Chapter 105: The Meeting
“Is this the Baumgarten residence…?”
“Yeah.”
After the wedding ceremony and a lavish reception, it was past noon when we returned to the Baumgarten residence in the Royal Capital.
Just thinking about meeting Cornelia and Lily now makes my stomach ache.
How on earth did things turn out like this…? Where did I make the wrong choice…?
Cassandra, still in her pure white wedding dress, looked up at the Baumgarten residence, and I had a feeling she was frowning slightly.
“Is something wrong?”
“No… It’s a modest residence, isn’t it?”
“You can just be honest and say it’s small, you know?”
“Is that so? Well then… if you’ll excuse my saying so, I believe it’s rather too small for the residence of someone holding the title of Count. Considering the future, I’d like it to be at least four times this size.”
“F-Four times…”
“Yes. My family owns several plots of land, so I’ll consult with them a little.”
“Ah… I’m counting on you…”
“Please leave it to me.”
What kind of mansion will it turn out to be…? The construction costs, not to mention the upkeep, sound like they’ll be immense. I need to earn more…
“It’s not like a mansion can be built immediately. Please bear with this for a while.”
“I understand. Besides, I’m not one to be particular about material possessions. The Altmeier family values simplicity and fortitude. As long as the Count Baumgarten Family isn’t looked down upon, any residence or attire will do.”
“It helps to hear you say that.”
I replied with a wry smile.
From now on, Cassandra is also a member of the Baumgarten family. Having someone like Cassandra who speaks her mind frankly from a noble’s perspective is actually helpful.
Or rather, if we ignore any romantic feelings between Cassandra and me, her marrying into the family is nothing but a benefit to the Count Baumgarten Family.
Having always been minor nobility, the Baumgartens somewhat lack a noble’s sensibility. We don’t know how to behave as a Count. Moreover, the etiquette and education required differ between a Baron and a Count. Cassandra, who notices these things, is a valuable asset.
Forming ties with the great noble House Altmeier is also most welcome, and being able to use Cassandra’s and House Altmeier’s connections is a blessing.
Furthermore, considering the situation surrounding Baumgarten that I heard about before, it’s also fortunate that Cassandra’s family, House Altmeier, will be on our side. With this, lesser nobles probably won’t be able to meddle with Baumgarten anymore.
I see! So the person she mentioned back then who could solve everything was Cassandra herself!
What did Cassandra say at that time?
Remember!
“If there were someone who could blow away all those problems, would you cherish them?”
Could that have been a marriage proposal from Cassandra?!
Without knowing things would turn out like this, I nodded back then.
So this whole commotion was something I brought upon myself…!
I must cherish Cassandra. She’s the girl who saved Baumgarten from its predicament. Of course, I’ll cherish her!
There’s a saying that one falls in love, but love is something to be nurtured. I’ll nurture our love together with Cassandra.
“Well then, shall we enter the mansion? Your hand, please.”
“Thank you, Danna-sama.”
As I escorted Cassandra and opened the front door of the mansion, I saw two small figures. It was Cornelia and Lily. They stood with their arms crossed, glaring up at me like Nio statues.
“Onii-sama, where on earth have you been all this time—”
“Kyaa!”
The moment Cornelia tried to complain to me, Cassandra let out a cry of joy and hugged Cornelia and Lily.
“Eh? Eh?”
“What?”
Naturally, Cornelia and Lily cried out in confusion, but Cassandra hugged them tightly and wouldn’t let go. Not only that, she started showering their cheeks with kisses like a machine gun.
“You’re both so cute! I’ve been thinking this for a long time. I must protect these two! From now on, I’m your Sister-in-law! Please rely on me anytime! Kuu~! Just becoming your Sister-in-law makes me so happy!”
“Eh? Eh!? What’s going on!? H-Hey!”
“What is this?”
“Eeeh…”
Faced with this unexpected side of Cassandra, all I could do was stare blankly in confusion….
Eh? What’s going on?
◇
“My apologies. Seeing your adorable figures, I just couldn’t hold myself back.”
“O-Oh…”
I managed to pull Cassandra off them, and brought Cornelia and Lily to the living room.
Things started with Cassandra’s apology, but… Cassandra now wore a prim, composed expression, as if her earlier relaxed face had been a lie. It was to the point where I doubted if she was really the same person.
This girl, she looked way happier than when she kissed me, didn’t she?
It’s true that Cassandra’s and my relationship has only just begun, but seeing such an obvious difference in her attitude makes me uneasy.
“But, I’ve become your Sister-in-law. A little display of affection should be overlooked, right?”
“!!”
What is this girl plotting?!
“Cassandra, I think there’s a limit to things. I’m going to have to ask you to stop getting too close to those two.”
“My Danna-sama is so mean, you know? Women have their own ways of communicating, you know?”
“That may be so, but I think what you’re doing is clearly going too far, don’t you?”
“It’s normal for women, you know?”
“Eh?”
Is that so?
I’m not a woman, so I’m not familiar with how women communicate with each other. However, thinking back, Cornelia and Lily do occasionally hug each other, bathe together, and sleep together.
It seems that communication between women is much more intimate than between men.
Am I really just misunderstanding things?