Engagement (2)

About a week before the end of the vacation.

After a long time, I went out with Riel to a small restaurant within Arianrod Fortress.

“Oh, if it isn’t the Young Master! It’s been a while!”

“Haha, hello there, sir.”

The restaurant’s chef greeted me.

Well, it’s a restaurant that our family frequented, and I’ve come here alone or just with my siblings after growing up, so it’s natural that we’re familiar with each other.

“My goodness, today you’re with a pretty young lady. And that child… is she your little sister?”

“Y-yes… well… something like that.”

That was what the manager said when he saw Riel standing behind me, and the baby she was holding.

Yes, that’s normal.

No matter what, it would be strange to assume that I already have a child at this age.

“Waang!”

“Yes, yes. Good girl, Sirr.”

Since continuously calling her “baby” didn’t feel right, and calling her Yggdrasil, the former World Tree, seemed a bit odd, we discussed as a family and gave her a name.

Sirr. Sirr Wentos.

At first, Sirr didn’t know who we were referring to when we called her by name, but now she seems to recognize it as her name and responds when called.

We took out clothes that Kino wore as a baby, dressed her in them, and trimmed her long hair slightly, making her look just like an ordinary baby.

“Maybe she’s surprised by the sudden warmth?”

“They say babies are very sensitive to changes in their environment, so maybe that’s it.”

She’s not an ordinary baby, but in aspects like this, she really is just a normal baby.

Since it was summer, with a slightly cool breeze blowing, and the weather wasn’t bad, we decided to have our meal at the low terrace stone set up outside.

“Kyaa!”

“Hmm, I guess she likes the cool air?”

Riel murmured, watching Sirr enjoying the wind.

Indeed, perhaps because she was born in this cold region, Sirr really seemed to love the cool, cold breeze.

I wondered if it was okay considering her essence is a tree, and also whether she would be alright with the slightly stronger heat of late summer when we return to the academy.

As we waited, a waitress from the restaurant came with the food.

The ordered food was laid out here and there, and finally, the waitress took out a baby bottle.

“This is a service for your little sister.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The bottle contained warm milk.

…Actually, I was confused about whether it was okay to feed her milk containing animal fat, given that her essence is the World Tree.

But she just ate it well.

She drank the milk so well that I wondered why I had worried so much.

It made me question several times if she really was the World Tree.

Watching Sirr sucking on the bottle I gave her, the waitress said,

“Your little sister is very cute.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Yes, this is normal.

Honestly, who would think a young child with us, still teenagers, would be a daughter?

Phyllis and my family, who were momentarily confused by the sudden appearance of a baby, were unusual cases.

Normally, it’s right to think of her as a little sister. Yeah.

“Mmng!!”

“Huhu, yes. You drank well. Now let’s burp.”

As Sirr removed the bottle from her mouth and looked satisfied, Riel patted Sirr’s back to induce a burp.

Since we would eventually have to return to the royal capital, it seems Riel has been learning well how to take care of a baby from my mother.

Sirr had finished her milk, and we were also finishing our meal.

“Shall we head back soon?”

“Yes, come here Sirr, get in here.”

“Auu!”

Riel gently lifted Sirr into her arms.

At that moment, I felt someone’s gaze.

Could it be an assassin?

There probably aren’t many assassins skilled enough to infiltrate the fortress, but given all that’s happened lately, I felt cautious and turned my head.

“……”

“Oh my.”

Standing there were a handsome red-haired man and a priestess in travel clothes.

Were they on their way to a carriage? The handsome man was looking at us with a blank expression, and the priestess was looking at Sirr with a surprised expression.

Lord Andrew Ignis. Come to think of it, he had said he would stop by Count Wentos’s territory when he had time.

I stood up to greet him, having not seen him for a long time.

“Welcome, Lord Ignis. It’s been a long time since we’ve met…”

“You beast!!!”

…I was hit with a blow so intense I almost lost consciousness.

It seems there are people who misunderstand everywhere.

“Ahem, I apologize. I made a ridiculous misunderstanding.”

“N-no, it’s fine. It’s understandable.”

In the carriage, I was holding my stinging cheek.

…Well, honestly, saying she’s like Riel’s daughter isn’t entirely wrong, so it’s not completely a misunderstanding…

Actually, I was prepared for this much since I am a thief trying to steal his little sister away.

“It’s been a while, Alicia.”

“Yes, it’s really been a long time, Lilu.”

Lilu, who had been hiding around to guard Sirr, greeted Alicia whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.

Come to think of it, quite some time has passed since leaving the duke’s family.

“Though still faint, this sacred aura… it’s truly the birth of a new World Tree…”

“Auu?”

Priestess Alicia was looking at Sirr with an impressed face.

Sirr looked at Priestess Alicia who was watching her, but showed no particular aversion, just gazing at her with curious eyes.

“Ah, Lord Yggdrasil… the seed you left has grown splendidly.”

“Mmng…?”

“Ah…ah…?!”

Sirr, who had been watching Priestess Alicia suddenly offering a prayer, reached out and grabbed the hands that were praying.

…She probably just curiously grabbed the hands that suddenly rose in prayer, but to Priestess Alicia, it was almost like receiving a blessing.

She’s even about to shed tears, that person.

“Well, so… I heard that Lord Andrew was coming, but did you come to see Duke Ignis?”

“What, haven’t you heard yet?”

“No, I haven’t heard the details about the reason for your visit.”

Hearing this, Lord Andrew said with a slightly displeased face,

“While it’s true I came to see my father, the main reason is to discuss marriage between our families with the Count Wentos family.”

“…What?”

“I mean the marriage talk between Riel and you.”

Ah.

I looked at Riel sitting next to me.

Riel nodded with a bright red face.

She had already informed the duke’s family.

Still, I had no idea it would proceed this directly.

“Personally, I’m really… really really really a little displeased.”

“……”

It doesn’t seem like just a little displeasure though?

“Riel absolutely refuses anyone but you… and Mother and Eve seem to be in favor…”

…Your lip will split, please stop biting it.

“Everyone says it’s a very good choice to establish a marital relationship with the Count Wentos family…”

Well, that makes sense.

It’s a bit awkward for me to say, but the Count Wentos family is a house with enormous funds and strong military power.

Though growth is slow due to the barren land and many magical beasts in the demon territory, it can still be considered a family with tremendous potential.

From the perspective of the head of the family or the acting head, forming a marital relationship with such a family would seem like an unexpected blessing.

Why else would I worry about my siblings who will attend the academy next year being targeted by all sorts of wolves and foxes?

“…As the acting head, I am willing to accept it.”

At Andrew’s words, Riel’s expression brightened considerably.

It was evident from her expression how happy Riel was.

Perhaps influenced by this, Sirr looked up at Riel and smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Lord Andrew.”

“Ahem… this is entirely as the acting head. As Riel’s brother, I’m still not willing to acknowledge it.”

…

Well, a parent’s feelings… no, in this case, a brother’s feelings.

Anyway, perhaps this is what brotherly feelings are like.

Let’s assume right now that Kino brings some guy and says she wants to marry him.

‘Brother, I’m going to marry this person!’

‘Haha, please take care of me! Brother-in-law.’

…

……

Should I kill him?

No, that’s not right.

Yes… if Kino says she likes him… as long as the person isn’t a subhuman bastard, I should accept…

…Suddenly, an enormous sense of guilt washed over me.

“…I will definitely make her happy.”

“Alright…”

Rather than inadequate comfort, this is better.

Yes, this is right.

After arriving at the mansion and greeting my father, Lord Andrew went first to meet his father, Duke Ignis.

Duke Ignis, who couldn’t recognize his son even though he had come to visit.

Fortunately, his seizure symptoms had recently decreased, but he still hadn’t regained his senses.

The royal family, after receiving reports about Duke Ignis’s condition, had sent the kingdom’s best doctors from the royal family, but even they shook their heads, saying it was a disease of the mind.

“Father, I believe you will definitely regain your senses.”

“……”

“I will restore the dukedom to its original state and wait for your return.”

Lord Andrew firmly held the duke’s hand and made that vow.

The duke just stared straight ahead with empty eyes, and Lord Andrew was shedding tears.

“I will surely assist in helping him regain his senses.”

“I am grateful for the Count’s kindness.”

“No, he was one of the pillars of the kingdom and an excellent administrator. We cannot leave him like this.”

Lord Andrew smiled at my father’s words.

“Thank you for your words.”

“Yes, then let’s proceed. There are still matters to discuss…”

The engagement talks between the two progressed without major issues.

Despite his outwardly expressed dissatisfaction, when the actual marriage discussion began, Lord Andrew proceeded without showing any personal feelings.

He had already received approval for the decision-making authority related to the marriage as the acting head.

As he said, he had already planned to proceed with the engagement regardless of personal feelings.

A few days later, before the two returned to the academy, the engagement ceremony was also held.

It was the marriage of the eldest son of a promising count family and the second daughter of one of the kingdom’s three duke families.

It was an event worthy of becoming a topic, but since no one wanted to make a big deal out of it, the engagement ceremony wasn’t that large.

The participants were the count’s family, Iris Likenair who was staying at the mansion, the elf Lilu, Emilia Silbright who had rushed over when she heard her friend’s engagement ceremony was being held.

Also, Duchess Rachel who had departed later than Lord Andrew’s group and arrived.

And thanks to his recent stability, Duke Ignis also attended with the support of his wife.

Of course, even if the engagement was conducted on such a small scale, someday many noble families would pick up this information.

Naturally, the news would spread throughout noble society, and it was almost impossible to prevent that.

So, when that time comes, there would be no need to be concerned, and a big wedding could be held.

That’s all there is to it.

The Duchess was watching the engagement ceremony proceed with a joyful heart.

She quietly spoke to the unconscious Duke sitting next to her.

“Darling, our Riel is getting engaged.”

“……”

“Can you see? How our little Riel is smiling happily. Though you might have thrown a fit, saying you wouldn’t give away your daughter…”

“……”

The Duchess firmly held the hand of the Duke, who just stared blankly ahead without saying anything.

Although she felt like crying at the sight of her husband who had lost his mind, she comforted herself, saying she was grateful that he was at least alive.

She could see the happy face of her second daughter, Riel, going through the engagement ceremony.

‘May only happiness fill that child’s future.’

Duchess Rachel prayed inwardly.