Kays Translations

Chapter 232: The Evening Party Begins

“Is this the first time the three of us brothers have bathed together?”

“It may be. At least, I do not remember another time.”

“I have bathed with Brother Alex a few times, but I think this is my first time with Julius.”

The three of us brothers were sharing the bath. I had invited Axel, Ijidol and Nero as well, but they chose to bathe separately. I felt a little guilty about leaving Nero out, though I would probably have declined too if our positions were reversed.

There was one simple reason for this unusual gathering: we were preventing Sister-in-law Meeka from carrying out her plan to bathe with me.

“Meeka has put me in a difficult position. She is the youngest child of Viscount Raniemi, and she has often said that she wanted a younger brother or sister.”

“Then she will be delighted when we return to the territory. Rosalia will be there.”

“I am sure she will. Still, I envy you, Julius.”

Brother Cain gave me a reproachful look. I could only answer with a dry laugh. Being jealous of your own little brother was rather petty. Even Brother Alex was laughing at him.

“Perhaps women naturally feel protective of younger children. Daniela also seems eager to become closer to Julius.”

“Is that not simply because I can make potions?”

“That would not explain why she also suggested bathing with you.”

“Why would she do that!?”

I no longer understood either of my future sisters-in-law. Perhaps they simply enjoyed fussing over a younger brother. Yes, that had to be it. There was no need to invent a stranger explanation.

“Julius, calm yourself. You are trembling.”

“Am I?”

“I truly do envy you, Julius.”

“Do you?”

Brother Alex had relaxed in the bath as well. This seemed like a safe moment to ask what had been bothering me.

“Brother Cain, you really are not attending the soirée? Why?”

“It is held at night. I have ordinary classes at the Royal Academy the following day, and I am also in the middle of training for the swordsmanship tournament.”

“I see. Then the elementary stamina potion you drank today must have been useful.”

Brother Cain nodded deeply. Perhaps he was already imagining sharing it with his friends. I needed to make the limits perfectly clear.

“Just so you know, I cannot make unlimited quantities. The royal family has already requested a regular supply.”

“I-I know.”

He looked away as if wondering how I had read his mind. A potion like this could certainly accelerate sword training, which would make its unrestricted use unfair. Then again, had it been wrong to give bottles to Brother Cain and Sister-in-law Meeka? It was too late to withdraw the offer now.

“Brother Cain, please take no more than one elementary stamina potion per day. That is the limit used by the Royal Knight Order, and I intend to impose the same rule on the royal family.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose it cannot be helped.”

I had to be firm. Drinking several bottles a day would be dangerous. The potion was not chemically addictive, but that invigorating sensation could easily become habit-forming. It was already extremely popular among the knights.

“What are you doing tomorrow, Cain?”

Come to think of it, the Royal Academy would be closed tomorrow. That was why Brother Cain and Sister-in-law Meeka were both staying at the townhouse tonight. Perhaps they planned to go out together. How charming.

“About that… Tomorrow, I was hoping to have a match with Julius.”

“I am sorry, Brother. Tomorrow I must go to the royal castle and make the potions His Majesty requested, so I will not have time.”

“Oh…”

Brother Cain's shoulders slumped. I was sorry to disappoint him, but I had no intention of sparring when it might leave resentment between us later.

Brother Alex seemed to agree and did not object. If he had wanted the match to happen, he would probably have invented some schedule such as, 'Julius cannot do it because he has etiquette lessons.'

A few days after the tea party, the day of the evening party finally arrived. The venue was a ballroom in a secluded wing of the royal castle. The Duke of the North's ability to use a royal venue showed how influential he was. It was probably also why Princess Daniela could attend.

“Everyone appears to be ready.”

The four of us stood in a row before the townhouse. We wore the same splendid formal clothes as at the tea party, but after practising in them every day, we had grown accustomed to the outfits.

“We will be fine. There is no reason to be nervous now.”

“Lord Julius, that is an exaggeration. I am trembling inside.”

“I am certainly more accustomed to this than I was at first, but I am still uneasy.”

Axel and Ijidol protested at once, although they looked far more composed than before. Our short etiquette training camp had not been wasted. I doubted either of them would volunteer for a second one, though.

A carriage bearing the crest of House Heine stopped at the entrance. It was the same carriage I normally used when travelling to the royal castle.

I greeted the familiar driver, climbed aboard and set off with the ease of someone who knew the routine.

“You are more accustomed to visiting the royal castle than I am, Julius.”

“Ahaha… That is because I go there every day to make potions.”

“You work very hard, Julius.”

Brother Alex smiled, but I feared I might eventually be made to live at the royal castle. I was also teaching the royal magic pharmacists to make elementary stamina potions, so surely my duties would end once they had mastered the process.

The problem was that the members of the Royal Magic Pharmacists' Corps adored the elementary stamina potion. They demanded to know why I had not taught it to them sooner.

Faced with an enthusiasm they rarely displayed, I could only retreat and apologise. This was not really my fault, was it?

According to them, “If we had possessed this potion, we could have worked through the night every day making Panacea.” I might have taught them something dangerous. It was too late to undo it, so I would enforce the one-bottle limit and pray that they obeyed it.

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