episode_0098

“Why are you here?”

“Isn’t this a heartless greeting considering it’s been 4 years since we last saw each other?”

“Ah.”

I realized it after receiving advice from my mother (who is presumed to be my mother).

I never went home when I was attending the academy.

It had been quite a while since I last saw my parents.

It was Luke’s first time falling into this world.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm? No, no. We didn’t go home much either. ”

Haha, her smiling face made her look so young that you’d think she was an academy undergraduate.

The round face shape and eyes also played a part.

Because he was about as short as Dien.

… Could it be that Victor’s taste was genetic?

Luke was relieved.

I don’t think we inherited our tastes from genes.

“But really, why are you here?”

When I said it was okay, I risked being rude and asked again.

There was no answer from the mother.

“I came here to speak to the Rochefort family. Why are you showing up in a place like this?”

A voice so cold that it makes you wonder if this is what a person’s ‘reason’ would look like.

Luke’s father, Benedict Bucklin, answered.

“I am… .”

Luke was speechless.

A gathering of the Rocheforts and the Bucklins.

It was because I didn’t have the confidence to say, ‘I have no intention of marrying into the Rochefort family’ as soon as I came in here.

“Can I sit down and speak slowly?”

In the end, I ended up putting off the pain to my future self.

“Okay. I was just about to talk about those two, so you’re welcome.”

Hair much darker orange than Lanian.

A beautiful voice with a vague gender that is hard to tell.

Gently curved, squinty eyes.

“Welcome to Rochefort, beloved by the elements. I am Heizen Rochefort, the head of Rochefort.”

I feel very sorry for the welcoming Haizen.

I thought that it had all the conditions for a dark curtain.

“This is my wife, Pruna Rochefort.”

“… … ”

The Countess of Rochefort smiled broadly and bowed her head slightly.

“Nice to meet you, Archmage Haizen.”

“A great wizard? That’s too much of a title for me.”

A drop of humility.

The Rochefort family’s introduction always includes the phrase ‘beloved by the elements’.

Because they are literally the family that handles elemental magic the best in the empire.

Heizen Rochefort is also a master of elemental magic who has mastered the elements to the extreme.

I never thought I would see in real life a person I had only seen in academy books.

It’s like meeting a person who has achieved great things in a textbook.

And now you have to tell the textbook character that you don’t want to marry his daughter.

… … How on earth did it end up like this?

“We will introduce them too.”

Luke’s mother raised her hand.

It’s not a thought I’d want to give my mother.

It was like a student asking a professor a question.

“My husband already did… My name is Vivian Bucklin. I am the matriarch of the Bucklin family and the mother of a wonderful son like Luke.”

“… … ?”

What kind of nobleman introduces himself like that?

A bewildered Luke turns his head to the Rochefort couple.

“Haha, creating a unique magic at the Academy. Lanian wasn’t bad at all, but he looks ordinary next to Luke.”

What is this?

Isn’t Haizen looking at you with truly envious eyes?

“Heh heh. But I still couldn’t graduate early.”

Even though he said that.

Vivian, feeling better, puffed out her small chest.

“But… .”

Haizen smiled faintly and shifted his gaze slightly.

Now, there’s only one person here who hasn’t introduced himself.

“Who is the little lady with you?”

There was only Elin sitting there, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, this is the Bertain I serve―”

“A small pillar supporting the center of the empire. Elin, the next head of the Bertain Duke family.”

“?!!!”

Luke was so surprised that he started a fight.

He whispered in Elin’s ear.

“Your Majesty?”

“Why?”

“… How could you speak so well?”

“What are you talking about?”

Didn’t you always cut in front and behind and speak bluntly?

I never knew you could speak so politely and point by point.

Is that really Ellen sitting next to you?

“I didn’t know there was someone who could introduce themselves so coolly.”

“… !”

Swish swish swish.

It seems to be true, judging by the way the little compliment makes her fur flutter excitedly.

“If you’re Elin Bertain… aren’t you the youngest princess who was hiding her identity?”

Luke’s father, whose eyes have become sharp.

Benedict Bucklin asked:

“But who will be the next owner… .”

“We had the next house selection competition a while ago, and I won.”

“Uhh… .”

Benedict looked at Luke, who was impressed by his bold answer.

“Is the princess really the student you were in charge of?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, you raised the next head of the Bertain family. If that’s the case, I won’t drag you into the military.”

“… Yes? What is that… ?”

I think I just said something really creepy.

If Elin wasn’t worthy of being the next head of the household, would you have forcibly taken her to the magic unit?

“Isn’t my son being too hard on me?”

Without even a chance to ask back.

Vivian was the first to give Elin a cautious look.

“Not at all. Rather, you saved me… …um.”

“Huh? The gold just now… .”

“You must be mistaken. Anyway, the teacher is someone I really respect and like.”

Calm the black flames that stick to the root of your tongue.

Ellin, who put her emotions into ‘I like’.

I looked up at Luke with pounding eyes.

“Why would I bother the Princess of Bertain?”

Luke didn’t notice at all.

When the foolish hair withers with disappointment.

“So why did you talk so closely about us?”

Lanian, who had been silent, raised his hand timidly.

Twinkle-

Haizen’s eyes lit up as if he had caught it.

“How about it, Lord Bucklin? An Academy legend and an Academy early graduate. In person, don’t you think they make a great pair?”

“I haven’t seen him recently, so I thought the rumors might be exaggerated… Hmm, I guess he’s a son who’s not ashamed of himself.”

“Hahaha, so humble.”

“I was really worried about who would become the Rochefort family.”

Haizen smiles gently and Benedict answers seriously.

Even at a glance, you could tell that it was a story about the engagement of Lanian and Luke.

Glance, glance.

Lanian looks at me with an apologetic expression from the side.

ha.

Luke let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.

“We also heard about the engagement.”

“Did you know? Oh, Lanian must have told you.”

Haizen’s smile deepened.

“Then the story will be fast. I heard that you were very close with Lanian.”

Close doesn’t necessarily mean rational.

For a moment, I nodded.

“So how about we share the future of Rochefort and Berklin together? We are… .”

Haizen looking around the reception room.

He continued speaking after looking at the bright-faced couple on both sides.

“I think very positively.”

“Yeah, Luke. Aren’t you old enough to get married now?”

Vivian placed her hand on her knee gently.

“I hope you don’t find a partner late like your brother. Oh my, I’ve been so upset all this time… .”

Luke is also past marriageable age.

Victor was four years older than Luke.

Vivian was seriously worried that the Bucklin line might not continue.

“Lanian. Didn’t you say that Luke was a really good guy?”

“Yes, yes?! When did I ever say something like that!”

After hearing Heizen’s words, Lanian shook his head as if to say absolutely not.

“I just said that Luke is the only guy I know.”

“Was it? Anyway, that’s not important… … .”

“That doesn’t matter!”

Haizen trying to get over it.

Lanian shouts with a red face.

Vivian gives a pitiful look.

Luke tries to avert his eyes.

When the suffocating pressure of marriage weighs on your body.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t get married yet, teacher.”

Ellen hugged Luke’s arm tightly.

“… … ”

“… … ”

“… … ”

“… … ”

The living room was suddenly plunged into silence.

Everything just stopped in its tracks in such an unexpected situation.

The one who broke the silence was an unexpected person.

“Can I ask why?”

The Countess of Rochefort, who had been smiling brightly until now.

Pruna tilted her head.

“The teacher is busy teaching my next homework class.”

“Yes. It is a mission that Duke Bertain has entrusted to me. Thanks to that, I don’t have much time.”

I was a bit embarrassed though.

Luke quickly jumped on board the opportunity Elin had created.

“Oh, that’s right. Now that I think about it, that’s true. You said you were so busy that you didn’t even have time to go to the bathroom, right?”

“… Stay still.”

cook.

He poked Lanian in the side with his elbow.

Don’t you think the eyes looked strange because I added something unnecessary?

“Are you so busy that you can’t even make time for a day to have your wedding?”

“Not really… .”

“No, but the teacher said he wanted to focus on me for the time being.”

No, really, why are you like this today?

Luke looked at Elin with astonishment.

Clearly, he wasn’t the type of kid who could confidently express his opinions like this.

Was that actually only the case for Bertha people?

While Sai is confused by Elin’s appearance, which is so different from usual.

“… … We can do our best to accommodate your needs.”

Pruna did not back down.

“But if things continue this way, my daughter will surely die alone in the lab without even realizing how lonely and miserable she is.”

“Ma, isn’t that too harsh?”

But Lanian was shocked.

As expected, Pruna continued speaking without paying any attention.

“You can’t force someone into an unwanted marriage. So please, Luke.”

Pruna smiled brightly again.

Her benevolent face was almost saintly.

“Please stay in Rochefort for just one day so we can persuade you.”

“… … ”

Luke suddenly felt dizzy.

He asked me to do this with such a gentle smile.

There’s no way I could just flatly refuse.

If we do that, it will only smear Bucklin’s face.

Luke licked his dry mouth.

“… Okay.”

He glanced at Elin, who was clinging to his arm, asking if she was okay.

Swish swish swish.

There’s nothing I can do.

The fool’s hair shook as if to say,

“You two should go to sleep too. I’ll tell the servants.”

“I wonder? I might be coming here often later anyway.”

Vivian agrees with a smile.

“… I’m really sorry.”

“ Okay. Since it turned out like this, please show me around the mansion.”

“Ugh… .”

How could it be Ranian’s fault that things got this messed up?

Actually, it all started because of Lanian… .

“Then, should I introduce you to the room I’ll be staying in today?!”

Let’s shoot without knowing.

Lanian jumped up like a startled cat.

“Can we come along too?”

“Well, then… Hmm… .”

“Just call me mom, haha.”

“Ha, haha… Yes, mother… ?”

Lanian creaked as he guided Benedict and Vivian.

An unplanned day in Rochefort.

I ended up staying with Elin while her parents wanted me to get married.

“… Sigh.”

It was a suffocatingly awkward time that I will probably never experience again in my life.