Chapter 99
While conversing, the emperor suddenly turned his gaze to the clock.
“Ah, has it already gotten this late? I have kept a busy man like you for too long.”
“Not at all. It is simply an honor for me.”
“Then let us wrap up our conversation here and return to our respective duties…”
At the emperor’s words, which seemed to conclude the situation, Franz let out an inward sigh of relief. He was finally able to escape this uncomfortable situation.
Of course, it wasn’t that the emperor had made him uncomfortable. Rather, he had tried his best to make him comfortable. It was just that he was far too high-ranking a person for such efforts to put Franz at ease.
“I should head back to the Magic Tower and take it easy while working.”
It was when Franz was thinking that.
Suddenly, a knock rang out, followed by a voice.
“Father, may I come in?”
The title of father had a young and delicate tone.
The owner of the voice was, naturally, the youngest princess, whom the emperor cherished dearly.
At that, the emperor stopped mid-sentence and replied.
“Come in.”
As soon as the emperor’s permission was given, the door opened and the princess stepped inside.
“So, did your lessons go well?”
“Yes, I attended them diligently.”
Lessons…
It seemed elites suffered a lot no matter where they went. Being born and living as a princess didn’t seem entirely wonderful., to the point where being a commoner looked a little better.
Of course, Commoners would think differently, but anyway, that was how Franz felt.
“Then wait just a moment. Let us talk after I send the Magic Tower lord back.”
“Y-You’re going back?!”
The princess jumped in surprise and shifted her gaze to Franz.
Franz was equally surprised by her reaction, but he forced a smile and replied.
“Yes, it seems I must.”
“H-How could this be…”
The princess put on a devastated expression and slumped her shoulders, and there was no way Franz could fail to know the meaning behind such a blatant reaction.
“This is troublesome…”
Just when he thought he was finally escaping the emperor, things had become awkward. But he couldn’t exactly resent the princess for it. She just purely didn’t want him to leave.
How could an adult blame a child?
Having finished his thought, Franz spoke to the princess.
“For what reason are you acting like this? If it is something I can do, I will try my best.”
“R-Really?!”
“Yes, so please speak comfortably.”
As Franz saw the princess smile brightly, the corners of his mouth naturally rose as well.
“It might be a little annoying, but…”
If the princess could smile, wasn’t that enough? Making a child smile was a virtue of an adult, after all.
Plus, he could feel a sense of pride as a bonus, so it didn’t seem all that bad.
“Then, I would like to learn some magic. Could I ask you for a favor…?”
“Yes, as much as you’d like.”
“Yay-! Hurry, let’s go quickly-!”
The princess hopped like a rabbit as if expressing her joy with her whole body, then grabbed the hem of Franz’s clothes and led him outside.
Just what kind of mage was she trying to become to act like this…
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Thinking that, Franz took a step forward alongside the princess.
* * *
After spending an appropriate amount of time with the princess, Franz left the carriage at the Magic Tower and headed straight for Yuna’s house.
The reason he specifically sought out Yuna’s house was none other than to inform her of the upcoming schedule.
Since Yuna had decided to live in the Ishtar duke Residence, she needed to know the detailed schedule to prepare for the move.
Knock, knock-.
Franz knocked on the wooden door.
Not long after, a presence was felt from inside, and with a loud creak, the door opened.
“Who is i…”
The person who appeared before Franz was Yuna’s younger sister.
Her red hair and eyes were a spitting image of Yuna.
Her name was definitely…
“Miss Yuri-ah?”
“Y-Yes…!”
Yuri-ah stood up straight and answered in a loud voice.
For some reason, it made him think of a a soldier on parade. Her disciplined posture brought back memories from quite a long time ago. It felt as if he needed to go inside and conduct a barracks inspection.
“Did I do something…?”
Franz doubted himself. Yuna’s younger sister wouldn’t show this kind of reaction for no reason. He must have done something.
But no matter how much he retraced his memories, nothing came to mind. Anyway, he had rarely met Yuri-ah in the first place.
So what else could he do?
He had no choice but to ask directly.
“Did I perhaps do something…?”
“Pardon…?”
At Franz’s question, Yuri-ah tilted her head and expressed her confusion.
It was driving Franz crazy. He had mustered up the courage to ask, but no answer came back.
Even if he were to apologize, he would need to know what happened first…
It was when Franz was thinking that.
A savior appeared.
“Yuri-ah, who is it?”
From behind Yuri-ah, Yuna appeared, tilting her head.
Had there ever been a moment he was this glad to see her? She was truly an oasis in the desert, a solitary island in the vast ocean.
“Franz? What’s going on? No, before that, why are you two acting like that?”
Discovering Franz, Yuna blinked her large eyes in bewilderment and asked a question.
At that, Franz considered telling her honestly what had happened, but then
“No, it’s nothing much. More importantly, do you have time? Let’s talk for a bit.”
He just brushed past it. It wasn’t like there was a particular problem, and it didn’t seem necessary to mention it.
“Hmm-, if that’s the case, do you want to come inside the house? It’s a bit awkward to stand outside and talk.”
She was inviting him into the house for this…?
Franz couldn’t answer easily. Yuna’s family would be in the house, and that was quite an uncomfortable situation. If he were close with Yuna’s parents, it would be one thing, but that wasn’t the case either.
However, it wasn’t easy to refuse when she had gone out of her way to invite him. It was especially so because Yuna’s younger sister, Yuri-ah, was listening as well.
Refuse, or don’t refuse.
Standing at the crossroads of those two choices, Franz soon made his decision.
“Alright, then excuse me for a bit.”
“Yeah, come on in.”
Yuna went inside first, and Franz followed behind her.
Meanwhile, Yuri-ah was covering her mouth with one hand, wearing a deeply moved expression as if she had just encountered a god.
“What kind of reaction is that…”
He had a lot of questions today, but he decided not to think too deeply about it.
It would be a bit awkward to ask about every little thing, after all.
Franz soon came face-to-face with Yuna’s mother.
“O-Oh my, Magic Tower master…?”
The mother’s flustered state was evident.
She was probably flustered because he had visited without any prior notice.
It was likely even more so because he wasn’t just anyone, but the benefactor who had saved her life.
‘This is why I didn’t want to come in…’
What was the point of regretting it now?
Since he had chosen it himself, he had no choice but to take responsibility.
Franz bowed his head slightly in greeting.
“I apologize for visiting without any prior notice.”
“Not at all. We are perfectly fine. It’s just that we have nothing prepared, so I don’t know how to host you…”
“Ah, that is fine. We are just going to have a light chat.”
“Then shall I prepare some simple tea and refreshments? Ah, perhaps they won’t suit your tastes…”
Franz just smiled awkwardly. It didn’t seem like anything he said in this situation would be of much benefit.
‘Honestly, I don’t mind at all.’
It was true that expensive things were luxurious and delicious. But that didn’t mean cheap things tasted bad. He had eaten quite a bit of cheap street food in the North, too.
While Franz was in this predicament, Yuna stepped in.
“Tea and refreshments? Sounds delicious. Franz, you’re going to eat, right?”
“Ah, yeah.”
The answer popped out very naturally, to the point where Franz himself was a little surprised by his response.
But Yuna’s mother still seemed worried.
“Yuna, to serve the Magic Tower master, it’s too…”
“Mom, it’s fine. He’s not that picky an eater.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yeah, it’s really fine. It’s not like I’ve only known Franz for a day or two.”
Fortunately, her mother was persuaded by Yuna’s words.
Soon, her mother headed to the kitchen to brew tea, and Yuna and Franz sat facing each other across the table.
By the way, wasn’t that phrasing a bit much, saying he wasn’t that picky an eater?
Of course, it wasn’t exactly wrong, but couldn’t she have softened it a bit?
Being remembered by a friend’s mother as a guy who eats whatever is put in front of him was a bit embarrassing.
It was when Franz was inwardly harboring such complaints.
Yuna spoke.
“Franz, what did you come to talk about?”
“I went to see Your Majesty today, and…”
Franz told Yuna about the conversation he had with the emperor., about how he would be bestowed a ducal title in three days.
And he began to talk about his future plans.
“Once I receive the ducal title, I have to talk with the Vassals and clean the castle. So let’s move in about five days.”
“Yeah, got it. I’ll have everything ready by then.”
“Alright, I’ll move the luggage for you, so don’t overdo it.”
“Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much for everything.”
Yuna smiled brightly as she said that.
Still, he felt proud that he seemed to have been of some help to her.
And as expected, smiling suited Yuna much better.
Afterward, having enjoyed the tea and refreshments while making light conversation, Franz stood up from his seat to leave.
Just then, Yuri-ah, who had coincidentally come out of her room, looked at Franz and spoke.
“Brother-in-law, are you leav… eep?!”
She belatedly covered her mouth, but words once spoken could not be taken back.
Brother-in-law.
At that word, Franz went blank, and Yuna’s face turned red.