“Thank you, my lord. I am also grateful for His Majesty’s generous ruling regarding my father.”
“I see. But how is your youngest brother? He must have suffered no small shock after being tormented by the ruffians of Nodenburg.”
“He has calmed down quite a lot... but I think I should return to him. If it would not be rude, would that be all right?”
When Julian was mentioned, Friedrich remembered the chaos caused by his sister and grew anxious. Seeing Friedrich’s impatience, Reinhardt spoke with a worried expression.
“I will go with you. If necessary, I will assign the Court Mages and Healers who came with me as well.”
‘He wants to come with me? Damn it!’
“N-no, that is all right! It was simply such a bewildering matter... Our family also brought Mages and Healers, so I will respectfully accept only your considerate intentions, haha.”
Friedrich desperately held back the curse that almost burst from his mouth and declined. How could he show the mess his sister had caused to a man who might become the next emperor?
Friedrich politely phrased his refusal, but the problem was that Reinhardt was quietly stubborn.
“No. As the one acting on His Majesty’s behalf in matters concerning the imperial banquet hall, I am also responsible for everything that happens at this banquet, Friedrich.”
Since Reinhardt subtly invoked imperial law and authority while trying to carry out his will, Friedrich had no way to refuse any further.
‘I am screwed, damn it.’
Friedrich sighed inwardly and had no choice but to return to his family together with Reinhardt.
He could only hope that the chaos his sister had caused had been resolved.
***
As if that wish resented him, Friedrich’s vision went dark when he saw Johanna fighting with another middle-aged noblewoman.
“You say I am ignorant, so I taught my daughter nothing but brawling? Fine! A woman must be able to protect herself too, so I taught her studies, swordsmanship, and Aura! Since you are so great, I suppose you raised your son to faint after being slapped by a woman? What a pathetic excuse for a man!”
Perhaps because the other woman had touched the reverse scale of child-rearing after her daughter was involved, Johanna also could not contain her temper and shouted fiercely while pointing her finger.
The noblewoman, who had flinched when the finger came close enough to nearly stab her in the eye, slapped Johanna’s hand away and shouted.
“Do you think you can say anything you want and get away with it? Our eldest son, who will one day rule Sütern, nearly died because of your daughter’s violence! This is why the rebels of Etilant are no good! How low-class, truly!”
“Ha! Then perhaps that is why Sütern has not produced a single Aura Master since our family came down to Etilant? How pathetic!”
“Why are you bringing that up here? You may be an Elector, but you fell for a commoner husband and threw away your title and domain!”
At the verbal fight between his mother and the other noblewoman, where personal attacks flew back and forth, Friedrich felt his mind grow hazy.
‘Whew, this is dizzying. Truly dizzying. The accident I caused was already a major one, but now Sister, Father, and even Mother...’
Moreover, if he had been alone, that would be one thing, but beside Friedrich right now was Reinhardt, a man who might well aim for the position of the next emperor.
‘I cannot show him any more disgraceful sights.’
Although things had already fallen apart as much as they could, he had to preserve even the last remaining scrap of their image in order to plan for the future. For the sake of House Medichin’s future, Friedrich held onto his sanity and called out to Johanna.
“Mother, I...”
“Wait a moment, Friedrich! Let me finish dealing with the insult to House Medichin and House Berstein first, then we can talk!”
“Even so, the person I have brought with me now is...”
“I said it will only take a moment! She insulted our family without even knowing why we left Sütern! That piggishly greedy woman of Sütern!”
Johanna had great pride in both her husband’s family and her own birth family, both of which cherished their people more than anyone else.
Because of that, right now, her anger toward the wife of the Count Palatine of Sütern, who had insulted both families, came first, and no words reached her ears.
‘It is over, damn it.’
The only person who could calm Johanna once she grew angry enough to see something through to the end was Wilhelm, and he was not present. Unlike Friedrich, who had fallen into resignation, Reinhardt beside him wore a peculiar smile.
‘From what I heard, they were supposed to be an extremely intellectual and cool-headed family, but to think they would be this fiery...’
They said seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times, and Reinhardt found his interest stirred by the passionate(?) appearance of House Medichin, so different from the rumors.
Even Friedrich, who was sighing deeply beside him, was said to be an extraordinary talent who had defeated the greatest scholars of the Western Continent in debate. Yet quite apart from that, had he not poured curses on the three Schwarzen ruffian brothers and smashed them all? Without getting even a speck of injury!
Not only that, Reinhardt was also receiving a fresh shock from Maria and her two younger brothers.
“Let go! How am I supposed to leave someone who badmouthed our family alone? If you do not let go, you are going to get scolded by your sister when we return!”
“Even so, no! Brother and Father have already caused chaos, so what are we going to do if you see this through too, Sister? This is driving me mad, truly!”
“Second Brother is right, Sister! Please calm down! How are you going to get married?”
Felix and Julian were each holding one of Maria’s arms tightly, desperately trying to stop her.
As Reinhardt silently watched a sight said to be “something one would only see in a marketplace,” a sorrowful smile newly spread across his face.
‘Is that... what family is?’
His mother had died after failing to withstand the pains of childbirth after giving birth to him, her first child.
His father had missed that mother so deeply that he had followed her in death from lovesickness.
Having lost both parents before he could even walk, Reinhardt had grown up under the care of his grandfather, Magnus, without any siblings.
At least, as the only legitimate heir of Midenmark-Hengania, the strongest territorial domain in the Astella Empire, he had grown up in an environment where everything overflowed. Yet as Reinhardt grew older, the hunger in his heart grew worse.
But today, strangely enough, that unfillable hunger seemed to be filling. While he watched the messes created by the Medichin family!
‘Their words are not pretty, but...’
From that bold appearance, Reinhardt could deeply feel the affection they had for their family.
“Hah.”
Of course, it was also funny, so a brief laugh escaped Reinhardt’s mouth.
‘Oh dear, Imperial Grandfather would make a fuss if he knew.’
Magnus von Bessen had always told him, almost habitually, that a sovereign must always govern his emotions.
Recalling the teachings of that “Imperial Grandfather,” Reinhardt quickly composed his expression and opened his mouth.
“First, I believe it is important to ascertain the circumstances of the incident objectively and accurately...”
Reinhardt had stepped forward to mediate the incident, following the example of Magnus, who had skillfully made a gesture favorable to House Medichin earlier while pressing House Schwarzen down.
Johanna’s sharp voice cut him off.
“Stay still, my lord! This is our family’s matter!”
“Mother is right! This is a matter of House Medichin and House Berstein!”
“Hahaha...”
Like mother, like daughter. Maria stopped Reinhardt as firmly as Johanna had.
‘A woman that bold and fiery...’
Maria Medichin, with her crisp and decisive personality, was someone Reinhardt would never have seen at a banquet in the court of Midenmark-Hengania.
Even as he looked at her with a bewildered expression and let out an awkward laugh,
Reinhardt found himself strangely drawn to her.
***
In the end, the commotion, which had even drawn in the ladies of House Medichin and House Zeiss, was settled only after Herman von Zeiss, the main culprit of the incident, awoke and the heads of both families arrived.
“So, although Young Lady Maria here politely refused, my eldest son forcibly grabbed her wrist?”
“That is true, Your Excellency Count Palatine Zeiss. In addition, when Young Lady Maria shook off his hand, he started spouting things about rebels and the like.”
“It is true that Young Lady Maria’s blow against Your Excellency’s eldest son went too far. However, who here could endure being insulted not only personally, but having one’s parents and family insulted as well?”
The imperial assemblymen and their families present here were people whose abilities and reputations were recognized in the empire, regardless of profession or status.
Their family members also possessed great pride in their parents and houses, so they all testified to the truth in one voice and defended Maria and House Medichin.
‘What a fool, the sort even an utter halfwit would laugh at!’
As more and more testimony poured in from those around them, Liam von Zeiss, Count Palatine of Sütern, had his face twist miserably.
“You worthless fool! Of all things, you tried to forcefully grab a lady who said she did not want to dance with you! And a Young Lady from a neighboring territorial domain at that!”
“I-I am sorry, Father!”
“Call me Your Excellency, Herman!”
“Y-yes! I am sorry, Your Excellency!”
After one rebuke for his rudeness and another for using an inappropriate form of address, his eldest son Herman repeatedly lowered his head with a flustered face and begged forgiveness.
Liam looked at his son’s disgraceful behavior, which would have made him frown even if someone else had done it, as if it were pathetic. Then he turned his head toward Wilhelm.
“I will apologize in his place, so I hope you will generously forgive my foolish eldest son’s discourtesy, Consul Wilhelm. I will discipline him strictly so this never happens again.”
“Not at all, Your Excellency Count Palatine. My daughter also erred by responding too fiercely, so I ask you to forgive her generously.”
The fact that Liam and Wilhelm amicably acknowledged each other’s faults and apologized was not simply because the two men had good personalities.
‘Nothing good will come from antagonizing Sütern right now. Until we firmly suppress Latius and build more strength, I must endure.’
‘Making an enemy of Etilant would only bring losses. I have to watch the bloodsucking wolves and bats in the west, so I cannot turn Etilant into an enemy as well. The tolls they pay cannot be ignored either.’
Their usual character mattered, but there was also no need to escalate the matter because of the circumstances of the territorial domains each ruled, and the interests born from those circumstances.
‘It is fortunate that the Asfrus Mountains stand between us.’
Aside from their respective interests, the presence of the Asfrus Mountains between Sütern and Etilant reduced the risk of war even further.
Friedrich was inwardly grateful to the Asfrus Mountains for helping smooth over this matter. Only after the Count Palatine of Sütern’s family disappeared did he look at Reinhardt.
“My apologies, my lord. If you do not mind, I would like to introduce you to my family even now.”
“I would be grateful if you would. Please do, Friedrich.”
Friedrich was beginning to like Reinhardt, who consistently used polite speech toward him despite being older.
‘Whatever else may be true, he seems to have learned basic etiquette well. As expected of an heir raised personally by the emperor.’
Evaluating Reinhardt inwardly, Friedrich called Wilhelm.
“Consul, Lord Reinhardt has come.”
“How embarrassing. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Reinhardt. Wife, please greet him as well. You children too.”
“I am sorry you had to witness such disgrace, Lord Reinhardt. I am Johanna Berstein Medichin.”
“I apologize for my discourtesy, Lord Reinhardt. I am Maria Medichin.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Reinhardt. I am Felix Medichin.”
“Thank you for helping my brothers and me, Lord Reinhardt. I am Julian Medichin.”
At Wilhelm’s urging, not only Johanna and Maria, but Felix and Julian as well offered Reinhardt courteous greetings.
‘What a truly remarkable family.’
As if they had never burned like fire, the Medichin family observed etiquette with impeccable courtesy as they greeted him. Reinhardt hid his awkward feelings and smiled.
“I apologize for hastily attempting to intervene in a matter involving the honor of your family, Lady Johanna.”
“Thank you for understanding. I am grateful that you helped our eldest and youngest sons, but what business brings you here?”
“I came to check on your youngest child because I was worried. I was concerned about how great a shock he must have suffered at such a young age.”
At Reinhardt’s courteous answer and attitude, satisfaction began to sprout in Johanna’s heart.
‘He would be perfect as Maria’s spouse...’
The problem was the difference in power held by House Medichin and House Bessen.
‘Midenmark alone is the largest territorial domain in the empire...’
House Bessen, which ruled that Midenmark, also ruled the Kingdom of Hengania, which was not part of the empire but was similar in scale to Midenmark and was a cavalry powerhouse, through a personal union.
Of course.
The nobles of Hengania were famous for their fierce temperaments, but the problem was that Reinhardt was an outstanding figure with such excellent ability and martial power that quite a number of them had sworn loyalty to him. Moreover...
‘House Bessen has annexed territories under the pretext of political marriages. If things go wrong, Etilant may be swallowed.’
The marriage of her only daughter was important, but to Johanna, the survival of the Etilant Autonomous Territory came first. Etilant was the new homeland that her husband’s family and her own family had cultivated for generations after leaving Sütern.
After considering many circumstances and reaching a judgment in that short time, Johanna thoroughly hid her regret and answered with an elegant smile befitting a noblewoman.
“Thank you for your consideration. Our youngest is fine, and Friedrich seems perfectly lively as well, hoho.”
“I am glad to hear that, haha.”
Although he laughed heartily, Reinhardt also felt regret.
‘This is the first time I have resented the twin-headed griffin crest.’
Reinhardt had exceptional pride in House Bessen, of which he would one day become Family Head.
The source of that pride now felt as heavy as a burden pressing him down. They were wary of him and House Bessen, were they not? Though they did not show it.
‘There is no need to hurry yet. It is enough that I have come to know Maria.’
Nothing good came from rushing, and was it not enough that something had begun? This emotion called romantic affection.
Thus, Reinhardt forced himself to take comfort and opened his mouth.
“Since this was the first Imperial Diet and banquet attended by families, there were many unexpected incidents. Next time, I will circulate a notice in advance so such unfortunate events do not occur.”
After lifting his head, which he had lightly bowed to Wilhelm and Johanna, Reinhardt looked at Maria for a moment.
‘The more I look at her, the more she is like a blazing rose.’
When one is told not to think of an elephant, an elephant naturally comes to mind. Such is human nature.
In Reinhardt’s mind, standing before an object of courtship that seemed impossible, Maria’s image was being engraved vividly and bewitchingly.
‘He is completely smitten, hehe.’
Friedrich inwardly let out a hollow laugh as he watched Reinhardt, then checked Maria’s expression.
‘Oh? She cannot even meet his eyes?’
Unlike when Maria had been about to deal with Herman, she was avoiding Reinhardt’s eyes. Moreover...
‘Would you look at that? Her hands are even fidgeting? She is smitten. Absolutely smitten.’
At the sight of Maria, whose mental age was younger than his own, Friedrich’s mischievousness stirred.