Volume 8 - Chapter 3 – Engagement (2/2)

“I didn’t.”

Mine was looking at the siblings’ exchange with a terrible look on her face, but the only one who noticed was Jin. Because at any rate he was constantly treated like an enemy by Mine, so he thought that at a time like this she’d surely be angry, and sure enough she was.

And yet, Mine still didn’t say anything to Fritz.

“But on the letter from Father it was certainly written that Elsa has promised to marry after she returns home from this trip.”

Fritz said, and Reinhardt in turn said to him,

“She said that before marriage she’d tour the world at large, isn’t that a very broad interpretation?”

But it was as if Fritz didn’t hear him.

“Well, you’re at a marriageable age already, and your partner is from a marquis’s house!”

He had his own way.

“His grounds are next to ours so you must know him. He’s Marquis Gehlen Theoderic von Aizen. Since his wife died a few years ago he’s been looking for a second wife, so father certainly offered you.”

Hearing that Elsa’s face went pale. But without noticing her state Fritz continued his talk.

“Even though I said second wife, you’ll legally be marrying as the first wife, and that’s an amazing thing. Because it’s marrying up. So, you must be glad, right?”

“…”

At this point Elsa had no words. Looking at the state of affairs, as you’d expect Jin couldn’t stay quiet.

“Excuse me, Fritz-sama. How about Elsa’s wishes?”

However, after throwing a fleeting glance at Jin, he sneered at him with a ‘humph’ and,

“Wishes? As if a noble’s daughter who isn’t even the successor could have something like wishes. It’s a woman’s duty to marry a partner that benefits the house.”

Hearing those words made Elsa’s face go white as a sheet. Still, Reinhardt couldn’t just let it pass and spoke trying to smoothe things over.

“Fritz, isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? After all, informing Elsa of something like an betrothal all of a sudden would always come as a surprise.”

“Humph, Reinhardt, you’re not planning to make Elsa your concubine or something, right? Because you’ve got a fiancee in our country.”

Fritz’s face was somewhat red. Maybe despite his appearance he was weak with alcohol.

“Yeah, of course not. Elsa’s my precious younger cousin. Nothing more, nothing less. But that’s exactly why I want her to be happy.”

However, the heated-up Fritz had alreay turned a deaf ear to him.

“I’m saying, there’s no greater happiness than marrying into a marquis’s house.”

Elsa was hanging her head, tears of defeat gathering in her eyes. But it looked like Fritz interpreted that as just embarassment and,

“Come now, everyone, for my sister Elsa’s happiness, once more, cheers!”

He said and made a good showing by himself, but Elsa herself, Reinhardt, and Jin stayed silent like it was a funeral.

Of course they didn’t have a good appetite, and as a result the brought-out cuisine was mostly left as-is.

For all that, the cause of the situation, Fritz, didn’t seem to think of it as more than lack of appetite caused by fatigue from traveling.

＊　　　＊　　　＊

That night, after Jin had returned to the hotel, he visited Reinhardt in his room.

“Jin, huh. I was just thinking of going to see you too.”

Reinhardt said and offered a chair. Jin sat down and Reinhardt apologized.

“Jin, sorry. But Fritz used not to be like that.”

But Jin stopped Reinhardt and said,

“There’s no need for you to apologize, Reinhardt. More importantly, I’m worried about Elsa.”

“Yeah, me too. I couldn’t expect that she’d suddenly be told about a betrothal.”

“He seemed to be seriously thinking it was for Elsa’s sake but he was still in the wrong.”

Jin spoke his mind and even Reinhardt smiled bitterly.

“Certainly, becoming a marquise would be big. Since Elsa’s house would also gain in prestige. But the partner being who he is…”

“Is he that bad?”

Jin’s question was blunt.

“Hmm, if I remember right the Marquis is 53 years old this year. He’s rather fat. Well, he does look better than Earl Guarana.”

Being told that didn’t make Jin think the Marquis would be a good partner at all.

“Is marriage between nobles a this sort of thing?”

“Yeah. However, it’s just the nobles sticking to traditions. Especially family lineages of military personnel. My father wouldn’t do such a thing, but my uncle, how should say this, he’s obsessed with the desire of getting ahead in life…”

To Reinhardt who found it hard to talk about, Jin said,

“Reinhardt, you don’t have to badmouth your relatives. More importantly, let’s go see how Elsa is doing.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

The two then went towards Elsa’s room together.

“The young lady is already resting.”

“Is that so, that’s fine then.”

As she had already fallen asleep, Jin and Reinhardt left it for tomorrow and decided to retire to their rooms for the night.