Meanwhile, the clock wound back slightly to the night of November 17th. In the basement of Rankenhaus in Kalts Village, located within the Shouro Empire.
"Welcome home, Elsa. I’ve heard the news—that was quite an achievement!"
Reinhard, her cousin, was there to meet and welcome Elsa as she stepped through the Warp Gate.
"Elsa-san, it is truly wonderful. I admire you immensely," Berche, Reinhard's wife, added with a sincere smile.
"Thank... you. But it was all thanks to Jin-nii. If Jin-nii hadn't been there, I know I couldn't have done it."
Reinhard gently patted his cousin’s shoulder as she looked down, acting humble and slightly bashful.
"Well, in any case, let’s head upstairs."
"Indeed. I shall have tea prepared for us," Berche said.
The group moved from the basement to the parlor. The maid automata, Bella, brought in the refreshments.
"I’ve finished my official duties for the day, so please, take your time and tell us everything," Reinhard said, taking a sip of his tea and prompting Elsa to begin.
"Okay. First, I heard from Her Majesty that the King of the Klein Kingdom was in poor health..."
Elsa spoke for a full hour. While Reinhard and Berche occasionally interjected with questions, Elsa did ninety percent of the talking.
Reinhard listened with silent delight. The formerly soft-spoken Elsa had certainly changed if she could speak this much.
"...And that’s how it happened," Elsa concluded, finally moistening her dry throat with tea after the long explanation.
"I see... So you were told you could restore House Randol—no, establish it as a Baronet. That is incredible."
It was rare for an abolished house to be restored. Usually, such a measure was a permanent and severe punishment.
"Yes..."
However, seeing Elsa look downcast rather than celebratory, Reinhard sensed her hesitation.
"Elsa, if something is weighing on your mind, why don't you tell me?"
"...Rai-nii."
"I’ve spent most of my life with you, Elsa. I can tell by your face when you’re troubled. Go on, tell me."
"...Okay."
Encouraged by Reinhard’s kindness, Elsa began to open up haltingly.
"I am... honestly happy that I can restore my house. But doing so means being tied to the country even more than I am now."
"I see." Reinhard nodded once, urging her to continue with his eyes.
"Jin-nii is a free man. He’s someone who... who should remain free. I don't want to become a shackle to him."
"So that’s what’s bothering you?"
"...Yes."
Reinhard crossed his arms and closed his eyes, appearing lost in thought for a moment. During the silence, Berche asked Elsa a question.
"Elsa-san, you don't want to be a shackle to Jin-sama, is that right?"
"Yes."
"But you want to stay by his side."
Elsa nodded, her cheeks flushing pink. "...Yes."
"You love Jin-sama, don't you?"
"..."
This time there was no verbal answer, but the embarrassment written all over her face made the truth plain as day.
"My, my, how sweet."
At that, Reinhard spoke up. "Now, now, Bell. Don't act like a big sister when you’re only a year older than her. Look at poor Elsa."
"Oh, dear."
Elsa was staring at the floor, her face now a bright crimson.
"I'm sorry, Elsa-san. I didn't mean to tease you," Berche apologized, but Elsa remained looking down.
Reinhard spoke to her softly. "Elsa, do you really think Jin is the type of man to lose his freedom over something like that?"
"...Huh?"
"He possesses knowledge from another world. That isn't something a single nation should be allowed to monopolize. Even Her Majesty—though she technically shouldn't know his origins—likely realizes that trying to bind Jin would be the height of folly."
"..."
"So, you should do as you wish....Though it seems my advice isn't quite enough to satisfy you."
Still looking down, Elsa turned only her eyes toward Reinhard. They were filled with clear dissatisfaction.
"Alright, then, one more thing. If you love your mother, then you should show her some filial piety."
"...What do you mean by that?"
This time, Elsa looked up properly. Her face was still a bit red, but her desire for an answer outweighed her shyness.
"Your family home was abolished. That is the first premise," Reinhard explained.
"Yes."
"In a typical noble family, a daughter's duty is seen as marrying into another noble house. That is the second premise."
"...Yes."
Elsa frowned slightly at the mention of the second premise.
"However, under the laws of the Shouro Empire: 'Should the daughter of a hereditary noble marry and leave the house without an heir, a successor may be chosen from the next of kin.' That is my advice to you."
Elsa remained silent, staring up at him as she chewed over his words. Finally, a smile bloomed on her face as she understood the implication.
"Rai-nii, does that mean... that for a close relative, someone like Moritz-niisama would be acceptable?"
"Precisely." Reinhard nodded with a warm smile. Beside him, Berche was smiling as well.
"And by filial piety, you mean..."
"Exactly what you’re thinking. Once you restore House Randol and become its head, if you were to marry elsewhere, you simply have to name Moritz-dono as your successor. That way, House Randol continues on."
Moritz was the biological son of Marlene, Elsa’s stepmother. There would be no legal or social issue with him succeeding the Randol name.
"You can go to Jin without having to worry about what anyone else thinks."
"...I understand. Thank you, Rai-nii."
Elsa’s expression was radiant, a complete transformation from her arrival. However, once she fully processed the phrase "go to Jin," she turned beet-red and looked down again.
Watching her with a kind gaze, Reinhard stood up.
"It’s late. You should stay the night here. I’ll escort you to your family home tomorrow."
"...Okay. Rai-nii, please do."
While Reinhard hadn't noticed because she had been skillfully hiding her left hand, Berche alone had caught a glimpse of the ring on Elsa's left ring finger.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, Elsa visited her family home with Reinhard at her side.
"Mother, it has been a long time."
"Aunt, I hope you have been well."
Marlene, Elsa’s stepmother, welcomed them both with a healthy glow on her face. Ever since Elsa had treated her with Cure, her physical condition had been excellent.
"Reinhard-sama, I heard you have been promoted to Baron. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
After the standard pleasantries, Elsa conveyed the Empress's decree to Marlene.
"My... to think she would make you a Baronet and allow you to establish a house. What a blessing..."
Marlene grew tearful, but her next words were composed.
"So, Elsa, what do you wish to do? Will you restore House Randol? Or would you prefer to start a house with a different name?"
Elsa's answer was already firm.
"I will restore House Randol. I am Elsa Randol von Lazula."
"I see... Thank you, Elsa. And thank you, Reinhard-sama."
Elsa's feelings reached Marlene clearly. The older woman also seemed to sense that Reinhard’s guidance had been behind the decision.
"That's settled then, Elsa. Well, Aunt, I’ll be heading back now. Elsa, you’ll be staying here for a while, right?"
"Yes. Thank you, Rai-nii."
"I'll come to pick you up the day after tomorrow—the day before the deadline. Try to relax until then."
With that promise, Reinhard departed for home alone.