Chapter 4: Hands in the Shadows

“Mother, what are you doing right now? If you have some sort of insidious plan, please, don’t do it.”

“Do you really see your own Mother as insidious? I am hurt, Risa, dear.”

“Watching you stalk Older Brother and Mina like this, I can rightfully say that Mother is acting insidiously.”

Risa looked at her Mother Faerith, acting so suspiciously and felt the need to straighten her out. In the Edgeworth family, everyone possesses unique temperaments. The Countess was someone who calm and collected, always observing her surrounding before acting upon anything.

Right now, she was acting the direct opposite of which led to Risa sighing deeply. Faerith flashed her oldest daughter a smile.

“Didn’t you say before you wanted for Colt to become more mature and take his responsibilities more seriously? What if I tell you what I am doing is just that. Did you not notice your brother acting more subdued compared to the past few days? This must be the effects of the Young Lady.”

“Mother, I don’t want to tell you this but, I saw older brother trying to escape through the window earlier today.”

“Bah, he’s probably just shy. Look at him right now. He’s acting as if he’d never hurt a fly.”

Risa got up from the bed and peeked over the window. In the back garden, she saw Colt peacefully sipping tea. A distant memory came from the past. The thought of him returning to being the proud noble he used to give rise to many possibilities. What if it actually happens?

“Think about it, Risa. Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go to the capital for the Academy visit? Usually, it would be Colt we’d send. But because of your brother straying from the right path, you took it upon yourself to carry our name. Think about it, if he’s to be changed by the Young Lady, you’ll be free from that fate, and you will be able to laze around more.”

Laze around; it sounded like a drug that intoxicated Risa’s mind. The Edgeworths were known as noble warriors. But, against the public’s expectation, the Edgeworth lineage tends to lean on doing what’s easiest.

Although they train hard, they were a lazy bunch. They also try not to do things other than tending to their hobbies.

Why did the Count reject the position of Marquis and General? It was because he thought it would be too bothersome, and that line of thought had been passed to Risa through her blood.

Laziness through blood, that’s what this was. And despite Risa’s fight against the whisper of the devil (her Mother), she couldn’t win against it and envisioned a future where she sat in her courtyard terrace, sipping tea and reading a book.

“My bliss will return.” Risa then turned to Faerith, who was observing her expressions. She smiled just like her, “I’ll assist you, but when I see it will drag Mina down, I will stop your plans.”

“Hohoho, I have good eyes, and I can see that your brother is showing signs of change, I shall succeed!”

After a few exchange of words, the mother and daughter pair locked eyes and shook on their terms; that day, at 2459 N.E continental calendar, the alliance between Mother and daughter was born.

At that moment, Colt did not know a shady business dealing was going on somewhere in the mansion. He took a casual sip of his tea, and because he didn’t wish to eat the cake that sat in front of him, he looked at Lyra, who just finished her cake and was eyeing his cake.

“Lyra, do you want this cake?”

“Really, older brother? Ah…” She then shrunk away as she still found it hard to deal with Colt, known as a wastrel.

Colt ignored her reaction and handed her the slice without much thought. That simple action caused Lyra to get a better view of him.

‘Nobody is bad if they give you delicious sweets. Such self-sacrifice, very admirable!’ was what the lass thought while repeatedly nodding her head. She raised the given plate like it was her treasure and ate it with a wide smile.

‘That’s adorable.’ Colt softly smiled.

“How kind of you, Young Master Colt.”

“It was nothing. I don’t like sweets to begin with.”

“Is that so?” Mina was surprised.

“…if it’s not too sweet, it’s not a problem.” he just wanted to be clear.

Silence prevailed. Only the crisp clinking sound of a fork touching the plate and Lyra’s enjoyment could be heard.

“… I’ve been meaning to ask Young Master Colt.”

Colt’s heart shuddered but still kept a straight face. Those eyes of her felt piercing. 

He gathered his courage, “What is it?”

“You have been trying to get away from all this, right? Is my presence unwanted, Young Master Colt?”

Colt’s heart was already in trepidation, ‘This is not good for my heart.’

Colt looked at her eyes, they exchanged gazes, and as if there were daggers in those eyes. It felt like it would stab him if he leaves now.

‘Is she testing me? For what?’ 

Colt unknowingly chortled.

“I am the family’s wastrel, and I think it is only fitting for me to try and create trouble for this family of mine. Your presence has nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, I find your presence acceptable, Young Miss Mina. I am merely myself.”

His words carried different meanings, but it boiled down to him, not minding her presence while still being genuine. This caused Mina to smile at him even more.

“Your usual self? Do you mean to say that this is not how you usually are?”

“Pretty much, I enjoy wine rather than tea, and I enjoy the company of beautiful girls…like yourself, so you do not have to worry about me.”

“Is that so?”

Colt’s heart was about to burst. 

If previously it skipped a single beat, now, it was skipping who knows how many beats. He does not need Mina to stab him because he’d die if this continues. His stupid choice of words was catching on.

‘Goddammit, I almost slipped.’ Colt knows that he was not her man, but the concept of “what if” still exists. What if she detests people who like hanging out with prostitutes and courtesan? A Yandere have a flimsy frame of mind.

He didn’t know how her mind works, so it’d be better to tread carefully. But he also knows one thing.

‘I may just be digging my own grave.’

Colt does not know how things got to this point, but he was pretty sure that after a week or so of getting used to living in this place, it would be best to learn precautionary measures to keep his life.

Time passed as swiftly as Colt’s pulse. In all truthfulness, he was acting like a scared bitch, that had its owner angered.

Thankfully, as night came and the moon replaced the sun, the time for Mina to return to their land arrived.

The Core Lighting Lanterns were turned on and granted light. Colt then stood up.

“Lyra, come here, it is time for us to enter the mansion.”

“Okay, big brother.” Lyra gladly grabbed onto Colt’s hand.

“Young Miss Mina, please follow me, mother and the rest should be at the front garden.”

He spoke with passiveness while holding Lyra’s hand.

Mina watched his back as she followed slowly closely behind.

‘Weird, this is the first time I felt something like this. A bitter emotion of separation, is this what it is? Hmm, this is weird.’ Mina felt the need to say something.

“Young Master Colt, can I ask you something?”

Colt stopped and then turned around and locked eyes with Mina. His eyes were pure, devoid of any agendas that wish to get anywhere near her. He didn’t see her for the daughter of a Marquis. He was looking at her as Mina.

“Is something the matter?” Colt asked.

“It is nothing. I am sorry for bothering you about my nonsense.”

“Do not worry, no harm done, please, follow me.” He said that with a smile, a rare smile for Colt to do in front of Mina. That was the first smile he showed her catching Mina’s attention.

‘Freedom is at hand.’

Mina obediently followed Colt without saying anything. And as Colt felt his freedom was about to be achieved, a bomb was dropped on him as he heard the Countess spoke five words.

“Please stay for the night. The Marquis is still drinking with my husband;..”

“Mother, I don’t think that…” Colt tried to intervene. He tried plugging the dam to halt the burst of water, but Mina smashed it, rendering his efforts useless.

“I would love to, Countess.”

“Great…”

After that, Colt’s mind went blank, and failed to hear the rest of the Countess’ words. With that, he went and excused himself after agreeing to have dinner later that night.

In his room, he sat there with his blanked mind, and by the time he regained himself, a glass of water was already in his hand.

He drank that glass of water, stood up, looked at the window, and admired the full moon’s beauty.

‘The world is pulling me towards death, huh.’

Melancholy struck him while the women of the Edgeworth family were masterfully working their magic.