He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 160

“Knox?”

 

Astel’s eyes widened at Cassian’s question, and she tilted her head.

 

“What? What do you mean, Knox?”

 

The man who opened the door was a tall, silver-haired man.

 

‘He looks strangely familiar…’

 

Cassian squinted, searching him. 

 

The other man smiled, seemingly unperturbed by the stare.

 

“…Who are you?”

 

The man looked very familiar, but he couldn’t quite place his name. 

 

Cassian frowned slightly, and he spoke first.

 

“My name is Citer, a vassal of the Duke of Anais and head of the Silver Fox family.”

 

Astel, standing beside him, chimed in briskly, “He’s in the magic tools business, and he’s my business partner. He also helped me open the café.”

 

“…Nice to meet you. So, I take it you’d like to invite him to the tea party?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Please have a seat.”

 

The man shook his head at Cassian’s questioning gaze and sank down on the couch.

 

Citer ignored Astel’s offer of tea and got right to the point.

 

“I’ve come to see you because I think I could be quite useful to the success of the Tea Party, and to your business, Astel.”

 

Cassian gave a pensive look. As a vassal of the Duke of Anais, he was reluctant. But if he knew Magic, and was Astel’s business partner, they would have to cross paths often.

 

“You’re very confident.”

 

He grinned, mesmerizing like a ten-tailed fox.

 

“I must be, because my family will officially support you, Astel.”

 

“Officially support…”

 

Citer spoke in a low whisper, as if he had already heard from Astel about Cassian’s reluctance toward the Duke.

 

“What we’re helping you with this time, His Grace the Duke of Anais, is a completely separate matter. My house, and the Jaguar House, owe Astel a debt, and we are simply trying to repay it.” 

 

“…That’s true.”

 

“That Astel’s social standing, her position as a businesswoman, is something my family can help her with.”

 

He spoke of the favor Astel had done for him again that day. It was said that the family never forgets a favor.

 

The idea of publicizing their support for Astel by participating in the tea party, and thereby building her support base, was too good to pass up.

 

“I know you’ve already invited the guests of honor, but I’d like you to help me make it even more grand.”

 

“And what exactly are you going to do?”

 

It was a question mixed with half an inquiry, but Citer took it in stride.

 

“I’ll be out socializing.”

 

Citer gave a slight smile out of the corner of his eye, even to Rune, who remained still beside him.

 

Being the center of social circles was far too easy for a fox with the ability to charm people.

 

💫

 

The next morning, the garden of the Marquise Muliana’s tea party was bustling with guests for a small tea party.

 

“I hear the Count of Vietry is holding a hunting tournament?”

 

“Oh, my… Well, the family’s hunting skills were quite famous, weren’t they?”

 

“Who says they only have hunting skills? Their magical abilities are outstanding!”

 

Amid the nobles’ chatter, there was a man who stared at the steam rising from his teacup.

 

Whether it was his good looks or his beautiful aura, he had an overwhelming presence.

 

The ladies and gentlemen in the room were all staring at him and talking amongst themselves.

 

No wonder. The man with the silver hair that cascaded down to his shoulders was Citer, the head of the Silver Fox family.

 

The head of the clan, who usually didn’t even participate in the tea party, was the center of attention.

 

Muliana’s mouth watered at the sight of him, but the young lady spoke up again.

 

“His Grace the Duke of Anais will be here, I assume?”

 

“I heard you have a strong connection to his family.” 

 

“Her Ladyship, Countess Hazel Vietry.”

 

That was Astel’s story.

 

Citer, who had been still until then, shifted against the backrest.

 

Now it was time to turn the conversation to mine.

 

And things went exactly as he intended. With a single gesture, all eyes were on him.

 

Lady Muliana, the host of the tea party, asked excitedly, “Lord Citer, what is it?”

 

“Lady Hazel Vietry’s tea party, and I will be joining her as well.”

 

His words sent a light ripple through the room. But it was a grand affair, the Count’s first party, and his presence was not entirely unexpected.

 

After all, he hadn’t even attended Muliana’s parties.

 

Reading the surrounding reactions, he spoke up to lighten the mood.

 

“I’m not coming simply because I’m invited, but because my family owes Lady Vietry a great debt of gratitude.”

 

It was a literal statement, but the implications were profound.

 

Cassian Gray deserved it, given his service to the Empire…

 

Astel was widely known simply as a commoner healer who had risen from nowhere.

 

Rumors abounded that she was close to the Silver Fox and Jaguar families, or that she was a ward of the Duke.

 

None of this was ever said in public.

 

But the official declaration that Astel was the benefactor of House Silver Fox came from the lord himself.

 

All eyes were on Lord Citer.

 

But he spoke the next words without a trace of trepidation, “I’m not the only one, Ricardo, the ancestral head of the Jaguar family, also owes his life to Lady Vietry. Ah, this is a well-known story.”

 

They all stirred the teacups in their hands.

 

For his words, to their ears, rang out as ‘Astel is the true ruler of the Empire’.

 

Lord Citer laughed lightly, as if that was exactly the point he was trying to make, and sipped his now-cooled tea.

 

The Marquise Muliana’s tearoom was well known for the light-hearted, and by tomorrow, there would be no one in society unaware of Astel’s connection to the Silver Fox family.

 

Having accomplished his goal, he smirked, then turned the conversation back to the House of Vietry’s party.

 

“So, yes, both Ricardo and I will be present at the House of Vietry’s tea party, as we must be.”

 

As he finished speaking, the young lords and young ladies present finally spoke up.

 

“I’m looking forward to it…!”

 

“Yes, Mr. Ricardo has been rumored to be close to Astel.”

 

“So… on the day of the hunting tournament, will you show us the Jaguars and Foxes in their new forms?”

 

His eyes twinkled like a fox’s at the question of appearing in the form of a creature other than a human.

 

His voice was sweet as he spoke, unable to take his eyes off of her, unable to look away.

 

“Of course, yes.”

 

Setting down his teacup, he picked up the fan he’d set down on the tea table and covered his mouth.

 

Seeing the interest on everyone’s faces, he decided that this was an adequate way to pique their curiosity.

 

If he wanted to keep the curiosity until the day of the tea party, he needed to play it cool.

 

As a final, deflective comment, he adds,  “I suppose I shall see all the ladies of this place there as well?”

 

“Well, yes!”

 

“I’ll be sure to come, if only to see you and Belle, and I’m curious about Lady Astel, as well.”

 

He nodded slowly and answered, “You won’t be disappointed, Lady Vietry is a lovely lady.”

 

It was only natural that everyone nodded in agreement.

 

But then, one of the younger ladies turned to him and asked, “So, will His Grace, the Duke of Anais, be joining us for this tea party at the House of Vietry?”

 

His hand tightened around his teacup at the unexpected question.

 

It was a question he had wondered about himself.

 

“His Grace the Duke, well, I do not know.”

 

He smiled a foxy, sweet smile.

 

“I don’t think it’s any of my business.”

 

Of course, given the circumstances, the Duke would not be coming.

 

He would be in the Fulun Mountains, dealing with the remnants of the abdicated prince.

 

However, it would be best to keep their curiosity at bay until the day of the party, so it would be best to speak in moderation.

 

As he thought so, his eyes shone.

 

That night, however, he unexpectedly received a confidential message from the Duke of Anais.

 

The Duke of Anais informed him that he had destroyed the last remaining forces of the warlocks in the Fulun Mountains and was returning to the capital in secret.

 

💫

 

Several days passed.

 

Finally, a lavish party was organized to mark the Count’s return to society.

 

The nobles were to be gathered at the House of Vietry for a grand tea party, and a hunting tournament was to be held on the same day.

 

Great care was taken with clothing.

 

Rune was dressed like a young gentleman in a white tailored suit and bow tie. My brother was dressed in a neat coat and a gentlemanly bowler hat.

 

“My brother, you look even more handsome than usual.”

 

The words were spat playfully, but he responded seriously.

 

“You’re the prettiest thing in the world. Mmm… like a little cute chick.”

 

I covered my mouth and gave a small laugh.

 

Maybe it was because I was wearing a pale yellow chiffon dress with ruffles at the hem of the skirt and round-toed blue Mary Jane shoes.

 

I also felt a little more youthful than usual. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t officially made my debut yet, so I was deliberately trying to look young and cute…

 

“…But the chicks are pretty bad, though.”

 

“I mean cute. Have you checked the tea party venue?”

 

“Not yet. Where’s the hunting tournament?”

 

“All set.”

 

He frowned slightly.

 

“Then why don’t we go check out the venue one last time?”

 

The plan was to have a light tea party and then start the hunt.

 

I would be the host of the tea party, and he would be the host of the hunt.

 

Taking my brother’s hand, I walked into the outdoor garden of Count Vietry’s mansion, where the tea party was to be held.

 

The garden hadn’t been tended in a long time, and it smelled like it had been tended by imperial wizards.

 

Through the garden gates, which were decorated with floral arches, a party table was set. 

 

An off-white tablecloth draped over a round table and a vase with a diamond-cut artificial flower in the center, gave it a calm, clean look.

 

“I decorated it with poinsettias and, as you can see, there’s a rose inside.”

 

“Blue roses? That’s interesting.”

 

“Yes! I’ve also mixed in some yellow roses.”

 

We made small talk and walked into the tea party.

 

My brother detected any possible traces of black magic, while I checked the table and the orchestra musicians we had invited for the evening.

 

And then…

 

“Hey, your first guest came in faster than I thought.”

 

“Huh?”

 

It wasn’t even noon yet, when the party was supposed to start…!

 

I spun quickly to the garden gate, my hair blowing in the wind.

 

There stood the head of the Silver Fox family. I waved at him with a delighted expression.

 

“My lord!”

 

As I drew closer, I caught a whiff of something suspicious. 

 

There was a stiffness in his expression that I had never seen before. I thought I was mistaken, but the closer I got, the more clearly I recognized the look on his face. I stumbled backward in disbelief.

 

What was that? Why did he look like that…