Kays Translations

Chapter 269: Help Me, Sister-in-law!

“Julius?”

“Help me, Sister-in-law Daniela!”

Once the meeting in Father's study ended and every task had been delegated to Brother Alex, we returned to the salon. Brother Alex immediately began closing the distance between us, so I took refuge beside Sister-in-law Daniela.

“Oh my. What has happened?”

Sister-in-law Daniela smiled like the sun, plainly delighted that her younger brother-in-law was relying on her. She was Brother Alex's weakness, and I knew it.

“Really, Julius. I cannot take my eyes off you for even a moment. I knew that already, but witnessing it firsthand is something else.”

Brother Alex gave a low, ominous chuckle. There was no escaping now. I could only brace myself.

When he explained the recent events, Sister-in-law Daniela looked surprised but also thoroughly delighted.

“As expected of my wonderful little brother-in-law. It seems we shall have no shortage of work. The future may be uncertain, but that is precisely what makes it rewarding.”

She spoke with shining eyes and unmistakable enthusiasm.

“You seem far happier here than you ever did at the royal castle.”

Brother Alex sounded slightly incredulous. Sister-in-law Daniela turned towards him so quickly that her skirts rustled.

“Of course I am. Here, I can test my own abilities. Compared with the limited duties available to a princess, this is tremendously exciting.”

She narrowed her eyes in bliss. It seemed I had done something useful after all. Keep up the good work, Sister-in-law Daniela. The day you became the leading lady of House Heine might not be far away.

“Julius, what trouble have you caused this time? The usual?”

“That does not sound like praise, Brother Cain.”

“It was not meant to be.”

“You could at least soften the delivery.”

He had no responsibility for the new project, so naturally he could remain relaxed. Sister-in-law Meeka, however, looked fascinated and quickly stepped closer.

“I heard you made a magic potion that cleans clothes exceptionally well.”

“Yes. It is called liquid detergent. The territorial knights are using it, so why not try it tomorrow?”

Her enthusiasm was obvious. I smiled back and did my best to keep my gaze politely on her face.

“Let us do that. Then it will not matter if our clothes become muddy during training.”

She looked ready to burst into song. Still, was it really appropriate for a noblewoman to be regularly covered in mud? Brother Alex and Sister-in-law Daniela exchanged uncertain smiles, so perhaps it was not especially praiseworthy. Brother Cain, on the other hand, looked pleased.

After dinner, I shut myself in the workshop so I could finish the household shrine as quickly as possible. I obviously would not be joining everyone in the bath tonight. Rosalia and Mira seemed eager to repeat the family bath, but Mother firmly put a stop to that plan.

“So this is the household shrine. You managed to build this much without even drawing blueprints?”

“The spirit showed me the design in my mind, so I am following that. I shall draw proper blueprints later.”

That was, of course, a lie. I was using household shrines from my former world as references. I was sorry to deceive him, but I could not reveal the truth yet.

The holy dragon was regarded as sacred in this world, so I decorated the shrine with carvings inspired by what Mira might look like when fully grown. I thought they had turned out rather well.

“Now I only need a spirit stone for the innermost chamber. Ah, this crystal will do.”

Crystal was sometimes used in magic tools, so it was suitable for the purpose. Since I did not know when I would next be able to buy a gemstone, I gratefully used what I had. With Craft, I shaped it into a perfectly spherical bead. There. Finished.

“Amazing. I have never seen a crystal polished into such a perfect sphere.”

“Really? It was nothing special. Rosalia could probably do it as well.”

“She also possesses Craft, so I expect she could.”

I placed the crystal sphere on a wooden pedestal, completing the spirit stone. It looked better than I had expected.

“That should do. Now I shall seal the innermost door so it can never be opened.”

“You are sealing it? That seems rather wasteful.”

“Hee-hee. One must never peek at the spirits' hidden forms.”

“I understand.”

Nero accepted my explanation. Once I had firmly sealed the innermost door, the household shrine was complete. It was compact enough to carry in both hands. Until the courtyard site was ready, I decided to keep it in my room.

“That is enough work for today. We shall install it in the courtyard another day. For now, I will keep it in my room.”

“I shall carry it for you.”

“Thank you, Nero.”

On the way back to my room, we encountered Rosalia and Mira. Rosalia tilted her head at the unfamiliar object, while Mira spotted the carving based on them and immediately bounded towards it.

“Kyuu!”

“Mira, calm down. Your headbutts hurt. Be gentle, or you will knock me over.”

“Kyuu!”

Still excited, Mira continued headbutting me. It was a rather peculiar way to express affection. Perhaps using Mira as the model had been a mistake, but it was too late to remake the shrine now. They would be disappointed if I changed it.

Rosalia and Mira followed me into my room. I wondered whether that was wise, but I nodded to Nero, and he quietly left—probably to fetch Mother.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter