For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 27 - Charlie And Rufus (2)
#27. Charlie And Rufus (2)
“Father is quite something. Marrying off a mere eighteen-year-old.”
“She’s already eighteen. These days, other girls are engaged even before they’re born, but she reaches eighteen without being promised to go to the palace. It’s an age when other girls marry at sixteen. That’s what you must have said.”
Charlie and Rufus, who knew their father better than anyone else, interjected. Rufus had wanted Lia to marry for a long time. Nobles often arranged engagements for political reasons from childhood, but he waited purely for Lia to find someone she liked without forcing her into an engagement she didn’t want. However, she showed no interest in love and only dreamed of entering the palace, studying her skills by wandering in the forest. The Count’s heart burned with frustration.
“To think she’ll be introduced by someone.”
Kevin mocked, thinking of Perth. He didn’t know anyone at the palace who could make introductions outside of his business contacts, and he didn’t want to talk to anyone who wasn’t related to his business.
“I don’t think you’re in a position to scoff, Kevin.”
Anyway, to be honest. Kevin glanced at Rufus for a moment. But he wasn’t wrong. Kevin also didn’t have many close friends despite being in the palace for a long time. Both of them were not sociable types.
“Father should just entrust her to me.”
The term “sociable” would rather fit Rufus. Charlie in front of him wasn’t the type to be sociable except for the necessary connections. Rufus was friendly to everyone. Having lived in a stern household, he was accustomed to adapting to everyone, easing the atmosphere.
“You tend to be critical about Lia, subtly.”
“When have I ever!”
“It’s hard to deny.”
Both brothers had their own opinions about Lia. Although she, as the party was concerned, didn’t feel it at all. So, she couldn’t relate to their conversation at all.
“Well, I’ve never thought my older brother cared about me that much.”
Rufus showed a disappointed expression at Lia’s cold response. But judging by his usual behavior, she had reasons not to trust him. He always teased and bothered her whenever he got the chance.
“So, who was the first suitor?”
Seemingly uninterested in the Penelope brothers’ affairs, Kevin redirected the conversation to its original topic.
“The First Prince.”
“What, who?”
“Prince Alfonse.”
Lia answered casually, but the impact of her words was significant. Even Kevin, who was not easily shaken by such matters, widened his eyes in surprise. Rufus stood up from the sofa and exclaimed.
“Prince Alfonse, is it true!”
“Quiet down and sit. This is the palace.”
“No, brother. No, Deputy Commander. Aren’t you, well, angry? That, that rumor about the notorious prince being attached to Lia?”
Unlike Rufus, Charlie didn’t show any signs of being shaken. However, deep down, he also thought it was absurd.
“Why… would that Perthon introduce the First Prince to you?”
“Father’s only condition was that the man be unmarried and someone I would like, and Prince Alfonse is quite popular among women, so doesn’t he fit that condition?”
“That Aide… Is he out of his mind?”
“Rufus. I warned you to be careful of what you say in the palace.”
When the older brothers criticized Perth, Lia felt like she was the one gossiping about him. So, she calmed them down.
“In his own way, he took care of me when I came to the palace. He perfectly matched the conditions our father set, and he deliberately introduced a person with a low chance of marriage because I didn’t want to get married. Besides, the prince doesn’t even know he was introduced. Mr. Perth deliberately left that part out.”
“So, when you said you sometimes had dinner with the prince, you were invited. Why did the prince invite you if he didn’t even know you were introduced?”
“That’s…”
She felt that bringing up that topic might lead to hearing bad things about Perth again. Besides, she didn’t want to reveal that she entered the palace not by her own abilities but by her family’s power. Kevin, who was already uncomfortable with her background and selection process, would surely dislike her if he knew the truth. The brothers would also likely deny her abilities if they knew it was her family’s power. Lia deliberately gave a different reason.
“He just wanted to encourage me, as someone who entered as an exception, to cultivate my talents like a Miracle of the Desert.”
That was indeed the superficial reason behind Lia and Alfonse’s first meeting. It wasn’t a complete lie.
“It can’t just end there. Did Alfonse… the prince, touch you?”
“No. He didn’t touch me.”
Rufus frowned, worried about what might have happened to his sister with Alfonse. But Lia hadn’t experienced anything. Or more accurately, she kept refusing. It was uncomfortable for her, especially when he kept wanting to befriend her despite having a fiancée. He was interested in her not because of her, but because of her background.
“It must have been uncomfortable for a month.”
Charlie summed up his impression in just one sentence. It was uncomfortable, indeed. He didn’t have a brotherly concern for his younger sister. But Lia didn’t expect much from him anyway.
“Yes. Well, I think it was a good experience.”
“What do you mean, good experience!”
“Well, now that a month has passed, you must have been introduced to someone else. Who’s the second person?”
Ignoring the excited Rufus, the conversation continued. As they talked about the second person, Lia’s gaze naturally shifted to Kevin. She thought there was no need to hide or explain anything.
“It’s me.”
“What did you say?”
While Charlie didn’t react strongly when Prince Alfonse was mentioned as the first suitor, he widened his eyes in surprise when he heard Kevin’s story. Rufus was also taken aback. The only calm ones were Lia and Kevin themselves.
“What’s going on? Why did Kevin become the second suitor? Are you friends with that aide?”
“We are acquainted, yes. But we’re not close.”
“If you’re not close, why did Kevin get introduced?”
“It’s because of the conditions again.”
As Lia explained it was due to conditions, the Penelope brothers began to speculate recklessly.
“Because he’s unmarried? But how many unmarried men are there in the palace!”
“Then… Is it because Kevin is someone Lia would like?”
“Well, Kevin is indeed a fine man.”
“Or maybe Lia, you’re already…”
“No, it’s not! It’s because I presented another condition.”
Lia denied with a blush, feeling the speculations were too absurd. Although Charlie hadn’t spoken yet, everyone in the room could guess what his words might imply.
“What condition is that?”
“Last time, I felt I was missing out on learning properly because I spent too much time with Prince Alfonse. So, this time, I requested someone who wouldn’t take up too much of my time. Preferably someone within my usual routine.”
“Oh, so Kevin, who’s your superior, became the candidate?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Working in the greenhouse together?”
“She’s my assistant.”
“Well, he certainly fits the conditions properly.”
The brothers fell silent for a moment. Although they knew of Perth as the aide, they had never met him properly or had a conversation. But they could be sure he could leave someone speechless.
“Still, I don’t like that aide.”
Despite Charlie’s repeated warnings, Rufus didn’t hide his dislike. But Charlie also agreed. Although he seemed to be a precise worker, something was unsettling about him.
“Why, don’t you like me as your sister’s suitor?”
Kevin jokingly threw the question. It was Rufus who was startled by it.
“No, it’s not that. I would welcome you with open arms!”
“Oh, so you wouldn’t mind me marrying your sister if things went well?”
“It depends on Lia’s feelings… My opinion doesn’t matter much…”
“What about Charlie?”
Suddenly, the question was directed at Charlie, who was taken aback. Alternating his gaze between Lia and Kevin, he pondered seriously.
“It’s not really about actually getting married, so why bother thinking about it seriously, huh, brother?”
“We don’t know if it’ll happen or not in the end. Who knows what the future holds?”
Kevin seemed to find this banter amusing. But Lia, who found marriage jokes not funny at all, sighed and focused on the herbal tea in front of her. Charlie couldn’t just pass off silly jokes as jokes.
“Anyway, Charlie remains the same old black sheep.”
Kevin, who had turned his body, whispered in Lia’s ear as if he was sipping tea. Lia found his words amusing, and she couldn’t help but giggle. Her older brother had always been an imposing figure to others. The voices of their parents praising him still echoed in her ears. Seeing Kevin teasing him, she felt secretly delighted.
Watching the two share whispered laughs, Charlie was captivated by a subtle feeling. He had always been strict with his younger sister since childhood. But seeing her laugh so freely in front of him was a rare sight since their childhood. Most of the time, her expression was either solemn or filled with discontent.
“I… I approve.”
“What?”
“Suddenly?”
Charlie made a sudden declaration of approval. Everyone was surprised, but he was even more surprised by his own words. It wasn’t something he had thought about beforehand.
“If… if it’s like that. If Kevin, then because I can trust him.”
Upon hearing his words, Lia looked puzzled. Her older brother, who didn’t even think about it, suddenly approved of her marriage.
“What do you mean all of a sudden, big brother?”
“Are you saying Kevin isn’t good?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Why are you twisting my words?”
“When did I twist your words? Why are you always so defiant toward me?”
“Don’t you think that you might say something I don’t like?”
“Stop fighting. Anyway, the problem is that you take jokes too seriously.”
Kevin tried to mediate between them, but it was futile. As the atmosphere became tense, even Rufus refrained from joking recklessly. Lia and Charlie stared at each other for a while. However, despite being the older brother, Charlie didn’t utter a word of reproach. A slip of the tongue from his wounded pride made its way out.
“Since your skills won’t likely land you a permanent position, why not consider someone like Kevin? Wouldn’t it be better to lean towards marriage instead?”