Chapter 21

When they learned that the person was a hero, Viela’s parents opened their mouths wide as if their jaws had dropped and began to tremble violently.

Then, with a look of shock still on their faces, they shifted their gaze to their daughter Viela.

“Vi, Viela…”

“I was told to find a husband, so as promised, I have found one. You said anyone would do, so there should be no complaints, Father, right?”

Father Thomas, with his eyes wide open, moved his mouth as if he were chewing and repeatedly shifted his gaze between Viela and Lucash.

Mother Camilla’s soul seemed to have already departed for the heavens, and she was in a daze, looking up at the sky. It would be a while before the parents were of any use.

However, no matter what the parents thought, they couldn’t just leave Lucash. Viela invited everyone to the manor.

The manor was well-maintained, but its age was evident in various places, and the carpets were faded.

Lucash looked at everything with a sense of curiosity.

(This is probably the first time he’s seen such a poor noble family. We don’t have any full-time servants; only a housekeeper comes during the day. Mother usually does the cooking. I’m starting to worry if it’s really okay to have Lord Lucash live here.)

While thinking this, Viela led them further inside and prepared tea in a simple parlor.

She then explained the events in the capital to her parents, who were still in a state where it was questionable whether they could hear her.

“In short, three days after the magic express, I pledged to marry Lord Herring, and Duke Ambrosh later approved it…? Why did it come to this? It’s Viela, you know?”

“Father, a lot has happened. A lot… In any case, I expect a formal engagement letter from Duke Ambrosh will arrive soon. Please send an acceptance letter in response.”

“Our viscount family cannot possibly refuse an offer from a duke…”

Father Thomas, sweating profusely, turned to Lucash.

“Are you really sure about moving in? I can still work as the head of the family, and Emma can inherit. There’s no need for you to give up your position as the head of the knights and move to a poor and empty territory. Wouldn’t it be better to live a convenient life in the capital? With your abilities, Lord Lucash, I believe you have a high chance of being granted a title higher than a knight. I wouldn’t mind if Viela were to marry into another family.”

“No, I want to move in. It’s true that I’ve been probed by His Majesty about a title, but I joined the Divine Beast Knights without attending the academy, so I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t have the knowledge to manage a title or a territory. I would be troubled if I were given a title.”

Lucash smiled and nodded, and Father Thomas nodded in response.

“I see. By becoming the husband of a female head, you won’t need to receive a title other than a knight. This also serves as a statement of the hero’s intention to stay within the country, so neither His Majesty nor the duke opposed it. However, I don’t quite understand your intention to move to the territory as soon as possible. Even if you move in, we wouldn’t have any problems if you spent a few years in the capital as a newlywed, right?”

“If we stay in the capital, I think we’ll inevitably be called by the knights or His Majesty. It would be better to live in the Yubert territory, far from the capital, so we can spend our time without interference. Right, Viela?”

Lucash smiled sweetly and took Viela’s hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. He narrowed his blue-gray eyes, urging her to respond.

It’s difficult because he looks so sweet, like a real lover.

(We’re supposed to act like a loving couple in front of our parents and others, but Lord Lucash, didn’t your acting suddenly get too good!? I, I need to pull myself together too.)

She thought this, but her head was so hot that she could only nod.

Her parents’ eyes sparkled at the sight of their daughter nodding with a red face.

“W, We need to prepare a house! Living in the same manor as us, well, you know! There are all sorts of things, right! Camilla, right?”

“Father!?”

“There’s an abandoned house at the foot of this hill that used to be a guesthouse. If we renovate it to look like new and remove the walls of the individual rooms to create a large bedroom, it should become a perfect villa for newlyweds. Lord Lucash, would that be acceptable?”

“Mother!”

Viela, suddenly faced with such a suggestive topic by her parents, turned even redder and let out a scream.

(Lord Lucash, don’t ask such a difficult question! Should I tell them the truth, as I did to Emma, that this engagement is a contract to urgently secure a successor? But Lord Lucash said just before arriving that he would not mention the contract to consider the stress on our parents living far away…)

While trying to figure out how to stop her parents’ wild behavior, she turned to Lucash for help.

He nodded at Viela as if to say, “Leave it to me,” and then took out three platinum coins from his jacket pocket.

“I appreciate your consideration. I will send the furniture from the capital, so can I entrust the renovation to you? Please use this as a down payment.”

Viela’s eyes widened.

Lucash not only accepted the bedroom renovation but also offered a large sum of money. In this rural area, three platinum coins could build a fine new house, probably even better than the current Yubert family manor.

Father Thomas was also surprised by the amount and glanced at Lucash.

“Lord Lucash, do you prefer a new, luxurious mansion? Or perhaps a flashy renovation with a golden glow?”

“No, building from scratch would take too long. A renovation that allows us to move in quickly is sufficient. I would like the renovation level to match this land.”

Father Thomas then took only one platinum coin and slid the other two back across the table.

“This is a rural area, so the renovation cost will be covered by this, even more than the down payment. Please save the rest.”

However, Lucash pushed the coins back.

“Then, please use the rest for the renovation of this manor and the improvement of the surrounding roads. Once Viela officially inherits the viscount title, we will also live in this manor, so it’s better to prepare in advance.”

“Hmm, then I won’t hesitate.”

Father Thomas, who had taught Viela that the poor do not refuse charity, took all three platinum coins.

Viela, realizing that it was impossible to change the flow of events, gave up and decided to discuss the future.

Since she had already submitted her resignation, they discussed the fact that her income would stop, and the request to open the mine for Albertina.

To her surprise, she was told that even without the income, their current lifestyle could be maintained.

It turned out that honey could be collected from the white trees in the Yubert territory.

The honey collection period was only one month in spring when the snow began to melt, but when boiled down, it became high-quality syrup that could be stored for a long time. Since sweet things were considered luxury items, high prices could be expected.

They had already started preparations and planned to launch the new business in earnest from the following spring. Therefore, they also expressed their sincere hope that Viela would return to the territory to take charge of the new business.

Additionally, a simple fence was set up at the mine to mark the no-entry area for the residents, and permission was granted for Albertina’s move.

After that, they all enjoyed Mother Camilla’s home-cooked meal, and it turned into a pleasant dinner party.