The following day, Jin and Elsa headed to her family home in Ekishi.
As they rode in Jin’s golem carriage, the two of them sat together in conversation.
"This is only my second time visiting your home, isn't it, Elsa?"
The last time had been during the arsenic poisoning incident involving Marquis Theoderic.
"Mm. I've been wanting you to come when things weren't so... chaotic, Jin-nii."
"Tell me about it. The world just never seems to settle down."
"Trouble seems to gravitate toward you, Jin-nii. But I think that's only because you're someone who can actually resolve it. People don't bring their problems to those who can't do anything about them."
What Elsa said was likely true in a sense. Because he was expected to have the ability to fix things, various problems naturally found their way to him.
"Still, all I really want is to spend my days making the things I like. It sounds so simple, yet it’s surprisingly hard to manage."
"Perhaps the simplest things are often the most difficult."
"I wonder..."
Today, both Jin and Elsa were more talkative than usual. Perhaps it was a way to mask the nervousness they felt about the meeting ahead.
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at Elsa's family home.
Currently living there were Elsa’s biological father, Georg, who remained bedridden; her stepmother, Marlene; and a few servants.
Due to these circumstances, the only one there to greet them was Loubel, a long-time servant of the house. He was an elderly steward with white hair parted neatly on the side and a short mustache. He looked to be a man of great integrity and spent most of his time caring for Marlene.
"Welcome home, My Lady. Or... should I address you as the head of house?"
Elsa gave him a gentle smile and shook her head.
"Please, just keep things as they've always been. More importantly, please welcome my guests."
"Understood. Lord Jin Nidou, I presume? Welcome to our home."
Having met during the previous visit, the steward remembered Jin’s face and name clearly.
"Reiko-sama, you are also most welcome. Please, this way."
He also seemed to be aware that Reiko was an Honorary Squire. Unfortunately, Edgar was viewed as nothing more than an ordinary automaton, and so he received no formal greeting.
Jin and Reiko were shown into the drawing room.
"Well then, Jin-nii, I’m going to see Mother."
Followed by Edgar, Elsa headed to Marlene’s quarters.
While he waited, Jin tried the tea that had been served. It was green tea, steeped to perfection. It seemed the steward was well aware of Jin’s sensitivity to hot drinks and had prepared it accordingly.
"This is delicious."
"Would you like a refill, my lord?"
"Oh, yes, please."
Whether it was the nerves or something else, Jin’s throat felt parched, and he ended up drinking three cups of tea.
Just as he finished the third, Elsa and her mother, Marlene, entered the room together. Elsa’s face looked slightly flushed.
Jin stood up immediately to greet her.
"It is an honor to meet you. My name is Jin Nidou. Your daughter is always a great help to me in so many ways."
Marlene gazed intently at Jin for a moment before her face broke into a warm smile.
"How very polite of you. It is a pleasure to meet you as well; I am Elsa’s mother, Marlene. I should be the one thanking you... yes, my daughter has been indebted to you in more ways than words can express. You have my deepest gratitude."
Marlene gave Jin a graceful bow.
"I am not well-versed in the local customs. Please forgive me if I am being unintentionally disrespectful. The reason I have come today is—"
Marlene raised a hand, gently cutting him off.
"Please, wait. If I may be so bold, I would like to speak first."
"Oh... certainly."
"First, please, let us sit."
The three of them took their seats, with Elsa and Marlene sitting opposite Jin.
Marlene then spoke in a measured tone.
"Actually, Her Majesty the Empress paid us a visit yesterday."
"What?"
"M-Mother? This is the first I've heard of this!"
It appeared Elsa had only just found out herself, as she looked visibly flustered. Marlene continued regardless.
"It was a brief stay, only about fifteen minutes. She spoke to me in great detail about the contributions Elsa has made to the empire. And she also told me quite a bit about the kind of person you are, Lord Jin."
Jin was curious about how the Empress had described him, but he couldn't very well interrogate the woman.
Then, Marlene stood up suddenly and bowed deeply toward him.
"Lord Jin... I ask that you continue to look after my daughter."
"Eh..."
"M-Mother?"
Both Jin and Elsa were unable to hide their bewilderment at Marlene's sudden shift in attitude.
Reseating herself, Marlene continued in a quiet, steady voice.
"I am very grateful that you hold my daughter in your heart. However, I do not wish for that affection to become a shackle for you."
"..."
Jin couldn't quite read the true meaning hidden behind her words and found himself at a loss for a response.
"Happiness takes many forms. For me, as long as my daughter is happy, that is enough—whatever form that happiness may take."
"..."
Jin fell into deep thought. However, he realized that there was really only one thing he should say.
"I will make Elsa happy."
At those words, Marlene beamed with a smile, while Elsa turned bright red.
"Thank you. Hearing those words is more than enough for me. But there is no need to rush. Yesterday, Her Majesty said the same—that what you truly desire, Lord Jin, is peace."
"That is certainly true."
"Once the world is at peace... please look upon my daughter even more. But please, don't make her wait too long, alright?"
The final words were likely half-joking, but the earnest feelings of a mother thinking of her daughter reached Jin clearly.
In short, she wasn't demanding a ceremony immediately, acknowledging that Jin still had things he wanted and needed to accomplish. But she was asking him to keep Elsa in his heart and not forget her.
Even for someone as dense as Jin, he managed to grasp that much.
"...Thank you.........................Mother."
Jin finally managed to force the word out. His mouth felt bone-dry.
"Yes. I look forward to our future together, son-in-law."
Being called "son-in-law" made Jin turn red all the way to his ears. Elsa, sitting beside Marlene, looked much the same.
And Reiko... after looking slightly lonely for just a moment, she stepped forward and bowed her head.
"Congratulations on your engagement. Father, Elsa-san."
"R-Reiko?"
"Reiko-chan?"
Jin and Elsa were taken aback by her formal acknowledgment.
"Elsa-san, you are the person my Father has chosen. Please, continue to support him from now on."
After saying this with a faintly lonely expression, Reiko lowered her gaze.
"Reiko-san is a wonderful squire, isn't she?"
Marlene stood up once more, walked over to Reiko, and took her hand.
"Honorary Squire Reiko Nidou, please, even if it is only a fraction of the care you give Lord Jin, I ask that you keep my daughter in your heart as well."
"You need not even ask. As my Father’s precious person, I shall protect her with my life, just as I do my Father."
"Thank you."
Marlene returned to her seat. She then gestured for Elsa to go and sit next to Jin.
"Jin-dono, please do not worry yourself over strict traditions. I have firmly received your sincerity."
Marlene wore a soft, approving smile.
"My husband is not in a state where he can speak for himself, and the current head of House Randol is Elsa. Therefore, as long as the two of you are in agreement regarding the engagement, that is all that matters to me."
With that, Marlene stood up. She turned back once more just before leaving the drawing room, gave a silent, light nod, and departed.
Left behind were Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar.
For a while, a comfortable silence filled the room, until Jin was the first to speak.
"...Elsa, I look forward to our future together."
"Mm. Jin-nii... Jin-san."
Watching the two of them, Reiko signaled to Edgar, then quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her without making a sound.
Outside the window, it was winter, but the room was filled with a warm, gentle air.