Everlasting summer... though the air wasn't nearly as sweltering as the name implied; it was just the right temperature.
The humidity was low—crisp and comfortable.
I could see coral reefs through the clear water.
Way down the beach, a pier stretched out into the waves, doubling as a fishing spot.
High-end resorts are something else...
Technically, this was just the grounds of the lord’s mansion—which was basically a luxury hotel.
They’d built all this and didn't even take paying guests. It was entirely private!
They were out of their damn minds.
The Dukes in that association... these ultra-rich people were so stupidly wealthy that their values were beyond comprehension.
Kyoko-chan was sitting on the beach nearby.
Her brow was furrowed.
"Kyoko-chan, what's wrong?"
"My father said fish from warm waters aren't tasty."
Come to think of it, Planet Ohno got freezing during the winter.
Since the sea was cold, they caught delicious fish like tuna and hokke.
I wondered how it was here. I’d heard that fish from tropical paradises weren't great.
I’d have to ask about it later.
The boys and girls from our group were playing however they liked, some swimming, others playing beach volleyball.
Wifey was sprawled on a bench, relaxing.
Next to her sat a drink served in a hollowed-out fruit skin.
If this were some lecherous-looking old man, I’d be annoyed, but Wifey was wearing an incredibly cute swimsuit.
It was a pretty heartwarming sight.
I ordered a coconut from a stall on the beach.
A rough-looking old man shaved the top with a machete, shoved a straw in, and handed it over.
"Hehe. Do your best, My Lord!"
Do my best at what?
I didn't really get it, so I ignored him and sat down next to Wifey.
"What is it? Why not relax a bit more?"
"Hahaha... honestly, I can't settle down. Calling this place a 'home' is insane from the bottom of my heart..."
"Normally, one would think so. But they are coming."
"Who?"
"The relatives."
"No, those are the Sato family's relatives. They aren't mine."
"That is exactly why. They are trembling in fear, wondering if their status as retainers will be guaranteed under a new master."
"I'll hire them, I'll hire them. There's no way I'm going to make enemies of the locals."
Though I’d crush them without mercy if they turned out to be enemies of the people.
What I wanted were the influential figures of the local area; I had no use for hated villains.
"It seems you are thinking along the same lines as I. A massive wave of petitions from the populace will arrive as well."
"I'm prepared for that."
"Be careful. The common people are more troublesome than the officials."
Tell me about it.
The people are the ones with a real sense of crisis regarding their daily lives.
At worst, the retainers can just skip town in the night.
Man, my mood is dropping.
Just then, I heard a clamor of voices shouting outside.
"I'll go take a look."
When I got back to the hotel, a line of visitors had already formed.
When we arrived at the spaceport, an idiotic number of people had come to meet us, and the Imperial Guard and our group had to push them back, but it seemed that hadn't even been the main event.
There was a staggering number of retainers.
There were ten times more than the retainers back at the Marquis House.
I wasn't in their line of sight yet.
Alright, time to skip town under cover of night.
Just as I thought that and turned on my heel, Wifey was standing right there.
"Rest easy. That glass is a magic mirror. We can see them, but they cannot see us."
"Phew... I almost made a run for it."
"Because the Lord Groom is truly capable of doing so... Do not meet with them yet. They will think they can walk all over you."
"Then what should I do?"
"Make it by appointment only, for the heads of houses."
"Understood!"
I gave a firm answer, thinking I’d prepare to flee the moment I’d bought some time... but then, the butler was standing right beside me.
I didn't sense his presence at all... what?!
Wait, maybe it's just because he had no killing intent.
"Understood. I shall set it to appointment only."
And so, the dates and times for the audiences began to be scheduled.
...I... want to run away from home.
I spent the rest of the evening playing around in desperation. Then came night.
Sea bream, tuna, salmon roe, scallops...
Abalone and a bunch of other stuff that looked expensive!!!
An incredible spread of seafood was laid out.
Since they weren't warm-water fish... were they farmed? I see.
"Kaiseki cuisine was suggested, but you prefer this, do you not? Isn't that right, everyone!"
"Veronica-chan! I love you!!!"
"Wifey is mine!!! Grrr-rowl!!!"
"And that is how it is. Give up!"
"Hahahaha!"
After that moronic exchange, we gorged ourselves on seafood.
We could even do hamayaki.
They really get it, don't they?
For people our age, we prefer this kind of thing over stuffy high-end cuisine!
This is the stuff!!!
"Master, there is meat over here too~"
"Yay!"
I went to grab some meat as well.
Both the tuna and the meat were top-tier.
At the very least, I could tell it was higher grade than revolving sushi.
...That was the extent of my refined palate.
Such was the life of the youngest son of a piddling Marquis House.
"Fufu. We have won, Lord Groom."
"At what?"
Look at the faces of those who were sizing us up.
I saw the servants acting as waitstaff hurriedly entering and exiting as they swapped shifts.
"At first glance, the students from the academy look like vulgar youths appropriate for their age, but there is no problem with their manners. Look at Tatiana."
After having her behavior corrected relentlessly, Tatiana had stopped eating like a dog and stopped gripping her chopsticks in a fist.
Now, she was eating elegantly with her back straight.
Tatiana... you've grown...
I... I'm so proud.
"The people here probably looked down on us for being military... but this has become interesting."
"Look, I'm an idiot so I don't get it. Why do they have to size us up anyway? They should just be quiet and act like good little kids until I go home."
"It is because they are afraid of the Lord Groom. You toppled a Duke they regarded as a god, then took a mistress of even higher rank than a Duke as your wife. To the retainers, you must look like nothing but a monster. That is why they put on a brave front and desperately search for the Lord Groom's weaknesses."
"Even if they poke around, they aren't going to find anything—"
In fact, I’d committed so many blunders that people in the Imperial Capital didn't even bother pointing them out anymore.
The only thing that might actually hurt me is the Kawagon incident the military is keeping under wraps.
But if they poke that, they'll make an enemy of the entire army.
Because my life is already full of shame, I am invincible!!!
...Or so I thought.
Just as I was thinking of taking a bath and relaxing after the meal, the butler appeared again.
"Milord. There is a problem."
"Did something happen?"
"The Knight Commander is requesting an audience."
"And the appointment?"
"He says 'right now.'"
"Is there a problem in the territory? A Zork attack or pirates?"
"No such reports have been received."
"Well, fine. I'll meet him."
Wifey made a face of supreme displeasure.
"They will look down on you."
"Eh, it's fine. I'll just say I'm the one who called for him. I'm a soldier, so it's not weird, right?"
When I went to the lobby, a tall, muscular wall of a man looked down at me.
Behind him stood more brawny men, all of them smirking.
Yeah, I knew exactly what they wanted.
"Duke. Lend me your face for a second."
"Sure."
Man, I'm glad an enjoyable event finally showed up.
It wasn't about reading the room or acting like a lord; this was the kind of thing I could handle.