A Timeless and Clichéd Question
How you looked at it, it was a profoundly traditional and utterly clichéd question.
"……Butler Fromen, what did you just say……?"
"I asked how you think of our young lady."
I'd anticipated a question like this and had my answer ready.
"Reina is wonderful……."
"This isn't something we can brush off with vague pleasantries. Adrian, this is merely an old man's selfish whim, but even if it comes across as rude, I must ask."
Hm. Is that so.
His tone alone made it clear he was dead serious.
Fromen was Reina's most devoted retainer, and unlike Count Wolfgang—who showed little interest in his children—he had raised her from childhood, treating her almost like a daughter.
How do you think of our young lady?
Just those few words carried a wealth of implications: Would he really marry her? Would he hold her back? Did he truly see her as a lifelong partner? And so on.
My honest answer was this.
"……My response is always the same. Reina is truly exceptional. She's blessed with the talent to become an archmage, and as the top student in Salenium's magic department, a brilliant future awaits her. She's far too good for someone like me—pairing with me makes no sense at all."
"……."
Our engagement. By the story's lore, Reina and Adrian had been betrothed at age eight. Nothing much was mentioned after that. They were bound as fiancés in name, but there was never any talk of attending balls together or behaving like one.
But now that I'd become Adrian—and would likely live as him for the rest of my life—I knew I couldn't ignore this forever.
And…… I wasn't so oblivious or dense that I couldn't notice her one-sided affection toward me.
But.
"I understand your words, Butler Fromen. However, not now."
"……Pardon?"
"Right now, I have matters that demand my full focus above all else. And Reina is right here, helping me with them."
I had to become the marquess. And I had to survive.
The world would be saved by the hero it had chosen, but for that to happen, I had a duty to keep that hero alive.
Besides, all my 'knowledge and skills honed over ten thousand hours' were only useful within the confines of Salenium Academy.
That's why I was pushing forward relentlessly, determined to achieve my goals where I could maximize that knowledge.
"To me right now, Reina isn't some romantic fiancée. She's a partner racing toward the same goal, a trusted comrade, an indispensable right hand. ……Something like that."
Fromen fell silent after hearing my answer.
By the time the waves crashed three times against the night sea, he spoke again.
"……You aim to return to your family and become the Repelheit Marquess. And I hear you've recently become a close aide to Princess Lijelilias. You've also recruited a graduate student as a subordinate and built an excellent faction, including our young lady."
The old butler continued slowly.
"……It's true, just as she wrote in her letters. You've changed."
"……."
"I've heard so much about you from her. Her letters used to be filled only with academy news, politics, and empty flattery. But now, they're brimming with genuine emotion."
Was that so.
"Do you know? Count Wolfgang constantly pressures Reina to break off the engagement."
I nodded silently.
"Truth be told, until I met you tonight, I was in favor of the dissolution myself."
That was only natural.
A wastrel disowned and cast out as a commoner, incompetent in the magic department—unable to wield even a single spell despite his bloodline. And now, even that bloodline meant nothing after his expulsion.
Maintaining an engagement with the daughter of the West's second-most powerful house under those circumstances was absurd.
"……You declared you'd reclaim your lost position, but no one thought it possible. Not even I. But you've defied everyone's expectations, advancing step by step. And our young lady is genuinely happy by your side."
Fromen turned to gaze at the dark sea.
"So, I thought to myself."
A cool sea breeze brushed my face.
"Above all else, Miss Reina's happiness comes first. Allow me one more question."
Eyes that had seen countless years fixed on me.
"Do you, Adrian, cherish Reina?"
"Butler."
"If that child weren't by your side……."
"Butler Fromen."
"……Yes."
"No one will take Reina away. Not while I'm around."
At those words.
"I see."
The old butler smiled.
"In that case, there's somewhere we should go. Come inside. The wind is cold."
"Yes."
* * *
He led me to the villa's top floor.
"Young master, it's me."
"Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing the top floor.
The first thing I saw was a large table. And the person seated at one of its chairs.
"……Alpren von Wolfgang?"
"Adrian—er, Adrian."
His long purple hair was tied in a ponytail, and dressed in child-sized noble attire, he stood first and bowed to me.
"I can't accept that. I'm a commoner now, Alpren."
"But we can't ignore your origins. That's how I was taught. Please, have a seat."
Far more bold and composed than his eight years suggested.
With him, me, and Butler Fromen seated side by side at the table, Alpren spoke.
"If the butler brought you here, Adrian, does that mean you passed the test?"
"Yes, young master. Perfectly so."
So it was a test.
Alpren nodded and continued.
"Good. Then let's get straight to the point."
His eyes met mine directly.
"Father is arranging a new engagement for my sister with another noble. They're almost at the final stage of negotiations."
Wait.
……What?
"Tell me more details."
"They used your commoner status to forcibly annul the engagement. Even when they asked the Repelheit family if they objected, they said it was none of their concern since they'd fully disowned you. They even brought up your past misdeeds and expressed displeasure."
"……Hm."
So, basically: Why are you asking us about some kid we already kicked out?
And since Repelheit washed their hands of it, Count Wolfgang saw his chance and grabbed a new lifeline.
"So Father quickly arranged not just an engagement, but an actual marriage with another noble. The eldest son of the Gail knight family from the West."
……Gail. Gail—didn't one of Salenium's third-years come from there?
Ah, no way. That guy.
Later in the story, there was a crazy noble who dropped out to elope with a servant. Yeah, his family was…… probably the Gails.
And that guy…….
"The marriage negotiations are underway, and they're in the final stages?"
"Yes. If it's fast, it might even be announced…… tomorrow."
"Does Reina know?"
"No, she has no idea."
I see. So.
"Breaking it off behind her back and betrothing her to someone else without her knowledge?"
"Yes."
"……Got it."
This was beyond the pale.
I couldn't stand for it.
"Adrian?"
As I'd said before, Count Wolfgang was an ambitious man. He'd planned to marry his 'sub-marquess' daughter to me to gain influence in Repelheit as an in-law, but my banishment ended that dream.
But when Plan A failed, he had a Plan B.
Now, even with the 'broken engagement' stigma, he'd marry her off to another noble to solidify his power base.
……Why?
……Where did Reina's own wishes factor into this marriage?
Did the count see his daughter as nothing more than a pawn?
—You're not alone.
—So don't always try to walk it solo.
—Thank you, Adrian.
On the bench. In the infirmary. On the street.
Different places, but her beaming smile flashed through my mind each time.
"Adrian, please relax your expression. You're scaring the young master."
"Ah, my apologies."
I must have grimaced without realizing.
"……By the way, Alpren, aren't you fully on the count's side? Letting this slide would benefit him. Why share this with me?"
"……Do you, um, not remember?"
Remember? What?
"You…… no, Adrian, you once told me: Don't let Father control you. Follow your own path, prioritize what you think."
Really? Did I?
Back then, I was still the wastrel Adrian, not me.
And he said something like that to this kid.
"……At first, I thought you were wrong. But then you proved everyone wrong at the academy. Seeing that changed my mind."
He looked at me as he spoke.
"And above all. Even if we have different mothers, we're family, right?"
……Family.
"Sister will only be happy with someone she truly needs—and who needs her."
I see.
"But even knowing this, we don't know what to do. There's no way to stop it……."
Got it. That's why the test, and bringing me here.
Setting aside everything else, Reina was someone I absolutely had to keep on my side.
The future archmage and our party's only DPS mage—losing her would mean over half our combat power gone.
To prepare for Act 4's difficulty, for my own survival…….
Reina was essential to the party.
……A way. Right, a way.
"It's not impossible."
I flashed a predatory grin.
Let's see…… After summer break, there was definitely something like that on the Ebnis route.
"I hear there's a ball soon at Wolfgang's main estate to foster ties among the West's nobles. Is that true?"
"……H-How did you."
Of course I knew. In the original story, even on the Ebnis route, she got invited as an escort knight and attended. And as he said, territorial duties included balls.
Plus, while it was just a networking event in the original, with a new 'marriage' in play, they'd likely repurpose it to announce the wedding.
A ball.
What a perfect stage.
"Alpren, lend me that for a moment."
I grabbed a sheet of paper and pen from the table, scribbled quickly, folded it into a note, and handed it to the butler.
"Butler, can you deliver this to Princess Lijelilias in the imperial palace by midnight? It must be done in absolute secrecy."
First, summon Princess Lijelilias to the ball covertly.
This would be my first time acting publicly, so to protect myself, I'd need every card I had.
"P-Princess? You mean you can resolve this situation……?"
Can I?
"I can."
Of course.
"……How exactly?"
"Simple. First, eliminate the marriage candidate."
"Pardon……? Wait, what did you just—."
"Follow me, and you'll see. But to pull it off, I'll need your help."
"……The butler chief and I agree."
"Good."
Look forward to it, Count Wolfgang.
With a sly smile, I crossed my legs and propped my chin.
Daring to steal my party member? He'd pay dearly.
My reputation at the academy was stable enough—no knives in the back—so it was time to turn my eyes outward.
This incident would be my bridgehead.
A ball? Just trash it completely.
And utter devastation? That's my longtime specialty.