New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

A Single-Father Household?

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Who are you?” (Yohan)

“I am Leon. Do you understand that I am cousin to Yohan-kun? I am the child of Duncan-san’s Onii-san.” (Leon)

“Otou-san?” (Yohan)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Where is Conan-niichan?” (Yohan)

Ah, so he was referring to my Nii-san.

“Ah… Conan-niichan is in a place far from here called Emilia.” (Leon)

“What is this? Otou-san said that Onii-chan was coming.” (Yohan)

He looked very disappointed.

This child must have been expecting my Nii-san to visit. It is no surprise, for my Nii-san is well liked by everyone, and he has also visited the royal capital several times.

“I am sorry. I am Conan-niichan’s younger brother.” (Leon)

“I see.” (Yohan)

Whether he understood or not, he completely lost interest in me.

At the time when he had lost his Okaa-san and felt lonely, he must have grown attached to Conan-niichan, who occasionally visited. My Nii-san is kind after all.

“That is right. Please wait a moment.” (Leon)

I reached into the bag I had brought and took something out.

“What is this?” (Yohan)

“It is a toy boat.” (Leon)

“A boat?” (Yohan)

I seemed to have caught his interest. It was a wooden-carved ship. Although I had never seen a ship floating upon the sea, I had once seen one in a picture book. I carved an object resembling a two-masted vessel floating upon the sea.

“This, I am giving to you, Yohan-kun.” (Leon)

“You are giving it to me?” (Yohan)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Yay!” (Yohan)

When I handed him the toy, his eyes shone as he observed it from various angles.

“Since it is a boat, will it float in the pond?” (Yohan)

“Of course.” (Leon)

He smiled. He is so very adorable, and it makes him all the more pitiable that he has lost his Okaa-san.

“Yohan-kun, do you not feel lonely?” (Leon)

“Why?” (Yohan)

Why, he asks…

“After all, there is also Okaa-san, I am not lonely.” (Yohan)

Eh? What? No, no, my aunt passed away last year. What does this mean? Could it possibly be?

“Okaa-san, you say?” (Leon)

“Okaa-san. She married Otou-san the other day.” (Yohan)

“Eh?” (Leon)

Married? No, no, I had not heard anything of the sort. Hmm, wait. Could it be that the words Nicola-san spoke to me in the carriage, that “perhaps” was referring to this? Then, it must be true. Ojii-san has remarried.

I had not known, but that is fine.

“Yohan-kun, is Okaa-san kind?” (Leon)

“Yes. She is kind. Her cooking is also delicious. Okaa-san always makes meals for us.” (Yohan)

“That is wonderful.” (Leon)

*Knock knock*

It was a knock at the door. Perhaps a maid.

“Please excuse me.” (???)

It was clearly not a maid. A woman in a red dress entered.

Oh my… she is truly a beauty.

Her height was about the same as mine, her figure slender. From the wide-open neckline peeked two large globes.

Then this person must be–…

“Ah. I am Leon, who has come from Emilia.” (Leon)

I quickly stood and offered a greeting.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Adelede. Please call me Adele. Leon-san.” (Adele)

“Yes, Adele-san.” (Leon)

“Yohan, had you already met your Nii-san?” (Adele)

“Yes. Though it was not Conan-niichan. But I received a boat.” (Yohan)

“My, how wonderful. Yohan, come here. Ah, Leon-san, please, have a seat.” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

She is truly beautiful. I wonder what age she is. She appears quite young.

Yohan-kun sat beside Adele-san and clung to her affectionately.

He has truly grown attached to her. She seems kind. That is good for Yohan-kun. Ah, I see. Ojii-san must have hesitated to speak of it because Adele-san is so very young.

“Ah, umm…” (Leon)

“What is it?” (Adele)

“Congratulations on your marriage.” (Leon)

“Eh?” (Adele)

She looked genuinely surprised.

“Well, Yohan-kun just told me you had married Ojii-san, Duncan-san.” (Leon)

“Eh, me?” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

Suddenly Adele-san leaned her upper body toward me.

“What is the matter, Onee-chan?” (Yohan)

“Onee-chan?” (Leon)

“Ufufu, ufufu, ahahahaha.” (Adele)

When Adele-san straightened her posture again, she was convulsed in laughter.

“Haa, haa, fufufu…” (Adele)

Her eyes brimmed slightly with tears.

“Goodness gracious. Otou-san is a good man, but I certainly would not marry him.” (Adele)

“What?” (Leon)

“The one who married Otou-san, Duncan-san, is my Okaa-san.” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

“Yes. Therefore, Leon-san, you and I are cousins. That means I am this child’s elder sister, is that not so, Yohan?” (Adele)

“Yes. Onee-chan.” (Yohan)

“Ah, I see. My apologies.” (Leon)

“It is not a problem. But wait. How old do you think I am? I am 17 years old.” (Adele)

“17!?” (Leon)

Indeed, I had thought her young as Ojii-san’s wife, but I assumed she was about 20.

“Yes. I was born in the year 472 of the era. Did you truly believe I had married Otou-san?” (Adele)

“Eh, yes. I thought Ojii-san most enviable.” (Leon)

“My, ufufufu.” (Adele)

Ah, I have said something strange.

Adele-san laughed most delightfully.

“So, you envy him. I see. We shall get along well, Leon-san.” (Adele)

“P-please take care of me.” (Leon)

“Fufufu. So then, how old are you, Leon-san?” (Adele)

“Ah, I am 14.” (Leon)

“14? How adorable. Look, Yohan, Onii-chan is blushing.” (Adele)

“Hmm? Truly, Onii-chan, your face is red.” (Yohan)

“Yes indeed. Since you are so cute, I shall call you Leon-chan. Is that all right?” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

Somehow, I am already becoming immune to this.

“Onee-chan.” (???)

A different woman’s voice came from outside.

“Ah, here we are, the reception room.” (Adele)

The door burst open.

“Onee-chan! Ah.” (??)

The girl who entered froze as our eyes met.

“Allow me to introduce her. This is my younger sister, another stepchild. Now, introduce yourself properly.” (Adele)

“M-my name is Charlotte.” (Charlotte)

This person too was beautiful. She resembled Adele-san closely and wore a pale spring-green dress.

“I am Leon, from Emilia. It is a pleasure to meet you.” (Leon)

I rose and gave a bow.

“Pleasure to meet you.” (Charlotte)

“You are the younger brother of that Conan-niichan who visited before, correct?” (Charlotte)

“Yes, that is correct.” (Leon)

“Ah. You… do not resemble him much, do you?” (Charlotte)

Indeed, Conan-niichan is a fine-looking man.

“My Nii-san resembles my father, while I resemble my mother.” (Leon)

“Ah, I see.” (Charlotte)

“Yes. That is good, is it not?” (Adele)

“Eh?” (Leon)

What does that mean, Adele-san?

“Indeed, Lotte. You are the same age as Leon-chan.” (Adele)

“Is that so? 14?” (Charlotte)

I nodded.

Heh. This girl too seemed rather mature for fourteen. Both sisters had well-defined features, though their eyebrow shapes differed slightly.

“Listen, Lotte. It is hilarious. He thought that I had married Otou-san.” (Adele)

“What? Duncan-san?” (Charlotte)

“Yes. He even said, ‘Congratulations on your marriage’. Ufufufu.” (Adele)

“My.” (Charlotte)

“Even though Leon-chan and I are only three years apart, he thought I was much older.” (Adele)

“Haaa. That is only because you put on makeup and flaunt your chest, Onee-chan.” (Charlotte)

“My, is that so, Leon-san?” (Adele)

As she spoke, she covered her chest with her hand.

“N-no…” (Leon)

Her smile made it clear she was teasing me.

“That reminds me, Onee-chan, Okaa-san was calling for you.” (Charlotte)

“Ah. Then, Lotte, I shall leave Yohan in your care.” (Adele)

She stood gracefully and swept from the room like a dancer.

“Leon-san.” (Charlotte)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Onee-chan loves to tease others. Please do not take it seriously.” (Charlotte)

“Is that so?” (Leon)

 

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