“By the way… I have a small favor to ask, would that be alright?”
After enjoying the tea, azuki bean cookies, and Ula’s finger, Rest got down to the main topic. He wiped his hands and mouth with a handkerchief and explained in a slow tone.
“Actually… I came here because I wanted some monster meat. I’m really sorry, but could you possibly put in a good word for me with Baron Lavender?”
“Okay.”
“Thank you… but, you don’t need to ask what kind of monster it is?”
“No need.”
Rest was surprised by Ula’s immediate answer.
“I won’t refuse. Because it’s you, Rest.”
“Are you saying… you won’t refuse any request from me?”
“That’s right.”
Again, an immediate and firm answer. Even though they had sucked each other’s fingers, was it really okay to trust him this much?
“Okay. I will get his approval.”
“Get the Baron’s approval? I heard he’s quite stubborn…”
“…………mumble mumble”
Ula beckoned the butler and whispered something into his ear.
“Is something the matter?”
“Wait.”
“Huh?”
He was told to wait a moment. As he waited as instructed, an old man came to the terrace. He was a well-dressed old man with a gentle face.
“Well, Count Clover. I apologize for having you come all this way.”
“H-Huh… could you be…?”
“Ah, I’m sorry for the late introduction. I was rude.”
The old man placed his hand on his chest and introduced himself.
“I am Luzer Lavender VI. My granddaughter is always in your care.”
“My apologies…!”
Rest hurriedly stood up from his chair and bowed his head.
“I am Rest Clover. Thank you for inviting me today!”
“No, no, I apologize for sending an invitation letter so suddenly. I just really wanted to meet the man who is so good to my granddaughter.”
“H-Huh?”
Baron Lavender maintained a calm expression throughout. His gentle face clearly showed his goodwill towards Rest.
(What is with this overly friendly person… is he plotting something behind the scenes…?)
Rest was simply perplexed by the overly friendly Baron Lavender. Being this friendly made him feel suspicious instead.
“I hope you’ll continue to get along with Ula. If you want, you can even marry her! Ho ho ho!”
“N-No… you must be joking…”
“Not joking.”
“Ho ho ho! It seems Ula is happy too!”
Baron Lavender and Ula laughed together. However, Ula only had her usual expressionless face with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“Um… Ula, I mean, your granddaughter is your heir, right? I heard there are no other children in the Lavender Barony…?”
“Ah, it’s fine if she gives birth to a child and we adopt them. I plan to continue as the head for another twenty years, so there’s no problem. Ho ho ho!”
“Ha… ha ha ha…”
Should he just brush this off as a joke? It didn’t feel like a joke… it felt like he was being cornered.
(This is… this is bad, isn’t it?)
“Ah, um… I’m still inexperienced, so I would appreciate it if you could go through my guardian on this matter. Yes.”
“Hmm… Marquis Rosemary, is it? Well, it can’t be helped.”
Baron Lavender looked like he was thinking for a moment, but he managed to brush it off for now.
“Well then, I’ll do that… By the way, I heard you had a request for me…”
“Ah, no… it’s fine now…”
“You want the meat of the Diamond Bear that lives in the Forbidden Forest, right?”
“Eh? I don’t think I’ve explained that far…?”
“Hmm hmm, I permit it. You are free to enter and hunt it!”
Before Rest could sense the danger and refuse, Baron Lavender had already given his approval. And he didn’t think he had mentioned the name ‘Diamond Bear’ yet… how did he know?
“Debt, made.”
Ula’s muttered words were too ominous. Rest’s spine shivered.
(Could it be… I’m not just being cornered, but being completely surrounded…?)
Perhaps he was a winged insect that had flown into a spider’s web. Rest was simply terrified by the unexpected turn of events, and sweat dripped from his forehead.