I Want To Be Your First – R19 - Chapter 96

As a result, Berthwald wasn’t able to return after three days had passed.

The reason for that wasn’t anything special. It was because Ariel was played like a fiddle by his father whenever she was asked whether they would be returning tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Berthwald frowned and glared at the two that were in the garden.

“Father-in-law, I think…I think it’s too high!”

“That’s why you have to hold on tight! If Ariel lets go, you might fly away in an instant!”

Ariel was seated on a handmade swing underneath a large Platanus tree, and Richter was pushing the swing with a smile. The messy appearance from the first day had disappeared and he looked decent when his shaggy hair was given a neat cut and his beard was shaved off. Aristocratic elegance oozed from him when he was appropriately attired.

After a long chat with Ariel, Richter tried to get closer to her earnestly with various reasons, such as pity and sympathy.

Through various kinds of fuss, such as going for walks together, going on a boat ride and making the dough for pasta, he would always hold Ariel without letting her go saying that he has gotten a daughter in his later years.

Although Berthwald knew his father was weak for cute things, he didn’t expect that his father would become so mesmerised with his wife, and this made him upset.

But his bewilderment only lasted for a moment, and Berthwald began to stare at his father with an annoyed expression. He couldn’t help but resent Richter’s constant monopolisation of his wife.

Not knowing his internal thoughts, Ariel followed Richter busily while wondering what was good about this place. Even now, she was laughing tactlessly and complied with Richter’s instructions to hold the rope as tightly as possible.

It was truly a lamentable sight. Berthwald couldn’t help but curse and kick an innocent chair.

“You seem quite upset, Count.”

Vion was standing next to him, and picked up the fallen chair after a moment of hesitation.

With his chin in a palm, Berthwald agonised whether he should pick up the cigar that was on the table. He had quit it before he had gotten married, as he was worried that the blind woman would get a lung illness after inhaling the smoke, but he felt the itch to smoke as he was stewing internally.

“It’s because I don’t understand what’s so interesting that they would stick together the entire day and stay that way all day long. If I had known that this would happen, I would have just returned back to the mansion.”

“Why don’t you just return home first? I’m sure that there’s a lot of documents from the judicial officers.”

“You want me to leave Ariel by my father’s side and return home by myself?”

Berthwald moved only his eyes to stare at Vion. With a frigid gaze, as if it was saying what kind of nonsense was that. Vion gave up on trying to meddle because he thought that he had said something silly again.

“Good, very good.”

Berthwald crossed his legs and folded his arms, eyeing his wife and father languidly,

Platinum-coloured eyelashes cast a deep shade over his tapered eyes. Within his deep blue eyes were a man and woman that were deeply affectionate with each other.

“They’re getting along so splendidly that there’s no room for me to cut in.”

The hair that was left down naturally added colour to his languid appearance. Anyone that saw it would say that it was a bewitching appearance, but Vion sensed the calm before the store and swallowed dryly.

Her legs would dangle in the air whenever Ariel was swung up and down. Berthwald opened his mouth with a soft tone as he tapped on the table with his index finger.

“Father is still unaware of why his son hates him.”

“……”

“Is it just me? Even Mother abandoned him for being such a tactless person. I used to think of him as a pitiful person, but that’s not necessarily the case.”

As he mumbled cynically, it was more of a threat towards his enemy than words to his father. Vion could only read the atmosphere and change the subject carefully.

“Erm, Count. I received a letter from a servant earlier, but…”

“What kind of letter?”

Vion took out a small slip of paper from his pocket.

“This letter was brought by the Bluebird Falcon.”

The finger that was tapping on the table stopped moving. Berthwald quickly received a note from Vion with a hardened face.

The Bluebird Falcon, a bird that was capable of infiltrating any place with it’s small and agile body, was the nickname of Northride guild leader’s personal intelligence group. While there were many other messenger pigeons that were easier to handle, the fact that a Bluebird Falcon, which was hard to tame, was specifically sent meant that the person that sent the letter was either the guild leader or the head.

“To say that it’s dark under the base of a lamp.”

[E/N: It also means that it’s difficult to see what’s right in front of your eyes.]

After scanning the note, Berthwald raised an eyebrow and recited the words exasperatedly.

“Have you found her?”

“It seems that she’s in the South. She can’t reveal her location, but it just says that she’ll find you sooner or later.”

As Berthwald muttered, “You’re as fickle as ever,” he tucked the note into his pocket roughly, and turned to face Ariel with an expressionless face.

Ariel had gotten down from the swing, and walked towards him with a cane. In a blink of an eye, the hem of her sky blue dress, which had been fluttering beautifully up till a few moments ago, was now covered in dirt.

“Count! The swing went up very high!”

“Yes, I was watching.”

“It’s very fun! Does the Count want me to push you too?”

“What an interesting joke. Enough with the swing and sit here. Why are you sweating so much? Rest for a while.”

“Ariel! Let’s drink this.”

Without missing an opportunity, Richter cut in and sat next to him with a tea set. Berthwald had even given up on frowning and watched Richter’s current state.

“This is a herbal tea made up of medicinal herbs that are good for the eyes. Jasmine, cassia seed, mine and rose lime, as well as the most important ingredient…”

With a smile, Richter held out a small bowl to Ariel. There were three or four red beans within the bowl.

“This is a precious medicinal herb that can open the eyes of a deeply asleep dragon, Valley Flower. When it’s placed in hot water, the petals will unfold and form a beautiful shape. I’m not sure if my daughter-in-law will be able to see it but… would you like to place the buds into a pot?”

“Ah, yes!”

After giving a diligent response, Ariel placed two flower buds of the Valley Flower into a transparent glass pot with a plop.

The originally pea-sized buds swelled up instantly, and the bud shaped flower began to bloom in the water slowly. The fast-blooming flower was both mysterious and beautiful.

As Ariel’s eyes were affixed on the pot, they widened.

“Wow. It looks pretty just from the looks of its silhouette.”

As Ariel looked at the flower with a dazed expression, a small smile was on her face as she fiddled with the pot. Berthwald, who had a consistently indifferent attitude, also looked at the blooming flower with an interested gaze.

As Richter mentioned, the sight of the blooming red flower turning the lemon coloured water into an orange shade was very beautiful. Richter watched his son and his son’s wife happily, and personally poured a cup of herbal tea to serve Ariel.

“Thank you, Father-in-law. It smells really nice, too.”

“I’m glad that you like it. Isn’t it a matter of your mood whether you’d open your eyes within the span of a night after eating these kinds of things? I will prepare it separately for you, so drink it whenever you think of it.”

Richter gave a benevolent smile and pushed the cake and cookies towards Ariel. Berthwald stared at the empty teacup in front of him, and realised that his father had no intention of pouring it for him, so he poured a cup for himself while murmuring, “Of course he’d be like that.”

After emptying the half-full cup in one go, Berthwald turned to Richter.

“Father, I’ve received a message from Mother.”

At the sudden news, Richter’s eyes widened and he placed his teacup down with a look of surprise.

“Goodness! It’ll usually take a week to half a month, but as expected, it’s much faster when my son reaches out. Where is she?”

“While the details are unclear, she’s definitely somewhere in the South. She said to inform Father that she’d be coming to see you sooner or later.”

“Oh? She’ll meet with me after a while? Since the letter came so quickly, it feels as though she’ll appear soon.”

“That’s fine. We’ll be returning back to Grand Pahar later in the afternoon.”

Ariel’s eyes widened at the last sentence.

“I—in the afternoon? Today? So quickly?”

Ariel looked awkwardly at Berthwald’s countenance. She looked at Berthwald as if she was asking, ‘Do I have to return?’, but gained a stern gaze in return.

She was held up by his father for several days and wasn’t able to be with him, but the way Ariel didn’t seem to have any feelings of regret, unlike his annoyed feelings, and that made him upset.

Berthwald leaned toward Ariel and whispered in a soft voice that only she could hear.

“I don’t really understand the reason you keep attempting to return back.”

“I know it’s because the Count is busy, but Vion said that you’re done with the work that’s urgent.”

“This place.”

Berthwald frowned as he spoke in a very small voice.

“I don’t like it because I can’t do anything racy.”

Dazed, Ariel blinked quickly. Ariel, who kept moving her eyes only, belatedly stuttered.

“T—that’s because Father-in-law is present…!”

“It’s fine if you don’t want to return. I’ll put up with it for a few more days if I can embrace my wife at night. It’s just that the bedroom walls of this mansion are thin, so everything can be heard.”

“That’s… that’s… uh…”

“What should I do? Does that matter?”

Ariel’s face turned red along with his continued whispers. With a lowered head and tightly clenched fist, Ariel rose from her seat with a determined look.

“Erm, about that, Father-in-law.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s really regrettable, but I think we should go back!”

A resolute cry floated across the table and quickly dissipated. After ruminating over her cry, Richter had a disappointed look on his face as he opened his mouth.

“But Ariel. You have yet to fish by the sea or make rose jam. Why don’t you stay a few more days before leaving?”

“I…I’d like to stay a little longer. B—but, there’s nothing I can do about it…!”

Ariel fiddled with her fingers and desperately persuaded Richter, squeezing ridiculous excuses like the maids were waiting, and that she had to water the flowers.

When Richter gave her a sorrowful gaze, she held her breath and then broke away Richter’s gaze while citing the principle reason that the Countess shouldn’t leave the mansion for too long.

At the stubbornness that differed from her previous attitude, Richter eventually lifted the white flag.

“Alright. It’s regrettable but…there’s no choice as it isn’t good to vacate the mansion for too long. Let’s meet again soon.”

“Yes, Father-in-law! I like Nedik too. I’d be happier if Father-in-law comes to Grand Pahar next time. You have to drop by the mansion, okay?”

Ariel’s gray eyes took a glance at Berthwald stealthily. Berthwald took a sip of tea with a faint smile on his face, pretending to be unaware.

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