Rumours (3)

Living with two morning people is quite an experience. I can gladly share what it's like.

As I leisurely wake up, sipping a bitter cup of tea, unsure of how to brew it just right, the energy of a young man who just returned from a light run and a child bursting in fills the atmosphere.

"How far did you run?"

"Just ten laps…"

"Doesn't seem like you only did ten laps, Leo."

"I had to clear out a dead tree by the fence and do a few other things."

Still, they both look refreshed, so I guess that's good enough. Vittorio excused himself, saying he needed to wash up, leaving in a quick stride. Meanwhile, Leonardo, looking hardly tired at all, followed me into the kitchen, offering to lend a hand.

"This time, we need a bit of skill."

"Hmm. I'll give it a try."

I heated the pan well, poured in the beaten eggs, added chopped vegetables and cheese, and rolled it into a plump half-moon shape for the omelet. I also cooked some savoury sausages and plated them for a simple breakfast.

By the way, Leonardo's omelet had burst open.

'…..'

"Wow, it's dead!"

"At least it avoided the vital spots… it's still alive."

"Let's not talk about the omelet in such a grim way."

I piled a generous amount of sausages onto Leonardo's plate to cheer him up. He really is best suited for simple tasks to boost efficiency.

Meanwhile, Vittorio, having returned from washing up, was looking around for something to help with. He picked the stems off the tomatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Then, as a bribe from the cook to keep the young master around, he sprinkled some sugar on the dessert.

At that moment, after finishing the dessert preparations, Vittorio glanced at Leonardo's plate and looked slightly surprised. Was he taken aback by the burst omelet's appearance?

"Wow, you gave a lot today…"

But what actually surprised Vittorio wasn't the broken omelet; it was the mountain of sausages piled on Leonardo's plate. I thought it was a bit unnecessary to be surprised, as I usually piled them high, but when I looked down at the plate, I was taken aback too.

"It does seem a bit more than usual."

Leonardo mumbled that the omelet looked like a pea compared to the mountain of sausages. With Vittorio and Leonardo staring at me, I finally became aware of my actions and slightly averted my gaze. Considering what happened last night… it wasn't strange to feel a little soft-hearted, was it?

Still, expressing gratitude just through words felt inadequate. In the end, I concluded that the only way was to make sure they had a hearty meal…

"I just wanted you to eat well," I mumbled, trying to brush it off. Vittorio tilted his head in confusion, while Leonardo added with a simple worry that while the quantity wasn't an issue, the speed at which the food expenses were piling up was concerning.

The fluffy omelet, perfectly cooked with the cheese nicely melted, had a texture like pudding. It melted in my mouth, and when eaten with the savoury sausages, the flavours blended beautifully.

I wondered if Ferdinand would come today. As expected, I soon heard the sound of the drawbridge creaking down. It felt like running an inn was no different—guests came every day, making it quite bustling.

Just as I thought I was getting used to the routine, I stepped outside, only to see soft chestnut-coloured hair swaying in front of me instead of Ferdinand's usual teal locks.

Celestina came by carrying a blanket and a pair of men's shoes.

"Oh, Lady Celestina?"

"Good morning, Isaac."

Could she possibly remember what happened last night? I wondered as I guided Celestina further inside the fortress. Leonardo, who was scooping up a large spoonful from the broken side of his omelet, blinked in surprise at the visitor.

「Wasn't that the Count's daughter?」

'Yes. This time, it's Celestina.'

Feeling like we were gradually becoming a private cafeteria for the Ertinez family, I served Celestina a plate with two lines of omelet and sausages. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"My big brother said Leonardo does all the cooking, and I didn't believe it at first, but it looks delicious."

"Haha…"

I didn't mention that Leonardo had burst the side of his omelet. Celestina said she had come to return the items she borrowed before eating, placing the slightly crumpled blanket and the pair of shoes on the table.

"These are definitely yours Brother, right? And… this pair of shoes belongs to you, Isaac? I thought Brother had taken them off for me."

Celestina glanced down at the shoes and smiled faintly. I had given Celestina my only pair of shoes last night, so the ones I was wearing now were the indoor slippers that had been left inside the fortress.

I had planned to borrow Leonardo's shoes to go to the market and buy a new pair or ask the servants to get one for me, but this was how it turned out.

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

I asked cautiously, and Celestina smiled lightly.

"No, not at all. In that state, I wouldn't even know what I was saying."

She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at Leonardo.

"But the only one who knows I sleepwalk is Leonardo. So, I figured he would be the one to handle it well."

Did the original Leonardo also know about Celestina's sleepwalking?

Meanwhile, Leonardo quietly set down his dishes. Uncharacteristically, he seemed uninterested in food, just idly nibbling on the sugar tomatoes for dessert while keeping his silence.

"I'll keep the secret that you and Isaac secretly wandered the castle at night against Father's orders. I'm worried I might have interrupted your nighttime stroll."

Celestina playfully brought a finger to her lips, as if to say "shh!" Running into her while she was out at night meant that we had also been outside the castle after dark. It might be a quicker way to win over the Count's children first, instead of trying to persuade the stubborn Count himself.

I awkwardly smiled as if I had been caught in a secret and thanked Celestina.

"Haha… actually, I just went out to get some fresh air and happened to run into you. Thank you for keeping it a secret."

"Of course."

Celestina seamlessly joined us at the table and began to enjoy the meal of omelet, sausages, and a simple salad.

"It's unfair that only my brothers get to eat such delicious food."

"The castle's cooks are quite skilled; you flatter me."

"But it really does taste good, Isaac."

Seeing Vittorio and Celestina eat heartily made me feel satisfied as well.

"It's a pity that the Count isn't here. It's not easy for siblings to have a meal together like this."

When I casually asked about Ferdinand, Celestina responded, "Oh," and began to share information.

"My big brother is probably very busy with a task assigned by our father. I heard there are reports of monsters around the fortress? Apparently, the patrols spotted a group lurking outside the walls, and it seems they left the handling of it to my big brother."

Ah, I remembered hearing something related to this while eavesdropping on a conversation between Count Ertinez and the Baron.

Celestina set her spoon down slightly and added more.

"It seemed like my big brother was quite tense. Father doesn't usually assign him tasks like this."

"Even though Ferdinand is the Count's heir?"

"Yes. That's why I think he feels that, um… how should I put it… that Father doesn't trust him. So he's really trying hard this time."

Celestina's explanation made sense. So, it was a kind of communication breakdown?

The Count had created secrets to protect his children, hiding the truth related to the Countess' death. On the other hand, Ferdinand was struggling with guilt for not noticing his mother's illness while their father was away, leading him to doubt whether his father truly trusted him.

"It's complicated, isn't it?"

Celestina smiled slightly.

"It's family matters. You'll get used to it soon, Isaac, so feel free to ask me anything you don't understand. My brother isn't likely to discuss these things; he'll just pretend to be someone else to score points in front of you."

"Oh, right."

Now I had another source of information.

Maybe it was because I was introduced as Leonardo's friend, but the members of the Ertinez family seemed to treat me with a softness that was hard to ignore. I couldn't help but think that the original Leonardo must have lived a life filled with love. For him to pretend to be a rogue and become estranged from his father after the Countess' funeral… well, it made sense.

'Is that the only reason?'

After finishing her meal, Celestina left for a while, saying she wanted to follow Vittorio to see the vegetable garden. She was amazed that the fortress was so old, having not visited often, so I let Vittorio handle the tour.

Leonardo and I remained in the kitchen to clear our plates. As I looked at Leonardo, the threads of the Count's family secrets were starting to unravel. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment; the light in his silver eyes gradually faded, replaced by a dull grey. Since Celestina's visit, Leonardo had spoken much less than usual, so I had anticipated this.

'Leonardo Ertinez' set down the dry cloth he had been using to wipe the plates and gazed quietly at me.

In his voice, he whispered, "You figured it out quickly. It's not everything yet, but…"

"The reason you became distant from the Count after your mother's funeral is that you learned your father was responsible for her death, right? But you didn't know the full details."

"Right. It took me a while to figure it all out. Until then, I foolishly believed that man was really a murderer."

"Do you know the full story now?"

"That's why I lent my body. I knew I wouldn't be of any help."

"But I still don't understand why Godric is targeting a family that guards the outskirts."

At that, Leonardo narrowed his eyes slightly and leaned in closer to me, our foreheads almost touching.

"Well, a little interference like this should be fine."

The corners of his mouth curled into a mischievous grin.

"Want to go have some fun with me?"