episode_0165

“It’s been a long time since I visited the royal capital. I think I came here when I was about the same age as you.”

My father said as if he was happy.

By the way, you already know what we did. If it wasn’t for that reason in the first place, there would be no reason for you to come all the way from Delkish.

“My daughter has grown up a lot. Is there a boy you have in mind?”

“No, none.”

I said clearly.

There are no men, but there are women. And those are women from the family our family serves.

As he rode the horse, stroking his beard with one hand, my father thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that you and Ted from Gratton Mount are quite close. When I met him before, he was a complete kid, but when I met him this time, he turned out to be a real man. Other women in Delkish meet men smaller than themselves. You might be reluctant to dry it, but Neki is the smallest among us, huh? What do you think? Do you have any thoughts?”

“… … Father, I don’t have any thoughts yet.”

“Elsie says that too, so let’s give it some time.”

Only after Brother Harvey, who was riding next to me, said that did my father chuckle.

“Hey, you didn’t get married either, so it’s not right to talk about your sister’s marriage first.”

“Father.”

My brother sighed, probably because he had a hard time in his hometown.

Passers-by looked at my father, who was laughing again.

Both my older brother and father were a little taller than the standard height of Delkish men. Of course, most people living in the royal capital would look really tall. To be honest, even I can’t get used to it.

I thought about bringing up the topic of what we did tonight, but my father didn’t bring up the topic at all. As someone who has experienced real combat, maybe he thinks it’s better not to talk about confidentiality anywhere.

He was a person who followed the family motto and family saying more than my brother or I, so he may have chosen not to say anything from the beginning if he was going to lie for no reason.

“Here, father.”

“It’s a great mansion.”

Is it because it is the mansion I live in? My father looked very satisfied as he looked up at the mansion.

Did you say you were going to stay for about two days?

I think you said you would stop by the royal castle on your way there.

… … Maybe my father is a bigger deal than I thought.

The banquet was already well underway, and there was no atmosphere of ‘early days’ at all. The people who had been walking around and saying hello were barely visible anymore, and most of them were gathered together and chatting with each other, each holding a glass in each hand.

It should be said that it was natural, but when we passed near them, their voices suddenly lowered for a moment. It seemed like they had nothing to hide from us, but it was probably because they were two people who were a lot higher than the others.

Besides, my brother is very handsome.

In fact, my father was also handsome, but now that he had grown a bushy beard, it was hiding his good looks to a large extent.

My mother doesn’t seem to like it, but my father says it’s incredibly warm if you do it that way.

Through the door opened by the soldiers next to the entrance to the mansion, I entered a mansion with a slightly more ornate atmosphere than usual.

“Elsie!”

And then I heard the voice I had been waiting for.

We haven’t been apart for a day, but after not seeing each other for such a long time, it feels like we’re meeting again for the first time in a very long time. Maybe it’s because we’re usually together all day, but it felt even more so.

When I saw Amelia coming towards me quickly, I almost opened my arms without realizing it. I thought for a moment if she was trying to jump in and hug me, but Amelia quickly came towards me with a look of joy on her face.

Well, that’s why a nobleman couldn’t rush into someone else’s arms in front of others without having his hair cut. I don’t know what it would have been like if there wasn’t the attention of people around him.

“Did you have a good time?”

“Yes, I brought my father safely.”

Instead of jumping in, Amelia held my hand and showed me a bright smile before turning to her older brother and father.

“Baron Delkisi, it’s been a long time. Do you happen to recognize me?”

“How could we forget the lovely appearance of the Grand Duke? Of course, she is much more beautiful now than then. The Grand Duke must be proud.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Harvey, you worked hard too.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

It didn’t seem like a conversation worthy of the people who set fire to the forest just a few hours ago.

“Well, I hope you enjoy this banquet to the fullest. Oh, by any chance, would you like me to introduce you to Ian?”

“Please.”

At Amelia’s suggestion, her father smiled brightly and nodded.

*

The banquet continued for a long time after that.

In fact, it wasn’t over even when we got to our rooms early in the morning, so we had to leave the rest to the people managing the mansion.

Indeed, I think I know why most nobles wake up late in the afternoon. In that sense, Amelia and I, who just overslept for no reason, were extremely lazy.

Well, it doesn’t matter. In fact, I hope to be able to live that kind of life in the future.

“Adele and Diane?”

“Yes. I’m sleeping in our room right now. It’s not a bed, but a narrow sofa.”

I was very curious about Diane’s reaction when she woke up tomorrow.

When Amelia said she would sleep in my room, I wondered what was going on, and that’s what happened.

“So, that person came all the way here and tried to give Adele some medicine and take her away.”

“Yes. I talked to the courier who delivered the drinks at that time, and it seems that there were more nobles cooperating than Baron Gavin. They say that all the drinks in the glasses at that time were drinks from one bottle.”

“You’re saying that Johnny Gavin ordered a nearby nobleman to inject the drug in order to avoid being found out? But why would he go to such lengths?”

“Some people look at family conditions when choosing a woman, but there are also people who only look at looks or body. On the contrary, the world is full of guys with bad tastes who enjoy things they dislike. I guess Adele is pretty.”

Haha, Amelia sighed.

“No, I mean, it was strange that there was another nobleman collaborating with Gavin for just that reason. Gavin is a baron.”

“Ah, that’s rather easy to explain.”

Amelia said, frowning slightly.

“What would you think if I told you that you fell in love with someone and got married, but that feeling was actually due to drugs?”

“You will feel incredibly betrayed.”

“Yes, that fact itself is a weakness. Maybe Gabeen must have made a list of who sold the medicine. There will be evidence. He couldn’t overcome his momentary instinct with something like medicine, so he crossed the line and ended up getting married. If there is a married couple, there is no way their relationship would be good, right?”

Of course, that’s true. I heard that there are many cases of the reason why young couples’ relationships are at their worst.

“The information itself that a certain noble bought medicine could be a weapon. And that could be something we can use.”

“Are you trying to attract people who have been threatened to our side?”

“I can’t do that because I couldn’t get the list, but there’s no need to reveal it. The fact that Baron Gavin’s source of power has disappeared will quickly spread, and word will also follow that two women were rescued from the estate. ”

Amelia stretched and spoke with an expression as if the tooth she had been suffering from had fallen out.

“From now on, I will have to watch the situation unfold and think about it slowly. Because the Crown Prince even saw Adele taking medicine today.”

“Yes.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The conversation stopped for a moment.

Amelia looked at me quietly and smiled slightly.

“Why?Is there something you want?”

“Huh?”

“No, I feel like that’s the way he looks at me.”

Amelia said, resting her elbows on the table and resting her chin on both hands.

“You’ve come this far, but there seems to be a feeling that you’re a little sad that you’ll end up just saying ‘good job’.”

“… … .”

No, whatever.

Even so.

You can’t just run up and hug each other in front of other people.

Amelia got up from her seat, came to the side, and spread her arms wide.

“character.”

I know what Amelia is telling me to do, but—

… … .

But, what?

Is there a reason to refuse? Since friends can hug each other, if they are happy to see each other, they can do that. Moreover, the time we were apart today was the longest we have been apart recently.

So, wouldn’t it be okay to just hug each other tightly like this in a place where no one can see?

I don’t know.

I quickly got up from my seat and ran towards Amelia.

And I hugged him tightly.

Amelia also hugged me tightly as if welcoming me.

We felt each other’s body heat for a while, enjoying the fact that we had safely met again.