Arc#3 Chapter 76: The Middle Child has it Rough (Patreon)

[Author's Note]

For those concerned, sorry it was a bit late. I attended a bit of a late-night birthday party and came home later than I thought. Whoops.

Anyway, enjoy~!

════ ⋆★★★⋆ ════════ ⋆★★★⋆ ════════ ⋆★★★⋆ ════

Once the opening parade was over, the Founding Festival officially commenced.

The capital city was massive though, and it wasn't like the parade chariots were racing through the roads. As such, by the time the festivities officially commenced, the sky was beginning to turn a dark shade of orange.

This was par for the course though, so it didn't come as a surprise to anybody.

'Man, this is great. We should have more festivals...'

Citizens adorned in vibrant attires gathered in the central square. Their laughter and chatter echoed against the backdrop of majestic stone walls. It was the eve of the Founding Festival, a celebration marking the establishment of the nation that most of the people present called home.

The scent of exotic spices wafted from colorful stalls that lined the square and the main streets of the capital, each offering a feast for the senses. Roaring flames flickered beneath pots and cauldrons, where bubbling brews and fragrant stews simmered. Merchants enticed passersby with the promise of culinary delights, from sweet honeyed pastries to savory spiced meats on skewers.

Even the central fountain joined in the festivities, the massive knightly statues decorating it adorned with ribbons and banners. Children giggled as they chased each other around the fountain, their faces painted with smiles. The air was alive with the melodies of minstrels, their lutes and lyres weaving tales of knights and princesses, creating a tapestry of sound that enveloped the gathering crowd. Songs about the First King and the Sword Star were the most common, while merry praises of thanks to the royal family for another year of prosperity rang outwards on random occasions.

Unbeknownst to the celebrating citizens, the royal family they'd just seen during the parade was among them, disguised as completely different people.

"Hooray for Aizen!" someone near them suddenly shouted while holding a half-drunk bottle of alcohol. "Cheers to the royal family! Forever may they reign!"

Reivan laughed and joined the man, "Cheers to Aizenwald! Long may they live!"

"Ohohoh! This guy gets it! Here you go! You can have this, my friend!"

While Reivan was forging new friendships and receiving a free beer from the friendly drunkard, his family and his lover quietly exchanged greetings in one corner of the festivities.

"G-G-Good day... I mean good evening!" Elsamina stiffened up as she greeted his parents. Her hat almost fell from her head but she managed to catch it in time. "Uhm, I hope to continue my relationship with your son. He has been treating me very well."

"He better." Vianna let go of her husband's arm and took the nervous redhead's hand instead, a bright smile on her face. "Dear, you're just as gorgeous as ever."

"Goodness... Not as much as you, though, Lady Mona. I've never seen someone so beautiful except for maybe the queen."

"Oh my gosh. Honey! Honey, did you hear what she just said? I love this girl."

Rodin chuckled sheepishly and tipped his bowler hat in greeting. "I'm sorry that she's so energetic all the time."

"Oh, no." Elsamina hastily shook her head and hands at the same time. "I think it's lovely. It matches Lady Mona's youthful looks... In fact, when I get old, I want to age like she does."

"You... You really know how to get me rolling girl! But, why are you still calling me that? Didn't I tell you that you should call me Mother?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, Mother..."

"Geez, who told you to apologize? It's no big deal." Vianna lightly pulled her by the arm and then beckoned the king-in-disguise urgently. "Honey, it's not a big deal, right? Why are you so slow? Tell her."

Rodin playfully hit his wife on the head and smiled at the beautiful woman with red hair. "I'd prefer if you just called me Father too."

Elsamina smiled warmly, though her nervousness hadn't abated yet. "Yes, Father."

"Hello, Miss Elsa." Roland lightly waved at her with his pregnant wife in tow. "I'm glad to see you're still in good health. My wife really liked the gift you sent us last time."

"I did!" Stella chirped, beaming. "I didn't know there were so many things to pay attention to during pregnancy."

"I'm glad I spent the time to find the book, then." Elsamina giggled then as her eyes fell on the soon-to-be-mother's stomach. "How are you, by the way?"

Stella waved her hand like it was no big deal. "I may not look it, but I'm fairly durable. Pregnancy's no big deal."

Roland rolled his eyes and shook his head with a sneer, causing Elsa to burst into laughter.

'It's great when everyone gets along.'

Reivan was happy enough to act as decoration, enjoying his beer while his family spoiled Elsamina. Her past meant nothing to them, just that Reivan himself had chosen her and how she seemed eager to help him with his endeavors. Still, certain members of his family weren't as receptive.

"Hey." Reivan poked the stone-faced Jiji on the shoulder. "What's wrong with your face?"

"There's nothing wrong with my face. Everything is right. I'm very pretty."

"Wow. You shouldn't say that kind of thing out loud, y'know? Even if it's true."

"Then you say it for me."

"Okay. My sister Jiji is very pretty. Especially when she's smiling."

Jiji's mask finally broke and she smiled a little. "You're so stupid. Shut up..."

"C'mon." Reivan chuckled and took her by the hand. With a glance around them to make sure nobody was listening, he whispered to her. "Elsa really likes you a lot, y'know?"

"And?" The smile on Jiji's face vanished as quickly as it came. "Who said I wanted to be liked, anyway?"

"Why are you like this? Do you dislike her?"

"Did I say something like that? Please don't put words in my mouth."

"She even worked hard to personally make a gift for you. No matter what your feelings are, when she gives it to you, don't just throw it away or something, okay?"

"Hah? What kind of person do you think I am...?" Jiji looked at him with wide eyes, seemingly offended at his question. "What kind of person even does that? Even if I don't like her, I won't do that."

"Aha." Reivan poked her cheek, a smirk on his lips. "You just admitted that you don't like her."

"...Shit."

"And you even cursed." He frowned, turning his poke into a pinch. "A lady shouldn't curse like that. Don't let me catch you again."

Jiji sneered slapping his hand away. Then she pointed at a certain direction. "I'll never curse again as long as you can scold Mom and Stella too."

"...Fine, you can curse. But you should act civil around Elsa, okay?"

"That was my plan all along. Wasn't I already acting civil?"

"Was that acting civil? You look like she owes you money."

"Did it occur to you that you might've been imagining things?"

"I wasn't. You were grimacing. And you looked ugly too."

"Hah. You said I looked pretty earlier. You're going back on your words now? How can someone like you be so sure of what you saw? You can't even be sure of what you said. If we were in court, you'd be fucked."

Reivan massaged his temples and bit his lip. "This is what we get for letting you play politics and bureaucracy. It's like you never run out of rebuttals. And you're so good at skirting around my [Lie Detection] too."

"Thank you." Jiji smiled proudly.

"That wasn't a compliment."

"That depends on who hears it, no?"

"You're really annoying. Anyway, if you play nice...no, if you play nicer than nice, then I'll take you to a new place I know..."

Jiji rolled her eyes and turned her face away, only to look at him with a side glance. "You're talking about that place you went to with Helen yesterday, aren't you?"

Reivan blanched. "What? How do you even know about that..."

"I have... friends everywhere. They act as my eyes and ears. Duh."

'That's actually so scary... Both Helen and I were wearing disguises too. And yet she still found out? What happened to my cute little sister!? Give her back to me!'

To think that just a few years ago, she hugged him like a koala at every opportunity and agreed with whatever he said. Now, she acted so coldly and her tongue was so sharp. He couldn't understand her anymore.

'Wait, why would you even waste resources having your spies stake out a restaurant in Lightharbor City...?'

Jiji wasn't done yet, it seemed. "I even heard you were making out at the pier. How scandalous. Did you leave behind your shame when you lost your virginity?"

"...Do you want to go with me to the damned restaurant or not?"

The girl clicked her tongue and crossed her arms. "I want to go. You're paying. And you have to come with me to a few other places too. I have a list."

"Deal. Then behave, okay? Let's all get along."

"Fine, fine..." Jiji hopped over to Elsa and smiled sweetly. "Hello, Miss Elsa. Long time no see~! It's like you get prettier every time I see you.♥"

'... The fact that she can just switch gears is also somewhat terrifying, but whatever.'

Reivan heaved a sigh of relief, but when he saw his other little sister, he frowned again. "Mimi. What're you doing?"

"Nothing." Mimi—who was absolutely not doing nothing—craned her neck as she looked around the area. "Don't worry, me and Elsa see each other a lot, surprisingly. I get along with her great. Don't nag at me."

'Oh, right. Elsa did say something along those lines... I wonder what they're up to.'

"What're you looking around for?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing. I'm not looking around," she said while looking around. "Can you not bother me? Go away."

"Are you looking for Hector?"

Mimi scowled at him. "...How'd you know?"

"I'm his best friend. Duh." Reivan shrugged. "He looked really happy and stuff. So it was obvious that he asked you out and got you to agree."

'It's also because he borrowed money so he could take you somewhere nicer.'

He wouldn't say that bit out loud though. It'd be great if his friend's young romance actually bloomed. Reivan had to hype up his friend to the girl he liked.

Even though Hector was technically knighted now, he wasn't being assigned any real duties, so his salary was also low—though still high from a commoner's standpoint. It's just that living in the palace for years had a tendency to get people to have more refined tastebuds. Only people who'd gotten sick of high cuisine from having it so much—like his father and mother—would appreciate the simpler things.

With that said, Hector had to shell out plenty of cash if he wanted to take Mimi out to somewhere she'd actually like.

'That's what he thinks at least. But since she already likes him, the venue itself doesn't really matter so long as they're spending time with each other...'

Reivan had already said as much, but Hector just wouldn't believe him so he gave up. Perhaps these were the kinds of lessons one was supposed to learn on their own, through experience. It was a good thing Reivan read a number of romance novels too, so he didn't have to personally go out there and experience so many things—though the validity of the information was still subject to scrutiny.

"That dummy..." Mimi grumbled with an amused smile.

Reivan raised a brow. "Did you finally confess?"

"What!?" she exclaimed. "Wh-why would I confess? It's not like I like him... He's the one who keeps following me around everywhere!"

[Lie Detection] has activated!

"Whatever." Reivan mentally waved away the notification that told him something he already knew. "But if you keep acting like this, he's gonna get tired of your bullshit."

Mimi bit her lip and threw him a side glance. "Did he say anything...?"

"Who knows?"

"Tell me."

"Don't wanna. I'm going away since you told me to go away earlier."

"This guy is so..." Mimi clenched her teeth and scowled at him. But after a moment, she hung her head to hide the slight blush on her face. "I'm being nice to him now, okay...? And I agree whenever he asks me out. I even dress up in girly stuff even when I don't want to... Isn't that enough?"

Reivan shrugged. "I don't know."

"...You're really annoying. Don't bother me today!"

Mimi slapped him on the back of the head. In shock, he was about to retaliate, but she was already hiding behind Vianna with her tongue sticking out. The physical blow was light, but Reivan's ego took more of a hit because he couldn't retaliate.

He could only swallow his grievances for now.

'Why are my little sisters like this? I miss Kyouka! Damn, I wish she were here to teach these two how to do it right...'

With a bit of a heavy heart, Reivan rejoined Elsa since it seemed like his Mother and Stella were being a bit too overwhelming, draining the poor girl's wits.

"Dear, if my son ever goes too far, make sure to tell me, okay?" Vianna cooed, her arms linked lovingly with one of her future daughters-in-law. "That boy, he listens to me so I'll scold him for you. Even if you're his woman, he's also your man, so he has to treat you right. Don't just give in all the time."

Elsamina giggled. "There's no need to worry. We get along very well, Mother."

"Is that really so?" Vianna squinted as she sent a suspicious glare at her son. "You're not just saying that because he's here, are you?"

Reivan rolled his eyes and disregarded her accusations. "I was raised by good parents so why would I mistreat my woman?"

Vianna scoffed and then sent him a telepathic message through their crystals. "You say that when you have numerous women's scents on you all the time?"

"...The two of us have already talked about that," Reivan answered back, using his own crystal. "She said she was okay with it too... And she wasn't lying. Also, Elsa was the one to suggest it in the first place."

"You really are an idiot. Just because she's okay with it, does it mean you should keep doing it? Get your act together. And at least make me a few grandchildren if you're sleeping around so much. It's not that hard!"

"Grandchildren!? Those are a whole other problem!"

"Tsk. Useless... Well, at least you had the sense not to invite two of your fiances at the same time. Maybe there's some hope for you after all."

'Wow. Everybody's grown so mean to me! Is there some kind of trend that I'm not aware of? Is it in style to beat up the middle child nowadays..!?'

Reivan had been his mother's spoiled little brat for the longest time, then she suddenly started treating him like this. He really couldn't help but feel a bit aggrieved at his recent treatment. Even if he was technically older now, wasn't it still a bit too much? It wasn't like he was asking to be pampered and coddled like when he was a kid though.

At least his elder brother treated him well—or maybe that was just because the man was too busy to mistreat him at all.

Vianna suddenly pulled Elsamina away from him, ending their telepathic conversation. "Come, dear. I think I remember a stall that sells special honey. It's what I used before my husband and I tried for a child. Just stay away from this stupid son of mine for tonight. I'll take care of you."

"Yes, Mother..." Elsamina's face burned at the older woman's words but she still followed. Just before they were swallowed into the crowd, she sent Reivan a troubled smile and a cute little wave.

Reivan returned her gesture before looking around. Before he noticed it, his other family members had split up into smaller groups to enjoy the festival. Roland, Stella, and Mimi were curiously eyeing a stall that sold mystery boxes with accessories inside, while Rodin and Jiji were chatting merrily as they ate something that looked like a turtle on a stick.

'What the hell... Why am I suddenly alone?'

He had no desire to chase after his Mother and Elsamina, considering Vianna would obviously shoo him away. The trio by the mystery box stalls was out too, since he felt like he'd smack Mimi on the back of the head if he got any closer, subsequently incurring the wrath of a half-ascendant and her husband. His father and Jiji were also talking about complicated things—like how surprisingly nutritious yet tasty the turtles were, and how maybe they should invest in cultivating them in Aizen—so he didn't want to butt into that either.

'I thought this was family night...'

In the end, he decided to roam around by himself for now.