284 - Omiai
"...Just what have you done?"
Facing a sighing Baldor, I spoke hesitantly.
"W-was it a bad idea?"
Baldor's office was smaller than my own. It might be because there were so many things around him, but my office was likely special to begin with. When I mentioned the omiai to Alette-san and then brought Baldor into the loop, he looked at me with exasperation.
"No, please excuse me. Since it is a marriage proposal suggested by Lord Lyell, I cannot refuse it. So, the partner was the Vice Commander of Rolfis? In terms of status, the Landburg family is currently a vassal knight of the Walt family. I do not believe we are a match, but...?"
"Eh? You're not refusing?"
As I expressed my surprise, laughter echoed from within the jewel. The Third said to me:
"It was the same in my era, but refusing a marriage proposal from one's lord is quite something. If it were like the Walt family, where house rules have been passed down for generations, the overlord might take that into consideration. In my case, the Second found someone for me, so I was saved."
The Seventh said something similar.
"One needs a proper reason to refuse. However, it is strange that he has no one he loves at this age. Lyell, ask him."
Following the Seventh's instruction, I asked Baldor.
"Is there no one else? Someone you love?"
Baldor's gaze shifted slightly, but when he looked at me, he opened his mouth as if giving up.
"Lord Lyell was under house arrest. Perhaps you know of it in theory, but not in practice? I do have someone I love. However, she is the daughter of a village I visited while subjugating bandits. Naturally, it is not possible for us to marry."
Hearing Baldor's words, I remembered that in noble marriages, romantic love is meaningless in the face of connections between houses. In my case, Novem had been my fiancée, but it seemed Baldor had someone of a different social standing.
"What do you intend to do?"
"I intend to accept. Indeed, at present, the issues with Rolfis cannot be overlooked. For example, if Rolfis were to leave the alliance, sanctions would be necessary. If we overdo it and go too far, other countries will become anxious. If we are too lenient, dissatisfaction will build. The reaction will differ depending on the country, and it is a problem that cannot be left alone."
True. If Rolfis were to leave, the possibility of sanctions would arise. If other countries were not satisfied, it could not be ignored.
In the worst case, I would have to consider destroying them within the alliance before they could collude with Banseime. But how would other countries feel about that? I would not lose. I have that much power now. However, even if I won, it would be nothing more than a momentary victory.
With a fight against Banseime looming, I didn't want to be holding a strange bomb.
"...Sorry. That's right. My time as an adventurer was more intense, so I'm starting to forget about noble life."
"It cannot be helped. Knowing something in theory and experiencing it are different things. However, as for my conditions, since I made a move after the bandit subjugation, I would like you to consider accepting her as a maid. At the very least, the relationship needs to be acknowledged."
The Seventh spoke in a slightly low voice.
"He cherishes her quite a bit. Or rather, he's already done the deed. I wish Lyell had this much composure."
Then, the Third said to the Seventh:
"The Seventh's scale was too large, so you didn't do much direct bandit subjugation, did you? Even if you did, you probably had your vassal corps surrounding you. It's common for a village that had bandits defeated to send the village's finest daughter to entertain the hero. Someone with as much land as Baldor should have plenty of such stories... but listening to this, is it just one individual?"
I asked about the Third's question.
"An individual? Or is it every woman you've had a relationship with until now?"
Baldor looked at me with dead eyes.
"...Lord Lyell, please do not think that everyone keeps many women around like you do. It is an individual. An individual. I was taken care of when I subjugated bandits several years ago. At the time, I only had theoretical knowledge, so I was in a great panic afterward. However, since then, I have tried to avoid staying in villages as much as possible."
The Third spoke in a serious voice.
"That kind of thing is a nuisance for the other party, though. If they thank you for defeating the bandits and then feel rejected. Well, I suppose Baldor-kun wants to act with integrity in his own way."
Is it because she was his first woman that he is so attached? I couldn't quite understand. Baldor sighed.
"Well, there is an affection, and we have remained in contact since then. I wish to at least look after her. Therefore, I am sorry, but... if I should die, I ask that you provide some reward for that girl."
...Suddenly, the conversation turned grim. But facing Baldor's serious expression, the atmosphere was not one where I could make jokes, so I decided to just check where the other party was.
—Alette was hanging her head in the waiting room.
"...I should have brought something other than my knight's uniform. Why didn't I prepare a dress, you idiot!"
The knight who had guided her through the castle was watching Alette. Rather than being exasperated, he comforted her while looking at her.
"Lord Baldor does not have that many clothes either. He just rode in as he is. As long as your appearance is tidy, there is no problem. Besides, this was decided quite suddenly."
Then, the rookie knights asked that knight anxiously.
"Um, is this alright? Our original duty was—"
The knight shook his head.
"I know. But you lot... if you miss this chance, do you think anyone here can marry the Vice Commander? Men are precious. Even if you look for a partner of equal status, most are already married. If you miss this chance, it's already at a dangerous level."
Originally, Alette and the others' purpose, on the surface, was the improvement of Rolfis's status. But in reality, they were sent to arrange an engagement between Princess Anneliese and Lyell.
If they didn't do that, their voice in the Four-Nation Alliance would be weak. While the other three nations had relationships with Lyell, only Rolfis... and besides, Rolfis could not leave the alliance at this late stage.
The moment they left, they would be surrounded by enemy nations.
The knight looked up at the ceiling, then looked at Alette.
"Vice Commander, do you have the marriage documents?"
Alette looked up and nodded.
"Eh? Ah, I have them."
The surrounding rookie knights were stunned. The knight glanced at the rookie knights.
"Do you see? This is the kind of person she is. There are no more chances. The Princess is still young. But the Vice Commander is... a good person, but she's like this... As knights of Rolfis, we want to advance the marriage talk between Lord Lyell and the Princess more than this. But as an individual, I want to support the Vice Commander. And—"
"And?"
Alette was muttering to herself, running simulations. She seemed to be preparing answers in advance for when she was asked during the omiai.
"If asked what I do on my days off, 'training my body and drinking alcohol at night before sleeping' was no good. I was scolded for that later. Then, I should say something feminine, like I enjoy knitting—no, that's no good! I haven't done it once since I learned it! In that case, I'll just fudge it by saying I admire flowers—"
She was so desperate that the surrounding male knights were completely put off.
"—And, also. This arrangement is not bad. He's a candidate for a high-ranking position whose competition will become fierce from now on. He is a vassal knight now, but if Lord Lyell wins, he will be granted a large territory and become a Count. Or as a court noble, he will undoubtedly be a close aide. For Rolfis—as a country, it's not bad, right?"
The knight explained to the rookie knights that as long as they only focused on the surface-level work, they could succeed—.
A few hours later.
Having each made their preparations, the omiai began in the castle's courtyard at a round table. I sat opposite Ludmila-san, while the main pair, Baldor and Alette-san, sat opposite each other.
There were guards around, but only the bare minimum.
Moreover, it was a situation where only female knights were present. Monica was preparing tea and such, but Alette-san was so nervous that she hadn't touched it at all.
After several minutes passed without anyone speaking, Ludmila-san set down her cup. The porcelain cup made a clink. It was so quiet that such a sound could be heard clearly.
However, it was Alette-san who broke the equilibrium.
"U-um! What are your hobbies!"
Baldor responded calmly.
"A bit of horse riding. I have dabbled in painting and instruments, but not to the extent that I could call myself proficient. Also, may I ask one thing?"
"Y-yes!"
Though the two were close in age, Alette-san's nervousness was severe. It felt as if she might let something slip at any moment. The Third spoke with excitement.
"I wonder if she'll pull out the marriage documents now. If she's already filled in her own name, even Baldor-kun would be surprised."
The Seventh appreciated Baldor's composure.
"I do not know what he is thinking internally. However... this composure is surely because he knows women. Lyell, you should think about this seriously too. A great battle is near. It is a good thing to know women."
...With the two inside the jewel hearing everything, I couldn't even think about making a move on women. Or rather, I was a bit shocked to learn that Baldor wasn't one of "our" kind of people. I thought I could have fun talking with Damian or Maxim-san...
Baldor rested his elbows on the table, clasped his hands, and looked at Alette-san with a serious expression.
"I understand that this marriage is very important. However, although my family owns a town, it is a small territory. The scale of a Baronetcy. Furthermore, we are vassals. Since I am the heir to the lordly nobility, if we marry, you will be marrying into my family. Additionally, I am the eldest son of the lordly nobility. Even if I love only you, there may be times when I take other women."
This was the talk of receiving entertainment from the village he saved. I had also saved a village in Beim, but such suggestive stories never came up. Is this a difference in customs?
"I-I am from what Banseime would call the court nobility. I have heard various things about such matters..."
"That would be problematic."
Baldor's voice grew slightly stronger. His expression was the definition of serious.
"My family, the Landburg family, has sworn loyalty to the Walt family since becoming vassal knights. We are a house that has served for six generations. I wish to fulfill that role."
Alette-san also looked desperate.
"I-I understand that. I have combat experience myself! I-I have the resolve..."
Baldor nodded.
"I see. You are indeed in the position of Vice Commander despite being a woman. Then, you understand what I mean, yes? There are things other women can do. Furthermore, I cannot make Rolfis my top priority. Additionally, there is a woman I already have a relationship with. Her status is low, so we cannot marry. I intend to welcome her into the manor as a maid. If that is acceptable, I shall welcome you as my legal wife."
Without needing to think, Alette-san—
"I-I understand! The maid is unexpected, but I've heard various stories like that. If I miss this chance, for me, the next..."
—she agreed.
"Eh? That's okay!"
I was certain she would hesitate, yet she even accepted the maid—the mistress.
"If I get angry over one or two maids being touched, I'll never be able to marry! I'm serious about this, so please be quiet! I was considering that even worse conditions might come... actually, I've been told those things a few times..."
I felt a strangely poignant feeling. As for Ludmila-san.
"For lordly nobility, that much is expected. On the battlefield, one can die. Keeping several women to ensure an heir is a common story. Well, there are many failure stories too."
When I looked at Alette-san, she was trying to take documents out of her bosom. I snatched the documents away. Why does this person always try to rush and fail?
"G-give them back! B-but I still have spares!"
"Stop it, because it's putting me off. I'll have them properly prepared at a later date. Now, hand over the spare documents too. Hurry up!"
"No, but... if I don't get them filled out quickly, I'll be anxious!"
"Realize that it's weirder to always carry them around! Your behavior is what's making me anxious!"
Ludmila-san looked at the documents I was holding. Then, her expression distorted slightly.
"You carry things like this around? Even a man would be put off by that."
I think Ludmila-san is right that a normal man would be quite put off. While I was thinking that, Baldor took the documents from me.
"Excuse me. I see... they are slightly different from Banseime's documents. Shall I fill in the Rolfis side as well?"
Saying so, Baldor took out a pen and wrote his name on the document where Alette-san's name was written.
The Seventh said.
"He is the type who is surprisingly unfazed."
The Third seemed a bit bored.
"Sigh, it's kind of like that. I'm happy if it goes well, but I wanted one more twist."
I looked at Baldor.
"Hey, wouldn't it be better if you agonized over it a bit more? You know, Alette-san... after she grows up, she gets incredibly hyped and becomes uncontrollable."
Alette-san stood up and grabbed my shoulder.
"Could you please not interfere with my happiness! I'm begging you!"
Seeing Alette-san pleading desperately, I remained in my chair and leaned away from her. Ludmila-san looked slightly disappointed.
"We were aiming for Baldor-dono in Cartaphus too... well, this should make Rolfis a bit quieter."
Baldor stopped his pen and, looking at my face—
"...Lord Lyell, please go look in a mirror."
—he said.