CH 159

Because we decided to tour the capital, we only arrived at the Zeavert Mansion in the evening. The coachman and the guards were only able to return and rest after we arrived safely at Zeavert mansion, so I kinda felt bad.

I let Lily enter the mansion first, while I stayed outside to talk with the coachman for a while. I could see Annete-san approaching me with a guilty expression as I was talking with the coachman. Honestly, Annete-san, you didn’t need to feel guilty, you know.

“Viscount Welner…I apologize for what I said this afternoon.” (Annete)

“It’s fine.” (Welner)

I waved my hand lightly to give her a message that I didn’t mind. Accumulating a debt was really not a good thing. Moreover, I and His Highness intentionally hid the purpose of debt. In short, I deceived her, so it didn’t feel right for her to be the one who apologized.

That was my thought, but seeing her guilty expression didn’t lighten up a bit made me feel bad. You were a really good person, Annete-san.

“I will accept your apology. In exchange, I want you to continue to accompany and protect Lily.”

“Understood.”

This time I used a stronger tone on purpose and it seemed like she finally accepted the fact I had forgiven her. Good. Just as I was thinking like that, I couldn’t help but be interested in Annete-san’s next words.

“I have heard about your debt from the church.” (Annete)

“The church?”

“Yes, from Priest Kaempfer. Now that I think about it, Priest Kaempfer might have spoken about your debt on purpose to make Lily hear about it…”

Oh, Kaempfer. I knew from Norbert’s report that he was the priest who kept asking for a meeting with Lily, but Mother kept turning him down. Did he spread this information purposely to make Lily hear about my bad reputation, so she dislikes me, or something? That guy, did he really think if Lily disliked me, she would turn to him and join the church’s side? What kind of stalker-like mindset was that!?

Also, Annete-san, could you stop shooting me that apologetic look?

Well, even if it was a church, it didn’t mean that every member was a good person. There were churches that did stuff like poisoning and fraud even in my previous life.

“I understand. Thank you for the information. No need to feel guilty, just please continue to take care of Lily.” (Welner)

“Yes, sir.” (Annete)

That was how I ended my conversation with Annete-san. Still, I couldn’t grasp what the church was planning. If what they wanted was only to pull Mazell to their side, some of their actions didn’t make sense.

Hmm…maybe it was the common ‘the subordinate moved on his own without the leader’s permission’ kind of thing? That was why some of the church’s actions didn’t make sense? Let’s investigate it a bit more.

After that, I asked the coachman to send a message to Father and Lily while I once again left the mansion. I then went to a random second-hand clothes shop, bought some old clothes and changed my current clothes to that one, then went to a bar.

After that, I paid a little money, so I could leave the bar using the back door. I left the bar via the back door, took a several detour to make sure no one was following me, before finally arriving at my destination. It was a store. I entered the store via the back door.

To think that guy already had enough funds to open a store, although it was a store he rented under a fake name, as expected of a former merchant.

“My, it’s you, Viscount-sama. You look as dashing as always.” 

“Well, I need to be careful when I leave the mansion, hence these clothes. Anyway, you seem to be doing well, Rafed.” (Welner)

“This is all thanks to the money you have given me, Viscount-sama. I am forever grateful for your generosity.” (Rafed)

His mannerism was as fake as always.

“Stop with the flattery. Anyway, I want to ask you to investigate something.” (Welner)

“Please, ask away.”

“I want you to investigate if there’s any connection between the church and the Jhering Count House.”

Then, I briefly explained to him the information I got today. After hearing my explanation, Rafed seemed to fall into a thought.

“From your story, it doesn’t seem like there has been any contact between Miss Annete and Jhering Count House.”

“I know. Most likely, Annete and Lily become friends out of a pure coincidence. But if the church and the Jhering House are actually connected, there’s a chance that it was the Jhering House that gave the church the information that the church used to spread a bad rumor about me.”

“I see. So you’re saying that there’s a chance that despite knowing their relation to Miss Annete, they purposely didn’t contact her. Are they planning to show up in the end when your relationship with Miss Annete and Miss Lily is already sour to give them both a final push to leave you? Hmmm…”

Rafed seemed to fall into thoughts again. Judging from his expression, it seemed like he knew something.

“Back when I was working with the Bachem house, I did hear several things about the Jhering House… I understand. I will investigate it.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

“I will need some money for that, will that be fine?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll deliver the money to you tomorrow, you make the arrangement.”

I ended up remembering Annete-san’s words today. I mean, as someone who had a lot of debt, spending more money did seem reckless, although I didn’t need to repay my ‘debt’ since, in reality, the debt was the money His Highness gave me for the army.

Gathering information could take a lot of time so the earlier I start, the better.

After that, I left the store and took a long detour to the mansion. I also changed my clothes to my original clothes midway. I noticed that someone was tailing me midway but I decided not to care as they would not be able to figure out my connection with Rafed.

Lily greeted me with a slightly worried expression when I finally arrived at the mansion. I left my coat to Lily, then I told her that we would be meeting my parents after I changed my clothes. Lily looked visibly nervous after I said that, but I smiled at her and told her that everything would be fine.

In a worst-case scenario, I could just arrange for a relative to become the heir of the Count House. As I thought that, I arrived at Father’s room and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” (Ingo)

“Excuse my intrusion.” (Welner)

When I entered the room, I saw that Mother was also here. Perfect.

“What happened?” (Ingo)

“There is something that I need to ask for you two’s permission.” (Welner)

Father stared at me sharply. Ah, I felt nervous, but I wouldn’t back down. If I backed down now, I wouldn’t be able to face Lily, who had gathered her courage to confess to me.

“I would like to marry Lily. Of course, not immediately.”

The room suddenly fell silent. The two exchanged glances with each other. I thought they both showed a very brief smile, but maybe that was just my imagination. After a short moment that felt like an eternity, Father finally opened his mouth.

“The path you choose might be filled with difficulty.” (Ingo)

“Of course, I understand that.” (Welner)

“Are you sure about this? There are many high ranking noble ladies who are interested in you.” (Claudia)

This time, it was Mother who asked me.

“Of course, Mother.” (Welner)

“I see.” (Claudia)

She said with a sigh. Sorry for troubling you with many invitations from the noble ladies, Mother.

“You resemble your father in the strangest part,” Mother said with a rare soft smile on her face.

Wait, really? I turned to Father, and he gave me a rare shrug. After that, Father opened his mouth again.

“It’s the first time you came to us to ask something that resolutely. I trust that you really are prepared for what will happen in the future?” (Ingo)

“…Yes.”

“But I still can’t give you my permission.” (Ingo)

Well, I expected this answer. I mean I also had a lot of unfinished business. As I thought like that, Father said unexpected words.

“A marriage between two noble families wouldn’t be a problem. But, that isn’t the reason you wanted to marry her, right?” (Ingo)

[T/N: He’s probably referring to the fact that the Hearthing family will soon become a noble family, thus marrying Lily will mean Zeavert family can form a relationship with a new noble family.]

“Yes.” (Welner)

“There are still many problems inside and outside of the kingdom that you will need to face. The demon king is one of those problems as for the others… you know without me saying it, right? It will be dangerous if you show any weakness in this period.” (Ingo)

He was right. Even now, there was a problem with the church.

“That is why, as the Count Zeavert, I can’t give you the permission for this marriage. This is the period where both love and excessive resolve will be dangerous for you.” (Ingo)

Although I had no intention of being drunk on my current feelings, Father was right. An excessive resolve to do something might narrow my thinking. If Father gave me permission here, I might unintentionally do something reckless.

But then, both Mother and Father gave me an unusual soft smile, which made me feel a bit of a goosebump.

“But as your Father, I’m happy to see you become that determined.” (Ingo)

“Lily is a good girl. Because of that, you have to keep improving yourself. Please do not forget that to marry someone means that you have more things you need to protect.” (Claudia)

“…Yes. Thank you, Mother, Father.”

…You sure couldn’t win against your parents.