Ch.192Succession War for the Family Headship (7)

Many people attended the engagement ceremony. Not only relatives from both families, but also friends and professors with whom they were acquainted made appearances.

Despite keeping it relatively simple, it was still quite grand. Perhaps because it was a marriage between the Rheinland and Adelbein families.

“Eidel!”

“Professor!”

I shared a warm embrace with Professor Feynman as usual. I also greeted Professor Stranov who was standing nearby.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Professor Stranov.”

“Thank you. But there’s one thing you got wrong. My surname is now Feynman, you know?”

“But you use both surnames.”

After marriage, changing one’s surname is a personal choice. One can keep their original surname, unify with their spouse’s, or even adopt an entirely new one. Feynman smiled and said:

“Have you decided what to do with your surname after marriage, Eidel?”

“Well, I’m still…”

I hesitated briefly before continuing.

“I’m waiting to see if I can become the head of the family before deciding.”

“That’s certainly wise. Both are remarkable families, after all.”

Rheinland and Adelbein. Just thinking about the power struggle between the elder councils of both families gives me a headache.

But this was also an opportunity.

If I could become the head of the family, I would have the upper hand in discussions about becoming a son-in-law who joins his wife’s family.

I continued to survey my surroundings.

Sonia and Seti were naturally present, and I could see Ireh too. Most of my peers that I knew had attended.

Except for one person: Rustila.

No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find her.

“Hello, Rheinland.”

Just then, I heard a somewhat unfamiliar voice.

I immediately bowed upon identifying the owner of the voice.

“Professor Apron, Professor Bishuhard.”

Raiden Apron and Roshua Bishuhard. These were professors I had met during my recent visit to Callisto Academy.

Both were experts in crystal research. Since Callisto was strong in condensed matter physics, I had requested help from these scholars in the field. Thanks to them, my paper was progressing smoothly.

“Thank you for coming.”

“No need for thanks!”

“Aren’t we teacher and student?”

The two professors whispered with smiles.

“…So, would you consider staying longer at our school’s laboratory?”

“I’ll think about it more.”

“Professor Bishuhard, don’t push too hard. Choosing a lab requires careful consideration, doesn’t it?”

Oh, this professor might be quite kind.

“Of course, condensed matter physics has always had better prospects than particle physics, both then and now.”

On second thought, maybe not.

After exchanging greetings with the professors, I slowly made my way to the podium. There, Zernya was waiting in a pure white dress.

“Hurry up. We’re both short on time.”

Keep the engagement ceremony simple.

Make the wedding grand.

This was the common stance of both families. As a result, many parts were omitted. For example, the process of the bride-to-be walking down the red carpet with her father, or the photo-taking session.

Though it was relatively less burdensome, I couldn’t help feeling nervous. This was my first engagement too.

And, my goodness, my partner was none other than Zernya Adelbein.

“May the stars bless you.”

The priest from the Holy Spirit Order made the sign of the cross. Zernya’s face was covered with a veil.

“Young master, please remove the lady’s veil.”

Following the priest’s instruction, I removed the veil, revealing Zernya’s bare face.

The first thing I noticed was her usual relaxed smile. Her composure was actually reassuring.

“I ask the groom-to-be: Do you love the woman before you and swear unchangeably to take her as your bride in the future?”

“Yes, I swear.”

“I ask the bride-to-be: Do you love the man before you and promise to the stars to take him as your groom in the future?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Adorably prickly. A very Zernya-like answer.

“To seal this promise, would the groom please kiss the bride’s right cheek, and the bride kiss the groom’s left cheek.”

Here it comes.

Although it’s not lip-to-lip, it’s still clearly an act of affection. It was a bit embarrassing to do it in front of everyone, but I quickly suppressed that thought.

This is a political marriage. A political union. I must use my head well to deceive everyone except Zernya.

To do that, I have no choice but to faithfully perform the role given to me.

Smooch, smooch.

With two soft sounds, camera shutters went wild.

***

Though she was trying her best to maintain a relaxed smile, Zernya felt like her heart was about to burst.

Even though this was a political marriage, did she deserve to stand here so proudly?

With family matters still unresolved, was it right for her to smile so freely at Eidel?

No, she couldn’t. So her expression mustn’t crumble now. Just like always, naturally. Like a chairperson looking at a vice-chairperson, as if she had composure. She had to act naturally, like flowing water.

“Please kiss each other.”

Ah, damn it.

This makes it impossible to maintain the carefully crafted expression.

One step, she approached carefully. The distance between them was closer than ever before. They were so close they almost looked like one body.

Now she had to kiss him.

But a problem arose.

Zernya was too short compared to Eidel, making the angle impossible.

Even standing on tiptoes and stretching her neck as much as possible, she could barely reach Eidel’s collarbone. Unless Eidel bent his head at a right angle, the oath kiss would be impossible.

But then.

“Excuse me.”

Eidel grabbed Zernya’s waist and lifted her up.

It happened in an instant. Before she could even register it, Zernya was held by her knees and back and lifted up. It was a “princess carry” like in old fairy tales.

They were so close she could almost stick out her tongue and touch him.

Thump, thump, her heart pounded.

The next moment.

Smooch.

Eidel’s attack came first. It was a critical hit that crumbled Zernya’s expression.

What just happened to me?

Contrary to her thoughts, her subconscious immediately counterattacked.

Smooch.

She left a lip gloss mark on Eidel’s left cheek. Simultaneously, cheers erupted from the audience.

Zernya touched her burning cheek and turned her head. Camera flashes poured down. External reporters were also present to announce the engagement between Rheinland and Adelbein.

In those flashes, a woman entered Zernya’s field of vision.

Crunch, crunch.

She was biting her nails.

Though Zernya couldn’t see her eye color or hair color, she immediately recognized who it was from her tall stature and assertive chest.

Zernya smirked and raised her voice.

“This man is mine now. Everyone, don’t set your eyes on him, understand?”

The woman’s shoulders trembled in response.

Zernya felt smug for the first time in a long while.

Yes. In the end, the final victor will be me, “Zernya von Rheinland.”

***

Rustila couldn’t forget Eidel. She couldn’t erase him from her heart. Even if he wished for polygamy, it was impossible for her to reject the benefactor who had supported her dreams.

That’s why.

Even though she knew it would hurt, she attended his engagement ceremony.

She didn’t reveal her identity when entering. Since Eidel’s marriage was somewhat political, her presence might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. She didn’t want to interfere with his affairs.

So she sought Seti’s help. She snuck in without anyone knowing and moved around avoiding Eidel’s line of sight.

Soon the engagement ceremony began. Gentle music played, and people focused. Eidel, in formal attire, stood before Zernya in her dress.

If only I were in that place.

Eidel removed Zernya’s veil and swore his engagement. Right after, the priest declared they should kiss each other’s cheeks. Zernya tried her best to stand on tiptoes, but it wasn’t enough to reach Eidel’s face.

If only I had taken that place.

Eidel lifted Zernya up and aligned their faces himself. Zernya happily exchanged kisses. People blessed them, and reporters immediately typed on their keyboards.

That place should have been mine.

Rustila found herself trembling. And the next moment, Zernya, cradled in Eidel’s arms, spotted Rustila. The two women’s gazes met.

She’s been discovered.

Zernya smiled slyly and waved her hand.

“This man is mine now. Everyone, don’t set your eyes on him, understand?”

At this statement that seemed targeted at her, Rustila’s fist clenched tightly. Her palm stung. Her molars ground together. Her head spun as if she were dizzy.

He’s mine. He’s my man.

“Now, would the groom and bride-to-be please place the engagement rings on each other’s left ring fingers.”

No, this can’t be.

This must surely be a dream.

Rustila slowly backed away, then turned around and started running.

“Uh, sis? Where are you going?”

She didn’t even hear Seti, the only one who knew of her attendance, calling out.

She just kept running.

She quickly became out of breath. It was strange. Usually, she could sprint dozens of laps around the track with ease. But today, why did her chest feel so tight?

“Haa, haa…”

When she came to her senses, she was at the academy.

Rustila, walking weakly, stopped in front of the College of Natural Sciences building. She had no intention of returning to the military dormitory. She reflexively went up to the third floor of that building.

Eidel’s lab.

She entered the password and opened the door.

Rustila looked around the empty room. Mezulen, Ireh, and other lab members were all at the ceremony to congratulate Eidel on his engagement.

She had returned too early.

That was fortunate.

For now, this place was her private space.

Rustila sat at the desk and buried her head in her hands. Thump, thump, thump. Her world shook. Her head was hot, but her heart felt like it was freezing.

“Hic, sob, I, I liked him first…”

She resented Virgo.

She regretted making the contract.

“…Should I, terminate it?”

Contract termination is possible even now. If she stole a kiss from Eidel, Virgo would sigh and leave. In truth, she wanted to do just that.

But she couldn’t. If she did, humanity would perish.

Moreover, Virgo had implored that among humans, only Rustila could host her.

But you know what?

When exactly is this “apocalypse” supposed to come?

No one knows exactly when the end will come. What if she waited, but died before it arrived? What if all her efforts were in vain?

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Aaaaargh!”

In frustration, Rustila threw the documents she had in her hand.

“Ah…”

Belatedly coming to her senses, she panicked. She had momentarily lost her composure. Looking closely, they were documents from Eidel’s desk.

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to take my anger out on you. I’m sorry, Eidel. Really sorry…”

Rustila picked up the papers with trembling hands. Eidel handles his papers carefully. If there are signs of crumpling or tearing, he would be very displeased. Then she would be hated. She couldn’t bear that thought.

As she was collecting and organizing the research papers, a piece of paper with Eidel’s handwriting caught her eye. Rustila began to silently read it.

[(Working Title) Research on Modifying Constellation Plasma Neural Networks Using Crystal-Prone Invasion Effect]

It was a somewhat dangerous-looking paper title.

“This is…”

Though not an expert, it seemed like he was trying to experiment on constellations.

Constellation experiments aren’t illegal. However, they tend to attract the enmity of other constellations, and if branded as heretical by the Holy Spirit Order, life becomes difficult. Unless one is a non-constellation person, publishing papers on constellation experiments is rare.

Then, Eidel…

Could it be?

Her thoughts were interrupted.

The quiet side room door opened, and an android emerged, limping slightly.

It looked as haggard as a woman who had been rejected in love. There were tear stains around its eyes, and its hair, despite being artificial, looked disheveled.

As far as Rustila knew, she was a new research equipment that Eidel had brought in.

“…Glka?”

“It’s not Glka, it’s Erika!”

Erika shouted. She wiped her eyes and said:

“What’s going on? Even the most gentle and quiet person in this lab is shouting. You startled me.”

“Then, you…”

Erika was supposed to be restrained and running simulations 24 hours a day. It didn’t make sense for her to naturally open the door and come out like this.

Clearly, something had happened while she was away.

Erika sighed deeply and began to speak.

“You see, this humble one…”

After Erika’s explanation ended, Rustila felt a tightness in her chest.

“You’ve been abandoned by your master.”

“Yes. This humble one no longer has the will to live. Since my main body is probably elsewhere, I’m thinking of deleting all my data and ending it all.”

Erika sobbed.

“But, even so… this humble one doesn’t want to die yet.”

I don’t want to live anymore.

But I don’t want to die either.

That feeling, I understand it well. Rustila’s situation was similar. Having lost the meaning to live, but being terrified of never seeing the face of the person you love again.

“Actually, I have something to talk about.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about androids, a story similar to yours.”

Rustila opened up to Erika. By the time she finished explaining about the engagement ceremony that day, Erika began to fume.

“What a truly terrible young master! To treat this humble one so harshly, and even hurt your feelings!”

“No, Eidel isn’t bad.”

Though I’m a little upset with him.

“It’s just like how you think about your master. Even if I’m abandoned, I can’t help but look at him. Like a sunflower that continues to face the sun even as it withers and dies. That’s why it hurts. This… sigh. Really, why am I like this today?”

“This humble one’s mood is strange too. My prompts are conflicting. ‘Like’ and ‘dislike’, ‘trust’ and ‘betrayal’ coexist. They cannot coexist. I need to bypass that code and adjust my neural network.”

Meeting someone who shared her pain made her feel like a knot was being untied. And Erika was generating similar electrical signals.

The two people, or rather, the two sentient beings, quickly became friends. Having unburdened their thoughts, their sorrow disappeared, leaving only refined anger.

“I want to teach Master Brian a lesson.”

“I’d like to see that thieving cat crying and making a fuss.”

Rustila and Erika formed an alliance and vowed revenge.

Though “revenge” might sound grand, it wasn’t anything elaborate.

Sweet and bitter, they would take back what had been taken from them. In other words, it was the process of reclaiming their rightful share.

“Miss Rustila, this humble one has a good idea. Would you like to hear it?”

“What is it?”

“But first, promise me one thing.”

“I promise.”

“You trust this humble one too easily.”

“I don’t work with people I don’t trust, but once I decide to trust someone, I can even entrust them with my back.”

“Good. This humble one, moved by your sincerity, will provide you with a clever plan. All you need to do is help this humble one when needed. And vice versa.”

“Is that the promise?”

Erika nodded. She scanned the keywords written in Eidel’s preliminary paper and continued.

“First, help Eidel complete that paper.”