Chapter 13: A Reason to Grow Stronger.
Chapter 13: A Reason to Grow Stronger.
Ruby tilted her head slightly after noticing the strange look that had settled upon Osborne’s face, while the gentle smile she had been wearing softened even further as she looked at him with quiet concern before speaking in a warm voice.
"...Is something the matter, Brother-in-law?"
Her words finally pulled Osborne out of his thoughts.
He blinked several times before letting out an awkward laugh, lightly scratching the back of his head.
"...No, it’s nothing," he replied with an embarrassed smile before hesitating for a brief moment. "I was only surprised because... well... I’ve never actually heard of you before."
Ruby’s expression froze for the briefest instant before she smiled again, although this time her smile appeared noticeably more forced than before.
"...That’s perfectly understandable," she answered softly while lowering her gaze ever so slightly. "Most of my time is spent on the battlefield, so I rarely remain within the estate long enough for many nobles to even know I exist."
Osborne quietly nodded.
"I see..."
Even so... He couldn’t help noticing the faint discomfort that flashed across her face after hearing his words, almost as though the topic itself was something she disliked discussing.
’...Did I say something wrong?’ he wondered inwardly.
The room gradually fell silent.
Osborne’s thoughts drifted elsewhere as he secretly searched through every memory he possessed of the original novel to understand what was happening right now.
’If I can’t remember her at all... then there can only be two possibilities.’ He said, slowly narrowing his eyes.
’Either she was nothing more than a background character the author never bothered giving any meaningful screen time...’
He paused, His expression gradually darkened.
’...Or she died before the story even began.’
For some reason... The second possibility felt far more likely.
Ruby, completely unaware of what was passing through his mind, looked at him earnestly before speaking once more.
"If Rachael or Rebecca causes you any more trouble in the future," she said sincerely, "please come and find me immediately, While I did give them a stern talking to this time, knowing my sisters, they’re more likely to be resentful if anything."
Osborne simply smiled politely at her words.
’Wouldn’t it make more sense to stop them from causing trouble in the first place then...?’ he thought to himself.
For a he knew, she only scolded them or locked them in their room, and while she made it clear she was siding with him, how was that a proper reaction for what they did to him.
If they hadn’t been stopped in time, he could’ve died!
Naturally...
He kept those words to himself.
"I understand," he replied with a grateful nod. "Thank you. I’ll be sure to remember that."
Relief immediately appeared upon Ruby’s face.
"I’m glad." She smiled warmly before continuing.
"I’ll also continue sending healing elixirs until you’ve completely recovered, because your injuries still require proper treatment."
Osborne stared at her in disbelief.
"...You’re still planning on giving me more?"
Ruby blinked.
"Of course. We’re now family are we not?" She smiled cheekily.
" Plus I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to have a brother." She giggled.
"...I see." Osborne said, a bit suspicious at first. " I am forever in your depth sister in-law–"
" Just call me big sis, drop the formalities, alright?" Ruby replied with a warm smile.
" S-Sure." He stuttered, still surprised by how direct she was being.
His gratitude this time was completely genuine.
Healing elixirs were considered luxuries within this world, with even minor bottles costing fortunes that ordinary nobles could scarcely afford, while back at House Bismarck his parents had always been forced to purchase them sparingly despite their noble status because their finances simply couldn’t support such extravagant expenses.
Yet...
Ruby had handed them over without asking for anything in return.
’...Are these three really related?’ Osborne wondered inwardly.
The difference between them felt almost unbelievable.
Ruby merely smiled.
"It’s the very least I can do after everything that happened." She said.
She then turned toward Guinevere.
"Well that’s all I have to say for now, we’ll be leaving you to your rest brother."
" And you, Anny was it?"
" Y-Yes my lady?" Anny replied.
" I really appreciate you looking after my brother like this, please continue to stay by his side."
"I believe that would be best."
" Of course, as you wish my lady." Anny nodded.
Ruby offered Osborne one final smile before quietly leaving the room together with Guinevere, leaving only Anny behind to continue caring for him.
******
The following days passed peacefully.
Throughout his recovery, Anny scarcely left his side for more than a few minutes at a time, making certain he ate properly, changing his bandages whenever necessary, and refusing to allow him to move any more than absolutely necessary despite his countless complaints that he was already feeling much better.
As for the two little devils responsible for his injuries...
Neither Rachael nor Rebecca appeared even once.
Whether it was because Ruby had spoken to them or because they simply had no interest in seeing him again, Osborne couldn’t say.
Either way...
He certainly wasn’t complaining.
******
Several days later...
Osborne quietly stood before the large window inside his room while gazing out across the sprawling Roosevelt Estate, where servants busily carried out their daily duties beneath the bright afternoon sun as gardeners carefully tended the flowerbeds and knights continued their endless patrols without pause.
His body had almost completely recovered thanks to Ruby’s generous supply of healing elixirs.
His mind however, Was another matter entirely.
A faint sigh escaped his lips.
Only after everything that had happened did he truly understand just how powerless he currently was.
Back on Earth he had possessed nothing but an exhausting office job.
After arriving in this world he had become a noble.
Yet despite that title...
His words carried absolutely no authority within House Roosevelt.
No one had listened when he tried to explain himself, nor did they bother asking for his side of the story.
And when stronger people decided his fate...
He had been completely incapable of resisting.
His hands slowly tightened into fists.
"...I trust Ruby," he murmured quietly while staring through the window, "but if I don’t want something like that to happen again, then I have to become stronger... strong enough that devils like those two will think twice before laying a finger on me."
His voice gradually became firmer.
Strength.
Influence.
Authority.
Without those things...Kindness alone accomplished nothing.
A helpless smile eventually appeared on his face as another thought crossed his mind.
"...I know it isn’t exactly right," he muttered to himself while rubbing the back of his neck, "but I hope the protagonist won’t mind if I borrow a few opportunities before he gets to them."
After all...If he intended to survive until the end of this story...He could no longer afford to remain the powerless Osborne von Bismarck.