Chapter 68

<067. Under the Moonlight>

"Lord Glass, what did you just say?"

"I asked when the two of you plan to have the ceremony."

What... what is this...?

"Lord Glass, let me tell you—"

"Father, Wolfram and I don't have any plans for that yet."

Before I could say anything, Aila had already drawn a clear line.

"..., Huh? Aila?"

"Father, Wolfram is currently working on something big. It's truly a rebellious task, and it will surely be a great help to our Tristain family."

"Is that so... then..."

"But I don't think it should be a factor in deciding our relationship."

"..."

"Are you rushing the wedding because of 'that matter'?"

"Yes, you understand well."

"Yes, I know it's incredibly urgent."

"..., Then..."

"But it shouldn't be a factor in deciding our relationship. Absolutely not."

"..."

I tilted my head at Aila's explanation.

So, to summarize, Lord Glass thought I should be arrested after hearing about what I've done, and he wanted to rush the wedding with Aila.

But Aila... drew a clear line, saying that our relationship shouldn't be interfered with by others. Is that it?

Hmm.

That's right.

I don't understand anything.

But pretending to know is also a specialty, isn't it?

"What? We can't have a ceremony while I'm still a student at Jefrin. We can talk about it after graduation, can't we?"

"..., Yes. I was too hasty."

With that, Lord Glass bowed his head.

The conversation ended there, but Aila's gaze flew to me.

She stared at me intently, as if she had something to say, so I nodded.

***

That night.

I was sitting on the terrace of the assigned third-floor room, gazing at the night view.

The mansion was incredibly quiet, with only the occasional sound of insects. The moon was so bright that the garden looked like a painting with a deep green filter.

As I enjoyed the beautiful scenery, a quiet voice reached my ears from below.

"Wolfram? Are you awake?"

Something floated up and approached me.

To be precise, Aila Tristain was walking gracefully through the air toward me.

Fly. A high-level magic of at least Tier 5.

"Can you use flying magic too?"

"Huh? Ah, no. I made a transparent crystal staircase below."

Ah.

Indeed, her magical application skills are impressive.

She must have created a transparent crystal staircase using a magic circle and walked up it.

"That's good. A clever use."

"Hehe. Isn't it?"

Aila smiled and created a black crystal chair in the air, sitting down.

She hesitated for a moment, then laughed and continued.

"I'm really sorry about what happened at dinner. Father... he's not usually like that, but he seemed quite urgent."

"It's fine."

Well, we are officially engaged, after all.

Parents might say such things.

"..., Actually, I came here because I have something to say to Wolfram about that matter. I'm grateful you understood my signal and came out."

"What? Can't you just use the stairs?"

"I did use the stairs? ...Just kidding. I came this way because I wanted to talk in secret. The servants would be noisy if I walked around the mansion."

"Ah, I see."

That's true. Considering the number of servants in the Tristain household, it makes sense.

"Anyway, the reason I came is not a big deal, but it's because of what Father said earlier."

"You mean the wedding talk."

"..., Yes."

Aila scratched her cheek and laughed awkwardly. Then she laughed again and continued.

"Actually, I've thought a lot about it. ...I think our engagement was decided when I was 8, right?"

"..., Hmm."

I don't really know.

That's a story only 'Wolfram' would know.

But when I reflected on myself, I understood a few things.

"It was quite urgent. Aila Tristain wanted power... and..."

"Wolfram von Loewen格林 was a disposable prince."

"..., Yes, that's right."

Iv von Loewen格林 has no fiancé.

That's because she has proven her worth as a royal.

More precisely, her value is so high that no one can measure the worth of a political marriage.

It could lead to a serious shift in power.

But Wolfram is different.

Just a prince with good blood, a disposable prince.

"But back then, I only thought, 'Ah, so I'm going to marry this person.' The family only said, 'Congratulations on marrying a prince.' I thought it would just flow that way, and that's how I would live."

"Is that so?"

"..., No, it's not that I dislike it. It's not about whether I like or dislike Wolfram."

"Keep talking."

"..., I don't think that's right. That's not a rebellion, is it? It's not a path I chose for myself, is it?"

"..., Hmm."

"Rebellion is about breaking all the shackles that hold you back and choosing your own life, isn't it?!"

"..., Hmm."

If you ask for my agreement... I don't really know.

So, Aila's rebellion is about that. She has her own standards.

I really don't understand.

"Actually, I realized this by looking at Wolfram."

"..., Me? You mean I sparked your will to rebel?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

Don't say it so happily.

I don't get it at all.

"..., I see. In what way?"

"By stepping down from the position of Student Council President and going back to the ground to do what you truly want. By giving up the power you were entitled to and walking your own path."

"..., Hmm."

"Your path is chosen by yourself. The captain who steers the rudder of life."

"..., Hmm."

That rudder might fail, you know.

But anyway, I see.

Wolfram is really impressive.

I want to meet him once.

"I was moved. Can you understand this emotion? It's an incredibly difficult life!"

"Is it? Isn't it your own life?"

"No, for nobles, it's about the environment, power, and politics. But... Wolfram will succeed, has succeeded to some extent, and is still succeeding!"

"..., I see."

"..., So... I want to live my life that way. Wolfram, can we delay our decision a bit?"

"..., We'll delay it."

"..., Yes. When we can completely ignore the external factors. When we can grasp our own destiny. When the rebellion succeeds. Then, Wolfram and Aila will make a decision of our own."

Aila said this and extended her hand.

I took her slightly trembling hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Right now, we are friends bound by trust, credit, and righteousness. Perhaps, when our destinies intersect, we might become more."

"You mean a comrade in rebellion."

"..., Yes. ...Is it too much of a childish request?"

"No. I think it's a good idea."

"Thank you."

Aila's smile under the moonlight.

She doesn't want a life decided by others; she wants to make her own decisions.

In the power-hungry Tristain family, even though she was forced into an engagement with a disposable prince, she genuinely cares about him and wants to understand him and make her own decisions.

"Rebellion, huh."

"..., Yes."

"Wow, Aila. I respect your way of life. When you can make your own decision, we can revisit this conversation."

"..., I think intersecting destinies won't be bad either."

A strong wind blew, and Aila's last words were inaudible.

"..., You're getting cold. Go inside and rest."

"..., Yes. Good night, Wolfram."

***

The next day.

The skill of royal blood makes one unable to do anything but speak and act elegantly in any situation. After getting up early, finishing my grooming, and thinking about the morning schedule, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in. The door is open."

"Yes, I'm sorry. Brother."

Brother?

No one in this world can call me that.

Iv von Loewen格林 would only call me that if she were about to stab me in the stomach with a light saber, saying, "Goodbye. I had fun. Brother." Otherwise, she wouldn't say it.

So, this "Brother" was incredibly... incredibly fresh. Fresh enough to make my brain temporarily give up thinking.

And the one who opened the door and entered was Mini Aila. A child who seemed to be a smaller version of Aila. It was Spica Tristain.

"..., Spica?"

"Yes, Brother. I came to greet you. Isn't it revolutionary?"

"..., Yes."

"Hehe. Indeed, you understand revolution, Brother."

"..., Hmm."

If...

If Aila doesn't mess around in Act 3.

In that case, this girl will enter Jefrin next year, right?

And the sisters will be talking about rebellion and revolution... chattering away...

Ah,

I don't want that.

Maybe I should drop out.

"Come on, Brother. Shall we go? It's not to the dining room, though."

"Ah, it's Father's study. He said he has something to talk about. Do you want to have breakfast first?"

"No, if Lord Glass has something to say, let's hear it first."

We eventually arrived at Lord Glass's study. When Spica opened the door at his invitation, Lord Glass was standing there.

"His Highness Wolfram von Loewen."

"..., Lord Glass."

"Forgive me for last night! I was truly at fault!"

In a situation where I didn't know how to start, Lord Glass bowed deeply and apologized.

Why suddenly?

Hmm.

I don't know, so I'll pretend I do.

I don't know anything about this house, and I don't want to know, so it's best to pretend I know and go with the flow.

I sat in the chair prepared for me and accepted Lord Glass's apology.

"Raise your head. I'm uncomfortable."

"Are you forgiving me? I thought it was a great rudeness..."

"..., Yes, of course. On the contrary, it seems you understand the mistake you made."

"..., Yes. The marriage of His Highness Wolfram and Aila is a major event for the royal family. My remarks last night made it seem as if I was disregarding the royal family... I am truly sorry."

"Hmm?"

Ah, I see. That's how it's interpreted.

So, if my marriage happens... it will be a royal event. Even if it's the bride's family, it might seem like a mere baron's family is controlling a royal event.

"..., I will let it go. Also... as Aila said last night, this matter should be resolved between the two of us. I would appreciate it if you wait for the result. Whatever the outcome may be."

"Thank you."

Lord Glass visibly rejoiced at my words.

And... Spica also clenched her fists and rejoiced.

Why you?

***

The subsequent conversation proceeded in a rather relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

It was mainly about how the field study would be conducted.

However, the more I asked, the more I could feel Lord Glass's expression stiffening.

It seemed as if the field for the field study wasn't prepared at all.

Hmm. I thought it would be about learning the overall command of the mine, hearing a few times about the management of the site, and inspecting the mine.

But it seems...

"..., Has something happened at the mine?"

"..., Sadly, yes."

"..., Can you tell me what the problem is, Lord Glass?"

"There is a large mine owned by our family nearby, and monsters have appeared there. They've even made a nest, so the site inspection is a bit..."

"..., I see."

Ah, that's a shame.

I'll just rest at the Tristain mansion, then.

Ah, really a shame. Truly a shame. There's nothing to learn from the field study.

"..., By the way, I heard that His Highness Wolfram is knowledgeable about monster hunting. You've successfully led expeditions several times, right?"

"..., Yes? It's just a student's limited knowledge."

"..., I don't know if I should make such a request, but if you could lend us your wisdom to hunt these monsters..."

Ah, that's annoying.

I usually don't take such requests. I don't want to.

I just want to rest. I won't do it.

"..., If it's effective, I will reward you greatly. Of course, I will reward you even if it's not."

"..., Alright. Let's see the site."

"Of course! You are a prince!"

"Wolfram, Brother!"

"..., We should help each other. Don't worry about it."

Hmm.

Ahem.

There's nothing I can do.

It's not about the money, but there's a problem with the Tristain family's mine, right?

If you have a sense of righteousness, you should help, right?