Chapter 81: Reckless(5)
Chapter 81: Reckless(5)
Afterward, Dmitri and I exchanged thoughts on various topics, and the field we delved into most deeply was, without a doubt, history.
As the head of the Rekilis Family, Dmitri boasted a vast breadth of knowledge, and while I wasn't quite at a professor's level, I possessed enough knowledge to hold my own.
Thanks to that, the conversation never stalled; in fact, it went on for so long that Marie eventually began to show signs of boredom.
Dmitri, in particular, possessed profound knowledge regarding the cultures of other nations. He explained in detail why those cultures emerged and what forms they took in the present day.
Sensing an unexpected opportunity I couldn't afford to miss, I pulled out the magic pen and notebook I always carried and began recording everything diligently. No matter how many books I had read compared to my peers, I still lacked the nuance required to truly grasp the intricacies of foreign cultures.
"Do you always carry a pen and notebook with you?"
As I was busy taking notes, Dmitri raised an eyebrow while looking at my magic pen.
He seemed less interested in the pen itself and more intrigued by my habit of recording things in a notebook.
I paused my writing for a moment and answered in a flat voice.
"Yes. I have a habit of recording important information so I don't forget it."
"That is a truly excellent habit. Our daughter could stand to learn a thing or two from you."
"Hmph. I don't forget things once I've heard them, you know?"
At Dmitri's sharp remark, Marie whipped her head away, expressing her discontent.
Since they were having a boring conversation about history and treating her like a spare piece of furniture, she couldn't help but complain.
"Is that why you asked to borrow my notes?"
"Hey!!"
Of course, as soon as I offered that unnecessary clarification, she immediately shouted at me.
I let out a small laugh at Marie's reaction; she was huffing and puffing, her face flushed red as she failed to hide her embarrassment.
Dmitri also let out a rare, hearty laugh. Only Marie remained unable to join in the mirth amidst the warm atmosphere.
Knock, knock.
[Master. It is almost time for lunch.]
While the pleasant atmosphere continued, Sebastian's voice drifted in from outside the door. Both Dmitri and I checked the clock in the guest room.
I suppose this is what people mean when they say they didn't realize how much time had passed. Looking at the clock, it was indeed almost lunchtime.
Sebastian knew I intended to return home without eating lunch, but it seemed he had announced the time just in case I needed a reminder.
As lunchtime approached, Dmitri stroked his chin and looked at me.
"It's already this late. Do you truly intend to head back without even having lunch?"
"Yes. I want to see my family as soon as possible. I'm planning to get something to take out on the way."
"There's no need to spend your own money. Take some food prepared by our chef. I'll give the order myself."
"If you would do that, I would be grateful."
"Sebastian."
Upon my acceptance, Dmitri summoned Sebastian, who was waiting outside, into the room. Sebastian entered and approached Dmitri's side.
Dmitri, maintaining a refined posture, gave a quiet command to the butler standing beside him.
"This young man will be returning home without having lunch here, so there is no need to prepare a separate setting. Instead, tell the chef to prepare something simple for him to take out. It looks like he'll be eating in the carriage."
"Understood."
"And stop by my office for a moment to bring me a 'Remover.' There should be a new one in the drawer."
"Yes, sir."
Following Dmitri's instructions, Sebastian headed back out the door.
I watched Sebastian's back as he walked away with a disciplined gait, then asked Dmitri out of curiosity.
"Duke. May I ask what kind of item a 'Remover' is?"
"Let's just say it's something you'll like."
"Something I'll like?"
"Hmm... yeah, you'll definitely like it."
While I tilted my head with a puzzled expression, Marie, sitting next to me, chimed in. This made it even harder to guess what the item could be.
After a short while, Sebastian returned. In his hand was a long, white object.
My eyes fixed on the object, which looked somewhat familiar. Meanwhile, Dmitri took the item from Sebastian and showed it to me.
"This is the item called a Remover. Like your magic pen, it has a magic circle embedded inside."
"What is its purpose?"
"You know the notebook you were writing in earlier? Try pressing this button and touching it to the paper."
Dmitri handed the item to me, seemingly deciding that a direct demonstration would be better than an explanation. Though questioning it, I accepted the object he offered.
Overall, it looked like a small club. Or perhaps it would be better described as an exceptionally thick pencil.
To resolve my growing curiosity, I gripped the object like a pen and touched it to my notebook. The notebook contained the knowledge Dmitri had shared with me earlier.
When I pressed the button located in the middle, a miraculous phenomenon unfolded.
"Huh?"
It vanished. The black ink written by the magic pen was gone.
The writing disappeared without a trace exactly where the tip touched the paper. The paper became as clean as if it had been erased with an eraser or white-out.
"It's a magic item called a Remover. It can erase records written with a pen, provided it's within a short window of five minutes."
As I stared at the notebook where the writing had vanished with a dazed face, Dmitri explained from across the table. When I looked up, I saw a smile on his face.
I met his gaze and then hurried to check if other writing could be erased. Just as he said, the words I had written a long time ago remained, but the records I had just made were all removed without a trace.
To me, this was literally a treasure among treasures. My face lit up for a moment before I quickly regained my composure.
A magic pen alone commanded a terrifying price, so this Remover item would surely have a price tag to match. No matter how wealthy a Ducal family was, I didn't think they would just give this away as a gift.
"...May I ask why you are giving this to me?"
So, I asked. I gripped the Remover tightly and questioned Dmitri cautiously.
I indirectly expressed my desire to have the Remover, and if he proposed a reasonable trade, I was more than willing to accept.
Dmitri seemed to notice my desire and let out a slight smile. Seeing that smile, I grew a bit tense, praying it wasn't some strange proposal.
"It's just a gift. No particular reason."
Finally, Dmitri spoke, his answer carrying a nonchalant nuance.
However, I didn't just snap it up; I maintained a cautious attitude.
"Even as a gift, this item is too expensive for me. A magic pen just converts mana into ink, but a Remover seems much more complex... is it not?"
"You are correct. If a magic pen has a value of one, a Remover has a value of ten."
It was just as I expected. This Remover was an item with a staggering price that I couldn't possibly afford.
Of course, considering the profits I earned from the Xenon Biography, I would gladly pay the full price to buy it, but not as a gift. The price was far too high to receive as a mere present.
Just as I was about to set the Remover down to politely decline, Dmitri intervened with a resonant voice the moment he saw my movement.
"There is no need to feel burdened. I am giving it to you because I like you. Surely you won't refuse?"
"...It is too expensive for me."
"Even so, it's practically pocket change to the Duke of Rekilis. Take it while I'm being nice. Consider it fair compensation for teaching Marie history."
"...Thank you."
When the head of the Rekilis Family spoke like that, I had no choice. However, I couldn't hide my joy, and the corners of my mouth kept twitching.
Just knowing such a magic item existed was a huge windfall, but I had even received it as a gift. For someone like me, who had to throw away entire sheets of manuscript paper after a single mistake, I couldn't help but be happy.
"Are you that happy?"
Marie, having noticed my twitching lips, tossed a comment my way. I gripped the Remover with both hands and answered with pure happiness.
"Yeah."
"It's the first time I've seen you this happy, like a kid. You really are the type to show it when you like something."
As Marie analyzed, I was indeed the type to truly love the things I liked.
When I received the magic pen from my father, I simply hadn't expressed it because my joy was mixed with a sense of being moved, but my heart felt much the same as it did now.
"Seeing you so happy makes me glad as well. I can give you other things if you wish."
"No, thank you. This alone is more than I deserve."
When I waved my hand in refusal, Dmitri let out a subtle smile and murmured quietly.
"More than you deserve... what an interesting thing to say."
*
Just as Isaac had said his visit was for a specific purpose, he left the Rekilis mansion before lunchtime.
Before he left, Marie regretfully asked if he couldn't stay for just one night, but Isaac refused flatly. He wanted to reunite with his parents as soon as possible, and above all, he judged that staying would be a breach of etiquette.
"Then kiss me."
"Gladly."
In the end, they made up for the regret by kissing while Dmitri stepped away for a moment to call for a carriage. After that long yet short kissing session, Isaac boarded the carriage Dmitri had specially summoned and returned to the home he had been longing for.
Afterward, Marie stood quietly at the main gate of the mansion until Isaac's carriage was no longer in sight. Even though it was only for a short month, the thought of not seeing Isaac already made her heart feel heavy.
"My Lady. It is time to go back inside."
"...I know."
Eventually, the carriage passed through the estate's gates and disappeared completely. Marie turned her steps inward at Sebastian's word. Still feeling the lingering regret, she looked back once more before entering the mansion.
Even beyond the firmly closed gates, Isaac's carriage was nowhere to be seen. He had truly gone home.
"Phew..."
Marie let out a deep sigh at the longing that was already beginning to set in. If she had known it would be like this, she would have bitten those soft cheeks after the kiss, but there hadn't been enough time.
As she entered the mansion with a gloomy expression, a familiar voice reached her ears.
"You look quite disappointed."
It was Dmitri. He was waiting for Marie and Sebastian with his hands behind his back in front of the main entrance.
As a Duke, he had his dignity to maintain and hadn't seen Isaac off directly, but he had accompanied them this far to the front door.
Marie gave a bitter smile at Dmitri's words and spoke.
"Was it that obvious?"
"It would be nonsense for a father not to know his own daughter's feelings."
When Dmitri answered playfully, Marie chuckled. Although Dmitri was respected by the citizens of the Empire as a Duke, in Marie's eyes, he was just a father who loved his daughter.
Marie glanced around and gestured for Sebastian to withdraw. At that gesture, Sebastian bowed politely and walked away.
Finally, only the father and daughter, Marie and Dmitri, remained in front of the entrance. Marie checked again to make sure no one was listening before asking Dmitri in a quiet voice.
"Dad. You have a rough idea of who Isaac is, don't you?"
To reiterate, Marie had the instinctive ability to see through human psychology. Because of this, she had felt a sort of dissonance during the conversation between Isaac and Dmitri, and she became certain when he gifted the Remover.
She realized Dmitri vaguely suspected Isaac's true identity. Fortunately, because he hadn't made it obvious, Isaac was completely unaware of that fact.
Meanwhile, Dmitri shrugged his shoulders and answered as if it were no big deal.
"Marie. As you know, I am the Duke of Rekilis, who assists His Imperial Majesty. Everything that happens in the Empire is reported to me. Even if it's something the Crown Prince did personally. I've also done some separate investigating before."
"Since when did you know?"
"I only became certain recently. Thanks to that, it seems I'll have to reform the laws to prevent any loopholes. There's plenty of room for this to be exploited for tax evasion, after all."
"...What do you plan to do now?"
Marie asked with a slightly lowered voice. Although he was her somewhat immature father, he was still the Duke of Rekilis.
As Isaac had asked, he was a man who sat proudly at the pinnacle of 'those who hold the pen.' Thus, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
Even if he personally liked Isaac, there was no telling what he might do. If he tried anything unnecessary, she would try to stop him somehow, but her own power was woefully insufficient.
While Marie was feeling anxious with those thoughts in her head, Dmitri spoke in a steady voice.
"At first, I intended to take measures. He might be fine as an individual, but as the author of the Xenon Biography, he is very dangerous. However, after talking with him a few times, I felt it wouldn't matter much if I left him alone."
"Why?"
"Because, as the boy said, it's a natural phenomenon for the world to change. Even if we try to stop it by force, it will only cause us great harm. Just as you can forcibly block a flowing river, but the levee will eventually burst. Still, it would be wise to prepare."
Having said that, Dmitri glanced at Marie and then continued with a broad smile.
"Above all, you are that boy's girlfriend now, aren't you? As both a Duke and a father, I approve. But if he ever does anything strange, tell me everything. I'll ruin him myself."
"...Dad."
Marie stared at him with an exasperated expression, her anxiety vanishing at Dmitri's low-brow joke. For the record, that flippant way of speaking, so unbefitting the dignity of a Duke, was entirely inherited from her mother.
Regardless, Dmitri didn't stop teasing Marie.
"So, when do you want to get married? If you want..."
"Right now."
"... ..."
"I want to do it right now, so send a marriage proposal to Isaac's mansion."
Did he realize Marie was serious?
'...I'll have to reconsider this.'
Dmitri murmured to himself, unable to even offer a reply.
"Actually, never mind. I'll just send a letter. A man of your stature can make it arrive in a single day, right?"
"... ..."
And so, Marie's vacation began.