CH 38.2

38.2　Monologue of A Certain Marquis 4

“Yes. My name is Zachariah Amber, Muriel’s older brother. I want to offer my apologies regarding the matter that happened this time.” Zachariah-dono said with bowed head, apologizing to me.

Ah, this child looks like a really honest child. I wish he was able to see Count Greenwell’s words without misunderstanding him.

“There’s no need for you to apologize to me. We’re the ones who send such an unreasonable request after all. In fact, today, Viscount-dono is…”

“My father is here, too. However, it seems he can’t bring himself to meet you after what he did. That’s why I think I have to come to you in his place. Lord Goldberg, I’m really sorry that my circumstances ended up bringing trouble to your son.” He said, bowing his head once again.

“Please raise your face. No one is at fault for this incident. Our families are completely blindsided by this matter, that’s why, there’s no need for you to especially apologize.”

“My deepest gratitude for your kind words. However, I still feel that I ought to apologize. This incident won’t happen if only I do more investigation. After all, everything that my father and I know about this matter came from the rumors flying around.”

“Well, people who love to spread gossip exist everywhere, so people are bound to be misled from time to time. Both my son and I understand your position at that time, that’s why, you don’t have to apologize for this matter.”

“Thank you very much, Lord Goldberg. Still―― may I ask you to wait for three years? I am definitely going to do my best to make achievements in the mage department before Muriel’s magic liberation ceremony is held. I just need to make enough achievements to shut the mouth of those people who love to spread such gossip and prove my worth so that no one is going to be able to say anything about my little sister’s and your son’s engagement. So, please. Don’t give up on Muriel.”

Zachariah spoke while looking at me with resolute expression. Seeing this, my heart swelled. I was really grateful that Muriel’s family is filled with such kind people.

“Zachariah-dono, we absolutely have no intention of giving up on Miss Muriel.”

“Thank you very much… To be honest, Muriel has been refusing to eat since yesterday. That should be how she tried to demonstrate her protest to my father and I. And since my father isn’t in the right position to explain the situation either…”

“That… Is Miss Muriel alright? Wait, from the way you speak, Viscount-dono seems to be…”

“It’s okay. She has finally given up on her protest after relentless persuasion from our father.”

“I see now―― Zachariah-dono, may I ask for your help and relay my message to Miss Muriel?”

“Yes, naturally.”

“Please tell her that my son―― Theodore―― isn’t giving up on her and he’s going to do his best to gain your father’s consent from now on. That’s why, Miss Muriel has to eat properly and take care of herself so that he can always see the cheerful Miss Muriel. Please wait until he can gain Miss Muriel’s father’s approval.”

“Thank you very much. I will pass your message to her.”

Zachariah-dono then left after offering another apology.

◇

The party went into full swing as evening turned into night. After dancing the first round of dance with Serena in years, I stepped out and took a rest. When I did, I saw that more and more couples were entering the center of the venue to dance. Perhaps, they were inspired by Serena and I.

Not bothering to muse over this matter anymore, I turned to look at Serena and found that she was surrounded by the ladies who were praising her over our previous dance. And though I detected a mix of jealousy or sarcasm amongst them, they belonged to the minority, thus I was at ease. It seemed her return to the noble society was received with warm welcome from the other noble ladies.

Knowing this, I heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God, it seems Serena has achieved her goal too.

With this, the first step of our job to recover the good name of our family – one that had been smeared with mud by those baseless rumors – began. We couldn’t let ourselves lose to Theodore, who had shown his growth as a proper future marquis, after all.

Anyway, at the moment, Serena was conversing happily with the ladies after she received their invitation. Satisfied with what I saw, I looked around and found Bates-dono was standing alone on the side of his lonesome. Seeing that, as well as having something I wanted to talk to him about, I came to him and greeted him.

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“Bates-dono, are you not going to dance?”

“Nah, I (Ore)―― cough, sorry, I (watashi) meant, I’m a poor dancer… I apologize once again for my actions a while ago. I just… I always get emotional whenever I stand in front of him.” He said, looking quite sheepish when he admitted that he almost got emotional back then when Count Greenwell greeted him.

“Don’t worry about that. By the way, Bates-dono, may I ask the details about how you became my son’s friend?”

“Well, it’s not an impressive story, but if you insist on knowing…”

He started retelling the story about how he met Theodore; about how Theodore came to Bates-dono’s shop; about how he befriended Count Greenwell’s son; and how he befriended Bates-dono himself. He told everything about their meetings.

“―― And that’s what happened, Lord Goldberg. I assumed that you have never said anything about me as well as my shop to your son.”

“Yeah, it’s not something I can tell a child about after all.”

That was just how important the burden Bates-dono carried on his back after all. That’s why I couldn’t just tell Theodore about Bates-dono and his research topic since it would need necessary preparation first.

“I see… so that’s it. Since that was the case… then why did the installed defensive barrier didn’t get activated back then…?” Bates-dono muttered lowly.

… What was he talking about???

“―― Eh?”

“Is something the matter?” I asked, confused.

Bates-dono pointed his finger in a certain direction and I looked at the direction he was pointing at and saw a little girl there, waiting. She was Duke Lilac’s daughter. From the looks of it, she had come here in secret considering she was in her night-gown and not formal dress.

“Is something the matter, Miss Katrina? You’re not supposed to stay awake at this time, you know?” I gently admonished.

Our adult world was not something that a seven years old girl like her should participate in. It was still far too early for her. However, from the way the maid who stood behind her was bowing their head repeatedly as if to express their heartfelt apology, it seems that this matter was entirely due to her selfishness.

I see. You can say it’s a child’s curiosity. Well, it seems that even though many people call her a prodigy, she is still a normal girl in the end.

“M-My apologies, Lord Goldberg. I’m just a bit curious. Really! I’m not trying to do something bad!” Miss Katrina said with a soft voice, shifting slightly on her feet. At that time, a deep male’s voice came over.

“What are you doing here, Katrina? It’s already time for you to go to bed, right?” Duke Lilac, who had spotted Miss Katrina, said as he came toward us and spoke to his daughter.

Seeing her father, Miss Katrina bowed toward him and said, “Yes, Dear Father.”

“My deepest apologies for my daughter’s rudeness, Lord Goldberg, Bates-dono.”

“―― Bates?”

Miss Katrina’s face stiffened the moment she heard her father’s words.

“Yes, Miss Katrina. It’s nice to meet you, my name is Bates Sphene.” Bates-dono said, introducing himself to Miss Katrina.

“Bates Sphene… uhm, please be wary of a certain person or accidental discharge of magic tools or edged tools. Especially in your store.” Miss Katrina said, causing our face to stiffen in shock upon hearing her words.

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“Katrina… that’s, what does that mean?”

The duke, her father, asked.

“Eh, ah, my deepest apologies. I just feel that I have to tell you that. I bear no ill will toward you. Sorry, I shall take my leave!”

She said, turning around and ready to run back toward her room after she said those words.

“Uhm, Lord Goldberg, your dance with your wife is so wonderful.”

“A-Ah, thank you very much.”

While we were at a loss, Miss Katrina left the venue along with her maid.

“Duke Lilac… just now… what was that? What is your daughter… talking about?”

I was completely perplexed right now. I meant, how? Even though this was the first time she met Bates-dono… she knew that he was working with magic tools. Moreover, from the way she spoke, it was as if she was worrying about Bates-dono who had received a lifetime order from the king to research the Saint’s Ornament in secret. Not only that, she even mentioned something like a store…

“Let’s not talk in this place. Please follow me. I’ll prepare a private room for us to continue this conversation.” Duke Lilac said, face as pale as the wall of his mansion.

Acquiescing with his words, we followed the duke and left the venue.

“No way… don’t tell me… it’s… the saint’s return? Is that what yo—” Bates-dono muttered with a trembling voice, somehow even though it was a low voice, it felt like the thunder sound clapping in your ears.

I felt the same way. Yes, I would never have expected that the saint’s legend turned out to be a real, historical fact instead of a fairy-tale like many of us believed.