Chapter 43

"Father, Mother, are you alright?"

Stepping down from the carriage, Viela waved in front of her parents, the Viscount and Viscountess of Yubert, who were standing stiffly in front of the Ambrosch Duke's mansion. Her father, Thomas, had recovered from his back problems, and as promised, the Duke of Ambrosch had invited Viela's parents to the capital.

A few days ago, Viela received a magical express message informing her that her parents had left their territory. They arrived as scheduled after a week, and it was their first reunion in months. However, instead of focusing on their daughter, her parents were more captivated by the mansion.

The Duke of Ambrosch had arranged for guest rooms in the mansion rather than a hotel in the capital, thinking it would be more comfortable for the family to stay there. Her parents, who were always grateful for any kindness, were delighted but also intimidated by the grandeur of the mansion.

(Indeed, the impact is different when you see it from outside the gate compared to right in front of it. I was also taken aback the first time I was brought here.)

While empathizing with her parents' feelings, Viela knew that the Duke and Duchess of Ambrosch were waiting inside the mansion. She called out to her parents again. Her father, Thomas, snapped back to reality and finally noticed that Lucash was standing next to Viela.

"I apologize for the late greeting, Lord Lucash. Thank you for inviting us."

"Not at all, I appreciate you coming from so far. You must be tired, so please take a moment to rest with some tea. Please, come in."

"Thank you."

Her parents exchanged glances, nodded, and straightened their backs, as if a sound could be heard. From the faces of the Viscount and Viscountess of Yubert, they transitioned to their roles as parents. Although a bit awkward, Viela admired their ability to switch gears.

After receiving a welcoming tea party from the Duke and Duchess of Ambrosch, by the time Emma, who had finished her classes at the academy, joined them, her parents had relaxed. Whether it was due to the Duke and Duchess's friendly conversation skills or her parents' adaptability, they had become quite comfortable. Emma even asked Viela, "Have our families been close for a long time?"

That evening, thanks to the Duke of Ambrosch's arrangement, the Yubert family was able to enjoy a luxurious dinner alone in the salon room. After the meal, a review session for the upcoming 'battle' began.

"Father, your posture is starting to slouch. Mother, relax your shoulders and place your hand on Father's arm!"

Emma, who had been taking etiquette classes at the Royal Academy, gave strict instructions to her parents without mercy. Her parents had been invited to the capital to attend a ball with the Ambrosch family and to show the social circle that the two families were close. Although they had attended the royal ball once a year, they usually finished the necessary greetings and left early. This time, however, they would have to stand next to the Ambrosch family for a long time, inevitably leading to comparisons.

Their usual casual behavior could potentially embarrass the Ambrosch family. Concerned about this, Emma proposed a crash course, thinking that some preparation was better than none.

Viela watched the lesson, admiring her sister's skills, but of course, she was also a target of Emma's instruction.

"Sister, you seem relaxed, but are you sure you're okay? You, being escorted by the hero Lucash, will stand out the most. Have you practiced any coordination?"

At Emma's comment, Viela averted her gaze.

"Sis-t-er?"

"I always hold hands with him, but he hasn't said anything about it."

"Great that you get along! But holding hands and being escorted are completely different. You should confirm with Lucash."

It was a valid point. Viela and Lucash had met at a ball, but they had both left the venue and behaved in a way that was far from noble etiquette. Lucash didn't know Viela's level of etiquette, and Viela didn't know Lucash's, but he was born into the Ambrosch family. He couldn't be bad at it. Suddenly, Viela felt anxious.

"Emma, I'll go get Lucash to check!"

"What!?"

Emma and her parents were taken aback. However, Viela summoned Lucash to the salon room without hesitation. Her usually sparkling sister's eyes were now dull.

"Even though he's my fiancé, casually calling the hero... Well, that's just you, Sister. Lucash, I'm sorry, but could you please accompany my sister?"

"Of course. It's been years since I escorted someone, so it's a good opportunity to review. Lady, your hand?"

With that, Lucash straightened his back and offered his elbow to Viela. Despite his casual attire, he looked like a proper noble prince. Viela felt that Lucash was someone she would never normally interact with. Determined to get as close to his level as possible, Viela's posture naturally straightened. She gently linked her hand with his and leaned in.

"Let's take a walk."

"Yes."

Lucash escorted Viela around the edge of the salon room. They stopped in front of Emma, and Viela, still holding Lucash's arm, lightly curtsied.

"Emma, how do I look?"

"Much better than I expected. You slightly bowed your head too much, but the distance between your arm and Lucash's is good. It's surprising that you did so well without practice. Maintaining that distance while walking can be quite difficult."

"Maybe it's because Clement has escorted me many times when moving between the Barrier Division and the Technology Division."

If there was any experience to draw from, it would be with Clement. Their conversations during these escorts were usually about large orders of magical artifacts, and for Clement, it was more about making sure Viela didn't run away. Lucash and Clement were both tall, and the height of their arms was similar, which might be a factor.

Viela accepted this, but others didn't seem to agree. Especially, a cold aura was emanating from beside her. Looking up, she saw her fiancé's emotionless, mechanical eyes staring down at her. Her parents had faded into the background, and Emma, who had started the conversation, was silently apologizing with her eyes. Even the usually insensitive Viela could tell that Lucash was jealous.

"Lucash, I'm properly declining now."

"Then there's no problem, but... It's important to show that our engagement is solid. While standing, let's do this."

Lucash released Viela's hand and placed his hand on her waist, pulling her closer to him. Naturally, Viela's shoulder leaned against Lucash's chest. Her parents and Emma, who had been blending into the background, exclaimed in delight. Viela's whole body tingled with embarrassment. She tried to create some space between them, but Lucash, of course, didn't allow it. He reinforced his grip on her waist.

"Is this good, Viela?"

"...Yes, as you wish, Lucash."

Many of the divine beast knights had seen her being carried by Lucash on their return from the expedition. This was much less intimate, so it was better. Resigned, Viela nodded, feeling her cheeks flush. Seeing her expression, Lucash's mood improved, and he released Viela, turning to Emma.

"Are we good?"

"Perfect! I'll adjust the angle of the bow, but please escort her the same way on the day."

"Understood. Please enjoy your time, everyone. I'll take my leave."

With that, Lucash left the salon room gracefully.

"Now, Father and Mother, let's do another round using Lucash and Sister as examples!"

Emma encouraged her parents to resume their lesson. As they moved away, she leaned in close to her sister's ear.

"It seems I don't need to consider becoming the successor anymore."

Emma whispered happily. She was the only one who knew that Viela and Lucash's marriage was a contract that might end in a few years. If they divorced, the official successor would be her. But now, it seemed that such a future was no longer necessary. Viela smiled broadly and whispered back, "Yes, it looks like we'll become a real couple."

The lesson continued, and the family enjoyed their time together, preparing for the upcoming ball.