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About three weeks had passed since the invasion of Whitewood by the foreign tribes.

Yulken gathered his vassals to formally discuss the rewards for the day’s events.

There were so many who had excelled that day that it was hard to keep track of them all.

Notable names included Gale, who led the soldiers and attacked the stronghold at the forefront, and Bignes, who took command of the reinforcements.

However, among those gathered, only one name was on everyone’s lips.

It was clear that the contributions he made were exceptional.

“He must be considered an exception. He effectively carried out this plan from start to finish.”

“That’s right. While the distribution of rewards is important, his contributions are not something we can downplay.”

It was Edgar who first decided to rescue Yulken, and it was he who laid the foundation of the plan.

Had it not been for his ability to freely pass through barriers, the option to sneak him out would likely not even have existed.

For this reason, even though the assembled vassals had some status within the Robeheim Family, they couldn’t dismiss him lightly based on his accomplishments.

“However, I must say, refusing the reward given by His Highness… at such a young age, that is truly impressive.”

“Isn’t that something you’d expect to read about in a tome from several hundred years ago?”

“These days, exaggeration in such texts would probably just lead to ridicule. It truly reads like a hero’s tale.”

I thought it was a scene you’d only see in fictional stories to save your lord’s life alone.

Reality is always unforgiving, and those who displayed such bravery on the battlefield often met tragic deaths under a hail of arrows.

In that context, Edgar’s achievements perfectly embodied a dream.

“First and foremost, transferring the Head of the Family position to Ariel while appointing him as her advisor—does anyone have any objections?”

“No objections to that as such, but I do have some concerns.”

A man with gray hair cautiously raised his hand to voice his opinion, and Yulken nodded indifferently, predicting what the man was going to say.

What the vassals were worried about was something Yulken was already aware of.

“I can guess what that is. It would be his lack of practical experience.”

“Yes. The young lady has been learning work since she was a child, and inheriting the Head of the Family position at a young age is a tradition in the Robeheim Family, so there’s no concern there…”

Of course, handing the role over in one go while citing tradition lacks practicality, but this was a matter of trust.

It wasn’t just a belief in Ariel’s abilities; it was also a confidence in the longevity of the Robeheim family, which had thrived through generational succession in the same fashion.

The expression “it could work” fits perfectly. At least, most of the lords throughout the history of the Robeheim Family had done just that, with very few exceptions.

In contrast, while recognizing Edgar’s achievements, concerns inevitably arose regarding his practical experience.

The fact that he was receiving guidance from Elpelt was known to the vassals, but the time he had spent learning about family affairs was indeed overwhelmingly shorter compared to Ariel.

While there may be no objections to him becoming Ariel’s fiancé, there would inevitably be some unease about him taking on most of the family’s official duties as an advisor.

“Do your views align with Sir Urt?”

“Similar, but slightly different.”

“Please elaborate.”

Yulken was not the type to fly into a rage just because someone disagreed with him.

In instances where Vincent made absurd claims, Yulken would take action, but otherwise, he viewed the process of exchanging opinions in a healthy light.

Thus, even if the vassals spoke cautiously, they could voice their opinions one by one without much concern.

“There are indeed worries due to the lack of practical experience, but I don’t think it’s a major issue.”

“What’s the reason for that?”

“If you put it simply… sir Edgar will soon become the young lady’s fiancé, won’t he? Of course, circumstances can change, but…”

His remark, meant to frame a hypothetical situation, made Yulken raise an eyebrow slightly.

Not that he found the statement bothersome, but it made him wonder how Ariel would have reacted if she were present.

“…You’re not wrong, but temper your words around my daughter. She may not keep her anger in check.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Realizing he had misspoken, he cleared his throat and continued.

“Ahem… what I mean to say is that before any voices of concern come out regarding his family background, perhaps it would be best to appoint him as advisor beforehand to solidify his position.”

“Because he’s recognized for his abilities, there shouldn’t be voices of concern, right?”

“Yes, and of course, I expect that after the Whitewood incident, there shouldn’t be any such complaints… but just in case.”

Yulken certainly felt that sentiment was valid.

He had felt something similar when he wed Helene.

Some might see the union of two families with vastly different backgrounds as romantic, but up close, it often came with its fair share of hardships.

Moreover, even with Vincent’s example, those unafraid to criticize from the sidelines would always show up.

So, it would be better to position him firmly at the first tier, excluding the members of the Robeheim Family, and then connect the wedding ceremony once his status was stabilized.

“After all, ability can be nurtured. Plus, His Highness always says that Edgar is more eager than anyone else.”

“That’s true.”

“If others raise concerns, both His Highness and Elpelt can step in and offer their support.”

For Edgar, receiving the role would have come as quite the shock, especially considering Elpelt wanted to take a trip after passing it on.

However, it was clearly the right direction, so Yulken resolved to push ahead and asked the vassals for their opinions one last time.

“Very well. If it comes to that, does anyone else have any objections?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Quite the warm welcome, in fact.”

This time, without even a whimper of concern, everyone nodded in approval, as if they found it entirely reasonable.

Satisfied, Yulken announced the conclusion of the discussions.

In a way, the paths for both of them were just beginning.

Hoping they would navigate it well, he promised himself he would do his utmost as a father and stood up from his seat.

Today, he had plans to spend a cozy time alone with his wife after a rare plea from her.

* * * * * * *

Edgar nodded firmly upon hearing the news.

There were no objections from any of the family’s vassals, and it had been unanimously decided that he would be appointed as an advisor.

The bearer of this news was none other than Elpelt, the current advisor.

“It’s surprising there were no objections.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Regardless of how great my achievements are, the position of advisor is an entirely different matter. I never thought I’d be considered for it given my lack of practical skills.”

Edgar spoke as if he’d been watching the discussions closely, and Elpelt couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Despite his young age, he was very aware of his situation.

And although with such achievements he could easily become a bit arrogant, there was no sign of that; rather, according to Creed and others, he had instead been dedicating more time to taking care of himself since then.

‘Seems like he’ll make a fine successor.’

As he belonged to the Robeheim Family, he hoped to see this family continue to prosper.

Thus, he had considerable worries about who would succeed him, specifically, who would become the advisor in Ariel’s generation.

Of course, capability was the top priority, but, in addition, what Elpelt placed great value on was a sense of duty regarding the responsibilities at hand.

And without a doubt, in terms of that sense of duty, there was no one who could surpass the man standing before him.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Both His Highness and I will remain here and support you for the next few years.”

“That’s a relief.”

While supporting them meant aiding in managing the administrative side of things, once that time came, governance would pass to Ariel, and Yulken would remain in the background as an advisor.

In essence, Elpelt would become a similar figure to Yulken for Edgar.

And if any shortcomings arise, he would always be like a teacher, someone he could ask for guidance.

“When will that be?”

“The day the young lady conducts her succession ceremony; the bond of vassalage will be established and revealed together then.”

The thought of completing everything in just a day already made Edgar’s head spin.

At the same time, he felt a mix of worry and anticipation because…

“There will surely be chaos around us. I am currently known as Ariel’s lover in public.”

“That’s true. Sounds like it could turn into quite an interesting tale.”

Elpelt laughed, smacking his palm with his fist as if just realizing that aspect.

Considering the two had shared a passionate kiss in front of others during their coming-of-age ceremony, suddenly binding themselves in a bond of vassalage certainly sounded like a rather absurd comedy.

In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if the news of tying the knot stirred less astonishment than this did.

Perhaps watching everyone’s reactions then ought to be a source of entertainment in itself.

“Well, I’ll keep that in mind. If there’s anything I need to fulfill…”

“What you need to do, young master, is simply to take good care of the young lady. His Highness has asked me to convey that if I hear otherwise.”

Though it felt unusually abrupt for Elpelt to say that, he was clearly under Yulken’s orders.

Edgar, forcing a wry smile, nodded to make note of it.

Today, the tea—it tasted exceptionally good, unlike usual.

Whether it was just that Elin’s skills had improved or the tea leaves suited his taste perfectly, he couldn’t say.