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"Lord Raimond, Lord Giancarlo and Lord Giovanni have arrived."
"Brother Gian and Brother John? Have them come in."
Two years have passed since that day I had a tea party with Brother Bertrand in the North Garden.
"Rai! How are you?"
"Came to visit you again today."
"It's only been a day, Brother Gian, Brother John."
"I brought cookies today. Maria, please get us some tea."
"Yes, Lord Giancarlo."
Maria placed the tea along with the cookies that Brother Gian brought on the table near the window of my room.
Immediately after that day, Brother Bertrand talked to Sophia-sama and Father, and Gian-nii-sama's diet was reviewed. Now, a year later, it's hard to believe that he used to be in such poor health.
Since then, Brother Bertrand has brazenly started visiting my room, and other than my swordsmanship lessons with Teacher Cyril and the tea parties John-nii-sama and Gian-nii-sama have with me, he has continued his consideration of half-humans.
By the way, I learned that Gian-nii-sama was actually in a pretty dangerous situation when he coughed violently in the Southern Garden that day.
John-nii-sama, who was also told about it, came to apologize and thank me later, and our relationship improved significantly.
"Oh, you're using that bolo tie. Thank you."
"Yes. It's a gift from Brother Gian."
The green bolo tie, the gift Gian-nii-sama was trying to give me at the tea party in the Southern Garden, glittered at my chest.
"So? Are you still cooped up in your room all day?"
".........Yes. If I leave my room, it won't give a good impression to those around me."
I'm doing research, in the name of having tea parties with Brother Bertrand, but the eyes I get are always suspicious, so I still don't like walking around outside, so I'm still holed up.
"I see..."
There's no mistaking that that day was the trigger, but Giovanni-nii-sama is particularly worried about it.
But actually, that day was just the trigger; it was just the accumulation up to that point that exploded that day, and John-nii-sama is not at all at fault.
Besides, I'm having so much fun discussing things with Brother Bertrand lately that I don't feel like going outside.
"But I still get swordsmanship lessons from Teacher Cyril, you know."
"In the East Garden, right?"
"Yes. Only I go to the East Garden, anyway."
Besides, I can get more practical swordsmanship guidance in the East Garden, using the trees, rocks, and terrain, so I don't get a lack of exercise.
In other words, I'm a high-spec NEET egg who can exercise and study.
"............Rai, your hair has gotten quite long."
Gian-nii-sama's fingers gently stroked my bangs.
Since that day, I've become more concerned about people's eyes and started growing out my bangs, which now cover my green eyes, the symbol of the royal family.
"Even though we have the same color eyes."
"Because of this, even more people want me to become crown prince."
Green eyes are a trait that is only inherited by the Centro Kingdom's royal family.
And black hair is a color that is only inherited by the Osto Empire's imperial family.
Well, that's why Mother wants me to become crown prince.
I can't hide my hair color, but it's better to hide my eyes than to show both, so I'm growing out my bangs to hide my eyes.
I fiddled with my bangs with my fingers every now and then.
"I'm happy that I have matching eyes with Gian-nii-sama, but the annoying voices are overwhelming."
"I see... That's too bad."
Gian-nii-sama lowered his eyes once, but immediately touched my hair again.
"But, could you show them to me in front of me and John?"
Before I knew it, my long bangs were pinned back.
"Yeah. I still like Rai's eyes."
"......But Gian-nii-sama also has the same eyes."
"Gian's eyes are a little bluer than Raimond's."
"That's because Mom has blue eyes like John."
The rumored Sophia-sama, the elf.
Although her name has come up many times because of Gian-nii-sama's affair, I've never met her, but she must be a beautiful woman.
Just from what I've heard, Sophia-sama is skilled in the arts, just like Gian-nii-sama and John-nii-sama.
"That's right. I brought a shen today."
Saying that, John-nii-sama unwrapped the cloth he had brought, and took out a shen, one of the stringed instruments in this world.
The shen has a shape similar to the Mongolian traditional instrument, the horsehead fiddle, and is played while sitting and holding it diagonally in front of your body, like a shamisen, and playing it with a bow.
However, the body part is not square but teardrop-shaped, with f-holes like a violin, and there are five strings.
Most of them have beautifully and delicately drawn plant patterns on the body, and it was originally an instrument used to celebrate encounters with spirits in the Notos United Kingdom.
It's one of John-nii-sama's favorite instruments, and in recent years, not only the Notos United Kingdom but also the sons of nobles from all countries have made it a required qualification to whisper love to women.
From that point of view, John-nii-sama is probably quite popular with women.
I'm jealous as a fellow man. Grrr!
But I can forgive him because he's John-nii-sama!! All my brothers are cool!
John-nii-sama, who had moved his chair slightly away from the table, held the shen, and the air became taut.
After pausing for a moment, John-nii-sama began to play the shen with delicate finger work.
Gian-nii-sama spun a song on the beautiful tone.
It was in ancient elven, a language that is now heard only in songs, and it celebrated encounters with spirits.
Because they both inherit elven blood, I felt as if the air had somehow lightened.
After a while, the music ended, and John-nii-sama put down his bow.
John-nii-sama's performance was very beautiful, as expected of someone who is already working as a professional.
And Gian-nii-sama's singing along to the performance was also wonderful.
"Both John-nii-sama and Gian-nii-sama were wonderful!"
"......John, my brother is cute."
"Gian, he's also my brother."
They were whispering something to each other.
Besides, they were both staring at my face with serious expressions, so I was worried about whether I had done something wrong.
"Um, Gian-nii-sama, John-nii-sama? Is something wrong?"
"No. I just thought Rai was cute."
"That's right."
"Eh? What's that?"
I didn't know if it was true or a lie, but at least there was no intention of disliking me there, and that was terribly comfortable.
Few people in my family look at me for myself.
It goes without saying that Mother doesn't, and Father sees me as a son he loves, but because he has so little time to spend with me, I feel like he doesn't understand me very often.
That's why Brother Bertrand, Brother Gian, and Brother John are special to me.
"I love you."
I put my hand over my mouth, shocked by the words that had slipped out, but it seems that John-nii-sama and Gian-nii-sama heard my mutter.
"Agh! Agh, Rai!! I love you too!"
"Wawa!"
"I-I don't dislike you either. Because Rai is my, well... my other, important brother."
Gian-nii-sama hugged me with enthusiasm, and John-nii-sama awkwardly stroked my head.
"Brothers. I love you too."
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