59. The Two of You
59. The Two of You
In fact, Mary was the one who vehemently opposed Allen leaving for the Academy.
"Anyway, oppa will become the head of the family. So why are you trying to send him away?"
It was already decided that Allen would become the head of the Wiesent Family.
There was almost no one within the family who disliked Allen.
Although there were some who worried about his incompetence, anyone who showed signs of making other moves had already been eliminated by Mary.
As proof, all the collateral branches of the Wiesent Family that tried to form ties with Mary had already vanished into history.
"I will remove every thorn that poses a danger to oppa. Father."
She had vowed to become both a sword and a shield for Allen for the rest of her life.
With Mary showing such resolve, perhaps Allen's going to the Academy really did seem meaningless.
"I have no intention of raising that child like a flower in a greenhouse."
"Father!"
But the head of the family, Adrian, thought completely differently.
"What parent in the world would want their child to be a frog in a well?"
He wanted Allen to see a wider world, meet many people, and if possible, grow as well.
And there was another thing he wanted.
Certainly, as Mary said, no one within the Wiesent territory would raise any issue about his succession.
But it was hard to be sure whether the people of the world would respect the next Margrave of Wiesent who hadn't even graduated from the Academy.
"... Do you think oppa can graduate from the Academy with his current ability?"
"I'm not expecting him to graduate. I just want him to know how the world works."
The decision of the head of the family was absolute.
Even Mary, the second in the Wiesent hierarchy, couldn't overturn it, but she did something she had never done before: rebel.
If they were going to send Allen away, she declared she would never return to the mansion either.
"Father doesn't understand. The stares oppa will receive once he goes to the Academy."
Even if they were family, Mary could evaluate Allen objectively.
He had no talent, no skill, and no luck. It was as clear as day what kind of treatment such a person would receive at the Academy.
So she tried to stop it by any means. To prevent Allen from going to the Academy.
"Why..."
But perhaps it was a mistake to leave for the front lines.
As soon as Mary left, Adrian sent Allen off to the Academy, as if he had been waiting.
It had been 5 weeks, 3 days, 11 hours, and 23 minutes since Allen left for the Academy.
"You've definitely changed since going to the Academy."
"Phew, I'm still at my limit, though."
Mary looked at Allen.
Even though it wasn't an empty compliment—she could see him staggering and struggling—compared to before he left the Academy, he had truly changed a lot.
Back then, Allen couldn't even endure two combined strikes and would cry surrender.
Seeing Allen now parry a sword swung with a fair amount of force made her proud.
"You've improved a lot."
"Thanks for always saying that for my sake."
Now she understood a little why Adrian had wanted to send Allen to the Academy.
But that didn't mean she had no complaints.
'But why did he get so close to those other women?'
She had only met them in passing, but she recognized all the women Allen had brought to the mansion.
Aniel, Lucia, Lily, Iris—every single one of them was strikingly beautiful.
Mary knew why those women were obsessed with Allen.
'Probably oppa charmed them all.'
He was the kind of person who charmed everyone, men and women alike, wherever he went.
Would it be any different just because he went to the Academy?
'Even I...'
She bit her lip.
"Mary? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"... It's nothing."
In other families, it was common to see plots and schemes over the position of successor.
But Allen never paid any attention to such things and cherished her greatly.
Having such a kind person as her oppa made her incredibly happy, but at the same time, it was painful.
She was undoubtedly his one and only younger sister.
'Because this is all I'm allowed.'
She couldn't dare hope for a relationship beyond that.
People must always be wary of pride and arrogance.
It was said that if you were endlessly greedy, the Goddess would punish you.
Even though she wasn't religious, Mary thought there was some truth to those words.
So she had to be satisfied with being family, with being a younger sister.
"Come to think of it, about that promise."
"Oppa?"
But Allen always easily crossed the walls she built.
"You asked if you could always stay by my side once you became strong."
Unlike Mary, who had sparred with complicated feelings, Allen pondered the promise he had made with her.
If he, too, had failed to remember a promise he considered important, it would surely disappoint the other person.
Above all, he didn't want to let his younger sister down.
"My answer has always been the same."
"..."
"Whether you're strong or not, you're always welcome to stay by my side. Because I like you very much too."
A promise made when they were young.
Mary felt both happy and bitter hearing that.
He probably said those words to her as family.
Knowing it was a futile hope, she tried not to get hurt.
"I've always been glad that you're my younger sister."
But no matter how much she tried to give up, her heart kept racing.
"I feel the same way too. Because oppa is my oppa..."
What was she supposed to do?
"I'm very happy."
I really hate this.
After that, Mary said she had something to do and disappeared.
Once I was alone, I returned to Father's office.
Thinking that by now he would have made a decision.
"Hah. What the hell is wrong with you."
The moment he saw me, Father let out a sigh.
I wanted to say, "How dare you say that to someone's face," but I remembered how much trouble I had caused him, so I quietly sat down.
"So, have you decided?"
"Decided what?"
"What else."
He looked truly exhausted. He placed a bottle of rum on the desk—something he never brought out unless he was tired.
Then he downed that harsh liquor and continued.
"Who you're going to marry."
"... Haha."
Marriage? With whom? I couldn't pretend not to know the situation, so I let out a sigh as well.
"What about Her Highness the Imperial Princess?"
"I honestly have no intention of marrying Her Highness. She's just using me."
"Hah. She should have heard that right here."
She was an Imperial Princess. Above all, she had only chosen me temporarily because she disliked Albert.
She probably had no real desire to marry me either.
Once Salaban was safely dealt with, it would likely become as if nothing had happened.
"Then what about the Grand Duchess of Windelof?"
"Her Grace is far too good for me as well. There must be someone more suitable for her."
I didn't know why Aniel was suddenly brought up, but I certainly had some feelings for her—a little, just a little.
But she was still far too good for me.
At least until I became someone worthy of her, even dreaming of it would be difficult.
"The Saintess."
"Father, have you lost your mind?"
How could I marry a Saintess?
A devout Saintess spends her entire life unmarried.
Even if she took a lover, the church would never leave that person alone.
"I think the one who's really lost his mind is you."
"Father?"
But instead of refuting me, he said something else.
Surely he wasn't referring to Lily as the one who had lost her mind?
"What about the daughter of the Imperial Guard Commander?"
"That woman hates me."
"Hah. She hates you, yet she followed you all the way here."
"She probably followed the Grand Duchess. She's a fanatic of hers."
I had no particular thoughts about Iris either.
After all, all the women I had mentioned so far were from the Imperial faction.
They clearly had no reason to marry into the Wiesent side.
That's just how politics worked.
But as if reading my thoughts, Father smirked.
"Things don't always go as planned. After all, who would have thought you'd pass the Academy re-examination?"
"I have no argument against that."
"So, your intention is to continue playing along with Her Highness the Imperial Princess for now?"
"Yes. Because I want to protect my younger sister Mary."
And also because Lucia had made a wish.
I had already decided to grant it, so I had no choice but to follow her will.
Then Father snorted and spoke.
"Come to think of it, I didn't mention another person."
"Another person?"
He poured himself another glass of rum.
Aniel, Lucia, Lily, and Iris had all been mentioned.
Was there anyone else to bring up?
As I waited silently for him to speak, the person that came out of Father's mouth was someone I never expected.
"What about Mary?"
My younger sister, Mary.
Before I could even ask if he was crazy, he continued.
"There's no problem if you marry. After all, you two aren't blood-related."
The one who truly felt like going crazy was none other than me.