Chapter 48

After returning home, I unusually headed towards my father-in-law's study. My father-in-law is in charge of the domain's administration and also serves as the commander of the royal guard. He comes to the castle every other day, and today was one of his days off, so he was working from home.

It seemed to be teatime, but since I had just had tea, I sat opposite my father-in-law, who was taking a break, and asked him about the position of squadron leader, which I still didn't fully understand.

"Hmm, I see... Percy doesn't have the time to explain this to Mimosa, so I'll tell you what I know."

"Thank you."

"First, when you become a squadron leader, your armament changes. Leading 200 soldiers means you need to wear a color that stands out. Specifically, a cloak. Mine is purple, the regimental commander's is red, the battalion commander's is blue, and the squadron leader's is green. For a platoon leader, who commands fewer than 100 men, a cloak isn't necessary. They just wear a green feather on their helmet as a marker."

"The appearance is important, then."

"Yes. On the battlefield, people are in chaos. You need to be able to tell at a glance who your superior is, and whether someone is an ally or an enemy."

I thought for a moment, during which my father-in-law sipped his tea and nibbled on some pastries. It was a relaxed time, but I could tell he was saying something serious. I was thinking about what I could do if Sir Percival had to go to war.

"Is there a specific design for the cloak? Is it something granted by the royal family...?"

"No, it's a consumable item. You have to prepare it yourself. However, the basic items are available in this knight's order. ...It looks like you want me to give you a green cloak."

My father-in-law smiled and nodded when he saw my eyes light up slightly.

"It's said that something sewn by a close person can become a talisman. —It's a matter of consciousness, but the idea of returning to this person, or cherishing something received from this person, seems to take root. This, in turn, leads to protecting your comrades and your life. Sewing a cloak is not unusual."

I felt a bit relieved. I didn't want Sir Percival to be laughed at if I did something strange, but it seems this isn't unusual.

"Thank you, Father-in-law."

"No, it's for my dear daughter. I'll bring one back tomorrow. And, this is a request from me...?"

"Yes, what is it?"

Lowering his voice, my father-in-law put his hand to his mouth and spoke in a low tone.

"Could you teach my wife embroidery? And... if you don't mind, could you sew a needle into my cloak?"

"Oh, hehe, I understand. I'm not sure if I can teach others, but I'm sure your wife will do a wonderful job."

This seemed to be the price. It was a good deal.

My father-in-law and mother-in-law, despite their occasional bickering, have a good relationship. They're not always together, but there's always a calm and gentle atmosphere between them.

I want to be like that with Sir Percival. While we each fight in different arenas—he on the battlefield, I in society—I want to cherish the time we spend together more than anything.

"Mimosa... you don't doubt your victory, do you?"

I was a bit taken aback by what my father-in-law said. In truth, I might lose. There's a chance it could be in vain, but I won't let that show.

Sir Percival is determined to win. Then, I will only support his victory.

"Yes, of course."

"Good resolve."

"...Lately, I sometimes feel a bit too wild and it makes me embarrassed."

"What, that's fine. The more significant you become in Percy's life, and the more presence you have in society, the more Percy will shine. The reverse is also true; you will shine more as Percy's wife. It's not a bad thing for the two of you to trust each other."

This might be the first time my father-in-law has talked to me about what a good marriage looks like.

Shining for Sir Percival... I don't understand how that will affect things, but I want to shine at least half as much as my mother-in-law.

Sewing with my mother-in-law might be a bit fun. As I thought about how I had never seen her do needlework, I thanked my father-in-law and left his room.