302 - Tea with a Cousin 3
As I was petting Kokumaro, Basilia slipped out from the circle of children.
I had been wondering if she would be alright on her own, but it seemed Basilia was unexpectedly able to blend in well when I was not around.
At this rate I thought it would not be long before she made a second and third friend, but since she left the circle the moment she spotted me, it might take a little more time.
"Reversi seems to be popular, deshu ne."
"Because the rules are simple and easy to learn."
The children were gathered around tables set up with board games.
There were a few adults playing board games here and there too, but the tables with Reversi boards were overwhelmingly occupied by children.
Unlike Saik, which has complex rules, Reversi was simple enough that you could start playing right away even while learning the rules.
As a game for children to learn social interaction, it was probably just right.
"I started it because I could not remember Saik, but it is strange how it has spread among the nobility in just two years."
"I heard that Alfred-sama and Anselm-sama spread Reversi."
Alfred brought Reversi back from Grenore and taught it to his younger brother and nephew, his brother spread Reversi in the capital together with Alfred, and through the influence of Ethelbert who dragged his nephew all over the country, Reversi also reached nobles living in Lagarette and other cities.
Once you played Reversi, it seemed both children and adults got hooked on its simple rules and the depth of a single move being able to flip the whole game.
...I hear trends spread from the top down, but Ethelbert-sama's wide range of movement is also having an effect, huh.
I never thought it would spread this far in just two years.
It seemed to have spread among the royal family through Alfred in no time, so maybe nobles started learning Reversi in competition to become their playmates.
"...There is one remarkable child, deshu ne."
I spotted a table with an especially large audience and my eyes were drawn to it.
It was a table swarming with children, but a few adults were also peeking at it.
"Remarkable in which sense, I wonder?"
"In the costume sense, of course."
At that table surrounded by spectators sat a well-bred-looking boy with horse ears and a boy wearing a slightly ugly cat headpiece.
The dress code for today was indeed costumes, but everyone was wearing things like dog ears or small wings on their backs, no one was wearing a serious costume that hid their face.
And yet, the cat-head boy had completely covered his head with a cat head, and even wore gloves with paw pads on his hands.
When I observed his hands to see how he grabbed the pieces like that, the paw pad parts seemed to be pockets.
He stuck his fingers out of the pockets to grab the pieces and skillfully flipped over the pieces he had captured.
...Had a kid like that been here before?
I would think a costume that conspicuous would leave an impression, but I had no memory of him at all.
Maybe he arrived while I was in the other room for the tea party with relatives.
"...Huh?"
"You have been called out, I see."
It seemed the match between the cat and the horse-ear boy had been settled.
The horse-ear boy stood up with a slightly frustrated look, and the cat-head boy looked around, then froze as his gaze landed on me.
He beckoned me with his paw-gloved hand, and the surrounding children who caught on burst into cheers.
"The champion has chosen a challenger!"
"This time the challenger is a girl!"
From the children cheering "champion," the boy was probably the strongest around those tables.
All the children around me turned their expectant gazes on me as if to say I was the next challenger, and I was bewildered.
...With everyone happy about their champion, would not it be way too tone-deaf for me to win?
When it comes to Reversi, I have more than a day's worth of experience, so I felt reluctant about joining the children's play circle.
With Saik I could think the conditions were the same for me, and I am still learning how to deliberately control matches, so I could join the children's circle, but Reversi was different.
For me to join the children's circle would be far too unfair.
"I shall decline. Please play with another child."
I said that to refuse, but the cat-head boy stood up and came to fetch me anyway.
This seemed like it would be troublesome to refuse without causing offense.
As I was thinking that, Aristalf cut in between me and the cat-head boy.
As I blinked wondering when he had come out from the other room, Aristalf was already facing the cat-head boy.
"My cousin does not seem to know Reversi, so I will be your opponent."
...I am probably the one who brought Reversi into this world, though.
It seemed Aristalf would take over, so I decided not to clear up that misunderstanding.
Since Alfred was spreading Reversi in the capital, no one should know that I was fairly strong at Reversi.
I could just rely on that misunderstanding and leave the cat-head boy to Aristalf.
...Come to think of it.
I had heard Aristalf had a weak constitution, but he seemed like a kind-hearted boy.
I could not believe he was Bertrand's grandson, but considering that his father Saromon was the same way, maybe their grandmother's blood ran strong.
I never would have imagined he would be the kind of boy who would shield me.
...Huh? Is Aristalf strong at Reversi?
Since he was going to play in my place, I watched the match between Aristalf and the cat-head boy.
The children around called the cat-head boy "champion," so I thought he must be strong, but it seemed I was mistaken.
He was fairly strong, and the board currently favored the cat-head boy, but the tide would turn soon.
That was the nature of Reversi.
"Aristalf-sama, you are very strong at Reversi, deshu ne."
"It is not like I have a body that can go outside much. Board games are about all I have to do."
As expected, the match ended with Aristalf quickly turning the tables.
With the appearance of a new champion, the boys in the audience praised Aristalf, and the girls praised the cat-head boy for his efforts.
"Are you also strong at Saik?"
"I wonder. I learned Saik from my mother... Lately I have just been laying out game records on my own."
Then let us play together, I said, and invited Aristalf to a table set up with Saik.
With Saik, I was also just an ordinary child.
Playing with a child would not be unfair or anything.
"...I lost. Aristalf, you are strong, deshu ne."
I started with great enthusiasm, but the Saik match was Aristalf's victory.
I thought I had held out quite well, but I fell just one step short.
I felt I had gotten to the point where it was really close, so it might have been a difference in experience.
Our study method of laying out game records was the same, but I was a few years shorter than Aristalf in life experience.
"Christina is strong too. Among the same age, you might be the strongest, do not you think?"
"I am still studying how to skillfully draw matches."
From Aristalf's words, I could tell he had been holding back somewhat.
He must have been practicing on me, careful not to win too much or lose too much.
...Even if I reached the same age as Aristalf, it was doubtful I could beat him.
And this was probably talent in a different direction than what Bertrand wanted in an heir.
That muscle-brained grandfather who achieved military exploits surely wanted his grandson to achieve similar military feats.
He was a man who lamented his grandson's frail body and forced his healthy sons to train to the point of breaking their bodies.
He might have thought there was no need to cultivate different kinds of talent.
...Hm?
A shadow fell over the Saik board, and I turned my face toward the source.
Standing there was the cat-head boy who had just lost to Aristalf at Reversi.
"Um... would you like to switch places?"
I asked, thinking he might want a rematch with Aristalf.
Saik had more complex rules than Reversi, but could the cat-head boy manage it?
I was thinking that, but the cat-head boy nodded vigorously, so I decided to give up my seat.
It was important for Basilia to make new friends, but Aristalf also needed friends.
It would surely be better for him to have friends who occasionally came to play than to live alone with the neglectful Bertrand.
...Oh dear, he lost.
From what I could see, the cat-head boy was about evenly matched with Basilia, or perhaps a bit weaker.
He was probably an underwhelming opponent for Aristalf, who was stronger than me.
Having lost at both Reversi and now Saik, the cat-head boy was trembling his paw-gloved hands.
"J-just you wait! I will definitely win next time!!"
His muffled voice rang out through the cat head, and just as I thought he was pointing at Aristalf and declaring war, he kicked his chair and stood up.
For some reason, Basilia chased after the cat-head boy as he headed for the exit with that momentum.
...Come to think of it, that voice sounded familiar?
Considering Basilia chased after him, he might have been an acquaintance of hers.
As I was cleaning up the Saik board and pieces that the cat-head boy had left behind for the next person to use, Aristalf called my name with a serious expression.
"Christina."
"What is it?"
"...I want you to take back what you said to Grandfather earlier."
"When you say earlier... which part do you mean?"
I was aware I had spewed quite a bit of venom at Bertrand, so even if he said to take it back, I did not know which part he meant.
Surely he would not tell me to take all of it back.
"I have not done anything yet, nor could I. There is no reason for me to have merits handed over by my cousin."
...Ah, the merits talk.
It was not the venom toward Bertrand he wanted taken back, it seemed that the offer to transfer merits was something Aristalf could not accept.
For Aristalf, who even a short conversation revealed to be an honest person, merits handed from someone else would surely become a burden.
"But, if I may say so... can you achieve merits, Aristalf-sama?"
For Aristalf, who did not have a healthy body and could not easily stand on the public stage, achieving merits would be extremely difficult.
Even if he tried to earn merits through means other than military exploits, like developing new farming techniques or creating medicines like Saint Yuuta Hiraga, research that did not require physical strength, he would first need the stamina for such research.
For Aristalf, who reportedly nearly died several times a year, such things were surely far beyond his reach.
"...Still, I cannot accept merits handed over by someone else."
"For my part, it is merely severance pay for Bertrand-sama..."
Was this a matter of masculine pride?
It seemed Aristalf could not accept merits he could obtain without doing anything.
Even though he knew they were merits difficult for him to earn on his own, he did not want to reach for the merits dangled before him.
...What a properly principled cousin.
If only he had been born with a healthy body, Bertrand probably would not have thought of bringing me back.
It was only his frail body that was truly a pity for this boy.
"...Then first, please get healthy, Aristalf-sama."
Get healthy, earn your own merits, and become an heir that will not make Bertrand feel anxious, I suggested.
I thought the chances of that happening were low, but since he had the motivation, it would not hurt to offer encouragement.
I could keep forcing my merits on him as a last resort.
"Oh, and as a first step toward health, how about leaving Bertrand-sama's house and living with Aunt Sofiya?"
With a grandfather who starts yelling on a whim nearby, one could not live in peace of mind, I tempted Aristalf.
Mental health was connected to physical health.
Just getting away from Bertrand would reduce his stress.
"...Do not you think you are too cold toward Grandfather, Christina?"
"He is someone who speaks ill of my mother. I will say at least this much."
I tried tempting him by suggesting if he left, he could live with his mother (Sofiya), but Aristalf did not nod.
Because even if his grandfather was a dictator, he did not want to abandon him.
"But then you cannot live with Sofiya-sama, can you?"
"I would be happy if Mother would come back..."
"That is probably impossible, I think."
According to Sofiya, Bertrand had unilaterally driven Sofiya out.
No matter how much she loved her son, Sofiya could not ask to be let back into the house, and her family home would not allow her to say that either.
Incidentally, unless Bertrand himself admitted his actions were a mistake, he would never bow his head to Sofiya.
He had never once apologized to me either for his abuse toward my mother.
...If Bertrand-sama was the kind of person who could "decide after consulting someone," things might have been different, though.
Perhaps that had been the work of his grandmother.
Unfortunately, that grandmother had apparently passed away several years ago.
Regrettably, there was not a single family member left who could stop the rampaging Bertrand.
"Aristalf-sama told me he does not want merits handed over to him."
Having told Bertrand I would give him merits so he would not bother me anymore, I could not simply accept Aristalf's wish.
Since Alfred should have already spoken to Bertrand in accordance with my wishes, it would be best to make sure Aristalf's wish reached Alfred's ears as well.
As I told Alfred about my conversation with Aristalf while being swayed in the carriage on the way back, it seemed Alfred had already heard about Aristalf's feelings.
Apparently after I left the other room, Aristalf had said to Bertrand that he did not need merits handed over by his cousin.
"Bertrand did not accept your terms."
"Is that so?"
He was supposed to want an heir who could obtain merits, yet he did not jump at the merits dangled before him, what a curious story.
I could not imagine that domestic dictator Bertrand would consider Aristalf's feelings, so what wind had blown this way?
"He could obtain merits just by swearing non-interference with me, so what is he thinking, I wonder?"
"You do not understand?"
Alfred's voice lowered slightly, and I knew he was being serious.
At the sense of discomfort I had also felt when leaving the other room, I straightened my posture and tried to think about Bertrand.
"...I still do not understand."
I tried thinking, but I could not even imagine why Bertrand had not taken the merits, so I quickly raised the white flag.
There was no way I could understand Bertrand's thoughts when I felt I could never see eye to eye with him.
"Tina, what would happen if Bertrand obtained the merits?"
"Merit Peerage would become Loyalty Peerage, and Aristalf-sama's children would also count as nobles."
I noticed he had called me by my nickname (Tina) again, and decided to observe Alfred closely instead of Bertrand.
Earlier too, when I felt strangely uncomfortable, I should have been called by my nickname.
"What you are saying, Tina, is what the merits would bring to the Cantar family, not what would happen to Bertrand."
...Ah, I see. This was being treated like a child.
I was usually treated like a child, but I think Alfred was treating me as even more of a child than usual with this.
Like explaining something broken down for a child, he was carefully chewing it up and trying to make me realize something.
...So it is about what would happen if Bertrand-sama received merits from me, right?
Of course.
"Since he would be agreeing to not interfere with me, he would not be able to announce that he is my grandfather or try to bring me back home."
When I said it would be peaceful, he pinched my cheek.
It seemed I had said something wrong.
"Tina, are you not a little too cold toward your family?"
"Aristalf-sama said the same thing, but my family right now is only Leonyaldo Big Brother-sama."
Also Tabitha and Bart at the Grenore residence, and Kalisa are included.
In terms of important people, Elke and Petrona might also be included now.
"Is it her original personality, or did Leonardo isolate her too much..."
"I think it is from the start."
Leonardo did fuss over me, but basically he was the type to prepare tutors and nurse maids and then leave me alone.
He was an important family member I recognized as my brother, but I had doubts if "isolated" was the right word.
...Well, I myself tend to be a shut-in, though.
Even so, it was different from what the word "isolated" conjured.
"...Bertrand, who refused the merits, must want his granddaughter (Tina) more than the merits."
Come to think of it, his wife predeceased him, all three of his sons also predeceased him, and of the several grandchildren he had, only Aristalf remained.
Alfred said it would not be strange for him to want to call over another grandchild if he learned one was still alive.
"I am disappointed in you, Alfred-sama. You have been won over."
"Even you are not really fine with leaving things as they are with your grandfather, are you?"
When he pointed that out, it was hard to deny.
Indeed, I had thought once or twice that if I had a grandfather or grandmother, I would be curious about their existence.
After hearing about the rift between Bertrand and my father, I firmly decided to refuse, but it was also true that my impression of Bertrand as someone else's grandfather had been favorable.
"I absolutely do not want to be separated from Leo. ...But if we keep a reasonable distance, I would be fine with being grandfather and granddaughter."
As long as it was a grandfather I met occasionally on bon festival or New Year's, I did not mind Bertrand being my grandfather.
I did not want to be dragged back to the family home my father had fled, and I did not want to be separated from my family (Leonardo).
"As things are, I must refuse, but well... how about apologizing to Sofiya-sama and having her come home, and first try making Aristalf-sama happy?"
I also minded how he spoke ill of my mother, but first I wanted him to make the grandchild at hand happy before reaching out to the new grandchild.
There was no way Bertrand, who could not make Aristalf happy, could make me happy.
I did not intend to seriously wave around the ridiculous argument that as my grandfather he should make his granddaughter happy, but that did not mean I wanted to be caught by someone I knew would make me unhappy.
I wanted him to prove he had the capability to make at least one grandchild happy and put my mind at ease.
"So it is possible to reconcile, but you do not want to live together?"
"Something like that, I think."
Since Bertrand had put accepting the merits on hold, I could not do anything from my side as before, and I would not do anything.
I would probably watch and wait for a while.
...I wish Leonyaldo-san would come home soon.
It had not looked very amicable, but recalling the image of grandfather and grandchild side by side, I found myself missing my brother (Leonardo)'s face.
Aristalf is the good-natured type who takes after his grandmother. Tina is the stubborn type who takes after Bertrand.
Will fix typos and errors at a later date.