Chapter 63 - Brothers and Nightmares
Author’s Note: This chapter is about Volf and his older brother.
Volf had returned to the Scafarotto family’s secondary residence after quite some time.
From the window of his room, it felt as though the trees in the garden had suddenly grown taller.
Although it was supposed to be his home, the last time he had visited was about one season ago.
The servants were moving about in a rather restless manner.
At that moment, he thought to himself that he felt much more at ease in the Green Tower than here. Just as he thought that, he pressed his fingers to his temple, where a sharp pain had struck.
The day before, he had been talking casually with Ivano, and his true feelings had slipped out.
He hadn’t thought that Dahlia might be listening, and now he felt utterly embarrassed.
He imagined that she must have disdained him, but since they had returned home in separate carriages, he hadn’t been able to apologize properly before heading back to the barracks.
As soon as he returned, he had tried to write an apology letter, but was called to meet with the captain instead.
After reporting on the progress of the five-toed socks and insoles, he was thanked profusely and treated to a fine meal and drinks at a good restaurant, only to return to the barracks in the dead of night.
Then, this morning, he came to the secondary residence.
Now, he was about to meet with the last person he wanted to see.
In order to brace himself, he wore the same black knight's uniform he had worn the previous day. Honestly, he was more nervous about this meeting than about encountering any monsters.
The meeting with his father was something he himself had requested.
Yesterday, while Dahlia was discussing matters with the head of the small goods workshop, he had spoken with the notary public, Dominic.
Being somewhat inexperienced with business, he had received various pieces of advice from Dominic.
Among the things he had said, Dominic had insisted that if Volf was to become a guarantor for the company, and with the company doing business with the Chivalric Order, it was necessary for him to pay his respects to the Scalfarotto family and report in.
Honestly, he had been torn.
His feelings were about 70% inclined toward avoiding the meeting.
He had barely ever spoken to his father. He didn’t even know how his father would react to such an unexpected report. He wasn’t even sure if he could manage to arrange the meeting in the first place.
But, if it would benefit the Rossetti Company even a little, he decided he would go through with it.
While at the guild, he had sent a messenger to his father and received a response: "Tomorrow morning, during tea time, at the secondary residence."
While waiting for his father in the secondary residence, he entered the room where his mother’s belongings were stored.
When he had moved from the main residence to here, everything of his mother’s had been transferred as well.
Books, clothes, ornaments—though far fewer than most noblewomen would have, they still filled a whole medium-sized room. Additionally, there were several suits of armor and swords in a separate room.
It was a room he rarely entered, but the servants had evidently been thoughtful. The cleaning had been done adequately.
He searched through the bookshelf and found the book on noble conversations and some notes, which he tucked into his black leather bag.
It would be better to give them to Dahlia early for her to read.
During their meeting, Dahlia had said, "I trust you, Fortunato-sama, so I leave everything to you."
If taken the wrong way, those words could have meant, "I consider you my knight."
Volf had been momentarily stunned by her words and felt terribly flustered.
He knew she hadn’t meant it like that, but he couldn't help worrying about what might happen if the person she said it to misunderstood.
It wasn’t really his place to say anything, but he thought it would be best to keep an eye out for his friend’s safety.
"Volfred-sama, Guido-sama has arrived."
"I’ll be right there."
The moment he stepped out of the room, he received a report from a servant, and for a brief moment, he wondered if he had misheard.
It wasn’t his father, Renato, but rather his brother, Guido, who had arrived.
Entering the parlor, he saw Guido, the eldest son of the Scalfarotto family.
"Long time no see, Volfred."
"It’s been a while, Brother."
Guido, with his silver hair tinged with blue and deep blue eyes, looked just like their father. He was sitting there, wearing a dark navy three-piece suit.
Separated by the table, Volf sat across from his eight-year-older brother.
When the maid brought tea, Guido addressed the servant and dismissed everyone else.
The spacious parlor was now just for him and his brother.
"Father was called to the royal palace early this morning. He regrets not being able to meet with you. I apologize, but would it be all right if I act as his representative for this conversation?"
Volf felt a bit of sympathy for his brother, who seemed to be struggling with his words.
Most likely, their father hadn’t intended to come and had arranged for a proxy from the start.
It had been about a season since he had last seen Guido, and that time, they had only exchanged greetings.
"Yes, that’s fine. I’ve become a guarantor for a company and we have entered a transaction with the Chivalric Order's Monster Subjugation Force. I expect there will be future dealings with the royal castle and others, so I’m here to report on that. I’ve summarized the details here."
Worried about possibly stumbling during the explanation, he had asked Dominic and Ivano to summarize everything.
Guido took the two sheets of parchment, quickly scanning them with his eyes.
Afterward, he laid both sheets on the table as if to check each item carefully.
"It seems you’ve made a very good connection."
"Yes, I’m very grateful for it."
He found it hard to gauge the exact meaning behind his brother’s words, so he chose to respond with neutral words in return.
"Father said that you’re free to manage everything in this secondary residence, including the staff. I suppose the Rossetti Company doesn’t have a building yet? If you need to make introductions or arrangements with nobles, it would be easier to proceed here than through the Merchant Guild. Also, if you need water or ice magic stones, just send someone to the manor. I’ll arrange it."
"Thank you very much."
"If there's any personnel you're looking for or if you run into trouble, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll do whatever I can to help."
"That would be immensely helpful.
Volf bowed his head sincerely.
Although he currently had no plans to engage in discussions with nobles, he appreciated the offer to supply magic stones and to have someone he could consult with should the need arise.
"By the way, this is a bit sudden, but... Volfred, have you considered marriage yet? If you have a preference, I can help you find a noblewoman who would suit you."
"I am not considering it, so I must decline."
"I see, I thought it might be a good time given your age..."
He was caught off guard by the sudden remark, but his brother’s words were suddenly hesitant.
Sensing something was off, he raised his gaze, only to find a pair of deep blue eyes intently staring at him.
"...Are you still seeing Madam Gastoni?"
"Yes, we have a good relationship."
He understood his brother's concern.
His brother likely wanted to say that Volf shouldn’t remain in the role of the Duchess’s paramour forever and should settle down.
"Uhm...I heard that this was the first time you contacted Father."
"Is that so? I’ve never really needed to, so I hadn’t thought to contact him until now.”
Volf deliberately avoided a direct affirmation and feigned confusion.
What could he possibly want from a father who had neglected him and hardly ever spoke to him?
He was grateful, however, for the fact that he had been provided with food, clothing, and shelter, and had lacked for nothing in that regard.
"Do you plan to leave the Scalfarotto family in the future?"
"That is... I do intend to become independent eventually."
He hadn't expected to be asked about leaving the house so suddenly, so he became a little flustered.
He rephrased it as "independent," trying to cover it up, but he felt that there was a hint of affirmation in his voice.
"I thought this whole thing was initiated to prepare for you leaving the family..."
"No, the company is a completely separate matter."
"I see. Is there anything you need right now, anything you want?"
"Not at the moment. The people at the Chivalric Order have been good to me, and I’ve also received support from the family."
"Have you considered transferring from the Monster Subjugation Force to another unit?"
"I haven’t thought about it."
"Would you consider leaving the 'Scarlet Armor' unit?"
"At this time, no."
The barrage of questions was starting to wear on him.
His brother had sent gifts when Volf graduated from the academy and joined the Chivalric Order, but they had never discussed his future or career path before. They did not get along well enough for that.
Volf felt that Guido was trying to play the role of an "older brother," but it bothered him.
"Is something wrong, Brother?"
He directed the gaze he had been casting at his brother's mouth straight into his eyes without hesitation.
His deep blue eyes, the same as their father's, wavered intensely with light before closing and looking downward.
"I’m sorry, I know you’ve been avoiding me. I’ve used the lack of opportunity to talk as an excuse and avoided facing this, but... I’ve always wanted to apologize."
Guido stood up and bowed deeply on the spot.
"I’m truly sorry. If you and Vanessa-sama hadn’t protected us that day, Mother and I would have died. I can’t make up for the fact that I couldn’t save Vanessa-sama, or that I took your mother from you, but please allow me to apologize."
"...Please raise your head. There is nothing for you to apologize for."
Volf felt a flood of painful memories return, as though it had just happened yesterday.
The bright midday sun, the green of the roadsides, the burned carriage, the fallen men, and his mother’s body split in two on the ground.
His bloodstained hands.
"If I had fought, Vanessa-sama might not have died... No, as a man, as a brother, I should have been the one to protect Vanessa-sama and you, even if it meant dying."
"...Please retract that statement, Brother."
Volf’s voice came out colder and more cutting than he had intended.
What his mother, as a knight, risked her life to protect was Guido and Guido's mother.
The one who failed to protect his mother was none other than her son—himself.
It was not the responsibility of this man whom his mother had chosen to protect.
"That day, it was Mother’s choice to fight."
"But if I, with my magic, had gone out first..."
"If the person she protected said that he should have died instead, it would dishonor Mother—no, the knight 'Vanessa Scalfarotto'. Please retract that statement."
Volf likely had a fierce glare in his eyes at that moment. He knew it wasn’t a look that should be directed at his brother.
Yet, he still couldn’t conceal his feelings.
"I’m sorry... I’ll take back what I said."
"Thank you. I apologize for my disrespectful words."
Guido sat back down on the sofa and let out a shallow sigh.
Volf turned his gaze away from his brother, looking toward the window.
Through the open window, he could see the green grass and white flowers in the flowerbed.
"I thought I deserve to be resented and avoided by you, Volf."
"I don’t resent you, nor have I been avoiding you. It’s just... I’ve spent so much time living in the secondary residence and the barracks that I had become distant from the family."
"I’m sorry. I should have apologized earlier and talked with you."
"No."
It was all in the past now. There was nothing left to say.
The light chirping of the birds felt jarring in the silence. He waited for his brother’s next words.
"...That day, when you were fighting, I froze in fear. I couldn’t push away Mother, who tried to protect me. When I got out of the carriage, everything was red... I still dream of Vanessa-sama and the knights who had fallen..."
Stunned by the strained voice, he looked at Guido.
His brother’s hands were clenched on the desk, trembling slightly, and his nails were digging into his palms.
It was a gesture that reminded Volf of his own subconscious actions when waking from his nightmares.
"I’m truly a pathetic brother, and I’m sorry..."
"No, I’ve had similar dreams."
His words slipped out before he could stop them.
His brother’s face snapped up, and looked at him.
There was confusion, surprise, and understanding in both their expressions, and they both nodded, bitterly.
"...If only there were a way to stop seeing those nightmares."
"If that’s the case, Volfred, I’d recommend marriage. It probably won’t stop them, but it might lessen them a little."
"It sounds like a difficult solution, but I’ll keep it in mind."
He gave a wry smile, and Guido returned it with one of his own.
"I’ve never done anything brotherly for you, but if you’re willing, let me make up for it a bit. If you ever need anything, whether for the company or the royal castle, don’t hesitate to ask."
"Thank you. I don’t know much about business affairs, so I’ll consult you when the time comes... Oh, if I may, could I ask for materials for magic enchantment?"
"Of course. I’ll try to get them for you as soon as possible. What kind of material are you looking for?"
"'Fairy crystals.'"
"Fairy crystals... You’re looking for something rare, aren’t you? Understood. I’ll contact the merchants, and I’ll have it delivered once I find it."
"Thank you."
Encouraged by his brother’s words, Volf spoke a bit more openly.
It was fairy crystals that Dahlia had been struggling to find.
Given the connections of the Scalfarotto family, he thought it might be found sooner than expected.
"Perhaps you should talk to Father, too."
"If there’s an opportunity..."
He had been avoided again today, but he wasn’t sure whether his brother noticed or was trying to act as a bridge.
Noticing Volf’s hesitation, his brother continued.
"I’m sorry that I can only visit her a few times a year... However, I believe Father goes to Vanessa-sama’s grave every month."
"I see..."
Perhaps, his mother had been loved by his father more than he had realized.
Even just knowing that was enough for him.
It didn’t matter if he wasn’t part of that connection. After all, he was already an adult.
"I pray that you stop having those nightmares from that day."
His brother said as they were about to part ways, smiling softly.
Watching his brother’s back as he left, Volf suddenly remembered something.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t had those nightmares in a long while.
He traced his memory back to when it had stopped, and then a smile appeared on his face.
Since the day he met Dahlia, he hadn’t had a single bad dream.
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