Chapter 74

【 Future Mother-in-Law, Future Son-in-Law 】

At Lisa’s words, Nia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Layla and Sara, however, didn’t seem particularly shocked.

It looked as if the two had already predicted what Lisa would say.

“I didn’t think you liked Gideon that much. It’s only been a month since you met, and you’re already thinking about marriage?”

“I think a month is plenty of time.”

“Plenty? Come on. Even people in arranged marriages at least get engaged a year in advance.”

“……”

At Nia’s words, Lisa turned her head away, avoiding her gaze.

Seeing that, Nia burst into laughter and approached her.

“Hahaha! Wow, seeing you embarrassed is so refreshing! You must’ve really fallen hard for Gideon, huh?”

“I couldn’t help it.”

“Heh, I bet. You fell for him at first sight, and on top of that, you even drank his blood for the first time in that situation. No wonder you’re completely smitten.”

“It wasn’t love at first sight or anything…”

“Oh, come on. You told me last month yourself—you said you liked him the moment you saw him.”

“……”

When Lisa went silent again, Nia laughed loudly and patted her on the shoulder.

“Hey, still, it’s good to see this side of you. You always looked so stiff and emotionless, but seeing you actually like someone—this unnie is truly touched.”

“…Did I really look emotionless?”

“You still do.”

“That’s… shocking.”

“If you’re shocked, at least look shocked. Saying that with a blank face makes it totally unconvincing.”

Nia said, letting out a dry chuckle.

While the two continued chatting, Layla spoke up.

“But Lisa, did you tell Gideon?”

“Tell him what, Your Highness?”

“That you want to marry him.”

When Layla asked with a pure expression, Lisa flinched.

“I haven’t said that directly, but… I think he probably understood. I did say I wanted to be with him forever, so maybe…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to make it clear? If you don’t tell him you’re thinking about marriage and suddenly start preparing for it later, Gideon might be surprised.”

“Ahaha! That’s true. Hey, Lisa, Her Highness is right.”

Nia laughed heartily as she continued.

“If you don’t tell him beforehand, Gideon might get startled and run away when he finds out you’re planning to marry him.”

“Gi… Gideon would… r-run away from me?”

“Well, he might, if he feels pressured about the marriage… Hmm, actually, no. Now that I think about it, that’s impossible.”

“Why not?”

Nia nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Well, isn’t it obvious? If a duke asks for marriage, he has to accept. What other choice would he have? Unless he’s royalty, if the next head of a ducal family proposes, a baron can only bow his head.”

“…Nia unnie.”

Lisa spoke in a serious tone, cutting through Nia’s teasing.

“If Gideon ran away… wouldn’t that mean he doesn’t like me? What if Gideon actually doesn’t love me?”

“What are you talking abou— H-Hey! Why are you about to cry all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong?”

As tears welled up in Lisa’s eyes, Nia panicked.

“If I’m the only one who likes Gideon… if he’s only staying with me because I’m the duke’s daughter…”

“No, Lisa! That’s not true!”

Layla, startled just like Nia, quickly shouted.

“Gideon definitely likes you a lot too. I’m sure of it.”

“Her Highness is right. If you’re that anxious, why don’t you just ask him directly tomorrow?”

“…Ask him directly?”

“Yeah, ask Gideon straight out if he likes you. That’s the most certain way, isn’t it?”

“Right, right! Do what Nia said, Lisa.”

Nia and Layla each offered her a word of encouragement.

Sara, on the other hand, simply watched in silence, eating her snack quietly with a knowing look in her eyes.

And watching this scene—

No.

Trying to watch it from afar—was someone else.

“Ugh, can’t see clearly. Can’t hear well either.”

I cut off my connection with the sense of wind and sat back down.

“Guess seeing things from too far away is still tough.”

I could see and hear through the wind up to roughly 300 meters.

Beyond that, hearing became completely impossible, and vision turned extremely blurry.

That was the case just now too.

I could confirm that Lisa and the other three were on the rooftop, but my sight was so hazy that I couldn’t make out their conversation at all.

‘Well, it’s not good to eavesdrop anyway. Maybe it’s better I couldn’t hear.’

There were a few things about Lisa that concerned me, but it was better to ask her directly.

Eavesdropping on their conversation wasn’t exactly the right thing to do.

“Anyway… the power I got from Peregrie is pretty useful.”

Controlling the wind, and sharing senses with it to observe distant places.

Not bad at all.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

While I was thinking about how to use this new power, a familiar sound reached my ears.

Turning my head, I saw Siri already standing beside me.

“Woof!”

“Looks like your hunt went well.”

“Woof!”

Siri wagged her tail excitedly and dropped the rabbit she had caught in front of me.

Then she looked up at me expectantly.

“…You want me to praise you?”

“Woof woof!”

“Alright, fine. You did well. That’s a great first hunt.”

“Woof!”

Siri barked happily and ran in a quick circle around me.

Then she looked between the rabbit and me alternately.

“…Don’t tell me you expect me to eat that.”

“Woof? Woof!”

“Uh… no thanks. You eat it.”

“Woof… woof!”

Siri gave me a slightly puzzled look, then began eating the rabbit with clear delight.

Seeing how happily she devoured it, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion if you keep that up.”

“Woof!”

“You’re really excited, huh? Anyway, eat slowly, then we’ll play a bit more before heading back. Sound good?”

“Woof! Woof woof woof! Woof!”

“Ugh, hey! Don’t lick me with that blood-covered tongue!”

“Woof!”

And so, after playing with Siri for a while longer, I headed back to the lodging.

Between spending time with Siri and testing out Peregrie’s power, it felt like I’d made good use of my time.

‘There are still a few things I’m curious about regarding Lisa, but I can check those tomorrow.’

When I went on a date with Lisa earlier, she’d told me she wanted us to stay together and become closer.

But it was a bit unclear what exactly she meant—what kind of relationship she wanted with me—so I figured I’d ask her carefully tomorrow.

Well, that was tomorrow’s problem anyway.

“Woof woof! Woof! Woof?! Woof!”

“Hey! Stay still! You need to get washed before going in! You can’t enter the lodging like that, even if you hide in the shadows! You’ll be out when you sleep!”

For now, I decided to deal with the problem in front of me.

“Woof?! Rrrrawl!”

As a Hellhound that breathed fire, Siri really hated water.

Which made washing her an absolute nightmare.

“Good grief, seriously! I said stay still!”

I’d only planned to give her a quick wash by the river, but she struggled so much that a simple wash was impossible.

In the end, both Siri and I ended up completely soaked by the time we returned to the lodging late that night.

The next day.

It was the second day since arriving in Intezer, and there was a group activity scheduled for the morning.

‘The only group activity during the whole school trip.’

Most of the trip was made up of free time, except for that one morning on the second day.

During that time, each grade gathered to participate in group activities.

Not that there was much to it, really.

‘All we did was listen to the instructor talk about Intezer’s history, make our own small model of Intezer, and do some simple exercises before finishing up.’

Nothing particularly special—and it ended earlier than expected.

I thought it would finish around lunchtime, but just after 11 a.m., the instructor wrapped up the first-year group’s session.

“Alright! First-year Class 1, everyone gather for a moment! I’ll give a quick announcement, then you’re free to go!”

After the instructor stepped aside, Luke quickly gathered the students of Class 1.

“Honestly, there’s not much to announce. You all know that the rest of the day is free time, so just make sure to enjoy it safely. We’ll be leaving right after breakfast tomorrow, so keep that in mind… and that’s about it. Just have fun safely. The Disciplinary Committee and Student Council will be patrolling frequently, so don’t even think about doing anything stupid, understood?”

“Yes!”

“Good. That’s all for announcements, so you can now—”

“Instructor, may I interrupt for a moment?”

“Hm? Lisa?”

Luke turned around, tilting his head.

Her sudden appearance surprised not only me but also the entire Class 1.

“Lisa, what brings you here? Has the second-year activity already finished?”

“Yes, the second years finished early. I just had some business to take care of. Anyway, Instructor, do you have any more announcements for Class 1?”

“No, that’s all. But you said you had business with our class? Did someone cause trouble or—”

“It’s nothing like that, Instructor. I just came to see Gideon.”

Lisa stated her purpose boldly, then turned her gaze toward me.

“Gideon, do you have a moment?”

“Yes, of course.”

I quickly stepped toward her.

“Is something wrong? If there’s anything I can help with, please just say the word—”

“No, it’s nothing like that. I just came because there’s something I want to tell you.”

“Something you want to tell me…”

“I think I was too vague yesterday.”

Lisa paused for a moment, looking directly at me.

Then, with a resolute look in her eyes, she spoke again.

“I like you, Gideon. I like you a lot.”

“…Pardon? Lady Lisa, what do you—”

“I said I like you. Very much.”

“Ah, I appreciate your words, but saying something like that all of a sudden here…”

I glanced around.

The Class 1 students were still gathered nearby, clearly not planning to leave while such an entertaining scene was unfolding.

Each of them wore a different expression as they watched us.

“Why? Do you… not like me?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just—maybe we should talk somewhere else—”

“Can’t you just answer me right here?”

Lisa’s face was as expressionless as ever.

But her eyes told me everything.

If I said the wrong thing now, she would probably cry on the spot.

Seeing that look, I hesitated for a moment before speaking quietly.

“I… like you too, Lady Lisa.”

I muttered the words softly, unable to meet her eyes.

I couldn’t see my own face, but I was sure it must have been quite red.

“……”

Lisa stayed silent for a moment.

Then, suddenly, she grasped my hand tightly.

“Lady Lisa?”

“You don’t have any other plans today, right?”

“No, none.”

“Then let’s go on another date today. More fun than yesterday.”

I looked at her face.

She was smiling.

It was the brightest, happiest smile I had ever seen on Lisa’s face.

And seeing that expression, I couldn’t help but smile back.

Meanwhile, around the same time.

In the capital of the Arium Empire, Lysquare.

Inside the Balmuth family’s mansion on the eastern side.

“Hey, wait. Andrew, say that again. What did you just say?”

—You heard me the first time. Why make me repeat it?

Kafka Balmuth, the head of House Balmuth, stared at the crystal sphere in surprise.

From within the sphere, Andrew Hawkbat, head of House Hawkbat, sighed and continued speaking.

—I just got home after finishing the investigation related to Peregrie, and right as I arrived, our informant in Intezer contacted me. Lisa…

“She confessed to Gideon? Publicly?”

—That’s what the informant said, yeah. It’s not exactly important news for our family, but I thought you’d want to know.

“Hmmm, of course. I should know. Ugh… That Lisa, she really takes after her father. Doing something so entertaining without telling me first. She should’ve at least invited me to watch.”

—As if Lisa would ever invite you.

Andrew gave him a disbelieving look through the crystal sphere.

—Anyway, that’s all I called to say. Was that useful enough?

“Of course. Now I know what my daughter’s been up to lately. Hmm, come to think of it, didn’t you say the Imperial Palace was planning to send people to Lysquare Academy soon?”

—Yeah, probably the day after tomorrow.

“Right. But remind me, why were they sending them again?”

—Well… considering the Monster Enclosure incident before, and how they saved the students in Skedum this time, the palace can’t just ignore that. I heard they’re sending someone to present awards to Gideon and Lisa personally.

“I see.”

Kafka thought for a moment before speaking again.

“Hey, Andrew. Would it be possible for me to use my authority to give a few of those people leave and replace them?”

—Huh? Well… I suppose that’s possible, but why would you suddenly do that?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just want to go myself.”

—…What?

Andrew’s dumbfounded face appeared through the crystal sphere.

“I. Said. I’ll. Go. Myself. I’ll visit the Academy, see my daughter… and meet my future son-in-law in person.”

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