CH 30

30 Interference From The Past Deed

We had finally arrived at Muriel’s mansion. However, seeing the building before us caused me to sweat profusely.

Uuuh, I’m really nervous right now. I need some good signs. I frantically thought, trying to ease my nervousness. Let’s see… today’s weather is good, and… what else? Uhm, what’s the next good sign around here now?!

“Calm down, Theodore. It’ll be okay.”

Even if you told me to calm down, I am honestly lacking confidence in this regard, Papa! It’s hard for me to calm down!!!

“Fufufu, I know that you’re really elated right now, but… please do calm down for a little bit, Theodore.”

Yes, Mama. I nodded my head in agreement, face flushing bright red.

“Dyu your best, onii-chama!”

Thank you, Wendy. Your Onii-sama will do his best.

Then, as we waited in the parlor, I kept wondering about what sort of greetings I should use to greet them. However, I had a hard time finding the correct greeting for some reason. Still, I tried my hardest to think up one.

Let’s see, how about ‘Please give your daughter to me’? That was my first thought, but I soon shook my head inwardly.

… Not only does that sound cliche, it is a useless line as well since such a line was not supposed to be used when you’re proposing, but when you’re asking for her hand in marriage. Thus, my mind worked harder to find other more appropriate lines to use.

Then how about, ‘Please allow me to have your daughter’s hand’? That sounds too straightforward, isn’t it? AAAAH, SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP!!! I’M IN A PINCH!!!

“Just act like usual, Theo. I mean, everything will be alright. Really. Absolutely alright… it should be fine, okay?” At this moment, my father tried to assure me, but his words didn’t lend me a smidgen of assurance at all. Hence, my following thought.

Eh, what happened to you, Papa? What is up with your last question? I mean, you kept saying ‘everything will be alright’ until now… but it sounds like you’re not sure either!

“Oh my, it seems you also ended up worrying about this matter, Dear. And it’s okay, Theodore, don’t worry too much.”

“Yeah, it seems I also got infected by Theodore’s tension.”

Hearing my father’s words, I sweatdropped. Uu~h, sorry Papa. But that is only natural, okay? Unlike you, Papa, I am still lacking in confidence.

At this time, the butler came and informed us that the viscount was coming. After he did so, Viscount Amber, his wife, and Muriel entered the room.

Viscount Amber was a handsome man in his forties with a lanky yet muscular body. Looking at the bulging muscles under his clothes, it was obvious to those looking that he had never missed any of his daily training regiment at all.

However, although this wasn’t my first time meeting him, there was something distinctly different today. And I could sense it since I had met and greeted him a few times before. Previously, the air he exuded was that of a kind uncle. Yet, right then, his eyes when he looked at me were dead serious. It was the eyes of a father. But… right now, why did I feel like his face had stiffened?

Anyway, beside him stood his wife. Alas, looking at her, I couldn’t help but to see her as the more mature version of Muriel. Still, although that was my view of her, I also felt that she was a gentle woman with a soft smile. In fact, today was no different as she was still smiling that soft smile of hers.

Next to them, Muriel was dressed up prettily in a light blue dress while wearing the lace ribbon that I had given her before. And she was blushing.

However, although in all frankness her blushing face was super cute, when my gaze met Muriel’s own, I couldn’t help but to unintentionally avert my eyes. But please don’t misunderstand, for it was not because I didn’t wish to see her! I was just afraid that I might get overwhelmed by her cuteness, and that was why I ended up committing this mistake!

I mean, are you sure that showing such an adorable sight to me won’t just make me drop down to the floor in a faint? I mean… how could anyone face such cuteness without feeling faint?

I shifted and looked at her again. Once again, our gaze intersected, causing me to feel my face heating up. I hurriedly averted my gaze from her. And I was confused.

Eh? What’s happening here? Why couldn’t I bring myself to look at her? Why could I only look down at the floor instead of doing something… something like looking at her adorable adorable face?

“My apologies for the wait, Lord Goldberg.”

“Don’t worry, we’re the one who should be apologizing for our request, Viscount Amber.”

My father and Viscount Amber shook hands with each other. After that, we exchanged greetings with each other’s family members before all of us got back to our seats. Then, without a warning, Viscount Amber looked at us with an expression that was more serious than what he showed before as he opened his mouth.

“Lord Goldberg. Thank you very much for sending a proposal to engage your son with my daughter, and I think my daughter can’t be any happier than when she heard about this matter. HOWEVER, my deepest apologies, I have to refuse your proposal.”

His voice when he said this was stiff. But I didn’t pay close attention to that, only feeling shocked and stunned within my heart as I subconsciously lifted my head and looked up towards the other party. There, I saw that both Muriel and her mother were both equally as surprised as our family when they heard the viscount’s remark.

However, Father – being as awesome as he is – was only flustered for a brief moment before he reined himself and appeared back as his composed and charming self. Then, Father opened his mouth.

“Please wait a minute. I’m sure that there’s no problem on your side when I received your reply a few days ago. Therefore, may I hear the reason behind this unexpected change?”

“I also wanted to apologize for that matter. While it’s true that there’s no problem when I was replying to your letter, right after sending that reply, a letter arrived from my eldest son informing me that he got a job offer in the Court Mage Department. Henceforth…”

“Court Mage Department…”

My father’s voice stiffened

“Yes. This matter isn’t a big deal if it’s only my second and third son. But it just so happens that this matter is related to the future of my eldest son. So, I could only offer my deepest apologies.”

“Dear…”

Although the viscountess’ word sounded like an entreaty, I could see that she didn’t seem to have an objection to her husband’s decision in this matter. So, I turned to look at my family and saw that my father who was sitting beside me was clenching his fists tightly. At the same time, my mother was looking at both of us with a worried expression on her face.

“I… see. My deepest apologies for putting you in such a difficult position. It seems that this matter ends up as an impossible request for you. However, I want you to – at the very least – allow the friendship between our children.”

“I also have to offer my deepest apology in this regard. It’ll be a bit difficult for them to continue their interaction like before. Although I have to say this… I also want to thank you. Thank you very much for the affections that you have directed towards our daughter up until now.”

“Lord Amber, please, somehow, can you at least allow them to keep their friendship like before?”

“Lord Goldberg, I also have no intention to be ungrateful to you and your family after the way your son protected my daughter with his own body. But… please understand. Count Greenwell has yet to forget about you and what you have done.”

After saying all that, Viscount Amber bowed down his head in silence.

But I didn’t pay attention to that, mind processing what had been said just now.

Eh… in short, I couldn’t get engaged to Muriel… Moreover… Did he just imply that I should not talk to her, dance with her during parties, or exchange letters like we used to do? In short… Did he just imply that I should stop interacting with her?

I looked towards my father, yet the only thing I saw was him biting his lips in silence. And it dawned on me.

I see… it seems my guess is right. I couldn’t meet or interact with Muriel anymore.

Everything seemed to freeze as I processed this thought.

So… I couldn’t meet her anymore, huh?

Drip.

I see.

Drip.

I see…

“… Are yu hyurt syomewhere, onii-chama? Pwease don’t cry.” Wendy, who was being carried by Mother, said as she patted my head.

Eh? What’s she talking abo- Oh. My tears… it won’t stop. Oh no, I couldn’t show such a pathetic face here. I thought and took a deep breath, proceeding to wipe my tears away. When I did, I saw that Muriel had also cried in silence.

“… My deepest apologies. I… I- won’t approach- Miss Muriel again.” I said, voice hitching at the later part.

Not only that, as I spoke to Viscount Amber, my head was also bowed in silence. Father and Mother also bowed their heads silently before we left.

And as soon as we left the room, I heard Muriel’s piercing cries resound from there. However… I couldn’t comfort her.

◇

Then, on our way back to our home, Father began to explain the situation.

Apparently, there was a claim from the Court Mage Department that the ‘Saint’s Ornament’ was a magic tool. They said that though it had lost its power right now… they believed that its power would return someday. And the Court Mage Department’s main project was to find a way to return the power of the ‘Saint’s Ornament’ back to its proper place.

Henceforth, that was why they seemed to be on bad terms with the Royal Magic Tool Researcher who claimed that it wasn’t a magic tool.

Furthermore, the leader of the current Court Mage Department was Count Greenwell, who received the ‘Saint’s Staff’ from the previous King. But since my father returned the ‘Saint’s Tiara’ back to the royal family, the other nobles, who dislike the fact that they were bestowed with the ‘Saint’s Ornament’, were pressuring the other nobles who received the bestowment to return the ‘Saint’s Ornament’ to the royal family. Thus, causing everyone in the Court Mage Department to hate my father.

“Sorry, Theodore. It’s my fault.”

My father apologized to me with a depressed voice. It was a sight that I had never seen before.

“Don’t worry, Father. It’s not your fault. It’s just a rejection that was caused by a reason none of us had expected.

Yes, it really couldn’t be helped. It was simply bad luck. I mean, the reason he returned the ‘Saint’s Tiara’ was for the sake of our family after all.

Still, even if that was the case, being forbidden to meet Muriel again was a bit too much I think.