Chapter 37

"Haa... I'm tired..."

That evening, Ehrich's wedding reception had ended successfully. The bride, along with Ehrich, received warm congratulations from his colleagues and friends at the office, and it seemed that El, Ina, and Louise also enjoyed the time mingling with them.

"Quite a hassle, huh? Was it really that Baron Mongella who was persistent?"

"No, he actually helped to keep things under control. Thanks to him, it wasn't as bad as it could have been."

On my part, I was surrounded by many guests throughout the ceremony. It was then that I finally understood the meaning of Ehrich's apology.

The story of how I defeated Blantac and the ancient dragon had spread almost accurately throughout the capital in a short time. Even the fact that Blantac stayed on the magic airship to defend it, knowing that his magic couldn't defeat the ancient dragon, and that I was the one who cast the holy magic to ascend the ancient dragon, was known.

Thanks to this, I was spared the trouble of repeatedly telling people, "That's not how it happened." Instead, I was treated like a new toy by the party guests. They probably never expected that the rumored dragon slayer would be attending the wedding party they were participating in.

Moreover, the fact that I was the real brother of the groom added to the surprise.

Some of the more perceptive guests, including nobles and merchants who wanted to meet me and make contact, tried to join the party. It was Baron Mongella, who is the guardian of the Brandt family, along with Blantac and Rottger, who skillfully declined their persistent requests without causing any trouble.

Baron Mongella, who stands about 190 cm tall, has a slender build and fair skin, and looks like a typical bureaucrat in his forties, seemed to feel it was impolite that I became the center of attention at his ward's wedding reception. He regularly took the persistent guests away from me for long periods.

Indeed, such meticulous consideration seemed fitting for a family that has served as bureaucrats for generations.

"I should thank Baron Mongella."

During the ceremony, the worst of the guests didn't even glance at Ehrich's formal attire or the bride's dress, but instead kept talking to me one-sidedly.

Some introduced their acquaintances or children as potential servants or retainers, some even introduced their daughters as potential concubines, and the worst of them brought up suspicious investment opportunities or loan requests.

At first, I felt very apologetic to Ehrich.

However, the fact that El and the others were enjoying themselves significantly reduced my guilt.

"You guys seemed to have a good time."

"Yeah, we did."

After the party ended, I was lying on the bed in the guest room prepared by the Brandt family, talking to El. Thanks to Ehrich's arrangement, we were staying in this room during our stay in the capital. I was sharing a room with El, and Ina and Louise were sharing another.

"Even though you're supposed to be a retainer, you didn't come to help."

"Well, it's only nominal for now, and we don't even receive a salary."

"True, but that doesn't leave me with much to say in response."

El and the others are nominal retainers to avoid the swarm of job seekers who might flock to me. For now, we are just aspiring adventurers and party members.

We are only expected to become actual retainers after we retire from adventuring.

"But, Vel, things are going to be tough for you from now on."

"If we leave the capital..."

"Even then, it's unlikely. Why don't you enjoy the sights and shopping in the capital during the summer break?"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, Blantac was standing there, and it seemed he had overheard our conversation.

He suddenly said, "What, you don't think so?"

"Yeah, a battle for my favor is about to begin. As a result, I'll be acting as a guardian for the young nobles in the capital for a while. It's not a bad deal, though."

Suddenly, a young man who had slain an ancient dragon and received a medal and a baronial title, which hadn't been awarded for over two hundred years, appeared. Moreover, this young man had gained immense wealth from selling the bones and magic stones of the ancient dragon he had slain.

Then, the thinking of the nobles, who control the wealth and power of this country, is clear.

"First, there will be a battle over who will become my guardian. Then, there will be a flood of job seekers, potential wives, and concubines."

"Who will become my guardian, right?"

"Wow! Vel, you're surprisingly sharp."

"That's a bit hurtful..."

"Sorry, sorry. Now you understand why I'm acting as a guardian for the young nobles, right?"

Guardian and ward. In a nutshell, this system is the true nature of the noble society. Knights, dukes, and other nobles who have been granted titles by the royal family are all subjects of the royal family.

However, in reality, a knight who can only collect taxes from a single village and mobilize a few dozen knights is in a completely different position from a border baron or duke whose territory and economic power rival a small country and can mobilize tens of thousands of troops.

This is the true nature of the system.

Moreover, to manage the numerous knights and baronial titles that are too numerous for the kingdom to handle, they are entrusted to central and regional high-ranking nobles. This system has been in place since the founding of the kingdom.

My real family, the Baumayster family, is under the guardianship of the Breichrader border baron. The main reason is that the Breichrader border baron family oversees the southern region of the kingdom. Typically, land-owning nobles form alliances with those in their vicinity, and central nobles form alliances based on hereditary positions.

In fact, the Brandt family, which Ehrich joined as a son-in-law, has a long history of working in financial roles, and their guardian is Viscount Mongella, who is a close confidant of the finance minister, Rukkner.

"But, isn't the Breichrader border baron the first choice for Vel's guardian?"

"Normally, that would be the case. However, there are those who think otherwise, and their thinking isn't necessarily wrong."

To put it simply, I am from the Baumayster family, which is under the guardianship of the Breichrader border baron, and I am currently attending a preparatory school in the Breichrader border baron's territory to become an adventurer. After graduation, my activity area will likely include the southern region, which includes the Breichrader border baron's territory. Therefore, it would be natural to think that the right to make me a ward belongs to the Breichrader border baron.

"Actually, the lord wanted to take you in, but the king's intervention made you a direct vassal."

Indeed, as a baron, I am a noble of the kingdom, just like the Breichrader border baron, so I cannot become his retainer.

However, if the king intentionally made me a noble to prevent this, then the king is indeed a difficult person to deal with.

"Even if you become someone's ward, the king won't say anything. In case of an emergency, the royal family has the right of first refusal."

The king's orders take precedence over those of the guardian. That's only natural.

"So, isn't the Breichrader border baron the obvious choice?"

"But, it's not that simple."

First, the issue is that I am treated as a non-landed noble.

"There have been many cases in the past where people were ennobled for their achievements, just like you."

They were ennobled for their significant contributions and given a pension and the right to pass it on to their descendants. However, they were not given any land or appointed to any specific position.

They need to go to the capital once a year to receive their pension, but otherwise, they are free to do as they please. It seems that there are quite a few nobles in a similar position to mine.

"If you had land, you would be a mid-level noble with influence in the region, or under the influence of a major noble like the Breichrader border baron. Your options would be limited."

The door was knocked on again, and this time Ehrich, who had changed into casual clothes after the party, appeared.

"But, if your options aren't limited?"

"From my perspective, it would be nice if you became the ward of Duke Rukkner."

"Huh? Wouldn't it be Viscount Mongella?"

"Viscount Mongella is the ward of Duke Rukkner."

This is the complicated part of the guardian-ward system. Viscount Mongella is the guardian of the Brandt family and also the ward of Duke Rukkner.

To put it simply, the Brandt family could be considered the grandchild of Duke Rukkner, but there is no such term as "grandchild" in this system.

"Duke Rukkner?"

"You should have met him when you had an audience with the king. He's the finance minister."

"Oh, the one who tried to lowball the sale of the bones and magic stones... Oops, slip of the tongue."

"Well, he is... But as a finance minister, he has a lot on his plate."

"The budget isn't unlimited. If the king says something stingy, it can affect his popularity with the people and the nobles. Sometimes, he has to say things that make him unpopular on behalf of the king."

Blantac explained that there was a hidden agenda behind the bone and sale price negotiation during the audience. The finance minister would deliberately lowball the price to make me dislike him, and then the king would come to my rescue. As a thank you, the king would allow the finance minister to reallocate the surplus from the magic airship budget to other projects that are underfunded. It's a clear give-and-take relationship.

"Duke Rukkner is an excellent politician and doesn't abuse his power to increase his wealth. He has the king's trust."

"That's all well and good, but I'm already overwhelmed by all this."

Honestly, even if I could use magic, it wouldn't solve the problems that come with human relationships, just like in my previous life.

"Getting back to the topic, will you become the ward of our lord?"

"Right now, I don't have any other options."

I am currently a special student at the adventurer preparatory school in Breichburg, which is run by the Breichrader border baron. After graduation, I plan to base myself in Breichburg for a while, so it wouldn't make sense to become the ward of another noble.

"I feel bad about it, but..."

I told Ehrich that I couldn't become the ward of Duke Rukkner.

"Don't worry about it. Duke Rukkner probably only sees it as a lucky break if it happens."

Even if the Rukkner family, who have a hereditary position as finance ministers, were to gain a ward, they wouldn't risk making the Breichrader border baron, who oversees the southern region, an enemy. Besides, I am the real brother of Ehrich, who is their ward.

They probably think that the connection is already strong enough and that there's no need to push for more.

"Really, the habits of nobles are overwhelming..."

"They've been doing this for thousands of years. I was just standing at the entrance, but Vel has pushed me a bit further in."

Ehrich, the new head of the Brandt family, is in a minor position as the ward of Duke Rukkner, but he left a strong impression on Duke Rukkner through this incident.

Moreover, Ehrich is extremely intelligent. He will likely be heavily relied upon by Duke Rukkner in the future.

"If Ehrich rises to a high position, the impression of his close brother, Vel, will also improve. This increases the possibility of Vel being asked for help in the future."

"Um, what kind of help?"

"In about ten years, it's uncertain, but there's a possibility that Armstrong will know about you and the Parkeinia grassland issue will move forward..."

I didn't know who this Armstrong was, but if he was a noble, I started to worry that I might not have a good experience. I would rather not get involved.

"I don't know where the Parkeinia grassland is, but I'm a minor, and I've been caught up in strange power struggles among nobles recently. I just want to enjoy my remaining vacation by sightseeing, shopping, and trying delicious food."

"But, Vel, it's a two-way street. Besides, your sightseeing and shopping could also be seen as being controlled by women."

"El and Louise aren't my lovers or wives..."

I want to spend my remaining vacation sightseeing, shopping, and trying delicious food in the vast capital.

It's not because Ina and Louise complained about being "left alone for days" and I want to apologize. I genuinely want to enjoy myself.

"Vel, I'll join you with my wife."

Ehrich, who is now twenty-three and married, no longer refers to himself as "I" when talking to me. However, sometimes he slips back into old habits.

"Really, is that okay?"

"I've taken a few days off, so it will be a vacation for us as well."

Finally, the wedding reception was over, and I firmly resolved to enjoy my summer vacation from the next day onward.