Thank you for reaching chapter 800!
Your ratings suddenly increased, so I’ll be extending the final arc. I’m not sure how long it will be, but please continue to enjoy it for a while longer!!
“Ah, Nastasia, please wait in the hallway.”
“However, I am under orders from the Empire.”
“This is a private conversation between family members. It doesn’t matter what the other party thinks.”
“…Derus-sama, is that an order?”
“Yes, it is. I’m sorry, but this needs to be between just us two.”
And so, I was guided by the butler to the study of Duke Saonji Mishuron, Nina’s biological father.
Even though I’m this height and a retired Hero Porter, I’m the man who will become Nina’s husband.
(Huu, exhaling a sigh…)
I’ll knock myself.
*Knock, knock*
“You’re here, come in.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
Inside, my father-in-law—to-be, is starting to write something. On the sofa next to him, the main wife from earlier, Mumuka Mishuron, who said her piece and fled, is sitting elegantly with her usual stern expression. Scary.
“Derus-sama.”
“Nastasia, you didn’t have to come in with us.”
“No, it doesn’t seem to be a one-on-one situation.”
“But still, hmmm.”
“It’s fine. My wife won’t say anything. That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. Then Nastasia, you too.”
In the end, only the butler was left standing in front of the door in the hallway. I was guided to the sofa opposite the Duke. Nastasia stood behind me… I hope she doesn’t try to intimidate him.
(Well, it’s mutual. That main wife seems to be glaring at me.)
I could just cut her down for that alone, but I’ll let it slide.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
“Why have you continued to treat Nina so cruelly?”
“…Which do you want to hear? The pretext or the truth?”
“Do you intend to dismiss it with a pretext?”
The Duke’s gaze remained fixed on his documents.
“As a pretext, ‘to live as a Duke, I use any pawn that is useful.’ You, being from a noble family, should understand that, especially if she isn’t your biological child.”
“Certainly, I may have been a pawn in that sense, but I did feel a certain degree of affection.”
Although I did experience harsh treatment from my stepsister and fiancée.
(More importantly, it seems he’s investigated me thoroughly.)
It’s possible someone told him, but it wouldn’t be strange if Nina told him everything in detail.
“To speak frankly, I hated my father.”
“The legendary hero, Take-sama? Nina’s mentor?”
“Nina was attached to my father, but not to me.”
“She was a child, wasn’t she?”
“Precisely because she was a child.”
How childish.
“And so you treated Nina cruelly?”
“This part would take a long time to explain, and I have no intention of telling you.”
“Is that so?”
“If it’s an order, I’ll tell you.”
“No, that’s quite alright.”
After all, in terms of status, I should be the higher one. Still, this kind of attitude… does he hate Nina that much, or is it…
“Do you have any other demands? What is it you want to talk about? I will likely answer only for this occasion.”
“That you sincerely apologize to Nina.”
“Impossible. I don’t feel remorse. Of course, I recognize that it was a ‘bad thing,’ but it was a legitimate judgment as a Duke.”
…Even though personal grudges are involved!
“Still, please apologize to Nina.”
“I told you, it’s impossible.”
“A symbolic act is fine. If you can’t offer a heartfelt apology, then offer an apology that *appears* heartfelt. As the Duke, to protect your position as Duke, you can do that, can’t you… if it’s to leave your family name after your death.”
Here, he finally looked me in the eye.
“Nina’s wishes—”
“are irrelevant. I want to see it. Well, if Nina absolutely refuses, I’ll reconsider. However, I cannot marry until we have settled things regarding what you and yours have done to Nina.”
“Is that an order?”
“Yes, it is an order as the Count Palatine. I haven’t received it yet, but—”
“A provisional appointment is sufficient.”
The Duke stands up.
“Is it alright to do so now?”
“No. When we leave, and it won’t end with just one attempt. Please apologize in the same manner during the wedding ceremony. Ah, please refrain from overly graphic details.”
“Understood.”
The Duke sits down again.
“Is that all?”
“Also… if possible, from your older brother and sister who treated Nina poorly.”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but they didn’t go that far. Rather, it’s Mumuka.”
He glanced at his wife. She pulled a dagger from within her large skirt and held it to her throat, then closed her eyes… Hey, hey!!
“Please let me stop her.”
“…If my life is not enough, my wife intends to offer her own. Will that suffice?”
“We don’t need that. The wedding is approaching.”
“No, Mumuka will not attend any wedding other than the one here in Ailee.”
“Ah, so your real mother—”
“That’s right.”
The Duke gestured for her to lower her hand, and the main wife sheathed her dagger. She opened her eyes and resumed her frightening expression, especially her gaze, which was truly sharp.
(Pulling myself together, I should tell the Duke properly.)
Nastasia is also subtly radiating killing intent… I can tell by her presence without even looking. It’s both reassuring and unsettling.
“In any case, please attend the wedding as her biological father and behave properly as a father.”
“Understood. I promise, as the head of the Mishuron Ducal family. Will it be alright after everything is over?”
“The apology?”
“No, suicide.”
“Eh?!”
“Or do you wish for the Mishuron family to be destroyed?”
Hmm.
Is this putting too much pressure on him? Or is he acting this way because he is truly aware of how cruelly he has treated Nina?
“There’s no need for you to die. Coldly put, once the wedding is over, Nina will be mine.”
“So our ties will be severed?”
“It won’t be that simple. However, it depends on Nina’s wishes.”
“Her relationship with her younger siblings she is fond of?”
“Ah, that was there too. In any case, you, as a noble, must understand the new relationships born through marriage.”
The Duke, my father-in-law Saonji, looks at me with a thoughtful expression.
“Do you wish to employ us? Is the King of Ailee not sufficient?”
“Well, His Majesty the King is not Nina’s ‘blood relative.'”
“Nina gifted me an Elixir, which I presented to His Majesty. That should have sufficiently strengthened Nina’s relationship with His Majesty.”
Ah, so that’s how it was. He truly has a style of using whatever he can. I can somehow sense that Nina has some of this father-in-law’s blood in her.
“My own home, the Avakane family, wants to form ties. It reflects poorly on us if my son, even though adopted, is estranged from the ducal family his wife is marrying into. We will even use the country to apply pressure.”
“Understood. We will maintain a minimum level of interaction as a pretext.”
Well, I’m fine with being this pragmatic. It’s probably only on the Mishuron family’s side that things are so dry.
“Also, regarding any unpleasant remarks or harassment from Nina’s older brother or sister, if it were to happen—”
“That will not happen anymore. I don’t want to die. If you seek retribution for the past, then cut me down.”
“I refuse.”
Well, regarding that too, I’ll have to discuss it with Nina.
“…Alright, I’ve written it. These are letters addressed to your Avakane family, the Mu Mu Empire, Shucco, and the Dwarf Country. They state that I will not object to giving Nina away in marriage and that I fully agree. Separately, if you require a letter of apology concerning Nina, tell me. I will write as many as you need.”
Without a word, his wife received them and handed them to me. I should try not to meet her eyes. Ah, she’s frightening.
“Understood. Ah, and by the way, to everyone. There’s a gift for the Mishuron family, all food.”
“Give it all to the butler outside. Rest assured, we won’t discard it.”
“Is that so?”
“Are we done here?”
After a pause, the door opened.
“Then, excuse us. I will speak to you again when we leave.”
“Is that an order to see us off at the entrance?”
“…Yes.”
“Understood. Then I shall see you off. I alone will suffice, correct?”
“No, your wife too.”
“Just the two of us is fine, correct?”
“Ah, yes.”
If it hadn’t been an order, he probably would have said, “Say it now,” and then it would have been over. Oh well, I’ll go back to Nina and consult with her.
(I’ll give a deep bow when we leave.)
Nastasia also bowed. Then, to the butler, regarding the gifts…
“Derus-sama, that is for later.”
“Ah, this is in the hallway, isn’t it?”
“After you finish speaking with the master, there is a place you will be led to.”
“Where is that?”
“Yes, it is in Young Lady Nina’s room.”
His wife’s… the main wife’s real family’s room! I’m so screwed. Or rather, I’m the one going.
