Things have been difficult since New Year's Day, but is everyone doing okay?

It doesn't feel like a time for congratulations, so I'll just say, I look forward to your continued support this year.

It was raining that day.

Looking out the window of my office, I could see heavy, thick clouds in the sky.

"Just as the weather forecast predicted. It's times like these that remind me of living on the capital planet."

On the capital planet, where rainy days were scheduled, humans didn't need to adjust their activities to the weather.

If we were to enclose the entire planet and turn it into a single colony, the same would be possible for the Banfield family's home world.

However, I have no intention of doing so.

"—Well, I suppose a little rain can be entertaining."

Just as I was about to return to my work, a hologram appeared on my desk.

The person projected was Rosetta.

Her face was flushed and her eyes were moist, as if she were excited.

Seeing her face, I thought, Not this again, but decided to hear her out anyway.

"What happened?"

Normally, interrupting my work would be unforgivable unless it was an extremely important matter.

But when it comes to family, things are a little different.

Amagi and Brian had strictly instructed me to prioritize any matters concerning Rosetta.

—I am the head of the Banfield family, the most important man on this planet.

That said, I couldn't refuse Amagi's suggestions, and ignoring Brian would just cause trouble later, so I reluctantly accepted.

Rosetta sniffled.

"It's about Ed."

"Again?"

As I sighed in exasperation, Rosetta desperately tried to convey how serious it was.

"Ed's behavior has been truly outrageous lately."

"It's just a rebellious phase, isn't it?"

He seems to be causing all sorts of trouble, but it's not like he's created any fatal problems for the management of the Banfield house.

I had even told his tutors to turn a blind eye to minor issues.

And yet, Rosetta seemed to be worried sick.

"The other day, he was out late again, and—um—"

Rosetta, looking like she was struggling to say something, changed the subject to move the conversation forward.

"Anyway! I want you to have a proper talk with him, Darling. Tell him that you love him."

It seems Rosetta has a more Western way of thinking, where expressing love on a daily basis is natural.

As someone with memories of a past life, I'm influenced by my Japanese mindset, so I find it embarrassing to say 'I love you'.

"Why me?"

"He won't accept it no matter how many times I tell him. Besides, with our second child on the way, don't you think he might be feeling insecure?"

Rosetta gently caressed her abdomen.

The birth of their second child was fast approaching, and it seemed Rosetta wanted to resolve this issue quickly.

"Is he already worried about inheritance issues at such a young age? No, even if he looks young, after several decades, it wouldn't be strange for him to be thinking about such things, would it?"

Edward may look young, but in my past life, he'd be old enough to be a full-fledged adult.

It wouldn't be strange for him to have the idea that a succession dispute would arise once the second child is born.

"Don't worry. I'll prepare a suitable territory for him even if he doesn't become the heir."

I thought that if I promised him enough support to be independent without any trouble, he would appreciate the tangible benefits that words of love alone couldn't provide.

But that wasn't what Rosetta was looking for, apparently.

"That's not what I mean!"

"—Huh?"

Watching the hologram of Rosetta sigh in exasperation, I tried to figure out what I had done wrong, but I couldn't come up with an answer.

◇

In her bedroom, Rosetta let out a deep sigh after the call ended.

"Why doesn't Darling understand? If he just hugged Ed and told him he loves him, I'm sure Ed would feel reassured and calm down."

Beside Rosetta, who was lamenting that her feelings weren't getting through at all, stood Amagi, who had come to check on her under Liam's orders.

As Amagi watched the grieving Rosetta, images and videos of a young Liam played in her electronic brain.

"The Master became the head of the Banfield family at the age of five. Since then, he grew up without ever seeing his parents again."

"So you're saying he doesn't know how to show affection?"

Questioned by Rosetta, Amagi thought for a few seconds before answering.

"Compared to Lord Edward now, the Master was much more mature. Perhaps I should say, he had no choice but to be? That is why, I believe, he cannot notice what Lord Edward is seeking."

From a young age, Liam had been mature for his years.

For such a Liam, it would be difficult to fathom the feelings of the current Edward.

Rosetta listened to Amagi's story with a sad expression.

"So Darling sees Ed as an adult."

"I surmise it is something along those lines. However, if this continues, it will become a problem for the Banfield family, so I will consult with Lord Brian."

"Please do, Amagi."

◇

"What do you want me to do? Ed's old enough, isn't he? Looks aside, after living for several decades, aren't practical benefits more important than words?"

After my conversation with Rosetta, I finished my work and went outside.

An umbrella, should I call it?

A device, a drone with an umbrella attached, floated above my head, protecting me from the rain.

It also came with adequate lighting.

I thought I'd go outside for a change of pace, get some fresh air, and clear my head—but I still don't understand what I did wrong.

"You can't be serious, is just saying 'I love you' really enough? That's got to be a lie."

If I were Edward, and I told me 'I love you,' I'd probably think, 'What's this guy suddenly spouting?'

He shouldn't be happy to hear 'I love you' from a villain like me.

That's exactly why I thought I'd tell him not to worry because I've prepared practical benefits for him.

"Just like this rain, family problems are never easy."

In the courtyard, smelling the rain-soaked earth and plants, I looked up at the oppressive sky.

The biggest problem right now is the war with the Empire, but I never imagined such a troublesome issue would arise within my own family.

"In the first place, I had already decided that Ed would be my successor."

As an evil lord, I'm not looking for a competent successor.

I don't care what happens to the territory after I die.

In fact, I even have a favorable impression of Ed for declaring he aims to be an evil lord.

"All this fuss just because a second child is on the way... This makes me not want to think about a third. I'm starting to have second thoughts about increasing my number of concubines, too."

I once boasted about building a harem, but things have started to get complicated.

"But if I say that now, Eulisia will probably explode. I've entrusted her with an important job, and it would hurt to have her leave at this point."

The Empire's subjugation force ravaged my territory.

Many of my subordinates are swamped with the reconstruction efforts.

Eulisia is one of them.

She's competent, so it would be quite a hassle if she left.

"I'd like to just increase the authority of the artificial intelligences, but—Amagi is against it."

I, for one, want to give more authority to the AIs and rely on them more, but because of Amagi's resistance, we've been maintaining the status quo.

As I was pondering various things, I sensed a presence and shifted my gaze.

There stood Rinho, drenched in the rain.

"What are you doing there?"

I operated my terminal to prepare a drone-umbrella and sent it over to Rinho.

The rain-soaked Rinho was smiling, but her expression was painful to see.

"I wanted to meet and talk with you, my senior brother-disciple. A call just feels so impersonal."

"That doesn't mean you have to get soaked."

If she had just told someone in the mansion, I would have gone to her. What was she thinking?

Before my exasperated self, Rinho looked down, forcing a smile.

"You've already noticed, haven't you, senior brother-disciple? —That Fuuka has advanced to the next stage."

As a swordswoman of the One-Flash Style, Fuuka has stepped into the next realm.

From my perspective, she's only just dipped a toe in.

However, I believe she has shown the potential to one day stand on my level.

"Yeah, that's right."

Rinho raised her face.

Still smiling, she was shedding tears.

"Then tell me. —Can I—can I ever catch up to you and Fuuka, senior brother-disciple?"

Rinho's voice was trembling.

I clenched my right fist and gritted my back teeth just once.

—Rinho doesn't have the talent to stand alongside us.

Rinho is a fine swordswoman of the One-Flash Style, but she did not possess the kind of talent needed to reach our realm.

It pained me to confront her with that fact.

But, as a fellow disciple—as her senior brother-disciple who shares the same master, I had to tell Rinho.

"You should just pursue your own One-Flash Style. —As for the inhuman enemies, Fuuka and I will handle them, so don't worry."

A swordsman of the One-Flash Style named Yasujiro had been spreading a different version of the style from ours.

Although it called itself the One-Flash Style, it was an inferior product, lacking the power to deal with the monsters that prey on humanity, like Fuuka and I do.

Therefore, there should be no problem with Rinho carrying on the orthodox One-Flash Style.

"If you want to open a dojo, just tell me. For you, my cute junior sister-disciple, I'll give you all the support I can—"

Before I could finish, Rinho screamed.

"I don't want to end like this! I used to be stronger than Fuuka! I always—I always protected her!! Why am I the only one being left behind!?"

Rinho crouched down on the spot and began to cry.

I rushed over and helped Rinho up, holding her.

"Your talent as a swordswoman is greater than Fuuka's. I can guarantee that. But that alone isn't enough."

I couldn't find any words of comfort either.

If this was something that could be solved through training, I would train Rinho until she coughed up blood.

I'd even be willing to stick with her until she mastered the techniques.

However—because I understood it would be futile, I had no choice but to make her give up.

"Rinho, accepting it is also a form of strength."

When Rinho looked up, the light had vanished from her beautiful, cherry-blossom-colored eyes.

"I don't need that kind of strength. I want to stand in the same place as you and the others, senior brother-disciple."

Like a child throwing a tantrum, Rinho clutched my clothes and pleaded with me.

"You're the only one I can rely on now. I—I was—I was abandoned by Master, too. So, please, help me."

I wanted to grant her wish, but I had no way to do so.

"—I'm sorry."

Hearing the answer I managed to squeeze out, Rinho's face filled with despair.

"Haha... I see. So you're abandoning me too, senior brother-disciple."

"That's not it!"

Rinho stood up, shook me off, and began to walk away unsteadily.

"Wait, Rinho! —Tch!"

I called out to stop her, but Rinho ignored me and left.

"I want you to become stronger too. But there's nothing that can be done."

Brian (´・ω・｀): "Something painful has happened so early in the new year, but is everyone alright? I would be happy if you could at least enjoy the exploits of Lord Liam and the others."