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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 Behitz's Decision (1)
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"What?"
"Well, I offered to escort him..."
"Then where on earth did he go?"
Count Shurayton subtly furrowed his brow, unable to hide his bewilderment at the butler's discreet words.
The butler had just informed him that the former Duke of Parhin, the very person everyone gathered here had been eagerly awaiting, had arrived.
But apparently, he had refused the butler's offer to guide him inside, saying he wanted to look around for a bit, and then simply vanished.
"I'll go out and check."
"Hm?"
"Sei-an seems to be quite late as well..."
The one who interjected into their conversation was Lucian.
Lucian was already worried about Sei-an's prolonged absence, and upon hearing that Duke Parhin might also be wandering elsewhere, he decided to go out and look for both of them himself.
"Yes, do that. That would be for the best."
"Yes."
Count Shurayton also thought it was a good idea and nodded at Lucian's words.
"Ah, Count!"
"Hm?"
"…!"
Just then, the butler, who had been standing quietly nearby, looked towards the hall entrance and hastily called out to Count Shurayton with a surprised look in his eyes.
Following the butler's gaze to the hall entrance, Count Shurayton's eyes also widened in surprise.
"B-Behitz?"
The former Duke of Parhin, whom everyone in the hall had been waiting for so long, had finally made an appearance.
"Sei-an?"
And he was even making a friendly appearance alongside Sei-an, his second son.
"Seriously, why are you so curious about me?"
"You brat! When an old man asks you something, you just answer politely. Why do you have to question everything?"
"Are you interested in me?"
"What if I am?"
"...I'll decline."
"Why? You don't want an old man's attention, is that it?"
"Yes. Anyone would think you're senile. If you're lonely, you should find a grandmother your own age to pay attention to."
"You little rascal!"
However, if anyone had approached a little closer and listened to their conversation, they would have realized that far from being affectionate, they were actually engaged in a very spirited argument.
Of course, anyone who knew Behitz well would have also realized that even as he argued, his eyes were genuinely smiling.
"...But speaking of which, old man."
"Hm?"
Sei-an, who had been conversing with Behitz for a while, paused, glanced briefly into the hall, and then spoke to him again in a quiet voice.
"Do you suppose they're acting like that because of us?"
This was because everyone in the hall was staring at him and Behitz with blank expressions.
"It certainly seems that way."
Behitz chuckled at Sei-an's words and gave a simple reply.
"Welcome, Lord Behitz."
"It's been a long time, Count Shurayton."
"Indeed."
Count Shurayton was the first to approach the two, speaking with a gaze full of questions.
He simply couldn't comprehend how Behitz had arrived with Sei-an, one of his biggest headaches.
"I'm quite late, aren't I?"
"Many have been waiting."
"I was delayed bringing along a lost puppy I found on the way."
"Excuse me?"
"Surely you're not implying that I'm that puppy."
"Why not? You were a lost puppy, wandering aimlessly, weren't you?"
"You ought to speak clearly. When you found me, you were already quite late for the gathering. You shouldn't use me as an excuse for your tardiness."
"That boy never lets anything go."
Count Shurayton couldn't hide his bewilderment at the sight of the two, acting as if they had known each other for ages.
"S-Sei-an! What rudeness is that towards Lord Behitz?"
"Haha! Not at all. Thanks to this boy, the walk wasn't boring at all, so it's fine."
"But..."
"Oh, is this the much-talked-about eldest son of yours?"
"Huh? Oh, yes."
Interrupting the flustered Count Shurayton, Behitz turned his gaze to the person standing quietly beside him, Lucian.
"Greet him. This is Lord Behitz."
"My name is Lucian."
"..."
Even after Lucian's greeting, Behitz said nothing, simply observing him intently. Then, with a subtle, strange smile, he gave a slight nod.
'So the rumors weren't false.'
The rumor that Count Shurayton's eldest son was a talent coveted by all was indeed true.
Behitz had deliberately come to this gathering today to verify that rumor. Thanks to that, he had also learned one more new fact as a bonus.
'On the other hand, that other rumor seems to have been false.'
Behitz shifted his gaze from Lucian to Sei-an, who stood beside him with an impassive expression.
While Count Shurayton was rumored to have a son of exceptional talent, there were also widespread rumors of problem children, troublemakers who caused all sorts of incidents and were called little devils.
However, the problem child of the Shurayton family he had met in person today was completely different from the rumors.
While it was impossible to grasp everything in such a short time, when one reached his age, a person's true character and disposition often became apparent through their actions, speech, and gaze.
"You've raised your children exceptionally well, my friend."
"...You flatter me."
Count Shurayton thanked Behitz for praising his two sons, yet he couldn't hide his bewilderment.
While Lucian always received such comments, so he could simply accept it, the remarks about Sei-an were hard to comprehend.
'He didn't run away...'
The most surprising thing was Sei-an's presence, standing there with an impassive expression.
