Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Merit Rewards and a Betrothal
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As the number of retainers grew, their attitudes toward merit rewards had shifted.
Previously, it had been half in jest, but now everyone was dead serious. There were those like Ymir or Master Iliya who showed no greed from start to finish, but aside from them, everyone wanted the highest rank possible.
That made things difficult.
"For now, third place..."
There were four candidates.
Olaf, who had steadily commanded the army. Lutger, who had reliably handled the evacuation in the southern Mobray territory. Eonia, who had stayed by my side as an aide through the battles. And as a bonus, Dorothy, who had linked up with the local nobles to manage administration and supplies.
If they had no ambitions, I could have chosen without burden, but that wasn't the case.
They were all inwardly expectant.
"Hmm, Eo."
"Yes!?"
"Just calling your name."
"Huuuuh...!"
This was precisely the time for an objective evaluation.
"...Olaf, you're third in merit. I heard from the soldiers under your command. No wasted effort. You did well."
"Haha, still made the top three."
"Your reward is three days' vacation leave. Use it whenever you need."
"Wow! That's generous!"
Exclamations rose from the other retainers. Whether in the modern world or here, the longing for vacation seemed universal.
"Next, second place... is you, Eo."
Eonia, claiming second place like a ghost once more. Was this what it meant to be the queen of military officers?
"Thank you!"
With the first place obvious, Eo didn't look dejected.
"You racked up the achievement of wounding the enemy commander Christian Feltz in our first clash. Good work."
"Yes, sir!"
"Your reward... I'll prepare it soon."
"N-No reward is fine!"
Even as she said it, her eyes betrayed her expectations.
Lutger, who hadn't made the merit list, looked regretful. Estelle consoled her father.
"First place goes to Gaspar. I don't think there's any need to explain your merits."
"Hmph, obviously."
"I don't have anything grand prepared. Will five days' vacation leave do? Or perhaps some fine liquor?"
Based on Gaspar's usual behavior, I figured he'd go for the liquor, but no.
With a suddenly serious expression, he spoke.
"No, there's one thing I'd like to request in exchange for this reward."
"A request from me?"
"It doesn't matter if you refuse... but I'd appreciate it if you could grant it."
"What is it?"
"When we're alone."
His expression suggested it wasn't a small matter.
I preemptively assumed it was about the western beastkin village of Dielrum. There had been a civilian massacre there recently, after all.
But it was something entirely different.
Once the retainers had all left and we were alone, Gaspar hesitantly spoke up.
"This is a request from one man to another, and as a father."
"As a father...?"
"Als, won't you take Ymir as your wife?"
"...!?"
I was speechless for a moment. It was that unexpected.
Gaspar continued.
"I'm worried. About that girl living like that forever. Devoting herself to someone means neglecting herself in equal measure."
"That's..."
I was nothing but grateful for Ymir's devotion. I had been searching for a way to repay it, but nothing suitable came to mind.
And rightly so—Ymir had said my happiness was her own.
Gaspar seemed aware of that too.
"I've seen a lot of people like that. Ones who say devoting themselves to someone is their joy. Well, I don't intend to deny that way of life, but in the end, most of them end up miserable. Nothing left for themselves. And yet they don't realize it. They believe that's the only form of happiness, serving their master until death, no matter what becomes of them. If you call that a noble death, maybe, but I don't want my daughter ending up like that."
"So you're saying I should take her as my wife?"
"Suppose Ymir married some other guy. Think she'd be happy? Even if she did, she'd serve you just the same. You're her priority. That would be unhappiness for both her and her husband. But with you, it's different. She believes your happiness is hers."
"You're... right."
"Exactly. So if you marry Ymir and make her happy, it's killing two birds with one stone, isn't it? You get happy, she gets happy. Got any counterarguments?"
Surprisingly, none.
Listening to Gaspar, it felt like this was the only path to Ymir's happiness.
"I know you see Ymir as family, but please think about it seriously."
"...No, it's not just as family."
"Really? That's a relief."
It was my fault.
If I hadn't entered Als's body, Als probably wouldn't have seen Ymir as more than family.
I was different. I saw her as a woman.
Thus, my feelings for Ymir were complex and subtle.
One thing was certain: I held affection for her. Far greater than what I felt for Estelle or Erina.
"Understood. I'll think about it seriously."
"Good. That's all I ask. Thank you."
Gaspar let out a sigh of relief.
I'd said I'd think seriously, but my resolve was already half formed.
*
*
*
The day after returning to Rainpole, I decided to visit the main house.
With Wade's identity revealed, it would affect the family too.
I headed there alone with Ymir.
Along the way, I subtly broached the subject.
"Ymir, have you ever thought about getting engaged?"
"What's that out of nowhere...?"
"No, just... I know it's awkward to say, but you're getting a bit older."
"Young master. You mustn't say such things in front of women."
Ymir rarely scolded me.
Next year, she'd turn thirty. In the modern world, thirty was still prime age, but here, it was well past marriageable.
It wasn't for nothing that Aegert, upon first meeting the retainers, had called Ymir, Eo, and Master Iliya "aunties."
Master Iliya, already paired, had laughed it off with, "Hahaha! Auntie fits, doesn't it." But Eonia couldn't hide her grimace. I remembered Ymir flinching too.
"If you arrange it, I'd accept, but otherwise, no. Serving you is more than enough."
"For me to arrange..."
Gaspar's words echoed: she'd be unhappy with anyone else.
I nearly mentioned our marriage talks, but the Ilrain estate came into view, so I held back.
After parking the carriage and entering the mansion, Elsie and Chelsea—the twins—came toddling over with excited patters.
Still unsteady on their feet, they tumbled with a flop and burst into wails.
Mother smiled warmly and scooped them up.
"Come here, both of you."
"I'm home, Mother. Where are Father and Brother Max...?"
"Waiting in their rooms. But no rush. Catch your breath at times like this. Go on, play with the children."
"Haha..."
After playing with the kids, I went to Father and Max, who were waiting. To discuss the branch family and my enrollment in Pensylon Academy.
We couldn't continue living as before with Wade's identity out.
Once that was settled, I decided to ask what I'd long wondered.
"Father, I'd like you to tell me about my fiancée."
With the Ymir talk fresh, I wanted to sort out my romantic relations cleanly. That meant hearing about the fiancée Mother had mentioned.
Who could she be? I waited for an answer, but Father looked at me wide-eyed, as if hearing it for the first time.
"Fiancée? What are you talking about?"
"Pardon? Mother said I had one arranged..."
"Father didn't know? What about you, Brother Max?"
Max shrugged.
"First I'm hearing of a fiancée for you, Als. Not from Millsstein, like Beryl?"
"No, not Beryl."
"Then no clue. Mother probably made it up because she didn't want to send you off to another house. You know how much she dotes on you. Well, that's no worry now. She'll come clean. You're Wade, after all. No chance of you becoming anyone's son-in-law."
"I suppose so."
I'd worried for nothing.
Just as I was about to let it go—
"Ah, no way...!?"
Father groaned, his face twisting.
"Father? What's wrong?"
He sighed heavily before speaking.
"Als, stay for dinner. Then meet Claire afterward."
"You remembered something about the fiancée?"
"Yes. To think she's been seriously agonizing over it this long... Unbelievable."
Father shook his head. My confusion only grew.
After dinner, I was summoned to my parents' room.
Mother sat with a face full of worry. Father was absent.
"You're here."
"Yes, Mother. Father said I could hear about the fiancée..."
"Yes, wait just a moment? I've called her here."
"Called her?"
Someone who could be summoned this quickly must live nearby? That left Estelle. No, she'd been there when the fiancée was first mentioned, so not her.
'Who? One of the girls I knew in Rainpole?'
Too many to guess.
Then came a knock, and Ymir appeared.
I thought she'd brought the guest, but no one followed.
"Madam, you called for me?"
"Yes. Sit here."
Only then did I begin to grasp the truth.
Mother glanced at me, then met Ymir's eyes.
"Ymir, I have something important to tell you."
"Please speak."
"No need for such formality. Haven't I always said I think of you like a daughter?"
"..."
Ymir smiled silently. She knew Mother's true feelings well enough.
In the past, my parents had tried to adopt not just me, but Ymir too.
Even knowing the ridicule a noble family would face for adopting a beastkin.
Ymir had stubbornly refused, not wanting to burden our house. It seemed Mother had never gotten over it.
"I've thought about it endlessly. How to welcome you—who refused adoption—into our family. Not just thinking of you as a daughter, but making you one truly."
"Madam...?"
Ymir finally sensed the gravity.
Mother continued.
"At first, I thought of matching you with Miller or Purji, around your age. But I soon realized: you'd always put Als first. You'd be unhappy even with them. So... I made you Als's fiancée."
"Yes!?"
Ymir was so shocked, it was a expression I'd never seen on her.
'Mother...'
Mother truly wished happiness for Ymir—her daughter. She'd reached the same conclusion as Gaspar. There was only one path to her true happiness.
"Th-That... M-Me, engaged to the y-young master?"
Ymir stammered in panic. I found the sight utterly endearing.
"Y-Young master, say something! This is..."
Mother turned to me, wanting my thoughts too.
My answer was set.
"Ymir, if you're not against it, I'd love that."
"Young master!?"
"Even if you refuse, I'll keep at it until you say yes. So no need for pointless tug-of-war."
"Uh, ah..."
Mother looked shocked too, not expecting my immediate acceptance.
Excited, Ymir shot back with ragged breaths.
"You're not taking this seriously! To you, I'm like Mother..."
"Of course it'd be a lie to say I feel nothing, but I do see you as a woman. So don't worry about that—tell me your thoughts."
"I-I..."
"Whatever your answer, I'll persist until you say yes anyway."
"Ugh... Say that to Eonia..."
"Why bring up Eonia suddenly?"
"A-And there's Lady Erina and Lady Estelle too."
"I like you more than either. Though I'll have to talk to them soon."
A few slaps would do. Estelle honestly scared me, though...
"Could you give me time to think?"
"No."
I pressed Ymir hard. Any leeway, and she'd bolt.
Time to drive it home.
Mother watched with an excited "My son's doing great!" face.
"Just tell me one thing. Do you hate the idea of marrying me?"
"No... not that."
"Good enough. I said I'd keep going until you say yes. If you don't hate it, you'll cave to my persistence eventually. So just accept now."
Ymir opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, words failing her.
Then she shut it. Imagining life with me seriously? Her face flushed deeper and deeper.
Finally.
She nodded. Her sign of acceptance.