Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 21

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Heir Doesn’t Care — Just Here for Some Peace and Quiet — Episode 21

Lyon closed the door behind him and made his way back to the Kitchen, gathering up Rikshel’s portion of Cookies and reheating the cooled Beverage when he paused to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

“Phew.”

He’d nearly fallen for his grandfather’s question.

‘You’re not supposed to answer that kind of thing.’

Years of corporate work had taught him a few valuable lessons.
First: never make material requests.
You could only ask for things once you’d proven your worth.
And as far as he could tell, he hadn’t accomplished anything particularly noteworthy yet.
Even if he had asked, there was no guarantee it would be granted—and at best, he’d only feel awkward about the whole affair.
Better to feign ignorance and move on.
Besides…… he genuinely had no particular desires at the moment.
Lyon was perfectly content with his current life as it was.

“In any case, I should probably go bring him the pastries.”

He also needed to tell him it was alright to rest now.
With that thought, Lyon headed toward Rikshel’s room.
And then…….

“Argh! This isn’t it!”

The moment he opened the door, Lyon caught sight of Rikshel tearing up a piece of paper in his hands.

‘What in the world?’

For a moment, a story about a master potter crossed his mind.
One who’d broken every piece of pottery that failed to meet his standards, preserving his integrity about quality through sheer destruction…….

‘Is that what this is?’

Then again, Rikshel did have something of a perfectionist streak.
It showed when he baked, too.
Lyon carefully stepped inside, taking pains not to tread on the scattered papers below.

“Rikshel. Working hard on your studies?”
“……Oh, Lyon. When did you arrive?”

Fortunately, Rikshel quickly gathered himself and turned to greet Lyon.

‘To think he can look so childish…….’

By the flush creeping up his ears, it was clear he was quite embarrassed.

“Did you…… happen to see?”

Yes. I saw everything.

“No? I saw nothing at all.”

When Lyon offered him a white lie, Rikshel finally released a breath of relief.

“Thank goodness. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight, I’m afraid. But what brings you all the way to my room? Is something the matter?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. You must be tired—here, eat something.”

Lyon cleared away the scattered papers on the table and set down a cookie and a beverage.

“Did you make these yourself? Goodness, thank you so much—I’ll enjoy them.”

Rikshel, without any explanation, seemed to know at once that Lyon had made them, and began eating the pastry and drinking without hesitation.

“Wow! It’s really delicious. And this warm beverage too.”
“I’m glad. It’s good for you, so take your time with it.”

It was good for training and recovery too, of course, but there was no need to mention that.
He felt a quiet pride watching Rikshel’s transformation—so different from the day he’d first seen a banana sweet potato and thrown it away.

“Please have some too.”
“Why not?”

Though he’d already eaten his fill of pastries, Lyon didn’t refuse Rikshel’s offer and slowly chewed one of the cookies.
The boy needed moments like this to rest.

‘Reminds me of those days eating snacks in the break room.’

Strong instant coffee and bagged pastries.
The only time he could breathe during those exhausting office days.

‘But what on earth has he been working on to use this much paper?’

Some difficult magical formula, perhaps?
As Rikshel drained the last of his beverage, Lyon ventured a casual question.

“Is your grandfather working you on some assignment? You look pretty worn out.”
“No, that’s not it. I’ve already finished organizing the task the Head gave me.”

And indeed, on one side of the table sat a neat stack of documents held down by an elegant paperweight.

“So independent study then?”
“Something like that, yes.”

‘Something like that’ meant he was pushing himself hard either way, studying or not.
Good thing he’d spoken to his grandfather about this.

“You can take it easy from now until your Coming-of-age Ceremony.”
“……What?”
“I got your grandfather’s permission. You’ve looked exhausted lately.”
“I, that is……!”

Rikshel’s eyes trembled slightly.
His brother was concerned about him to this degree?
And yet……
He couldn’t accept it.

“It’s not because of my Heir lessons or the Head’s assignments. It’s that…….”

Rikshel hesitated awkwardly, and Lyon asked with a playful lilt.

“Love letters, maybe?”
“…….”
“Come on, you’ll be grown soon enough—plenty of reason for your mind to wander…….”
“It’s because of your Coming-of-age Ceremony that’s coming up soon.”
“Ah.”

Rikshel nearly broke his precedent of obedience to Lyon and pressed forward with what he needed to say.

“My coming-of-age ceremony? Is this because of the family ritual?”

Within the Asteri Family, there existed a ceremony that those who had reached maturity were required to undergo.
The ritual held in the “Library Labyrinth,” which the first Asteri had allegedly created.
In truth, it wasn’t particularly significant.

‘Just a formality.’

Even in the game of his past life, the Library Labyrinth had functioned as a sort of skill acquisition point—guiding those who entered toward the magic they needed most.
Though called a labyrinth, it opened paths to where books were kept based on the user’s level, so there weren’t even any forks in the road.
According to Lyon’s memory, those who reached the end of the labyrinth could leave carrying something special, but….
A special object from a magical house of prominence—it sounded like it ought to be extraordinary.

‘Is he worrying it might be dangerous?’

There was no need to worry about it.
If one set out determined to break through, it was an impregnable fortress, but if one accepted everything, it was a place safe enough to simply use as a “library.”
Even before possession, Lyon Asteri had holed himself up in that library and used it as a hideout.
Of course, Rikshel, with his perfectionist tendencies, might still have concerns.
Or perhaps he was pushing himself out of fear of embarrassment.

“No, sir. Precisely the clothing you’ll be wearing for the ceremony.”

But what emerged from Rikshel’s mouth was entirely different from what Lyon had anticipated.
Suddenly—clothing?

“Can’t I just wear something appropriate? And Grandfather seems to be preparing the party anyway.”

Rikshel’s expression turned grave in an instant.

“Have you seen it?”
“Seen what?”
“The clothing the head of the household has prepared.”
“……I haven’t seen it.”
“Then observe.”

Rikshel pulled a clothing design from the drawer with the speed of one who had been waiting for precisely this moment.
And it was….

“Gasp.”

Quite…avant-garde.
Shoulder pads that evoked Piccolo from Dragon Ball, and the pants—leggings with high heels?
And what was with the color scheme?
Primary colors all on one garment?

“The head of the household has one fatal weakness. And that is a complete and utter absence of aesthetic sensibility.”
“…….”

This wasn’t merely an absence—it was catastrophic, surely.

“But he’s been dressing decently all this time.”
“That was thanks to Head Maid Silvia. She has since retired.”
“She did retire.”

And now she had become his personal attendant instead.

‘Silvia… No, Elvia has done quite a lot.’

Just preventing him from wearing that outfit was already an extraordinary accomplishment.
An Archmage of the 8th Circle appearing at a party in such clothes?
The reputation of the Asteri Family would suffer irreparable damage.
The situation had become serious in an instant.

“So I thought I’d prepare something for you…”

Rikshel unfolded a crumpled ball of paper and showed it to him.
There was a formal outfit design that was considerably better than before.

“Oh? This might work…”
“Will it do?”
“It should… wait.”

The front was a perfectly ordinary formal suit silhouette, so why was the back cut away like a dress?
And it looked ragged, as if he’d survived some kind of explosion.

“I designed it this way because I thought the contrast would suit you perfectly.”

Rikshel smiled sheepishly as he spoke.
A contrast, certainly, but that was…

“You’re going to wear something like that?”
“No, sir. I need to dress normally. You’re the star of this party!”

Ah.
He’d discovered a weakness of the Asteri Family people.
Their sense of fashion was insane.
Not merely insane.

‘Radically, catastrophically insane.’

If he wore this out, it was painfully clear that no one would speak to him ever again!

‘Even for someone like me, who affects eccentricity, this is too much.’

Lyon carefully folded the clothing design he desperately wanted to tear to shreds and returned it to Rikshel, struggling to maintain a smile.

“This outfit is fine, but… how about we go find something for both of us to wear to the Coming-of-age Ceremony? And if we can, let’s get something tailored for Grandfather too. That would look more harmonious, wouldn’t it?”

Please, let him say yes.

“Oh, is that possible?”
“Of course it is! Of course! And while we’re at it… about Grandfather’s Coming-of-age Ceremony party plans. Let me take a look at those documents too.”
“Understood. I’ll organize them and hand them over.”
“Thank you.”

This wouldn’t do.
His dignity—and more broadly, the entire reputation of the Asteri Family—was at stake.

“For now, let’s rest today and head out tomorrow or the day after.”

Unlike women’s dresses, men’s formal wear could be completed relatively quickly, so it should be fine.
They could bring fabric from what the Family had on hand.
Right now, materials weren’t the problem.
What mattered was the discernment to produce a design that was as plain and refined as possible.
Fortunately, Lyon knew a few people capable of exactly that.

“…Thank goodness I baked so many cookies.”

Lyon returned to the Kitchen and murmured to himself as he wrapped the cookies.
For some reason, he’d wanted to bake a lot.

* * *

“…Something like this happened.”
“I see.”

The person Lyon sought out first was naturally Elvia.
She wore a knowing expression, as if she’d anticipated this very moment.

“I apologize, but I’m afraid I won’t be of much help. I lack a sense for these sorts of things.”
“…”

Ah, so that was her character—the new maidservant with no talent for this particular skill.
Lyon decided to respect that about her.

“Then if something seems off, could you at least advise me?”
“Yes. I’m not certain my help will be useful, but I’ll speak with all sincerity.”
“Thank you. And here—cookies and a beverage for you.”
“For me as well?”
“Of course. You helped me bake these. Your share is the largest. And there are still plenty of people I need to ask, so don’t worry.”

Lyon smiled once, as if to assure her, then shouldered the enormous bag.

“So I’ll be back shortly. It shouldn’t take long.”
“I’ll be waiting.”

* * *

Lyon left the mansion before Rikshel.
Before meeting up with him, he intended to stop by Mudu’s House to distribute cookies to the children.
And while he was there, he planned to ask about someone he’d had his eye on.

“Oh my, Young Master!”

The moment he stepped into the yard at Mudu’s House, Lea and the children, who were hanging laundry, rushed over in surprise.

“How did you manage to come with such a large bag?!”
“It’s the Young Master!”
“Young Master!”
“Have you all been well?”
“Of course! We’re always doing well! Please, come inside.”

Lyon accepted without hesitation and stepped inside the house.
It was still as warm and inviting as ever, bright with sunlight, and perfectly tidy.

“Here, first some gifts.”

Lyon withdrew four wrapped packages of cookies from the bag.

“Each of you gets one. I made them myself.”
“You made these, Young Master?”
“How did you make them? Wow! Sweets!”
“Something so precious…?”
“It’s fine, take them. This is a bribe, after all.”
“…”

Lea, who had been watching with bewilderment as the children snatched up their gifts and bolted away to safety, widened her eyes at the word “bribe.”
What could the young master of the Asteri Family possibly mean by offering a bribe to someone like her—a mere blacksmith’s wife? She couldn’t fathom it, and her face showed as much.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————