8 - Money
After finishing our adventurer registration, Novem and I decided to stay at a relatively affordable inn in Darion.
Once inside the room, the two of us read the booklet we had received from Hawkins-san.
The contents were simple.
【Do not cause trouble for others】
Other than that, it covered things like guild rules and manners.
"...It's almost like it's for children,"
When I gave my honest impression, Novem agreed.
"It is, isn't it? But these things are important."
From the Jewel Orb, the Second Generation expressed strong agreement.
'Exactly! That's right! There are so many people who won't even follow simple, established rules!'
(The Second Generation sounds like they're speaking from experience, or maybe they just have a lot of grievances.)
Having skimmed through the booklet, I closed it and put it in my bag. Novem seemed to have finished reading as well.
At that point, I asked about something that had been on my mind.
"Novem, about that money—"
As I spoke, the Second Generation's voice called out from the Jewel Orb to stop me.
'Liel, wait! Don't ask! Or rather, I don't want you to ask!'
However, the First seemed curious as well and apparently wanted to know.
'Why not? You might as well ask. Besides, the Foxuz family are barons now, right? They must be rich. I wonder if we were finally able to repay some of the favor.'
The Second Generation shouted at the First, who sounded somewhat satisfied.
My mana decreased accordingly.
'Idiot! Even in a baron's house, Novem-chan is the second daughter! Realize that for a child of a baron's house to prepare that much money, they must be pushing themselves to the limit!'
(...Eh? Is that so?)
I hadn't realized. I still didn't think of ten gold coins as a huge sum of money.
Novem's expression looked a bit troubled.
Then, she spoke with a smile.
"It's alright, Liel-sama. It was indeed a large sum, but I still have a little left over."
As I thought, ten gold coins were a large sum.
From my perspective, as someone who doesn't have much money, I was almost envious.
"How did you have that much? Your parents, after all?"
"N-no, well... um..."
"Not them? Then how did you get it?"
At that moment, the Second Generation screamed quite loudly. However, no one but I could hear it.
'I told you to stop right there!!'
Novem looked down. I began to panic slightly, wondering if I had asked something inappropriate.
"N-no, well... I was just curious..."
I tried to change the subject, but before I could, Novem spoke up.
"My parents did provide me with travel funds. But, well... it was also my own selfishness, so I felt I couldn't accept too much... and so, um..."
Novem seemed to find it difficult to say, but then she told me something shocking.
"I sold the household goods and clothes I had prepared for my marriage to Liel-sama. I am very sorry."
Seeing Novem's sad face, I realized I had made a mistake. Furthermore, the voices of my ancestors echoed from the Jewel Orb.
'Eh? Household goods... eh?'
The First was bewildered.
'That's why I told you! Stop it... the guilt...!'
The Third Generation also spoke up.
'In my time, the household goods a girl brought to the house she married into were quite a significant asset... I wonder how it is now?'
The Seventh Generation answered.
'They are still assets. They are the personal property a woman can take from her family home, and the family she marries into has no right to dispose of them freely. Moreover, the family sending her off would do their utmost... Considering the status of the Walt family, the Foxuz family may have been pushed too far.'
Hearing this, the Fourth Generation screamed from the First's side.
'Nooooo!'
'That's why I told you not to ask! There's a reason a girl would have that much money!!'
'Sister, I'm sorry for causing trouble even for the descendants...'
'What are we going to do! To think we're still causing trouble for the Foxuz family even through our descendants! Seriously, how are we supposed to repay this debt!'
The First continued to scream, and the Second Generation seemed to have a vague inkling of the situation.
The Third Generation began to apologize, perhaps remembering someone from the Foxuz family who had looked after them.
As for the Fourth Generation, they seemed to be shedding tears.
(My mana is dropping like crazy... and to think my ancestors caused that much trouble too.)
Isn't the Foxuz family, which continued to support the Walt family like this, an incredibly merciful clan?
In fact, Novem is devoted to me as well.
(Actually... the guilt is overwhelming.)
When a girl marries, even if she isn't nobility, household goods are prepared for her. Provided it's a decent home, that is.
However, for a girl, marriage is a momentous occasion. She would choose her household tools, clothing, and other items without compromise.
In some cases, expensive items that can be passed down through generations are purchased.
To a girl, these are her treasures. She sold them and used the money for my sake.
(Wait, but hold on... if she prepared the money within a few days of me being kicked out of my home...)
Thinking that far, it likely meant Novem had sold off the household goods she had gathered at a bargain price.
When I realized this and turned pale, Novem comforted me.
"It's alright. They were still technically my parents' property, but I have their permission. Besides, it was money necessary for Liel-sama to succeed as an adventurer from here on. I believe it was a good use of it."
Once household goods are purchased, they are treated as second-hand. Moreover, if one is in a hurry, merchants will drive the price down. Then again, the merchants themselves might have been troubled by the sudden request.
They must have been bought back at a price significantly lower than the original purchase price.
Perhaps exhausted from screaming, the voices from the Jewel Orb went silent. No, my mana had likely reached its limit.
Indeed, I felt a considerable sense of fatigue.
"...Why?"
"Yes?"
"Why would you go that far? Those were household goods you had carefully gathered, weren't they? Even if it wasn't me, you could have found a marriage partner in no time. So... why would you go as far as selling them to devote yourself to me!"
"Liel-sama..."
I had taken my frustration out on Novem.
I am a man who lost his position as the next head of the family and was discarded by his own home.
I am ignorant of the world, and when I cause trouble for Novem, my ancestors are appalled.
Everything I had built up until now—I have nothing. No status, no money. I couldn't understand why Novem would devote herself to such a man.
Since I was ten, I had been treated coldly by my parents, and I watched as the people around me gradually drifted away. Even then, I feel like Novem was by my side.
Around us, people even whispered that Novem was betting on a slim possibility.
Betting on the slim possibility that I would become the lord, and staying by my side—.
But now, I truly have nothing. Despite that, somewhere in my heart, I couldn't believe she was still here.
"I'm not worth devoting yourself to! I lost to my younger sister—to Celes—and was kicked out of my house! That's the kind of fool I am! I... I have no value!"
"..."
Novem looked at me with a serious gaze. I averted my eyes from her purple pupils. I was afraid of Novem being appalled by me.
Since I was ten, I had worked hard as if driven by fear. I worked hard so that my parents wouldn't discard me.
But my sister surpassed those efforts with ease. Every time that happened, I worked even harder than before.
—Even though I knew full well it would never be rewarded.
I had worked hard alone.
Then, Novem spoke to me.
"...Because I've been watching you all along."
"Eh?"
"When we were little, Liel-sama could really do anything, and you were so kind... Do you remember? When I was small, I was often alone, and even when I was invited to the Count's mansion, I couldn't fit in with the other children."
My memories of childhood are good memories now. But the memories after age ten, which could be called terror, were too intense, and I had forgotten.
"Now that you mention it, that's true. But even though you were alone, the people around you cared quite a bit, and the boys played pranks just to get your attention."
They played pranks to get her attention, which only isolated Novem further. As the heir to the Count's house, I remember mediating those situations.
Childhood memories.
(Maybe those were the happiest times.)
"You worked so hard, and even when you were treated coldly by your parents, you didn't give up... Seeing that, I thought I should work hard too."
After age ten, people drifted away from me. And I began to spend most of my time alone.
I had memories of Novem being around, but because of the rumors, I never spoke to her.
"It was when I was thirteen. I was called by my parents and was happy to hear that my engagement to Liel-sama had been decided. I thought I could support Liel-sama by his side."
"...It was all useless. All my efforts were useless in front of her."
My mana was rapidly depleting, and my thoughts were fragmented.
I wanted to believe that the reason I was taking my frustration out on her was that I had lost self-control...
Tears began to fall.
"Nobody... nobody looks at someone like me."
"I've been watching you all along. Liel-sama, you were working so hard."
"But I was kicked out of my house... I lost everything..."
As I whimpered and complained, Novem gently held my shoulder.
"I am here. I am by your side."
"My parents said they didn't need me. I wanted them to see me... I just wanted to be praised."
Tears spilled over. The feeling of emotions I had been suppressing welling up from the depths of my heart made me feel a little better.
"I saw you. Liel-sama, you were admirable. You are a wonderful person who never gives up, no matter the time, and faces things even when you are afraid."
That's right—.
I was afraid.
Of the existence of a younger sister.
The perfect existence that was Celes was very terrifying. But I hated the idea of running away. Even knowing I would lose, I wanted to challenge her.
And then, I lost everything.
I had reached the point where I didn't care anymore. I thought things would work out somehow, but the world wasn't that kind.
If it weren't for Novem, I don't know what would have happened to me by now.
"Liel-sama has value. I can say that with confidence. So, let's do our best, Liel-sama."
"...Yeah."
That day, I fell asleep while clinging to Novem...
'Nobody looked at me~'
'I lost everything~'
'But Novem-chan was by my side~'
'If anything, it's a plus! Don't be so spoiled!'
The First, Fourth Generation, and Third Generation sang, and finally, the Second Generation shouted at me.
On the second day in Darion, I took the beginner's course at the guild, purchased necessary items, and went to sleep to prepare for tomorrow.
However, I was forcibly dragged into the meeting room because they said they were holding an emergency meeting.
In the circular room with eight doors, four of them were teasing me while singing on top of the table.
"Y-you guys saw that..."
It's embarrassing. Extremely embarrassing.
Even this morning, I was so embarrassed I couldn't look Novem in the face when I woke up. And now, at night, all my ancestors are gathered to tease me about my embarrassing memories.
'If anything, I was the one who was embarrassed!'
The First, who had been singing cheerfully, suddenly shifted to shouting.
"I was embarrassed too! But my mana was gone and I was dizzy, and I was depressed, so it couldn't be helped!"
It was the best rebuttal I could manage, but the eyes around me were cold.
The Seventh Generation, for instance—.
'W-well... you were kicked out of your house at fifteen, so Liel is still a child... you were l-lonely, weren't you, Liel?'
"Stop it! Don't pity me like that! It just makes it more embarrassing!"
As I covered my face with both hands, the surface of my skin felt very hot.
My face must be bright red right now.
In that meeting room, the Fifth Generation, perhaps irritated, raised their voice a bit.
'Get to the main point already. You've teased him enough.'
Then, the four of them climbed down from the table and sat in chairs.
'True. We've got plenty of material to tease him with, so let's leave it at that for today.'
The First spoke with a satisfied look, but since they had seen me at my most embarrassing, I couldn't complain.
(They're definitely going to bring this up every chance they get...)
"So, what is this emergency meeting about?"
I asked the main point, wanting to get this over with quickly.
Then, the Fourth Generation returned to the role of moderator and started the conversation.
'Liel... why don't you marry Novem-chan?'
"Huh, marriage, I see.................. eh? Marriage!?"
I looked at the Fifth Generation and the others.
Basically, those from the Fifth Generation onwards didn't favor Novem.
But the opinion of the Fifth Generation and the others was—.
'Just marry her. Or rather, I think it'll be hard to find anyone else. You know the Walt family House Rules, right?'
The Walt family House Rules are the mandatory requirements for a woman to be a marriage partner.
The House Rules, said to have been established by the First, are still passed down in the Walt family.
"I-I know them... and it's true that Novem clears them, but..."
The Walt family House Rules. They are—.
【First, the woman to be welcomed as a wife must have superior looks】
【Second, she must be healthy】
【Third, she must have a sturdy body】
【Fourth, she must be intelligent】
【Fifth, she must have beautiful skin】
These five.
Since they became a Count's house, there are now even items regarding mana capacity and magic.
【Sixth, she must be excellent in magic】
This one seems to have been added by the Fifth Generation.
The Second Generation really recommended Novem.
'The Walt family exiled Liel, but no matter how you look at it, the main line of the Walt family is Liel, right? These are House Rules that have continued, and I'm saying this because I struggled quite a bit myself, but if you let Novem-chan slip away, there's no one else. Or rather, if you let her do all that and then say you won't marry her, you'll seriously be cursed.'
The Sixth Generation restrained the Second Generation and spoke.
'Setting aside whether you'll be cursed or not, she's still beyond reproach as a marriage partner. Liel, marry her as soon as possible.'
"N-no, I certainly like Novem. But to be told this so suddenly, I don't have the means to support her..."
At that, the Third Generation spoke.
'You can just work hard from now on. If you received a proper education, you should be able to do a certain amount of things. Well, I don't know because I didn't struggle with my marriage partner, but apparently searching for a partner is difficult.'
Hearing this, the Second Generation flew into a rage.
'I was the one who searched for your partner! Do you have any idea how hard I worked so that you wouldn't struggle with finding a partner like I did!'
The meeting room was noisy, but here, the First made a problematic statement.
'Hey... what are House Rules?'
Not understanding at all, he tilted his head and looked at the others.
"Eh?"
'...Hey.'
'Whoa.'
'What is that.'
'I had a feeling it would be something like this.'
'Why doesn't the First know?'
'Wait a moment. Are they not House Rules from the first head of the Walt family?'
Everyone was appalled. No, the Second Generation alone was trembling with rage, looking like they were about to explode.
However, the First didn't seem to understand.
'Novem-chan is a good girl, so I think you should marry her. But what are you talking about with House Rules? Is there even a set of House Rules for deciding a marriage partner? Who's the idiot who made such a tedious rule?'
The Second Generation stood up, pointed a finger, and let out a roar.
'IT WAS YOU, YOU IDIOT!!'
'Eh, really?'
The First seemed to have absolutely no memory of the House Rules.