Chapter 142: An Engagement That Begins With a Tsk
Having finished explaining the current situation to the princesses, I summarized the discussion.
“W-Well, the Ancient Race that came here seemed like the type we could talk to, and while we need countermeasures for self-defense, there’s no need to force a conflict, right?”
That’s right. If they possess intelligence and aren’t hostile, there’s no need to fight them from the outset.
It’s terrifying to have beings nearby who could destroy us, but telling them to leave would only incur their displeasure and be a net negative.
“That’s true. From what I saw, they’re no different from humans, so perhaps we should just think of it as another Rui-san appearing…
I heard about it. You single-handedly blew away an army of thirty thousand, didn’t you?”
“No, that was with a Magic Tool, okay? It’s not my unique skill. I won’t go into details, though.”
My cheek twitched as I silently pleaded with them not to lump me in with the Ancient Race.
“In any case, informing them is urgent. That’s why I want you to show this footage to His Majesty and the others.
I’d like to ask Princess Lena to do that, if that’s alright?”
“Of course! As a princess of Lestall, I am deeply grateful for this information from Belfast.”
“Good. And about that, there’s something I’d like to lend you for messenger purposes.”
Mei, we’ve come to an agreement, so could you send the Airship?
『Yes. It’s already on standby overhead.』
Are you sure? It won’t be spotted by the Ancient Race again?
『No problem. It’s on standby in stealth mode.』
“Um…? What is this item you wish to lend?”
It seemed I’d paused mid-sentence for too long. The princess tilted her head.
“It’s a vehicle. It’s made with very advanced technology and is quite valuable.
Prince Rui wishes to maintain a long and friendly relationship with everyone in Lestall, so we would be grateful if you could accept this as a gesture of goodwill.”
Because I’d created such an awkward situation, Yuri-chan was desperately trying to cover for me with Princess Lena, using her refined lady-like speech.
Wait, was her lady-like speech always like that?
But this was a fresh and nice change.
“So, with that said, shall we move over there and continue our discussion?”
I called out to Hiroki and the others who were waiting in another room, and we all went outside, boarded a single Airship, and took off to demonstrate its functions.
Since floating around in the middle of Leben town indefinitely wasn’t ideal, I had it fly south, avoiding the town, towards the sea.
“Whoaaaaa! Awesome! Dude, what is this thing?!”
Hiroki and the others had boarded without understanding what was going on, just doing as they were told, but their eyes lit up when the Airship took off.
“It’s amazing, right? It’ll fly wherever you want with just a word.
Full speed ahead! If you say that, look!”
“Amazing, amaaazing! Wow, we’re already at the sea!?” Ami exclaimed.
“Hey Rui, is it okay to go this far off the continent…?” Yuri asked.
“That’s right! It’s dangerous if we get lost!?” Ami added.
While calming down the three worried individuals, I had the ship turn around.
We were still in the waters near Belfast, but it would be troublesome if we attracted the Ancient Race again.
And so, I explained how to use the Airship to the princesses and gave them a tour of the interior.
Riana-san and Yukina-san were half dazed by the super-technology everywhere.
The princess’s maid pleaded for an explanation, saying, “If you would be so kind as to explain…”
Well, I don’t know anything myself, so I couldn’t answer beyond its uses.
With the rough briefing over and the ship’s control transferred, our business was concluded.
Naturally, the conversation then turned to that topic.
“Lo-Lord Shuperu! I cannot forget the night I spent with you!!
Please, oh please, accept me!”
Ignat, whose shoulders twitched and face turned pale, slowly looked at the princess.
It was a very rare sight.
“Oh my…” Natalia-san said, glancing sideways at Ignat with a somehow amused expression.
“N-No, that’s not it! She proposed marriage, but I told her I couldn’t because I already have Ria! It took the whole night to get her to understand, that’s all…”
“Fufufu, that’s right, isn’t it? Shuperu would say that, wouldn’t he?”
Saying so, she faced Princess Lena.
I watched anxiously, expecting a tense, crackling atmosphere, but Natalia-san maintained her innocent smile.
“If you say you can’t give up on Shuperu, then you’ll have to properly win over both me and Shuperu.
I, too, am a woman who married into a noble house. I’m prepared to accept a concubine. In fact, I’m looking forward to it!”
“Huh…?” Voices of doubt flew from all directions.
There were many questions. Like, from the other party’s perspective, you’re the concubine, or haven’t you abandoned the Marquis house, or the fact that Natalia-san was included in those to be wooed.
But it was mainly about that last remark, probably.
Why was she looking forward to it…?
“Um, Natalia-sama, you don’t mind?”
Princess Lena asked, her face full of surprise.
“Oh my, isn’t that how noble society is originally?
Shuperu will absolutely cherish me, so three people will surely be more fun than two.
But a girl who won’t get along with me is no good, okay? When it’s time to be affectionate, it has to be with both of us. I’d get jealous otherwise.”
Ah, I see.
So, from Natalia-san’s perspective, it’s like getting a little sister.
“W-Wait a minute, Ria! I already have my hands full with you…”
“What’s that! Are you trying to say I’m such a troublesome, high-maintenance woman!?”
“No! I meant to say my heart is already filled with you,” he said, and the two of them started flirting, creating their usual atmosphere.
The princess watching them was utterly bewildered.
Riana-san had a look of resignation.
Meanwhile, the other girls were engrossed in their girl talk.
“I see. He’s certainly surprisingly handsome!” Ami said.
“But if someone’s that good-looking, I think it’d be troublesome for me. Seems like it’d be exhausting dealing with attention from all sides.”
“Ah, I know what you mean, Ami-san!” Yukina replied.
“Someone a bit more ordinary would be better, right? I think someone like Rui-san is just right…”
“No way! Rui is mine! Yukina-san, you can’t get serious about him, okay!” Yurisia interjected.
“Fufufu, please rest assured, Yurisia-sama. There’s no way I’d fall for Rui-san at this point,” Yukina chuckled.
Seriously, why do you always use me to tease Yuri…
While feeling dissatisfied, I didn’t want to get involved in that, so I went to greet George-san and the others.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. I heard you kindly came to help?”
“Ah, yeah. That’s right, but… looking at this, it doesn’t seem like we’re needed,” George replied.
“We were quite surprised by everything… You’re a prince, I hear,” Shizune added.
Oh, if they think that because I can’t let them into the village, that’s helpful.
Thinking that, I returned a polite smile and replied, “I’ll gratefully accept just the sentiment.”
I was genuinely happy about their offer, so I called George-san over alone for a private talk.
“Um, I want you to listen to this with the understanding that I don’t know if it’ll work, but…”
“Wh-What is it, all of a sudden? This is scary…”
I handed a small vial of diluted Elixir to George-san, who was inexplicably scared.
“You mentioned you couldn’t have children, right?
There’s a chance this might make it possible…”
“R-Really?!” he shouted, grabbing my shoulders. I calmed him down and explained the Elixir’s effects.
“George-san, you drank it when you were poisoned, so if it doesn’t seem to work after observing for a while, please have Shizune-san drink it. It has astonishing healing power, so it’ll be valuable for adventuring too.”
“Seriously…? Is it okay, something this expensive-looking?”
“Yes. In return, please try not to spread information about me as much as possible.”
“Yeah. I haven’t told the princesses anything beyond what we reported in the town of Silence.”
Saying, “That’s helpful,” I returned to the others, only to find George-san had told Shizune-san everything without hiding it.
I’d told only George-san because I thought it would be a shock if it didn’t work, but he smiled and said, “I’ve decided not to keep secrets from her as much as possible,” as Shizune-san snuggled up to him happily.
“Man, you’ve got it good, old man. How do you find such a great partner?” Hiroki asked.
“If you interact with all sorts of people, you’ll find someone eventually,” George replied.
“That encounter where you think, ‘This is the one I absolutely want to win over.’
Well, whether you can actually win them over is another matter, though. Hahaha!”
I heard a ‘tsk’ sound, a click of the tongue, and when I involuntarily looked, Kai was there.
A man who must have had many encounters, yet whose possibilities were continually crushed by the mere existence of his best friend.
Oof, tears…
“Does that gentleman not have a partner?” Riana-san, who had been left out of the girl talk due to the topic, asked.
“Yeah, it’s because his best friend is a nation-toppling handsome man…”
Wiping my tears, I spoke so Kai wouldn’t notice.
“Oh my, that’s strange, isn’t it? He must be strong enough to serve as your Knight, right?
His appearance isn’t bad either. Does he have some other problem…?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. He’s very strong. But I don’t sense any problems with Kai-san…” Yuri also glanced this way.
“Yeah, he’s capable, hardworking, and has common sense. He’s a deeply compassionate guy, so I trust him a lot too.
I think he’d be quite easy to get along with, even from a woman’s perspective…
But you seem awfully interested. Are you going to try and woo him, Riana-san?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m still heartbroken, you know…
But, well. If it’s okay to woo someone, how about Yukina?”
No, even if you ask “how about”… things like that depend on the person’s own intentions.
But Kai also seemed like he was looking for a partner, so asking him about it is seriously a good idea.
When I said that, she gave a sly grin and brought over Yukina-san, who had been continuing her girl talk.
Huh? It’s fine if you keep talking over there, though?
While thinking that, I turned my gaze towards them…
“Yukina, marry that man. Since Rui-san recommends him, he must be a good person.”
“Eh… Ah… Yes.”
Eeeh!?
No, but she’s replying with a completely blank expression!?
“No, no, no, you wouldn’t like being told that so suddenly, would you!?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. You’d be troubled if someone said ‘with me,’ wouldn’t you?”
“That’s not what I meant, I’m talking to you, Yukina-san!”
“No, that depends on the person, but… Is he the kind of person I would dislike?”
“No, he’s a good guy, but…” I replied, taking a step back due to the difference in our common sense.
“Rui-san, we basically can’t choose our own partners.
This is normal for us. The other day was me being selfish. It didn’t go through, though…”
Riana said, tears welling in the corners of her eyes as she continued.
“He’s the Crown Prince’s direct knight, isn’t he? Then he’s definitely a promising prospect.
Besides, if he’s someone Rui-san trusts, I’d feel much more at ease than with someone chosen poorly based on family lineage or something.”
“If you’re going that far, I’ll ask Kai, but I’m the type who respects personal wishes, so you’ll have to do the wooing, Yukina-san, okay?”
“Eh…” Yukina-san’s cheek twitched.
No, but if it doesn’t work out, you can just go through the motions and say it was impossible, so it’s fine, right?
When I told her that, she made a troubled face and said, “Well, that’s true, but…”
But, even for me, if it’s her and Kai, I can watch over them with peace of mind.
Thinking I’d ask Kai first, I called him over.
“Hey, there’s been a marriage proposal for you from Yukina-san. What do you want to do?”
“Huh… For me, you ask? If I recall, she’s the attendant of the Marquis Randall family’s young lady, right?
Ah, so the young lady desires a connection with Shuperu, is that it?”
“No, no, that’s not it. Riana-san… that’s not it, right?”
When I checked with her, as she was eavesdropping, she glared at me and said, “There’s no way that’s true… Yukina is my precious childhood friend, you know?”
“Um, Your Highness, what are your thoughts?”
“Well, they’re both good people, so if they got together, I’d be relieved too, you know?”
“Is that so. Understood, I accept.”
Eh, so casual!
Does he think this is an order from me? I thought, and stepped a little away from Yukina-san and the others to ask Kai.
“Are you sure? You can take a little more time to get to know each other first, you know?”
“Eh, she’s a good person, right? Even if it’s a political marriage, I’m happy. She’s a cute person, too.”
Kai lamented with a resigned look, “Back when I was with the Marquis’s family, I couldn’t even get a political marriage, you know.”
Apparently, there were people who proposed marriage just to be near Ignat.
However, not wanting other women to get close, there were also those who interfered.
Or rather, that was the main culprit.
It was apparently extreme. On the level of assassination or poisoning.
During his student days, he thought the reason he couldn’t find a partner was because Ignat hadn’t made his engagement public to protect Natalia-san.
So, he thought things would finally settle down once Ignat got married, but the rumor that marrying Kai would get you killed had spread, and he couldn’t find a partner.
The fact that Natalia-san was said to be ill and not have long to live, and the desire for concubines, apparently spurred it on.
Oooh. Marrying someone just to be near another man—what an outrage.
Huh? That, recently, somewhere…
Ah, it’s Princess Lena…
When I looked over, Ignat was desperately trying to convince the two of them.
But, because Natalia-san had acknowledged it, the Princess was listening with a beaming, composed expression.
“So then, is it okay to say you accept?”
“Um, I don’t mind, but is it alright? About the village and stuff…”
“Eh… Ah…”
Now that you mention it, that’s right. If she enters the village, information will leak like crazy.
If Kai leaves, I’ll lose a capable knight.
“W-what should I do?”
“She’s still young, and… shall we continue a relationship just short of engagement and try to figure out her intentions?”
“Ah, yeah. If Kai is up for it, then that’s fine.
However, unless the situation changes drastically, she can’t enter the village.
In that case, she’d have to work in a remote location, though…”
“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Apparently, he really wants to accept. His mouth is curved into a grin.
In that case, I decided to watch over them even if there were some minor issues, and returned to the girls to give my reply.
“It seems Kai wants to accept too.
For now, as a step before formal engagement, could you two talk it over?”
“Oh, isn’t that great? By the way, how strong is he among your knights?”
“Second, though I only have two knights in the first place, but he’s plenty strong.
Even in Belfast, he’d undoubtedly be in the top ten.”
Yeah. Even without the power leveling incident, he was probably that strong to begin with.
He probably couldn’t beat the generals, but he should have put up a good fight.
I hear he wins about 10% of his mock battles against Ignat.
Ah, but if everyone gets used to using movement magic, I wonder if that would change things?
“Eh… He’s that amazing!? Is Yukina really good enough to be his partner?”
“Huh? If he himself accepted, then whether it’s good or not isn’t for me to butt in about, right?”
“No, as his lord, it is a place where you should speak up, but… well, if you say it’s fine, then I’m grateful.”
“Rui, if you’re seriously considering sending him out of the country, you have to ask His Majesty, okay?”
Ah… That’s true.
Kai also holds confidential information, after all.
“Um… sorry, I’m not quite sure until I ask Pops.”
“I understand. That’s normal.
Everyone understands that the discussion has only moved forward one step for now.”
Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s fine, I guess.
“Alright, then if it goes well, next time let’s all tease Yukina-san!”
“Ufufu, yes. I was teased a lot!”
“Yes. I also have plenty of grudges of that sort. Looking forward to it, aren’t we?”
After that, Hiroki and the others, who had been enjoying the scenery, joined the circle. When I explained the situation, they expressed the same kind of mundane impression as me: “Nobles sure have it tough, huh?”