How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 159

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 160

Chapter 43. The Old Badger and the Young Serpent

“Knights, we’re here at Capital!”

At the cheerful shout of the coachman driving the lead horse, everyone poked their heads out.

The grandest metropolis in the Midlands, viewed from the ridge, was still a magnificent sight.

The skyline created by the towering spires and the massive fortress surrounding the city.

If Earth has Constantinople, the Midlands has Capital.

“Oh, Capital!”

“It’s beautiful, even after seeing it again.”

Luth and Illia had already visited Capital once, so they only let out small exclamations.

“……That’s Capital?”

On the other hand, Sella’s reaction was special. Perhaps because she had spent her entire life in the corner of the East, her mouth was wide open, and she couldn’t close it.

Seeing this, Rihas, who was sitting on the roof of the carriage with his arms crossed, snorted.

“I’m a little tired of seeing it so often.”

“Excuse me? Has Rihas been to Capital a lot?”

Sella, who had become quite close to Rihas because he had been in charge of her education, asked him without formality.

“Hmm, didn’t I mention it? I was born in Capital.”

“Wow, you were born and raised in Capital?”

“Of course. How about it? My roots are so deep they’re overflowing, right?”

At Rihas’s boast, Luth stretched out of the window and threw a hard biscuit at him.

“What a load of crap!”

“I think your words are too harsh…… Ah, it hurts! It hurts!”

At his ridiculous behavior, I, sitting in the coachman’s seat, tapped the carriage with the scabbard.

“Quiet, Rihas. As soon as we get to Capital, find an inn to rent for a whole month.”

“Are you going to stay until the Founding Day celebration?”

“I have to.”

“Then, shouldn’t we rely on a noble who has a good relationship with Lindaier?”

“Why would we be a burden when we have so much money?”

“Hmm, then why don’t you just come to my house?”

“What? To your house?”

“Yes. It’s on the outskirts of Capital, but it’s quite big because it’s where I lived with my relatives. There are plenty of rooms, too.”

“Then, what about your relatives?”

“Everyone has moved out, so only my family lives there now.”

“Outskirts…… So, is it quiet?”

“Of course. It’s quiet. The yard is spacious, too.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound bad.”

“Let’s do that. My family will be very happy if you come, Young Master.”

Hmm. Come to think of it, Rihas’s father was a civil servant in Capital, right? And I think I heard he has two young sisters.

Well, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, all the inns worth staying at are in the center of the city, so they’re terribly noisy. It would be nice to relax on the outskirts.

“Then, let’s stay for a month.”

“Understood!”

Rihas, who was in a good mood at my permission, started humming.

* * *

It wasn’t difficult to pass through the city gates, even without revealing my identity.

There was still time before the Founding Day celebration, and Rihas’s status was as good as a high pass [his family was well-known and respected].

After that, how long had it been since we headed to the outskirts of Capital with Rihas’s guidance?

A small but antique three-story mansion came into view in the distance.

“Is that it?”

“Yes!”

“That’s a nice mansion.”

“Isn’t it?”

“The surroundings are peaceful and quiet; I really like it. I’m glad I listened to you.”

“Thank you!”

“You’re the one who should be thanked.”

Perhaps because the land was spacious on the outskirts, the garden around the mansion looked like something out of a fairy tale.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was a luxury that an ordinary commoner could enjoy. Perhaps it was possible because Rihas’s father was a civil servant in Capital. A kind of bourgeois, you could say.

Ding-dong-!

Rihas, who jumped down from the carriage, rang the bell on the outside gate of the garden.

After a while, the door of the mansion opened and a middle-aged beauty appeared.

She gathered her long hair gracefully and started walking slowly across the garden.

‘Now I know where Rihas got his curly hair from.’

The woman, who looked exactly like Rihas, soon recognized him, and her eyes widened.

“Rihas?”

“Yes, Mother! It’s me, Rihas!”

“Oh my, what brings you home so suddenly without even contacting us?”

“It just happened that way. By the way, this is the person I serve and the senior knights.”

At Rihas’s words, his mother covered her mouth with her hand.

“The person you serve?”

Is it time for introductions?

Nodding, I took off my hood and bowed lightly.

“I’m Cain Lindaier.”

“Oh my!”

Rihas’s mother, startled, quickly bowed her head.

“It’s an honor to meet Lord Lindaier. I should have recognized you before you spoke; please forgive my fault.”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it and raise your head. Um, your name is?”

“Thank you for your great generosity. I’m Alisa, Lord Lindaier.”

Indeed, is it because it’s Capital? Even though she’s not a noble, her refinement is evident.

As Alisa slowly raised her head, the others, led by Luth, stepped forward.

“I’m Luth Meyer. I’m serving with Rihas in the Gale Knights.”

“You’re a knight. I’m worried that Rihas might be causing trouble.”

“Don’t mention it! Sir Rihas is an excellent knight, so you don’t have to worry!”

You’re kidding me. When did you call him a crazy rookie?

“I’m Illia Frost. I’m a colleague of Sir Rihas.”

“You’re a really beautiful knight. Welcome.”

“Y-You flatter me.”

At Illia’s blushing face, Luth and I let out a hollow laugh as if we had promised.

“I’m Sella.”

On the other hand, Sella only revealed her name briefly. Perhaps because she hasn’t figured out yet whether she’s Riley or Flores [referring to her dual identity or uncertain allegiance].

“Welcome, Sella. It’s humble, but come on in. Rihas! What are you doing? Don’t you see we have precious guests?”

Like all mothers in the world, Alisa urged Rihas and slapped him on the back.

So, Rihas hurriedly packed his luggage from the carriage, gave the coachman the fare, and came back to guide us.

“I think you can stay on the second floor. There are many rooms, so choose the one you like.”

“What about the third floor?”

“The third floor is small, so there’s nothing but a study.”

“Study?”

“Yes. My father sometimes works at home. You can use it if you need it.”

“Are you telling me to work instead of playing?”

“Ah, you caught me!”

“Never mind.”

Rihas smiled brightly as if he was excited to be back home.

So, we entered the mansion and each chose a room.

It’s not luxurious, but it’s not lacking either. I stretched out my index finger and swept through the drawers, but there wasn’t a speck of dust on my finger.

‘She’s a meticulous lady.’

It seemed like she cleaned it regularly even though no one was using it.

Feeling satisfied, I unpacked my luggage and left the room in a light shirt.

“Are you hungry? Would you like to have a meal?”

At Alisa’s question after discovering me, I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, please.”

“Please? It’s the right thing to do! Please wait a moment. I’ll prepare it soon.”

……A harmonious family.

Alisa’s warm hospitality suddenly reminded me of my parents on Earth, and the tip of my nose tingled.

After having a warm and affectionate dinner for the first time in a while, Luth and I sipped on the wine that Rihas brought as a refreshment.

‘Relaxing.’

Sella said she was tired and went to bed first, and Illia was held captive by Rihas’s two younger sisters, reading them fairy tales.

Were their names Emma and Ella?

A faint smile appeared on my face at the heartwarming sight, and I called Rihas.

“Rihas.”

“Yes.”

“Someone will probably come soon.”

“Someone? To our house?”

“Yes. I made an appointment for a late dinner.”

“Ah, maybe it’s what you entrusted to me at the city gate…….”

Rihas, recalling the letter I had given him to give to the guard, nodded.

“That’s right. It was to be sent to the royal palace.”

“I wondered why you were asking for our house address. Anyway, does that mean someone from the royal palace is coming?”

“I guess so.”

Luth, who was listening to the conversation between me and Rihas, intervened.

“Still, this is Capital; can you just tell them to come and go as you please?”

“Because it’s Capital. There are many eyes watching, so there’s no need to show the main figures of Lindaier going in and out of the royal palace. Maybe they want that too, right?”

“I see. By the way, do you know who’s coming?”

“I don’t know. But considering what we’re trying to do, a low-ranking official won’t come.”

“Hmm, there’s nothing to prepare separately, right?”

“Is there anything to prepare when we’re not fighting? By the way, Rihas.”

“Yes.”

“When will your father be back? It seems late at night.”

“Ah, he’s busy with the Founding Day celebration, so he’ll be staying at his workplace for the time being.”

“It’s not because of us, is it?”

“He probably doesn’t even know you’re here, Young Master.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Anyway, if someone from the royal palace comes, we need to get rid of the troublemakers in advance.”

Rihas, nodding, got up from his seat.

Then, he approached his two younger sisters, who were stuck to Illia like glue.

“Stop bothering her and go to bed now. It’s late.”

At Rihas’s scolding, the two younger sisters jumped up and put their hands on their hips.

“Illia said she would read us a book!”

“That’s right! Don’t bother us, you idiot!”

“What? Idiot?”

“Yes, you’re an idiot!”

Hmm, Rihas’s rank in the family is lower than the dog in the yard.

Illia, unable to watch Rihas having a childish argument with the two children, stepped in.

“Stop it. I’ll go to the children’s room and read to them.”

“Excuse me? Are you okay with that?”

“I can’t sleep anyway.”

As the two children and Illia disappeared, Rihas trudged back to the table.

“Maybe it’s because I’m away from home so often, but they don’t listen to me at all.”

“Is that really the reason?”

“……Then is there another reason?”

“I wonder.”

As Luth and I were laughing, there was a knock on the closed door.

Knock knock knock-!

Was it someone from the royal family? He’s not a nobleman. How long has it been since I finished speaking?

“Who is it?”

“I’m an invited guest.”

Rihas, who approached the door, asked, and a stiff voice was heard from outside.

Realizing that it was the person I was talking about, Rihas slowly opened the door.

Drizzle drizzle……

Raindrops could be seen outside the opened door, as if it had already started drizzling.

“Is this Rihas Rodi’s house?”

The person who appeared through the opened door was a sturdy man wearing a black raincoat.

He didn’t seem like an ordinary man. Just showing himself gave off an intense aura. And his overbearing tone played a part in it.

“That’s right, but who are you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Rihas’s eyes narrowed. At the same time, Luth, who was sitting at the table, slowly reached for the scabbard.

As the atmosphere grew tense, a middle-aged man suddenly popped out from behind the sturdy man.

“Sir Taylor! Act like a guest! I’m sorry for coming so late. Anyway, it seems like we’ve come to the right place. The road is dark on the outskirts.”

The middle-aged man, who scolded the man, patted Rihas on the shoulder and entered the house.

Then, he scanned the inside and found me sitting at the table and raised his hand.

“There you are. How have you been, Third Young Master?”

At the title that no one but my party calls me now, I slowly got up from my seat.

“I’ve been well. I hope you’ve been well, Marquis.”

“Nothing special except that I have a few more gray hairs.”

The middle-aged man, who answered nonchalantly, slowly began to take off his raincoat.

‘I didn’t know this old man would come himself.’

Neatly combed hair with oil and sharp eyes that seemed to see through people.

The person who came to find me was the core of Capital and a powerful figure, the Chief of the Royal Household, Marquis Halin Irfe.