Chapter 363 (2/2)

“Huh? What’s wrong, Reinhart? What’s with that face? Did something happen to your cousin?”

“… Let me explain. … Elsa-san was unhappy with her engagement, and ran away.”

They hadn’t told Belche anything about it either, so this is as much as she knew.

“Ran away? Elsa? … Engagement, you say? Could it be… the engagement to that marquis?”

Saki seems to be hating her own family, calling her own grandfather “that marquis” with such a tone.

And she also seems to know about the devious preferences of his grandfather, Marquis Gehlen Theoderic Von Aizen.

“…”

Reinhart’s silence only made Saki more irritated, as she now knew that her guess was correct.

“… That damned marquis and his perverted taste for young girls! Elsa is old enough to be his granddaughter! Good grief, just how selfish can he be?”

Then she stared at Reinhart.

“Hey, Reinhart, knowing you, you’re probably hiding Elsa and not telling anyone about it. But that doesn’t mean you don’t know where she is or how she is doing, right?”

After hearing that, Jin, who had been silently listening to that exchange, was impressed by Saki’s intuition.

Breaking the silence, Saki stopped acting tough and smiled at Reinhart.

“… I’m sorry, Reinhart. If that’s the case, there’s no reason for me to say such things. My bad. … That cousin of yours seems to be somewhat interested in alchemy, so when she returns we can arrange for me to teach her a lot of things, okay?”

Saki’s had a lonely looking face as she said that. Reinhart did not want to talk about the truth of the situation, and unintentionally kept his poker face due to the skills he had fostered as a diplomat.

“Oh, that’s right, Jin-sama, and also Reiko-chan, would you like to sing a song?”

Belche had proposed such a thing in order to change such a heavy atmosphere. Jin understood that intention as well, and gave his orders.

“Reiko, sing something.”

“Yes, Father.”

Reiko began to sing.

In fact, since a few days ago, whenever he had free time, Jin has been teaching Reiko some songs in an attempt to give her some talents that any regular girl would normally have.

“What is the name of the flower that blooms in the spring?　　Though nobody tells me　　I like those flowers of the field that bloom gently…“

Belche, Sakim and Reinhart all were charmed by Reiko’s singing voice.

“If you pick up a handful of them　　Give them to your beloved boyfriend　　If your boyfriend doesn’t come　　Let them wash away by the river…“

The director used to use many popular Showa-Era-like songs instead of background music so much, that Jin remembers it quite well. Among those songs, Jin taught Reiko the ones that the idols used to sing.

“Autumn leaves fall to my shoulders　　Softly they fall on the ground　　I wonder what is he up to　　Is he thinking about me?…”

After finishing her song, Reiko bowed with a curtsy.

The one to begin the round of applause was Reinhart. He was soon followed by Belche, and then Saki came to her senses and applauded as well.

The maids Beth and Dolly, who were there serving as waitresses, also gave Reiko a heartfelt round of applause.

“Reiko-san, how lovely! I’m fascinated!”

Neon spared no praises as well.

“…Thank you, Neon-san.”

Reiko thanked Neon with a seemingly happy but troubled face.

“Well! Jin, Reiko is absolutely wonderful! The word ‘perfect’ suits her completely!”

Reinhart also gave his compliments without reserve.

Once the atmosphere had completely calmed down, Jin asked Reinhart something he had been concerned about.

“Reinhart, Belche-san. When do you plan to have your wedding ceremony?”

Hearing that, Belche, who was sitting next to Reinhart, felt her face go completely red. Reinhart’s face seemed troubled.

“Hmm, that’s a difficult question. It’s scheduled for early June, but at any rate I’m at your service now, so…”

“Are you worried about that? I’ll have you known that I’ll be fine if you leave me alone for a few days.”

Of course, when that happens, it’s just a matter of returning to either Kaina Village or Hourai Island.

To know that made Reinhart’s face look even more troubled. However, he soon put a smile on his face and answered.

“Thank you, Jin. I will keep that in mind.”

After that, Reinhart’s focus shifted to tales about their journey, and about the old days.

When talking about the kidnapping by the Unifiler, Berce covered her face, though she could be heard to be crying.

We dramatized the story about the rescue and attributed said rescue to Deus Ex Machina.

Saki was lost in trance as she listened.

However, what Saki was most interested in was the story of the battle between the Gigas and Reiko.

“Hmm, so Reiko-chan is that strong, huh? That’s really amazing. I know that Reinhart is the best in the world, though.”

“That’s right. … But Reinhart-sama, don’t do to many dangerous things, okay? If something were to happen to you, I would not be able to live anymore.”

Belche was clinging to Reinhart’s arm as she said that.

“Ohoho! Belche and Reinhart are as close as usual! You seem to have a great relationship, you two.”

For a moment, on Saki’s face, there was that same lonely looking smile that Jin had been worrying about.