to sell the estate right after the title is transferred and send our parents to the countryside. But Father keeps delaying the succession ceremony because he doesn’t like how it's planned—so we can’t even proceed with the sale.”
“Ah, that estate doesn’t generate much income anymore, right? Isn’t it more of a burden now? Why won’t he sell?”
“He thinks that if he just finds a new buyer or trade partner, he can bounce back…”
It was a typical delusion of the old nobility—those who used to rely on large landholdings as their main income. Such thinking usually preceded collapse.*
Letticia couldn’t believe they’d managed to hold on for this long, though she kept that thought to herself.
“I could cover the cost of a countryside home even without selling the estate, but nothing can move forward until the succession ceremony happens—and that just keeps getting delayed.”
“So what exactly doesn’t he like about the succession plan?”
Ezkhiel closed his eyes and went silent again, uncertain whether he should say it or not.
But in the end, Letticia’s encouragement won. He spoke up, albeit reluctantly.
“He’s planning to retire after the ceremony, so he wants it to be grand—his final appearance as the Baron.”
“How grand are we talking?”
“Mother wants to get her ceremonial dress from Flabellum Atelier… and Father insists that the banquet serve top-tier Lavallet champagne.”
Letticia had to hold her tongue to keep a harsh comment from slipping out.
Neither of those options were remotely affordable for the Bright family. Even if they tried to make a reservation right now, they’d have to pay bribes just to skip the queue—and even then, it wouldn’t be ready in under six months.
Technically, Letticia could make it happen, but if it was for Ezkhiel’s parents, there was no way in hell she wanted to.
“…And because our mansion isn’t very big, they’re insisting we invite only the highest-ranking guests possible. If possible, they even want me to ask His Highness the Crown Prince to attend.”
“Are they suffering from a brain injury or something?”
Letticia's patience finally snapped under the ridiculous fantasy of the Baron and Baroness.
🍓; *This kind of thinking reflects an outdated and arrogant mindset typical of the old aristocracy, who used to depend on owning vast lands to generate wealth. People with this mindset often fail to adapt to changing times, and as a result, their downfall or failure tends to follow soon after.
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