After finishing a very delicious lunch and having a cup of tea to relax after the meal, Dad slowly opened his mouth.
"Eberhard," my father said.
"Y-yes, what is it?" I asked.
He didn't seem angry, but being called out so formally made me a little nervous.
"There's someone I want you to meet."
"Someone you want me to meet?" I repeated.
"Yeah. Meet... or rather, someone I'd like you to become friends with, I suppose."
"Friends...?" I echoed.
For me, who never had anyone that close in my past life, the word "friend" carries a certain longing. I did want friends. I just never had the room to make any in my past life.
"As you know, our Marquis Fahrenheit family is a noble house entrusted with guarding the north of the Empire," my father explained.
"Yeah, that's right," I said.
In the Empire, besides the usual five ranks of baron, viscount, earl, marquis, and duke, there's one more rank called margrave (strictly speaking, there are two more, "knight" and "baronet," but those have a slightly different character from normal nobility, so I'll set them aside for now). A margrave is treated as equal in rank to a marquis, but as the name suggests, their role is a bit different from other nobles.
The lands of a margrave house are, literally, on the Empire's frontier. They are a prestigious martial noble house entrusted with the Empire's defense on the front lines, ready for threats from all four directions, east, west, north, and south, and deeply trusted by the Emperor. That is the origin of the margrave rank.
And our Marquis Fahrenheit family is entrusted with the defense of the north, holding the position of "Northern General," reputed as the strongest among the four margrave houses known as the Four Generals. From the northwest to the north lies a great mountain range; from the foot of the northern mountains to the northeast lies a dangerous region called the Demon Forest; and to the east lies the border with the Ducal Federation. We stand ready against these threats, always protecting the Empire.
Our margrave house ranks fairly high among the Empire's nobility. Because of that, we have all sorts of social obligations and dealings. On top of our military role, we must also act as civil officials. In that sense, being a noble is quite the handful.
"From the look on your face, you've more or less figured it out, but let me say it anyway. The person you'll meet today may become your fiancee in the future," my father said.
"F-fiancee, huh," I stammered.
I hadn't expected that. I'd assumed it was some kind of hostage arrangement, like the relationship between Nobunaga and Ieyasu, but apparently not. Actually, thinking about it calmly, the Empire's political situation is quite stable, so frequent hostage negotiations, such dangerous things, wouldn't happen in the first place. The circumstances are completely different from Japan's Warring States period.
"Be surprised. The other party is a ducal house. They lost their imperial succession rights when they were demoted to subject status, but by blood they're connected to the imperial family. They're the lineage of the previous Emperor's younger brother, and their eldest daughter is the same age as you. And now, negotiations for a betrothal have happily come together," my father continued.
The scale is huge. It's like being told in Japan, "You're going to become a relative of the royal family."
"Hahaha, even you're surprised by this, huh. Well, rest easy. His Grace the Duke is a gentle man. The girl who's set to become your fiancee is a tomboy, but I hear she's a goodly girl. You're sure to take a liking to her," my father said, chuckling.
"Y-yes."
"What, are you nervous?" he asked, tilting his head.
Of course I am! Including my past life, I've never once had a girlfriend. Having memories of my past life just makes the misery hit harder. You can't expect anything from a lifelong virgin when it comes to communication skills, you know?
"If I do something rude to the girl and she ends up hating me, please don't disown me, okay?" my father asked.
"Disown you, hahahaha! That's rare. You, of all people, being so timid," my father said.
"Hal will be fine. He takes after his father and is very handsome," my mother said warmly.
"Mom..."
Good grief, this lovey-dovey couple just flirts in front of the children without a care. It's not good for their moral education! ...Well, actually, by keeping their marriage healthy and openly showing affection, they serve as a model that helps shape a rich character, so it's not something I can flatly deny. But still, the mentally immature older sister and younger siblings aside, for me, essentially an adult inside, it's a bit too sweet and gives me heartburn. It's not bad. But in moderation, please!
"When is she coming?" I asked.
"Tomorrow," my father replied.
"That's way too sudden..," I muttered.
"No, the plan itself was decided quite a while ago. But since it wasn't finalized, it was unclear when it would go through. In that state, I couldn't very well get your faint hopes up," my father said.
I appreciated the consideration, but I wish I'd had a little more time to prepare mentally.
"Accordingly, I have prepared garments befitting Lord Hal, so let us proceed with a fitting afterward," Alisa said.
Alisa cut in, having waited for the right moment from behind me. Curse you, so you're determined not to let me escape, no matter what.
"Mm. Once you've changed, come to the salon. Show yourself to your sisters and brother," my father said.
"I'm looking forward to it too~!" my mother added.
With my mother seeing me off, still doting on her children as ever, all fluffy and warm, I was taken away by Alisa and made to change clothes.
Incidentally, the clothes Alisa and the other servants had procured were wonderfully tasteful, and I liked them very much. Indeed, this is a handsome boy. Popularity is inevitable. They were also very well received by my sisters and brother.
The next day. After eating breakfast and being looked after by Alisa to get ready, I waited at the entrance. It was about ten in the morning. If they'd left the neighboring post town early in the morning, they should be arriving in the castle town around now.
"Mm, looks like they've arrived," my father muttered beside me.
From the gate visible at the front of the vast garden, an elegant carriage drawn by fine horses slowly approached.
"Though they're an easygoing sort, the other party is a duke of higher rank. Be sure not to be rude. Well, I'm sure you'll be fine," my father advised.
"I'll be careful," I promised.
I'd already acquired detailed etiquette as part of my noble upbringing, and since my mental age is an adult, I can handle attentiveness well enough to be no problem. God-tier hospitality like a professional service worker would be difficult, but ceremonial interpersonal skills are fine.
The carriage came right up in front of us and stopped. The coachman got down first and opened the carriage door. From inside, first a gentleman of about thirty-something stepped down, and then a girl about my age (actually, apparently the same age as me) stepped down.
I was struck. How to put it, I get struck often, but a shock this big probably won't happen many times in my life. It was that big.
An elegant dress with white frills. Cute bright brown leather shoes. Porcelain skin like a bisque doll. Blonde hair curving softly, shining golden in the sunlight. Eyes like clear blue glass beads.
While vaguely thinking that this must be what they call a fateful encounter, the greeting I'd prepared so carefully was completely blown out of my head, and I just stood there like an idiot.
"Hello. How lovely to meet you," the girl said.
She's a real-life princess... I thought, my head swimming.
Trivia:
- The father deliberately withheld the betrothal news until it was finalized so Eberhard would not build up faint hopes that might be crushed if negotiations fell through, showing quiet consideration beneath his teasing manner.
- The mother calls Eberhard "Haru," revealing his informal given name and hinting at a warm family dynamic that contrasts with the formal noble naming used elsewhere.
- The margrave rank being treated as equal to a marquis while carrying a frontier defense role foreshadows that the Fahrenheit family's power comes from military trust rather than court politics.
Notes:
• Eberhard - Young noble heir of the Marquis Fahrenheit Family, entrusted with the north as the Northern General. Reincarnated with memories of a past life and never had a girlfriend before. Nervous but composed, with adult mental age.
• Marquis Fahrenheit - Head of the Marquis Fahrenheit Family, holding the rank of margrave and the position of Northern General among the Four Generals. Gentle, doting father who teases his son about the betrothal.
• Alisa - Personal maid of Eberhard, hired by his parents. Originally a general servant before being officially assigned as his exclusive maid after being credited with discovering his magical talent. Taught him to read and write, including runes. Practical, watchful, and quick to scold him for reckless behavior. Servant of the Fahrenheit household who attends to Eberhard. Determined and efficient, ensuring he is dressed and prepared properly.
• Haru - Alias for the eldest son of a noble house and a reincarnated former Japanese person, retaining memories of a past life on Earth. Reborn as Eberhard Karlheinz von Flensburg Fahrenheit, a two-year-old noble of the Fahrenheit Frontier Count family. He has a status screen only he can see, with an innate magic called Impact and an innate skill called Persistence Pays Off. Pragmatic, romantic about secret bases, and fond of Lily. Loves Rango fruit. Has a four-year-old sister, a father aged 25, and a mother aged 22. Built a pit-dwelling secret base in the back garden over about a year.