Big Brother, You're Being Too Casual?

'......'

I froze where I stood, unable to get a word out.

It was nice that Jennifer's demeanor had somehow softened, but I couldn't possibly accept what had come out of her mouth.

I asked again, hoping that wasn't what she meant.

"A baron? Me?"

"That's right."

"But I'm still a minor..."

Jennifer gently shook her head.

"I'm not placing any great expectations on you. You only need to manage the Thebes nobles as we instruct you."

'Manage.'

It sounded easy enough... but Thebes was home to all sorts of people.

From those who went out into the commoner world at every opportunity to wreak havoc, to those who constantly tried to contact the mainstream faction.

Most of them were so intoxicated by the feeling that they were 'nobles now' that they had no sense of propriety.

Controlling them could never be easy.

......I'm going to suffer. Definitely.

"I don't want to. I refuse."

"I knew you'd say that, so I've already reported it to the Council of Nobles."

"Whaaat? How can you do that?! I don't want to!"

My head drooped of its own accord.

I felt hurt that she'd proceeded without giving me any advance notice or consulting me.

As I muttered quietly, 'You said you'd accept me as a member of the family...', Jennifer approached me.

She placed her hands on my shoulders and said,

"I'm sorry."

"......?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's just... I didn't expect you to apologize..."

Jennifer let out a small laugh.

"Of course one admits one's mistakes to family."

......At least she knew she'd done something wrong.

Feeling a little less upset, I asked her,

"Then why are you forcing this on me...? If you're sorry that I don't want to do it, shouldn't you not make me?"

"The fact that you don't want it is precisely why you're suited for it."

"Pardon...?"

"Think carefully. When actual power is given to someone who craves the title, how many of them will truly set themselves aside and faithfully perform their role?"

Jennifer added that most people who coveted the position of baron were likely to become intoxicated by authority.

'Hmm...'

That did seem to be the case.

Somewhat convinced, I began picking at my lip.

It was an ironic subject.

Power was supposed to be given to those who were responsible, capable, and conscientious.

After all, one had to set oneself aside to some extent in order to listen to and resolve the members' complaints and develop the group.

Thus, by ordinary standards, it made sense that the only thing one should receive was honor.

......But in reality, most people sought power simply to strut around, enjoy its privileges, and crush others beneath them.

Those who had no intention of doing that didn't want power or a position. Why would they take on a troublesome job that only brought disadvantages?

"Judging by your expression, I see you've understood."

Jennifer showed a strangely triumphant smile.

‘Hah!’ I suddenly came to my senses,

and shook my head rapidly at the thought that I was going to become a baron without a chance to resist.

"I'm ten years old! I was only thinking because I couldn't understand a single thing you said, Lady Jennifer!"

***

I finished my conversation at the main house and returned.

There was still plenty of time before morning, but how could I possibly sleep?

I tossed and turned on my bed for several hours with my eyes wide open, then summoned all the attendants after breakfast.

"Hwaaaah-."

"The floor's going to cave in, Lady Raebi."

Kang Hana said this with a soft chuckle.

She must have been so relaxed because she still had no idea what was about to come out of my mouth.

I slumped miserably over the table and looked at Kang Hana.

"Ms. Hana, am I really that bad at acting with my facial expressions?"

Kang Hana hesitated, looking troubled.

"Hmm... Would you like an optimistic answer suited to your age, Lady Raebi, or the harsh advice of the adult world?"

"Tch, never mind."

After waiting a little while, the Eight City personnel arrived as well. Inside the conference room, they took their seats in the empty spaces among the existing members.

Guard attendants An Nari and An Gihwan.

Culinary attendants Kim Daeseok, Han Cheol, and Im Bora.

Education attendant Kang Hana.

Cleaning attendants Pyeon Dayoung and Kim Sooyoung.

Finally, assistant attendant Han Jihye.

Looking at them all, I realized that there were quite a lot of attendants now. Some of them were still awkward around one another, and I thought I needed to reorganize the Eight City members somewhat.

The first to speak was Pyeon Dayoung. She raised her hand high and said,

"What's today's big announcement, Lady Raebi?"

"How did you know it was a big announcement?"

"Because that sounds more fun."

As expected, it was an absurd answer worthy of her. I let out a small laugh and slumped back against the chair, while Kim Daeseok, who had been watching the room, whispered something to her.

He seemed to think he was speaking quietly, but I clearly heard him say something about 'if it's bad news.'

"I can hear you, Mr. Daeseok."

Kim Daeseok's head shot up. As everyone's eyes focused on him, he scratched his head awkwardly and said, 'I'm sorry.'

I smiled softly and opened my mouth.

"It's not bad news. No, actually, it's the best possible news for all of you."

I told the attendants the news regarding the barony.

The deal at the main house had two main parts.

One was that I would receive the title of baron but appoint a suitable proxy, and the other was that I could hand the title over completely if a 'trustworthy person' appeared.

And what that meant was...

"Y-you've been entrusted with the authority to appoint personnel? By the family head?"

"That's right, Ms. Nari."

It was the price for taking on a task that hadn't been planned.

Nari beamed at the sudden news that she had become the baron's guard. There had been subtle discrimination among the attendants depending on whom they served.

Thebes was especially bad in that regard, and they probably had many hardships of their own that I didn't know about.

But now I had both the position and the authority to appoint personnel.

Not only the Thebes nobles but also the other mainstream factions would find it difficult to lay a hand on me, and the attendants' standing would improve greatly as well.

"Congratulations, Lady Raebi!"

Starting with Kim Daeseok, all the attendants applauded.

Swallowing a bitter smile, I clapped along with them.

They looked ready to throw a celebration right away, but they didn't know that this was both a reward and a shackle for me.

'That means I have to choose my successor too!'

Afterward, I asked them to keep the matter secret until the official announcement.

It would have been nice if they had all remained silent until then, but apparently the change from an ordinary noble to a baron would cause small changes in the attendants' duties as well.

They needed time to receive the relevant training and adjust.

"Ms. Jihye will give you detailed explanations by department. Then please do your best."

The meeting was dismissed amid a chorus of "Understood!"

After everyone had left, I glared at Han Jihye.

"Ms. Jihye, you knew beforehand, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"You could've at least told me..."

Han Jihye gave me a faint smile and apologized.

Though I'd said that, I lowered my head because it wasn't really her fault.

It wasn't all bad.

Receiving the title of baron would reduce the number of people picking fights with me, and if I appointed a good proxy, I would be able to focus on my own work. Those were definite advantages.

The small happiness of receiving better treatment as my status changed was a bonus.

‘Besides, anyone quick to catch on will realize it. Wang Gangdu didn't simply disappear—he was brought down.’

For various reasons, no one would dare meddle with my workshop anymore.

The situation seemed better than expected, and a pleased smile slipped out.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

"I am. Though it'll only last a moment."

"I see. ......Um, Lady Raebi."

"Yes?"

Han Jihye pointed at the potted plants beyond the open door.

They were the ones among the gift bomb that suited the room best, so I'd left them there.

When I tilted my head, wondering what she meant, she added with a playful smile,

"You received so much affection because you were low in rank. Now you can repay that kindness."

"Ah......!"

I'm dead!

"Ms. Jihye, there's a Gate plant called 'Toughhide Vine.' Please find out whether our suppliers have any in stock!"

I wouldn't use such a simple, brute-force method as Vincent or Matthew had.

Noble gifts were expensive even when they were plants, with each one costing at least several hundred thousand won and sometimes several million.

I didn't have enough room for that kind of waste right now.

......But I could inflict mental anguish.

Three days passed.

An emergency family meeting was called, and all the nobles gathered at the main house.

Along with the news of Wang Gangdu's disappearance, the next baron was to be appointed.

"I present the new Baron of Thebes! Raebi Na!"

A murmur spread through the crowd.

The mainstream faction had received advance notice and accepted it quietly, but the Thebes nobles did not.

They were shocked and bewildered, and some even had faces flushed bright red.

'Tsk... They used to sneer like that every time I passed by.'

I wasn't pleased, but I had no intention of taking revenge. There was no need; they probably already felt as though they'd fallen into hell.

After the meeting ended, they gathered around me one by one. Surprisingly, the Baron of Corinth, who had become rather awkward with me after the Gale incident, approached first.

"Uh, Lady Raebi..."

I tensed, thinking he might be trying to pick a fight.

But he began in a tone suggesting that he wanted us to get along and emphasized that bringing Gale in had been business.

Of course, I knew there was no way a born noble could be sincere toward such a thug, so I responded with an easy smile.

We chatted for a while to build rapport.

"As for the next family head... I don't particularly support anyone. That's something Big Brother Vincent has to work through."

"That's a relief."

"But, um, why are you suddenly speaking formally...? Could you drop the formal speech with me...?"

"You are indisputably a baron now. We must show you a different level of respect."

He was the type to act strictly according to common sense.

It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but I thought he was rather boring.

After the Baron of Corinth left, I exchanged greetings with the other nobles one by one. Two Thebes nobles remained until the end, waiting their turn.

According to Han Jihye, that meant they were willing to cooperate.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Since it was already late, we only formally got acquainted. The atmosphere was somewhat different from our first meeting.

Finally, I was left alone with Vincent.

"Big Brother."

"Huh?"

"......'Huh?' You're being awfully casual, aren't you?"

"You want to die?"

......Damn it.

I had given up on being treated like a baron long ago and asked,

"Big Brother, why do you think I became a baron?"

"Why? Put nicely, because you're easy to handle. Put badly, it means they trust you."

"......Isn't that the opposite?"

"I'm speaking from the family head's perspective. The moment he trusts someone uncontrollable is the beginning of misfortune."

Vincent chuckled as he brought up the earlier Enrico blunder.

For the record, inviting Teacher Enrico was still a secret. It was enough to give the entire noble island a headache.

If they found out I'd caused such a major incident just as I was beginning to be favored...

'Ugh.'

"So don't even think about taking revenge on me. You'd better stay quiet and behave."

"......I-I haven't plotted anything?"

"Yeah, right."

Baron or not, Vincent was still lording it over me.

After the appointment ceremony, I returned to Thebes.

I still had to offer at least the minimum formal greetings, so I asked Han Jihye to arrange a schedule of meetings.

It would have been nice if we could all gather together, but apparently they wouldn't cooperate that easily.

I nibbled at the mini cake served as a late-night snack and complained,

"Sigh... It's all well and good, but what about the social season? It would be terribly busy to hold it alongside the meeting schedule."

"Why not invite them to Eight City? Since you are of higher rank, there shouldn't be a problem."

"Ah, that is an option. Eight City..."

'......!'

An idea suddenly flashed through my mind.

"Ms. Jihye!"

"Y-yes?"

…

"Could we invite the nobles to the island? We could hold the social gathering here!"