“I’m off,” Kent said.
“Be careful, okay?” Marie and Catherine saw him off.
“Take a souvenir for me, please!”
Kent headed for Caroline’s mansion.
“Master, where are you going?” Alraune, back in her true form, floated beside him. Even though she was invisible to others in this state, Kent could see her clearly, which made him a little uneasy.
“I’m going to Caroline’s house now.”
“Lady Caro. She’s the one you mention often, your future wife, right?”
“Future wife? I’m not married yet?”
“Then, in the future, perhaps?”
He was having a normal conversation, but to onlookers, Kent, walking down the street, looked like a suspicious person talking to himself.
“Mama, who is that person talking to?”
“Shh, don’t look.”
Seeing the exchange with a mother and her young daughter, Kent realized he must look like a suspicious person and felt embarrassed.
“You can do it, Master!”
Alraune cheered him on for no reason. Talking like this, Kent and Alraune arrived in front of Caroline’s mansion. When he had come here before, there was a “closed” sign, and no sign of anyone. But now, with her guardian back, there was activity around the mansion. There were no guards at the gate like in Josette’s mansion, so Kent entered the grounds directly.
Kent arrived at the entrance and rang the doorbell.
“Yes, who is it?”
A woman in a servant’s uniform appeared from the entrance.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I’m Kent, scheduled to meet Baron Frederick today…”
“Yes, we’ve been expecting you. Please, this way.”
The woman guided him to the guest room. While it wasn’t as grand as Josette’s house, the guest room, decorated in a noble style, looked luxurious to commoner eyes.
“Kent. I’m sorry to have asked you to come on such short notice. Father will be here soon, so please wait a moment.”
Caroline entered the guest room. As the daughter of an aristocrat, she wore a beautiful dress instead of the usual jersey. Seeing her, Kent felt a sense of status difference, realizing anew that she was a noble.
“My apologies. It seems I kept you waiting. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kent. I am Frederick, Caroline’s father. Please, have a seat.”
Baron Frederick invited Kent to sit. Kent sat down on the sofa in the guest room. Baron Frederick sat opposite him, and Caroline sat next to Kent, not her father.
“I understand you have helped us greatly. I should have thanked you sooner, but I became busy with my duties and couldn’t find the time. I apologize for the delay. Let me thank you again.”
“That’s too kind of you. I’m glad the false accusation has been cleared, too.”
“Now, Caroline mentioned she has something to discuss with you. What is it about?”
Baron Frederick changed the subject to get to the main point.
“Actually, I have come to ask for Caroline’s hand in marriage.”
“Oh, you wish to court my daughter?”
“We are already dating. Father, please give us your blessing!”
“Please!”
Caroline and Kent pleaded with Baron Frederick.
“Caroline, you understand the difference in status between nobility and commoners, don’t you? If you were to be with this man, you would face considerable hardship.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“I see. Without Kent’s help, I would not have regained my current position. I feel indebted to him. However, I do not acknowledge those without ability. Therefore, I will give you one task.”
“Kent, autumn classes will begin for the academy next week. During that period, I want you to act as the deputy lord of my territory. By the end of August, you must present me with astonishing results. …Astonishing in a good way, of course. Caroline will assist you during that time. I believe there is a lord’s mansion there. You can use that. I will not interfere with whatever happens between you two during that time. Do your best together to achieve your goals.”
“Understood. I will do my utmost to meet Baron Frederick’s expectations.”
“A good response. I’m counting on you.”
With the matter settled, Baron Frederick left the guest room.
“Um, Kent?”
Caroline spoke to Kent.
“Yes, what is it?”
“The condition is quite favorable, but you have supplementary lessons during the summer break. What will you do?”
“Oh no! I completely forgot about the supplementary lessons.”
“I’ll go ahead and prepare things as much as possible, so please finish your supplementary lessons quickly and come. Father also said we should cooperate, so it’ll be alright.”
Caroline gently hugged the pale Kent to calm him. The maidservant nearby turned her head away, pretending not to see Kent and Caroline’s actions.
“Sniff, sniff… Huh? The smell of earth… and it smells like a woman?”
Caroline sniffed the air. Alraune, trembling, was trying to conceal her presence from Caroline’s nose.
“I do sense something. Kent, are you hiding something?”
“I can’t say right now.”
Kent glanced at the maidservant and said.
“I see, so you need to dismiss attendants. Excuse me, could you please leave us for a moment?”
“Certainly.”
When Caroline said this, the maidservant bowed and left the room.
“Is that better?”
“Alraune, show yourself.”
“Yes, Master.”
Alraune suddenly appeared before Caroline.
“Oh, how cute!”
A small, green-haired, girl-shaped object, about 10 cm tall, floated in front of her.
“Kent calls you Alraune, so you’re a fairy. I think I read about them in a book. They’re related to plants… if I recall correctly. So, Kent, what’s her name?”
“Alraune?”
“Alraune is the name of the fairy species. Isn’t it like how you call Emily a ‘shop-attached fairy’?”
“Is that so…”
Kent understood what Caroline pointed out. He was troubled, as he had already introduced her to others as Alraune.
“Master, I don’t mind being called Alraune either?”
“But still. Okay, since I’ve already called out to a few people, let’s go with the name ‘Al’.”
“Understood. From now on, I will go by the name Al.”
Al, who was given a new name, smiled happily.
“Then, let me formally introduce myself. I am Caroline. Everyone calls me Caro. It’s nice to meet you, Al.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Lady Caro.”
After their introductions, Caroline turned to Kent.
“So, Kent?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Regarding the summer break, I was thinking of going to the territory first to make preparations. Is that alright?”
“No, this is a task given to me, so I’ll finish my supplementary lessons and go together. It will be tight, but that’s how we’ll do it.”
“If that’s what you say, Kent, I will follow your lead. I should let Marie know as well.”
“Yes, we should.”
Kent realized that he wouldn’t be able to help at the shop during summer break. In terms of staff, Rachel and Patty would be able to work full-time, so he thought that wouldn’t be a problem. Procurement could be handled through Emily. Although there would be some inconvenience, he thought it would work out. Kent pondered this.
