CH 41

「This sake is really good.」

「Laura-san, you’re really into that sake, aren’t you?」

「It can’t be helped. My husband made it for me after all.」

As she said that, Laura-san gazed at the glass filled with alcohol.

Tomorrow is my 15th birthday.

It has been decided for a long time that we’re going to get married as soon as I come of age. We are currently finalizing the details of my and Laura-san’s wedding.

The number of people who will be attending the reception has grown five times than I had expected so I’ve been busy with all sorts of arrangements these days.

To be honest, it’s much bigger than my brother’s wedding but I guess that’s the difference between nobles and commoners….

Those I have treated from magic organ defects will all be coming. I’ve been doing this in secret but it will be an open secret now that all of those who were cured are going to attend.

I didn’t remember much about them so I had to memorize their personal descriptions and profiles in advance. It’s quite difficult.

Even so, I had to do it since it would be bad if I said anything inappropriate.

-0-

Laura-san, who is perfect in every way, is looking at the moon while sipping from her glass gracefully.

Laura-san will be wearing her military uniform tomorrow so it’s okay for her to be carefree. As for me, they prepared a white suit for me without informing me.

「Even so, are you sure」

「With what?」

「With naming this sake “Laura Rola”.」

「Don’t you think it will be more of a problem if I named it after another woman?」

「That’s not what I’m saying…..you should learn more about women.」

I’ll read it if you put it on paper.

Well, this alcohol will only be given to the wedding attendees.

It would be a good material to show off the hotness of the newlyweds.

-0-

As I was reading the materials for tomorrow’s attendees, Laura-san gazed at the moon and blurted out,

「In the end, not a single person from my parent’s house will come.」

「Are they in the capital?」

「My elder brother is a staff officer in the army while my father and mother are holed up in our territory at the border.」

「Border, is it like Torquiva?」

「No, it’s on the opposite side of this place and it’s much colder there. It’s by the sea so they eat fish all year round.」

「I didn’t know that.」

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Laura-san’s family or what was going on in the capital.

Only nobles have access to information about nobles.

Something I’ll only get involved with tomorrow.

「I don’t hold a grudge against my family though.」

「Really?」

「Yeah. Even you would not want to see your daughter or younger sister looking older than you, right?」

「Well, I don’t really know.」

「A commoner really thinks differently from a noble.」

I would never abandon my family under any circumstances but if you are a noble with territory, you have the lives of millions of people on your shoulders.

Maybe they can’t afford to be overly sentimental.

However, if my children were in that situation, what would I do?

Would I go to the noble’s way? Or would I follow my heart?

In the end, I guess I won’t know until it happens.

「A long time ago, I promised to go to each other’s wedding with a woman on a battlefield.」

「Sounds like a good friend.」

「No, it’s the other way around. We were rivals and wanted to compete with each other even after we retired from the war zone. She was from the airforce and she was the one responsible for transporting slaves there. Only those who are truly brave will get on an airship in a war zone. You’ll never know when you’ll be fired down.」

I wondered what happened between her and that person.

I wanted to ask her but I couldn’t.

After all, I don’t want to talk about sad war stories now.

「Oya, don’t look at me like that.」

She patted me on the head.

Laura-san is 180cm tall and I’m still in my growth period.

I’m still growing up and maybe someday, I’ll overtake her….at least I hope so…..

「This woman.」

Laura-san pointed to a name on the list of attendees.

You mean she’s not dead?

「I thought I’d surprised her tomorrow by lighting her cigarette.」

「Haha, do it in moderation, please.」

「Fuh….」

「Laura-san, do you think you can beat her tomorrow?」

She thought for a moment and then, sucked on her cigarette, and chuckled.

「Of course.」

「Let’s build a family that will keep on winning.」

「Ah, sure.」

Laura-san blushed and turned her gaze away.

「I’d like to have at least five children.」

「Maa, let’s try.」

「Please forgive me if I get distracted by plays.」

「I’ll try.」

「And I have one last request….」

Laura-san, who had been looking away, looked back at me.

「No matter what happens to our country in the future, please don’t go back to the battlefield.」

The cigarette in her mouth fell. She looked straight into my eyes and smiled awkwardly.

「That will depend on you.」

「Then, I’ll do my best.」

I pulled her hand and kissed her on her mouth as she bent down a little.

The smell of cigarettes entered my nose.

I’ve already stabilized my stomach.

I’ll make a lot of things that will benefit the country.

If my wife and our children don’t have to risk their lives, I’ll take whatever punishment I can get in the afterlife.

I’ve lived two lives and I finally have something to protect.

I’m a man now.

-0-

Meanwhile, the carpet on the floor started burning.