Chapter 42

In the morning, I woke up.

I pulled back the blanket, but Giselle wasn’t clinging to me.

She seemed to have gone to the dining table first.

Usually, if she woke up before me, she would stick to me, but this was unusual.

Last night, I went to bed late.

I was busy summarizing the improvements for the Otem Trokko.

I couldn’t fall asleep easily, thinking back on my conversation with Father last night, so I ended up focusing on the work.

Anyway, what should I do today?

Given my father’s fussiness over the village customs, he will surely start preparing for my and Giselle’s wedding today.

I need to stop it somehow.

First, does Giselle know about the marriage?

Indeed, due to my values from my previous life, I often find it hard to accept the norms here.

In this village, where customs differ from my previous life, I have lived for sixteen years, focusing solely on magic and not gathering any common knowledge.

Perhaps that’s why I’m even more out of touch with ordinary life wisdom.

Still, fundamentally, the information about the Maren tribe’s customs and traditions that Giselle and I have received from our parents should be similar.

So if I didn’t know about it, it’s likely that Giselle doesn’t know either.

Giselle wouldn’t want to marry her brother.

I need to inform her about this and get her on my side.

Maybe we could even put on a performance to make everyone think we’re not getting along.

If we can give the impression that we might even fight to the death, the wedding talk would be off the table.

I also need to research the history of the Maren tribe and the enforcement of the sibling marriage custom.

I already know of one case where the sibling marriage custom wasn’t followed—Nozwell’s parents.

It might not be a bad idea to visit the Kalko family, even though it feels a bit late.

Siby, for instance, has been approaching Giselle since she realized I wasn’t interested.

If the custom was strictly enforced, she wouldn’t do that.

There must be some loophole.

I need to find it and stop this marriage at all costs.

“Alright.”

I got out of bed and headed to the window.

The morning sun stung my eyes.

I closed my eyes, said, “I pray to the spirits of our Maren ancestors,” and made a cross in the air with my left hand.

I’m quite used to this habit.

I changed from my pajamas into regular clothes and went to the dining table.

“Good morning, Father, Mother. Giselle, you went ahead today…?”

I turned my gaze to Giselle.

Giselle’s cheeks turned red, and she turned her face away.

“G-Good morning, Brother…”

I have a bad feeling about this.

Could it be that Father talked to Giselle while I was still asleep?

I quickly turned my gaze to Father.

Father also turned his face away from me.

“Well, I’m going to the chieftain’s place.”

Father hurriedly stood up and tried to leave the house.

“W-Wait, Father! Please wait!”

“Sorry, but I’m busy. We can talk when I get back. I need to thoroughly discuss the rights of the Berrek family regarding the aromatic tobacco…”

“Father! Father!”

Father ignored my calls and ran away.

I thought about chasing after him, but I didn’t think I could catch up.

He got away.

…But, aromatic tobacco again.

I believe that if we leave the rights issue to the chieftain, he will act for the benefit of the village.

However, my father seems to be quite fussy about such matters.

I’m worried that the chieftain might find him annoying. I should apologize to him next time.

After all, I was the one who made a big announcement after my coming-of-age ceremony, so it’s not really something my father should be involved in.

Is this the second Kalko family route?

My father, who used to be more lively when he went hunting every day, seems a bit sad now that he no longer interferes with my magic-focused life.

No, well, that’s not the issue right now.

After Father left, I quickly ate breakfast and took Giselle to the courtyard where the Otem Trokko is.

I looked around to make sure no one was there.

“Giselle, what did Father tell you?”

“W-Well… n-nothing… N-no, nothing… Rather, let’s go to the forest quickly! Yes! I want to see the Otem Trokko in action! So…”

I’ve never seen her so obviously flustered.

“I see, so Giselle is keeping secrets now… That’s a bit sad.”

“N-No! It’s not like that! Father told me to keep it from you…”

Alright, that’s easy.

“So, what was it about?”

“Father said it would be better to talk about it just before the event, as Brother would be happier…”

Giselle huddled, hiding her face with her sleeve.

From behind the sleeve, Giselle’s eyes peeked at my expression.

I made a deliberately sad face.

“Actually, in three days, we will… have our… wedding ceremony…”

Alright, that’s easy… Wait, in three days?

They’ll probably invite other families. Isn’t that a bit too rushed?

They must have been really afraid I would do something unnecessary.

Giselle isn’t that flustered. If she suddenly heard she had to marry her brother, wouldn’t she panic more?

It seems Giselle already knew about the custom of sibling marriage.

She just seems a bit embarrassed to hear about the ceremony now.

…The wind seems to be blowing in a very bad direction.

N-No, that can’t be.

“Ah, in three days… Okay. Well, I’ve come up with a few plans to stop it. I’ve been researching the village’s history while thinking about this…”

“I was showing Mother the wedding dress, and it was so, so beautiful! Could such a beautiful and elegant dress really suit someone like me? N-No! I shouldn’t feel that way! I will be a fine bride that won’t make Brother look bad!”

“Huh?”

I feel like we’re not on the same page at all.

“S-Sorry! I thought it was a bit later, so I wasn’t prepared mentally, and I ended up being overly conscious! It’s like nervousness or excitement… N-No, not in that kind of way… A-And, well, um… When we get married, we will… you know… do those things…”

Ah, this is not good.

“But, Brother is impressive. Even when asked suddenly, you’re so calm.”

“Ah, well, no, I noticed Father was acting strange, so I thought it might be something like this… So, there’s something I want to talk about…”

“Something you want to talk about? W-What is it?”

“Um, about the… ceremony…”

Giselle blinked her big eyes and looked at me intently.

Her fingers were moving restlessly, probably filled with both anticipation for the future and anxiety about the sudden change in the situation.

“Stop… um…”

I can’t say it.

There’s no way I can say it.

“Brother? W-What’s wrong?”

“…I, I might not be feeling well today. I’ll stay in my room and rest. If Siby comes, tell her to go away.”

“B-Brother? Are you okay? If so, I can stay with you and…”

“Sorry, but I need to be alone. I can’t stand the sound of people’s voices. Um, well, you know… I should be fine after a day’s rest.”

“…Brother?”

I quickly returned to the house and entered my room.

Then I set up the Otem and created a barrier to prevent anyone from entering.

I need to calm down.

I need to calm down and think about what to do next.