Chapter 102
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Back to the Empire
The trip to Aonia had come to an end.
To improve my skills, I had ventured to the eastern lands with my father's letter of introduction.
I met a master known as the Sword Emperor and learned the demonic sword arts.
I encountered the obstructing Hiiragi family and defeated them.
In the process, I advanced Ariel's humanization.
Realizing my mother's condition was critical, I participated in the Azure Dragon Tournament.
Reuniting with Yoru, we took down Graver, the fourth division leader of the Crimson Blood Cult.
Finally, I overcame Hiiragi Masato, won the Azure Dragon Tournament, claimed the rewards, and treated my mother.
Thus, I had no further business in Aonia.
I stayed briefly at the Ikimizu Sanatorium to help restore some of Mother's stamina.
But since she needed to recover her vitality anyway, it made more sense to do it at home—so I brought her back to the Leonhart Duchy.
Normally, an imperial carriage passing through Aonia required navigating a tangle of procedures.
But Adel, who had joined us, leveraged her status as an imperial princess to wipe out all the hassle in one go.
Thanks to her, our family could relax comfortably inside the carriage bound for Leonhart Duchy.
Ah. Well, there was one peculiar detail.
"Mother. Kline, who are these girls?"
"Hello, Mother. I am Adelheit von Valdrion, the Third Imperial Princess and Kline's fiancée."
"Ah, ah, hello...! I-I'm Elysia of the Rosnet family...! With Young Master Kline, w-we're, um, close friends...!"
"Hello! I'm Kurotsuki Yoru, Kline's friend. I can confidently say he's the most precious friend in my life."
How on earth did they all end up boarding our carriage?
Adel was headed to the imperial palace, Elysia to her family, and Yoru... well, she didn't really matter.
Still, all three insisted on joining the carriage all the way to Leonhart Duchy.
To the one with just me, Ariel, and Mother aboard, no less.
The carriage was spacious to begin with, so it wasn't cramped.
But the three of them—no, four including Ariel—kept sneaking glances at one another before immediately turning to Mother with their introductions.
"Hehehe. I see."
Mother, who had only just risen from her sickbed and wasn't fully recovered yet, smiled with her timeless beauty intact.
Then, in her elegant voice, she gently chided them.
"Very well. Then we can have a proper chat next time. You all seem to share the same goal, don't you?"
"Yes, all four of us...!"
"Hehe. For now, come along to our duchy. Hearing you're all close to my son makes me happy as his mother."
Mother and the three girls were already chatting intimately, as if they'd known each other forever.
Ariel, feeling pushed aside, wore a dissatisfied expression.
She probably just wanted to stay by Mother's side.
Honestly, I was pretty shocked to see it.
'Wow.'
She'd become noticeably more like a girl.
When dissatisfied, it showed on her face. When I sat beside her and talked, she'd brighten up and giggle.
And when the three girls tried to sidle back toward me, she'd pout and cling to my side.
I was stunned at how human she'd become—and so quickly.
'Master did mention it.'
In a separate carriage from ours.
Master, who had boarded it, smiled softly and told me,
"The interference worked better than you imagined. Now, set down that burden on your shoulders."
Of course, I trusted Master. But I hadn't expected this much change.
"Brother. Brother."
"What is it, little sister?"
"Pet my head."
"Sure, sure."
I stroked her white crown, and Ariel giggled happily.
Her legs kicked excitedly beneath her.
'For real?'
Our little sister had gotten this adorable?
A bit worried, I whispered in Ariel's ear.
It was a welcome change as her brother. Still, I couldn't let anything be wrong with her body.
"Ariel."
"Eek!"
But she startled at my breath and pulled back slightly.
Then, with an awkward smile, she pressed her ear to my lips again.
"Yeah. What, Brother?"
"Nothing. Just... our little sister got too cute. Before, you'd zone out with no reaction, no matter what I said."
"When did I ever! I've always only had eyes for you, Brother."
"Hmm. No pain anywhere? Dizzy? Nauseous?"
"Nope. Not really."
Ariel seemed to grasp my concern.
She buried her face in my chest and mumbled,
"The Sword Emperor said he interfered to make me a normal girl. You permitted it, Brother."
Now she was calling him "Sword Emperor-nim." She still wasn't used to honorifics.
"Honestly, I was super confused when I first snapped to. But... it's not a bad feeling."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Like... the world feels so much newer."
Ariel snuggled fully into my arms.
Her pale eyes sparkled as she looked up at me.
"But it's a little weird."
"What is?"
"Just... lots of unfamiliar parts about myself. Lots of new emotions."
"You'll get used to it."
All kids learn to handle those feelings as they grow.
I didn't know exactly what Ariel was feeling right now... but it would all work out.
I'd make sure of it.
A grand party was held at the Leonhart Ducal House after a long absence.
The duke's son and daughter had left the estate for an extended stay abroad.
And the duchess, who had recuperated overseas for so long, had finally recovered and returned.
The news turned the ducal house into a festival of joy, leading to an immediate decision for a lavish party.
"Young Master! Truly impressive!"
In the hall hosting the party, I was swarmed by family retainers I hadn't seen in ages.
Alfred thumped my shoulder heartily and boomed with laughter.
"To think you'd win the Azure Dragon Tournament! Back in my youth, I always wanted to enter that martial contest, but never got the chance. It became a lifelong regret... Who'd have thought you'd claim victory? As Knights Captain, I'm proud."
"No big deal. I just did it for Mother's medicine—no need for that much praise."
"What do you mean? It sounds like you could win anytime if you wanted. As expected of you, Young Master..."
I'm not one to shy away from boasting elsewhere.
But with the family at the party all repeating "You're amazing," "So cool," "You did great," I was starting to tire of it.
As the machine-gun barrage of praise continued, our family somehow gathered together.
"Kline."
Father, Mother, me, and my little sister.
Father gazed down at me sternly and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"Well done."
"Yes."
No more words.
That was Father. I knew it.
But Mother poked his side and prodded him.
"Is that all? Praise Kline more."
"...Isn't this enough?"
"Tsk."
"...You did well, Kline. Truly. Without you, I couldn't have stopped my wife from leaving this world. You saved your mother with your own strength. At your age, I couldn't have done it."
Wow. Hearing something like that from someone who never says it was excruciatingly embarrassing.
Mother chuckled, elegantly covering her mouth.
I see. I didn't remember clearly from childhood, but this was how the family power dynamic worked.
Mother was at the top.
"And."
Father spoke up again.
My little sister, wedged tightly between me and Mother.
He glanced at Ariel, who showed no sign of approaching him, and continued.
"...Making Ariel into a normal human. That's not just a family matter—it's a great service to the empire. I commend you sincerely, Kline."
"No big deal. I just wanted my little sister to be happy."
"I see."
Father showed no intention of addressing Ariel directly.
His past behavior probably made it unavoidable.
If Ariel herself wouldn't forgive him, I had no plans to meddle.
"Ariel. What about you?"
Mother stroked Ariel's head as she asked.
Her smile was warm and loving.
Ariel's tense face melted instantly, yielding to Mother's touch.
"Still hate Dad?"
"Dear. That's too blunt."
"You stay quiet. So, Ariel? Any desire to forgive him at all?"
Ariel chewed her lip.
Then she averted her parents' gazes and looked up at me.
As if I were her safe haven.
"...Later. After some time."
That meant she intended to forgive him, in other words.
"Oh my."
Mother lit up immediately and pulled Ariel into a tight embrace, frail body and all.
I stroked the back of Ariel's head, feeling no small amount of pride myself.
'Just as intended.'
The old Ariel never would have forgiven him.
Well, sure, hanging out with me had softened her toward Father a bit.
But she wouldn't have acted like a sulky teenage daughter now.
'She really has become normal.'
Truly, just like any ordinary family's little sister.
And I was quite satisfied with that.
Later.
Some time after the party began.
As guests started to disperse and servants tidied up.
I was summoned by Father and Mother into the family head's chamber.
"What is it?"
"Kline. Come sit here, dear."
Father's face was its usual stony mask, but he seemed reluctant somehow.
Mother, on the other hand, couldn't hide her excitement and patted the seat beside her.
'What's this about?'
We three sat at the family head's desk, facing the entrant—like some setup.
I sat next to Mother for now.
Once seated, a question arose.
"Where's Ariel?"
"Oh. She can't join. She's not in a position for this."
"...???"
What did that mean?
I shot her a look demanding explanation.
Mother didn't answer—instead, she called a servant.
"Fetch Princess Adelheit."
"Yes, Madam."
What?
Suddenly Adel?
I blinked, watching the situation unfold.
A brief silence.
Soon the door opened, and Adel glided in to stand before us.
Her face was taut with tension.
Yet strangely flushed.
Mother regarded her with a bright smile and asked in a gentle voice,
"Well then, Your Highness Princess."
"Yes."
"Could you introduce yourself once more? I'm in no position to presume over imperial blood—but I do want to take a closer look at my future daughter-in-law."
Only then did I understand the purpose of this gathering.
The women gunning for me.
This was their self-promotion stage.