Youngest Eats First, Eldest Gets Fed

That afternoon at the Librata earldom.

The count summoned his eldest son, Roderic Librata, without warning.

Roderic headed to the count’s study with a gnawing unease in his chest.

‘Could he have found out about the order I gave to rough up Rigen?’

He had passed the instruction to knight-captain Uros in secret — and yet the man had gone and thrown out his own back.

That was the last outcome he’d expected.

He hadn’t pressed for details out of fear of drawing attention, but still.

The count was waiting inside the study and spoke without preamble.

“Roderic. The Round Table is two months away. Are your preparations for the capital coming along?”

“Yes, of course. Everything is on track.”

The Round Table.

It was the gathering of the twelve houses — the assembly convened to deliberate on the election of the second emperor.

The count gave a slow nod.

“As you well know, there’s a strong chance the conference will fall apart again this time. But we cannot afford to be pushed aside by the other houses. It’s true that House Librata falls short of some of the more distinguished noble families — but that’s no reason to surrender the initiative.”

“Of course not! I will make the Librata name ring out clearly in the capital.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

The count shook his head.

Roderic looked at him in puzzlement, and the count shifted the subject.

“Have you heard about what’s happened with the youngest?”

“……Ah, I heard he’d recovered. That’s a relief.”

Roderic kept his expression carefully neutral.

The count said, offhandedly,

“The boy seems to have changed somewhat. What do you make of it?”

“……I honestly couldn’t say.”

“If you don’t know, you should find out. He’s caused his share of trouble, but he’s still your brother.”

“……”

Roderic managed only an awkward smile.

The count spoke quietly.

“When we head to the capital — what would you think about bringing Rigen along?”

“Pardon?”

“The boy can read Elven script, it turns out. If we play that card well, we might be able to draw a bit more support from the elves.”

“Father, you know as well as anyone how proud and aloof the elves are. And on top of that, Rigen has done nothing but cause sordid trouble his whole life. I’m afraid of what might happen if we bring him.”

“Mm, that’s my concern as well. Which is precisely why I’m asking you to keep a close eye on him.”

“The elves won’t be impressed just because some human can read their script — they’ll laugh it off and be done with it. Please reconsider.”

“……”

The count studied Roderic in silence for a long moment, then slowly nodded.

“All right. We’ll set that aside for now. I’ll send word to the capital myself — you focus on your own preparations.”

“Yes, then……”

“Ah, and one more thing. Starting this evening, Rigen will be joining us for meals.”

“Pardon?”

Roderic’s face went rigid.

Rigen was the count’s son, of course — eating together was simply proper conduct. But Rigen’s disgraceful behavior had soured the count on him so thoroughly that he had long since stopped inviting the boy to the table.

Roderic forced a smile.

“……That’s good news. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Right. Off with you, then.”

“Yes.”

Roderic bowed his head and turned, walking out of the study.

Once in the corridor, he stopped and ground his teeth.

“……Rigen.”

Always underfoot. Always getting in the way.

Tonight’s dinner, then.

If the opportunity arose, he would find something to use against him.

The Librata family’s evening meal.

Count Ellen Librata, the father.

Roderic Librata, the eldest.

And me — Rigen Librata, the youngest.

“Three sour-faced men sitting down to eat together. Lovely atmosphere.”

Neither the count nor the eldest dignified that with a response.

They focused on cutting their meat and eating in silence.

Thoroughly ignored, I set down my utensils.

“Say, Your Grace.”

“What?”

“Could you spare a mana potion? There ought to be one or two in the family vault.”

I said it lightly, and both men paused.

Roderic stared at me as though I’d said something inconceivable.

“What? You’re asking for another mana potion?”

“Another?”

“You’ve already consumed five. Five. Do you have any idea what that costs?”

“Well, there are grades, aren’t there? How much have I actually run through?”

“Two Grade Ones! Three Grade Twos!”

Roderic was blazing with fury.

I thought it over for a moment.

“So…… mana potions strengthen people who already have magic, too?”

“You have the nerve to……”

“You’re annoyed because I drank down everything that should have gone to you. Is that it?”

I asked it lightly, and Roderic went still.

Which was fair enough, really. From his perspective, this had to be maddening.

Grade One mana potions were made by dragons. They weren’t something you could simply buy with money, no matter how much you had.

And the youngest had been downing them like after-dinner sweets. Of course he resented it.

“I understand you’re bitter that I’ve been guzzling down the family’s precious elixirs. But I genuinely need one this time.”

“Who said anything about bitter? You’re useless — why do you need more of something that did nothing for you!”

Roderic raised his voice, clearly stung.

“A mana potion isn’t something you can just pull off a shelf. And I’m not asking for one for myself! I’m going to marry, have children, and give it to them — so they grow up stronger! And to their children after them! Mana potions are heirlooms, to be passed down generation after generation to the most talented descendants!”

“All right, I take your point, but……”

I sighed.

“Anyone who drinks one would be better off handing it to me.”

“What did you just……”

“Explain yourself.”

The count, who had been listening without a word, spoke up.

Roderic fell silent on reflex, his outburst snuffed out.

I thought for a moment, then said,

“Simply put — the mana potions I’ve consumed weren’t thrown away.”

“But you still have no magic whatsoever.”

“Isn’t that strange? Nobles are born with at least a trace of magical ability as a rule. Even someone born with a limb missing still has magic.”

“……”

“And yet I have none — zero — and even after drinking mana potions, nothing changed. Why do you suppose that is?”

Even Roderic, mid-anger, began to listen.

I let the silence sit before dropping it plainly.

“I’ve been looking into that very question. That’s actually why I was reading the elven texts. And I’ve found an answer.”

“Hmmm……”

Of course, claiming the elven books had given me the answer was a lie.

But to the count — who had been stunned to watch me read Elven script without faltering — it would be a perfectly plausible explanation.

A wayward son he had written off turning out to have something extraordinary about him? Any father would find that difficult to resist.

The count thought it over at length, then looked at Roderic.

“What do you think?”

“Pardon?”

“Give me your opinion.”

Roderic hesitated before choosing his words.

His face made it plain he wanted nothing to do with this — but he spoke anyway.

“If Rigen were to awaken his magic, that would naturally be a great thing for our house. However, he’ll need to give us good reason to believe it. We can’t afford another costly waste like before.”

“And that’s your position?”

“Yes, it is. Even if Rigen is my brother, handing over mana potions without clear justification cannot happen again. For the sake of our house’s future.”

Roderic spoke with emphasis.

The count nodded.

“Very well. Rigen — there are two conditions.”

“Name them.”

“First: persuade the guest staying in the annex.”

“Father!”

Roderic was startled, but I had no idea what was being referred to.

I looked at the count blankly, and he let out a small sigh.

“You’ve forgotten? House Librata is under elven patronage. An elven envoy sent as a goodwill ambassador has been staying in our annex. He rarely sets foot outside.”

“And by ‘persuade’ — what exactly do you mean?”

“……I want stronger elven support at the upcoming Round Table in the capital. If the envoy were to accompany us there, that would be a clear statement.”

So I just needed to get him to come along on the trip to the capital. Simple enough in theory.

I glanced between the two of them.

Roderic’s dismayed expression. The count’s set jaw.

This was obviously going to be a headache.

But mana potions weren’t easy to come by — and this body of mine desperately needed fixing.

I weighed it a moment, then nodded.

“I’ll do it. What’s the second condition?”

“I’ll tell you that when I hand over the potion.”

“……”

I thought it over and gave another nod.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Dinner ended.

As I rose from the table and headed back to my room, footsteps fell in behind me — quick and purposeful.

Roderic.

“You look like you’re about to burst. There’s a bathroom down the hall if you need it.”

I stepped aside graciously, and Roderic shoved me against the wall.

Thud!

“Just what are you scheming, Rigen!”

“That move only works on women, you know.”

Roderic glared at me with burning eyes.

I let out a quiet sigh.

“What’s the rush?”

“What?”

“Noble succession runs through the eldest. Barring some extraordinary event, you’re the next Count Librata. This house and everything in it will be yours.”

“You absolute….”

Roderic bared his teeth at me.

“Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve done to this family? And you have the audacity to stand there and……”

“Which is exactly why I’m trying to make it right. I also let the business with the knight-captain go without a word.”

He flinched.

Roderic went still.

I sighed with great ceremony.

“I could have told Father everything. But I didn’t. Doesn’t that count for something? I could have taken what you did straight to him.”

“You’re actually……”

“Dragging siblings into a fight only tears the parents apart. So let’s settle this between the two of us and leave it at that.”

“……”

“Do you know what filial piety is? This is exactly what it looks like.”

Something flickered in Roderic’s eyes.

He had apparently jumped to the conclusion that I was the one who’d dealt with the knight-captain. The truth — that Uros had simply pushed himself too hard and wrenched his own back — wasn’t something I needed to volunteer.

I gave him an easy smile.

“I don’t know what you’re so worked up about, but relax. Let’s keep things civil between us. I’ll treat the whole affair as if it never happened.”

“……”

Roderic let the pressure in his arm drop and took a step back.

Suspicion. Unease. Wariness.

I straightened my shirt with a light pat.

“You’ve gone and creased my collar. Mind smoothing that out?”

“……Do you actually think you can persuade that stiff-necked elf?”

“And if I do — what then?”

My challenge landed, and Roderic’s expression curdled.

“What kind of nonsense are you……”

“Here’s the deal. If I fail, I’ll stay out of your way from here on out. But if I pull it off — you go to Father and squeeze out one more mana potion. For me.”

“……”

“Deal?”

More was always better when it came to fixing this body of mine.

Roderic ground his teeth audibly.

“Fine. Go ahead and try. But if you fail — you’d better be ready for what comes next.”

Ready to get stronger? Oh, I’m counting on it.