Volume 9 - CH 5

Chapter 5: Idioms Change in Meaning 

Nata (Age 22) — Second Son: Muscular man who wielded a giant ax. 

Mutsumi (Age 20) — Eldest Daughter: Beautiful, with excellent martial abilities and ingenuity. 

Gauche (Age 18) — Third Son: The best archer in the world. 

Yomi (Age 17) — Second Daughter: Elder twin sister, avid reader with a wealth of knowledge. 

Sami (Age 17) — Third Daughter: Younger twin sister, with a gift for accounting and a talent for mental arithmetic. 

Nike (Age 16) — Fourth Son: Beautiful boy, whose spear moved faster than the eye could follow.

Being from the same family as Madam Mutsumi and Ichiha, they were all beautiful. 

On top of that, each had a superior talent, so I could understand why all these countries wanted them as brides, or grooms, or retainers. I could understand, but... even so, there was no person among them that I desperately wanted for myself. No, not among them. 

Well, having been the last to get here, it had little to do with us. 

Or so I thought, but... I felt like I’d suddenly made eye contact with Duke Chima up on the platform. I had a bad feeling about this, and it quickly proved to be true. 

Duke Chima looked at me as he said, “In regards to the selection process, I would like the countries to choose in the order of largest contribution. Thus, the one whose country had the largest force, and slew the most monsters, must be this gentleman here. The King of Friedonia, Sir Souma Kazuya!” 

The moment he said that, all eyes focused on us. 

Their glances were a mix of resignation, interest, and envy. I had effectively come last only to take the best part, so that may have been to be expected. 

Aw, damn it... He just had to do this... 

I was sure Duke Chima wanted a link to a prominent country, no matter what it took. 

Naturally, as the most powerful country here, he was going to want a line of contact with us. That was probably why he’d given us first place. 

For my part, I wanted to avoid standing out here, and to quietly achieve my objective afterward, but now he’d made it a hassle. 

Then I felt an especially sharp pair of eyes on me. 

Wha?! 

Juna and Naden let go of the arms they were wrapped around, and Aisha positioned herself so as to protect me from that stare. 

When I looked past Aisha in the direction I had felt it from, there was Fuuga. 

He was looking straight at me with no expression. Those eyes said, If you’re planning to choose Young Miss Mutsumi, be prepared. 

If I were to tease him by saying I wanted Madam Mutsumi now, Fuuga would probably decide I was an enemy. 

In The Prince, Machiavelli said people will soon forget injuries against themselves, but they will never forget injury to their property or women. 

If I did something like steal Madam Mutsumi, Fuuga would no doubt come to steal her back, even if it meant war with the Kingdom of Friedonia. Like King Agamemnon, invading and destroying Troy to take back his younger brother’s beautiful wife, Helen. 

I have no intent of creating a source of strife with Fuuga, but... 

Was that man this true to his desires? 

If he wanted something, he’d do anything to attain it. That position was terrifying. 

I turned to Duke Chima and bowed a little before silently shaking my head. 

“It’s a kind offer, but I’ll have to decline.” 

“S-Say what?!” 

“We of the Kingdom of Friedonia were late to arrive, and our contributions are not equal to those who have fought long and hard here. I ask you to please give the reward to somebody else.” 

When I said that, a clear feeling of relief flowed through the room. 

That was because the number of slots for rewards hadn’t decreased, I’m sure. From here and there, I heard things like... 

“A wonderful show of consideration.” 

“It seems the new King of Friedonia is sensible.” 

“What an upstanding man he is.” 

...and other compliments. 

Just how serious were they, I wonder? 

After I stepped aside, first place became Fuuga of Malmkhitan, so it seemed Fuuga would be able to attain Madam Mutsumi, whom he desired. 

Fuuga rose to the platform and suddenly swept Madam Mutsumi up in his arms, carrying her like a princess. “I won’t make you do anything bothersome like say I want you as a retainer. Mutsumi, I’ve been in love since I first laid eyes on you. Be my wife.” 

Up on stage, and with central figures from many other countries watching him, he gave her a straightforward proposal. 

“Hee hee, you’re wonderful. I’ll do it. I do like strong people.” 

“Yeah! I swear, if it’s for you, I’ll never lose to anyone!” 

“I believe you, Lord Fuuga.” 

Together with applause for the two of them, there were looks that were half congratulatory and half jealous. 

No, more of them are jealous, I think. 

That was just how many people had been after Madam Mutsumi. 

Fuuga clearly didn’t care in the slightest about any of the looks. I guess that was Fuuga for you. Anyway, I was glad not to have created undue strife with him. 

While I was feeling relieved, I noticed Yuriga staring at me. 

“...Is something wrong?” 

“Why did you turn down first place? You could have been the one to take Mutsumi!” 

That wasn’t just curiosity in her eyes; it looked like she seriously wanted to know. 

“Could it be because my brother was after Mutsumi?” she demanded. 

“It’s like I said before, but... that might be part of it, too. I don’t want to fight Fuuga.” 

“I see. You’re afraid of my brother.” 

When she said that, the look in Yuriga’s eyes was a little sharp. What had brought that on? 

Then, in a quiet voice, Yuriga began to talk. 

“We know how incredible my brother is. But that’s not always true of others. In the Union of Eastern Nations, there are those who underestimate him as a minor king from the steppes.” 

Well, Malmkhitan was still a small country in terms of territory, after all. If I said that, I, the ruler of the Kingdom of Friedonia, was afraid of the king of a small country like Fuuga, they’d laugh that I was being too timid. 

Yuriga, however, never laughed. “But... you aren’t like that, I see. Even though you rule a kingdom that is incomparably larger than the steppes of Malmkhitan, you’re as cautious of my brother as you should be.” 

“No, that’s...” 

“I see why my brother took notice of you now. I understand why you’re protected by so many people, too.” Yuriga smiled faintly. 

When a girl of thirteen smiled as if she saw right through me, it gave me a bit of a shock. Though it was in a different way from her brother, this girl might not be normal, either. 

While we were talking, the distribution of rewards ended. 

“With this, the places my children will be going have been decided,” Duke Chima said. “Everyone, I truly...” 

“Ah! A moment, if I may?” 

With Duke Chima about to give his closing remarks, I decided now was the time to strike and cut him off. 

“Um, are you dissatisfied regarding the matter of the reward, perhaps?” Duke Chima asked, his eyes wide. 

I hurriedly shook my head. “Oh, no, no. This isn’t about the reward. You have another child named Sir Ichiha Chima, yes, Sir Mathew? The youngest one.” 

“Wh-Why, yes. He’s right there, in fact...” 

As Duke Chima said, Ichiha was at my side. 

I put my hand down on Ichiha’s head, and said to Duke Chima, “From the looks of it, he’s become fast friends with my little sister. I also hear that all the boys and girls of the Chima family are excellent, so I believe this boy has potential, too. That being the case, how about it? I’d like you to leave Sir Ichiha in the care of our country so that he can be educated.” 

“M-My word...” The suddenness of the proposal left Duke Chima flummoxed. 

Elfrieden Historical Idiom Lessons: Number 6 

“To Gain the Youngest Brother of House Chima” 

Type: Proverb 

Meaning: 

To gain little in exchange for a lot of hard work. 

For the thing everyone left behind to actually be an incredible treasure. 

Origin: This idiom has meant different things at different times. At first, it was said with meaning (1). It comes from Souma, who led reinforcements to the Union of Eastern Nations and then brought back Ichiha Chima, who was then thought to be without talent, as his prize. However, as the hidden potential of Ichiha Chima blossomed, it took on meaning (2), which was the opposite.

Equivalent Expressions: 

“Great pains all in vain.” 

“There is fortune to be found in that which others leave behind.”