“No, it just feels a bit awkward.”
“What is?”
“Well, it’s a rather private moment after all.”
“It’s me who’s doing it. You just have to watch. Is that difficult?”
“…”
As if he was teaching simple arithmetic, he spoke plainly. “This is an old tradition passed down to the head of the Windsor family. There’s no need to mix feelings into a duty, whether you like it or not.”
Is that so? There’s no problem with it then.
A sense of alienation surged. Clearly, Viego and I are from different times and different worlds.
“Do I just sign here?”
“Yes.”
I signed at the bottom of the document, feeling very strange. While signing, it felt like a poor joke. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to witness Viego’s first night of marriage.
“Who is the marriage partner?”
“A daughter from the Rolland family.”
It meant marrying any woman from the Rolland family. A marriage completely devoid of emotion, which was common here.
So, he’s continuing the arranged marriages with the Rolland family.
Come to think of it, Carl and Sandra’s marriage was also a political one. I heard they were engaged even before they were born.
“When will it be?”
“As early as within two months, but no later than half a year.”
“Ah, I see…”
After signing, another document was immediately handed to me.
Wow, there’s a lot of work. He was giving me a lot of tasks. It was a good sign. Especially,
“I’ll entrust you with the construction of the railway in Kaltusa.”
A very big project was given to me.
“Thank you for entrusting it to me. I’ll do my best.”
It meant that Viego trusted me that much, which gave me a new feeling.
Viego is giving me such an important task!
“And I heard that Uncle Carl discovered Retillan mine in Kaltusa. Is that true?”
I almost laughed at that.
As expected. Carl Windsor, I knew you would do something like that. Just how long has it been since he returned to Windsor, and he’s already started working on it.
See. That’s why you shouldn’t be fooled. In front of me, he acted so indifferently.
“Retillan, huh? I think I saw something like that, but… actually, I wasn’t in good condition at that time, so I can’t be sure.”
I quickly stepped back, neither affirming nor denying anything. So if Carl Windsor’s mining business went bankrupt, I wouldn’t be held responsible.
“It would be better to ask uncle directly.”
I was feeling good. Everything felt right. My relationship with Viego has improved significantly. A change that came after my abilities were recognized. If things continued this way, Carl would smoothly go bankrupt.
The vacant deputy head position can only be filled by a direct descendant of the Windsor family, like me.
Carl Windsor’s holy relic. That deputy head’s ring would soon be mine.
I hummed a tune, fervently hoping things would continue as they are. However,
“Come to think of it, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
“What?”
“Ignis de Windsor is here.”
“…”
Ah… My mood was ruined.
* * *
Ignis de Windsor. A man who was once adopted by the Windsor family. Originally from a fallen noble family, Ignis was a prodigy competing for top honors at the military academy in his youth. He caught the eye of Danae’s grandfather, who was the army commander at the time, and was adopted into the Windsor family.
But later, he chose to be disowned and removed from the family register.
The reason was only known to be a severe conflict with Danae’s grandfather. However, Danae’s grandfather wished to keep Ignis in the Windsor family until the end.
Maybe he genuinely cared for him?
Thus, Ignis was never fully allowed to abandon the Windsor name. And, most importantly, this man was just a b*stard.
“Hey, Dana. Long time no see? You’ve become even prettier.”
I looked at the man with a grim expression. He really came. And to run into him so quickly…
I was taking a walk in the night garden when her path was blocked by a tall man with red hair and fierce eyes.
Ignis de Windsor. One of the people I disliked.
“The last time I saw you, you were just a snot-nosed kid.”
He’s still vulgar and crude as ever. I thought to myself.
“Lord Ignis. It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Danae. You missed me a lot, didn’t you?” Ignis grabbed my hair roughly and shook it. “Your silver hair is still beautiful. Makes me want to cut it all off.”
“I didn’t expect you to return.” Ignoring his habitual provocations, I responded calmly. “Didn’t you say you would never come back to Windsor?”
Ignis was practically a non-entity in Windsor. Hardly anyone in the Windsor family mentioned his name. And it was because of good reason. The last time he came to the Windsor family, he caused all sorts of trouble and havoc.
He then left, swearing never to have anything to do with Windsor again.
So, it was almost taboo to even mention him, and yet here he was, boldly returning.
“Ah, that’s right. But I changed my mind.” Ignis shrugged nonchalantly. “Living away for so long made me miss home. I did live here for a while, after all.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, yeah. I missed it so much.” Saying that, Ignis roughly pulled my hair and whispered in my ear. “Even a dumbass like you crossed my mind occasionally.”
“…”
It’s been a while since I’ve heard such eloquent insults. He was still an unpleasant person.
“What are you doing?”
At that moment, a soft voice, very different from Ignis’s, was heard.
“Ignis.”
It was Carl. At his arrival, I tensed up. Honestly, I was much, much, much more afraid of him than of Ignis.
“Ah, Brother Carl. Hello. It’s been a while.” Ignis, still holding onto my hair, grinned widely. “Brother seems to have gotten even smoother. Hey, I hear the ladies are suffering from heartache because of you. The rumors are rampant.”
“You seem to be doing well too, Ignis. You might want to let go of that hair. It’s quite rude, isn’t it?” Carl spoke firmly, though he seemed a bit troubled. “It’s too rude.”
“Haha, Brother is still so kind.”
“Ignis.” Carl smiled softly. “Let go.”
“…”
Narrowing his eyes, Ignis glared at Carl for a moment before letting go of my hair with a short curse.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not a ten-year-old anymore, and it’s not the age to be playing with girls’ hair.”
He glanced at the two of them and chuckled. “Brother is still busy taking care of Danae, huh? Can’t see your daughter or wife?”
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