Chapter 109
A few days had passed since the date with Reina.
As previously planned, Clael decided to show up at a certain place.
It was one of the mansions in the noble district of the royal capital... the mansion of the Byrne Marquis family.
"It's been a while, brother."
"Ah, Clael. You look well."
As Clael visited the Byrne Marquis family, he was warmly greeted by his older brother, Asuel Byrne.
Over ten years older than Clael. His facial features were similar, but he gave off a worn-out, somewhat jaded impression.
The location was the marquis family's lounge. It wasn't the reception room for guests, but a room reserved for family and close friends.
Sitting across the round table, his brother tilted a glass of brandy and gave a cynical smile.
"Has it already been six years since you left the house?"
"If you count the time I entered the academy dormitory, it's close to ten years."
"Right... has it really been that long? You hardly ever show your face, so I almost forgot your name."
"Well, it couldn't be helped. This house wasn't exactly the easiest place to return to. No one wants to visit a home where they don't know when they might get stabbed in the back."
In response to his brother's sarcasm, Clael gave his honest thoughts.
Clael was the fifth son of the Byrne Marquis family.
Besides the eldest brother Asuel, there were three other brothers... but all of them had left the marquis family for one reason or another.
The reason they left was due to a succession dispute. The second to fourth sons tried to steal the title and fortune from Asuel, which led to their expulsion from the family.
Fortunately, the dispute hadn't escalated into murder... but it came dangerously close, and some of the brothers had even ended up in prison.
"...It's been quite a while since those three left the marquis family. Now, you're the only one I can sit down and drink with like this."
Asuel said with a tired expression and poured brandy into the glass placed in front of Clael.
Drinking alcohol wasn't forbidden by the teachings of the shrine. Clael picked up the glass.
The fact that Clael and Asuel could talk peacefully like this was almost a miracle.
That's because... while the four brothers were covered in blood over the succession, Clael, who had no ambition at all, had quickly entered the academy dormitory and distanced himself from the marquis family.
After graduation, he declared early on that he would become a priest and leave the marquis family, allowing him to escape without getting involved in the succession dispute.
Thanks to that, his relationship with the eldest brother who won the dispute and inherited the marquis title remained good.
He was the only one among the brothers still allowed to bear the 'Byrne' name, and there was no friction between him and Asuel.
(Though... even if there's no friction, he probably still feels some lingering guilt.)
Clael gave a wry smile as he sipped his brandy.
Every time they met, Asuel would make bitter remarks toward Clael, who had escaped the succession battle.
While he was grateful that Clael hadn't tried to steal the family title, it likely still didn't sit right with him that Clael was the only one who fled from the bloody conflict.
"By the way... I heard about it. I can't believe you were officially recognized as a Saint."
"Yeah... well, it just happened. I'm surprised myself."
"And becoming the guardian of the Saint is something else. I thought you'd gone off to the countryside, but you sure surprised me. Thanks to that, we've been getting proposals from people wanting to build ties with the marquis family, and even some matchmaking photos."
"Ugh..."
Clael grimaced.
He had no good memories of matchmaking. It was practically becoming a trauma.
"...Please turn down the matchmaking proposals. I've had enough of that."
"Oh? Did something happen?"
"Just when I give the okay, they go and reject me. I can't take it anymore... I'm taking a break from marriage hunting for a while."
He downed the glass of liquor and let out a big sigh.
"Now that I've become a teacher at the academy... I'll focus on my work for a while."
"Oh? So you became a teacher. That means you'll be staying in the royal capital for a while?"
"Yes, that's the plan. If you need anything, please contact me at the Royal Academy's staff dormitory."
"Ah... by the way, there's something I should let you know. It seems Girael has returned to the royal capital."
"...Brother Girael?"
Girael was the fourth son of the Byrne Marquis family.
He had teamed up with a thieves' guild to try and kill Asuel and steal the title and fortune... but was discovered at the last moment and fled.
Girael had been wanted as an accomplice of the thieves' guild... but now, he had apparently returned to the royal capital?
"That guy's filthy with money... if he finds out you became a Saint, he might try to contact you. Be careful if that happens."
"............"
Clael silently took the brandy bottle and poured it into both his and his brother's glasses.
(It really feels like things are starting to move all over the place...)
Clael returned to the royal capital, became a Saint, and a teacher. People from the Holy Nation of Shinecross had started reaching out to him.
And now, even a wanted brother was making an appearance?
(There's a flow to things. Maybe the dammed-up current has started moving because of some trigger...)
From Clael's experience, during times like this, both good and bad things tend to come crashing down all at once.
"...I'll take your advice to heart. Brother."
With just those words, Clael downed the brandy in one gulp.