episode_0008

Bam. And then thud.

Someone dared to enter the Bendel family’s office without knocking and suddenly sat down across from him.

Even to the point of tilting the chair back crookedly to the point of being a dragon.

Hey. Let’s have a drink of the strongest stuff in the house.

He had the attitude that he would say something like that at any moment.

“… ”

A deep sigh escaped the Bendel family’s lips.

That was all there was to the punishment for rudeness.

“I think I heard the news of your return two weeks ago, but now you’re finally showing your face for the first time, Roera.”

The head of the Bendel family, Idor Bendel, immediately stopped what he was doing and welcomed his daughter.

“Isn’t that the kind of face I want to see so badly?”

Fidgeting with her hands, Loera answered while checking her fingernails.

I wondered what kind of attitude Young-ae, who came from a prestigious family, would have toward her father, the master of the household, but Idor just smiled bitterly.

My father was that kind of animal.

Whenever I deal with my prickly youngest daughter, I become infinitely soft and pitiful, like that-

This is especially true if the youngest daughter is raising the family name to the public.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about you lately. How is it? Does what happened there seem to suit you?”

Loera’s answer was very abstract.

He wiggled his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.

“…Yeah. I’m glad you like it.”

Silence fell.

Until the father’s will to have a long-awaited friendly conversation with his daughter was broken.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“Please? You to your father? That’s rare.”

Idor remembered the last time his daughter had asked him a favor.

I can’t even remember how long ago it was.

“This time, my family’s person and Dintal’s person are getting married. Please let me do it.”

“…Is that what you’re asking for?”

Idor’s face became as if possessed by a ghost.

Because he could never imagine the child marrying someone he knew named Roe.

Loera was pathologically uncomfortable with the social conventions and standards that were required of her.

She had long ago severed ties with her family and started wandering around. The family members had no choice but to let Loera go.

I just hope she doesn’t go astray and continues to make a name for herself with her sword as she has now.

But what is this?

Are you interested in family affairs?

And that too in a major event like a political marriage?

“It’s not that hard of a request. It’s better for both parties.”

Loera recruited Idor like a bold mercenary negotiating with a merchant.

“Honestly, does that make sense? Marrying that guy Risir to Diltan’s second daughter? Even if he’s your son-in-law, that’s not true. Of course, he’ll use that as an excuse to meddle, find fault, and exert influence. ”

“Um… ”

The part that Loera pointed out was something that Idor was also aware of.

Of course. He is the head of the family who oversees all the family affairs.

Clearly, sending Risir to the Dinthal family as a son-in-law was a risky undertaking.

However, the reason why Idor willingly accepted the political marriage between the two was none other than this.

“Even considering that, there is still more to be gained.”

Bendel is not a small, remote family from the outskirts.

There is a limit to wielding power with a justification.

Dintal will certainly have many claims to make for having taken in an illegitimate child as his son-in-law.

Bendel will have to listen to that to some extent too.

But what if you cross the line? Or are you starting to see signs of it?

That’s when things get different.

The justification would rather go to Bendel, and Bendel had enough power to exercise that justification.

“It’s a complicated story.”

Politics is always like that.

However, there was one way to make this complex story less complicated.

As Loera said, we will marry her to Diltan.

Loera is the direct descendant of Bendel.

The weight of that bloodline is incomparable to that of an illegitimate child, and is heavier than that of the legitimate heirs of Diltan.

If Loera becomes Diltan’s daughter-in-law, Bendel will be able to exert influence over Diltan in many ways.

And above all-

It’s Loera’s job.

It neatly laid out the expectations that she would get married and take care of her family.

That Loera is holding a wedding in the name of her family.

It would be a shame to marry off a child as talented as Loera to a mere Diltan, but it would be too much to hope for more at this point.

As the head of the Bendel family, it was a story that could not be helped.

However, Idor was not only the head of the household but also the father of his daughter.

At the very least, I had to figure out why my daughter was suddenly acting like a different person.

“You probably don’t care about family matters. Am I wrong, Roera?”

Loera neither confirmed nor denied it.

Just shrug your shoulders.

“I wonder why you’re suddenly interested in this strategic marriage.”

“Nothing much. I happened to see the young master of that house, and he was my type.”

The voice of a woman he had fallen in love with at first sight was extremely dry, but Idor did not notice it.

“Hmm… ”

Men have taste.

The reason is simple.

But it is also the most important motivation in relationships between men and women.

“I don’t know for sure, but I heard it’s a popular rumor among the ladies. Seeing you say that, I guess their eyes are sharp. By the way. I never imagined you’d be interested in guys.”

“Then what? Are you interested in women?”

“That wasn’t what I was talking about- Well, it doesn’t matter. As you said, you’re at the age where you’re interested in men.”

“… Then. Are we done talking?”

“But.”

Only then did Idor reveal the story behind this political marriage.

“In fact, this marriage was arranged due to the strong will of the Diltan family’s daughter.”

Loera tilted her head, frowning.

A face that says it is completely incomprehensible.

This was the part where Loera’s logic could be applied as is.

Risir is handsome. In terms of looks alone, he is on par with the famous Dintal family’s young master.

But he is an illegitimate child.

Above all, it is an element that cannot be taken lightly among the nobles who value bloodline.

“… Why?”

“I don’t know why, but it seems like you have a personal interest in Risir.”

“Huh.”

Loera laughed, saying that it was ridiculous.

“What a strange lady. What do you know about him?”

“?”

“What. Anyway. I’ll ask again, are we done talking?”

“… ”

Idor nodded after a moment of thought.

“Let’s try to sound out Diltarn positively about this agenda.”

“Good. I enjoyed the informative conversation.”

After hearing the answer she wanted, Loera left the room with a satisfied look on her face.

***

“Pooha… ”

After parting with her father, Loera went straight outside to get some fresh air.

I feel a little better now, although I feel like I’m going crazy from the frustration.

Yeah, a little bit.

“Marriage… ”

Until recently, she had no interest in marriage.

In fact, it is still the same now.

She still had no interest in marriage.

The same goes for the handsome bastard from the Diltarn family.

As expected from a nobleman, he must be unlucky.

Are you even paying for the face value there?

“Fuck.”

A life of trying to please nobles from other families.

Just imagining it made me feel suffocated and breathless.

I am satisfied with my current life.

Not bound by family background or social status. Not concerned about what others think.

I wanted to continue this life if possible.

But I chose to get married.

It wasn’t forced on me by anyone. It was purely my own choice.

If I regret it, I regret it.

If only I had my mind to it, I would change my mind right away.

But that’s not the case.

“… That’s right.”

I didn’t want to let my father run his life any longer.

I hope that guy finds his life.

And the only person who can help you with that is yourself.

I know.

The fact that he has never once asked for such a request.

Maybe, that’s not what you’re hoping for.

So all this is just self-satisfaction.

“… ”

A struggle to atone for the mistakes of that day.

Perhaps, it is a shallow hope that someone will recognize his efforts and change his mind.

Suddenly, that thought occurred to me.

In this case, wouldn’t it be better to apologize honestly?

“… Ugh~”

Loera scratched her arm in disgust. It gave her goosebumps.

It’s a meaningless thing to begin with.

Because we’ve already come too far.

I remember the image of young Risir tearing up his own letter with an emotionless face.

In the old days, I used to think about that image from time to time.

How can I get you to accept my apology?

How can I be forgiven?

I thought about it countless times, but I couldn’t find an answer.

An apology. If that were all that would have solved everything, we wouldn’t have come this far in the first place.

‘Come to think of it, that guy. What’s he doing these days? He’s always out and about.’

I suddenly became curious.

That guy, Risir.

How would you react if you knew that I had sacrificed something for you?

Would you be surprised if you saw it again?

No way.

He’ll probably just ignore it, saying it’s none of his business.

Maybe he was resentful that he had robbed him of the chance to look good in front of his father.

“This guy-”

When I thought about it, it seemed like a plausible possibility.

Loera thought of Risir misinterpreting her intentions and blaming her.

The picture seemed like it could be drawn simply and without much effort.

“…”

But it’s strange.

It’s not drawn well.

-…As expected, the only one who worries about me is Roera.

Instead, I remembered the conversation I had with Risir before arriving here.

The appearance of Risir, which has changed strangely recently.

I know this is nonsense.

It must have been said with sarcasm.

“I know… I’m the only one…”

But Loera couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from going up.

***

“That’s right, Master. Maybe I’ll get married.”

The next morning.

I reunited with my teacher behind the courtesy library.

The story that came up right away was about the political marriage that I suddenly heard about yesterday.

“Rishir is getting married?”

That’s ridiculous.

I can’t believe it.

The teacher muttered with a shocked face.