Antagonized Bachelorette Enjoying a Simple Life - 65
"By the way, she's over eighty this year."
I figured he'd deflate upon hearing that, but Demian still wouldn't tear his eyes from the battlefield. Catherine felt a touch awkward at this side of him so unlike his usual self.
Demian really is a knight, after all.
His eyes gleaming with competitive spirit and curiosity looked just like the rookie knights beholding the Panya Marchioness for the first time. Whether because the Panya Marchioness had taken the field herself or not, the monster subjugation was swiftly drawing to a close. If she wasn't imagining it, the Panya Marchioness's gaze had flicked their way, however briefly, as she entered through the gates.
As they descended from the ramparts, the guardian knights who recognized her swarmed like a hive of bees.
"Well, if it isn't—!"
"No way, is that Catherine, miss? How'd you grow up so fast?"
"Idiot, she was always this tall."
Catherine stood amid the towering beanpole knights, jostled this way and that. It was clearly midday, yet the long shadows blanketing her plunged her into pitch darkness.
"Hah! Weren't you just at my waist yesterday? You've become a real lady now!"
One grabbed her waist and hoisted her into the air to peer at her face.
"Miss, long time no see—smile a bit! Remember my name? Huh? That grumpy look's the same as when you were a kid."
Another bombarded her with endless questions.
"Scram, you stinking louts! Can't you see the miss's face souring?"
Yet another treated the flailing Catherine like a fragile glass doll.
Still surrounded by the boisterous guardians, Catherine was swept along in a daze. They chattered among themselves without needing a single reply from her—just like always.
I only get treated like a kid here.
She'd probably still be babied in Panya even at seventy.
「Ugh! I thought I'd suffocate from all you old men! 」
"Sorry. But they're not the type to vanish just 'cause you say so."
「Catherine gets total kid treatment here! 」
The knights finally dispersed upon reaching the marchioness's residence. Catherine already felt exhausted, and she hadn't even met the Panya Marchioness yet. Demian, who had trailed at a distance like the others, approached with a weary face.
"Coming here really lets you see the roots of miss's personality."
"And what might that be?"
"Cool and detached about everything, indifferent to others' business?"
It was the sort of assessment she heard often enough. Yaong stretched languidly as it shook off its fur after landing on the ground.
「Surrounded by pushy auntie-like, arm-flaunting uncles, who wouldn't turn out that way? Ugh... Catherine's so tough. 」
"I only spent a few months a year here at most."
「I spent most of my time outside too, but those short times with Catherine after we met shaped me more. 」
Yaong rubbed its cheek against Catherine's leg as it spoke. The words tugged strangely at her heart, so Catherine scooped up Yaong and headed into the mansion. Maybe Yaong had a point. Catherine climbed the stairs straight to the Panya Marchioness's room. Even she, of Panya blood, ascended demurely, while the outsider Demian looked more tense.
"Autographs... two sheets... autographs... two sheets..."
Watching him, Catherine resolved to get him those two autographs no matter what. The door to the Panya Marchioness's room stood wide open. They entered cautiously to find her doffing her armor with attendants' aid. Nigh unto a half-transcendent, the Panya Marchioness retained a middle-aged visage despite passing eighty. Catherine and Demian sat quietly in corner chairs. Soon enough, without so much as glancing their way, the Panya Marchioness asked offhandedly,
"What was that monster?"
Catherine looked down at Yaong, yawning hugely on her lap.
She answered honestly. "A gargoyle. It's been living with me for a while now."
Yaong, tail swishing, raised one front paw in greeting.
「Nyaa! Catherine grandma! Nice to meetcha! 」
It was an adorably precious sight that would have left Roze breathless with delight.
"And you—Sir Demian Rodria?"
Demian, ramrod stiff and gauging her mood, shot to his feet and bowed. It was the first truly knightly sight of him she knew.
"Yes. An honor to meet you, Your Excellency."
"I've heard the rumors a few times. A wastrel in the Imperial First Knight Order, born only with sword talent. The Black Lion, wasn't it?"
Demian ducked his head in embarrassment. "Ahem. Best to forget that moniker."
"You look sturdy enough."
"Thank you."
The Panya Marchioness, now in light undergarments after shedding her armor, settled into a chair. She eyed Demian, who had sat back down hesitantly.
"So. Are you my granddaughter's lover?"
Demian flailed his hands in horror. "No! Absolutely not! Never!"
The Panya Marchioness fixed him with a murderous glare. "What's with that reaction? Does the question offend you?"
"Haha, perish the thought. It's the most glorious misunderstanding I've ever had. Catherine's lover? Every man in the empire would kill for the spot."
Nobody wants it.
"True enough." But the Panya Marchioness nodded as if it were obvious. Catherine sighed inwardly where it wouldn't show.
"In that case... Catherine."
"Yes."
"What's this newspaper?"
Here it comes.
That damned capital rag had made it all the way to Panya. Did the delivery boy sprout wings?
"Mark my words, Catherine! This old bat—Chezare Jean Wuld Christopher Morello Devin Carnival Chesler Sturishtu Hunt Beatonblue Jul Dumang Enmariana Holy Iterana Duke—won't acknowledge him unless he comes to Panya in person for our house's blessing!"
Chezare Jean Wuld Christopher Morello... what? Catherine reined in her reeling mind at the absurdly long name. She'd known of Duke Chezare, but this was her first time hearing his full name.
Sorry, Grandmother.We've already exchanged souls and contracted.
No need to voice that truth, though, so Catherine nodded meekly. Demian, rigid beside her, whispered,
"Miss, did you come all this way just to get scolded?"
"No. This is just... a courtesy call."
The Panya Marchioness had never once scolded Catherine. If she'd truly been chastised, Catherine wouldn't be sitting here unscathed. The Panya Marchioness took a glass of liquor from an attendant and asked,
"Catherine, do you know how your deficient half-sisters are faring?"
Why bring up Magi and Anne out of nowhere? Grandmother cared as little for others as Catherine did, so there had to be a reason.
"More or less. I heard Magi got a job at the imperial palace, and I went to Anne's wedding a few days ago."
"Anne's wedding? Why'd you go that far?"
"To flip it upside down."
"Hmph. You take after your mother—good at that sort of thing on your own." Slowly swirling her glass, the Panya Marchioness continued. "I had something to tell you, but with Duke Chezare tangled up in it, advising you's gotten tricky."
Catherine racked her brains. If Grandmother had advice for her, and it involved Chezare and her half-sisters...
"You mean the imperial succession struggle?"
The Panya Marchioness swallowed her drink slowly. "Do you know exactly whose side the second one works for?"
The second—Magi. "I heard Seifran Crown Prince."
"Even Sir Demian beside you counts as under the crown prince's influence, technically. I don't know how you got close, but he's firmly in the prince's camp."
Catherine already knew that. Demian had infiltrated the mansion over that underground demon-summoning circle, after all.
That feels like ages ago.
After tasting Chezare's fists, Demian seemed to have lost any desire to return to the crown prince. So Catherine had no real worries.
"Then, Catherine. Are you Duke Chezare's person? Or the Seifran Crown Prince's?"
It was a question she hadn't anticipated at all. She tried not to show it, but her fluster wouldn't hide easily. Of course she was Chezare's. Yet before the Panya Marchioness, the words stuck. For some reason, it felt like confessing an impossible love.
"I..."
"I don't know your intentions, Catherine, but once you're entangled with them, you can't live carefree. If you have ambitions, spill them to this old bat instead. Panya will back you."
"I just..."
Her mind whirled in chaos. She had zero interest in politics, yet here was Grandmother offering support.
Catherine blurted whatever came to mind. "I just want to become the world's greatest mage."
A brief silence fell. The Panya Marchioness's expression unchanged, she replied,
"That out-of-left-field answer means you haven't given it serious thought. Fine, we'll shelve this for now..."
Grandmother couldn't be fooled, as expected. Catherine rubbed her cheek sheepishly. Though until a few days ago, she had dreamed of being the top mage.
"Why'd you come to Panya?"
Catherine rolled her eyes toward the Panya Marchioness. The marchioness was already draining her second glass.
"You wouldn't come just 'cause this old bat called. You had another purpose, didn't you?"
A faint guilt pricked her. No one had supported her more than her grandmother. If she'd planned to visit Panya anyway, she should have come before the letter arrived.
I'll treat Grandmother better from now on.
With that resolve, Catherine revealed her reason. "I know my mother wasn't human. Tell me about her."