Chapter 20: “Dragon Cradle,” and to the Beastmen Village 18
After that, we gathered at the inn, but I headed to Marianne’s house without eating dinner.
Of course, Marianne had asked me to do so, but the lukewarm looks from the members as I left the inn made me feel uncomfortable. Only Freynil didn’t seem to understand, and Geshura seemed indifferent.
Marianne’s house was a magnificent three-story building. Despite being within the fortress city, it had a small garden, which made it clear that it was the home of a relatively upper-class family. The position of head of the restaurant division of a large trading company must be worth that much.
When I rang the doorbell, Marianne opened the door and came out.
I was a little surprised to see her in relaxed loungewear for the first time.
“Welcome, Soushi-san. Please, come in.”
Urged on, I stepped into the entrance hall, where Marianne’s parents and a couple in their mid-twenties—probably her older brother and his wife—greeted me.
Marianne’s father, Mr. Ramber, bowed and greeted me.
“Marquis Okuno-kakka, I apologize for troubling you to come to such a place. Originally, we should have visited you, but my daughter insisted, so we were waiting here at our home. Please forgive us.”
“Thank you for your politeness. My visit here is for purely personal reasons, and as for my position, I’m not here as a Marquis, but as the leader of an Adventurer party, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t stand on ceremony.”
“Thank you. Please, come this way.”
I was led to the drawing room and seated on a sofa. The furnishings in the room were not as extravagant as those of nobles, but they were too fine to be called common, and I thought they were carefully aimed at a line that wouldn’t offend anyone as a merchant.
Marianne, Ramber, Ariana, and I were left in the room.
“Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Soushi Okuno, and I am the leader of the Adventurer party ‘Guidance of Sol.’ I met Marianne-san in Euron Town, and she is currently accompanying the party as an exclusive Guild employee.”
“But I’m practically a member of ‘Guidance of Sol’ already. Isn’t that right, Soushi-san?”
Marianne asked for confirmation, so I nodded.
“As far as I’m concerned, Marianne-san is completely a member of ‘Guidance of Sol.’ I wanted to start by saying that I am looking after your precious daughter, and as the leader, I am taking the utmost care of her.”
When I said that, Mr. Ramber bowed and replied.
“Thank you. Marianne is not a child, so I believe she decided to join Okuno-sama’s party on her own. Therefore, whatever happens during her activities as an Adventurer is her own responsibility, and I don’t think you need to worry about her more than necessary, Okuno-sama. Of course, as a father, I am very grateful for your feelings.”
“I’m worried about whether this girl is getting along with the other members, but how is that?”
At her mother Ariana-san’s words, I couldn’t help but laugh.
It seemed that Marianne’s aloof attitude was something she had always had. When I looked, Marianne was turning away.
“She’s functioning as a member without any problems. I am helped by her knowledge as a Guild employee, and her abilities as an Adventurer can be said to be top-notch. I myself rely on her very much.”
“If that’s the case, that’s good. I was surprised that she became Rank A, but I hear that’s also thanks to Okuno-sama.”
“That’s an overestimation. Marianne-san became Rank A solely through her own efforts. I was just there with her.”
I wondered how they took my words, but the couple nodded repeatedly and seemed impressed.
“By the way, Okuno-sama, according to the story, there was a great battle with the Twilight Kin north of the Imperial Capital the other day, and I heard that the members of ‘Guidance of Sol’ were very active—”
It was when Mr. Ramber started a new topic.
I felt the presence of a new person near the entrance.
“Ramber, sorry for the late hour! It’s me, Gertrude. I heard that Marianne has returned here, and I couldn’t resist coming. I’d like to intrude!”
It was a young man’s voice.
Hearing that, the couple looked at Marianne’s face. Then Marianne frowned and looked annoyed.
“Soushi-san is here now, so we should send him back. I have nothing to say to him either.”
“Even if we send him back today, you should meet him at least once later, right? Marianne can’t be alone forever.”
At Ariana-san’s words, even I could guess what kind of person this young man named Gertrude was to Marianne.
Come to think of it, at the Guild, Miss Yuan, who was a childhood friend, said, “The young master of the trading company hasn’t given up yet,” so I understood that was what she meant.
However, this was becoming a bit of a difficult situation for me. Marianne had a cool face, but she probably wanted to settle this kind of story quickly.
If so, perhaps it was I who had to make up my mind.
Just as I was thinking that, it seemed that the young man Gertrude had come up into the house. This sense of things was unique to this world.
Footsteps approached, and the door to the room opened. There appeared a well-dressed, quite handsome young man.
“Oh, Marianne…!”
He recognized Marianne and tried to approach her, but stopped when he noticed me sitting next to her. For a moment, something like hostility flashed across his well-formed face. However, considering his feelings for Marianne, that couldn’t be helped.
“…Ramber-san, Ariana-san, actually, I have something to discuss with you about Marianne-san. It may be related to that person as well, so I would like to do it here, if that’s alright?”
When I said that, Marianne whispered, “Is that alright?” Looking at her, young Gertrude frowned.
The couple probably guessed what I wanted to say as well. They looked surprised, and while holding their breath, nodded greatly.
“My name is Soushi Okuno, and I am the leader of the Adventurer party ‘Guidance of Sol.’ Due to the previous battle, His Imperial Majesty has bestowed upon me the Honorary Marquis Title and the title of Lifetime Emperor-Protecting General, and I have also been given the position of Governor of the Twilight Garden.”
At the urging of Marianne’s parents, young Gertrude took a seat, so I introduced myself again. I don’t like showing off my titles, but if it’s necessary, I don’t hesitate to use them.
At my words, her parents nodded deeply again, and young Gertrude’s eyes widened as much as possible. I had heard about the young man’s background earlier, and as expected, he was the son of the chairman of the trading company where Marianne’s parents were employed. If so, he should have obtained information about me and know me well.
“Currently, ‘Guidance of Sol’ is traveling for a certain purpose. I cannot go into details as it involves national secrets, but the matter we are involved in is of very high importance.”
“Since it’s Marquis Okuno, who is even called a ‘Hero,’ it must be a very difficult journey.”
Mr. Ramber replied with a serious face.
“That’s right. We are currently pursuing various phenomena, and we don’t yet know how long the journey will be.”
“Excuse me, does that mean Marianne will be going on that journey as well?”
The face of young Gertrude, who asked that, looked quite painful.
“That’s right. And when that journey is over, I will probably settle down in some land and live as a Marquis. And at that time, I would like Marianne-san to be by my side.”
The faces of her parents when I said that were difficult to describe.
They had an expression that was a mixture of both joy and fear, as if both emotions were mixed together. If someone with a title like mine asked for their daughter, it was true that they could only react in such a way.
“However, I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to proceed with this matter any further until the journey is over. However, when that time comes, I will definitely keep my promise. I would like you, her parents, to approve of that.”
Come to think of it, would Marianne be the first person I’ve talked to like this? Sakurahime, Shizuna, and Maricier had been approached, but I hadn’t answered clearly. However, it’s not a story I can escape from anymore, and I don’t intend to escape. It’s just that the same goes for Marianne.
When I finished speaking, her parents immediately bowed their heads and said in unison, “Please take care of our daughter.”
I figured I wouldn’t be refused, or rather, considering the positions of both sides, I knew they couldn’t refuse, and it turned out just as I thought. But since Marianne-san also wants this, I don’t feel much guilt about it.
The problem is young Gertrude-kun. I expected this too, but he had a face that clearly showed he’d been thrown into despair. If I were just an Adventurer, that would be one thing, but as a Marquis and a hero, even the son of a large merchant family shouldn’t have any means to overturn this situation.
Although it’s our first meeting, I can’t help but feel guilty for him. However, the only saving grace is that, judging from Marianne-san’s attitude, it doesn’t seem like he ever had a chance with her in the first place.
“Thank you very much. I am happy that you approve.”
I bowed to her parents and then turned to the young man.
“Gertrude-kun, was it? It’s our first meeting, but I could roughly guess your relationship with Marianne-san from your earlier demeanor. But as I said just now, that’s how it is with her. Of course, this is what she wants too. It’s unfortunate for you, but I hope you’ll accept it.”
“Ah, uh… that’s… No, Marquis Okuno-sama, may I just confirm something with her…?”
I said that with a somewhat theatrical air, which is not like me, and the young man asked back while averting his eyes.
“Yes, you may ask.”
“Thank you very much.”
The young man thanked me and turned to Marianne-san.
“Um, Marianne, is what the Marquis-sama just said true? That is, is it true that you want this…?”
“Yes, it’s true. It was my will to join Soushi-san’s ‘Guidance of Sol,’ and it was also my will to follow him.”
“I see…”
Young Gertrude-kun slumped down and muttered, “I apologize for my rudeness,” as he left the room.
But now that I think about it, I should have considered that someone like him would be interested in a beauty like Marianne-san. Thinking about that, I, who am already planning to take multiple beautiful women as wives, might be a terrible villain.
No, I’m definitely a big villain. That’s why I have to be sincere with them.