Ch#119
After finishing watching the training ground and even checking out the nearby lake, the three returned to the mansion.
"Yawn."
"Evi, want to take a nap?"
"Yeees...."
At Irene's words, Evi blinked her sleepy eyes and yawned again.
She had woken up at dawn and was tense the whole way here from riding a horse for the first time in her life.
Moreover, after playing noisily under the shade during the hot summer day, it was no wonder a growing child like her was exhausted.
"Then please wash up and rest comfortably, miss."
Vanessa, who had noticed Evi looking sleepy since they arrived, quickly had the maids prepare a bath.
A while later, after refreshing herself, Evi put on thin pajamas Irene had brought and fell right into a nap.
While sleeping, she heard Irene's voice saying, "Why did you go pick up Evi at dawn and tire her out!" followed by thwack! thwack! sounds of blows.
"You're one to talk—you were at our house from morning!"
Ruska's voice crying out in grievance.
"You think I'm the same as you? Am I?"
And Irene's voice replying as if he were pathetic.
Thinking it was a strange dream, Evi closed her eyes again.
When she woke up properly after a deep sleep, the red sunset was already hanging in the summer sky.
"Sleep well?"
Irene, who had been sitting beside her looking at something on the table, quickly tidied it up and approached Evi.
"Yes. Yawwwn...."
She had slept so soundly and refreshingly.
Evi stretched her arms high above her head.
Because she had slept so deeply, a pleasant languor lingered in her body.
The problem was...
Gurgle.
Feeling hungry right after waking up.
"Ruska just said dinner's almost ready, so he told me to wake you soon. Good thing you woke up right on time. Shall we get ready to go eat now?"
"Yes!"
At the mention of dinner, Evi hopped down from the bed, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and came out.
"Alright, this time wear this one."
As soon as Evi emerged, Irene held out a new summer dress as if she had been waiting.
"Oh, I haven't seen this one."
"While you were at Arsel's, I went to Madam Crevel's Shop once more. I got this then. Look, it's just like mine, right?"
"I see. This suits you so well too, Irene, and it's pretty! Thank you."
Seeing Evi accept it so readily, Irene inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Good thing she didn't notice anything strange at Arsel's territory either.'
She didn't know how long she could keep it up, but she planned to deceive her as long as possible.
"Evi, sit here. I'll redo your hair. I've been practicing!"
"Really?"
As Evi sat on the chair, wearing the same outfit and her hair swaying, Irene quickly grabbed a comb and stood behind her.
Because of that, Evi didn't see Irene grinning from ear to ear.
'Hehe, not just summer clothes—I'll gift her outfits for fall, winter, and spring too.'
Besides, Evi had been growing faster lately.
At this rate, she'd definitely need new clothes next year too.
'I can dress her in all the pretty ones.'
The Terins Mansion in the capital would have piles of 'clothes Irene outgrew' every year anyway.
"First, I'll tie it just like mine!"
Using the skills she learned from the maids while Evi was away, Irene neatly tied Evi's hair up high in a single ponytail.
Her voluminous blonde hair with slight waves swished beautifully.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Yep!"
As they left the room, Vanessa was waiting as if on cue to guide them.
But instead of heading to the first-floor dining room as expected, Vanessa went to the entrance and outside.
"Huh? Aren't we eating right away?"
"Oh my, Young Master Ruska must not have explained in detail. That young master, I ought to just...."
"It's fine. I'll give Ruska a good scolding."
With that, Irene swung her fist.
Her small fist, made by clenching her fingers, cut through the air with a whooshing sound unlike its appearance.
Vanessa looked a bit surprised at Irene.
'This doll-like pretty miss is more than she seems....'
She had been inwardly shocked earlier in the day seeing her chase the fleeing Ruska, stabbing his side repeatedly and yanking his ear.
Who was Ruska? The fourth son of the Ragselb family, no matter what anyone said—and though unspoken, they all believed that once he became an adult, he'd surpass his older brothers in skill.
That's why the three older brothers didn't constantly drag him off to train, saying a gem needs polishing in spare moments.
They hadn't denied Ruska's teary claim that he'd have beaten his brothers if they were the same age, just smirked.
Because it would have been true.
Yet Irene relentlessly went after such a Ruska.
"Ruska, think before you act!"
"Irene, you! Hey, stop hitting!"
Of course, Ruska was yielding to some extent.
But even today, he had fled with a desperate face several times.
Behind him was Irene charging with a look that said she'd really kill him if she caught him.
'Our young master went to the Genius Academy and made good friends besides Lord Arsel.'
Vanessa walked ahead with a proud face.
After leaving the mansion and walking a bit further, tents were pitched in front of the small forest next to the training ground.
Lamps hung everywhere inside the tents, and beside them, a whole suckling pig roasted on a big bonfire, spinning slowly.
"Oh my, an outdoor barbecue party."
"Barbecue party? You can do that at home?"
Evi's eyes widened at Irene's words.
The barbecue Evi knew was something from Elam City's festivals or the Seasonal Festival she had gone to with Clois last time.
A massive event food for when huge crowds gathered.
And they were doing that at home?
"Wh-who's going to eat all that?"
"Well... Ruska might? Think about how much he eats at the Genius Academy."
"Ah."
She recalled Ruska devouring six chicken legs at once while sitting alone.
Remembering that, a whole pig suddenly seemed doable.
"Hey, Ruska, your guests are here."
And there were other people inside the tent too.
"Ah, finally meeting them."
As the two approached, besides Eric whom they met earlier, two other large men they hadn't seen stood up.
She could tell who they were without introductions.
They looked just like Ruska's brothers, after all.
"Hello, I'm Ain, the eldest of the Ragselb family."
"Hi! I'm Leon, the third."
At the brothers' greetings, Evi shot her hand up.
"Hello! I'm Evi Alden!"
At Evi's energetic response, smiles bloomed on the brothers' faces.
Their eyes held admiration like, 'How did such a tiny thing make it all the way to our house?'
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Irene Terins."
Irene greeted elegantly, holding her skirt with the smile she used for people usually.
"What, did she eat something bad?"
Then a queasy voice came from beyond.
It was Ruska.
"Ruska! Uh...?"
Evi, who had waved happily at Ruska's voice, widened her eyes at his outfit.
Wearing a white apron and holding a kitchen knife, he looked exactly like a chef.
Irene also looked flustered at Ruska's appearance and said with a 'I've seen it all now' expression.
"What are you doing?"
"Didn't I say? I'm making dinner tonight."
"You didn't! And you making it...."
Her expression said it really wasn't something to look forward to.
As Irene glared, Ruska shrugged.
"Why the fuss. I'm pretty good at cooking, you know? At the Genius Academy I couldn't, so I just hung out, but at home I make my own meals."
But the distrust and suspicion in Irene's eyes didn't fade easily.
"But...."
Even Evi looked at him a bit suspiciously, making Ruska groan.
"Am I really that untrustworthy...."
Then his brothers chuckled from behind and spoke.
"Ruska's actually good at cooking. That's why on days he comes home, we deliberately leave dinner to him. Even the kitchen staff eat from him often."
"Really?"
Evi looked at Ruska in wonder.
He was a marquis's young master.
At the Genius Academy he played well with others and joined everything, but she never imagined he'd cook himself.
Perhaps noticing the lingering doubt on Evi's face.
"Both of you, sit here."
Ruska sat them at the table next to the large griddle.
Then he quickly stir-fried pre-prepped vegetables on the hot plate and plated them in front of them.
"You must be hungry, so eat this first while I grill the meat."
"If it tastes bad, you're dead. I have a picky palate."
As Irene glared, he shrugged confidently.
"Yeah, yeah, the princess of the south must be something. Just try it."
At his bold attitude, Evi and Irene skeptically stabbed the veggies with forks and brought them to their mouths.
And moments later. Evi, munching blissfully, muttered.
"I want to live with Ruska."
Really, the stir-fried vegetables Ruska made were heavenly.
The same ingredients she always ate, but how were they this delicious?
Lightly stir-fried for crisp texture, the faint bitterness turned sweet from fresh oil.
Perfectly seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices.
"How is a simple stir-fry this deli...cious?"
Irene also gaped, looking back and forth between the dish and Ruska in disbelief.
Satisfied with their reactions perhaps.
"Heh, too early to be surprised."
Ruska smirked confidently as he laid out pre-fetched meat, shrimp, and shellfish.
"I'll make you beg for Ruska only from now on!"
With Ruska's laugh, flames whooshed up on the griddle.
"Eek!"
"Cool!"
Evi and Irene's excited cheers echoed into the summer night sky.
* * *
And at the same time.
'They're all having fun right now.'
Arsel sat alone on the sofa, staring at the hallway visible through the slightly open door.
Truthfully, he wanted to go to Ruska's with Evi.
But he couldn't. According to Riden's information....
"I, I want to buy all of these."
"Lady Eve!"
The child staying at Count Aradman's was scheduled to come here today.
Arsel stood, tidying his clothes.
'What is her true identity?'
Just as his father had, now it was his turn to act for the empire's peace as a member of Duke Kailun's family.
