“I have one question. Byleth-kun, you must have sensed it too? I’ve come to the same conclusion.”
“Of course.”
This isn’t just aligning the conversation.
Right now, the count in front of him is a master who continues to develop many restaurants.
There’s no way he doesn’t have this kind of thinking.
“Then, do you think I’m foolish for not implementing countermeasures and deliberately wasting ingredients? Speak freely.”
“Foolish? Not at all…! It’s presumptuous of me to say this, but it seems very cool.”
“Cool?”
It must have been an unexpected word. He raised his eyebrows, looking puzzled, but he really meant it.
“If you didn’t want to improve the industry you’re involved in now, if you weren’t thinking of initiatives that would make the people happier, you wouldn’t try to challenge your son’s risky ideals.”
“Haha, hahaha!”
When Byleth finished saying it, he laughed heartily.
“I like it! Truly remarkable. I’m thinking of having you assist Alan right away… What do you say? I’ll make sure the compensation is more than enough.”
“Huh!? No, I’m inadequate for that.”
“[Helping the poor won’t bring any rewards…]” Wasn’t it Byleth-kun who said that to Alan? Despite that, he firmly presented rewards here. His skill in creating opportunities for Alan to think is not something that can be achieved at his age.”
Byleth chuckled at the count who smiled admiringly.
“Uh, um… I’ve been thinking for a long time, but are the details of the consultation communicated…?”
“Yes. Alan isn’t as good as you, but he’s smart enough not to forget what he’s told.”
“I see.”
[I’m definitely not smarter than him…] I’ll keep that retort to myself.
And when the difficult conversation came to a pause…
[Knock, knock.]
Whether she had been listening to the conversation outside or not, there was a knock on the reception room door.
“Father, the tea is ready,”
Elena’s voice came from behind the door.
“Oh, right. Come in.”
Following the count’s voice, Elena entered the room pushing a trolley. Although it’s usually the job of a servant, judging from her dignified behavior, she must have been instructed by her parents.
Glancing over here, she smiled and placed tea and pastries like financiers on the table without making a sound.
“Father?”
“Haha, don’t mind me.”
If they have a conversation only they understand, Elena smiles and looks at me.
“Is the meeting going well?”
“Ah, ahaha. Thanks to your father.”
It seemed like she was confirming whether it was okay to speak up.
“You don’t have to be so modest. Isn’t it because Byleth-kun is responding properly?”
“No, no.”
“Oh, you seem to be quite liked by father.”
“I originally liked him, didn’t I? I like him even more now.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to hear you say that.”
With Elena popping in, a warmer atmosphere envelops the room.
“Hey, why are you being so polite when Byleth is in the higher position?”
“I haven’t done anything great, so it’s only natural, isn’t it?”
“Is it natural?…”
“Hahaha, if you say that, wouldn’t Elena also have to choose her words carefully to consider Byleth-kun’s position?”
“F-Father, could you be on my side…?”
She seems to understand that she can’t win with words. Elena quickly surrendered.
“W-Well then, I’ll take my leave. We can’t afford to waste the time for your meeting.”
“You’re running away.”
“Hmph!”
Seemingly struck by those words, she snorted and exited.
“Haha, she’s still the same…”
“I’m sorry. she’s still lacking in education.”
“Personally, I think that appearance is the most attractive.”
“Is that so? If Byleth-kun says so, then it must be true.”
“……”
He feel embarrassed to be taken so sincerely.
As if looking for a way out, Byleth moisten his throat with warm tea and the count smiles pleasantly
“Does it taste good? Elena’s brewed tea.”
“Oh, yes. I was honestly surprised. Did someone teach her or something?”
“Yes, I requested guidance.”
“That’s unusual.”
“Generally, nobles don’t do things like brewing tea.
It’s the work of attendants and aides.
“Haha. Shall I ask Byleth why I requested this guidance?”
“Um, well… It’s just that…”
He was puzzled by the unexpected question, but given his involvement with Elena, he couldn’t say he hadn’t thought about it.
(Maybe he’s trying to see how much I’m involved with Elena…?)
It’s the other party after all. He suddenly imagined such a thing.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
“Hmm. I wanted to raise her to have respect even for lower-class individuals… Something like that. Even if they’re of lower status, there’s still much to learn from them.”
“That’s correct. We nobles owe our existence to the efforts of those below us. It’s about becoming someone who is admired.”
“I see.”
Elena and Alan were growing as the Count had intended. It was clear they were receiving proper education.
“Well, there’s another reason for this guidance.”
“Another reason…?”
He couldn’t understand the additional reason.
As he tilted his head, the Count, with a smirk on his lips, immediately revealed the answer.
“It’s bride training. Just being able to serve a cup of tea makes a difference, doesn’t it?”
“Ah, haha… That’s thorough indeed.”
Byleth smiled wryly in response, but upon hearing the words “bride training,” he recalled the contents written in the invitation.
His heart raced, but he maintained his composure.
“I must say, Elena is a good daughter, isn’t she? She has a quirky personality, but don’t you think she’ll become even more beautiful in the future?”
“…Y-yes, I suppose so. It’s understandable that she’s receiving numerous proposals.”
“Indeed. So, perhaps you were surprised by the contents of the invitation?”
“Y-yes, of course… Yes, indeed.”
He had one thought in his mind.
(How did the conversation shift to this…?)
He was being led by the conversation,
but there was something he wanted to address first.
“…By the way, how serious is Count Leclerc?”
“Oh?”
“During our meeting today, I couldn’t help but feel that the term ‘engagement’ was deliberately used…”
In plain terms, this phrase meant:
[He’s not serious about discussing engagement.]
“You’re sharp. I apologize, but I may have exaggerated a bit. I couldn’t find the right words.”
He apologized and bowed his head, but given who he was dealing with, he understood.
“Um… Was that just a tactic?”
[Sensing that it implied something about Count Leclerc,]
“Hmph.”
The Count smiled and cleared his throat after a moment.
“To be honest, there’s a part of me that wants to make you aware. What it’s like to become close to Elena.”
“Huh!?”
At this moment, he realized he had been manipulated. There had actually been something like that.
“As Byleth knows, my daughter has received numerous proposals and rejected them all. It’s because she wants to choose herself from the people she’ve been involved with.”
“Ah, haha…”
He couldn’t help but smile wryly at Elena’s characteristic reason.
“However, the more she rejects, the stronger the desire becomes. There are many persistent nobles these days. Elena is in a difficult situation.”
“…”
“If I may be selfish, it’s not about Elena’s appearance, but about finding a man who loves her for who she is. And ideally, someone reliable who can protect her.”
The Count looked at him with sharp eyes as if to convey his seriousness and continued.
“Today, I was planning to observe, but I believe I can entrust Elena to you, Byleth. No, I want to entrust her to you.”
“B-b…”
Byleth was surprised by the words that seemed to imply approval.
“It may seem like a hasty decision, but Elena has been unusually cheerful lately. She immediately brightens up when she hears about you. …Judging from this, my daughter may not be entirely uninterested. I won’t say more, but…”
The Count smiled to himself as if recalling the situation at the time.
“However, you can rest assured. I won’t force my daughter onto you. I’ve only conveyed my personal feelings.”
With a consistent attitude, he continued.
“Of course, I support Elena, but from here on out, it’s not a place for adults to intervene. It’s where individuals should strive on their own. And I dislike unfairness.”
“Unfairness…?”
He tilted his head at the unrelated topic, but it was only because Byleth couldn’t connect it.
“Don’t forget. You went on a date with a woman other than my daughter recently, didn’t you?”
“Ah, w-well, it’s just that… It was indeed a date, but not as you might imagine…”
“Oh? So you’re not a couple despite creating such an atmosphere?”
“Uh, well… yes.”
Although met with skepticism, it was the truth. If he agreed, he would be laughed at.
“Haha. Well, I would be happy if it were just my misunderstanding.”
With a meaningful remark left behind…
“…Now then, Byleth.”
Byleth was called by name once again, and the atmosphere changed here.
“I have one favor to ask of you. Would that be alright?”
“Is it something difficult?”
“Not at all. I just want you to continue looking out for Elena and Alan. Of course, I’ll compensate you for this.”
The count, putting his hand in his breast pocket decisively, placed a copper plate with the Leclerc family crest on the table and continued his explanation.
“This is like a qualification to freely use the shops we manage. Of course, there are no restrictions on the number of times, and you’ll be escorted to special seats. Feel free to use it as a resting place or whatever you like.”
” …… ”
I don’t think it’s a bad deal for you.”
Pushing the copper plate further, the count clearly intended for Byleth to accept and make a promise.
In reality, it was something he could receive just by interacting with the count as usual.
It wasn’t a bad proposal, as suggested, but…
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