Vol 2 Chapter 43

Receiving Blessings

May-chan finally agreed when I told her that I would let her fly using Floating Magic tomorrow.

“I will definitely wear pants tomorrow!”

It looks like she made up her mind to join the training in the wilderness again tomorrow.

“Although I’m fine with it, but since you came to a hot spring resort and all, are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Un~ Rather than going to the hot springs, it’s more fun to be with you guys!”

Well, I guess if the child says so, then it’s all good. For May-chan, it might be better for her to stay with everyone.

“As you have seen today, you should be able to understand that we were seriously practicing magic. That’s why, make sure you don’t become an obstruction, okay?”

“I do understand! I will also be taught magic by Melinda-sama so it’s all good!”

“You’ll probably be just troubling Melinda-dono.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m free anyway whenever Merlin is conducting his lecture. So, it’s no problem for me to watch over May-chan.”

“I’m really sorry about this, Melinda-dono.”

“On the other hand, I also gave you some difficulties looking after s.h.i.+n. Since she’s a girl, it would be pleasant to take care of her.”

“But, I, on the other hand, don’t remember having any difficulties looking after s.h.i.+n.”

Grandpa and grandma looked like they were experiencing nostalgia thinking about the time when I was small.

“s.h.i.+n-kun when he was small, I wonder what kind of child he was?”

Hearing their words, Sicily seemed to have gotten interested and asked about how I was like when I was a child.

“That’s right… Although it’s fine for me to talk about those times, but s.h.i.+n, Your Highness. Please finish up what you need to do first. There are still some things that are needed to be said to Sicily’s parents.”

When that was brought up, the conversation was postponed for the time being.

“With my parents, you say?”

“Yes, since your House is part of the n.o.bility, right? In that case, we should talk about the engagement. But before that, there are some things they need to know about.”

“Yes… I understand.”

Is it about that? The fact that I’m not grandpa and grandma’s real grandson?

Now that I think about it, I haven’t told anyone else.

It looks like grandma is intending to tell everyone sometime during this celebration.

“So there was actually that plan all along, grandpa?”

“Hohho, this is the first time I’ve heard of it…”

It seemed like grandpa wasn’t told a thing about it.

Grandma has seized all the initiative.

…I can clearly visualize it, her being moved to tears during the marriage ceremony…

After I sent everyone to the mansion, I opened Gate once more and connected it to the Royal Castle.

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness, Walford-san.”

The same guard I met this morning greeted us.

“Hey, I’ve been waiting for you, s.h.i.+n-kun.”

And as I expected, Uncle Dis was already waiting there.

“As I thought, you’ll be here.”

“As you thought?”

“Irene-san said it earlier that Cecil-san would probably spread it to everyone in his workplace, and naturally, that includes Uncle Dis as well.”

“Certainly… He was boasting about it to everyone at the office…”

“And so, because Uncle Dis would also probably come, she told everyone to prepare for it.”

“…s.h.i.+n-kun, is it okay if I go inside the Royal Castle?”

“You can’t do that! If you do then…”

“No! Don’t tell anyone else! Haaa… She’ll probably get angry…”

“Pl-please do your best…”

There are a lot of people around me who have strong wives.

Is it possible that everyone has the same circ.u.mstances?

“What is it, s.h.i.+n-kun?”

“Nothing…”

“Father is also no match for Mother.”

“As I thought, it’s like that after all.”

“Wha! Why are you exposing that for!?”

“Oh, I’m really sorry. Since it’s s.h.i.+n, I just accidentally…”

“When I thought that I finally had the chance to talk to my son…”

“Since he’s so black-hearted, you were surprised.”

“Hey, what do you mean black-hearted.”

“It’s completely black.”

“…How amazing, to think that you can actually interact with His Highness and His Majesty?”

Cecil-san and the Soldiers on guard were surprised. They don’t usually see such scenes.

“Now that I think about it, where are Sieg-niichan and Chris-neechan?”

“Ah, aren’t we going there by Gate? In addition, Magi-dono, Guru-dono, and s.h.i.+n-kun will be there, so it’s not necessary to bring guards along.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“In addition, since there will be a formal announcement and engagement party held here in the Royal Capital, it’ll be fine to invite them then.”

“Are you doing it at such a large scale?”

“It’s only natural. The parties involved are an aristocrat and the newly inaugurated hero. The world won’t be convinced if you don’t hold a formal engagement party to announce it.”

“Haaa, are you serious…”

“I am serious. Or rather, we should get going soon. If we are delayed, Merlin-dono will end up worrying.”

“Ah, yeah, I understand.”

“Then, the other side it probably ready and waiting for us, please prepare yourselves.”

“Yes! I understand!”

Although we’re finally ready to head to the mansion in Claude town, but…

“Ah, sorry Uncle Dis, there’s a place I want to go to first, so please wait for me.”

“What is it? It’s fine if we go together.”

“It’s fine! I’ll come back immediately, so please wait for me!”

When I said that, I quickly finished up what I needed to do and went back to the Royal Castle.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Then, let’s go.

This time, we went to the mansion in Claude Town.

“As I thought, it’s really convenient.”

“Then shall I send you to the territory the next time you need to come here?”

“Ah… Although it’s an attractive offer, I cannot accept it.”

“Eh? Why is that?”

“That’s because, s.h.i.+n-kun, aristocrats will always go to their territory from the Royal City. And from their territory, they come to the Royal City. And during their journey, they will definitely stop by different places.”

Uncle Dis answered my question.

“The movements of aristocrats are always being watched. And we cannot ignore the economic effect that occurs in our territory.”

“Hee, so it’s like that.”

“In addition, for aristocrats, it’s important to interact with their territories’ stewards.”

“So there was such a thing.”

It sure is difficult being an aristocrat.

“That’s why it was really helpful to receive this magic tool from s.h.i.+n-kun. Thank you.”

“No need, if it’s just something like that, I can make you as many as you want.”

“Is that the truth? If that’s the case, I’m really thankful. Of course, I will pay for it.”

“About that, I don’t really mind that kind of thing.”

“I cannot accept it just like that. And also, if I don’t pay for it…”

“If you don’t pay for it?”

“It would be as if he’s selling his own daughter for magic tools.”

“WHA!?”

When I heard what Uncle Dis said, I started to doubt my hearing.

“Although it’s regretful, it’s exactly as His Majesty had said. This world doesn’t only consist of good people, especially now that the seat of the Vice Minister of the Finance Bureau is vacant. And there are a lot of people aiming for that seat.”

I see, Cecil-san is also someone part of the Finance Bureau. I guess he also wants to aim for the vacant seat. A fight for a bureaucratic post… Even though it’s a different world, it doesn’t look like those kinds of things changes.

“I understand. However, the offer still stands, and I’ll give it to you at a bargain price. That is something I won’t budge on.”

“Is that so… Thank you.”

While we were having a conversation in the entrance hall, a servant noticed us.

“Y-your Majesty! Master!”

When all the servants heard that voice, they hurriedly gathered in the entrance hall and knelt.

And then Irene-san came out from inside and bowed gracefully.

“Welcome and thank you for coming all the way here, Your Majesty. We were expecting you.”

“Today, I came here as a normal member of the public to partic.i.p.ate in the celebration and congratulate s.h.i.+n-kun. There’s no need to be so formal.”

“Yes, by your leave. And also… Dear.”

“Ye-yes!”

“We will talk later.”

“…Yes.”

I’m so sorry Cecil-san… I wasn’t… I wasn’t able to save you…

“Coincidentally, the preparations are complete, please come to the dining room. Ah, as for s.h.i.+n-kun, please come this way.”

“Why is that?”

“Of course, so that you can change your clothes, as well as make an appearance together with Sicily.”

I feel like this is getting more and more important!

“Well then, please get changed and wait in this room. I’ll immediately call for Sicily to come here.”

When she said, Irene-san immediately pushed me into a vacant room and went to call Sicily.

After I put on the white s.h.i.+rt and white trousers with military blue lining, I started to get restless.

While I was being fidgety, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

“Ye-yes!”

When I answered and opened the door, the person standing there was…

With an updo hairstyle and wearing a light blue dress, Sicily was waiting there.

On Sicily’s dress, there were frills all over it, which seems popular right now, and hair and accessories make her look more mature. Because of that imbalance, it makes her look even more cute.

“U-umm… s.h.i.+n-kun?”

While I was absentmindedly looking at her, Sicily called out to me.

“A-ah, I’m sorry. I was fascinated for a moment because you look so cute.”

“Ehh… Th-thank you very much. s.h.i.+n-kun also looks really attractive.”

“Is that true?”

“It’s the truth. Or rather, what you thought about me, were you telling the truth?”

“Yeah, because you look so cute, my heart is pounding.”

“s.h.i.+n-kun…”

“Sicily…”

“AHEM!”

I forgot that Irene-san was standing right there!

“I understand that it’s because you guys have a good relations.h.i.+p, but in a while, please head to the dining room.”

After she said that while smiling, Irene-san left us alone.

There was someone else around… But if there wasn’t anyone else, I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to stop myself.

After we mutually looked at each other, we started smiling bitterly and I asked her what was on my mind earlier.

“Sicily, although we just start going on, and then to suddenly get engaged, does Sicily not have any objections?”

“Yes. Although I was fl.u.s.tered a little while ago, I am, after all, a daughter of an aristocrat, so I have prepared myself. In addition, I will be getting engaged to a person I like. If anything, I am really happy about it.”

When she said that, she eyes started to moistened and she started to smile.

“Sicily…”

“s.h.i.+n-kun…”

“Umm… If you guys are going to do that, please take your time to do it later…”

A maid who stayed behind was still there!

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Ugh, what have I done again…”

That’s why I say, step on the brakes! There’s still someone else around!

“Then, let us head off.”

The place where maid-san led us to was the place we always had our meals, the dining room.

The usual chairs and tables were removed, and it has been transformed into a buffet style party.

The level of servants of the Claude House is also high!

When we entered the dining room, everyone welcomed us with applause.

“Does everyone have their gla.s.ses? Now then, let us commence the party to celebrate the start of the relations.h.i.+p between my friends’, Merlin-dono and Melinda-dono, grandson, s.h.i.+n-kun, and the daughter of Viscount Claude, Sicily, as well as their engagement.”

“Diseum, wait just a moment.”

“Yes? What is it, Melinda-s.h.i.+.”

“When you declare that, these children will be officially engaged. Although it would be a joyous event… Viscount and Viscountess Claude.”

“Yes!”

“What is it, Melinda-sama?”

“There are some things that we must tell you before anything else.”

It’s probably about that.

“If we don’t tell you these things, we would feel like we’re deceiving you. Because it would be painful for us, please listen.”

“I-I understand.”

After seeing grandma looking very serious, Cecil-san felt overwhelmed as he replied.

And then grandma started talking about my early life.

“s.h.i.+n is… actually not our real grandchild.”

When everyone heard those unexpected words, the entire party hall was wrapped in silence.

“It happened about 15 years ago. I discovered a carriage that had been attacked by a demon and was exterminated.”

Grandpa started talking about the day he picked me up.

“There was no one left alive… That’s what I thought because of the terrible scene I saw. I approached the wrecked carriage because I thought, at the very least, to hold a funeral. At that time… I found that a little baby managed to miraculously survive.”

Because of the shocking contents of the story, everyone seemed to can’t get any words out. They listened to grandpa’s story in silence.

*** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ ***

“I picked up that baby… For various reasons, I thought that it was destiny and I decided to raise the child.”

*** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ ***