Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Son-in-Law's Knight (2)
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Canelian clapped her hands in delight.
"Wow, it's like a seasoned hunter catching a pheasant barehanded!"
"I was thinking more like the owner of a chicken coop pulling out a hen..."
"The Wyvern Lord didn't even have a chance to flee. Impressive."
The Wyvern Lord, clutched in one massive hand of Windler (giant form), let out pitiful cries as it flailed desperately.
But as soon as Windler raised his enormous Aura Blade, it snapped its beak shut.
In the meantime, Drepelius (small form) landed lightly on Windler's opposite shoulder.
"Whoa! Now it really looks like a falconer!"
"Your Highness, the Wyvern Lord and Drepelius look so cute together."
Baron Caron chimed in as well.
"Your Highness. It seems Lord Chuck and Drepelius have surprisingly good synergy. Their coordination is spot-on."
"Hm, you see it that way too?"
"Yes. Just now, Drepelius timed its drop perfectly to match the Wyvern Lord's escape route, allowing Lord Chuck to swoop in and snag it."
"Even jumping down into the mountains to avoid damaging the city—it was all calculated precisely."
Windler piloting Drepelius as a mount...
Come to think of it, this setup could cover wide areas and handle monster subjugations too.
'Auto-farming is gonna speed up.'
I could just harness them up and have them pull the airship when needed.
No communication magic, but the slave gladiator armor allows mental communication at range...
"Hmm. Leaving Drepelius to Windler seems the most efficient."
"But don't you want to ride Drepelius yourself, Your Highness?"
"Nah, not at all."
What's so great about getting blasted by icy winds in the face?
A slow but cozy airship—a flying hotel—is way better.
Drepelius can pull it when things get urgent.
Caw! Kraaak!
Kik! Kieeek!
The Wyvern Lord cowered like a chick before Drepelius's presence.
The beast that feared neither grand magi nor Swordmasters in the sky had turned utterly meek.
Indeed, the best way to tame a flying mount is with an even faster one.
"Landing."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The airship descended near Windler (giant form).
The Duke and Duchess arrived, leading their knight order and mage unit.
'This is tense.'
The parents of Canelian—my beloved heroine and future first crown princess.
But how had that prince punk treated them?
「Isn't the Duchy a vassal of Arcana? That makes you, Duke, a subject to me, Ragna, the next king. Do you intend to defy your sovereign as a vassal lord?」
「Your Highness, that's not our intent. Our Ceres is frail and unfit for the role of queen...」
「I don't want to hear it! Betroth me to that brat Canelian? Are you insulting me? Hand over Duchess Ceres!」
Memories of the prince's rampage that I didn't want to relive...
This must be another trial for me to overcome.
The ducal couple eyed me with clear discomfort before bowing in greeting.
"We greet Your Highness the Prince."
"Duke, Duchess. Please, dispense with the formalities."
I quickly stopped them.
I wanted nothing more than to kneel or at least bow my head, but as the higher-ranking one, I couldn't do that here.
Not with so many watching.
"On our way back from subjugating monsters in Pinia Kingdom, I thought of Your Grace worrying for your daughter and stopped by unannounced."
"...Not at all. What flaw is there in a son-in-law visiting his father-in-law's home anytime? Though I don't see Ceres anywhere."
"Duchess Ceres is managing the mana herb farms in the royal demesne of Adun."
"...So those rumors were true?"
Just then, Windler (now in small form) finished his transformation, harnessed the Wyvern Lord, and proudly led it over.
A brilliant idea struck me.
"As your son-in-law, I present this Wyvern Lord to Your Grace the Duke!"
"I present the Wyvern Lord!"
Ragna's declaration.
The Duke barely suppressed a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
'He's giving me the Wyvern Lord?'
The dream of a 'magnificent mount' was instinct etched into every man's soul.
The Duke's heart pounded wildly.
For a fleeting moment, even that rotten delinquent prince looked appealing.
But the Duke quickly shook off the feeling.
'No, no. People don't change that easily. Who knows what nonsense he's laying the groundwork for now.'
Still, his eyes kept drifting to the Wyvern Lord, and he couldn't stop his lips from curving up.
"Ahem. For now, please come to the palace, Your Highness."
"Please speak freely with me, Your Grace. Or rather, Father-in-Law."
"F-Father-in-Law?"
At that moment, the Duchess—who had been watching warily with sharp eyes—spoke up.
"A son-in-law can drop by unannounced, sure. But shouldn't your fiancée accompany you as well?"
"I couldn't bring the frail Duchess Ceres on a monster subjugation in Pinia. I'll make sure to visit again with her next time, Mother-in-Law."
"M-Mother-in-Law?"
Her wariness softened slightly at the polite address.
The Duke cleared his throat awkwardly.
"For now, let's head into the palace... come on in, Prince."
"Yes, Father-in-Law."
Ragna's demeanor remained impeccably courteous.
The ducal couple couldn't entirely shake their suspicion that this was groundwork for some future outrage...
'Canelian?'
'That girl looking at the prince with such a gentle gaze?'
The way their daughter gazed at the prince was remarkably warm.
The Duke pondered.
'Could it be true that the prince received discipline from the Ancestor and truly reformed?'
Meanwhile, the Duchess...
'Something's suspicious between those two.'
The subtle atmosphere flowing between her daughter and the prince tugged at her mind despite her efforts.
A hastily prepared banquet.
Only the ducal couple, Ragna, and Canelian sat at the table as palace staff bustled to serve the food.
"In the past, I fell short in many ways and was terribly rude to you both. I sincerely apologize and beg your generous forgiveness."
With only a handful of maids left in the room,
the prince set down his spoon, knelt on one knee like a knight, and bowed his head deeply to seek pardon.
The startled ducal couple rose from their seats to pull the prince to his feet.
"How can someone of your noble station kneel and bow so casually? Never do this again."
"We understand your feelings, Prince. Please don't ever do this again."
The Duchy was Arcana's vassal state.
Ragna had crossed the line of what a sovereign should show, humbly begging forgiveness.
The ducal couple realized this was no ploy to gain momentum for greater misdeeds.
A prince kneels before no one.
The sight of his apology—witnessed by only a few maids—would soon spread throughout the duchy.
'Did he intend that?'
'If it's the prince's scheme, it's actually a good sign. It means he can think that far ahead.'
With hearts much eased, the ducal couple entertained the prince and enjoyed the banquet.
"Oh, is that true? Ceres gets 5% of the mana herb cultivation profits?"
"Yes. Duchess Ceres is the one person I trust above all to handle the mana herb cultivation. It's only natural."
"Haha, truth be told, I was worried when we sent her off... but seeing how much you cherish my daughter puts my mind at ease, son-in-law."
"... ."
"... ."
"Hm? Why the sudden change in expressions, son-in-law?"
The atmosphere grew awkward somehow.
The Duke looked baffled, while the Duchess eyed the prince and Canelian suspiciously in turn.
"What's this, son-in-law? If you're hiding something, out with it."
"Mother, please don't be too shocked..."
"No, Canelian. Allow me."
As the prince cut off his second daughter's trembling voice,
the Duchess felt the vague premonition she'd harbored sharpen into clarity.
She covered her mouth with one hand, eyes widening as she stared at them.
"N-No way...?"
"I formally requested Duchess Ceres's permission to switch fiancées, and proposed to Canelian."
"Ah..."
"Then our Ceres..."
The Duke staggered slightly.
"I see. Entrusting her with the vital task of managing the mana herb farms was a form of compensation."
The prince offered no reply.
Compensation wasn't the only reason, but he couldn't deny it played a part.
The Duchess let out a faint sigh.
"A frail body that can't even bear children. Politically, it's fitting to entrust her with such an important royal project... but as a mother, it's bittersweet."
"Your Graces, forgive me."
Before the ducal couple's eyes, the prince took Canelian's hand atop the table.
The couple and their daughter flinched in unison, but the prince gazed intently at Canelian's face and continued.
"The moment I saw Canelian all grown up, I felt a dazzling shock."
"Your Highness..."
"I wanted her as my partner. To make that happen, I knew I had to change completely—and be honest with Duchess Ceres."
The ducal couple's lips trembled wordlessly for a time before they forced smiles at the tightly clasped hands.
"Switching fiancées between bloodlines in a political marriage is no blemish."
"We just sighed briefly out of pity for Ceres's situation... don't let it weigh on you, son-in-law."
Composing themselves, the ducal couple offered their blessings to the pair.
"We welcome the union of you two."
Late into the night.
After the banquet, the Duke stepped out for some fresh air.
'The prince has truly changed. He's no longer that delinquent of old.'
A change so dramatic it was like his soul had been replaced.
That only made him pity Ceres more.
'The prince now would have made a fine husband who wouldn't cause our Ceres any heartache...'
Canelian could find a good match anytime.
But frail, infertile Ceres was different.
So when the prince had forced the betrothal on Ceres, a corner of his heart had felt relief.
'This too is my selfish desire. I can't even wish for Canelian's happiness, only worry over my eldest daughter's misfortune... Forgive me, Canelian.'
Lost in tangled thoughts, he soon arrived at the wyvern stables.
Whoooosh!
A gusty wind drew his eyes skyward, where the captured Wyvern Lord was descending.
Windler rode atop the beast, now fitted with a special saddle and reins.
As Windler deftly tugged the reins, the Wyvern Lord crawled obediently across the ground at his command.
The Duke recalled the name he'd heard earlier.
'Mr. Chuck the Wise Knight. Lacks verbal ability due to intelligence issues, but a Swordmaster with flawless combat prowess...'
"Lord Chuck, out riding the Wyvern Lord so late into the night?"
Windler, face hidden behind full plate armor, stared impassively at the Duke before replying.
"I am the Sword of Arcana, Mr. Chuck the Wise."
"He's says he's in the middle of taming it, Your Grace."
"B-Baron Caron? Weren't you dead? How are you here?"
The Duke flustered at Caron's sudden appearance.
"Ah, did His Highness not mention me? I swore my sword to Arcana some time ago."
Old traumas resurfacing, the Duke steadied his breath and heard the full story.
Only then did relief wash over him.
'Even taming that vile, cunning beast from the Empire. The prince really has become a different man.'
Caron chatting amiably with Windler looked nothing like the Empire's old Vicious Blade.
'Must be the shift in perspective as the son-in-law's knight...'
"Your Grace, why wander about so late with the gloomy face of a depressed middle-aged man in pajamas?"
"B-Baron Caron? What do you mean by that?"
"If something troubles you, tell me. Care for a drink?"
"... ."
Naturally, the Duke had no intention of confiding his worries.
This was a blemish on House Elryad that must remain hidden.
Then, Windler—who had been staring intently—spoke up.
"I am the Sword of Arcana, Mr. Chuck the Wise."
"Lord Chuck asks if you'd like to take a lap around the night sky on the Wyvern Lord."
"I am the Sword of Arcana..."
"Not fully tamed yet, so the flight's a bit rough, but he says it'll help lift your spirits."
The Duke, dumbfounded, asked Windler directly.
"Is what Baron Caron said true?"
*Nod nod.*
After much deliberation, the Duke squeezed his eyes shut and decided.
"I'll ride."
"Oh, come here. Lord Chuck, mind if I join for a test ride too?"
And so the three men mounted the 'not yet fully tamed' Wyvern Lord.
The beast, thinking it was done only to be sent out again, took to the skies with irritated wingbeats.
As the sharp, cool wind whipped through his hair, the Duke felt an indescribable rush of relief.
The thrill was so exhilarating he forgot all about his cherished purebred white stallion.
'What craftsman on the continent could receive a Wyvern Lord as a gift from his son-in-law? A luxury even the Emperor can't enjoy!'