58. Promise
58. Promise
Having learned the full story, Adrian let out a hollow laugh.
『The front lines are in a bloody war, and yet this kind of headache arises in the capital.』
Thanks to the Demon race, Adrian already had a mountain of work to do.
That was why he hadn't intervened in capital affairs.
In the first place, the Emperor was the type to cling to power, so it was close to him deliberately leaving things be.
If he needlessly provoked suspicion and a civil war broke out, that would be even more troublesome.
『If I'd known it would come to this, I should never have taken my hands off.』
But once he was made aware of the situation, the story changed completely.
Even as he felt disgusted by what was happening in the capital, Adrian's gaze turned back to Lucia.
"Then, is it correct to understand that Your Highness the Princess has moved for the sake of the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Wiesent family, and for my daughter?"
Now he began to understand why Lucia had brought up such a topic.
So that the Wiesent family would not feel offended, and for Mary's sake, she had said they would marry.
It was a very advantageous proposal for them. If they could form an engagement with her, who was considered a candidate for the next Emperor, and protect the family's pride as well.
But Adrian examined the situation objectively.
"Yet, why did Your Highness the Princess conceive of such a proposal?"
"Father."
"Be still, Allen. This is an important matter for the family."
He wondered what benefit it would bring to Lucia, even if it was good for the Wiesent family.
Every sweet deal came with its own price.
"In fact, Your Highness the Princess could shift the entire responsibility for this affair onto His Majesty the Emperor."
The Lucia he knew was a political figure.
Since she was still enrolled at the Academy, she could have easily kept herself free from this incident.
Rather, there was a high possibility she hoped for the flames to spread.
Seeing it as a good opportunity to drive out the Emperor and ascend the throne herself.
Then, after everything was over, she would extend her hand and say, let's get along again.
Because both Wiesent and the Imperial Family would eventually have no choice but to join hands.
"I won't deny it. If it were the former me, I probably would have done that."
As expected of a Margrave, she thought.
Looking at Adrian, who stared at her with cold, sharp eyes, Lucia curled the corners of her lips.
She preferred smart people over stupid ones.
"Since the Margrave has shown honesty, I shall be a little more honest myself."
And she preferred smart but not hypocritical people.
Lucia turned her head to look at Allen, who was fidgeting nervously.
That look of his, worried that something might go wrong—why did it feel so endearing?
What a strange thing. She was certain she had hated people who showed such expressions.
『Perhaps it depends on the person.』
Yes, just as everyone has a different scent, she must have a clear favoritism toward this man.
In that sense, Lucia took Allen's hand.
"If I said there was a little personal interest involved, would you understand, Margrave?"
Personal interest—could it really be called just "a little"?
She could simply call it her own feelings, but...
"Take your hand off."
"Your Highness the Princess, what are you doing?"
"..."
With just that one action, fierce checks were already following.
Regrettably, she couldn't raise their guard any higher than necessary for now, so she had to be satisfied with this level.
『So that's how it was.』
On the other hand, Adrian, having confirmed this side of Lucia, let out a sigh.
He understood. He understood, yes. And he had no particular intention of intervening more than necessary.
In this matter, he intended to just let Allen handle it as he wished.
"I told you to take it off."
"Your Highness the Princess, if you keep acting like this, I'll have no choice but to pray to the Goddess to curse you."
But Adrian wondered if this was the result of letting him handle things on his own.
『If things go wrong, the family could be torn to shreds.』
He only sent him to the Academy—how in the world did he manage to seduce a princess, a grand duchess, a saintess, and even the daughter of the Imperial Guard Commander?
For some reason, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Leaving Aniel, Lily, Iris, and Lucia with Father, I stepped out of the reception room.
『It's practically running away.』
Still, Father had agreed.
With his gaze, he told me not to stay here and to just leave.
Father must have felt it too—that if I kept staying here, the fight would only escalate.
"As expected, only those with a quick sense of the room become the head of the family."
In that sense, I should consider myself unfit for the position of head.
Because at least I don't have that kind of sense.
"Orabeoni."
As I was wondering whether to kill time by looking around the mansion, Mary's voice reached me.
"Where are you going?"
"Hm, I was thinking of slacking off a bit."
My younger sister, who had always worn an expressionless face since childhood.
It was the same now.
With hardly any change in expression, I still couldn't tell what she was thinking.
"You're leaving Father alone?"
"And you snuck out too, didn't you?"
"I came out to watch where Orabeoni was going."
It's always like this. She used to try to follow wherever I went anyplace.
The only time I could have time to myself was when I was inside this mansion.
But now, perhaps because we hadn't met in a while, even if I said I wanted to be alone, she seemed like she would follow me to the end.
"Do you want to take a walk together? I haven't been here in a while, so I'd like to look around the mansion."
So instead, I extended my hand and offered first.
How about we take a walk together?
"Yes, I'd like that."
As she took my hand and smiled, I found it pleasing to look at. Then, suddenly curious about Mary's affection level, I lifted my head to check.
『Still, we're family, so it should be over 20-30, right?』
One might say that's on the low side, but even Lucia and Aniel, with their current affection levels, showed that much distance.
The affection level standard might be relative, but for now, my standard had to be those two.
Anyway, as I examined the number above Mary's head...
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Orabeoni?"
My expression stiffened.
And for good reason...
[Mary Wiesent : Family Affection Level 81]
An affection level of 81? What in the world...?
And more importantly, what the hell is "family affection level"?
"Orabeoni, if you really are sick, you should go to your room and rest..."
"No, I'm really fine. I just got dizzy for a moment."
Hearing the same worry for the umpteenth time, I wondered why Mary's affection level was this high.
I had expected it to be high.
Because of how much Mary follows me and thinks about me.
『But "family affection level"?』
Does that mean there's a separate affection level for family members?
First, going back to square one, I tried hard to recall why Mary's affection level was so high.
『Did I do anything special for Mary?』
Reading books together, playing tag, eating meals.
I thought we just spent time like ordinary friends or close siblings.
"Orabeoni, do you remember?"
As I was lost in thought, Mary, who had been quiet, pointed somewhere and spoke.
Following where she pointed, I saw a training ground.
"When we were young, we used to play often in the training ground."
"Come to think of it, that's right."
There was a training ground used by the Wiesent family members, separate from the one mainly used by the knights.
"At that time, as a bastard child, it was a place I dared not use."
In the transitional period of skill and social status, Mary often suffered implicit discrimination.
"But because Orabeoni stubbornly insisted that we do it together, I was able to use it too."
Seeing her always practicing alone in secret, I had insisted.
That I would attend the lessons with Mary. If not, I wouldn't go.
Because my stubbornness prevailed, Mary was allowed to use it when she was with me.
"Now no one mentions my birth in front of me, but back then, having a sturdy shield like Orabeoni made me very grateful."
She spoke with a flushed face, as if embarrassed, and I smiled brightly.
I wanted to say it was nothing, but to Mary, it probably wasn't.
『Then it makes sense that her affection level is high.』
Thinking that, I was about to continue our walk when Mary grabbed my wrist and spoke.
"You haven't forgotten the promise you made to me long ago, have you?"
The promise I made long ago?
What did I say?
When I couldn't answer immediately, Mary's expression turned fierce.
"Surely you didn't forget... no, it seems you did forget."
"Ma-Mary?"
"I'll help you recall that memory."
Holding my wrist, Mary led me toward the training ground.
Then one thing came to mind.
『Come to think of it, I sparred with Mary a lot...!』
Back when I was feeling down because my training with the instructors was ineffective, Mary had suggested to me.
She said she'd teach me a lot if we sparred together.
So we sparred a lot...
『Of course, I lost countless times.』
Why did that only come to mind now?
Even though I wanted to say I remembered now, that promise still wouldn't come to mind.
"Orabeoni. Today, I'll make sure you remember properly."
"Wait, stop!"
The sparring had suddenly begun.