A Brief Family Time

“It is Riel… it really is our Riel…”

“Mother… Mom…”

“Mother!!”

When the Duchess opened her eyes, Riel and Lord Andrew cried as if their tear ducts had burst, embracing the Duchess tightly right there.

Though not crying, Phyllis and I were also watching the scene with smiles.

“It seems the Duchess has awakened.”

Perhaps hearing the commotion in the room, Princess Aine had somehow entered the room.

When Duchess Ignis saw Princess Aine, she was startled and tried to rise, but perhaps due to having lain down for a long time without proper meals, she couldn’t get up properly.

Seeing this, Princess Aine shook her head.

“There’s no need to show formality when you’re ill, Duchess. For now, let’s focus on recovering your health.”

“Thank… you, Princess.”

As the Duchess relaxed and lay down, Princess Aine ordered her subordinate knight to bring easily digestible food.

Then Princess Aine gave me a signal with her eyes.

Noticing her intention, I left the room with Princess Aine and Phyllis.

Now that the Duchess had regained consciousness, it was time for the family to have their time together.

“I don’t know how it happened, but I’m really glad.”

“Indeed.”

Princess Aine spoke with relief as we left the room.

I also inwardly felt relieved and agreed.

Among the servants and soldiers who, like the Duchess, could not regain consciousness, several had already died.

Perhaps because of this, Lord Andrew and Riel’s expressions were always dark when talking about the Duchess.

Now that she had regained consciousness, perhaps we could feel relieved in that regard.

“By the way, I was going to tell you this when I came back later, but I’ll tell you first.”

“What is it?”

“We’ve discovered a suspicious group near the Duke’s territory.”

My eyes widened at those words.

The security of the Duke’s territory had already deteriorated considerably due to most of the Duke’s private soldiers falling into a collective state of unconsciousness.

Just as it was somewhat recovering thanks to Princess Aine deploying her knight order and magic corps for security maintenance, suddenly there’s talk of a suspicious group.

“What kind of people are they?”

“According to the spy, they were a group of about a dozen young men, dressed like mercenaries, but their behavior was closer to knights than mercenaries.”

“There’s a high probability they’re disguised and have infiltrated.”

Hearing my words, Princess Aine grinned.

“You think so too?”

“Well… there’s a possibility they’re former knights who became mercenaries, but they wouldn’t normally do that while still young.”

“From what they’ve gathered, it seems they’ve come to the Duke’s territory in pursuit of someone.”

I felt a chill.

The king had also warned that the church was targeting me and Riel.

So even though Riel probably didn’t notice, when we went to the station to take the train, several knights directly under the royal family were secretly escorting us.

In the case of Brimton, with Princess Aine’s knight order—the elite of the elite among the royal knight orders—spread throughout, it might be even safer than the royal capital.

“They’ve retreated and gone somewhere now, but still, always be vigilant and careful.”

“I know.”

“Don’t forget that you must protect Lady Riel. You would have done so anyway, but now even more so.”

“O-of course.”

“Don’t forget that a man of the kingdom must perfectly protect his woman.”

At those words, Commander Gareth, who was standing as if guarding Princess Aine, made a slightly sour expression.

…I understand.

Commander Gareth’s woman, whom he needs to protect, is stronger than he is.

As I was thinking this, Princess Aine suddenly clapped her hands.

“Speaking of which, I heard you were the runner-up in the Mushin Festival?”

“Ah… yes.”

This is bad.

“Hmm… I guess my training was a bit inadequate? I should probably devise a new plan this summer…”

“No… No! To be honest, the senior I faced was just too strong…”

“Oh? There was someone that strong? What’s her name?”

“Senior Iris Likenair!”

Princess Aine showed interest, muttering “Likenair…” as she repeated her surname.

Then she called one of her subordinates and whispered something.

…Is she thinking of scouting Iris?

In fact, Senior Iris seems to be receiving scouting offers from various places after winning the Mushin Festival.

I thought about Senior Iris becoming a knight under Princess Aine.

In the original story, they were rivals who crossed swords, but now they would be in a superior-subordinate relationship.

That might be interesting in its own way.

Anyway, let’s think it’s good that Her Highness’s attention has shifted from me to Senior Iris.

“Are you thinking that you’ll be fine because I’m focusing my attention elsewhere?”

“…Do you use telepathy now?”

“Well, I’ll train you again so that you don’t lose to such a senior next time.”

“……”

That didn’t work out well.

With a feeling of grasping at straws, I looked at Commander Gareth.

Making eye contact, Commander Gareth slightly turned his head to look elsewhere.

…Right, even he can’t stand up to Her Highness.

As my training plan was being formulated in Her Highness’s mind.

The door opened and Riel’s personal maid, Luca, came out.

“They say it’s okay to come in now.”

Exchanging glances with Phyllis, I entered the room again.

In the room, the composition was the same as before: the Duchess resting in bed, and Riel and Lord Andrew sitting beside her.

But now they seemed to have calmed down, as neither of them was crying anymore.

Though traces of tears still remained slightly.

“I apologize for earlier, Your Highness.”

Having eaten some of the meal prepared by Her Highness and regained some strength, the Duchess was sitting up in bed, at least raising her upper body.

Princess Aine shook her head and said:

“No, as I said earlier, I don’t expect etiquette from a patient.”

“I’m only grateful.”

After finishing the brief conversation with Her Highness, the Duchess’s gaze turned to me.

I immediately bowed my head in greeting.

“Um… I am Kyo Wentos, the eldest son of Count Wentos.”

“I’ve heard about you. I’m told my daughter is indebted to you.”

“Ah… yes!”

What should I do?

I’m extremely nervous.

No, I just came along with Riel without thinking much…

But after the forced confession incident at the entrance, isn’t this essentially the same as going to greet her parents?

With that thought, I slightly turned my gaze to Riel.

Riel was also staring at me.

When our eyes briefly met, Riel smiled with an expectant look.

I also made eye contact with Lord Andrew who was behind her.

He was smiling too.

“……”

But I could tell.

He was smiling but not smiling.

What should I choose here? In the few seconds available, my mind pondered at lightspeed over and over.

Yes, I’m already destined for Her Highness’s hellish training anyway.

At this point, let’s just push forward like a man. Making that judgment, my action was swift.

“I am… dating your daughter.”

“Oh my.”

The Duchess turned to look at Riel with a slightly surprised expression.

Riel’s face turned so red that it was indistinguishable from her hair color, but she was smiling.

It seems she hadn’t properly told the Duchess, but did she deliberately not mention it so that I would have to say it myself?

In contrast, the murderous intent felt in Lord Andrew’s eyes grew stronger.

…I’m already prepared for this, but I know this person is quite skilled in magic, so will I be okay?

“Seeing Riel’s expression, I suppose it’s fine.”

“Is… is that so?”

“Yes. I never thought I’d see this child smile so happily.”

…Well, the fact that Riel became introverted and couldn’t even smile in her childhood was due to the saint’s machinations, but I judged there was no need to tell the Duchess that.

According to Priestess Alicia, Lord Andrew also blamed himself greatly for not paying more attention to Riel after hearing that story, so it’s obvious how the Duchess would react if she heard that story.

“Please continue to take good care of our Riel.”

“Yes… yes!!”

“So Andrew, you should relax your expression too.”

“…What are you talking about, Mother? I’m perfectly fine.”

“Oh my, can’t I read your expression?”

Lord Andrew reluctantly withdrew his murderous intent.

It seems I have a long road ahead to convince this lord.

“And Phyllis, I heard the story from Riel.”

“It’s been a long time, Madam.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

According to Phyllis, it was Rachel who hired Phyllis and made her Riel’s personal maid.

I thought she might feel guilty that such a Phyllis was expelled from the mansion without her knowledge and even faced a life-threatening crisis.

Phyllis smiled faintly and said:

“No, I’m truly glad that you are safe, Madam.”

At Phyllis’s sincere smile and answer, the Duchess also smiled at Phyllis.

That’s when it happened.

A knocking sound was heard at the door, and soon after, Priestess Alicia entered the room.

Behind Priestess Alicia was the Elf, her name was Lilu, wasn’t it? She was there.

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation!”

Her expression looked very urgent.

She seemed out of breath from rushing here, and sweat was beaded on her forehead.

“Priestess Alicia, what on earth is happening?”

As Lord Andrew stepped forward and asked that, Priestess Alicia took a breath and opened her mouth.

“It’s terrible. The unconscious patients who were hospitalized have suddenly started to go berserk.”

“…What did you say??”

Lord Andrew’s mouth fell open.

It was the moment when the family time that had finally arrived was quickly ending.