WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Malfoid

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Don't Need a Family ◈

Episode 4

──────

Gillian’s maid was as strict and composed as his master.

Our Lola was nothing but cheerful, so perhaps maids took after their masters too.

“Young Master Gillian asked that you not hesitate to say if there is anything you would like as a gift.”

The maid bowed politely as she waited for an answer, but nothing came to mind.

I had practically driven away the person the duke sent, so it was only right to send Gillian’s maid away too.

I was about to refuse when Lola eagerly suggested something before I could speak.

“Young Lady, ask him to take you to a recital. You were looking forward to the cembalo recital at the New Year Festival.”

Cembalo again. I had no interest in a recital, but going out alone with that severe young master was even less appealing.

Then Gillian’s maid muttered to herself.

“Our young master is busy...”

Lola’s expression changed at once as she demanded, “Hey! What do you mean by that?”

“W-What? No, that’s not what I meant...”

“The young lady spent her birthday alone. Can’t he spare even a single day for her later? No matter how busy he is!”

Gillian’s maid frowned, angry that Lola was speaking badly of her master.

But since she had not exactly done anything right herself, she could not get angry while watching my reaction.

“Enough, both of you.”

I stepped in between the two maids.

“I have no intention of taking up a busy person’s time either. Diane, you should just go back.”

“But, Young Lady, what about your gift...?”

“I don’t want one.”

Gillian’s maid went pale.

Afraid she would think I was refusing because her slip of the tongue had offended me, I quickly added, “There is nothing in particular that I want, and I’d just like this year to pass quietly.”

Gillian’s maid bowed and said she understood. Even as she left, she kept glancing back as though something about me was strange.

My reaction must have been very unusual.

In this residence, Vivette’s birthday had been treated as an affair nearly as noisy as the New Year Festival or the Founding Festival.

Not because it was celebrated grandly, but because Vivette herself had made such a fuss over it.

She would chatter excitedly about the gifts she wanted, the dishes to be served, and even the ornaments that would decorate the house that day.

It was not so much that she truly wanted those things. She had simply said what seemed appropriate to brighten the household mood through her birthday party.

A young girl’s unadorned wishes pleased the people who heard them.

‘The timing was just bad this time. It happened to be when the Duke of Ashwilt was under stress.’

The same words and actions could seem like adorable playfulness when the duke was in a good mood, or immature whining when he was not.

And when Vivette stayed quiet, the duke found her even more displeasing.

“Why don’t you at least smile? You should at least be pleasant to look at.”

Those childish antics might have been Vivette’s own effort, one that had never been rewarded.

And I had no intention of trying to brighten the household mood with actions that earned nothing but scolding.

On the day of the dinner celebrating Harris’s entrance into the Academy and Vivette’s birthday, I spent the entire day in my room as usual.

* * *

Only after the sun began to set did I leisurely get ready.

Thinking about spending a long time in an uncomfortable setting made me grumble.

“What is with this sudden dinner?”

Lola, who was choosing an evening dress for me, must have misunderstood my muttering. She forced her voice to sound gentle.

“Why else, Young Lady? Everyone has been busy, so they could not pay attention to it until now... And you are dearly loved, so of course you should be celebrated at a lovely dinner table.”

Dearly loved.

Why did those words bother me so much today? Was it because they reminded me of my past self?

I changed after I grew up, but when I was young, I did not know why I was so obsessed with my family’s affection.

A sick child feared that if they did not receive their parents’ love, they would be abandoned and die.

It was young Choi Eunseo’s instinct for survival.

‘But not anymore.’

Whether the ducal family’s shallow love existed or not, it did not change the fact that Vivette was the daughter of House Ashwilt.

Even if she were removed from the family register for being incapable, she had a healthy body, healthy enough to make a living alone.

Unlike Korea, the Brotilonde Empire had no employment crisis, and rent was quite cheap.

‘Vivette received a proper education as well as magic lessons, so she could easily find work with a lower-ranking noble house.’

In other words, there was no need to remain here while accepting this treatment.

Perhaps that was why I felt rebellious. I deliberately arrived a little late.

“Why are you so late? Everyone here is busy.”

As usual, it was pointless criticism. I was not even that late.

It was probably the duke’s version of a greeting. He did not know how to say anything pleasantly.

The duke and Gillian, who must have come down from the main house’s study only for dinner, were anxiously checking the time. As though they could not allow even a single moment to pass without purpose.

‘If time is so precious to them, why did they prepare all this?’

As I took my seat, I discreetly examined the duke’s face and thought I understood.

‘He must feel at least a little sorry about what happened that day.’

Once I was seated, the Duke of Ashwilt spoke.

“As everyone knows, Harris did well on his entrance examination. And Vivette’s birthday was on the same day.”

Even in his toast, I was an afterthought.

“Congratulations to you both. Let us eat.”

The duke was not a talkative person, so that was the end of the toast. The rest of the family began eating at once.

And that was all.

“What happened with the documents we requested from the Mage Tower?”

“They said they would contact us by tomorrow.”

“Good.”

Even now, the duke and Gillian were talking about work.

“Harris, once you graduate from the Academy, you will have to follow your brother and help with my work. Learn well from him.”

“Yes.”

“Ha ha, with my son and nephew firmly planted on either side of me, I feel very reassured.”

The duke smiled with satisfaction.

“It will be a long time before that one can properly pull his weight.”

“That’s harsh, Brother.”

If one only listened, it sounded like such a warm family.

If one assumed I did not exist.

They were so harmonious without me. And I had no one to talk to. Vivette would have awkwardly joined the family conversation somehow.

‘I’m not that sociable. I should be grateful when they don’t speak to me.’

I had no bond with anyone in this family anyway.

I silently continued eating alone.

Then,

“Your Grace!”

The duke’s aide rushed into the dining room.

“Ah... My apologies for interrupting your meal.”

“It does not matter. Is it urgent?”

“It’s an Imperial Princess!”

The aide’s face was filled with delight as he blurted out the news.

“Oh! A girl?”

“His Highness the Imperial Prince must be pleased. He has wanted a younger sister for so long.”

Harris and Gillian each exclaimed.

Empress Natalie, whom the emperor had married late in life, had been pregnant.

She had been moving strangely for the past few days, and she had finally given birth.

“That is good news.”

The duke swirled the wine in his glass.

“A daughter is a household’s delight. Watching them act cute makes you forget about going to work. They’re little enchantresses.”

“Her Majesty the Empress has decided to hold a celebration immediately, and it seems she wishes for mages to come and offer their blessings!”

When a mage child was born, mages visited to offer blessings. Once the child grew a little older, they held a baptism ceremony.

A mage’s blessing did not have any special effect. It seemed to be a kind of mage custom passed down from ancient times.

‘Is it all right to do that to a newborn? It would be terrible if the guests passed on harmful germs...’

Having spent about half my life in hospitals, I worried to myself. This world did not seem to have much understanding of hygiene or medical knowledge yet.

Perhaps healing magic solved such problems. If so, it would not be much of an issue.

“Her Majesty the Empress must be interested in mage culture.”

The Duke of Ashwilt smiled in satisfaction. Pride was clear on the other family members’ faces as well.

The duke worked to raise the standing of mages within the empire. This would be an opportunity for him.

“We are already dressed, so we will leave immediately. Send word to the portal.”

Erenston was several days away from the capital by carriage, but the portal in the center of the city could take them there quickly.

“Uncle, am I coming too?”

“Yes, we will all go. Are we not the masters of Erenston?”

The duke spoke with confidence.

‘The Master of the Mage Tower and the mayor of Erenston would be horrified to hear that.’

Still, compared to House Ashwilt, they truly had little power.

Rather than a position that changed with every generation, people focused on a family.

House Ashwilt would not collapse even after a thousand years. Its members were all skilled in magic and suspiciously obedient to their family.

“Um, Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“My apologies, but only mages have been invited to the celebration for Her Imperial Highness’s birth. They say that if someone without magical ability offers a blessing, Her Imperial Highness might become a non-mage as well...”

“Hah.”

“You will have to leave Lady Vivette behind.”

It was an amusing superstition. But the imperial family believed it, which made it a problem.

‘There is a mage on the empress’s maternal side, so perhaps they are hoping the princess will manifest magic too.’

The dining room fell silent for a moment.

“Hmm, it cannot be helped.”

The duke did not hesitate long.

“Then the rest of us will go. Vivette? Eat slowly and comfortably by yourself. It is your birthday. Ah, you may eat our portions as well.”

The duke ordered his own untouched plate of steak moved in front of me, then disappeared with his son and nephew.

Just as he had said, the duke looked utterly majestic with his son on his left and nephew on his right.

I had to admit it. Those three were a perfect family in anyone’s eyes.

So utterly flawless that adding even one more person might somehow ruin the whole thing.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried