“…It was worse than I imagined.”
Thanks to the efforts of the Dragon Knights and the Dragon Species, they landed in the courtyard of the Duke Rüdiger’s Main Family Residence, their destination, twenty minutes earlier than the initially planned two hours.
Without rest, the Dragon Knights immediately took flight, carrying the Duke’s family members who needed to be evacuated to the Capital City due to serious injuries.
Jared, after offering his brief thanks, scowled as he recalled the horde of ghouls he had seen from the sky. He wanted to head to the front lines as soon as possible, but there was someone he had to meet first.
A familiar spirit was sent by Dennis toward Jared and the others who were on the dragon species. It conveyed that Duke Rüdiger would be returning from the front lines to coincide with their arrival, and suggested they meet at the mansion.
Jared, concerned about taking the non-magician Ari, whose abilities were unknown, directly to the battlefield, had planned to leave her at the Duke’s residence when he met with the Duke.
“Duke Jared Murphy, your arrival seems to be ahead of schedule.”
A low, rumbling voice was heard. Turning around, Jared saw a stern-looking man in his mid-forties, clad in battle-worn armor, standing there.
“It seems I am the one who is late. Please accept my apologies. And I am truly grateful for the assistance you, a Court Mage, are providing.”
He was about 190 centimeters tall, taller than Jared, and his physique, seemingly from regular training, was clearly evident even through his armor. His brown hair was streaked with white and cut short, and deep wrinkles were etched around his eyes. Most striking of all was the eyepatch over his right eye. He was a man who looked like a warrior, completely unlike Duke Harald Alway.
“Father! Are you unhurt?”
As Jared knelt to greet him, he widened his eyes as Ari, who was beside him, suddenly leaped into the Duke’s arms.
*What does he mean by ‘Father’?*
Jared understood the words but couldn’t comprehend them. He cautiously glanced at Ernesta, who was also kneeling, and saw that she too wore an expression of astonishment.
Leaving the two of them behind, Duke Rüdiger, who had embraced Ari, furrowed his warrior-like brow and broke into a smile.
“Oh, my wild child! I’ve missed you. While you were gone, the ghouls appeared, and nothing but bad things happened— Oh, it seems you haven’t told your superiors and colleagues yet.”
“I would have kept quiet if the circumstances were different, but I intended to reveal everything here, given the situation.”
“Then introduce yourself immediately. I do not like it when you treat Lord Jared with falsehoods.”
As the two continued a conversation that Jared and Ernesta couldn’t understand, Ari, released from the Duke’s embrace, asked them to stand.
“Lord Jared, Ernesta, please stand up. You don’t have to kneel.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Miss Ari? Um, your tone is…”
Jared couldn’t hide his confusion at Ari, whose way of speaking and entire demeanor had drastically changed.
She smiled as if troubled and knelt to introduce herself.
“My name is Lily Rüdiger. Ari Fel, the name I’ve been using until now, was created so I could be close to Lord Jared. I sincerely apologize for deceiving both Lord Jared and Ernesta.”
“Uh, Lily, not Ari?”
“Please call me Lily. I am eighteen years old, so feel free to address me casually.”
“Then, Lily, please stand up first. Neither I nor Ernesta can have a proper conversation with you kneeling.”
“Lady Lily Rüdiger, please stand.”
Jared called her Lily as she wished, but Ernesta addressed her respectfully, now knowing she was a young lady of a Ducal Family.
“Ernesta, if possible, I’d like you to call me Lily too.”
“But…”
“I’m sorry for deceiving you, but I consider you a friend. It makes me sad when you address me so formally.”
“Understood. Then I will call you Lily. If you don’t mind, could you please explain why you intended to become a secretary officer under a false name?”
This was undeniably the most important question on their minds.
“Of course. Perhaps you haven’t heard anything about it, Lord Jared, as it concerns something you have no prior knowledge of— I, Lily Rüdiger, wish to become Lord Jared’s consort.”
“Hah!?”
Jared exclaimed loudly. He had never heard such a thing.
—No, wait. He had. Although not about Lily specifically, Olivier and Yeny had told him about a few proposals for consorts. But he never imagined one would come from Duke Rüdiger’s family.
—So that’s why Lord Olivier was surprised when he saw her…
He now understood the shock his fiancé had shown on the day he had invited the secretary officer to his mansion.
“I concealed everything because I wanted you to see me as I truly am, and it was my selfish desire to interact with Lord Jared without the title of Duke’s family.”
He finally understood why Dennis had mentioned she had a “reason.” It was certainly a profound reason. In fact, he felt he was the one who had caused them trouble and decided to apologize later.
“So, Lord Jared, Lady Ernesta Kaif, my selfish daughter has caused you trouble. However, please forgive her. I too, doting on my daughter, lent a hand.”
“No, that’s fine, but…”
“Yes. I am grateful for Lily’s help, and even though you say you were deceiving us, we have only just met, so please don’t worry about it.”
When they said they didn’t mind her false name and background, Lily’s expression visibly eased.
Sensing the opportune moment, Duke Rüdiger interjected.
“Well, I am grateful that you have accepted my daughter. Now, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Hugo Rüdiger. I am in charge of the defense of the northern region of the Wethered Kingdom. I am truly grateful for your assistance in this time of territorial crisis.”
“I am Jared Murphy. Although I am a student, I will do my best.”
“I am Ernesta Kaif. I am a member of the Royal Mage Corps.”
“That is most reassuring. Allow me to guide you to the battlefield immediately— My soldiers are fighting hard, but we are short on mages. I am counting on the power of a Court Mage and a Member of the Royal Mage Corps, even if you are not officially appointed.”
Hugo Rüdiger said this with a hearty laugh, his stern, warrior-like face showing a hint of approachability.
