Chapter 58

Bart stands at the entrance of the classroom, takes a deep breath, and firmly grips the letter containing secrets given to him by his mother.

Bart is popular with women. Born with good looks, he was known as a womanizer among his comrades even during his mercenary days. He didn't need to pay to visit brothels; he could easily become friends with a random girl in town and crash at her place. He was that popular. Even after securing a stable job as a squire in the Earlquvist territory, nothing has changed. In fact, his popularity has only increased since he gained the status of a squire serving a noble.

However, as he approaches his mid-twenties and begins to think about settling down, Bart finds himself troubled by his innate playboy tendencies.

(Marriage partner... How do I decide?)

Most of Bart's romantic experiences have been one-night stands. Due to his unstable position as a mercenary, he had no proper dating experience.

Because of this, even though he wants to get married, he doesn't know how to find a good partner.

Every time Bart leads a transport team to Retvik, girls working in the shops of his clients or in familiar restaurants flirt with him and shower him with attention.

Right now, he is being sweetly invited by a girl from a hardware store he often visits in Retvik: "You're staying in town tonight, right? Come to my apartment."

Being invited like this doesn't feel bad as a man. But if asked whether he wants to marry this girl, the answer would be different.

(This girl is probably just attracted to my looks and status...)

Her face is filled with the ambition to secure a good catch.

Of course, he doesn't think this is a bad thing, but Bart would prefer to marry a woman who loves him for who he is, not just his looks or status.

Yuri and Mai, Edgar and Anna, Radley and Gina—surely they were drawn to each other's inner qualities. They would likely continue to love each other even if their social status changed or they aged.

Bart wants to meet someone like that, but he doesn't know how. While thinking this, he gently declined the girl's invitation and left the store.

...

That night, Bart decided to try something new and entered a different restaurant alone.

As soon as he entered, a middle-aged man, presumably the owner, called out, "Sit wherever you like." It was a small place with only one young female employee besides the owner.

He sat at an available seat and looked at the menu on the wall. While deciding what to order, the female employee brought him water.

"Have you decided what to order?"

"Ah, um... steamed fish, stew, and bread."

"Sure, please wait a moment."

The woman, who seemed to be a bit younger than Bart, smiled and headed to the kitchen. She might be the owner's daughter. She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she had a warm and gentle aura.

For Bart, who often received predatory looks from women in Retvik who saw him as a "good catch," her warm smile was particularly memorable.

The food arrived shortly, and he began to eat.

The steamed fish and bread were quite good, but when he tasted the stew, Bart was a bit surprised. The seasoning reminded him of his childhood.

Born as an orphan in a certain town, Bart survived on church food until he was picked up by a mercenary group at around ten years old.

The elderly nun in charge of the food distribution was kind to him. The seasoning of this stew was very similar to hers.

It was probably just a coincidence, but the unexpected "home-cooked taste" made his meal very satisfying.

"This stew is really delicious. It reminds me of my hometown."

"Oh, really? Thank you."

When Bart couldn't help but comment as his dishes were being cleared, the female employee smiled warmly in response.

"Is your hometown far from here?"

"Yeah, I don't think I'll ever go back... I was an orphan originally. A lot has happened since then."

"I see... I'm sorry, did I bring up painful memories?"

"No, it's fine. I'm the one who said something strange."

The nostalgic taste had made him a bit more relaxed. He had inadvertently confused the girl he had just met.

"...What about the stew reminded you of your hometown?"

"Well, it's a bit sweet and has a thick consistency. The nun who served the food at the church when I was an orphan used to make it like this. Her stew was full of lentils to help us fill our stomachs... Sorry, I'm rambling again."

He felt a bit embarrassed. Bart laughed awkwardly, paid for his meal, and hurriedly left the restaurant.

...

After some time, Bart, who was in Retvik for his usual supply transport job, visited the restaurant again.

He was a bit embarrassed because of their last conversation, but the desire to experience the nostalgic taste again was stronger.

The female employee seemed to remember Bart. When she saw him enter, she smiled at him.

Bart, blushing, smiled back and sat at an available seat. He ordered the stew again.

When the stew arrived, he took a spoonful.

He noticed lentils mixed in with the vegetables. The last time he ate it, there were no lentils.

The taste of the stew was even closer to what he had eaten as a child. It was almost the same.

The face of the kind nun, which he had almost forgotten, became clearer in his mind.

After finishing his meal, Bart called out to the female employee who was clearing his dishes.

"...There are lentils in the stew today."

"I remembered what you said before... It's a little extra service from me."

She smiled a bit mischievously.

"Thank you. But why... I'm not a regular customer yet, right?"

"When we talked last time, you looked a bit sad. I thought it might make you smile a little."

Her smile towards Bart was filled with pure kindness, free of any ulterior motives.

Bart looked at her left hand. There was no ring on her ring finger.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Um, no, I don't..."

"In that case, would you marry me? I promise to cherish and make you happy."

Before he realized it, Bart had said those words.

...

"Um, my name is Michelle. My family runs a restaurant in Retvik, and I'm here to move and marry Bart..."

"Yes!"

At the checkpoint at the gate of the capital Noeina, Noeina was meeting with a new immigrant.

Behind Noeina, as usual, were her guards, Matilda and Pence. In front of her, the new immigrant, Michelle, sat nervously. Next to her was Bart, who had brought her from Retvik.

"You don't need to be so nervous, Michelle. Lady Noeina is very kind."

"U-um..."

Bart, with a sweet expression and gentle voice, reassured Michelle, who leaned closer to him.

Seeing this, Noeina continued her talk, though inwardly she was exasperated.

"If you're marrying Bart, you'll live with him... There are no other formalities or confirmations needed. Bart will explain everything about the territory to you."

"Yes, I'll take care of it."

"Then, the interview is over. Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you a happy life together."

After thanking Noeina, Bart and Michelle left the checkpoint, still affectionate.

"...Damn, even Bart..."

The one who muttered this was Pence, who had become the last single man among the former mercenaries.

"He proposed to her on the first day of their relationship and she accepted right away. Typical of the popular Bart."

One day, Bart returned from Retvik and suddenly reported, "I'm bringing a wife from Retvik this time."

Upon hearing the story, it turned out he had proposed to a girl he had only spoken to a few times at a restaurant, and she had accepted on the spot. The fact that they were so affectionate despite their lightning-fast marriage showed that Bart had a talent for capturing women's hearts.

"He used to play around with flashy women without any regrets. But in the end, he chose a girl who seems so domestic and kind... The world is unfair."

"You don't need to be so jealous. If you really have trouble finding a wife, I can help. If I call for a wife for Squire Pence in the territory, I'm sure we'll find someone."

Hearing this from Noeina, Pence imagined Noeina announcing a "Urgent Wife Search for Squire Pence" in the name of the lord. It would be a terrible embarrassment for the person involved.

"...No, it's fine. I'll manage on my own."

"Okay, good luck. I look forward to good news."

Despite Noeina's encouragement, Pence sighed, thinking about his own situation, which seemed far from marriage.