Chapter 79: Reckless(3)
Chapter 79: Reckless(3)
It’s a well-known fact that once I’m focused, I find it difficult to pull myself out of it. My parents used to say my concentration was so intense that I wouldn't even notice an explosion going off right next to me.
However, this trait isn't always a virtue; depending on the situation, it can be a distinct disadvantage. For instance, there have been many times when I became so immersed in my work that I missed meals entirely, and to an outsider, it could easily be mistaken for blatant rudeness.
Because of this, I rarely allow myself to become that absorbed unless I’m guaranteed to be alone. The only reason I had allowed myself to get lost in a book in the guest room was that I expected Sebastian to come and call for me eventually.
"A young man with quite an interest in history, I see."
"..."
"Most people prefer to read the Xenon Biography. How curious."
And right now, my exceptional focus had manifested as a disadvantage rather than a merit. In fact, it had created a situation that could turn out for the absolute worst.
I locked eyes with a middle-aged man looking down at me with a benevolent smile. His appearance was a blend of gentleness and sharp intellect, topped with snow-white hair that held a faint bluish tint.
If one were to define the image of a 'gentleman,' the man standing before me would be the perfect specimen. He was impeccably groomed, and his suit fit him perfectly.
'Wait... what?'
The man’s comment—which I couldn't tell was a compliment or a subtle critique—lingered in the air as I pulled my gaze away to look to either side.
I saw Sebastian standing at attention with a refined posture, and Mari, who wore an expression that suggested she found me somewhat pathetic. Only then did I finally grasp the situation, and panic immediately set in.
The head of the house and Mari’s father, Duke Rekilis, had personally come to find me in the guest room.
'What? Why? Why come here personally instead of using the drawing room?'
The place Sebastian had brought me to wasn't the drawing room, but a guest room. It was a space provided by the host for guests to rest comfortably, a sort of lounge equipped with various forms of entertainment.
Normally, if the master of the house wished to see a guest, they wouldn't come to the guest room themselves; they would send a servant to invite the guest to the drawing room. Knowing this, I had felt safe enough to lose myself in the book.
But Duke Rekilis hadn't followed that protocol. For whatever reason, he hadn't invited me to the drawing room but had graced this room with his presence instead.
Of course, it wasn't an insult for a host to visit a guest room. If circumstances didn't allow for formal etiquette, such visits weren't uncommon.
My mistake was simply not expecting Duke Rekilis to be the one to do it. My signature concentration had truly backfired this time.
"I seem to have interrupted your reading. My apologies."
As I was frantically trying to untangle my thoughts, Duke Rekilis spoke in a calm, measured voice.
He might have intended to speak softly, but his natural resonance was so deep that his voice carried significant volume.
Thanks to that, the tangled mess in my head cleared instantly. With a clear mind, I was able to process the current situation more accurately.
"...Ah!"
I forced my frozen body into motion and scrambled to my feet. I had already been rude once; I couldn't afford to be rude twice.
Standing up, I realized he was about the same height as Sebastian. I had wondered where Mari got her height from, and it seemed it was purely genetic.
Pushing aside idle thoughts, I stammered out an apology.
"N-no, not at all. It was my fault for not noticing your arrival, Your Grace."
"Then I shall consider the apology accepted. It is quite impressive for a young man to possess such focus."
It sounded like a compliment, but to my ears, it translated to: 'Look at this loafer, so absorbed in his own thing he didn't even notice an elder of the house arrive.'
It was a dizzying realization.
First impressions tend to last, and it looked like I was about to ruin mine right out of the gate. Cursing myself inwardly, I offered another apology.
"I am truly sorry. It was a lapse in judgment on my part."
"Hahaha. There is no need for that. I wasn't teasing; it truly was a compliment."
Duke Rekilis let out a hearty laugh and then slowly extended his hand.
As my eyes fell on his white-gloved hand, he spoke in a low voice. His tone was even softer than before.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. As you likely know, I am Dmitri Hausen Rekilis, the head of the Rekilis Ducal House. I am also Mari’s father. Welcome to our mansion."
"I-it is an honor to meet you. I am Isaac Ducard Maishal, the second son of the Maishal family."
"Hmm. The Maishal family..."
As I politely accepted the handshake and introduced myself, Duke Dmitri stared intently at my hair.
Since red hair is rare, I assumed he was being reminded of my father, Hawk.
"Is your father’s name Hawk, by any chance?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"How interesting."
What exactly is interesting? Unlike my heart, which was currently being scorched by anxiety, Dmitri wore a thin smile.
Judging by the way he increased the pressure on my hand, he seemed to be exerting a subtle psychological dominance.
As I forced a bitter smile internally, Dmitri relaxed his grip and released my hand. As soon as the handshake ended, I hid my aching hand behind my back and repeatedly clenched and unclenched it.
He was supposed to be a scholar like me, but his basic grip strength was no joke. I know adults are generally strong, but that actually hurt a bit.
"First, you might be wondering why I came to the guest room personally. To be honest, my wife is currently using the drawing room. The other one is under renovation and is currently unavailable."
"I-I see."
"Let us sit. It seems you were so engrossed in your book that you haven't even touched the refreshments."
Indeed, the table in front of me was laden with various treats. There were neatly arranged biscuits and tea that was still steaming.
A maid must have come and gone while I was focused on my reading. I let out another awkward laugh, my nerves wound tight.
Every word Dmitri uttered felt like a dagger aimed at my chest. Being the father of my girlfriend only made the situation more terrifying.
"Sebastian, wait outside until I call for you. And Mari, sit beside him."
"Understood. Please call if you have need of me."
At Dmitri’s command, Sebastian bowed deeply and left the room, while Mari silently moved to sit next to me.
I stole a glance at her and saw she was pouting. She probably looked like that because of the embarrassing display I’d just put on.
I felt a wave of guilt and was busy trying to read her mood when it happened.
"I'll start with one direct question. What is your relationship with my daughter?"
...A difficult question came flying in right from the start. I clenched my fists on my lap.
I had sensed the 'doting father' aura from Dmitri, so I had expected something like this. However, now that the question was actually asked, the words wouldn't come easily.
"Dad! I told you not to ask things like that. You already heard everything from the butler."
While I was struggling to find my voice, Mari complained from beside me. I looked at her to see her puffing out one cheek and crossing her arms.
Dmitri let out a chuckle at his daughter’s reproach, which was filled with genuine annoyance, and waved a hand in a gesture of apology.
"Hahaha. My apologies. I had no intention of teasing you. As my daughter said, I have already heard the story from the butler."
"Ah... then..."
"As I said before, there is no need to be so tense just because I am a Duke. As you know, our house is quite far removed from authoritarianism. Therefore, regarding your relationship with my daughter..."
Dmitri, who had been speaking smoothly, suddenly shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes.
"...I cannot allow it. No matter how much I think about it, this is an unacceptable matter."
"Dad!"
"It was a joke, Mari. Only a joke."
That joke didn't feel like a joke at all. I couldn't say a word during the tug-of-war between father and daughter; I just sat there with my back as straight as a board.
'I suppose he's trying to lighten the mood in his own way...'
If it had been any other noble, especially one of Count rank or higher, they likely would have flown into a rage the moment they discovered their daughter was dating the son of a mere Baron. But Dmitri hadn't done that.
Instead, he was throwing in jokes here and there, attempting to ease the tension. Mari likely reacted so strongly because she instinctively knew he was playing around.
While I appreciated the consideration, it was a rather awkward situation for the one receiving it. Even though he had clearly drawn a line, I still didn't know exactly how I was supposed to behave.
For now, the wisest course of action seemed to be answering only the questions the Duke asked. I felt my palms growing damp as I waited for the next question.
"Do you intend to stay the night at our mansion?"
"...No. I came today specifically for a visit."
"Hmm. I see. However, as far as I know, the Maishal territory is more than ten hours away from the capital by carriage. Will you be alright? If it's too much, I don't mind if you stay for a night."
"I appreciate the kindness, but I'll be fine. I was planning to leave before lunch."
"Is that so? That is a pity."
A pity? Shouldn't he be relieved?
I couldn't quite understand why a man who, just moments ago, had radiated an aura suggesting he’d kill anyone who touched his daughter, had suddenly changed his tune. As if reading my thoughts, Dmitri smiled and spoke.
"There is no deep reason. It is simply because my daughter has rarely invited anyone to the mansion recently. Especially not a man."
"...Dad."
This time, Mari’s voice turned chilly. It carried a subtle hint of rage that made even me flinch.
Regardless, Dmitri nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and immediately apologized.
"Forgive me, daughter. Was I too harsh? If you are angry, I apologize."
"Please stop saying things like that. Do you have any idea how nervous he is? Oh my. Look at all this sweat."
Mari comforted me, gently taking my hand that was resting on my knee. Aside from the sweat, I noticed Dmitri’s eye twitch slightly the moment she grabbed my hand.
Is this what they call 'getting played'? I smiled awkwardly as I held Mari’s soft hand. It was essentially an indirect declaration that we were in a relationship, which made things difficult in many ways.
"...Well, since you chose him yourself, I suppose there is no major issue. I shall respect your choice."
"Thank you."
"However, there is one condition."
The warm atmosphere vanished in an instant, replaced by a heavy weight at Dmitri’s mention of a condition. Just as I was about to relax, I gripped my nerves tight again.
Dmitri stared at our joined hands for a moment before locking his gaze onto my face. His blue eyes, looking as if they were observing a fascinating specimen, stared straight into me.
As the atmosphere shifted so abruptly that even Mari fell silent, Dmitri smiled and spoke quietly. Yet, because of his deep resonance, even his quiet voice sounded loud.
"I once saw a letter Mari sent. She said you were the one who taught her the history she used to hate so much. Am I correct?"
"My skills are lacking, but yes, that is correct."
"There is no need for false modesty. In fact, I find it quite pleasing. Our Rekilis family values history above all else. After all, history is a means to converse with the past and glimpse the future."
I couldn't help but be genuinely surprised. The words Dmitri had just uttered were strikingly similar to a famous quote from my previous life.
It meant the Rekilis family had prioritized history for generations. To them, history was both a conviction and a point of honor.
"To teach another implies a broad range of knowledge, so I will not ask you who did what, where, or when. Such things are the most basic of basics. Instead, I shall ask a different question."
"...Yes."
"It appears you have held a pen for a very long time. Am I wrong?"
Dmitri gestured with his chin toward my hand. He had noticed the writer's callus on my middle finger.
As I habitually rubbed the callus, Dmitri continued.
"Then, as one who also 'holds a pen,' let me ask you this. Historically, those who held the pen have often placed those who held the sword under their command."
"...That is true. Conversely, when the sword becomes too powerful, a coup d'état occurs, leading to social chaos."
"You know your facts well. Then, here is my question."
Dmitri paused for a moment, his eyes turning sharp as if he intended to peel back my layers and see my very core. I didn't flinch under that predatory gaze; instead, I kept my back straight and met his eyes.
I had a feeling that if I backed down now, I would be so overwhelmed by his presence that I wouldn't even be able to speak properly. I couldn't afford to retreat.
Then, amidst a silence so heavy you could hear a pin drop, Dmitri, who had been staring at me for a long time, spoke quietly.
"If the person holding that pen could change not just a nation, but the world itself... what would you do?"
"..."
"Would you stand by and watch, or would you rise up to stop them?"
I answered that question without a moment's hesitation.
"I believe both options are meaningless."
"And why is that?"
There was one thing Dmitri didn't know.
"Because that is a natural phenomenon."
I was a reincarnator, born and raised in a civilization far more socially advanced than this world.
"History proves it."
It was time to put my silver tongue to work.