Chapter 103
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Back to the Empire (2)
A short silence.
The Empire's Third Imperial Princess, Adelheit von Valdion, didn't deliberate for long.
No. Actually, it seemed like she wanted to think a little more.
Princess or not, she was still just a girl who hadn't reached adulthood yet.
Her fiancé's parents suddenly sat her down and told her to give a self-PR—it wouldn't make sense if she stayed perfectly calm.
However, she cut off her deliberation and made her eyes shine clearly.
"First, I believe both the Leonhart Duke and the Duchess are well aware of who I am."
Nod.
Mother nodded as if to say, go on.
The first greeting must have passed muster.
Seeing that, Adel gained a bit more confidence and continued in a clear, ringing voice.
"But... what you two want to hear right now isn't that, is it? The Duchess has been recuperating, so it might still feel unfamiliar, but I have become Sir Kline Leonhart's fiancée."
"Yes. I've heard about that."
"I also know you might think this engagement is just a political bridge linking the imperial family and the ducal house. The eldest son of the Leonhart Ducal Family, the foremost noble house. If the imperial family wants to tie that down, it would look like they're offering their least valuable asset—the Third Imperial Princess."
There, Adel paused.
Then she raised a finger to her swelling chest and declared firmly.
"But I can say this clearly. I truly admire Sir Kline Leonhart—not because of some political marriage."
"Oh my."
The hand Adel used to speak was trembling faintly.
Her fair cheeks had flushed pink.
She had confessed her heartfelt feelings right in front of her future in-laws.
There was no way she wouldn't feel embarrassed.
Whether she liked it or not, Mother covered her mouth with her hand and let out a graceful exclamation.
"How marvelous. I never imagined the Third Princess harbored such feelings. May I hear the reason?"
"Of course."
Adel drew in a sharp breath and poured out her experiences.
The first time they met at the Cluster of Stars.
The fresh sensation she'd felt then. The affinity of encountering someone like herself among the nobility.
And after that, spending time together, their affection gradually deepening.
Finally, she'd fallen for his heroic side—risking his life to protect her in front of Bloodyed.
"……."
Hmm...
I don't mind her praising me.
But hearing a girl who likes me explain why to my parents...
Uh... even I'm a bit embarrassed.
"Oh my. What a wonderful story."
Regardless, Mother clapped with utter delight lighting up her face.
Adel's cheeks were fully red by the time she finished speaking.
But she showed no sign of backing down.
"I understand. What the Third Princess thinks of our son. As his mother, I'll be sure to remember this."
"Yes. Please do."
Adel bowed gracefully and left the room.
I pretended not to notice the slight tremble in her steps.
The family head's room fell quiet.
I shot Mother a bewildered look.
"Mother. What was all that about?"
"Why? Don't mothers get curious? I wanted to see just how many girls my son charmed while I was away."
"Why make your son sit right here and listen to their self-introductions? Surely there's a more appropriate way?"
"There isn't. So just sit still."
"……."
Was my mother always like this...?
The next to enter was Ellie.
"Uh. Uh. Uuuh...…."
I had no idea why she was trembling from the moment she walked in.
Ellie sat down in her chair, shaking so badly it worried me just to watch.
Then she repeated deep breaths: ssuup—haa—.
"……."
Mother still wore her gentle smile.
Ellie's behavior didn't seem to bother her at all.
Father, beside me... well, to put it bluntly, he looked like he'd checked out entirely.
As if he'd gone completely blank or erased his own presence from memory.
No. Father. Since when did you become this fragile?
"Hmm... Miss Elysia Rosnet, from the Rosnet Viscount family?"
"Y-yes! L-loyalty! It's a great honor to meet the Leonhart Duchess!"
This an army barracks?
"Well... care to introduce yourself? I'm curious how our little Ellie ended up falling for Kline."
"F-falling for him? I would never dare..."
"Is that so?"
"……Y-yes, it's true."
Ellie shrank down and timidly began to speak.
"F-first, we met at the Cluster of Stars."
"Son... what exactly did you get up to there? You didn't charm every lady present, did you?"
"It might've been easier if I'd meant to."
"Young Master Kline there... entertained me with his brilliant conversation...…."
"You were charming her, weren't you, son?"
"No. It was just playful banter. You think I whispered sweet nothings in Ellie's ear or something?"
"……And then... when the imperial palace was thrown into chaos by Bloodyed, Young Master Kline saved me there...…."
"Son... this one's on you, isn't it? Sounds pretty intentional."
"Ellie saved me too, so we're even."
"U, uuuh...…."
With my parents constantly chiming in, her confidence seemed to evaporate.
Ellie curled up completely.
"Oh my. Sorry, Ellie dear. I'm not usually like this, but around you, I just can't help myself."
No. I get it, Mother. Ellie does have that teasing charm.
"Ahem. So... that's why you fell for him?"
"Ah. Uh. Partly, but... actually, what touched me more was saving him."
"Pardon? Not the other way around?"
"Y-yes. I've always been the one getting help... so the first time I could return the favor—it really stuck with me... On top of that, Young Master Kline is so cool and incredible...…."
Timid as she is, she still gets her point across.
Mother quietly watched Ellie mumbling with her head bowed low.
Then she nodded and said,
"Good. You pass."
"Y-yes, what?"
"Entrusting our son to someone like you seems fine. I approve."
"Ah, u-um, I haven't exactly said I want to be Kline's partner for sure yet...…."
"Yes, yes. Got it. You can go now."
"No, wait, please...…."
Ellie's timid protests didn't last.
With her personality, she'd never even show up to something like this.
The mere fact that she sat down meant she cherished me.
Her excuses weren't going to fly anyway.
"You."
Mother poked at Father, who'd been sitting silently.
Father, who'd seemed utterly detached, replied stiffly.
"What."
"What do you think of her?"
"……She's a bit lacking in confidence. Might not be ideal for building an equal partnership in marriage."
"Is that so? Kline could probably handle it, don't you think? No guarantee he'll only take one wife anyway."
"You..."
Father gave Mother a cold look before sighing.
"Fine. A wife with an overly strong personality can be exhausting too."
"Oh? Care to elaborate on that?"
"……No. Slip of the tongue. Forget I said it."
"No, I want to hear. A strong-willed woman is tiring as a wife... I wonder who the Leonhart Duke's wife could be to inspire such words?"
"……."
Father shot me a pleading glance, but I just shook my head.
Handle it yourself. I don't want to die.
The third to enter was Yoru.
"Hello!"
A totally different vibe from the previous two.
Sky-high energy, beaming smile.
And above all, her signature black hair and black eyes.
Mother broke into a huge grin, and even Father's eyes widened.
"Oh my. So you're the one?"
"Yes! Kurotsuki Yoru, Kline's friend. From Aonia. Hello, Mother!"
"Oh my oh my. Mother... what a delightful way to address me."
What? Already disarmed?
Yoru sat down and puffed out her chest with a hehem.
No chest bandage like back in Aonia.
She'd dressed properly in a modest kimono, saving face.
"Care to introduce yourself, Miss Yoru?"
"Of course! I've prepared so much for this. Oh, and feel free to just call me Yoru."
"Oh my. All right then, Yoru."
Mother's eyes sparkled even more than they had for Adel or Ellie—like she was already sold.
Yoru beamed with pride and cleared her throat before launching in.
"As I mentioned, I'm from Aonia. No way I would've met Kline otherwise. But! Fate, right? On the day of the Lion's Feast, I met him just like destiny intended."
"Oh my oh my. How ever did that happen?"
"In the family training hall. Hmm! Outsiders aren't allowed, but that day it was strangely empty. So I snuck in and ended up meeting the boy who'd become a future hero."
"Goodness..."
Mother focused intently, as if she could already picture our fateful first encounter.
"Right there, Yoru sparred with Kline. He was at a level I could teach back then. Time flew by—we had so much fun."
"Oh? Implying he's beyond that now?"
"Exactly! These days, he's the one I need lessons from. I was shocked at how he turned into such a genius."
"Huhu huhu."
Mother turned to me with a deeply satisfied smile.
Does she love hearing her son praised that much?
Me? I'm feeling extremely awkward with all the over-the-top hype.
"After the Lion's Feast ended and we parted ways! I wondered if we'd ever meet again—and then we did, in Aonia of all places! I was floored."
"Ah. I heard my son went to Aonia... so that's where?"
"Yes. The Kline I met again had become so incredibly manly! I couldn't stop admiring him."
"Huhu... is that right?"
"Yes! And after that—"
Mother was so warm and approachable.
Yoru spilled everything without a second thought—all the things we'd been through.
Dojo-busting together.
The crisis with Greiver, when I'd rushed in like the wind to save her.
"……So, I see Kline as the most precious friend in my life. And my benefactor!"
"Huhu... I never imagined my son had such an adorable girlfriend."
"Ehehe. Girlfriend... yeah. I'm Kline's girl friend."
"No, Yoru. Make that: you're Kline's girlfriend. No need to sell yourself short."
"Hehet. Thank you!"
Yoru's self-PR was flawless—no awkward moments at all.
The conversation flowed smoothly, filled only with laughter until she left the room.
Even Father's comment afterward was something else.
"I like her."
"Oh? You too?"
"……Not for her personality. Just... if she can walk the path of the sword alongside Kline, that's a good thing."
"Hmm. I see it differently. As a fellow woman, she feels like the girl whose personality matches Kline's best—unbound by status or anything. What about you, Kline?"
I replied with silence.
Father and Mother exchanged a few more words after that.
Then Father finally spoke up with a serious expression.
"But... you."
"Yes?"
"Are you really... planning to bring that child too?"
"Of course."
Father didn't look thrilled.
But Mother was utterly resolute as she pushed her point.
"That child is every bit Kline's wife candidate too. What kind of parents don't even know who their daughter likes? Ariel's happiness is my greatest joy."
"But... Haa. Fine. A father who couldn't protect his daughter in your absence has no room to argue. Do as you wish."
"Exactly. This is the path to our family's happiness."
And with that, Mother summoned a servant.
The final, fourth person.
My little sister, Ariel Leonhart.