Chapter 168 - 168. The Carefree Approach and Reunion with Marmitte
As Fam approached the gate, a guard armed with a long spear blocked her path.
"Who goes there?"
The guard's shout drew other soldiers, who rushed forward with weapons in hand. In an instant, she was surrounded by ten soldiers. She took a step back, seemingly realizing for the first time that she was in danger.
"The easygoing approach failed, huh…" I muttered.
"What part of that was a strategy?!" Mizuki shot back.
"I-I'm Fam. I'm here to see Moe."
"Did you make an appointment? Or do you have a letter of introduction?"
Fam shook her head at the guard's words. In the meantime, one of the guards was calling over more soldiers from inside the mansion. The number of soldiers surrounding her had increased by another ten. They seemed to have received word of our arrival and were deliberately gathering to intimidate her. Busybodies.
"Is that so? A pity. Lady Marme is busy. I can't let you meet her."
One of the guards sneered at Fam.
"B-but… I have a promise with Moe…"
Fam turned to me, her eyes filled with sorrow, seemingly seeking help.
"Hey, do you think you'll get in if you keep going like this? At this rate, you'll get let into the mansion, but right into a jail cell…"
Mizuki, who had been observing Fam with me, spoke. "But what can you do if you go with her?"
"Why not call Racshell?"
Mizuki suggested lightly, but I didn't want to attract attention. We came all this way to this city in search of a peaceful life. If a commotion were to arise, other summoned heroes—more enemies than allies—would find out.
"Anyway, let's all go help her."
I took a step forward, but Mizuki, Cecily, and Aira refused to follow. I couldn't help but glance back.
"W-we're going back to the trading company to wait..."
"You two are terrible!"
Were Cecily and Aira not the ones who had business with Marmie? But why were they acting distant? Were they just embarrassed to get involved in someone's personal business? I silently wished for Maira to be there. We could have used her influence to help navigate this. But she was at the church.
"A-anyway..."
Air ring να Introduced herself, but her words trailed off as she met with silence. "Are you going to let her in or not?" I asked, finally giving in and heading towards Fam myself. At that moment, one of the guards stepped forward from the surrounding group. I could tell he was male from the muscles on his uncovered arms, despite the mask. I’d half expected all the guards here to be elves, but I saw humans and beastmen among their ranks.
"Fam, is that your name?"
"Y-yes..."
Fam nodded at the masked guard's question.
"I was told to let that person in."
Hearing that, Fam's face lit up. If that was the arrangement, why not just let her in already? I gave a sigh of relief as well.
"Then, please let me see Moe."
The guard shook his head upon hearing Fam's words.
"No. Lady Moe instructed that there is a secret greeting between her and the girl named Fam. I must witness it."
He asked, but if it was a secret greeting, who besides Marmie could verify it? I wanted to argue, but Fam would resolve the situation, so I kept quiet.
"Eh? Right here?"
Fam hesitated, and the guard nodded.
"In front of everyone…"
Fam glanced around, still surrounded by intimidating guards. Their numbers had grown to thirty—more and more had flocked from nowhere to encircle her.
"…Understood."
With a face as red as could be, Fam shyly raised her hands slightly.
"…Moe…"
She muttered in a voice so quiet even mosquitoes couldn’t hear it, then immediately lowered her hands.
"What was that…"
"So faint I didn't catch a word."
"Could that even be considered a greeting?"
"She raised her hands! Could she be cursing Lady Marmie…?"
The guards were muttering among themselves. Ignoring their whispers, Fam stood still as a statue, waiting for the guard to let her pass.
"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to meet Lady Moe with that."
The masked guard declared. Fam's eyes welled up with tears, but she nodded, resolved.
"O-okay. I'll do it properly next time."
This time she raised her hands with certainty.
"Mooooo!"
She let out a loud bellowing sound, like a frustrated cow.
"Moe?"
A girl's voice came from behind the guard. The guard stepped aside, revealing an elf girl with her hands raised. Pale skin, long silver hair, and small budding breasts. It was Marmie Mume Moe Starunion.
"Fam, I've been waiting."
With arms outstretched, she embraced Fam. Beside her, the guard removed his mask—it was Wake, Marmie's escort on our journey.
"Good of you to come. Lady Marmie enjoys your company."
He offered me his hand. Was he always this friendly? I shook his hand while my memory confirmed what I thought.
The garden planters were adorned with purple and white flowers.
"Roses, perhaps?"
"Nothing like it. This flower is a geranium, probably."
Mizuki responded to my almost silent question, even though she had pretended to not be interested earlier. Cecily and Aira were with her too. Before us were Fam and Marmie, and Wake. Behind us were the other guards, excluding those stationed at the gate. They had acquired that information when we entered the city, deliberately gathering to scare us. Bored people. They were even more intimidating than the bandits from earlier. And Claire was also there somehow.
"Did something happen?"
We had a room inside the mansion, where we sat around a large table. It was a huge hall-like dining room. Down the center of the long table were several glazed white vases, neatly arranged with gorgeous flowers that decorated the space. Identical vases were placed on small tables nearby, creating a refined atmosphere throughout the room. There were large windows on either side of the entrance door, letting in balanced sunlight. The room's design seemed to completely disregard the possibility of enemy attacks. At the head of the table was an imposing chair with a high back, but it was empty. Perhaps Augustus usually sits there.
At the top of the stairs stood two younger-looking elves, a man and a woman, both young. The silver-haired woman had the same porcelain-like complexion as Marmie. Her features even resembled his slightly.
"...Mash, this is my father, Augustus Starunion. And my mother, Marina Marini Marine Starunion."
Marmie introduced them. Her father's name was normal, but her mother's was like Marmie's—an odd combination of ordinary names. Wasn't Marmie's the same? Too much distracting me. They knelt.
"Mash-sama, Aira-sama, we've been awaiting you. We are deeply honored that, upon arriving in the city of Migul, you visited our house before the church, or the other four noble families. Welcome to the Starunion residence."
"..."
They knelt and bowed so low it was unsettling. What were they even doing?
"Please, just Mash and Aira are fine. And please stop calling me sama.
He smiled at my request, which seemed well-received. They addressed me with honorifics because they figured I was a hero from another world, like Mii's group. That, and visiting Marmie's house first meant something to them. He almost seemed too friendly for a nobleman.
"Mash, didn’t you tell us you were going to live in Migul’s city? How about I give you a house?"
Claire raised an eyebrow. "That’s in thanks for… aren’t you really just trying to keep him contained in your district?"
Augustus’s eyebrows twitched. Claire realized how presumptuous that sounded and covered her mouth. A commoner's concerns were inconsequential before a noble's whims. She must’ve been nervous.
"...And you should all stay for the night."
Marmie said.
"Eh? But..."
Claire and I exchanged glances. She had arranged our lodging for the night. I gestured for her to not make a fuss. Her kindness was wasted.
“…There’s a bath.”
“A bath!"
Mizuki perked up at Marmie’s words. She wanted a bath this badly? When she nodded, she grinned at me so brightly I could’ve sworn her face turned into a sun.
"A bath! A bath!"
Mizuki wouldn't talk about anything else. It felt good to know that I was important in her life.
"...We'll all bathe together."
"What did you say? Does that mean I’m joining in?"
I couldn't contain my excitement, but Patricia elbowed me from behind.
"Mash-san isn't joining, is he?"
Patricia smiled sweetly, her brow furrowed. The pressure forced me to nod, but just as I did, Marmie raised her hand, stopping Patricia.
"...He is."
Marmie said, turning to Augustus and Marina.
“…Father, Mother. I’m going to travel with Mash. And I’m going to marry him.”
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