Chapter 58: Sometime the Elder, Always the Younger

Shes such a cheerful child? I want to try meeting her.

Yeah, I think Mother will love her too.

Saying so, Leo started drinking his tea.

The next day, Leo was visiting Mitsuba to tell her that he has to head to the south soon.

Mitsuba didnt say anything special to her busy son. If she told him to do his best then he will unnecessarily try even harder than he needs to and even if she told him to restrain himself he is a child that would tell her that he would do his best anyway.

Therefore, Mitsuba did not mention anything related to his mission and asked him about something else. thats how the topic turned toward Rita.

I think it would be great if Rita could be Christas friend.

There was not a shred of possibility that his mother would deny his idea.

Normally one would expect a question like, which house does she come from but that kind of subject is unrelated to Mitsuba. Regardless of your status, you should associate yourself with good people and not with bad people. Thats what Mitsuba always tells them.

Since Christa is a girl, she doesnt have many friends. The noble will only get along with you well on the surface but it would be reassuring if she can have a friend of the same age she can trust.

Yes, thats right. If theres a chance I will bring her along next time.

Ara Ara, for you to support that child to such extent, you must really take a liking to her arent you.

I like that kind of child. Christa is a quiet one so I think she would be a good match for her.

Really? Then in a few more years, wont you take her as a bride?

Leo smiled at his mothers teasing words.

He doesnt look at Rita that way since she is still a child.

However, if he is going to take a wife then he thinks it would be nice to have a cheerful girl like her.

Still, since he doesnt know what to follow up after he said that, he chooses to give his mother a vague reply instead.

I cant think about having a wife in such a situation. If things calm down a bit I might consider having one if I meet a nice woman like Rita.

You are such a boring child. If you are like that then she might be taken by Al you know?

Hahaha, certainly, Nii-san really is surrounded by good women isnt he.

Its not a time to laugh right. Listen, Leo! A good woman doesnt fall in love with a perfect man you know.

Then its alright. I have a lot of disappointing parts too after all.

It might be true from my point of view but thats not how other girls see you right? Show more of your disappointing places to the world will you? You should be a little more selfish. Anyone needs to have some part of them that is different from others you know.

I will keep it in mind.

Saying so, Leo drinks all his tea and gets up from his chair.

His mother might start to lecture him on how to make a good woman fall for him after all.

Then I will be excusing myself.

Seriously..take care of yourself okay.

Yes.

Saying so, Leo left Mitsuba behind.

On the way back.

Leo headed to the castle square on a whim.

As the name implies, Castle of the Imperial Sword has a shape similar to a sword with the part of it protruding from both sides like a sword guard. That part became an open space where the training of the knight candidates took place.

Originally, what is being done at the castle is not the training of regular knight candidates.

Normal knight candidates have a proper school to train them while the training at the castle square is for the talented people who are too poor and cant afford to enter knight school. Even immigrants and the poor should be given a chance to become a knight if they have potential, that was the Crown Princes proposal.

None of them ever entered the imperial knight order but after they graduated they became knights serving the local lords, adventurers or join the army. Each of them carves out their own path.

At that square, it seems that the training is already over for the day.

The trainees are no longer there, Leo is somewhat disappointed but.

KUU-CHAN! !

He immediately got sent flying.

Leo smiles at the loud voice of a child.

However, when he looked at the source of the voice, he hid himself behind a pillar.

The reason is.

Ri, Rita..you are too loud

The Ku-chan that Rita was waving at was actually Christa.

(TLN: Christa Kurisutaa Ku Kuu-chan.)

She is nervously talking to Rita while holding her usual bunny doll.

Leo was impressed at the unexpected sight.

I see.they were friends already huh..it seems my help is unnecessary then.

What help?

! ?

Alright, dont shout.

A finger was put over his mouth to prevent him from screaming.

It was Elna who showed up.

Elna gently peers at Christa from the shadow of the pillar where Leo was hiding.

Then,

As I thought, blood is really thicker than water huh..

Yeah. Christa is more or less our little sister after all. It seems she managed to find herself a good friend isnt she.

Not that, I was talking about you and His Highness Traugott. Peeking at Her Highness Christa from the shadow like this is exactly like what His Highness Traugott would do. And if you were peeking at the other girl then as your childhood friend, let me take some distance away from you now.

.Unn?

Dont tell me, both of them?

It, Its, Its now like that! You got the wrong idea..!

Seeing Elna seriously widen the distance between them, Leo understands that there must be some kind of serious misunderstanding going on so he tried to solve it but hearing his loud voice, Rita curiously came over to investigate.

AaH! Leo-nii!

Saying so, Rita happily hugs Leo.

After seeing that, Elnas face turned serious.

Leo who thought that the situation has turned dangerous tried to say something to get out of this situation.

Th, this is a misunderstanding! Its not like that, we dont have that kind of relationship, Uh, Ummmm.

.

With his suspicious attitude, her suspicion only grew stronger.

At that time, Christa came over.

Leo-niisama? Elna too

Its been a long time, Your Highness.

Long time no see..Does Rita know Leo-niisama..?

Un! He took me to his room the day before!!

For a moment, Leo and Elnas minds shut down.

Christa said, Oh so that was the case, but Elna is now worked up by the unlikely possibility.

D, D, D, Dont tell meyou really..

I, Its not like that you know? Elna, this is a misunderstanding, see..

Leo is wondering what to say to counter Ritas well-timed statement.

In the meantime, Rita is doing whatever she wants by hugging Leo and hanging from his arm.

However, the situation was really dangerous.

Feeling the presence of a person, Leo looks at the entrance of the square.

At that place, Finne is standing while holding her mouth with both of her hands.

Realizing that the situation is getting more and more complicated, Leo tried to explain the situation to her but before he could do that Finne started nervously fidgeting.

A, Al-sama! Le, Leo-sama has awakened to his little girls hobby! W, What should I do!? How should I put this to not hurt Leo-sama!?

Without being able to say that he is already hurt, Leo drops his shoulders.

As he was prepared to be made fun of, Al showed his face.

Then,

What are you talking about?

A, Al! Leo has fallen on the same path as His Highness Traugott!?

W, What shall we do!?

The same path as Traugott-niisan huh. That persons level of pervertedness is too high to be imitated by Leo you know. He still hasnt fallen yet so calm down.

What kind of explanation is that!? Theres nothing comforting about that at all! Properly solve the misunderstanding for me Nii-san

Ha Ha Ha, I know so calm down.

Saying so, Al approaches Rita who was hanging on Leos hand.

Rita notices Al and opens her mouth in surprise.

Wha, What!!?? Two people with the same face!?

No doubt about it then. You are the girl Gai was talking about right.

Wha, How did you know Senseis name!? You have the same face as Leo-nii as well..you must be a powerful mage in disguise right! Return Leo-niis face now!!

Saying so, Rita thrusts at Al.

However, Al uses the difference in their reach and hold Ritas head at a distance.

You coward!

As expected of Gais pupil. Shes quite a stupid one. Alright, listen here. I am Arnold. I am Leos elder twin brother.

T, win..?

Un.Al-nii-sama..both of them are Christas nii-sama.

Perhaps her processing power is quite low, Rita was mulling over that for a while and smack her fist on her palm as she understood what I told her.

Then she points at Al.

Al-niis main feature is his ruffled hair!

Next, she points at Leo.

And Leo-niis is that he is an Ikemen!

What is that. We have the same face, right?

Tsk tsk Tsk! Dont look down on Rita! Rita knows what an Ikemen looks like you know! Right! Leo-nii!

That is Nii-san you know.

Rita hugged the same place she did before and look at the source of the voice.

There was a well-dressed and tidied hair man there.

Looking back, she found a man in the opposite direction with the same face, clothes, and hair.

U, Uwoooooo!!?? Leo-nii has a clone!!?? H, how terrifying! This is the power of twin huh!

Al-niisama..please dont tease Rita so much.

Hahaha. Sorry, sorry.

Al ruffles his hair back to its original appearance and undone the button on his shirt.

He then ruffles Ritas hair and turns back.

See you then. I have something to do so you three can play together by yourselves.

Something Nii-san have to do?

I will do the job in your stead. You have to go to the south soon right? Play with Christa and that girl as much as you want. Christa also wants to play with Leo right?

Un

Rita wants to play too!

Yeah, take care of my little brother and sister.

Eh!? Nii-san!?

Dont take her into your room alright.

Wait! Its not like that!? Dont strangely put it like that!? Its not like that at all alright!?

Taking Finne and Elna with him, Al leaves behind Leo who is waving at him in panic.

Why are you in such a good mood?

Yes, Al-sama looks so happy somehow.

Really? Well, that might be the case. I get to see Leo acting as himself after a long time after all. Its been quite a long time since he can relax his shoulder like that. I guess I will have to thank Rita for that huh.

With that said, Al fixes his appearance and adjusts his hair.

He then straightens his back and unusually shows his motivation.

Alright, guess I will have to try harder for Leo as well huh.

Geez.you really do your best when it comes to Leo dont you, Al.

Hes my little brother after all.

Such a great brotherly love!

While having such a conversation, they climbed up the stairs.

In the end, Al has no idea that Leo would be abused by the two little girls at the square until sunset.

Damn it.so this is your plan, Nii-san

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