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Two days later.

Good news was coming in quick succession from Hespania.

First, the Billhark Family had entered Robeheim Castle, ensuring their safety, so there was no longer any need to worry about threats from behind.

Next, they were close to dispelling and interpreting the curse that had been hanging over Kelrag.

“Ugh…”

“Does it hurt a lot? Just hang in there a little longer.”

As Kelrag groaned in pain, Minette, also sweating profusely, was struggling to decipher the markings etched on his chest.

In her hands was a concentrated magical power so potent it could be discerned even by an ordinary eye, and she was using it to extract the curse from Kelrag’s body.

Previously, the bindings of the curse had been too strong to progress, but thanks to recently found methods to weaken it, the situation was rapidly evolving.

If this could somehow be resolved, it would mean putting out two fires at once, making the responsibility on her shoulders quite heavy.

“It feels like my heart is burning. It never gets any easier, no matter how many times I do it.”

As Minette withdrew her hands, Kelrag grimaced and forced a wry smile. Having faced numerous battlefields and endured wounds from swords and spears, he had long ago dismissed such pains as trivial, but this was excruciating beyond mere endurance.

Embarrassed like a child, Kelrag apologized for his weakness, to which Minette encouraged him, saying it was understandable.

To her, it was commendable that he had not succumbed to a fit.

“After all, as you said, this curse is inscribed on the heart… or rather, on the soul. A regular person would have likely crumbled under this process.”

“Who would have thought it was that severe? You really suggested such an extreme treatment for me.”

“Hmm, I only thought it was appropriate for the leader of a foreign race. What have you all done to merit consideration?”

Although she had been ordered by Ariel to treat him, Minette had initially been somewhat curt and cold in her attitude toward Kelrag.

And it was somewhat understandable.

He was, after all, the leader of the foreign tribes that had tormented the northern people, and she was someone who had frequently heard of their suffering from the very heart of Hespania.

Truth be told, if Ariel had prioritized just the cure of the curse and tracking of magic without regard for Kelrag’s wellbeing, she might have continued her experiments under the guise of treatment without consideration for him.

“Anyway, thank you. I owe you and the Grand Duke a lot.”

“Well, if you understand that, then make sure to properly lead your tribe when you go back. No matter how much survival is a priority, don’t go plundering and destroying the lands that others have worked hard to cultivate.”

In the old days, Minette might have shot back that he should repay the debt with his life instead.

However, given that he had saved Sonia’s life at the cost of his own during the recent incident, and having spent time face-to-face, she had come to realize this man wasn’t completely despicable.

Moreover, during conversations when Kelrag had no one else to talk to, he had shared stories of his tribe’s past, allowing her to know they had their own circumstances.

Thus, it wasn’t too late even now; she truly advised him to cultivate the land somehow and choose means to survive as a leader.

“…It’s tough, but I suppose I must try. At least, I don’t want to cross swords again when I meet the Grand Duke and his friends next time.”

“That’s surprising. You don’t seem like someone who easily gets attached.”

“I’m not particularly attached. I just know it’s a beastly act to repay a favor with blood.”

Moreover, the advice Minette had offered was something he had long desired.

To stop letting those many tribes sleep outside and let them blend into this northern region and live like ordinary residents.

While their identity as a warrior race might dull a bit, it would surely be better than a life steeped in plunder and bloodshed.

“Anyway, thank you for the good advice. You’re quite a wonderful woman.”

“Don’t even think about getting any ideas. I may have let him go, but I’m still very much spoken for.”

In response to Kelrag’s compliment, Minette raised one corner of her mouth, almost dismissively.

Just hearing it made it seem like he was throwing out flirtations.

Of course, she knew better than anyone that wasn’t his intent; it was merely a joke to lighten the atmosphere.

“Are you talking about the guy in that picture frame?”

“Yep.”

“How unfortunate. What happened?”

In response to Kelrag’s question, Minette crossed her arms, tapped his arm with her index finger, then brought over a chair to sit down and quietly opened up.

“Well, it’s fate, so I’ll tell you. You’ve told me quite a bit in the meantime too.”

“Sounds good. It’s just a shame we can’t share a drink while we’re at it.”

“If you really want to share a drink, then don’t go making enemies with the Robeheim Family. Only then will I consider it.”

Drawing a firm line, Minette brewed her favorite coffee and handed him a cup.

Even if they weren’t at the level of sharing wine, she thought sharing a coffee cup would be a decent compromise.

“It’s my first time having coffee. Is it any good?”

“It’s okay. I spend so much time holed up in my room that I’ve grown fond of it.”

“Hmm… the aroma is nice. Anyway, enjoy.”

Having almost buried his nose in the cup to smell it, Kelrag carefully took a sip.

With a hint of sugar, there was a gentle sweetness and a peculiar bitterness at the end of the taste.

To his palate, it suited him even better than ordinary black tea.

There was so much more he didn’t know about even ordinary food, so how much else would there be for him to learn moving forward?

Once again realizing that life was a continuous learning process, Kelrag let out a bittersweet smile.

And amidst all this learning, there would be even more choices he had to make in the future.

He hoped fervently that these wouldn’t lead him back to the foolish path of his past, as he sipped another mouthful of coffee.

This time, a slightly deeper sweetness lingered on his palate.

* * * * * * *

Edgar’s parents’ residence was taking shape at an unprecedented speed.

Even Edgar, who was usually composed in the face of common affairs, couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder at how drastically the building had transformed from what he saw yesterday to today.

“They actually called in a magician for a construction project… isn’t that a waste of manpower?”

As he casually observed the scene again today, Edgar quietly shared his thoughts with Ariel, who was standing beside him.

It made sense; just looking at the quality and quantity of the materials being used for the building, one would be stunned that they were employing such high-caliber workers.

At least from his memory, it was unheard of to bring in magicians for construction work.

“Why? This kind of thing is quite common now.”

On the other hand, Ariel looked at him with a puzzled expression, finding his reaction hard to understand.

As she knew, it had been quite some time since wealthy families and organizations had started using magicians for building construction.

Of course, it required a lot of money, but in terms of speed and stability, it was on a whole different level.

“Really? They use magicians for construction?”

“Yep. While it would take three days for workers to build a structure, a magician could do it in three hours.”

“Yeah, that’s true, but…”

Even Edgar didn’t doubt that a magician could speed up the construction process.

It was just a matter of efficiency for him. He thought it seemed excessive to spend so much money just to raise a single building.

After all, it would eventually be completed, and during that time, his family wouldn’t be particularly inconvenienced living in the castle.

He appreciated that they were building a separate annex for his family, but witnessing the process left him feeling overwhelmed.

At this point, it felt like the expectations had exceeded the bounds of a mere wedding gift.

“Ugh, you fool. There you go, worrying about unnecessary things again.”

“I’m not worried! Just saying it feels a bit too extravagant.”

“That’s unnecessary worry. You fool. It’s not like you or your parents begged for this. It’s something our family wants to do.”

Ariel promptly chided him, prodding his side.

He was fine for the most part, but sometimes he struggled to simply accept people’s kindness at face value.

Of course, it seemed a bit excessive to dismiss such a grand construction simply as goodwill, but she wished he could accept it without overthinking.

“Just let yourself be grateful and take it as a favor. And if you think of it as a debt, then don’t go eyeing other girls. Got it?”

“When have I ever done that…”

“Just saying it as a figure of speech. Fool, idiot, Edgar.”

As her signature remarks returned after a brief silence, a smile crept onto Edgar’s face.

He had thought that by assuming the position of the head of the Grand Duke’s family, he might have grown a bit mature, but seeing her slip back into her old teasing manner made him realize he was still a child in a way.

Though it was somewhat cute.

“Okay, I get it. Not that I have any other girls in mind anyway.”

“If you did, does that mean you’d cheat?”

“For crying out loud, it’s already because of you that my standards have risen so high that there aren’t any suitable girls left.”

“Good, good. It’s a blessing. A girl like me isn’t easy to find anywhere.”

Normally, one would be expected to feel bashful at this point, but our Grand Duke merely puffed out his chest proudly.

That showed this was just the kind of character he was—self-esteem through the roof.

“Anyway, since you’ve already got your wedding present, you should know the wedding can’t be delayed now. As soon as the date is set, we’re having the ceremony. Got it?”

“Is this a forced proposition?”

“Yep, didn’t you know? You’re thoroughly caught. Hehe.”

To be playfully threatened with such cuteness was a strange experience for Edgar, leaving him unsure whether to laugh or cry.

If he gazed at the beautiful flowers blooming in front of him, he might tear up, only to chuckle about it later.

“Ariel.”

“Yes?”

“Once everything is wrapped up, let’s hold the ceremony.”

“…Are you proposing right now?”

As she asked with sparkling eyes, Edgar shook his head slightly.

He merely meant this was a verbal agreement; a proposal in form was a formal written contract.

Thus, he had no intention of carrying it out lightly, and if possible, he wanted to present her with a fantastic ring when an opportunity arose.

“That’ll be for later. For now, both of us just need to keep our heads in the game, so let’s just postpone it for a moment.”

“Hmph, I know that too, so don’t you think too hard. What did I say before?”

Ariel confidently held his hand, lifting it to eye level as she spoke with authority.

“You can’t escape from me. Regardless of that petty wedding, whether it’s delayed or not, you’re still mine.”

With a proclamation fitting for the head of a Grand Duke’s household, Edgar was momentarily stunned but then regained his composure with a playful smile.

While he liked seeing her being this cool, he was far more accustomed to the image of the old, flustered princess who’d be at a loss when teased.

“At one point, you were all set to pester my dad to hasten the wedding, and now you’re saying all this with such flair?”

“What? How do you know that… Oh, it must have been my dad, right!? He was the one who said that!”

The mention of ‘dad’—a term less frequently heard than ‘mom’—made Edgar realize how flustered she was.

The problem was, if he nodded in agreement, the blame would fall squarely on Yulken, so he had to maintain a poker face.

“If I tell the truth, what would you think I’d tell him…?

“C’mon, it’s true! I had said not to mention it!”

Planning to give Yulken a good talking-to the next time they met, Ariel ranted.

Seeing her like this made Edgar feel a wave of guilt wash over him for putting her in that position.

Given how Yulken had looked completely crushed when Ariel once accused him of ‘I hate you, Dad,’ imagining how much this would shake him was hard to fathom.

“Why don’t you just go play with Sonia or something? I’ve got some stuff to discuss with my dad!”

“When’s the last time Sonia even went somewhere with your mom? Let’s not worry about that. We can just watch the construction of the building together.”

Gently tugging on her hand and speaking in a coaxing tone, Edgar quickly melted Ariel’s resolve.

Thus, he spent the day ensuring Yulken’s peace while exploring the flourishing new annex side by side with Ariel.

In the midst of chaos, such warm peace always manages to exist.

 

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