episode_0099

With my parents, whom I was meeting for the first time, I was guided to what was clearly the best room in the mansion.

“Hoho, I don’t know if I can give you such a fancy room.”

“Of course you should, since you are a VIP!”

“Thank you. Come visit Berkeley next time, I’ll treat you just as well as Rochefort.”

How can a human face become shaped like ^o^?

Vivian grabbed Lanian’s hand with an emoticon-like expression.

“Haha… Luke, this way. Princess Elin, you can use the front room.”

Lanian raised the corners of her lips with an awkward expression that made her look like she was going to melt.

I had a strong feeling that I wanted to get out of there right away.

“I like sharing a room with my teacher.”

Ellen made a shocking statement.

Lanian just closed his eyes tightly.

I had the illusion that my dark circles had gotten a little longer.

“There are plenty of rooms, so there is no need to decline, Your Majesty.”

“Huh? Oh… That’s not it.”

Elin’s hair stood on end as she looked around.

It was because Vivian and even Benedict were looking at Elin with surprised eyes.

“I’m used to sleeping with the teacher.”

“What if you say it like that?”

This time it was Luke’s turn to close his eyes tightly.

I had to cast a silencing spell on Elin.

I should have been on guard from the moment he started talking more than usual…!

But I couldn’t take back the words that had already been said.

“… Son?”

Vivian looked at Luke with astonishment.

“I respect my son’s taste, but… .”

“That’s not it.”

I just took care of Elin with all my heart.

But why on earth do these misunderstandings arise?

It’s just a healthy priest-student relationship.

I spoke firmly, knowing that even Elin who was listening would be offended.

“The princess couldn’t sleep well, so I was just by her side.”

“That’s right.”

Fortunately, Elin agrees.

“But I’m scared of sleeping alone in an unfamiliar place… Can I share a room with you?”

Wasn’t that fortunate?

Elin looked at Lanian with moist eyes.

A feeling of guilt even when I don’t do anything.

I became strongly convinced that it wasn’t that I couldn’t express my emotions, but that I just didn’t want to.

“Are you okay?”

Lanian left the decision up to Luke.

… It would be strange if I refused after doing this.

“I think I should help you.”

Then, Elin’s stupid hair fluttered.

It seemed like he hadn’t yet learned how to control his foolishness.

“Um, Luke.”

Vivian wiggled her little hands.

A gesture to say, “Come here.”

As you approach, the crow lifts its paw and whispers.

“Mom can understand everything.”

“… ?”

“Your father did the same thing. Instead, don’t do anything that violates imperial law. Just endure it for a little while, right?”

“… ??”

“Hoohoohoo… .”

Vivian looked at Elin as if she had noticed everything and smiled.

Countless question marks floated above Luke’s head.

* * * * *

How special could a mansion belonging to a wizard family be?

Only the Rochefort Library is off-limits.

I walked around the entire mansion.

It was no different from Bucklin.

“Oh my. Hello, Luke!”

No, there’s just one other thing.

“Hello.”

“Hehehe… Feel free to talk comfortably.”

Are you selecting servants based on the condition that they are extroverted?

The servants I passed by all smiled happily and spoke to me.

“Please take good care of our young lady!”

Naturally, it seemed like Luke was going to marry Lanian.

“Sup. If you make it difficult, I can’t use it!”

Every time, Lanian waved his hand and chased them away.

It didn’t seem like the maids’ thoughts would change at all as they ran away laughing.

Still, it was nice to see them looking intimate.

Because it’s better than just ignoring it like Bertain did.

“Luke, Luke. This happened when the girl was 11… .”

“Hey! Stop talking nonsense and get to work…!”

… I think we got a little too close.

The maids of Lanian’s age are so eager to tell Luke something whenever they meet him.

He tried to sneak up on me and expose Lanian’s dark history.

Or you can get caught by Lanian right away.

“Growl… .”

There is no successful maid because of Elin who reveals this.

Anyway, I endured the servants’ excessive attention and took a quick look around the mansion.

“Our chef specially prepared it. Please enjoy it.”

It’s finally dinner time.

This time too, the Rocheforts and Bucklins are all gathered together.

A suffocating atmosphere naturally formed.

A table covered with a banquet that doesn’t look like it would come out of a Bertha.

Vivian smiled broadly and munched on her food.

“Mmm~! This is the first time I’ve had something this delicious! Did you hire a palace chef?”

“Haha, that’s too much praise.”

When Vivian reacts with sparkling eyes, Heizen laughs.

“… … ”

“… … ”

Benedict and Pruna continued their meal in silence.

We’ve barely started eating.

You can already see who is leading the conversation in the house.

“Why don’t you eat it, Luke? If it doesn’t suit your taste, I can change it for you―”

“No, absolutely not. I was thinking of something else.”

Luke, who was digging through the steak, was startled and put a piece of meat in his mouth.

I don’t even know if I eat it with my mouth or my nose.

I just wished this time would pass quickly.

“How did you feel about touring the mansion?”

“It was wonderful. The style was neat and elegant, and the servants were all kind. It was almost perfect.”

The corners of Haizen’s mouth went up towards 10:10 as he was given gold lacquer without even putting on a needle.

“Thank you for saying so. Wouldn’t you like to look through our family’s archives?”

“I don’t want to be rude. How dare you enter someone else’s family’s archives.”

“If we become a family, it won’t be someone else’s family, so what’s the problem, haha.”

“Coolook, coolook… .”

I was drinking water and ended up in a slurry.

It’s fortunate that I was able to open a subspace with the skill to discard the blood that was coughed up.

Otherwise, I would have soiled the table.

Kuk.

Pruna frowned slightly and poked Heizen in the ribs.

“Haha… I guess I put too much pressure on you.”

Heizen offered an apple while being mercilessly elbowed by Pruna.

“No. Excuse me… .”

When I was wiping my mouth with a napkin.

Vivian said, spinning her fork.

“The same goes for Ranian. Once you become a family, you can come into the Bucklin Library as much as you want.”

“That’s… …a little tempting.”

“Senior?”

“Hot.”

For a moment, Lanian’s eyes rolled back and he came to his senses.

Are you really possessed by a ghost or something because you couldn’t study?

What if I waver when they say they’ll open the library?

“It’s okay, I’m just so busy being in the lab, hehe… .”

“Hmm… Really? That’s too bad. I think there’s also some improved cursed text data that you studied with Luke?”

“Marry me, Luke.”

Lanian proposes without a moment’s hesitation.

The burning passion for learning has consumed my reason.

When Vivian bursts out laughing as if she finds it funny.

“If it’s about curses, there are many in Bertain too.”

Ellen with her hair up in the shape of an exclamation mark.

He put down the steak he was about to put in his mouth and quickly got in.

“Wouldn’t the books in Bertain be more helpful for your research…? I can lend you a few, Lanian.”

It means to tactfully retract what you just said.

“Oh my… Really?”

Lanian is drooling at the appearance of more delicious ingredients.

I was already so absorbed in my studies that I couldn’t tell right from wrong.

In the end, the only one who comes out strong here is Luke.

Click.

He put the dishes down with a loud clank.

“I have something to tell you.”

Everyone’s attention is focused on it.

“I’m sorry. Actually… I followed you with the intention of rejecting you from the beginning.”

The air in the restaurant became heavy.

* * * * *

The air has become uncomfortable.

“I know.”

“Yes, if you know… … Yes?”

I looked at the person who just spoke.

It was Pruna wiping her lips with a napkin.

“… … We’re not that clueless. We tried our best to persuade you. I guess we made you uncomfortable.”

Bow.

Pruna bows her head.

“I’m sorry, Luke. I was being unreasonable because I was worried about my daughter. I guess a woman who doesn’t eat or sleep and just studies isn’t attractive.”

“… Mom?”

Lanian, who had regained consciousness, frowned.

Of course, I had nothing to say in rebuttal, so I just made a face.

“I won’t ask you to love our daughter. We’re not in a position to marry for love in the first place… .”

“I married you because I loved you.”

Haizen, who had been listening quietly, intervened.

“Not me.”

“… … Hmm?”

“But you can get married even if you don’t love each other.”

“Hey, wait a minute, Pruna. What did you just say…?”

Haizen’s mouth was wide open at the shocking truth he was suddenly confronted with.

Pruna continued to speak without stopping.

“To be frank, I think it makes sense for Rochefort and Bucklin to get married, if it’s for their own good.”

“Oh my.”

Vivian covered her mouth at the direct words.

“If you get engaged, I won’t interfere with anything you do afterward. I can promise that there won’t be any interference with your work as Bertain’s tutor.”

It’s also earnest.

A request that is almost cowardly.

My daughter’s future, which seems to have no answer.

It was more like a plea from the landlady who was simultaneously worried about Rochefort’s future.

A loveless marriage that is openly recommended.

If we look at it from a practical standpoint, there is nothing to refute, so they just smile.

“… No.”

Ellen stood up, dragging her chair.

“As I said before, if you get married, it will affect your future work at Bertain―”

“No, that’s not the problem.”

Elin cut off Pruna’s words.

Phew, I took a moment to catch my breath.

It doesn’t matter whether or not it interferes with the tutor’s work.

The very act of having a wedding.

The problem is that we don’t give Ellen a chance.

Kuk.

My heart ached just thinking about another woman sitting next to Luke.

Elin held her chest with one hand.

I looked straight into Pruna’s eyes.

“This is not a Berthain thing, but as a student who likes the teacher, I am opposing it.”

“… … ”

“Oh my, oh my.”

Pruna’s eyebrows are drawn together in the middle.

Vivian covered her mouth with both hands like an old lady watching a love drama.

Buzz.

Ellen’s lips trembled and she hugged Luke’s arm.

“I’m sorry for being rude. But… please forgive me for being rude just this once.”

Shoo-!

Mana swirling around Elin.

“… Your Majesty?”

Luke was horrified.

It was so clear what he was trying to do now.

The only spatial magic that Elin has not mastered.

Portal.

The way mana is collected.

The path that crosses dimensions is also perfect.

Before I could even open my mouth.

Hwaak-

The small door that had swallowed Luke and Elin disappeared.

Luke and Elin disappeared without a trace.

When everyone is dumbfounded by an unexpected situation.

“Oh, really… You brought in a wayward disciple?”

Vivian muttered, swinging her short legs.

“Why do all the men in our family get involved with small women… … Ranian.”

“… Yes?”

“Did you say Princess Elin is fifteen years old?”

“As far as I know, that’s probably it… ?”

“Ehyo.”

Vivian let out a small sigh.

He leaned against Benedict’s shoulder and smiled bitterly.

“I guess we’ll have to wait another 5 years, honey.”