chapter 35
Episode 35
Before the regression, I had never felt such intense fear as I did then.
An incomprehensible human form.
A chaos incarnate, showing behavior that was impossible to understand.
That was Rachel Slaine.
“At first, it was good, damn.”
Even the Empire’s renowned beauty engaged in conversations with her, who wouldn’t like that.
It was really good.
How good was it that I, who was diligently following the troublemacker route at the time, would skip and jump around the streets.
But it wasn’t.
– Your Highness, do you know the universe?
No, damn it.
That’s not right.
It’s not allowed.
Even I, who had detoured from my troublemacker route and roamed the streets, avoiding her, couldn’t understand why I did it.
At that time, one of the vassal standing behind the door timidly asked a question.
– Your, Your Highness….
“Why.”
– It’s an absurd question, but, um, like in the old days, the troublemacker…
“What?”
– Oh, no, it’s nothing!
Thud!
There was a sound of heads banging all at once from behind the door.
Well, I can guess roughly.
They must have wanted to say something like, are you trying to cause chaos like in the old troublemacker days again?
I understand.
From the vassals’ point of view, I must have seemed to be whimsical.
But.
“I won’t! I won’t do it!”
What can they do? I’m a duke.
Oh, if they weren’t so loyal, I would have punished them right away, but this isn’t working.
I plugged my ears and desperately blocked out the vassal’ shouts.
You don’t have to listen to this.
Yeah, there’s no reason to listen.
“It’s okay to hold out like this.”
Love for the daughter, marquise Slaine is famous.
Even before the regression, she seemed to be displeased with me.
In that case, if I say I have no intention of continuing the conversation, marquise Slaine will surely step back.
After all, I was a troublemacker from the start.
I did all sorts of things within my territory, but that was all within the territory.
It’s still hard to say that my reputation as a “lord” is good.
In other words.
” marquise Slaine also has no intention of welcoming this conversation!”
Perfect.
I’ve evaluated this carefully for this moment. At this point, I may be able to completely avoid being associated with that woman.
With a smile of relief, I remembered what Rachel had said.
“Your Highness, Your Highness. Do you know? People have different personalities according to the nature of their blood!”
“Your Highness, Your Highness. Did you know that? I’ve divided people’s minds into types lately, and it fits perfectly! It’s called MBT……”
A girl who absorbed all sorts of cults and conspiracy theories from streets.
“Kuh, kuh-ahhh!”
Thinking back to those days hurts my pride.
I pride myself on being quite shameless, but Rachel is someone even I can’t handle.
No, maybe she’s specialized in breaking my logical circuits.
“…Honestly, I don’t want to get involved.”
I don’t know much, but as long as I don’t get involved, Rachel should be fine.
There’s no solid evidence, but I feel like my meeting with her itself touched something inside Rachel.
So this time, I won’t get involved at all. If I don’t get involved, there shouldn’t be any problems.
As I was determined…
“Your, Your Highness!”
Once again, the voice of the vassal came from behind the firmly closed door.
Of course, my intentions are firm.
No.
I’ll announce immediately that I’m not going to continue the conversation and reject it.
marquise Slaine will also agree readily.
That’s what I thought.
“Oh, you’ve come!”
What’s this?
There were no visitors scheduled to visit the mansion today.
And there shouldn’t be anyone coming even if it’s considered a Celestia-class event. Why would anyone…?
“Of the marquise Slaine…!”
“……!”
At that moment, I involuntarily shuddered.
No, why would that name come up?
No matter how much I think about it, that name shouldn’t come up now.
“No, let’s stay calm.”
It’s not yet certain that it’s “that woman.” It might just be an envoy from Maequise Slaine…
“…Lady Rachel is visiting the mansion right now!”
“……”
I quietly closed my eyes.
“Sigh.”
Oh man, this…
—
“Here it is.”
With her knights behind her, Rachel Slaine looked around with a bright smile.
“This is Silen, the largest city of the Grave Maequisecy!”
“Yes, my lady.”
Rachel looked around, her eyes twinkling.
A bustling city with many people walking around and tall buildings.
For her, who had never had the chance to explore outside properly due to her father, Maequise Slaine’s strictness, this place was truly alien.
“It’s amazing! I thought our territory was very impressive, but this place has a different kind of charm!”
“It’s the central city of the duchy, after all. It’s so bustling that it’s considered one of the best in the Empire.”
“Hmm, hmm♪.”
As Rachel smiled satisfactorily, the knights escorting her blushed without realizing it.
Rachel’s charm was indeed exceptional.
The emerald green hair, as if each strand had been woven by a skilled artisan, fluttered beautifully in the wind.
And her eyes, how were they?
Her jade-colored eyes, so captivating that one could feel drawn in just by looking at them, faintly shimmered.
There was not a blemish on her skin, and she wore a coat of warm fur that suited her well.
Just walking down the street drew the attention of those around her.
Of course, the knights blushed only momentarily.
They quickly regained their composure and continued to scan their surroundings vigilantly.
They were knights with a duty to protect such a princess.
There had been more than one occasion when the princess’s beauty had attracted unwelcome gazes.
They had to protect her.
Then, one of the knights standing next to the princess spoke cautiously.
“Milady.”
“Yes, Kesir.”
“I apologize for interrupting… but Sir Marquise has advised us to carefully consider this marriage proposal.”
“I see.”
“As this is a decision that will affect your entire life, he said that you should either accept it after thoroughly considering the suitor, or reject it.”
“I understand, Kesir.”
Rachel looked at Kesir with sparkling eyes.
“It means I should carefully consider and make a wise decision, right? It’s my father’s way of showing consideration.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Kesir bowed his head.
Sir Marquise’s actions were quite unusual.
Usually, for nobles, their children were seen more as tools for the family’s benefit rather than individuals with their own emotions.
But Sir Marquise was different.
He did not see his children merely as tools for power; he wanted them to decide and act on their own.
Rachel was the same.
No matter what promises had been made with the Duke of Grave, if it was not for her daughter’s sake, Sir Marquise would readily abandon this marriage proposal.
“I understand why my father chose to convey his message through a knight.”
“…”
“I also have ears. The Duke of Grave’s reputation is not as good as one might think, right?”
“…That’s correct.”
Kesir nodded cautiously.
This was the Duke’s territory.
Even if the suitor’s reputation was not good, it was delicate to mention it directly.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Yes.”
“However…”
She hesitated to speak further and smiled.
“What if it’s the opposite case?”
“…Yes?”
“My father conveyed this message to me because there is a possibility that the Duke of Grave may not meet the expectations, right? He meant that he is willing to break the promise with the Duke of Grave if it’s necessary.”
“That, that’s correct.”
“Then, what if it’s the opposite?”
Rachel chuckled.
“What if, upon meeting, I find him more appealing than I thought?”
“T-then…?”
Kesir’s face stiffened for a moment.
What if, on the contrary, the Duke, the problem himself, turns out to be perfect for Rachel’s taste?
“If, if that happens…”
Kesir knew Sir Marquise’s personality well…
“…No matter what, he will try to push through with the marriage proposal?”
…If someone in the mansion were to hear this, it would be utter nonsense.
—
I thought about it.
With my brilliant mind, I concluded that if I could just twist my dignity a bit, I could get out of this fabricated situation.
So.
– Your Highness, please open the door! Lady Rachel is about to arrive!
“No, I don’t want to. I’m not going out.”
It’s because Marquise didn’t inform me in advance that she was coming. I don’t need to go out.
– Your Highness! If things continue like this, it could damage your reputation beyond your estate! Please…!
“Let it be damaged.”
Let it be damaged.
I was barricaded in my room, staging a protest.
Don’t ask why the owner of the mansion is doing this.
I just feel like it.
Of course, from the perspective of the visitors outside, all they could do was fidget at the doorstep.
They couldn’t dare to break into a duke’s mansion and just stood there pleading.
– …So you’re just going to stay like this?
Abel, who had come again, looked at me with a bewildered expression and spoke.
– I’m not very familiar with human customs, but aren’t you a high-ranking noble?
“Yes, I am.”
– But you’re doing this without considering the consequences? If the other party is Marquise, you can’t expect much from him even if he’s not an opponent you can easily dismiss.
“I’m not concerned about that.”
Before my regression, I had already analyzed Marquise.
He won’t be the one to get angry over this. Instead, he’ll probably be pleased to have avoided this marriage proposal.
“In addition, the process is similar to the time of Celestia. The princess’s side did not contact us in advance.”
– Hmm….
“Another difference is that this is a back-and-forth negotiation, so they might not have contacted us… but.”
This is a bit of a stretch.
Marquise had a relatively close relationship with my father.
If this analogy is correct, it’s like the feeling of a neighborhood uncle.
But if I stick to my principles, they won’t be able to say anything from their side.
– …So, there’s no risk of Marquise being upset?
“Surprisingly, no.”
He won’t get upset or cause harm to me.
– Hmm, Kyle.
“What?”
– I’ve been thinking while listening to you, but isn’t that just your perspective?
“That’s right.”
– Then….
Abel asked cautiously.
– On the other hand, since there is a friendly relationship, isn’t there a possibility that they might act rashly like you?
“….”
I quietly closed my mouth.
Could it be…
That’s a different story.
Even if you’ve lost your mind, would you really go that far?
That’s what I thought, but for some reason, my spine kept chilling.
Of all times, it had to be then.
– Your Highness?
“…!”
A familiar voice echoed.
A voice from my memories.
Upon hearing it, Abel spoke calmly.
– Oh, a woman’s voice?
“….”
No, damn it.
Just disappoint me here and go back. Please.
I wished desperately, but…
Thud!
A loud noise came from beyond the door.
Not like breaking the door, but like pushing it open with ‘force,’ forcing open the previously blocked door.
And a voice came from beyond the door.
– Ah, it’s opening. Hehe.
“….”
With a creak, a huge door, twice the height of a person, began to open slowly. Locks and whatever were useless.
Abel, with an interested expression, said.
– Oh, your strength is incredible?
“…Of course.”
ironbloodl saline has been a warrior of the empire who has defended the empire’s borders for decades.
And behind that incredible strength, there was the power that had been flowing down his bloodline for many years.
…Yes, just like now.
Boom!
Soon, the heavy wooden door was forced open, revealing a beautiful girl.
With a bright smile, Rachel bowed her head to me and said.
“Ah, Your Highness! Nice to meet you!”
“Hmm.”
To force this door open with strength, it’s unbelievable.
But I should at least greet her.
“Welcome, Lady.”
…I had somewhat anticipated this scenario.
Damn it.