Chapter 12. Protecting Everyone

Michaela and Rapellian faced each other after moving from the dining room to the office.

“Are you serious?”

“I have no reason not to be. Valuing received favors is the family tradition of the Mosteros. I’ve been taught that since childhood. I don’t understand why you oppose adoption.”

Michaela was exasperated by his nonchalant tone.

‘What is he trying to do? Doesn’t he think this is excessive at all?’

Rapellian had been a rational child since he was young.

The usual Rapellian would have first considered the problems that would arise from putting a human child on the family lineage.

But from what he was saying now, he seemed to think such concerns were irrelevant, and even believed his judgment was extremely rational.

Michaela found Rapellian’s expression, usually calm as a still lake, particularly vexing today. Swallowing a hollow laugh that threatened to escape, she poured water into the glass beside her and drank it.

“Why adoption specifically? She’s still young, so she could just stay in this house until she comes of age.”

“That’s too ambiguous. I judged that this much is necessary for El, an orphan from a pickpocket den, to receive proper treatment both inside and outside the house. It would also be easier to fully protect her this way.”

Rapellian briefly looked at Michaela seated in the main chair before straightening his gaze and placing his interlocked hands on his lap.

“I understand what you’re saying. But even though our clan is human-friendly, suddenly putting a human on our family register isn’t an easy matter.”

“We aren’t weak enough to be easily swayed by others, and our succession is secure, so I don’t think there will be any major problems.”

Michaela observed Rapellian with a subtle gaze.

“It’s not that simple. There are many factors to consider.”

Michaela leaned back against the chair rest, holding her head as she recalled the various troublesome matters that would follow once rumors of adoption spread.

“Unless El herself wants it, I have no intention of taking the initiative.”

“I’ve merely provided El with many options. I don’t intend to proceed forcefully either. But if possible, I’d prefer it to be done properly.”

“The Emperor’s permission is needed to add someone to the family register.”

“His Majesty is the kind of person who would personally come all the way to the north with his seal if it were your wish, Sister.”

Rapellian raised one eyebrow and then lowered it, as if to say, what’s the problem with that?

Michaela wanted to deny it, but the Emperor was indeed exactly that kind of person, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

After pouring and drinking more water, she took a small deep breath and continued.

“Our household has not only beastmen but also human employees. Can you assert that there won’t be anyone who will be jealous or envious?”

“If there are people who cannot understand our intentions, that’s something we should eliminate at our level.”

“Let’s say we handle the household issues ourselves, but what about the matters El will have to deal with after suddenly entering noble society? It won’t be easy to endure, whether it’s because of beastmen or fellow humans.”

“That’s precisely why El’s position shouldn’t be ambiguous. Having Mosteros attached to El’s name gives us justification to protect her.”

Rapellian’s face showed that he had made up his mind more firmly than ever.

She continually examined her brother’s expression as she spoke about her reasons for opposing adoption.

“Haven’t you thought about what will happen the moment it spreads that a human has been adopted into a beastman family, especially one of the top aristocratic families in the Empire?”

Michaela closed her eyes tightly and shook her head as if the mere thought was horrifying.

“People will appear who try to use the child’s background for their advantage. She’ll have to bear burdens she shouldn’t have to.”

“The Mosteros family isn’t so weak that we can’t protect against that level of threat.”

His tone was quite strong with firm belief in the family.

Michaela agreed with his statement, but on the other hand, she thought that the usual Rapellian would have backed down after this much discussion.

She tapped the empty glass with her fingernail before speaking.

“The north isn’t an easy place for a human child to settle. Ah, the south. It would be better to send her to the south where more humans than beastmen live. We have a territory there too, so for territory management……”

“Sister, we aren’t trying to bring in a family worker.”

Rapellian, who had never shown any disrespectful behavior, cut off Michaela’s words.

His interlocked fingers moved slightly, tapping against the back of his hand.

‘Look at this guy.’

Michaela’s gaze briefly touched his hands before she let out a deep sigh and bluntly said one word.

“I think you’ll regret this.”

Rapellian narrowed his eyes at her low murmur, not understanding her intention.

He sharpened his senses to grasp her inner thoughts.

His keen eyes were directed at Michaela, but she very skillfully concealed her expression.

“Do you perhaps pursue pure bloodlines like other families, Sister? That’s a very anachronistic idea.”

“Indeed. That’s an anachronistic thought.”

“Then why…… Are you worried that our family might be ostracized by other families for putting a human on our family register?”

Michaela wanted to say, “Who would dare!” but instead maintained silence.

“Sister!”

“If you insist on adoption, the best solution for both the family and El would be to send her to another suitable family for adoption.”

Michaela put down the empty glass she was holding and spoke, intending to test Rapellian.

“How does that conclusion make any sense?”

His fingers moved in a rather nervous manner.

“I’ll be honest. I hate the harm El will face by being adopted into our family. People who intentionally create accidents like today will surely appear. I cannot put Briel and Riello in danger.”

Michaela glanced down at Rapellian’s fingers briefly before immediately putting on the perfect mask of a family head, not someone’s sister.

She took a moment to steady her breath and continued.

“No matter how much we owe her, my blood comes first. If we send El for adoption to a decent human family, we can avoid all these issues. We protect the family, and El grows up under normal guardians. Isn’t that quite reasonable?”

Michaela tilted her head slightly to the side and asked gently.

“……”

Rapellian couldn’t deny it. It wasn’t wrong.

But while his head understood, his heart wasn’t readily willing to follow. His fingers moved busily, tapping.

“Still, sending her to another family for adoption seems like avoiding responsibility.”

“Then all I can offer is to raise El here as well as any young lady from a good family. Just that far. No adoption.”

“……”

“There’s too much at risk by putting one human name on my family register. As the head of the Mosteros family and as someone who owes El a debt, I have a duty to protect both.”

Rapellian had nothing more to say.

What more could he say when it was for the sake of both the family and El? He couldn’t insist any further.

“I thought El needed a proper position to be treated well anywhere. But if that threatens El and the family, there’s no choice. I understand your intention, Sister.”

Perhaps because things didn’t go his way, his voice, which had been firm until now, lost some strength.

Michaela, finding the dejected Rapellian quite cute and vexing, pushed even harder.

“That’s what being a family head means. Anyway, I am the head of Mosteros, and I have much to protect. If you mention this matter again, I’ll take it as a challenge to the family head.”

Michaela’s voice, which had held warm tenderness until now, cooled down.

Since Michaela had directly invoked her title as family head, he truly could not discuss this matter any further.

His tapping fingers stopped.

“……I understand. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Although Rapellian wasn’t entirely satisfied with this outcome, he obediently stood up.

After he completely left the office, Michaela immediately rose as well.

She opened the door to the archives located on the left side of the office. A rush of nostalgic smell came from the books that densely filled the bookshelves.

Michaela stood in front of the bookshelf in the furthest corner and moved several mechanisms.

A secret safe appeared.

She quickly entered the password to open the door and took out a thick book from a wooden box full of traces of time, rapidly turning its pages.

“I simply cannot let this go.”

The first Duchess actually had black hair and ruby-colored eyes…… [omitted]…… The first Duke had to shed much blood to achieve his love with her. But he willingly risked his life for her…… [omitted]…… Due to the inevitable difference in lifespan between humans and…… [omitted]……

Rapellian was said to most resemble the first Duke and inherit most of his abilities. And beside him appeared a girl with exactly the same appearance as the first Duchess.

‘I thought it might be excessive to think this way just because of physical appearance, but that guy who puts up walls against even ladies from great families was clearly agitated earlier.’

Unlike his usual self, Rapellian was particularly attentive and mindful of El.

Rapellian’s hands had been quite busy earlier.

From the moment she deliberately mentioned sending the child to the south to test Rapellian, his hands had been distractingly busy.

That was Rapellian’s habit.

Whenever he was anxious, things weren’t going his way, or he was being stubborn, he would always interlock his hands and tap his fingers.

Michaela carefully recalled Rapellian’s behavior during their conversation in the office.

‘Which reason could it be?’

It was certain that Rapellian was interested in El.

But she still wasn’t sure exactly why.

Whether it was a strong protective concept that he should guard his benefactor, or if he was interested in El for some other reason.

And whether the cause of Rapellian’s uncharacteristic anxiety was simply because he couldn’t get his way, or if there was some reason why El shouldn’t be let go.

The only certainty was that Rapellian seemed to want to keep El firmly in this household.

‘He’s different from usual. Too different. If these two were destined to meet, and if it’s a necessary fate that they should be connected, and Rapellian is instinctively acting that way……’

“If that’s the case, adoption is absolutely out of the question.”

This was precisely why Michaela had opposed El’s adoption with all sorts of reasons.

Especially since she had experienced failed love herself, she wanted her brother to have a smooth path with the person he loved. She wanted someone to appear in Rapellian’s life whom he could trust and rely on, since he had difficulty trusting others.

So Michaela couldn’t let this opportunity they had met slip away over trivial matters.

Michaela’s hand holding the book involuntarily tightened its grip.