An Important Conversation

The week-long training finally ended.

Toward the end of the training, I was again abandoned alone in a distant mountain for a two-day survival test, but since I’d experienced this before, I quickly adapted and managed to survive.

And while I say “alone,” I already knew that Princess Aine or Commander Gareth were actually hiding nearby, ready for any emergency.

However, Riel, who had no idea about this fact, was genuinely shocked and showed her relief by crying profusely when I returned.

On that day of my return, I had to spend almost the entire day comforting the sulking Riel.

The day after returning from training.

I called my younger siblings, Asta and Kino, to my room where we were having tea with some light refreshments.

Riel had gone out, saying she had plans with Emilia.

Well, even though she went out, it was still within Arianrod Fortress, and Lilu had followed her just in case, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

But I was bored being alone, so I called my siblings who were also alone, and we were having this tea time together.

Well, besides me being bored, I also wanted my two siblings, who would be entering the academy in half a year, to get used to tea time.

“…Most social interactions at the academy happen like this.”

“Is that so?”

Since tea culture isn’t very active in the northern region, my siblings weren’t familiar with it.

At most, they’d only done it a few times under the guidance of our mother, who wasn’t originally from the north.

However, in the royal capital, tea time invitations come as often as boredom strikes, so they need to get used to it.

Especially due to our count family’s significant importance, we often received invitations from various families.

Well, Phyllis would screen the invitations and only pass on the ones that seemed necessary for me to attend.

I somehow managed to handle those screened tea invitations with what I had roughly learned from my mother, but I had struggled a bit since some parts had changed since my mother’s time.

And now my siblings were about to attend the academy.

If I received that many invitations when I had a fiancée, it was obvious how many invitations would come for my two completely unattached siblings.

Especially given their personalities, it would be quite difficult for them to socialize with others.

Well, mother would teach them gradually, but I could tell them more about the parts that had changed.

In the midst of teaching the two about tea time.

Asta suddenly spoke up.

“By the way, brother.”

“What is it?”

Just as I thought Asta was about to say something, he hesitated again.

“Don’t start speaking and then stop. If you have something to ask, just say it.”

Out of frustration, I said that and was about to take a sip of tea when Asta spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“How far have you gone with Lady Riel?”

“Kuhk!!”

Was this kid targeting me?

Why does he ask such a thing right when the tea was going down my throat?

I somehow managed to not spit the tea out of my mouth, but I couldn’t prevent it from going up into my nose.

“Huk… huk… what are you suddenly asking?!”

“The rumors are already widespread among the knights, aren’t they?”

Asta asked so innocently, while Kino’s face turned bright red.

This guy Asta has no hesitation in asking such things when it’s not about himself.

Is this revenge for when I ditched him with Lady Vaniella recently?

“Nothing happened! We’re still students after all.”

“But couldn’t you at least proceed with an engagement soon?”

Engagement.

An engagement could be arranged even at a younger age, not just for students.

However, the head of the duke family, Duke Ignis, hasn’t regained his senses yet.

It’s difficult to proceed with such an important matter as the engagement of a direct descendant without the approval of the family head.

Well, since Duke Ignis is currently unable to express his will, Andrew, the heir to the duke family, could act on his behalf, but that also requires procedures and is complicated.

And… though I want to do it quickly if I were to do it.

Looking up, I saw Asta with an amused face and Kino with a bright red face.

She was saying something like “…Sh-should I really call her sister…?”

…I wondered a bit about what Riel was thinking.

“Can I really do this?!”

When the red-haired girl, Riel Ignis, cried out in an annoyed voice, the gray-haired girl sitting across from her made a troubled expression.

The gray-haired girl, Emilia Silbright, was at a loss for how to react to her friend’s words.

And for good reason, as this is what her friend was saying from the moment they met.

“I tried so hard to seduce him with all my determination! But he doesn’t even show a hint of wavering!”

“Uh… actually, he seemed quite affected to me…?”

Emilia looked at the elf, Lilu, who was sitting next to her drinking cocoa, with eyes pleading for help.

Did Lilu notice Emilia’s gaze? After making brief eye contact with Emilia, Lilu nodded slightly.

Thank goodness. Lilu, who has more life experience than both of them, would surely provide help to overcome this situation.

Thinking that, Emilia sighed in relief.

“Riel.”

“Lilu? What is it?”

“In the first place, Kyo seems to care about you greatly, so is there really a need to seduce him like that?”

Emilia nodded in agreement.

Having observed them since quite early on, Emilia knew that both Kyo Wentos and Riel Ignis cared deeply for each other and were always together.

They were already considered a couple within the academy.

“But… I still feel uneasy.”

In contrast, Riel felt a bit of anxiety and impatience.

They had confirmed their feelings for each other and started dating, but since her conversation with Lady Carlena recently, her anxiety had been growing.

“What are you anxious about?”

“Well… I’m worried that if a more wonderful woman appears, he might be taken away…”

“Oh, so that’s it?”

Lilu nodded as if understanding.

Both Riel and Emilia looked at Lilu.

“If that’s the case, there’s a very simple solution.”

“Th-there is?!”

Riel’s eyes fixed on Lilu.

Emilia also looked at her, curious about what solution Lilu would propose.

And then, Lilu opened her mouth.

“Pounce on him.”

“…Pardon?”

“Create a fait accompli. Then he can never leave you.”

“Lilu?!”

Instead of Riel, who was frozen with a dumbfounded expression, Emilia called out Lilu’s name.

“What’s wrong? I think there’s no simpler method than this.”

“No, isn’t that method too early for our age?!”

“Is that so? The woman who was with my master actually got him that way, she said.”

“Lilu’s master was already an adult by then…”

Emilia clutched her aching head and looked at Riel.

Seeing Riel’s blank expression, she must be shocked too.

“Sigh… Riel, from what I can see, Kyo cares about you tremendously, so you don’t need to worry about…”

“…I see, if I create a fait accompli… then no matter what happens…”

“Riel?! Snap out of it!!”

Emilia had to spend time bringing the confused(?) Riel back to her senses.

After sending my siblings back home after teaching them to some extent, I was walking down the corridor, thinking of taking a short stroll outside my room.

As if by coincidence, I heard something from the entrance and went to check, finding Riel entering the mansion with her personal attendant, Luca.

“Welcome back, Riel.”

“Uh… uhh?! Y-yes! I’m back!”

Riel’s face turned red as soon as she saw me, and she stammered her reply.

Her face turning red is a common occurrence, but why is she so flustered?

“Did you have fun with Emilia?”

“Uh… yes! Emi went back to the village, and Lilu said she’d take a walk around…”

“I see. Let’s rest then. I also have something important I want to talk about…”

“Something you want to talk about?”

Riel said with a slightly curious face.

Naturally, it’s about the engagement I discussed with my siblings earlier.

Although the procedure might be a bit complicated, it’s probably better to discuss the engagement in advance.

My father and mother are in favor, and I want to do it as soon as possible.

What’s left is Riel’s thoughts and the duke family’s opinion, so it’s probably best to talk to Riel first.

“Yes. It’s about our relationship…”

“O-our relationship?!”

“Yes.”

Riel was so flustered by my words that she shouted loudly, her face turning redder than her hair.

What’s wrong with her?

“I… I want to talk about our future… are you really okay?”

“Huh? Y-yes! It’s nothing! I’m really fine!!”

“I… see…”

I was a bit doubtful whether she was really fine physically.

Come to think of it, she’s also sweating a little, probably from just coming back, and it doesn’t seem right to leave her like this.

Even if we talk, it would be better to do so in a calmer atmosphere…

And it would be better to speak on a full stomach.

“Hmm… then Riel.”

“Y-yes!”

“Then umm… take a shower first, and come to my room this evening.”

“Whaaat?!”

Riel’s face turned so red it looked like it might explode.

Seriously, what’s wrong with her?