The Eve of the Storm (3)

---

Even with omniscient and omnipotent power, it’s useless if you don’t have the will to use it. That was exactly me. I had the power to shake the foundations of the world, but I devoted all my efforts to perverted games.

That hasn’t changed even now. However, there are so many differences from then. At some point, I completely changed.

Aileen.

Aileen was the reason I, who had been wandering aimlessly, ran so passionately, and all of this was solely for Aileen’s sake.

My plan to blend into the world unnoticed was half ruined-but I successfully fulfilled my declaration to guarantee her status so I wouldn’t be ashamed to face my daughter in the past.

The difference between a Baron and an Earl is like heaven and earth, but it was important that they could at least be grouped into the same category of nobility.

After this long effort, I succeeded in making Aileen’s status noble.

However, unlike Shuriel and I, who had solidified our positions, Aileen’s position was somewhat ambiguous.

She has no peers in her faction, and she hasn’t debuted in society, so she has no influence or even recognition. Since there hasn’t been an official announcement that Aileen is my and Shuriel’s daughter, only a very few people know this fact.

That was my concern these days.

Aileen must debut ‘as a noble’ someday.

I don’t want to yet. As Hairak said, the political world is extremely dirty. I didn’t want to let her taste the shit by debuting in society for no reason.

But… she’s not a bastard, and I can’t keep her hidden away. Even that will have its limits.

Even now, Aileen is stirring up rumors all over Lecante. She’s called the Fairy Dancer妖精舞姬, isn’t she? It’s a nickname given to her because her dancing while leading the fairies is beautiful.

“Haa… I didn’t know the little miss could dance so well?”

“It must be the Elves’ dance. Probably.”

“Hmm hmm, the little miss was wearing Elf clothes when she first came. More than that, the miss has been to Kardrasil…?”

“Well… it’s not just a beautiful place.”

Pani smiled broadly and lifted her teacup.

“Hmm….”

After taking a sip, she licked her slightly bitter lips and asked.

“You’re alone today?”

Alpenris is always one step behind Aileen. It’s not just that she can’t catch up when Aileen starts running, but she has to change her sweaty clothes in the annex.

When she comes into my office to report what happened, the incident has already happened. Aileen has already run to Shuriel, and I’m watching them, not knowing what to do.

That would be normal… but Aileen and Shuriel are not here.

It was a very strange sight for Alpenris. If Aileen wasn’t here, Shuriel and I would normally be doing something lewd, but I’m left alone doing paperwork.

I turned over the stack of papers and said.

“Aileen went to see her dad.”

“Master? What about the miss?”

“I guess she wants to play with her dad sometimes.”

I said it nonchalantly… but I was a little sad. But knowing Aileen’s true feelings, I couldn’t express it carelessly.

I roughly know why Aileen shows excessive love to Shuriel.

Thanks to the mind that was once connected to the mental world, Aileen and I can confirm each other’s true intentions without speaking.

But not Shuriel.

There was a lack of connection.

In extreme cases, they may feel like complete strangers to each other.

Aileen’s excessive affection is.

It was an unconscious act to fill the empty heart.

‘It’s still a transitional period, so I guess it can’t be helped.’

It’s just sad that I have to suck my fingers until the connection is sufficient.

“She’s not going to do anything weird, is she…?”

“…I’m keeping a close eye on her, so don’t worry.”

“Well, then….”

I need to check later if that’s the only reason she’s obsessed with Shuriel.

“Hmm hmm, can we change the subject?”

“Don’t hesitate to speak.”

I was bored because I didn’t have anyone to talk to anyway.

Alpenris quickly changed the subject, as if she was uncomfortable with the current one.

“When are you planning to have the ceremony?”

“…Pardon?”

Ceremony? What ceremony? My reaction was slow because my head was full of thoughts about Aileen and managing the territory.

“I mean the wedding. The miss is now officially a noble, and there are rumors that you and Master are in that kind of relationship, so it would be okay to have it right away, wouldn’t it?”

“Uh….”

“You’re not planning to stay in this relationship when you have a little miss, are you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

The confusion was momentary. As reason took over my head, I had realistic concerns.

Such as the direction Aileen should take, and the problem of Lecante’s territory. The former is not an urgent issue because I have to listen to Aileen’s opinion.

The next one is the real problem… I recall the words I blurted out in a fit of anger when I was being fucked like a bitch by Shuriel. I clearly said that I would make Lecante a territory of the Rushellini family. It was practically handing over all the authority of the territory.

I have no attachment to the territory, so I don’t intend to go back on my word, but a procedure was necessary.

There are several ways, but… there was nothing easier than marriage for an orphan to be incorporated into a family. Whether it’s a political marriage or a concubine, if you just have a ceremony, you’ll be treated as a collateral line. Especially if you have a child.

I gripped the edge of the document tightly and said.

“…Isn’t it too early, Pani?”

I, who just became a Baron, am nothing, but the Rushellini family is a well-known Earl family in the East. So, the aggro was severe.

My head hurts just thinking about sending out invitations.

Sorting out which families to send invitations to and which not to is not something I can do.

I have never set foot in society, and my personality is so closed off that many people give up.

But Rushellini.

As much as the family’s history, there were many nobles who had relationships with them. It would be difficult to ignore and reject their calls.

“…This is a huge game of reading the room.”

Everyone who needs to know knows about my combat power and the technology I’ve poured into Lecante. And they also know that everything I’ve achieved is an opportunity they can’t miss.

Politics is made up of thorough calculations of gains and losses, so I don’t know if I will be harmful or beneficial to them. But those who are afraid of danger and hesitate cannot achieve great things. Already, many people are flirting with me.

But more than anything.

“Is it because of the little miss?”

I was concerned that I couldn’t hide Aileen.

I’m planning to leave for the North soon, so I might have to walk a long way again, but I didn’t want to leave Aileen alone in the jungle-like society. It would be a relief if she didn’t even launch a meteor among the high-nosed noble young ladies.

The reason I don’t bother to stop Aileen from sticking close to Shuriel, even though it’s unsettling in many ways, is because she looks genuinely happy at that moment. It’s a time for her to be spoiled a little more.

I calmly closed my eyes and said.

“To be honest. I want everyone to live in the same cage. Me, Aileen, and Pani. Leave the key to Shuriel, and in such a cage where we can only chirp beautiful songs and no one interferes except the owner.”

“Hmm, are you talking about living in captivity?”

“Not at all. It’s just… being given a purpose by someone is not as bad as you think. Like the Elves who protect the World Tree, and… um.”

When I opened my eyes.

Empty and rotten eyes that I hadn’t seen in a while were reflected through the hand mirror on the table.

I chuckled and closed my eyes again.

“…Miss.”

“I know. Humans should be active. That’s livestock and slaves. But do you know what, Pani?”

“….”

“I’m already a slave. An irreversible seal is engraved on my soul.”

Alpenris already knows this.

The fact that I’m being fucked like a bitch and moaning, and that I don’t hesitate to hand over the city. It’s all due to the seal.

I swore to myself that I wouldn’t touch my mind for the sake of my complete self… but I easily go back on my word in the face of pleasure. That’s all it was worth. My oath to myself.

“There are ways to break the seal… but it might be a little dangerous. It’ll damage your soul.”

A permanent contract that cannot be canceled.

Engraved on the soul and cannot be broken until death.

…That’s normal.

But as time went by, a gap appeared. It was unexpected. I didn’t expect this kind of change to happen.

So I closed it again.

This time, I sealed it tightly so it would never open again.

I chuckled and said.

“But, I’m afraid to break it.”

“The seal, you mean?”

“Should I break it? When I think about the time when I was trembling with fear of being abandoned… I’m so scared, I’m afraid.”

“Master will never-“

“I know. But, but.”

……

…The story went off track.

“….”

“….”

I closed my mouth tightly just as I was about to say the next word. Alpenris seemed to realize that too, and coughed and fanned herself.

She sighed deeply and said.

“…Anyway. Postponing the ceremony and engraving the seal are all for Aileen’s sake. Got it?”

“I’m not in a position to interfere, but are you really okay?”

“Why are you asking that now?”

As the conversation came to an end, a cold silence fell and created stillness. Pani was itching to open her mouth, but she groaned, wondering if it would become a heavy topic again like before.

And a few minutes later.

Alpenris, who couldn’t stand this awkward silence, opened her mouth.

“…How about meeting the little miss?”

I shook my head and refused.

“…She might be jealous. If she sees the two of you getting along, she might grind her teeth and try to interfere. That’s, that’s too ugly. I’ve never been not ugly, but I don’t want to be like that in front of my daughter.”

Aileen would definitely be sad if she heard this. Still, I have to tell Pani. I’m a hopeless pervert beyond imagination.

Yes, this is the best. Even if I go with my daughter, we’ll only fall together. I feel relieved that I can leave her to Shuriel, who is still normal.

Alpenris heard my words and bowed her head again.

“Hmm, hmmm….”

She kept looking at me, and finally couldn’t stand the boredom and opened her mouth.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t going to say this because the little miss said she didn’t like it…”

“Then you don’t have to say it.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m also a little tempted.”

I organized the documents and listened. A conversation without eye contact could feel a little stiff, but I liked this distance.

Alpenris took it for granted and said.

“Do you know Astra?”

“The academy in the capital?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“The president is going to write a letter of recommendation for the little miss.”

…The president?

If it’s the president of Astra, isn’t it the former White Tower Master? I heard that’s the case, but why is that old man who’s about to die interested in my daughter? Instead of joy, I felt displeasure at the thought of him writing a letter of recommendation.

“…She doesn’t seem to have anything to learn?”

She receives the highest level of education, but I’m confident that I can teach her better. Magic, etiquette, anything. She can learn politics and administration from Shuriel.

“Well, the little miss needs friends, doesn’t she?”

“…Ah.”

“The wizards who gather in the central hall are all uncles and aunts. Instead of spending time in such a gloomy place, wouldn’t it be better to go to the academy and make some friends? You said you don’t like society, so…”