<Chapter 79>
#9. Each One’s Role (3)
Braiante looked at Calix, who was smiling kindly with suspicious eyes. Calix always wore that smile whenever he was up to something. Perhaps because of this, despite being his son, Calix’s smile didn’t feel particularly welcome.
“You’re not thinking of bringing in a child from the branch family as your successor, are you? The moment you bring in someone from the branch, the balance is bound to collapse.”
Many coveted the wealth possessed by the Padrian family. This was true not only of other families but also of the branch family relatives. If they were to bring in a child from the branch family, it was obvious that a power struggle to seize the Padrian family’s assets would ensue.
“As if I would present such an obvious and predictable alternative as a solution.”
Calix eased Braiante’s concerns with a low chuckle and light gestures. Braiante, seated at his desk, looked at his son with a calm gaze. Come to think of it, Calix had been a clever child from a young age.
“Then tell me what this solution of yours is.”
“The solution is right here.”
“…What…?”
Calix’s hand pointed toward Braiante. When his son suddenly gestured at him after mentioning a solution, a confused Braiante asked blankly. For his father who hadn’t properly understood, Calix smiled gently and kindly added a more specific explanation.
“Father, really… I deliberately haven’t come down here for a long time, but how could there still be no news?”
“What news are you talking about…”
“A sibling.”
Braiante’s mouth fell open at his son’s casual words. Unlike with Melty, Calix had no intention of closing his father’s mouth as he continued speaking while leisurely looking around the office he was visiting after a long time.
“It seems you’re lacking in vigor, so yesterday I gathered some herbs that are effective as aphrodisiacs. I’ve arranged for them to be served to you every morning, so please make an effort starting tonight.”
With each word from Calix, Braiante felt a throbbing pain at the back of his head. Pressing his forehead firmly with his hand, he tried to recall what had been served for breakfast that morning.
“…Do you even understand what you’re saying right now?”
“Of course. I’m throwing a tantrum about wanting a younger sibling.”
It seemed he was aware that his demands were unreasonable. Looking at Braiante, who was too flabbergasted to even let out a bitter laugh, Calix kindly continued.
“I don’t mind if my sibling is much younger than me.”
“Aren’t you worried that your position might be threatened?”
“Oh? My position?”
Calix’s eyes flashed coldly as he spoke in a languid tone. A smile lingered at the corners of his mouth as if Braiante’s words were somehow amusing.
“Not at all.”
Braiante closed his mouth at that arrogant statement, which seemed to require no consideration. He too agreed with Calix’s answer. Even if another son were to be born, he didn’t think at all that they would be a match for Calix.
“Your mother is of an age where having a child would be difficult.”
“Still, the possibility is much higher than with my male lover.”
“…Haa.”
Theoretically speaking, Calix was right. While it was impossible for a man to bear a child, his wife Amelia had no issues apart from her age. With a groan, Braiante firmly pressed his temple with his fingertip. Every topic his only son brought up was nothing but a headache.
“Do you think a child will be conceived just because you want one?”
“That’s why you need to make an effort. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take very good care of both your and mother’s health and vigor.”
“……”
Seeing Calix with absolutely no sign of backing down, Braiante once again found himself at a loss for words. As his headache still hadn’t subsided, he let out a heavy sigh and said with a grimace:
“Having a child isn’t an obligation. Don’t force it on your mother.”
“Exactly.”
Calix smiled brightly, as if he had finally heard what he’d been waiting for. On this matter, he had no intention of backing down at all.
“As you said, father, a child isn’t an obligation. So I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t pressure my partner with such things.”
“The matter of the family’s successor isn’t something we can just overlook.”
“That’s why I told you.”
At Calix’s words as he shrugged his shoulders, a question of ‘What now?’ appeared on Braiante’s face. Seeing his expression, Calix answered without the slightest hint of backing down.
“A sibling.”
“……”
Braiante let out a low groan as the conversation instantly returned to square one. This discussion didn’t seem likely to conclude anytime soon.
***
Glance.
Melty’s eyes drooped as he surreptitiously looked toward the door. With a dejected face, he turned his gaze to the book spread in front of him and quickly moved his hands.
There were many books about herbs in the Padrian mansion, but they weren’t classified by effectiveness, season, or any other category. Most were simply collections of miscellaneous information about herbs, and sorting them was the task Melty had been assigned.
Thanks to his adaptation to various herbs while assisting with duties in Calix’s office, he had no major difficulty understanding the contents of the books. As Melty organized herbs according to symptoms that Johaim had provided, his gaze once again fell on the door.
Melty’s lips automatically jutted out as he stared at the tightly closed door without even a shadow of a person, let alone footsteps.
“Maybe he went to send a letter in person… He said he had nothing to do because it’s raining.”
Mumbling to himself, Melty sank into the backrest of his chair, belatedly realizing what he had just said. With wide eyes, Melty covered his mouth with the notebook he was holding. His eyeballs slowly moved back toward the door.
Calix had explained that only a select few could enter the library because of the important books kept there, but Melty held his breath in case someone might come in. Even after time passed, no footsteps were heard. Finally breathing a sigh of relief, Melty shook his head vigorously and hurriedly got up.
“I’m done anyway! Time to organize the books!”
To clear his thoughts, Melty deliberately spoke aloud and busily gathered the books he had finished organizing. Before he could take more than a few steps, his gaze returned to the door. As he stood frozen to the floor, staring blankly at the motionless door, Melty hurriedly moved his feet to continue organizing the books.
‘This is absolutely not because I’m concerned. It’s just that it feels strange when someone who’s always around isn’t here. It’s perfectly normal.’
Reassuring himself, Melty noticed that his gaze occasionally drifted toward the door even as he put the books back in their original places. With a deep sigh, he finally had to accept that he was indeed concerned about Calix’s presence.
After placing the last book he had brought into the bookshelf, Melty absently traced circles on the floor with the tip of his shoe. Fidgeting with his lips, where the sensation was still vividly present, he kept glancing toward the door.
“Pecking, kissing, always going around together… Is ‘temporary’ dating exactly the same as regular dating…?”
Melty furrowed his brows, completely unable to find any difference between the two. Suddenly, a rare pink book cover entered his field of vision. As if entranced, he reached out and pulled the book, reading the title written in elaborate font.
“‘Everything About My Lover, From Dating to Nighttime Activities’?”
The extremely provocative title was enough to trigger Melty’s curiosity. He couldn’t understand why such a book would be in the Padrian family library, which was filled with books about herbs, but his mind was instantly filled with the thought, ‘I absolutely must read this!’
To guard against Calix potentially barging in, Melty clutched the book tightly to his chest and walked to the most secluded corner. The narrow space between the wall and the bookshelf seemed a bit tight for a person to enter. However, it was sufficient for Melty with his small build. Starting with his bottom, he wriggled his body in various ways to settle into the crevice, and then regulated his breathing with his heart pounding.
“…Since I’m busy, I should only look a little bit.”
He knew well that he had many tasks to complete, but Melty simply couldn’t resist the temptation of the book. He had completed enough work to meet his daily goal, so he had some time to spare. Suppressing even the sound of his breathing, Melty opened the book.
The book he had intended to peek at only briefly had incredible draw. As he turned the pages of the provocative story, as stimulating as its cover, Melty’s mouth gradually fell open. After quickly reading through to the last chapter, titled “Secret and Incredible Stories,” he shut the book with a loud snap.
His ears twitched, reflecting his racing heartbeat as much as his reddened face. Feeling someone’s gaze fixed on him, Melty slowly turned his head to the side. Naru, who was always stuck close to Melty, was staring at him intently.
“…N-Naru. Did you s-see?”
Melty’s face turned pale as he had completely forgotten Naru’s presence due to always being together. At Melty’s change of expression, Naru opened his mouth wide to yawn and then buried his head in his body, which was neatly wrapped around Melty’s arm.
Seeing Naru seemingly falling asleep, Melty finally released the breath he had been holding and felt relief. Looking sideways at the pink book, Melty’s face flushed red again. Struggling with all his might, he quickly escaped from the secluded corner.
“W-why is a book like this here?!”
He needed to tell Calix immediately. That there was an incredibly stimulating and dangerous book in the Padrian family library… but Melty’s body stiffened as he thought about it. To tell him that story, he would also have to explain how he knew what kind of content the book contained.
– Oh? What’s so stimulating and dangerous about it~?
The voice of Calix with his golden eyes full of mischief automatically popped into his mind. The heat in his face simply wouldn’t subside. Fanning himself, he approached the desk and hurriedly gathered his notebook and other items.
He was so embarrassed and ashamed that he couldn’t possibly stay there any longer. Caressing his still-hot cheeks with the back of his hand, Melty fled the library. Those in the mansion looked at Melty with puzzled expressions as he walked quickly with his head bowed, clutching something to his chest.
He heard someone calling him from behind, but Melty already had no capacity to pay attention to that. No matter how much he tried to take deep breaths, those steamy contents he had seen in the book wouldn’t disappear from his mind. While he wasn’t innocent enough not to know what “nighttime activities” meant, it was the first time in his life he had seen it expressed so explicitly.
‘How can they proudly display something like that in the library? It’s too, too lewd!’
Heat rushed to his cheeks again just as they were beginning to cool down. As he continued to fan himself vigorously, someone blocked Melty’s path. Only after bumping into them with a thud did Melty recognize who it was.
