The Capital Selects This Year's Groom - 3
I staked my letter of resignation on the vow. For the duration of this New Year's Audience, I would become a fence surrounding my in-laws. A living human totem that pulled the entire family together.
I would make absolutely no contact with any nobles outside the in-laws. At the same time, I had to stop the in-laws from contacting other nobles either. To protect even a faint scrap of my peace and well-being, that was the only way.
It stings.
If I failed to keep that resolution, it would not end with gazes merely pricking the back of my head the way they were now. I would probably be battered by every kind of question until my eardrums tore.
Turning around felt a little frightening. I was tough enough to take a few hits, but getting punched in the solar plexus dozens of times in a short span was a completely different problem from toughness.
That was exactly the situation I was in. The man who had once been high society's representative bachelor was attending his first official event after acquiring lovers—six of them, two from ducal houses, and one of those the duke herself. Even a sage indifferent to worldly affairs would have risen for a standing ovation. It was more than enough to suffer a merciless assault of stares.
If it had stopped there, I could still have endured. There was plenty of commotion, but noble marriages were ordinary enough. The nobles were shocked that the Magic Lord was marrying someone as green and young as me; they were not shocked by marriage itself. It might draw heavy attention, yet it was hard to call the thing impossible.
"The Magic Lord's disciple? That young lady?"
"Astonishing. Her Excellency occasionally offers advice, but she has never formally taken a disciple."
"Exactly. Even successive vice-tower masters never received her teaching. Imagine how it was for everyone else."
The appearance of the Magic Lord's disciple, however, was an entirely different matter from marriage. No matter how generously one tried to view it, the event belonged in the category of things that simply could not happen. The fervent reaction of the nobles who had heard the Magic Lord's words was proof enough.
Despite the pleadings of countless great mages, the Magic Lord had never once taken a disciple. And now she had one? Any mage—whether of the Empire or of another nation—would choke on the news.
Thanks to that, the nobles who had been hovering at a discreet distance began to stir. Considering the political shockwaves the title "disciple of the Magic Lord" would send through the court, the reaction was only natural. And she was not merely a disciple; she was the sole disciple. That made it even more powerful.
"We never had occasion to meet before, but now we are one family."
"Ah, um, that is…"
"When you have time, come to the Magic Tower. As your teacher I will instruct you properly."
Even in the middle of all that, the Magic Lord stroked Luise's hair and spoke in a gentle voice. It was impressive how that single light remark shoved the surrounding nobles into real-time confusion.
Of course I did not stop her. Luise had suddenly acquired the miraculous title of "sole disciple of the Magic Lord" and was drawing excessive noble attention, but given her original standing, this much had to be endured. Better this than the perception that she was somehow lesser than the other lovers.
"Congratulations, Luise. The next great mage was right in front of us all along."
I smiled at Luise, who still had no idea what to do with herself. In this situation no one was more flustered than she was, so I at least needed to show her how to respond.
"Th-thank you!"
Snapping back to her senses at my words, Luise quickly bowed her head to the Magic Lord and offered her thanks. With that, the Magic Lord and Luise had advanced from the shady, unofficial relationship of nine years ago into a fully official master-disciple bond.
Truly something to celebrate…
—or so I explained later to the Section Chief who had only just joined us.
"So that's why I'm here too?"
"Yeah. It's not like you have anywhere else to go."
"Well, that's true."
As the Section Chief nodded, I casually added,
"If you don't like it you can wander around on your own. Just know you'll get grabbed once every three steps."
"Ugh, I really don't want that again."
I let out a short laugh at the way she shuddered as though the thought itself was horrifying. Even Marquis Iones, who had been listening to the Iron Blood Duke's explanation, wore a complicated smile; they must truly have been tormented to the point of grinding their teeth.
Unlike the in-laws who had already gathered early, the Masalo Marquisate had been circulating alone because they still had matters to discuss with other marquis houses. And for the crime of remaining separate from us, the Masalo Marquisate had been harassed by every noble under the sun; only after joining us did they finally understand why. From the perspective of the marquis and the Section Chief, who had suffered without knowing the reason, it was enough to bring tears.
"Just stick close. Don't go wandering off somewhere strange."
I patted the shoulder of the Section Chief who had been unfairly tormented. She pouted and grumbled,
"We have communication orbs. You could have told me ahead of time…"
"Sorry. I forgot."
As I spoke I slipped an arm around her waist; the protruding lower lip immediately disappeared and she giggled.
Even if I had told her in advance, things would not have changed all that much, but knowing beforehand was still better than being hit cold. Failing to warn her was my mistake.
"Well then, I'll have to forgive you specially this time! You'd better be grateful!"
"Thank you. Our Erzebet really does have a generous heart."
Fortunately my sincere apology seemed to melt the Section Chief's resentment as well.
Sincerity really was best. A little physical affection on the side made it invincible.
Maintaining friendly relations among the Imperial Count families was an important matter. As direct vassals of His Majesty the Emperor, the Imperial Counts were of a different nature from ordinary nobles. From their very origins they had been both shield and sword for the imperial authority, a means of pressing down upon the other nobles.
Because of that somewhat blood-soaked history, the Imperial Count houses still found it difficult to mingle comfortably with other families, which made the relationships among the Imperial Counts themselves all the more vital. If even the Imperial Counts failed to get along with one another, each house would simply become an isolated outcast.
Therefore it was nothing unusual that, while the heads of the Imperial Count houses were currently gathered with His Highness the Crown Prince, the ladies of those houses had assembled separately.
"I always envy you, my lady. If my son could resemble even half of the Audit Department Chief, I would have no further wishes."
"You flatter me, my lady."
"Flattery? Excess humility is a poison, you know."
"She's right. My boy has only just begun helping with the domain's affairs, and the way he frets and frets…"
And when mothers who had children of their own gathered, talk of those children was inevitable. When the most outstanding child among peers of similar age was mentioned, that was simply destiny.
I felt proud. Every time these ladies who lacked for nothing looked at me with eyes that held envy and a faint thread of jealousy, every time praise for Karl left their smiling mouths, an indescribable joy welled up inside me.
Yes, he truly was a son to be proud of. Under this immature mother, in an environment that had never given him proper love or attention, he had grown splendidly. He had become a child who would not fall short even when measured against every titled noble of his generation.
"Heh heh… Is that so?"
So despite the ladies' praise I only smiled. If I had truly raised Karl properly, I might have quietly preened and claimed my education had been excellent. I would have enjoyed their gazes.
But how could I? With what face could I claim a share in the path that boy had walked alone? Therefore all I could do was smile.
"But my lady, will it truly be all right if you do not go over there?"
In the middle of the long conversation about children, one lady's words drew every gaze back to me.
The remark was somewhat abrupt, yet everyone understood its meaning. With Karl standing among his lovers and in-laws, was I really fine remaining here?
"Yes. Karl has so little time to relax because of the Academy. He has hardly had chances to see his lovers who live in the capital either. I hope he can spend some quiet, intimate time now."
"My, my lady, you are so deep-hearted."
At that answer the lady who had asked did not press further. From the beginning it had not been a question meant to send me away; she had simply been curious.
I smiled at her once more and let my gaze drift briefly toward Karl.
…Intimate time.
The truth was I wanted to go. I wanted Billy and me to share that intimate time as well. I wanted to greet Karl's lovers—the women who would become my daughters-in-law. I wanted to become acquainted with the families that would become our in-laws.
Still I forced myself to endure. Before the New Year's Audience Karl had said something.
"It will probably be noisy until the second day. Exchanging greetings in that kind of atmosphere would only be tiring, so how about we meet once things have quieted down?"
When Karl himself made the request, how could I refuse? Moreover the reasoning was not wrong, so I had accepted it.
Besides, early in the New Year's Audience Billy himself could not move because of the Imperial Counts' gathering. Would it not look strange for the families of the in-laws to meet without the head of the house present? Therefore, just as Karl had said, the right time to move was after things had settled and Billy's business was finished.
"I had planned to arrange the schedule carefully, but everything happened so suddenly. I hope I am not simply making the two of you tired…"
"It's all right. Who in the world would dislike going to see their daughter-in-law?"
And when I saw Karl smiling as though embarrassed, refusal became even more impossible.
A son who took the lead in introducing his lovers. A son who worried that an overly packed schedule might tire his parents. How could that not make me happy? How could I possibly refuse?
"Thank you. I will speak to the in-laws in advance."
"Yes. Do as you find comfortable."
"Ah, and once the New Year's Audience is over I will visit separately. Mar and several others have said they wish to dine with their mother-in-law."
After the communication cut off, I had sat for a long time stroking the communication orb, smiling. The conversation I had shared with Karl had felt like the ordinary talk of any mother and son, and that had made me happy. Being able to have such a conversation at all had been too joyful.
Just a few more days.
Recalling the feelings of that moment, I steeled my heart again.
Yes, just endure a few more days. As Karl said, in two days—three at most—things would quiet down.
And three days later, the moment the commotion had barely begun to subside, news arrived that His Majesty the Emperor had invited Karl to luncheon.
…
Just one more day.
I placed my trembling hand over my chest and slowly drew a deep breath.
If I did not calm myself, I felt a seed of treason might sprout deep inside my heart.