I Will Return My New Brother

“Truthfully, career counseling isn’t needed for Young Lady Miller.”

Orion nodded as though he agreed with what Professor Grein said.

“Not only are her grades high, but her friendships are very amicable.”

There was a lot of meaning in the intense gaze looking at me while talking about my friendship, but I acted to not notice it.

Recently, my reputation within the academy was splitted perfectly into two.

Disliking me, or trying to be my subordinate.

“However, this meeting is arranged to know the Duchy’s stance. As you know, Miss Miller’s identity is special.”

He stopped talking.

Orion’s face was unexpectedly calm.

“The academy is considering whether it is necessary to discuss the career path in advance.”

Most of the students who received counseling had nothing to do with employment.

They likely had their status rose through remarriage like in my case, or their aristocratic ranks rose, or they fell behind in successor competition.

This was counseling to explore their future careers.

As it was not Bertin’s intention to become a paladin in the first place, this was about whether my career should be decided in consultation with the Duke of Miller family.

“She stated that she wanted to pursue a career as an administrator or a researcher.”

“She can do that if she wants to.”

“The academy wants to know the expected future career of Miss Miller from the family—”

“It’s enough to choose from what Marianne wants to learn and what she pursues.”

Professor Grein was silent for a moment.

“I see.”

“It’s her career, so you should ask Marianne too.”

The professor’s gaze naturally moved to me at Orion’s words.

“I see.”

Along with the words he said as if he didn’t expect it, the only thing written in the document in front of him was ‘must be personal opinion.’

While he was looking at the scrawled memo, Orion’s voice continued on.

“I have no problem if Marianne chooses what makes her happy. Both my father and stepmother will also wish for that.”

The statement he said right next to me sounded unrealistic.

Professor Grein probably thought the same.

It wasn’t frequent for him, who was always rational, to get speechless.

He only added a sentence after quite a time.

“You have such an ideal family.”

Ideal . . .

But we have a lot of things we hide from each other and pretend to not know . . .

I subconsciously put force in my hands on my knees.

Orion looked down as he eventually left the room without having any particular talk.

“I have prepared everything such as your habits, favorite food, hobbies.”

“Professor Grein originally only asks for the necessary information.”

What Professor Grein asked was about our family’s opinion, not my thoughts, so what Orion prepared wouldn’t be of any use from the start.

Curious gazes poured on us the moment we walked on the corridor.

They didn’t stare openly, but everyone we ran across today exceptionally walked slowly.

Someone in a group of people who walked past me awkwardly bowed their heads slightly.

It seemed like she contemplated whether to greet me or not.

“I think that young lady visited the mansion last time.”

Orion recognized Abigail in an instant.

“She did. She’s Abigail from last time.”

“Yeah. She’s a very smart and reasonable young lady.”

Orion, who was proud while remembering her who stated ‘she would enter under me,’ tilted his head.

“The young lady next to her . . .”

I wondered if there were any familiar faces between the young ladies who were with Abigail.

“I thought she was familiar, and turns out she’s a young lady of the Howard family, an affine of Her Majesty the Empress.”

Orion’s keen eyes were better than I thought.

He seemed to be well-informed about the figures of powerful families even though he didn’t enjoy social activities.

I talked first before the next word came out of Orion, who tilted his head as if it was unexpected.

“On our way back, do you want to stop by downtown and grab some snacks?”

“Huh?”

His eyes got wider at my offer.

“It’s fine by me to take a round with the carriage, but I think it’s good to walk together in the main street.”

After I sharply cut his wish to go out together not long after I moved to the mansion, he never suggested it to me again.

Is it because he knew I felt burdened by it?

Looking back, it was rare for me to actually listen to what Orion wanted even though I felt grateful to him.

While the fancy glittering things and the strange serenade in the mansion were for me.

There was nothing particular that came to mind when I thought about what I had done for Orion.

“Do you want to go back after shopping and eating delicious food together?”

This is normally a course done between lovers, but who cares.

Thanks to Orion, who smiled brightly, laments were overflowing in the corridor.

While Orion was thinking about where to go, I walked along and looked out at the drill hall outside the building.

In the distance, the figure of Young Duke Bolton, who was monitoring the students drenched in sweat swinging their wooden swords, entered my sight.

Even though I was far enough to not see his expression, I felt uneasy.