episode_0156

engagement.

It was not a heavy word to listen to while leisurely chewing a snack. Surely you didn’t do something grandiose? Is engagement an insignificant thing in the imperial aristocratic society? It’s an important matter that will determine the fate of at least two people, right?

‘Is it okay to say it so lightly?’

While many thoughts were rushing through his mind, Shiron calmly put down the teacup he was holding. A frown was drawn at the corners of Eldrina’s mouth at the sight of a clearly different appearance from the rough and even vulgar way she spoke and acted a moment ago.

“You’re not embarrassed. I thought he would stutter even if he didn’t spit out the tea he had in his mouth…”

“Isn’t it barely an engagement? The wife also clearly said that it wasn’t anything grand.”

“So? Then the story will be fast.”

Eldrina smiled and looked at Siron, and Siron glanced at Latera, sitting next to her, trembling.

“The fact that the story is fast means… does this mean that the matter can be decided just by showing my intention?”

“Of course.”

” Siriel’s doctor has already asked this question a long time ago…”

“Oh, that’s not it.”

Eldrina waved her hand, asking what he was talking about.

“This is solely my opinion.”

“…”

“But, as you know, Siriel would not only want to get engaged but would also want to get married right away. For example, this engagement is similar to a surprise gift.”

“…I see.”

After hearing the story, Siron closed his eyes and sank deep into the chair. The woman in front of me, Eldrina, is not normal. It’s something I’ve been feeling for a long time, but right now. The thoughts that had been rolling around in my head gradually became more and more certain.

‘No, am I the one who isn’t normal?’

Arranged marriage.

The words that pop into my head summarize what has just happened.

Without even asking the parties’ intentions, the superior decides who will be the child’s betrothal. What’s more, treating an act that only happens once in a lifetime as a gift? Siron, who only did things befitting a nobleman by not being tied to money and frequently hanging out with high-ranking people who put a lot of strain on their necks, felt distant from Eldrina and the aristocratic society she belonged to.

“Good.”

but,

Aside from that, Siron did not find Eldrina’s proposal uncomfortable.

“If we only look at my intentions, it’s not like I don’t have feelings for Siriel. I am looking at this engagement positively.”

“…That’s a good thing.”

Eldrina shook her head a few times and then opened her mouth. And for a moment, Eldrina’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Siron.

“But… it’s not like I don’t have a heart?”

Eldrina felt uncomfortable because Siron seemed to be speaking ambiguously.

“Is it okay to just accept that I feel like you?”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I’m not saying that I like it, but it bothers me that the possibility of denial was even mentioned out loud.”

“I think you can just skip it.”

“It’s not like I’ve seen you for a day or two. I think it’s a good idea to point out even the smallest details, just in case.”

Eldrina did not laugh anymore. He removed the fan that was covering his mouth and faced Siron with a stern face. A sight that is never seen in social settings. However, this is a reaction that comes from Eldrina’s understanding of the person named Siron to some extent.

Her husband’s nephew, Siron Prien, was not a person who thought about his actions for Eldrina. Sometimes we act cautiously according to the surrounding situation, and other times we act impulsively and unexpectedly. Eldrina understood it as a warlike tendency unique to the old samurai.

And Eldrina knew how to deal with them well.

By somehow clarifying the facts, we leave room for preparation to be able to respond flexibly in future situations. To do so, she shed some of the pretense.

“I want Siriel to be happy, and I cannot stand to see an engagement that gets twisted and ends up breaking off the engagement.”

“…Well, I understand your concerns. Could you please be more explicit about that?”

“Blatant?”

“If you hear it, there may be remarks that make you uncomfortable or that may make you angry. Even if I don’t try to say it, I’m a human being who grew up in an environment where success was repeated…”

“I have a big heart.”

Eldrina smiled and answered. When it came to Hugo, she was more thorough than any other woman and was aware that she was like a sword, but other than that, she thought that it could be said that she had a big heart. Of course, Siron agreed with him.

Over the past six years, Eldrina has not interfered much with Siron and Lucia. To put it negatively, it was indifference, but since most people listened to what they wanted, Siron had no choice but to agree with Eldrina’s words.

“That’s because I’m a person who worries a lot.”

“Oh my, it doesn’t look like that.”

” As much as I worry, there are also a lot of things I haven’t taken care of. You can’t be concerned about swarming ants when you’re facing a tiger, right?”

“A more important issue than being engaged to Siriel has not been resolved… Is it okay to understand it that way?”

“Yes.”

This is not a situation where you can fully focus on dating. A compromise that would not hurt Siriel and build Eldrina’s pride. Siron was saying those words in the most dignified manner possible.

“Have you ever thought that the world could end tomorrow?”

“Well… I’ve thought about how many times I wish it would fail. If it is not just a thought but a fact, then it is understandable that you are not completely concerned about your engagement to Siriel.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Now the Macal Mountains have not collapsed, and Lucia and Glenn are alive. Even if the demon wakes up from its long sleep, it will be able to endure for a while.

“But… that’s not the only reason for the ambiguous answer.”

“Is there any other reason?”

“…It’s because it’s sudden. I say that because I don’t know much about noble culture, but do engagements usually come around this time of year? No, since we’re engaged, I think it’s a little too late.”

“Um… I hope you don’t feel bad when you see this.”

After saying that, Eldrina called someone and ordered them to bring a certain item. And for a moment. In her hands were several envelopes with letters tied with twine.

“What is that?”

Siron looked at the bundle of envelopes and then at Eldrina with a gaze full of questions. Eldrina pulled out one of them and shook it.

“This is a self-talk I heard from Siriel.”

“Hon…dam?”

“Yes, as you know, Siriel’s appearance is very outstanding, right? I think his skills as a warrior are also excellent. I inherited the blood of the man who is said to be the strongest in the empire.”

“…”

“So, I have been hearing stories like this since I was very young. Of course, I’m trying to get rid of everything.”

“…You’re having a hard time.”

“Of course, the hardships are not enough. No matter how close the husband is to the emperor, the number of nobles sending him marriage talks is very large. Among them, there are many famous samurai such as the Third Duke and Versailles, so it is difficult to narrow them down in a short answer.”

Eldrina sighed deeply. For a moment, as a shadow fell over her face, Siron looked as if she had aged by several years. After massaging the nape of her neck a few times, Eldrina said, leaning on the armrest.

“I wanted to wait at least until Siriel became more mature, but I’m very tired of that now.”

“Hmm… I’m a bit embarrassed. I never thought such a story would come and go without my knowledge.”

Siron crossed his arms and frowned. There was a possibility that Siriel, which I thought was a caught fish, would be outbid…

‘It wasn’t that I didn’t have a heart at all.’

Eldrina, looking at the young man’s distorted face, smiled slightly and calmed her expression.

“After saying this. It seems like they are rushing Siriel’s engagement just to make it easier for me.”

“…I fully understand your wife’s difficulties.”

“Just understanding is not enough. So, I have prepared the benefits for you by getting engaged.”

“Profit… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Eldrina openly revealed a faint smile. She read the cloudy greed in Siron’s eyes.

“What you lack, I can make up for in myself.”

“What specifically?”

“For example, I can fill in the title of nobility that you do not have.”

Why Eldrina can have influence in the social world. This is not only because of Hugo’s prestige, but also because she is called the Countess of Eilus and is born with blue blood.

“No matter how much Siriel loves you, the world cannot live on love alone. So I will do my best to pass the title on to you. There’s no need to be looked at the same way as the beggars who graduated without even inheriting a title at the academy, right?”

“…”

“Even if you are the legitimate child of a great family called Prien.”

‘The meaning of deficit has disappeared.’

Siron thought of Lucia at the Academy.

Since Lucia has become the head of the small family, unless something happens, Prien’s head will be Lucia.

“And that’s not all.”

Eldrina took out the stiff paper she had been carrying in her arms the whole time.

“A debt of 70 million shillings hanging in front of you. I can repay you for this somehow. Of course, it’s quite a bit of bleeding for me too.”

“Hmm… there was that too.”

“Did you really plan to leave it like this?”

Eldrina looked at the theory she was talking about as if she had forgotten about it.

“That’s not true.”

Siron held a teacup and quenched his thirst. I couldn’t have expected that my credit card debt would come up here, so I burst out laughing without realizing it.

“I didn’t worry about it because I could repay it at any time.”

“…bragging is not good.”

Eldrina narrowed her eyebrows. 70 million shillings is a large amount of money that easily exceeds the defense budget of a small principality. She didn’t understand the theory of laughing in this situation.

“It’s not a bluff. If you wish, you can repay right away.”

“So?”

“Of course. I know a lot of ways to make money even if I do this.”

“In fact, if that’s the case… I won’t ask you any more about that.”

Eldrina decided to take a step back from Siron’s confident remarks.

“Then, can we accept the engagement as positive?”

“If I talk more, will we just end up standing still?”

“Good.”

Eldrina smiled with satisfaction.

“I guess I need to find out the size of my finger first.”

*

Meanwhile, at the academy, Lucia was leisurely strolling around the campus.

‘Why… doesn’t anyone attack me?’

Then she looked around. Now she has no regrets about studying at the academy. I was prepared to be expelled for truancy, so I went to the academy with the decision to put a stop to any student who started a fight like usual.

but,

Strangely enough, no students attacked Lucia.

Just a few months ago, a group of classmates and upperclassmen came and challenged me to a duel. I was so disappointed that I gave up my desire to study.

“What. Is it okay?”

Good is good. Lucia thought so and headed to the restaurant to have lunch. And for a moment. Lucia was able to look at the familiar back.

“Gracie!”

“…Lucia?”

Gracie Versailles. The friend I made across Siriel looked back.

“What is it, Gracie? What’s wrong with your face?”

But something was strange. The face of my friend, who called my name out of joy, looked so bad that I had to worry that something had happened, with dark shadows over his eyes and his shoulders drooping. The exact opposite of Lucia.

“Did you get hit by someone?”

“…What are you talking about? They say I’m being beaten by someone. Rather, where on earth have you been and now? I missed the school opening ceremony and classes.”

“Ah… that was something that happened.”

“…Work?”

“Yes. But it’s nothing to worry about. Everything will be okay now.”

“…I’m glad. I didn’t feel at ease because it seemed difficult.”

I didn’t ask what was going on. Because Gracie was truly worried about Lucia, who was involved in unwanted accidents every day, as a friend, she was able to smile with a sincere heart at her friend, who met her brightly again even though she had not been seen for a long time.

However, contrary to those feelings, Gracie’s smile had an uneasy edge.

“If you didn’t get hit…is there another problem?”

Lucia also noticed this, so she asked cautiously.

“Well… there is a problem, but it’s not just me. I wonder if I’m worried for no reason.”

“What’s wrong?”

In response to Lucia’s question, Gracie looked around the entire restaurant. About half. Perhaps even more so, there were many children with darker faces.

“The order to convene has been issued.”