VBR chapter 27

Translated by lyran1, edited by Minak Amie

27. Older Brother: Doubts his own sensitivity

Bruno walks over to the place where our family’s disappointing maid had burned out, near the Big Tree Plaza in the Noble District. (TN: 公爵及び侯爵家の屋敷街にある大樹の広場にて、我が家の少しばかり残念な侍女のリアクションで盛り上がっている所にブルーノもやってきた)

Following Bruno are his childhood friends, Nicholas and Enrio.

[Hey, you look like you’re enjoying yourself.]

Bruno says to Gaspar, who is still laughing.

[Aah, Bruno. Marcel’s maid is really amusing.]

[……As far as I’m concerned, she is quite a hardworking maid.]

I will assist her for the time being.

Kana is clumsy, but she tries her best in performing her daily duties. That is a fact. Because the other employees of the Alderton family know that, even if Kana does something wrong, they would cover it up. Or perhaps I should say, with her level of clumsiness, there is no way she would not mess something up. But at least she is protected for now.

Just, I’m worried for if she ever makes a mess right in front of Father and Mother……

[Is that so? Sorry, I meant no disrespect towards her.]

Because I have such a serious expression on my face, Gaspar stops laughing and apologizes. Oops, I didn’t mean to make him misunderstand.

[Well, isn’t she both an interesting and hardworking maid?]

I think she’s more an entertainer than a maid, Bruno silently agrees.

[—As one would expect of the Alderton family, it seems like the servants are brought up well.]

Bruno says while glimpsing towards Roy and Emi.

Indeed, these two are excellent. For them to be able to figure things out just by looking.

Actually, it’s not that strange at all. (TN: しかしちょっと言い回しが変ではなかろうか)

Perhaps they think the servants are being treated like livestock because of the strict training.

Roy and Emi bow their hands together in an unexcited manner. (TN: ロイとエミは恐縮するでもなく揃って深々と頭を下げた)

[Were you talking about me?]

Kana revives abruptly.

Yes, about how you’re a disappointment. Just go back to sleep. (TN: 大変残念ではあるけれど君じゃあないから)

No one expresses it in words, but I think at the moment, everyone’s thoughts are the same, excluding Kana’s.

[Hahaha, she really is interesting.]

[Eehh!? Umm, thank you very much!]

Realizing that she has just been praised, Kana deeply lowers her head.

Well, Kana is fine with it, maybe.

[Bruno and the others have arrived. Should we go inside?]

I don’t think that anyone would be bothered, but still, it wouldn’t be good manners to gather around the entrance for too long.

We move together into the square.

After deciding where the luggage should be placed, Emi spreads a mat.

Even if five or six people sleep or roll on it, there would still be plenty of space.

Today’s main purpose is to hang out and deepen our friendship before returning to our own respective territories. It is also to show the state of Gaspar and my training at the request of Bruno and the others.

After warming up and relaxing my body, I lightly run around the square. Since there are 3 people running, we should do 3 laps.

Michelin doesn’t participate because she would be embarrassed running out of breath in front of the guys, so she’s cheering on the mat.

[Elder Brother and Gaspar are so fast!]

Because the distance is short, I run faster than usual. Michelin utters a cry of admiration.

Un, Elder Brother is happy since his dignity seems to have slightly increased.

[It’s a pleasure to receive a compliment from Miss Michelin.]

Gaspar gently smiles.

The stern look from the other day is gone, in its place is a smile that would make any lady stunned. But since Michelin’s number one is Prince Edward, there is no effect on her at all. This is a sign of her getting along with her future sister-in-law’s fiancé.

By the way, if Michelin, Prince Edward, Gaspar, and Princess Patricia’s situations work out, then Michelin and Gaspar will become in-laws.

That would make Gaspar and me brother-in-laws.

…… If that’s the case, which one of us is the elder brother and which one the younger brother?

Well, it’s going to be a long-term relationship anyway, so it’s better to get along well.

While I was thinking about such things, Bruno’s group reaches the goal.

Bruno and Enrio still seem to be comfortable, but the chubbier Nicholas is having a hard time.

It seems the two of them adjusted to Nicholas’ speed.

[Are you alright Nicholas? Here, drink this.]

Nicholas gives Marcel a sign of gratitude and takes the imitation of an oral rehydration solution.

[Ah, thank you.]

Nicholas drinks it quickly and lies down on the mat as he is.

[Hey Nicholas, you’re being rude. Sorry Marcel, even though I was the one who told him to personally experience the feeling, he still ended up in such a condition.] (TN: こっちの方から訓練を体験させてくれなんて言っておいたのにこの有様で)

Bruno shakes his head in disapproval at the terrible sight of his childhood friend.

[No, don’t worry about it. Since I have taken responsibility of showing how the training is done, I should also teach you how to pace yourselves.]

[Are you… always… so fast—?]

Still gasping for breath, Nicholas tries his best to ask the question.

Yup, I was formerly someone with a chubby figure (though I say so, it was fairly recent). I understand how good the feeling of losing weight is.

[No, the distance is shorter than usual, so I reduced the speed accordingly. It’s impossible to suddenly go at that pace. It’s enough to maintain half of my speed.]

[Ohh, a ray of hope has suddenly appeared……]

Nicholas has found hope. There—

[You said it’s shorter than usual, how many laps do you usually run?]

Enrio asked.

Ah— he noticed— He noticed that—

[……If it’s this square, then usually 15 laps.]

[It’s 5 times this distance!?]

Now that they have found out, I can’t keep silent.

Nicholas sinks into the mat again.

[……It’s an overly optimistic idea, but it’s something that is of advantage for you.]

Well, that is true.

Please work hard on the easy part. It would be troublesome if you give up now, making all this ineffective.

This childhood friend combination might be quite amusing.

[Ah, Bruno and Enrio should also drink this.]

I hand the sport drink to them.

[Oh, I also recommend the drink too. I drank it before. It was as if the tiredness and thirst from before has disappeared. It also tastes good.]

Gaspar guarantees.

[Thank you. –Eh, what is this drink?]

Bruno asks after taking a sip.

[Now that you mention it, I didn’t hear what the name was. It’s a drink that is somehow related to Raihearth-sama.]

Gaspar seems to be interested too.

[Err……]

This is a problem. Name, I need a name.

I got used to calling it a rehydration or sport drink.

That’s right. It’s supposed to be based on a story with Raihearth-sama—

[I invented it based on an anecdote of King Raihearth. The name… the name is Raihearth-sama Water!]

………I wonder if it is too simple.

Bruno and Gaspar make an indescribable expression.

Michelin too, makes the same facial expression. (TN: Help! : あちゃーと言わんばかりの表情だ.)

[Well, this drink was invented by Marcel. Can you tell me the recipe?]

And it’s a no comment.

I teach him the recipe while feeling dejected that the name “Raihearth-sama Water” was completely disregarded.

……… maybe, “sama” was unnecessary?

I’m not crying here!

[It’s boiled water that is chilled, plus sugar, salt, and orange fruit juice…… How did you come up with it?]

Bruno asks with simple curiosity, but his attitude is as if he is plotting something! If he wants to make a profit with this knowledge, then it’s okay. But I can’t reveal to him that the idea came from my memory of a previous life.

Well, usually I wouldn’t come up with such a wild idea, but the opponent is Bruno.

If I’m wrong in my explanation, it might cause him to become suspicious! (TN: this isn’t right! Help!ちょっとしたきっかけから芋蔓式に思ってもみなかったことまで喋らされるかもしれない！ )

I have to explain it naturally somehow………

[Ah, at one point while exercising, I noticed that sweat tastes salty.]

There is such a thing, right?

[Uh-huh.]

[The fact that sweat is salty means that your body contains salt, doesn’t it? Often, losing something that belongs to the body isn’t good, so I created a drink that returns those lost nutrients.]

I have confidence in my explanation since I had used the same one for the cooks at home.

[I see……]

Bruno doesn’t seem to have any particular doubts.

[In the beginning, I tried using only salt, but it wasn’t something I could drink. Then I added sugar and settled at the present ratio. And I added orange juice because I read that Raihearth-sama felt a significant amount of recovery after eating the fruit. Raihearth-sama isn’t a personage who would say irresponsible things. In fact, the juice made it easier to drink.]

The anecdote of Raihearth-sama is included at the end! The opponent has fallen for it!… I hope……

[Come to think of it, Marcel is aiming to be like Raihearth-sama…… This drink—Raihearth… -sama Water, perhaps is an amazing thing]

He is convinced!

Even more than that! The name was used!

To pause at that point of the name, was the problem the “sama” after all?

But I can’t omit an honorific because it would attract attention.

And though Bruno has been planning something for a while, I was happy that he accepts the name Raihearth-sama Water. I won’t worry too much about it.

Now that I have recovered my confidence and pride, it’s time to spar with Gaspar.

 

Previous   ToC   Next