Our Son-in-Law
Have you heard that story? If a family is super religious, they'll try to convert their future son-in-law or daughter-in-law. But if the guy or girl is from another religion or atheist, they'll say "If you don't believe in our religion, you can't marry our kid!"
Amazingly, despite this world being even more devout in its religious aspects compared to my previous life, such incidents are almost nonexistent. Even with all the blessings and divine existences present, it rarely happens.
The real kicker is that even if someone claims another religion here, it's practically nonexistent. The majority of Empire citizens already follow the Light Doctrine, so it's all the same.
Regardless, I didn't worry about the religious aspect at all, even though I'm not a devout believer in the Light Doctrine. After all, I believe in it, and there's nothing else that qualifies as a religion.
Yet my girlfriend's grandfather calls me a saint, a hero, a devout follower of the religion? I never expected such a reaction. It was completely out of my imagination.
Therefore, the journey to Selena's family, invited by the previous Marquis of Naplio, was quite tense.
"...It feels like I'm going to make an official visit."
"Well, that works too. Why? Are you feeling burdened?"
"If you're not worried, that's a lie. Still, well... it's something that needs to be done eventually, so I think it's for the best. Actually, it's great that I get to meet Selena's grandfather this time."
Whatever the case, in the eyes of the Marquis of Naplio, I'm a thief who stole his daughter at first.
It's not in a bad sense, but to every father, the son-in-law is bound to look like a thief at first. After all, a father's boundless love for his daughter is universal.
Therefore, to bring a future son-in-law into my side, it's best to start by winning over those around him.
My girlfriend's siblings are decent, but the best is the future mother-in-law. Honestly, how many men can endure without caring about their wife's feelings?
And then there's the previous family head. So, if I secure the father of the son-in-law, that's the perfect finish.
Granddaughter love is as boundless as daughter love, but can I make the grandfather my ally? I can't stand it.
So, in that sense, recovering the saint from the church this time... might have been a divine move.
Besides that, I definitely have points. No, I have so many points it's overflowing.
First, I rescued Selena's older brother, the young master of the Naplio Marquisate.
Frankly, I didn't know this either. I never planned it, but somehow it turned out this way.
And as a bonus, I received the Medal of Honor because of him. A crazy guy who got the Medal of Honor twice as his son-in-law? Honestly, as an Empire noble, I couldn't bear it.
Additionally, our family isn't shabby either. Friedrich County is quite prosperous, and now my sister becomes the Crown Princess, turning into the future Empress of the Empire... ugh, just thinking is amazing.
Regardless, in the eyes of the Marquis of Naplio, I'm a thief who stole his daughter at first, but I won't be seen as a bad son-in-law for long.
Frankly, if the score drops, it's weird. Where else in the world would the number one son-in-law candidate be—
...Ah.
Ah, damn it. Right. Graduate school. I forgot. Selena chose to go to graduate school because of me.
Thinking that, all the points I thought I had stacked up suddenly disappeared.
Being the one who sent his own daughter to graduate school, and for three years? Even I wouldn't be able to bear it.
"Karl? Karl!"
"Yeah, yeah. Selena. You called?"
"We're almost there. What's up? You seem to have drifted off to somewhere else."
Ah, that's what I mean. Selena. So, you see.
"...What did you say to the Marquis?"
"Huh?"
"When I said I was going to graduate school because of you."
"What? Again with that story? I told you, Karl. My father also understands in the end."
Yeah, that would be it. But seeing it firsthand is a whole different issue.
Leaving that aside, even I would want to grab the collar of a guy who sent his daughter to graduate school.
*
In the noble world, what is most important is age, lineage, and most of all, status.
Here, the term 'status' doesn't simply divide commoners, nobles, and royalty. Within that, what position and role the person held is important.
Looking at it that way, even though they passed on the position, the owners of the previous family still have a very strong influence.
Age, lineage, and status. In any of these aspects, it's a great giant without any shortcomings.
Therefore, the current Marquis of Naplio was surprised and tense upon seeing his father, the previous Marquis of Naplio, suddenly appear.
"Finally, you've arrived. Did the pilgrimage to the Holy Land go well?"
"With my age, climbing the stairs is a chore. Tsk tsk."
Scratching his white hair, the previous Marquis of Naplio, Loem, looked at his son.
"It's a bit embarrassing. The old man who passed on the position suddenly borrowed the family's name like this."
"Absolutely not, Father. And anyway, you're already dating Lenny. Eventually, I had to thank you directly for saving my son."
"...Yeah. That's right. You saved our grandson. You saved our young master. You are a saint."
Saint. Since when have followers of the Light Doctrine been calling me that?
Some are Medal of Honor recipients. Some are war heroes. Some are saviors. And now, saints.
Even though the future son-in-law seems to be getting bigger and bigger, the Marquis of Naplio didn't care.
No. Rather, it's a good thing. It means my daughter has a great husband.
To the point where I have to endure graduate school life... ugh. Lenny, that guy. I wonder if he'll really be able to handle it.
Already, Selena has confirmed her graduation with the highest honors. She has proven herself in academics.
Even though Deonic, the son and young master, said that he would handle graduate school well, the Marquis of Naplio couldn't shake off the discomfort.
"Marquis."
At this moment, the butler secretly approached and informed that the two protagonists had arrived.
"Father. Please wait a moment. I'll go―"
"No. Let's go together."
"Father?"
"As the son-in-law to the granddaughter, the person who saved the grandson, the saint of the church. As a grandfather who has a grandson and granddaughter. And as a believer in the Light Doctrine. Isn't it inappropriate for an old man to just sit and wait in his seat?"
I didn't add the reason that I should be treated as a Medal of Honor recipient, a hero of the Empire. It means that it is right for my son, the current Marquis of Naplio, to do so.
The Marquis, who knew this well, didn't stop his father any further.
"Grandfather!"
When they came down to the first floor, Selena ran over to Loem with a bright smile and hugged him.
It seemed like she was acting spoiled, as if she had received a lot of affection from her grandfather before.
"Aigoo. Our granddaughter. You seem to have become even prettier in a year."
Loem patted Selena's back and secretly turned his head to the side.
There, the young man who would become the son-in-law in the future was opening his mouth, looking very nervous no matter who looked.
"First time meeting you. Grandfather. Karl Adelheit of Friedrich County."
"Loem Ifreet. So, you're looking at me as a saint."
"Please lower your tone. It's hard to receive respect from Selena's grandfather."
"Heh heh. I see. I see. Still, being a saint doesn't change. Young hero."
For now, that's it. There are a lot of things I want to say, but now is the time to give in to my son.
The owner of the Naplio Marquisate is him, and Selena's father is him too. The conversation now would be many tens or hundreds of times more than himself.
"Come in. Karl."
"Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Marquis."
Even though it's not the reception room, the two people are already starting to talk in hushed tones.
Loem, who had been watching the scene for a moment, turned his gaze to his granddaughter standing beside him.
"Our granddaughter has a very accurate eye for her boyfriend."
"Yeah?"
"His conduct is proper. His character is good too. He's the best son-in-law for our granddaughter."
"Ugh. Not that far yet..."
"Hmm? You don't think about marriage?"
Suddenly, Selena's face started turning red from Loem's question.
"N-no, it's not that..."
"If it's not that, you have to prepare from now on. Lenny. Opportunity doesn't come to those who wait for it. Opportunity only comes to those who constantly strive to seize it. As this old man sees it, it seems like this is something that must be seized."
As a grandfather with a beautiful granddaughter. As the previous family head who led the Ifreet family. And as a believer in the Light Doctrine. Karl Adelheit was the perfect son-in-law material.
From his past conduct, he would never treat his wife carelessly. First pass.
Plus, his appearance matches his granddaughter, who is said to be the most beautiful in the Empire. Second pass.
Having received the Medal of Honor twice in the history of the Empire, and surviving to receive it, just thinking about his honor and fame is like a gift to the Ifreet family and the Naplio Marquisate. Third pass.
Finally, by performing a miracle for those who follow the Light Doctrine, it's a final pass.
Loem had already decided that if his son, the current Marquis of Naplio, showed any sign of opposition or hesitation, he would somehow persuade him.
This marriage has only advantages for both the daughter and the family, so it must be done.
Of course, it's a bit sad that Selena is going to graduate school, but isn't that her own choice? Moreover, having a daughter with a master's degree is also a good thing.
Moreover, the Ifreet family gains another pride, so it can't be said to be all bad.
"Heh heh heh!"
Hmm. It seems my old man's intuition was right.
The Marquis of Naplio, who was talking with Karl, burst into a cheerful laugh and already had his arm around Karl's shoulder.
Even if I don't know exactly what they talked about, the reaction is quite positive. If my son laughs like that to the extent that I know, it's not forced, it's really good.
This must also be the will of the gods. He was moved by our family's sincerity and gave us this marriage as a gift.
I wanted to marry him right away, but I held back. The son-in-law is still an academy student, and the granddaughter is distracted by graduate school life.