I Am a Low-Class Aristocrat of a Perishing Country

62 – Debutante (4)

Battlante’s unexpected blow froze us. No matter how frugal Chester’s mansion was, he was not poor enough to allow a cold wind. Even so, our appearance was no different from that of a fish that had been left in the freezer for a long time.

“Are you… Married?”

“Marriage… I mean.”

Me and Irelp’s reaction in order. Whether it was unnatural to recite as if the soul had ascended to heaven, Bartlante questioned.

“Weren’t you two roasting sesame before? Now you’ve overcome the ordeal and confirmed your feelings. It’s customary to have an engagement ceremony first, but you should also consider getting married.”

“What’s with roasting sesame…!”

Battlante indifferently dismissed Irelpi’s protest.

“It was a slip of the tongue. You burned the sesame seeds with lightning. That… You expressed your affection so violently.”

“Kuh?!”

‘It’s more embarrassing because it’s not wrong.’

From the case of confinement at the Marquis’ residence, to a request from the imperial palace, to the final battle as an annihilator. The footsteps of the past were reproduced like a movie reel in the brain.

Ir Elfi’s violent expression of affection that cuts heaven and earth was scary enough to feel her death. It seems that her soul will be cut if she goes through one more time.

“Does marriage usually come up as soon as you become a couple?”

“Well. In the first place, there is no precedent in which the head of a family as wealthy as the Justiha family in the marquess had a love marriage. Like all nobles, arranged marriages are common.”

“Will the little duke do that too?”

“Chester has been a love marriage for generations. There are even several heads of households who have married commoners. In fact, it is true that he is the 4th duke. I guess marriages of convenience have no meaning.”

‘Could that be the case if the forces become too strong?’

Didn’t the imperial family keep the four dukes in check? Even if one place threatens the imperial family right now, a great tribulation will come. It wouldn’t be strange if the dukes lived quietly, and each of them became independent as principalities and aimed their swords at each other.

‘Mmm.’

I looked at Ir Elfi, suppressing her doubts. Her crimson cheeks seemed to speak. Come on, kiss her. Then I can expand the area further.

Resist such a temptation with the determination to die. I put my finger under my chin and decided to ask myself.

“Irelp. Are you willing to get married?”

“Yes, Nefi?! Marriage…!”

“Hate it?”

“No! I don’t hate it. But… I don’t think the time is right yet.”

“You’re saying the time isn’t zero? Well, winter isn’t much to get married.”

“I don’t mean that.”

Irlp’s voice was low.

With a little time lag, she said, completely calming her excitement.

“It’s not over yet.”

“It’s not over… Oh, I get it.”

“Yes. The threat of Feita, led by Siegharun, seems to be still alive and well.”

“I agree. In fact, Siegharun also disappeared after saying that the survival race between the Empire and Feita is next.”

“Feita guys, it looks like there are still a lot of remnants left.”

“It would make sense to keep that in mind.”

Bartlante nodded happily. Elfi, on the other hand, bowed her head as if she had no respect for her. It was the expression on his face that showed that he was sorry and didn’t know what to do. The reason was unclear, so the question came out of nowhere.

“Irelpi, what’s wrong with your face all of a sudden?”

“I feel like I should… Tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Netion… When Neffy broke the Holy Memory, I received a significant internal wound. And with that condition, I delivered the final attack.”

Irelfi was conscious of Bartlante while trying to mention the name of Netionpis. It seemed that Bartlante did not feel a sense of incongruity thanks to his moderately muffled speech.

“At that point, I got semi-permanent side effects from the recoil. I probably won’t be able to fight like I used to. No, I shouldn’t actually be fighting. The madness that inevitably leads to fighting will boost my morale.”

“That’s right. All your efforts will be in vain if you have to fight.”

“Certainly, that’s difficult. It would be right to plan for the future by excluding Marquis Justiha’s forces.”

It is unknown how much power IrLP has lost. There is only one glaring fact. If the Irelpi caused madness, then it was the future that a fatal situation of internal and external relations would be caused.

“So… Nefi.”

“Huh?”

Irelpy grabbed his sleeves. It was a cautious action, like dealing with a block about to collapse. The shy look down made people flutter.

Tender lips located below cheekbones with distinct blush. Hwasun, reminiscent of cherry blossoms, calmly blossomed.

“Marriage… Do it after all the worries are over. It’s okay, right?”

“Huh, uhm! Then Irelp. Yes. That’s how it should be. Yes.”

What is it? Is it a proposal? Should I consider this as a proposal? Marriage proposals are passed over in this atmosphere?

At least by my standards, it was an out in many ways. First of all, for me, who has a traditional masculine mindset, the proposal was purely my share. More than anything, I wanted to tell them to be nice companions in a plausible place for just the two of them.

It’s not Chester’s mansion that Bartlante is staring at…

It was when I absurdly spilled Bartlante, who had done nothing wrong. In the far corner, sparkling gold peeked out and floated around.

Looking closely, it was Mirren’s eyes. She asked merrily, with a smile on her face, as if intrigued.

“Elfie sister, Nefi brother. So, when are the two of you getting engaged?”

“Mirren, since when did you go there…!?”

Because I was so preoccupied with the marriage story, I didn’t feel Mirren’s presence. She had a warm smile like cotton in full bloom under a winter sky.

Even in a chaotic situation, Irlp was aloof.

“It’s an engagement… I see.”

Ir Elfi captured the void in her gaze. It was as if she had opened a transparent calendar and reviewed her auspicious days. After a brief silence, she made her decision.

“The engagement date is…”

◇

Time was like a wheel on a plain, and it flowed helplessly. It was a steady flow, neither too fast nor too slow, like a rippling stream.

Today was a day worthy of the imperial family’s lucky day. Every time the low-lying clouds sparsely covered the sunlight, the shadows cast were cool. Then the spring breeze would playfully caress the tip of her nose and run away.

Wagons lined up one after another to enter the banquet hall of the imperial palace. We too were part of a long crowd. Mirren was waiting at the imperial palace in advance for her debutant, but we were more like guardians.

Since Enella’s debut concert was also today, Mirren should be staying with her in her imperial palace by now.

“It’s a sight I don’t miss at all.”

She frowned in disgust. I knew very well what kind of memories the impressions of Irelpi came from.

“Well, it must have been all work for you.”

“Yeah. Seriously, it’s the worst. The banquet itself is led by experts in the field, but the security isn’t. Every time I discuss the layout of things with people in a tightrope, it always builds resentments.”

“I think the inspection was the hardest.”

It was just a lightly thrown sentiment, but the reaction of the Irlp was excellent. Didn’t he let out a sigh that could be described as grand, and then complain without holding his breath?

“Haa! Even if I don’t lie and talk about it, I can brag about it for seven days and nights without stopping. To the knights… Especially, it’s so ridiculous that all sorts of words come out every time a knight from a commoner checks! You’re busy, but you just wanted to pull out your sword and split the wagon into two? It’s ridiculous that when you’re old, you act like an old man, and when you’re young, you act like a young man!”

“Whoa whoa! Let’s calm down, Illelpi. Now it’s up to Bartlante. Originally, life is a comedy when viewed from a distance.”

“If you look closely?”

“…A tragedy.”

In fact, I vividly heard the scene of power abuse. The lady’s shrieking cries were deftly putting pressure on one of the knights. The atrocities of the noble lady, who seemed to be consistent with blasphemy on the spot for the rest of her life, soon came to an end.

“Please stop.”

At the solemn sanctions of Bartlante, the lady quickly shut up. The loud declaration that followed made the imperial palace vibrate.

“From this moment on, I will not stand by anyone who disobeys the order of the Knights. Or who damages other people’s time with unnecessary arguments!!!”

After Battlente’s roaring proclamation, it was literally a matter of a second. No one did anything useless, and it has been a long time since those who showed rude attitudes went into the rat hole as if they were hiding.

“Wow… The little duke was almighty.”

“I got used to it and forgot about it, but Bartlante was the Duke of Chester.”

“Besides, I am now the captain of the emperor’s bodyguard.”

Battlante Chester. The name of the four major dukes he carried on his back was a position with excessive weight. In addition, he is the ruler of the frontier and the next head of the empire’s foremost armed group.

I am even the leader of the Royal Guard, the emperor’s right-hand man!

“If you think about it, wouldn’t the current duke have the highest authority since the founding of the aristocracy?”

“You’re not wrong. Depending on how you exploit it, you could easily take over the empire.”

“I’m glad I’m here as a small duke…”

“I agree. Except for the occasional title confusion.”

“Ha ha…”

Ir Elfi had to go through a subtle cognitive gap after his future memories returned.

Since she lived with Bartlante in the future for the rest of her life, she didn’t need to be polite. Instead of the title of So Duchess, she lived a life that she had just been called by her first name.

I soon guessed that my turn was approaching by the sound of footsteps coming from the other side.

“It’s our turn soon.”

Battlante’s gigantic figure covered the windows of the carriage, forming a shadowy area. Perhaps because the coat of arms of the Justiha family was stuck, he approached me warmly. Shortly thereafter, Bartlante bowed down and greeted me with a grin.

“Welcome. I’m about to make my younger sister’s debut, but please don’t be too nervous. Then I’ll excuse you, I’m busy!”

“Thank you, Little Duke.”

“Please do your best.”

A sense of kinship remained in the eyes of Ir Elfi as he stared at Bartlante, who was moving away. On a day like this, it is inevitable that the hardships of the same industry will be shimmering.

I asked Ir Elfi just in case.

“It’s Mirren’s debut performance, how do you feel? Are you nervous?”

“I’m worried rather than nervous.”

“Would you like to throw a Mirren kick at a quarrelsome villain?”

“Puha! Kicking Mirren… What if I keep thinking about it and laughing?”

“The target of Mirren’s kick only changes to you.”

“If that’s the case, I’d rather be glad. I’m just… I’m worried because Mirren looks like me.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Since Mirren is so pretty, all kinds of men will be attracted to her. What’s more, this time, except for the ruined Peita, the rest of the four dukes will attend.”

“The Meoric and Estern families?”

[Fayta, Chester, Meoric, Estern]. As a descendant of a founding contributor, it was a noble surname that constituted the four major ducal families. This debutant was a chance to witness the greetings of the Meoric and Estern families for the first time.

‘Is this Taiyaki of the first generation like Bartlante?’

The first head of the household, Aselne Meoric, gave the impression of being an upright scholar. Similarly, Luceon Estern also feels like he took out the image of a strict corporate head.

As I was imagining their images without permission, Ir Elfi’s worried sigh was thick.

“The age difference between Meorik and Estern’s prince is not that small. Maybe Mirren knows the children of the duchy…”

“Ah, no matter how probable it is…”

The moment I blurted out, two facts came to my mind.

First, Mirren was the cutest and most adorable young lady in the world, and now she was a minor marquis of the Marquis of Justiha.

Secondly, Arnell, Chester’s second son, has already fallen in love with Mirren. Like sunflowers blooming in an autumn field, he became a child who only looked at Mirren.

If you combine these two elements…

“There is a probability… There is…!”

“It’s a big deal to have a very pretty little sister.”

“I’m sure he won’t kick Mirren at the children of the four major dukes.”

“I don’t know. Arnel seems to be teaching me things for self-defense these days. Please…”

“… Ha ha.”

“… Whoops.”

We had no choice but to contain lukewarm plasticity. The corners of his mouth drew an arc, but his eyes were flat and infinitely empty.

It was the beginning of a debutante full of worries.