Chapter 94
(Kyle
Calendar Year 506: Age 13)
The Advent of Hannya
Translator : PolterGlast
The joint tournament
had ended, and it was the day after. The Margrave and other guests from the
Royal Capital had departed, and things had finally settled down that evening.
It was supposed to be
a family dinner... or so I thought. When I, running late, entered the living
room where dinner was waiting, I saw a scene I had expected, but desperately
hoped wouldn't happen.
"Takuhir, welcome
back. I wanted to have an important talk before dinner," Mother greeted me
with a smile. Beside her sat my sister, and... two men, sitting upright with
bowed heads. My father and brother were there.
"Now, you, who
were the greatest contributor this time, please sit here."
I felt like declining
to sit on the sofa in front of my father and brother, who looked at me with
eyes like abandoned puppies, but I couldn't defy my mother, so I had no choice.
"Well, now that
Takuhir is here, shall we begin? While he (Takuhir) was running around
tirelessly managing the tournament and entertaining guests, what exactly were
you two doing?"
"No, Darek and I
were also entertaining and guiding the guests..."
"Is that so?
Leaving the main guest, Margrave Hastburg, in the guesthouse, you must have
been awfully busy guiding the 【Night Inspection Team】, I presume?"
"!"
Mother's calm,
critical hit landed, and Father froze.
"No, it's a
misunderstanding. Entertaining all the guests is also important. We simply
ensured their safety along the way and guided them..."
Father, don't. Mother
knows everything and is cornering you. Lying will only dig you a deeper grave.
I silently clasped my hands together, anticipating what was to come.
"Was the blonde
girl Ms. Elena? And the red-haired Ms. Karen? You seemed particularly
infatuated with these two young, pretty ladies, didn't you?"
"H-h-how...?"
"Shall we also
discuss your heroic tales in the post town here and now?"
"P-please, if I
just explain, you'll understand, I beg you, listen to my side..."
"Silence! I can
list all the young ladies' names here and now, if you wish!"
"Father, Brother,
do you understand why Mother is so angry?"
Whoa! Even my sister
has joined the fray!
"..."
"It's because
while Brother Takuhir was tirelessly working hard every day, you two were
continuously fooling around! I'm not just talking about your visits to the
brothel. Mother, at first, even said, 『Well, it can't be helped this time』, and turned a blind eye!"
The sight of those two
shrinking under the combined accusations was unbearable.
"This tournament
was originally supposed to be held in Est. You also agreed to hold it in
Teigun, didn't you? Then why, when your decisions caused so much disruption and
forced your son to work tirelessly, did you not consider him? Why were both you
and Darek playing around every single night, acting like mere visitors? Your
son, your brother, went to bed later than anyone else every day and woke up
earlier than anyone else, working! Why couldn't you two see that?! I'm utterly
ashamed of that!"
Just as I thought...
Father and Brother were completely dejected.
"Mother, since we
successfully fulfilled our great responsibility this time, and both Father and
Brother seem to be reflecting, could you perhaps be a little lenient?"
"No! The main
topic is still to come. And I was asked to do something. So you too, stay here
and listen to the end."
At that moment,
Mother, who had transformed from a Hannya to her usual self, appeared.
"First, Darek,
when Lady Flora enrolls in the Royal Capital academy, we will announce your
engagement. So, from now on, you are to strictly conduct yourself
properly."
"What?! Wait a
minute! I haven't heard about such an important matter! When did this
happen?!"
For the first time,
Father raised his voice and stood up.
"Sit down!"
The Hannya descended
again.
"I didn't say you
could stand up! Who was it who was absent every night, calling it a 'night
inspection,' thereby missing the opportunity for this important
discussion?!"
Father, now like a
puppy again, sat upright.
"That's why the
Margrave had no other choice but to discuss his intentions with me."
"Please wait a
moment. I'm not ready for marriage yet..."
"Darek, you still
don't understand, do you? Is it acceptable for your moniker, 【The Young Lion of the Solis House】, to have the words 【of the Night】 added to it?"
"Absolutely not.
When I heard that you, Brother, had gone bar-hopping to multiple brothels in
one night, I was utterly mortified."
"C-Chrisia, why
do you know that?"
"When I was
queuing to buy voting tickets, the people behind me were talking about it.
Fortunately, Lady Flora didn't seem to notice. Please, don't ever let me hear
such things again!"
"Darek, if you
continue like this, you will be rumored among the nobility not for your
military achievements, but as a night owl. Just as the people of this town are
already talking about... Is that acceptable? Do you think I don't know about
your conduct in the Royal Capital?"
"Huh?! How...?
Could it be, you, Takuhir...!"
"It wasn't me.
I'm only hearing about the bar-hopping and the Royal Capital matters for the
very first time now."
Indeed, it wasn't me.
But I could infer. Mother, who had acquired the information network of Yoltia,
formerly worked at the brothel, was now invincible. She must have had some
means regarding the Royal Capital as well.
"The Margrave was
also concerned. That you, to whom he would entrust his precious daughter,
shared both the good and bad traits of your father..."
Brother shrank
further. Father shrank even more.
"The Margrave
intends to welcome you as a son-in-law and considers you a future successor
candidate for the Hastburg family, which has no direct male heirs. He has
entrusted me with your education, saying so."
"..."
Brother silently hung
his head.
"Darek, you should
reflect on yourself there for a while. By the way... I have 'ears' in the Royal
Capital too."
"Now, Takuhir,
it's your turn."
Mother, with a gentle
smile, turned to me.
"For your
military achievements, your accomplishments in internal affairs such as the
development of Teigun, and your management and coordination of this joint elite
tournament, I've received many words of praise not only from the Margrave but
also from Viscount Gorman."
"That's very kind
of them."
"Viscount Gorman
entrusted his beloved daughter Yuka to me, you know. You must have somewhat
realized, haven't you?"
I nodded silently.
"It was on the
night of the first day of the joint tournament. I was asked by the two of them
about you all, and I spoke my intentions."
※
~Night of the First
Day of the Joint Tournament~
"Then, if you
insist, I will speak not as the Viscountess, but as the mother of the two
boys," my mother (Chris) continued, as the two men nodded.
"As you may know,
Darek lost an irreplaceable friend and subordinates who admired him in the
previous war. I believe he is still shrouded in deep sorrow and is indulging in
temporary pleasures to shake off that grief. I believe that with time, my son
will recover and settle down. I believe in Darek. However, unfortunately, Darek
currently has no one by his side to support and comfort him. Please give Darek
a little time. I also intend to guide my son."
Chris paused there.
"Takuhir,
however, is a bit more complicated. My son, even to me, his mother, was a
mysterious child. Compared to children his age, he never indulged in being
pampered by his mother from a young age, and it seemed he fought alone. Unable
to confide his true feelings to anyone, his heart must have been constantly
exhausted without rest. As a mother who should protect her son, I have placed
women by Takuhir's side who are allies with whom he can connect, to whom he can
honestly express his feelings, and who can bring him comfort. Now, my son is an
adult in both mind and body. And by his side are women who can truly comfort
him, both emotionally and physically."
"Then, does he
already have women who are to be his wives?"
Viscount Gorman, in
surprise and disappointment, involuntarily leaned forward, placing his hands on
the table.
"No, neither I
nor they wish to become his legal wife. Even if we did, there are certain
destinies in this country that nobles cannot defy. My son (Takuhir) is already
the head of a baronial house. His duties as a noble, everyone understands this.
Viscount Gorman, would such a son be a suitable partner for Lady Yuka? Would
Lady Yuka permit that?"
"Hmm, I am only
worried that my daughter might suffer," Viscount Gorman said, with a
distant look in his eyes.
"To my shame, my
daughter has never been truly happy in my territory. But even in such an
environment, she is always cheerful and speaks to me freely, even to someone as
difficult as I am. Your son is the same. Only when these two are around can I be
honest with myself. That's why I felt I could safely entrust my daughter to
your son."
"Then, if Lady
Yuka understands the circumstances and is willing to accept, how would that
be?"
"Hmm..."
"I promise that
in the Solis family, Lady Yuka will never experience misfortune. I will keep a
close eye, and the women around Takuhir are all reasonable and strong-willed
individuals. I have met and spoken with them personally and confirmed
this."
"Ho ho ho, there
is a proper order to things. How about after the elder brother's matter is made
public? After all, the people involved have their own thoughts on it."
"As you
command."
"As you
say."
※
"Takuhir, it
won't be an engagement right away. But remember, we are thinking of it as an
assumption that it will happen eventually."
"Mother, does
Viscount Gorman... know about the four women?"
"He does know. He
was very surprised when I told him you already have four women, as
expected."
I thought so...
"But then, he
laughed and said, 『As expected! He always
surpasses my imagination!』"
In Kyle Kingdom, there
is a relatively lenient culture regarding nobles, especially capable lords,
taking multiple wives. This is a tradition dating back to the first King Kyle,
who pioneered this land and built the foundation of the kingdom with few subordinates
and citizens. However, a negative custom also remains from later years,
stipulating that the legal wife of the head of the family must always be from a
marriage between nobles, to prevent diluting noble blood. Knight Barons and
Baronets are merely quasi-nobles for one generation and are not recognized as
subjects for noble marriage by law. These are all established by law.
"W-wait!"
At this point, Father
joined the fray again.
"Chris, four
wives?! I don't know anything about this!"
"I believe I told
you before. I would assign suitable women to our children."
"But, f-four
wives, that's... a grave matter, isn't it?!"
"Takuhir, you're
always so sly."
Those two really don't
change, do they? I thought so in my heart, but I remained silent, looking solemn.
"You two, who
have no self-control, be quiet! There are women who want to cherish and watch
over Takuhir, and Takuhir relies on and cherishes them too. That's all there is
to it!"
"Brother, I
wholeheartedly approve of Lady Yuka becoming a sister, following Lady
Flora."
Eh? Is my sister
completely ignoring the matter of the four? That surprised me a little.
"Well then, that
concludes our discussion. Today is a rare family gathering where only the
family is present. I'm really looking forward to it!"
Mother's face has
returned to its usual state. Sighing in relief, she called out to the two men
who stood up.
"You two! We'll
have a long talk after dinner..."
On this day, the Solis
Viscount family enjoyed a leisurely dinner, with all family members present for
the first time in a while. Perhaps it was the fatigue from dealing with guests,
but only the head of the family and the eldest son seemed to have lost their
appetite, their faces pale...
Later, the 【Condemnation Event】 orchestrated by my mother and sister would, as a
result, save my brother's fate. The conspiracies surrounding my brother and me
would, from now on, spread like a spiderweb in the Royal Capital, and those who
seek to ensnare us would relentlessly look for an excuse.
Both my brother and I
were, ultimately, saved by our mother. We realized that fact later.
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