An agreement between siblings

After Ranger was done talking, he stood back and quietly observed us eat our food in silence. I stood up after eating a few more pieces of meat, which didn't taste delicious anymore after hearing what Ranger said, and stood up to collect the table. Alaric leaned back on his chair after cleaning his plate and watched me pick up the dishes and place them in a trial.

"Ah, by the way... Can you arrange a meeting for me?"

The young man's voice was a little bit low when he addressed Ranger as if he was scared that he would be scolded if he talked to the old man. However, his butler answered him in the same tune he always had, making Alaric relax a little bit in his chair.

"Who do you wish to meet?"

"My sister."

"Pardon?"

Instead of Ranger, I was the one who blurted out that question as soon as I heard the word "sister". As soon as I realized what I had done, I smiled and moved toward Alaric.

"Ahem, Ahem! Pardon!"

I smiled and picked up the plate in front of the young master, pretending that I was asking for his permission to collect the dishes before him. The young man and Ranger didn't mind me and went back to their conversation.

"You wish to meet young lady Elaria? Should I arrange a dinner party for the two of you?"

"No no... Uh, something like... Going there to drink tea and talk? I don't know what you call it in here..."

Ranger nodded his head and said he would talk to the young lady's maids and inform him about the time of the meeting before leaving the room. After picking up all of the dishes on the table, I also headed out of the room, doing my best not to grab Alaric's collar and ask him what was going on inside his head.

'What does he want to discuss with the young lady...'

I didn't even know what conclusion they reached at that dinner party a few nights ago. Did the count agree with Alaric's suggestion about letting his daughter manage some parts of the works of the state?

'I'm so curious...'

Isn't there a way for me to listen to their conversation?

I got my answer a few hours later. After accompanying Alaric to his sister's room, he told me and Ranger to stay outside and don't enter the room until he comes out.

'Let me in! Let me innn!'

I want to know what the two of you are discussing! As someone who has drunk poison and nearly died because of these two crazy siblings, I have the right to know what they are discussing!

But I wasn't allowed to enter. Even when Ranger expressed his worry, the young master didn't change his mind. I couldn't even walk in with the excuse of serving tea and desserts as the young lady's maids were present and were taking care of such things.

I could stay behind the door and hope to hear some words, but that wasn't really helpful. Plus, I didn't really enjoy standing up for hours while being under the direct gaze of Ranger and the maids. Why are the maids looking at me like that anyway? Look, that teenager over there is even giving me a frightening smile. Sigh!

"Old man, I'm going to pack my stuff!"

I didn't wait for Ranger's answer and ran away immediately.

. . . .

"I didn't expect you to request a meeting with me. It's such a surprise..." The young lady shook her head from side to side while wearing an elegant smile. "But you don't need to make a formal request to spend time and drink tea with your sister... It's such a sad thing that you can't see me as a close family member of yours."

The beautiful young girl pointed at a seat as she said those words with a slightly hurt expression. Alaric smiled at his sister and sat on the sofa, but he didn't respond to the girl's previous words. Instead, he changed the subject and jumped to the main reason why he had come here.

"I'll be departing tomorrow."

That was something that the whole mansion already knew, so the young lady didn't have much reaction. Alaric took a deep breath before continuing.

"While I'm not home, you'll have to take care of the things in the state instead of me."

Elaria's thin eyebrows raised a little bit, but she still maintained her calm.

"Father didn't agree with that."

"But he didn't reject it either."

Alaric picked up his cup of coffee, touched the edges of the cup with his finger, and then looked at the tip of his finger under the last rays of the day's sun that were illuminating the room through the window. His actions were that of someone who was searching for anything dirty or harmful in his food. Knowing that there was no way that the cups would be dirty in the count's house, it was clear what he was indicating with his action.

Realizing the meaning behind those actions, the young woman frowned deeply and stated in a low voice.

"That's something rude to do, little brother. I'm not sure what you think of me but-"

"You being in charge of the state's affairs doesn't make you the next hair."

Completely ignoring his sister's words, Alaric talked in a firm and loud voice.

"I'm still the head, while you are the one who will help father manage the state under his orders and while he is observing you. You will learn how the job is done and understand the meaning of being a countess."

"..."

The young lady had long closed his mouth and was focused on Alaric's words.

"I'm still the hair, and I will remain the hair while you'll be doing all these. I can stop your activities whenever I want to. However, it'll be different if you prove you are more capable of managing the state than me!"

The young master paused, drank almost half of his tea in one go, and put the cup down on the table. He kept silent for a few more seconds as if giving his sister the time to consider his offer and think about his words, before smiling widely and reassuming his words.

"You want to be the countess so desperately, so I'll give you the chance to get it. If you CAN, you will become the next ruler of this state, sister." Alaric shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. "Believe me, being the count is not really enjoyable. If it was on me, I'd probably refuse that position... Yeah, I'll refuse that position if you perform well, dear sister. But that's only after our father is satisfied with your abilities..."

Alaric lowered his voice a little bit and suddenly leaned closer to his sister.

"And after you understand how it feels to have such a huge responsibility and consider it well instead of seeking that position out of pure envy and stubbornness."

"...."

Silence descended in the room after Alaric was done talking. The only sound was the sound of two people breathing and the chippings of the words outside the window.

Elaria was staring into his younger brother's eyes with a blank face. She wanted to say something, but no words came to his mind. Shifting her gaze, she glanced at the smile on Alaric's face, that no longer looked sweet and innocent.

After a few minutes of silence, Alaric suddenly picked up his cup and drank the rest of his tea before standing up and smiling at Elaria once again.

"Then, I'll tell father about our agreement. I'm sure he will respect our opinion. Thank you for your hospitality, sister!"

Turning around, the young man walked to the door and left the room, not even glancing at his older sister who was still staring at him in a daze.