Chapter 96
“Ah, augh, that hurts…”
“Ugh, urgh…”
The door suddenly opened.
The three came tumbling in with a crash.
Groans erupting from here and there.
At this sudden, chaotic spectacle, Franz, who had been conversing with Yusti-ah in the room, could only stare in dumbfounded silence.
Wouldn’t getting struck by lightning from a clear blue sky feel exactly like this?
He was so bewildered that a hollow laugh almost escaped him.
While Franz was experiencing such confusion, Arian, who was pinned at the very bottom of the three, groaned and pulled herself out.
Noticing Franz’s gaze, she spoke urgently.
“W-Well, you see? What, what should I say. R-Right! I lost my footing while walking down the corridor!”
Arian’s eyes wavered, and her voice trembled.
Even an elementary schooler could tell that she was lying.
Besides, losing her footing? Shouldn’t she put a little more thought into her excuses before blurting them out?
Well, it just meant she was that desperate.
Haa-.
Franz let out a short sigh.
Because the more he thought about it, the more absurd the situation unfolding before his eyes was.
“Close the door first.”
At Franz’s words, Hera, who had gotten up at some point, carefully closed the door.
With that faint sound, a chilling silence began to fall over the room.
Even though there were as many as five people gathered.
At that, the three main culprits of the incident gulped, swallowing hard.
Soon, Franz was the one to break the silence and speak first.
“So, who’s going to explain what on earth is going on?”
Despite Franz’s question, the three kept their mouths shut tight and maintained their silence.
Even Arian, who had blurted out an excuse earlier, couldn’t say a word this time.
Because asking again meant he had already noticed it was a lie.
“Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping? Why can’t anyone say anything?”
Flinch-.
At Franz’s words, the three of them twitched simultaneously.
Franz, who couldn’t possibly not know the meaning of that reaction, was simply bewildered.
“Why on earth?”
He understood that they had been eavesdropping, at least.
Even if he were to be as understanding as possible, it made no sense, but since it had already happened, it couldn’t be helped.
But he didn’t know the reason they did such a thing.
What fun was there in eavesdropping on a room where a man was staying alone?
It wasn’t like they could have known Yusti-ah had come to his room either…
“Wait, do they perhaps know that Yusti-ah came over?”
That really might be the case.
Because they had been curious about what he and Yusti-ah had talked about earlier today.
Just as Franz finished his thoughts and was about to let it slide.
“B-Because you said you and Yusti-ah were making a baby…”
Unbelievable words ended up popping out of Yuna’s mouth.
“…What?”
“A, a baby…?!”
Franz and Yusti-ah blurted out at the same time.
Their voices, thick with bewilderment, represented their feelings.
“I heard everything you guys were talking about earlier today. You said you two were making a baby.”
Of course, they had talked about something similar.
To be exact, it wasn’t about making a baby, but a bet on who would have a child first between Hera and Yusti-ah.
It seemed Yuna had made a huge misunderstanding.
But if that was the case…
“Were they trying to eavesdrop on that…?”
Let’s say the misunderstanding was understandable.
Since a similar conversation had taken place, it was entirely possible.
But coming to eavesdrop on that was a bit much, to say the least.
They were practically no different from perverts…
At that moment, Arian spoke.
“W-Wait a minute…! If you say it like that, he’ll misunderstand…!”
So that wasn’t it after all.
Franz inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
“Magic Tower master, we weren’t trying to eavesdrop on that, we were just curious about what was happening inside. We absolutely didn’t have those intentions.”
“Right, I get it.”
“And I’m sorry for trying to eavesdrop. I’m equally sorry to the saintess.”
Saying so, Arian bowed her head and apologized.
“Yeah, well… I get it.”
Franz accepted the apology.
He was just a little flustered; he hadn’t suffered any direct harm.
And fortunately, Yusti-ah also let it slide appropriately.
Although her face was still red, she didn’t seem too angry.
“Then everyone go back to your rooms and get some sleep. I’m tired too, so I should go to bed.”
With Franz’s words, the chaotic midnight party came to a moderate end.
The four women, who came out of the room as if they were being chased out, sighed simultaneously.
For Yuna, Arian, and Hera, it was self-reproach for disappointing Franz, and for Yusti-ah, it was regret for not being able to finish what she wanted to say.
Hearing the sighs, the four turned their heads and looked at each other.
And they sighed again.
They had a lot to say, but it was because it was awkward to speak up.
* * *
The next day.
Franz, who was having a meal with the people of the Ducal House of Phrygia, spoke.
“Duke, excuse me, but it seems I will have to return today.”
Returning.
Your Highness meant he would now leave the North and return to the Magic Tower.
“Is that so. It is a shame, but if the Magic Tower master has decided so, it cannot be helped.”
“I would love to stay longer if I could, but it is difficult to keep leaving the Magic Tower empty.”
It was exactly as he said.
Since he had left all the work to the clerks, he had to return as soon as possible.
Because he didn’t know what kind of trouble those idiotic mages might be causing.
He thought it might be fine since no telepathic message had come, but on the contrary, he was also anxious precisely because none had.
They might have locked the clerks up somewhere and occupied the Magic Tower, after all.
He doubted such a thing would happen, but…
For some reason, he felt those idiots were more than capable of doing just that.
“If I had known, I would have prepared a more lavish meal.”
“This is more than enough. In fact, I’ve been treated so well that it’s almost troubling.”
Franz smiled awkwardly.
Truthfully, being indebted to the Ducal House of Phrygia wasn’t exactly comfortable either.
It felt like he was being an unnecessary nuisance, so to speak.
Because he ended up walking on eggshells with everything he did.
Perhaps because they thought it was the last time.
The breakfast table was more lively than ever.
Arian’s sisters asked Yuna, Yusti-ah, and Hera various questions.
Perhaps, as fellow women, they were admiring those who had achieved great feats.
Because in this world, women were literally in a position to only be protected.
Fortunately, they also answered the sisters' questions earnestly.
They didn’t seem to particularly dislike the attention.
In the midst of that, there was someone who spoke to Franz.
It was the eldest son of the family, Marcel.
“Magic Tower master, thank you.”
“I merely did as I pleased.”
“Even so, thank you.”
Even without explicitly stating what it was, the two of them knew.
That it was about Arian’s arranged marriage.
'He’s such a mature kid.'
From his heart that cared for his older sister, to coming over to express his gratitude.
He was truly mature for his age.
“Come visit the Magic Tower next time. I’ll even give you a ride in the carriage.”
“R-Really?!”
Marcel said, his eyes widening.
No matter how mature a child he was, it seemed he couldn’t help it after getting a taste of a modern carriage.
“Of course. I’ll give you a ride anytime. No, just send a letter and I’ll come pick you up.”
Since it was something that could be done in the blink of an eye using teleport anyway.
“C-Can’t the Magic Tower master just become my brother-in-law…?”
“M-Marcel…!”
Arian, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from the side, spoke in a startled voice.
Her face was faintly flushed.
As time passed, the breakfast, which had been uncharacteristically noisy for a noble house, came to an end.
Franz’s party immediately prepared to return and gathered at the entrance of the mansion.
The people of the Ducal House of Phrygia were also gathered at the entrance to see them off.
“Then we will be on our way. Thank you for everything.”
“It was our honor to host the legendary Hero’s Party. And thanks to you, it was wonderful to see our daughter’s face after such a long time.”
The legendary Hero’s Party.
Feeling embarrassed by those words for no reason, Franz smiled awkwardly.
It was still something truly hard to get used to.
After a short conversation, Yuna, Yusti-ah, and Hera boarded the carriage first.
“Arian, chat with your family for a bit. I’ll go drop these guys off and come back.”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
With that conversation over, Franz immediately approached the carriage. And with a snap of his fingers, he used teleport.
A magic circle was drawn on the ground, and soon it began to shine before the carriage and Franz disappeared.
After delivering the carriage to the cathedral, Franz dropped Hera and Yuna off at their respective homes before he could finally return to Arian’s side.
“Good work.”
“Your Highness was nothing. Let’s get going too.”
Arian got into the passenger seat, followed by Franz getting into the driver’s seat.
As the carriage started, the mansion gradually grew distant.
“They said to make sure to give them a ride next time…”
That was what the three he had taken home first had said.
Upon seeing the carriage, they had marveled at it and insisted he give them a ride.
Well, it wasn’t difficult, so he’d give them a ride later.
Franz sped up, thinking so.
* * *
Giving up on the long journey, Franz eventually used teleport to return to the Magic Tower.
“A letter…?”
Entering the Magic Tower master’s office after a really long time, he discovered a letter resting on the desk.
It was none other than a letter sent by the emperor.
It seemed the clerks had brought it in.
Tearing open the letter right away, Franz let out a sigh.
[About the day I bestow the ducal title…]
Because it seemed spending his days leisurely was out of the question.