Chapter 67: Contract Part 5

At the mention of a possible attack, Lobelia tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s your evidence? The Duke of Ether is here…who would be crazy enough to launch an attack in a place like this?”

“If it’s a villa instead of a heavily guarded mansion, someone might see it as an opportunity.”

“Hmm… Even so, it doesn’t sound very plausible.”

Well, if I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t dream of attacking Tronius Ether either. But don’t forget…. the Under Chain attack happened.

And above all else…

“He’s made a lot of enemies among the barbarians, hasn’t he?”

“……”

Tronius Ether still frequently made trips to the northern regions to massacre the barbarians.

For someone who once had a beastkin wife, that kind of behavior surely wouldn’t sit well with them.

On top of that, the barbarians were unlike any other group. Their mindset was, “It’s great if we win, but we don’t care if we die.”

Truly a barbarian’s way of thinking.

“Just keep it in mind, that’s all. I’m not entirely sure myself.”

“Well, there’s no harm in being cautious. So, Johan? Did you come prepared for today?”

“…Not sure. I was thinking of trying to resolve this through a conversation first.”

“After coming all this way?”

“My father told me to give it a shot.”

Of course, what my father actually meant was to give up. But I was different.

Today, I planned to boldly say: “About this marriage… I’m really sorry, but could we call it off?”

“Come now, no need to just stand there. Please everyone, come inside!”

Following Rascal Ether who greeted us warmly, I stepped into the villa.

It was a beautiful place with its pristine white exterior, but…

Feels like I’m walking into a courtroom.

The whole thing just made me feel stifled.

***

The atmosphere was cheerful.

Well, it was only Rascal Ether and Ariel Ether who seemed cheerful.

A born entertainer. That was my first impression of Rascal Ether.

And as for Ariel… well, this was what she had wanted, so of course she was happy.

According to what Lobelia had told me, Ariel even seemed to think I had already given my blessing for the marriage.

At what point in our conversation did I ever sound like I was approving a political marriage?

Maybe I was just too stupid to notice.

Fortunately, my father was doing his best to stay silent, and my mother and Chris, whether out of tension or something else, sat quietly without saying a word.

“Ahem! Hem, hem… So, when should we hold the wedding ceremony?”

With no one stepping in to change the subject, time passed, and the conversation naturally flowed toward setting a wedding date.

I couldn’t hesitate any longer.

“I think it would be best to reconsider this marriage.”

“……”

A bucket of cold water splashed over what had been a pleasant mood.

Rascal Ether who had been leading the conversation blinked as if he couldn’t quite process what he had just heard, and my father, as though he had been expecting this all along, let out a deep sigh with his head lowered.

Chris tilted his head, clearly confused, while my mother… eventually fainted.

Now, the two most important people remained.

What about Ariel and Tronius Ether, Ariel’s father?

“Wh-What are you saying, all of a sudden…?”

Ariel looked stunned, as if she had just been betrayed.

Even though I was the one being hit with this, anyone else would think I had stabbed Ariel in the back.

And Tronius Ether, the one I needed to be most cautious around at this moment…

His expression gave nothing away. I couldn’t read his thoughts at all.

“H-How dare you…!!”

In the midst of it all, Rascal Ether burst out with rage. It was an unexpected reaction.

I could understand being angry, sure, but at this level, one would think he and Ariel were especially close.

Weren’t they barely even acquainted?

“Now, now. Let’s all calm down. Sir Rascal. And Johan, you were a bit hasty with your words. You should have explained more clearly…”

Just as Lobelia hurried to mediate between us—

“Silence.”

A voice belatedly swept over the room, overwhelming everyone.

The moment that low chilling word echoed through the air, no one could open their mouth.

This was the power of Tronius Ether and his awakened ability, and the reason he had earned the title of the greatest Archmage.

[Word Magic]

I had expected that Tronius Ether might act in such a way, but I never imagined he would go so far as to silence even Lobelia.

To silence an imperial member? The very person who should be the most cautious had done something so bold. It was hard to believe.

“While it’s an honor that Her Highness, the Third Princess Lobelia, would personally intervene, this is a matter for the Ether Duchy.”

On top of that, he even issued a veiled threat.

Lobelia, apparently caught off guard by Tronius’s reaction, simply opened and closed her mouth in confusion.

He still hadn’t released the coercive effect of the Word Magic.

“There are a few things I’d like to ask.”

“…Yes.”

And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, I was the only one unaffected by the magic.

“What is your reason? Do you simply dislike my daughter?”

“…That’s not it.”

Was Tronius Ether one of those overly doting fathers who adored his daughter beyond reason?

That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head.

If that were the case, he would’ve treated her well from the start. Acting like this now would make no sense.

“Then what is it?”

“I believe this marriage is highly likely to end in tragedy.”

“Hmm…”

Tronius Ether briefly looked down at the piece of meat on his plate as if studying it, then lifted his head again to look at me.

I hoped he wasn’t just now imagining turning me into a slab of meat.

“What’s your reason for thinking that?”

“Because we, or rather I, won’t be able to handle it. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m weak, and so is my family.”

My father was glaring at me from the corner, but there was nothing I could do.

It was harsh, but this was the reality.

I do believe our family is the best, but from a more objective standpoint… well…

“I actually did some research beforehand.”

I took out the documents I prepared for today from inside my coat.

I hadn’t expected I’d end up showing these to Tronius Ether himself…

But now that it had come to this, I needed to present clear evidence.

“There have been seven terrorist attacks targeting the Ether Duchy in the past year.”

“That’s correct.”

Tronius Ether briefly skimmed through the documents I handed him, then turned his gaze back to me with emotionless eyes.

“So?”

“Looking at the scale of those incidents, I calculated that if even one of them were directed at our territory, it would be engulfed in flames.”

“Hmm…”

Tronius Ether glanced around the room.

He looked between his younger brother Rascal Ether, and my father. He studied both their expressions before giving a small nod.

“So you’re saying the reason you’re backing out of this marriage is just fear?”

That’s right.

But simply admitting it wouldn’t look good, so I added a bit of an excuse.

“I’m not chasing ideals. I’m trying to face reality.”

“Reality… I’d say it’s still too early for you to be making that kind of judgment.”

“I’m the heir to the Damus County. So I have to think about the future. Every decision I make could affect the lives of all my people.”

And that’s the truth.

If I were to accept this marriage, our entire territory would be in danger.

I was full of dreams about inheriting the County one day and enjoying wealth and glory, but even so, I knew I had to bear some responsibility.

After all, that wealth and glory weren’t something simply handed to me.

“An ideal without power only eats away at you.”

“…Those words almost sound like they’re meant for me.”

For the first time, he revealed an emotion.

Tronius Ether spoke with self-mockery.

I had forgotten. Tronius Ether had been carrying out the emperor’s orders and hadn’t even been able to be at his wife’s deathbed.

…It wasn’t something I should have said in front of someone like him.

“Ah, it’s not that I dislike Lady Ariel. It’s just that we’re too young to decide our futures based on fleeting emotions, and the wall of reality we must face is simply too high.”

“There’s no need to make excuses. It’s the truth.”

Though I belatedly tried to offer what was hardly an excuse, Tronius Ether had already leaned back comfortably in his dining chair, as if the fire in his emotions had burned out.

“I understand how you feel. The precedent is right in front of your eyes. It’s no wonder.”

“……”

“If you act on your heart alone without considering the wall of reality, then one day, you’ll find yourself placing the things you love on a scale. That’s why I chose never to love anyone. Because that’s how you protect the things you once loved.”

“……”

Why was that?

To me, Tronius Ether’s words sounded like an excuse. An excuse not to love Ariel.

“So I will respect your decision, Johan Damus.”

With those words, Tronius Ether turned his gaze away from me and looked toward Rascal Ether.

“Rascal.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“I know you did this for my daughter. But it seems your heart got ahead of you, and you acted a bit hastily.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“As you know, protecting a noble house requires many sacrifices. The greater the authority, the more responsibilities one must bear. To cultivate the strength to uphold all of that… It’s an incredibly difficult task.”

“I have no excuse.”

“It’s enough that you understand now. As far as mistakes go, this one came cheap. So I’m sure it’s been a valuable lesson for you as well.”

“Yes…”

Rascal Ether seemed quite intimidated, practically shrinking into himself.

Tronius Ether’s gaze then shifted to Ariel.

“Ariel, I’m sorry for involving you in the affairs of adults.”

“No, Father. I wasn’t thinking clearly. It seems I let my emotions get the better of me as well. I’m sorry, Sir Johan. I should’ve considered the circumstances of House Damus…”

“…It’s all right.”

“No, now that I think about it, Sir Johan is also the heir to House Damus. I should’ve taken that into account…”

In the end, Ariel too shrank back just like Rascal Ether.

It seemed she had finally realized that her selfishness had caused all this trouble.

“So let’s try to find another way.”

“Ah, yes…”

Even so, Ariel didn’t give up. In a way, it was quite admirable.

It looked like she intended to find some other way to be with me. Something other than a political marriage between noble families.

Surely she wasn’t about to suggest we elope in the middle of the night… was she?

It still seemed that a forbidden romance with me was unfolding in her mind…

That was something I’d have to deal with eventually.

“Well then…”

Tronius Ether appeared to glance around the room before finally fixing his gaze on Lobelia.

“What are Your Highness’s thoughts on the matter, Third Princess?”

“You went ahead and arranged everything yourself, and now you’re asking for my opinion? And after clearly drawing the line, saying it was an internal family matter.”

“It is a family matter, but surely there’s no harm in asking for your advice.”

“You’re more eloquent than I thought. I may have to revise my opinion of you.”

“As you wish.”

Tronius Ether naturally bowed his head. It was a gesture full of grace, befitting someone of his status.

“Unfortunately, I don’t see any opening for me to intervene. I trust you’ll deliver a fair and impartial judgment.”

“Well then…”

Once again, Tronius Ether began to speak. Everything would be decided by the words about to leave his mouth.

But just then—

Crash!

The windows shattered all at once, and a group of intruders burst into the building.

Of course, I hadn’t even realized something was happening until I heard the sound of breaking glass.

However, most of the people gathered here were combat specialists.

“Freeze.”

Tronius Ether subdued the intruders before their feet even touched the ground after coming through the window.

“This really is unpleasant. Or… did you foresee this too?”

Crack!

I heard Lobelia mutter under her breath.

However, her words were immediately drowned out by the sound of lightning crackling right after.

She had probably adjusted her voice so only I could hear her.

Even her jokes were delivered with complete seriousness.

By the time I realized what had happened, she had already swept through the bodies of the intruders once.

She had reacted swiftly, likely because I had previously warned her of a potential attack.

Under Tronius’s command, the intruders who were suspended mid-air were engulfed in red lightning and dropped to the ground.

The lightning seemed to linger, paralyzing them. None of the attackers could so much as twitch.

Just like that, the situation was over in less than a second after the ambush had begun.

Tronius Ether stood from his seat and used his staff to remove the masks from the intruders.

“……”

For a moment, the emotionless man’s brow twitched. Lobelia who was standing beside him also frowned.

And I who was peeking over their shoulders couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

“You are…”

The intruders were barbarians aligned with the “Speartip of Snow Blossoms”….in other words, beastkin.

That much had been expected.

After all, the Speartip of Snow Blossoms was one of the groups connected to Andvaranaut and also held a grudge against Tronius Ether.

But I hadn’t expected them to go this far…

“Hrgh…”

One of the subdued attackers removed his own mask this time.

He looked to be an old man, but more notably, he shared distinct features with the one whose mask had just been removed.

“What’s the matter, Tronius? Feeling guilty at last?”

The attacker was a beastkin—

…and a rabbit beastkin, just like Ariel.

“You’re alive.”

“Not for much longer.”

“Wha—?!”

Boom!

The old man who had been quietly subdued suddenly sprang to his feet and, in an instant, kicked Lobelia who had been cloaking everyone in red lightning and sent her flying.

Caught off guard by the unexpected blow, Lobelia was slow to react, though she managed to steady herself at the last moment…

“Today, all of us will perish here, Tronius Ether.”

“……”

“Because that’s the only way to wash away the sins between us.”

Following the old man, who had just broken free of Lobelia’s restraint, the other intruders also rose to their feet and tore off their masks.

Every single one of them was a rabbit beastkin.

And the moment I saw that shared trait, I knew whether I wanted to or not.

“Isn’t that right… son-in-law?”

The old man smiled.

He forced a smile as tears of blood streamed from his eyes.

“Let me ask you one thing, Tronius. How miserable was my daughter’s death?”

Ah, damn it…

It looked like we’d just been pulled into the worst-case scenario.