The dinner party — where the food was delicious yet difficult to fully enjoy, making it hard to tell whether it was a happy occasion or an unfortunate one — was still ongoing.
To be precise, they were still in the middle of the appetizers, so it would be more accurate to say the meal had only just begun.
"Rei, there is something I would like to ask. How was Elena during her time in Gilm?"
Duke Kerebel posed the question to Rei without warning, just as Rei was tasting a potage made from a vegetable similar to a potato yet clearly something else entirely.
Rei had been sampling the soup without making noise, as proper table manners demanded, and the abrupt question left him unsure how to answer.
He hesitated, uncertain of the right words.
After hesitating, Rei turned his gaze toward Elena, and only after she nodded did he open his mouth.
"She cooperated quite proactively. Thanks to that, the... unusual obstructions decreased."
The unusual obstructions in this case, naturally, referred to what the Noble Faction Nobles had been doing.
Duke Kerebel was well aware of this himself, but he nodded without letting it show at all.
"I see. That is most reassuring. My dealings with Margrave Larcus have been increasing as of late. That being the case, I was concerned about those who would obstruct the growth of his stronghold."
"Thanks to Elena, the fact that those concerns have been resolved is significant."
"...Elena, you say."
At Rei's words, Duke Kerebel murmured slowly.
Naturally, his gaze was directed at Rei, and within those eyes dwelt a formidable power.
Seeing Duke Kerebel like that, Rei finally realized his mistake.
Normally, Rei referred to Elena by her name alone, but this was not their usual setting.
Indeed — this was a place where both of Elena's parents were present.
Calling Elena by her bare name in such a place carried deep meaning.
At the very least, no one had ever done such a thing before.
...Not even those who sought marriage to obtain Elena's beauty and strength, or the wealth and power of Duke Kerebel's House, had been able to do so.
That was how feared a figure Duke Kerebel was, and the fact that he could exert pressure — to the point where one might even feel a physical force — was a significant factor.
Rei also thought that was a mistake, but there was no way to take back words once spoken.
Much less did he have any intention of trying.
And so, while feeling the pressure emanating from Duke Kerebel once more, Rei responded with a nod.
"Yes. Thanks to Elena, we were helped in many ways. ...Though the help we received regarding the Reblurina matter and other things was significant as well."
A twitch.
The moment the word "Reblurina" left Rei's mouth, a presence akin to killing intent emanated from Arcadia, who sat beside Duke Kerebel.
It was similar to yet fundamentally different from what Duke Kerebel had been emitting.
Feeling that presence, Rei opened his mouth with a tentative, cautious manner.
"Lady Arcadia, is something the matter?"
"...No. I am aware of the Reblurina matter. Including the specifics of what was done and how."
Arcadia wore a smile on her lips, but her eyes were not smiling at all.
Given Arcadia's unfathomable nature, seeing her in such a state sent a chill down Rei's spine.
He even felt that saying something careless here might bring about some terrible outcome.
"Mother, is it possible that from where you used to live, there were also victims...?"
"Perhaps. I have heard that people have gone missing, but that does not necessarily mean they were all caught up in the incident Elena and the others were involved in."
So Arcadia stated, but what she truly thought was told by her eyes.
"Dear. I understand there was talk of sending a negotiation team to Reblurina. What has become of that?"
She asked as though inquiring lightly, but the pressure contained in her gaze was intense.
Yet, befitting Arcadia's husband, Duke Kerebel opened his mouth without appearing particularly bothered.
"These things require a great deal of groundwork. You understand that as well, do you not, Arcadia? In all likelihood, the formal negotiation team will depart in the spring."
"...I have heard that the Neutral Faction departed quite some time ago?"
"That cannot be helped. This matter came to light in Gilm, after all. If we were to dawdle here, we would risk being taken advantage of by the other side. Though admittedly, they took retaliatory action before we could make any such move, and Elena being present preserved the Noble Faction's dignity in the matter."
In that sense, the faction that fell most behind in the Reblurina affair was the King's Faction.
That said, the King's Faction was not directly involved in the Reblurina matter either.
Nevertheless, as the largest faction, there was no question that they had lost face.
Furthermore, they also struggled with selecting personnel to send to Reblurina, and as a result, the delegation would be dispatched the following spring or later.
But as one would expect of the King's Faction, the one leading it was the King of Mireana himself.
In other words, those departing the following spring or later would constitute the official delegation from the Kingdom of Mireana.
"Even so, you cannot avenge those who were taken away, can you?"
"Mother, the survivors among those who were taken are currently in Gilm—"
"I know."
Arcadia answered flatly to Elena's words.
But hearing that, Rei felt his spine go cold once more.
Sura's incident had become quite famous in Gilm.
But that was only a recent development — so how did Arcadia know about it?
Of course, the Noble Faction Nobles maintained residences in Gilm in order to gather all manner of information.
That being the case, it was not strange for Arcadia to know about Sura's incident... and yet, the speed at which the information had reached her was clearly too fast.
Without paying any mind to Rei's reaction, Arcadia continued speaking.
"However, the fact that they are there means they must be people who have no intention of returning to their homeland... or who cannot return. In the villages and towns I know of, no one came back. Which means... of course, I do not necessarily think that all those who went missing were abducted, but—"
Rural areas, cities, the frontier... people lived in all sorts of places, but in this world, disappearing for some reason was not a rare occurrence.
To bandits, to illegal slave traders, to monsters.
Young, beautiful women in particular were susceptible to such fates.
Arcadia surely understood that as well, but even so, the thought that people she knew had met such a fate clearly stirred something within her.
"Arcadia, that is enough. I understand and can empathize with what you are feeling, but there are things I can and cannot do. Besides, right now this is a welcome party for Rei... the first boy Elena has ever brought home. Please do not get ahead of yourself."
The moment those words were spoken, Arcadia quietly apologized with a small "I'm sorry" and returned to her meal.
...Though, as for Elena upon hearing that, her face turned red at the words Duke Kerebel had spoken.
Elena never made any effort to hide the fact that she loved Rei in front of Marina or Vihera, but that was only because they were her companions.
Or perhaps someone like Ara, a close friend since childhood, or Byune, a fellow party member.
Even if it was not stated directly, being told such a thing by her father naturally made her blush.
"..."
The cheeks and ears of the downcast Elena were visibly red.
Seeing Elena looking down, seemingly unable to even speak, her parents smiled.
Not teasing smiles, but smiles of joy at their daughter's growth.
...Incidentally, the fact that Elena had shown no interest in men had been a shared concern of both her parents.
Elena's appearance was undeniably beautiful.
So much so that being called a Goddess of Beauty would not be strange.
But that same Elena had never shown the slightest interest in men, devoting herself entirely to training herself.
Given her position as the Daughter of Duke Kerebel, she did appear in social circles, but that was all it was — she merely appeared.
That such an Elena had taken an interest in a man was undoubtedly something to celebrate for Duke Kerebel and his wife.
(That being said...)
Duke Kerebel, who had been watching his daughter with a warm, fond gaze, in the next moment directed a sharp look at Rei.
"Rei. You understand the position Elena occupies, do you not?"
A sudden question.
But what that question meant was, naturally, something Rei could comprehend.
"The sole daughter of Duke Kerebel, correct?"
"Indeed. In the future, whether Elena will inherit this house, or a husband who marries into the family will inherit it, or perhaps an adoption arrangement — there are various possibilities."
"But more than that, I believe there is a more certain method, is there not?"
At Rei's words, Duke Kerebel smiled with amusement.
"Oh? A more certain method, you say. That is intriguing. I would very much like to hear it."
"It is quite simple. If you were to give Elena a younger brother or sister, everything would be resolved."
'!?'
Rei's words were apparently entirely unexpected — not only Duke Kerebel but even Arcadia drew a sharp breath for a moment, and upon understanding what manner of act was being suggested, Arcadia's cheeks turned as red as Elena's had been moments ago.
Duke Kerebel did not react as overtly as Arcadia; rather, he directed an intense gaze at Rei, who had spoken such a thing.
"Is it not rather presumptuous to meddle in the relationship between my wife and myself?"
"Perhaps it is. But when considering Elena's situation, is that not the best course of action? Elena already inherited the Ancient Dragon's Magic Stone at the Altar of Inheritance. As a result, I believe her lifespan is no longer that of a human, but equal to that of the Ancient Dragon."
Unaccustomed to the terminology, Rei's phrasing was somewhat clumsy, but he spoke while meeting Duke Kerebel's eyes.
He also used polite language when speaking with Daskar, but for better or worse, Rei had a reasonably long relationship with Daskar.
That was why, when talking to Daskar, there was a degree of familiarity by now... but this was his first time speaking with Duke Kerebel.
It was only natural that some nervousness would be mixed in.
...Or perhaps, the fact that he was Elena's father also had a strong influence.
"The inheritance of the Ancient Dragon's Magic Stone, hm. While it is a longstanding aspiration passed down through generations of Duke Kerebel's House... no, that too is a matter of the past at this point. In any case, I understand what Rei is trying to say."
Having inherited the Ancient Dragon's Magic Stone, Elena would without question live longer than a human... and longer even than an Elf.
If such an Elena were to become the head of Duke Kerebel's House, there would inevitably be no small number of those dissatisfied with the arrangement.
In the worst case, it could even devolve into something resembling an internal succession dispute.
The position of head of Duke Kerebel's House was that important — and that immensely appealing.
"And so?"
It probably won't work.
Thinking that, but wondering if perhaps it might, Rei tried asking... and what came back, as expected, was the gesture of a head shaking in refusal.
"It is not so simple. For one thing, Elena is a special existence within the Noble Faction. You of all people should understand that best, Rei."
"That is..."
Rei was at a loss for words.
In truth, within the Noble Faction, Elena — with her alias of the Princess General and her beauty — was an existence fitting to be called a symbol.
...Which was precisely why those who never learned their lesson and kept trying to woo her were endless.
Precisely because Elena was such a person, abandoning the position of heir to Duke Kerebel's House... let alone running off to Rei's side, though it went unsaid here, was something the Noble Faction could never accept.
"Whatever is to be done, it cannot be decided immediately."
"I... see."
He had known that, but even so, he could not help feeling disappointed.
"However..."
Whether out of pity for Rei, or because he had intended to say so from the start, was unclear — but Duke Kerebel offered a faint smile and opened his mouth.
"At the very least, until the Expansion Construction in Gilm is complete, I intend to have Elena remain in Gilm to keep watch so that the hotheaded members of the Noble Faction do not do anything foolish. Barring any serious matter, of course, in which case she would return. So please, rest easy."
At Duke Kerebel's words, Rei and Elena each breathed a sigh of relief.