Ch.326326. ····Is This a Joke?

“Yes, please go ahead.”

A light stroll with Robert.

Our conversation began with his polite apology.

“I apologize.”

“…Pardon?”

“I heard that an assassin infiltrated the mansion. I’m sorry for calling you out when you must have many matters to attend to, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“Not at all. You’ve been looking after our Lucien all this time, haven’t you? I’m already indebted to you beyond what I could repay.”

Robert, who had been walking slowly, stopped in his tracks.

“…Then, if I may be so bold, could I ask you something?”

“Please go ahead.”

“Didn’t you say you would help Olivia get married?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, I must be getting old because I’m feeling rather impatient.”

“I understand completely.”

“Could you at least tell me how you plan to help Olivia get married?”

Sigh…

I knew this was coming.

To be fair, when I first mentioned it to Robert, it wasn’t a lie.

But.

The more I get to know Olivia, the more I realize there’s no clear solution to her marriage prospects.

Moreover, despite being older than Lucien, she shows no signs of maturity whatsoever.

However, saying “it’s difficult” now would make it seem like I lied just to prevent Lucien’s rampage.

After organizing my thoughts quickly, I spoke.

“…Isn’t Olivia currently training with the knights?”

“Yes, I hear she’s even doing private training with someone named Jawill Wilson.”

“Have you ever seen Olivia train so closely with humans before?”

Robert hesitated.

“Uh, no, I haven’t.”

Of course not.

After visiting Robert’s home, I became even more certain.

The Brockwell territory in the Northern Continent is vast with weather almost too cold for human habitation.

Therefore.

Robert settled in a secluded area and lived with Olivia.

Did Olivia really have many friends?

Probably not.

Even if she did, no one would have tolerated her personality for long.

I also stopped walking and looked at Robert.

“You’re quite selfish, Robert. If you wanted Olivia to marry a human, you should have made efforts to let her mingle with them from a young age.”

“That’s…”

“Look at me. Didn’t I even establish an academy so Lucien could become closer to humans?”

“…You’re right.”

“Olivia needs to become friends with humans first. Only then will she find someone she can comfortably talk with, and perhaps love will naturally blossom from there, don’t you think?”

Robert nodded in agreement, expressing admiration.

“You had it all planned out, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

It was somewhat of an improvised explanation.

I had paired Olivia with Jawill Wilson for his training, but regardless, it could be interpreted either way, couldn’t it?

Besides.

Even if it was made up, upon reflection, it was true.

Marriage requires some form of connection to be possible.

Even if Olivia believes she should marry someone stronger than herself, who knows what might happen if she mingles with humans?

She might discover other preferences.

“I’m making efforts behind the scenes, Robert.”

“…I apologize.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. You were simply curious, as any father would be about his daughter.”

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m feeling impatient because it concerns my daughter.”

I smiled gently at Robert.

“Don’t you know better than anyone that if Olivia were forced into a marriage with a human, she wouldn’t be happy?”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“Since we’ve waited this long, I think it would be best if you exercised a bit more patience.”

Robert’s worried expression softened, and he continued with a more peaceful demeanor.

“By the way… I heard the Eastern Continent princesses have arrived. Two of them, in fact…”

Robert trailed off, then straightened his posture and continued.

“…So, which one of them will you be marrying, Lord Selden Alphonse?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Pardon?”

“Somehow, I agreed to marry one of them, but it seems the princesses haven’t made their choice yet.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Both of them wish to marry me.”

Although I haven’t known Robert for very long, perhaps because he’s a dragon, I find myself opening up to him.

Is it because they’ve lived longer than humans that they seem like they might offer clear answers?

“…You must be in quite a predicament, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“It’s an awkward situation. They even suggested that I should choose between them.”

“Then the problem would be solved if you made a choice.”

“How could I possibly choose between the princesses?”

Robert stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking.

“You have no interest in imperial politics, do you, Lord Selden Alphonse?”

“How did you know?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? That among all the humans I’ve met, you seem to be the strongest. And you continue to grow stronger.”

“Ah… I remember.”

“In my experience, most strong humans exude great ambition, but you’re different.”

In this world, the stronger people become, the more they yearn to acquire something.

If I had been born and raised here, perhaps I would have been the same.

Evander Alphonse was like that too.

From childhood, he was practically brainwashed into believing he must take the family head position.

Only after reluctantly stepping down from that position did he look back.

The happiness he couldn’t see while desperately pursuing his goal.

Having realized this, he would refuse even if offered the position again.

I gave Robert a bitter smile.

“Well, that’s because everyone is raised to think that way.”

“Anyway, if you have no interest in imperial politics, you should choose the princess who doesn’t desire the queen’s throne. That way, you naturally won’t have to get involved with the imperial court.”

“Both of them say they’ll give up the throne.”

“…Pardon?”

“Both Princess Etherian and Princess Siren said they would give up the queen’s position.”

Robert swallowed hard.

“From what I know, the Eastern Continent has the fiercest succession disputes among all continents?”

“…That’s how it turned out.”

“Are you saying both princesses are willing to give up the throne to marry you?”

“Something like that.”

“Ah… so that’s why you’re in such a difficult position that you can’t make the choice yourself.”

“…Is there a solution?”

Robert stroked his chin again and tilted his head.

“There is one.”

“Y-you have a solution?”

“If Lord Selden Alphonse would marry Olivia instead, I could turn the Eastern Imperial Court into a wasteland for you.”

“…That’s a joke, right?”

“Yes, of course it’s a joke.”

How can he make such jokes without changing his expression at all?

Perhaps because he’s a dragon who could actually turn the Eastern Imperial Court into a wasteland, the sense of dread is amplified.

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

“…In the end, there’s no solution except for one of the princesses to make the choice.”

“You must have a lot on your mind. I’m sorry to burden you with Olivia’s matter when you’re already dealing with such complications.”

“As I said before, thanks to you, I don’t have to worry about Lucien.”

“R-really?”

“If it weren’t for you, I would have been so busy taking care of Lucien that I couldn’t have focused on anything else. So please don’t worry about it.”

Robert nodded gratefully and let out a short sigh.

“If Olivia gets married, I plan to go on a long journey.”

“Where do you intend to travel?”

“First, I’d like to explore various parts of the Eastern Continent. Though no territory will be as beautiful as Lake Territory, I’m sure.”

“Haha… if it’s you, Robert, you’d always be welcome to relocate to Lake Territory.”

On my way back after the brief stroll with Robert.

Federicks was waiting in front of the mansion and ran toward me when he spotted me.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, I’ll be returning to my duties now.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

As I bid farewell to Robert, Federicks approached me, panting.

I tilted my head and spoke.

“What urgent matter could there be now that the princesses are gone?”

“It’s not that, but Lady Seri Familia has requested to see you, young master.”

Finally, time to deal with those damn intruders.

With energetic steps, I raised my voice.

“Then let’s go!”