Ch.304304. There was some friction at first.

“T-Three, Sir Selden Alphonse, did you have a good trip to the Northern Continent?”

As soon as I entered the study, Robert came right over.

He looked anxious, like a puppy that needed to relieve itself.

“Sir Robert, did anything happen while I was away?”

“Uh, nothing happened. But more importantly… did you meet Olivia?”

“Yes, I did.”

“…Was there any trouble?”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Haha… I was worried our Olivia might have made some mistake with you, Sir Selden Alphonse.”

If he was going to worry like this, he should have properly explained her terrible personality from the start.

Thinking it would be better to be honest, I adjusted my posture.

“There was some friction at first.”

“W-what kind of friction?”

“Just a light sparring match. I found that Olivia is more serious about training than I expected.”

“Ah…”

“It wasn’t serious enough for you to worry, Sir Robert. Well, Jawill Wilson who accompanied me did have a bit of a hard time.”

Robert quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Olivia tends to show off her strength, but I imagine she became quite docile after sparring with you, Sir Selden Alphonse.”

“…Do you really think so?”

When I raised my head, Robert slightly averted his gaze and continued speaking.

“A-anyway, I really needed those research materials, so thank you very much.”

“Lucien didn’t go berserk, did he?”

“No, I’ve been monitoring him constantly, so you don’t need to worry about Lucien.”

“That’s a relief.”

“By the way, apart from sparring with Olivia, were there any other incidents?”

Sitting in the chair, I straightened my back.

“Nothing I would call an incident, but Olivia came with me to Lake Territory.”

“What?! Olivia came to Lake Territory?!”

“She even showed me your letter, but I suppose she was uncomfortable handing over research materials to someone she was meeting for the first time.”

“T-then where is Olivia now?”

“She got off the carriage and went to buy clothes. The clothes she wore in the Northern Continent were too thick, so she seemed hot. And I gave Jawill Wilson money for clothes and told him to go with her, so you don’t need to worry.”

At that, Robert let out a long sigh of relief.

“Haaa… Sir Selden Alphonse, thank you so much for even buying clothes for Olivia.”

“Come now, how much could clothes cost? I can certainly afford to do that much.”

After arriving at Lake Territory, I finally placed the research materials I had received from Olivia on the desk and spoke.

“Since Olivia packed them after seeing the contents of your letter, the research materials should all be here.”

Robert slowly examined the research materials on the desk and smiled gently.

“You’ve brought everything without missing anything. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to continue my research here in Lake Territory.”

“By the way, Sir Robert, have you been solely focused on your research all this time?”

“…Pardon?”

“I apologize for saying this, but Olivia seems to act quite childishly.”

“P-perhaps Olivia made a mistake?!”

“Not exactly, but you mentioned before, Sir Robert. That dragons show violent tendencies when they’re young, and that’s when you need to discipline them properly.”

Robert seemed to understand my meaning as he tightly closed his eyes and then slowly opened them.

“…Olivia isn’t violent because she’s a dragon.”

“Then why?”

“That’s just her natural personality.”

“Ah…”

“She’s had a unique personality since childhood. At first, I also thought it was because she was a dragon and made considerable efforts to correct it, but…”

“You couldn’t fix it?”

“Yes, and what you saw is actually an improvement.”

To think that was an improvement…

I wondered how tearful Robert’s child-rearing must have been.

“…You must have had a really hard time.”

“I’m grateful that you understand, Sir Selden Alphonse.”

I asked another question to Robert, who was bowing respectfully.

“By the way, can Olivia transform into a dragon?”

“Yes, she can. After all, she is half dragon.”

“Ah, I see.”

“…Did Olivia perhaps challenge you to fight in her dragon form?”

As expected of a father, he knows his daughter well.

He’s quite perceptive when it comes to Olivia.

I gave a brief smile to Robert, who was once again breaking into a cold sweat.

“After losing our light match, she asked to fight with her in dragon form. I refused, of course.”

“…I’ll give Olivia a stern talking-to.”

“That’s not necessary. While her behavior was surprising at first, when I admitted defeat, she backed down without protest.”

“I apologize. I didn’t expect her to be so reckless with you, Sir Selden Alphonse, even after seeing my letter.”

I waved my hand dismissively at Robert, who kept apologizing.

“It’s fine. That aside, I now understand why you’re so worried about Olivia’s marriage.”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah! Don’t misunderstand. I only overheard your conversation with Sir Cabla during our first meeting.”

Robert seemed to recall our first meeting and gave a bitter smile.

“It’s a serious matter. I feel I could live in peace if only Olivia would get married.”

“So that’s why you tried to match her with me?”

“…Pardon?”

I smiled gently at Robert, whose eyes were darting around.

“Similarly, during our first meeting, I overheard your conversation with Sir Cabla. That Olivia only wants to marry a man stronger than herself.”

“W-well, that…”

“No need to be embarrassed. I’m already worrying about Lucien’s marriage myself.”

At that, Robert hung his head low.

“I’m ashamed. I must have been bewitched by something.”

I understood.

How frustrating must it be for a father when a woman with Olivia’s incredible beauty has no one to marry?

If her ideal type had been more ordinary, Robert would have been more relaxed, knowing there was still plenty of time.

But.

How many humans in this world could be stronger than a dragon?

Even Robert said I was the “first,” which says it all.

“To be honest with you, Sir Robert, I already have someone to marry. I’m planning to marry one of the princesses from the Eastern Continent’s imperial family.”

“Ah… is that so?”

Robert’s expression suggested he already knew something.

Ignoring that, I continued.

“While there may not be anyone stronger than me among humans, there must be someone stronger than Olivia.”

BANG!

Robert slammed his palm forcefully on the desk and raised his voice.

“I-is that true?!”

“Yes, the continent is vast and wide.”

“Is it someone you know, Sir Selden Alphonse?”

“Indeed. However, I honestly don’t know if that person and Olivia will end up together.”

“Ah…”

I smiled subtly at Robert, who deflated as quickly as he had become excited.

“Until then, wouldn’t it be good to give Olivia proper bride training?”

“How?”

I rose from my chair.

Then, with a meaningful smile, I spoke.

“You’ll see.”

*

“Sir Serion Lycus has sent a letter saying he’s headed to the Western Continent to catch a dark mage.”

After briefly scanning the letter, I leaned back in my chair.

“Huff… seeing him move now, it seems the story in Alika Territory took quite a while.”

“…Story, sir?”

“Never mind. How is the academy doing now?”

At my question, Pedericks tilted his head before straightening his back.

“The academy has no particular issues. Lucien is adapting well too.”

“Oh, really? What about the student I told you to keep an eye on?”

“You mean Madeline Belcatri?”

“Yeah, is she adapting well to the academy?”

“Despite her family’s downfall, her talent is actually blooming. The professors say her adaptability is frighteningly good.”

“That’s good.”

At that, Pedericks showed a concerned look.

“Young master.”

“Yes?”

“Is it alright to leave Madeline Belcatri like that?”

“Are you worried she might seek revenge since I essentially caused her family’s downfall?”

“…She might not understand your deeper intentions.”

I smirked at Pedericks.

“That’s why I told Madeline Belcatri to direct her vengeful feelings toward me instead.”

“W-what are you saying? I know you’re strong, young master, but there’s no need to deliberately make enemies!”

“She told me that since her family was ruined, she no longer had a reason to attend the academy.”

“But if she graduates from the academy, her confiscated property and title would be restored. How could she say she has no reason to attend?”

“Yeah, she probably wanted to build up her strength at the academy to take revenge on her abusive father. Since I took revenge for her, she lost her reason to attend.”

Pedericks continued with an incredulous expression.

“E-even so, telling her to direct her vengeance toward you doesn’t seem right.”

It was a valid point.

Madeline Belcatri was one of the greatest villains in the novel.

While it might not be revenge for her father, she could potentially become an obstacle for me in the future.

Of course, that would only be if Madeline Belcatri obtained the “Hidden Grimoire” as she did in the original novel.

Anyway, Serion Lycus would take care of the dark mage issue.

It seemed all urgent matters had been resolved.

I quickly put on my coat and nodded to Pedericks.

“Call Olivia immediately.”

“W-where are you going now?”

Looking at the stammering Pedericks, I curled up the corners of my mouth.

“Treasure hunting.”