#169. Parent-Guardian Meeting (1)
Kaisel’s magic chariot headed north from the academy.
‘Come to think of it, I came here at the beginning of the first semester too.’
At that time, I was supposed to come to have dinner with Kaisel, but it was eventually canceled because of the assassins targeting Kaisel.
‘Dinner with my uncle came to fruition like this… … .’
I peeked into the back seat through the side mirror of the magic wagon.
Senia and Lydia, dressed in dresses, were sitting quietly.
Lydia had her usual calm expression, but Senia was very nervous.
‘Those two… don’t seem to be on good terms.’
Senia came to the academy with hidden intentions of leaving Artien.
So it might not be very comfortable to be with Lydia.
“This is it.”
A four-wheeled vehicle going up a mountain road stopped.
It was in front of a fancy-looking restaurant.
“This way.”
As Kaisel knocked on the restaurant’s door, he felt a noise from inside.
“Welcome, Kaisel.”
“……!”
I swallowed my breath.
That’s because what came out when the door opened was a hospitality golem that looked like a mannequin.
‘It’s the store my uncle tried to take me to in the first semester!’
A restaurant with no chefs or waiters… …only golems to serve guests.
It was definitely the restaurant I hadn’t been to back then.
“This is a restaurant that only accepts one team per day. There will be no chance of your conversation being leaked to the outside.”
“I see. There are many interesting places in the Academy.”
Lydia entered the restaurant, escorted by Kaisel.
“…….”
Senia and I looked at each other’s faces, then followed them with nervous steps.
‘The atmosphere is really good.’
It was the fanciest restaurant I’ve ever been to.
It felt like it went well with Kaisel and Lydia, who were handsome and elegant.
‘It may not suit students like us, but… … .’
I sat down, guided by the reception golem.
There didn’t seem to be anything like a menu.
“Please wait, your food will be served, Lydia.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Unlike the leisurely adults, Senia and I were restless.
Not only because of the location, but also because I had no idea what the guardians would say.
“Balsamic Roasted Figs.”
“Caramelized pumpkin pulp.”
“This is sautéed pine mushrooms.”
Soon, the golems began to bring out the dishes one by one.
It looks very good, but what does it taste like?
‘Would a dish made by a golem rather than a human be tasty?’
I cautiously took a bite of the ‘Balsamic Roasted Figs’.
Then… … .
“omg.”
I groaned without realizing it.
I thought it would be a strange taste to eat baked sweet figs with balsamic vinegar, but… … the figs and vinegar harmonized perfectly in my mouth, creating an amazing taste I had never experienced before.
“……!”
I started eating the food one by one without saying a word.
Kaisel and Lydia were talking about something, but I couldn’t hear them properly.
“This is sea turtle soup.”
“Abalone with cream.”
“A salad made with fall vegetables.”
I felt happy as I ate each and every food that came out.
“Eriol, this is really delicious.”
“okay…….”
Senia, who was sitting next to me, seemed to be in a similar situation.
It seems the Artien family has never had the chance to eat fancy food.
“It’s truly amazing how magical powers can create such wonderful dishes without human hands.”
“These are golems that the owner has carefully adjusted.”
“I’m glad the kids seem happy too.”
Lydia, who was talking to Kaisel, turned her gaze to us.
“Eriol, Senia. Please listen while you eat.”
“……?”
I asked him to listen while I ate, but he couldn’t.
“The Artien family has decided to formally propose marriage to the Valencia family.”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Because the words that came out of Lydia’s mouth were so shocking.
“Lady Lydia, what is that….”
“Oh, Mom. Today, we’re just going to eat…….”
Senia opened her eyes wide, as if she had never heard of this before.
“Oh, a marriage proposal? Who and who…….”
“Of course, Senia and Eriol.”
“……!”
Senia swallowed, but Lydia’s expression did not change.
“Mr. Eriol, I heard that Professor Kaisel is currently your guardian.”
“Yes, but that’s only on paper… “
“That’s why I made a formal proposal to Professor Kaisel.”
Lydia turned her gaze to Kaisel, who was sitting next to her.
“How about we pair up Eriol and Senia, two promising young talents from both families?”
“…….”
Kaisel was speechless.
I just put my fork down next to the neatly emptied plate.
“Senia, how are you feeling?”
“Oh, Mother. I…….”
“Don’t you like Ariol as a husband?”
“……!”
Senia flinched at Lydia’s question.
“If there is anything that Senia feels Eriol lacks, I would like you to tell me exactly.”
“Father, what do you mean by lacking? There is no such thing as lacking in Eriol!”
“So, you can accept me as a husband?”
“oh……!”
Senia’s face turned bright red.
“That, that’s why, with Eriol……”
As she stuttered, Senia looked at my face.
“Lord Eriol.”
Lydia spoke to me again.
“As you can see, Senia doesn’t seem to be dissatisfied with her marriage. There are no obstacles, right?”
“Lydia, as I told you last time……”
“I apologize for interrupting you, but this marriage proposal will not end with simply connecting two families.”
Lydia cut me off mid-sentence.
“Once the Artian family accepts the blood of a wizard, they will leap to a new level.”
“…….”
“I don’t know if you know, but the Artian family is stagnant. They are very vocal in their opposition to the introduction of magic. In fact, even my son, Crius, has similar thoughts.”
Lydia’s voice was serious.
“If Eriol, a promising young man at the Academy, becomes connected to the Artian family as Senia’s husband, the family’s reforms will be easier to carry out.”
“Lydia.”
I looked straight at Lydia and said.
“I understand the circumstances of the Artian family, but it has nothing to do with me directly.”
“Yes, but there are also merits to this marriage proposal for the Valencia family.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said your parents were in debt because of their failed investments?”
“…….”
Lydia looked at me with calm eyes.
“If we are connected to the Artian family, one of the top ten noble families… such small debts will not be a problem.”
“Are you trying to buy me with money right now?”
“The nuance is different. It means that just as Lord Eriol helps our family, we can also help the House of Valencia.”
“…….”
Then Senia opened her mouth urgently.
“Oh, Mother. This way…….”
“Xenia.”
“……!”
When Lydia looked up, Senia flinched.
“If you have no complaints with Eriol, then leave it alone.”
“Oh, Mother……”
“Do you intend to interrupt while your mother is talking?”
“……!”
At that moment, I could feel Senia’s whole body freezing.
It seemed like he felt more intimidated than when he met Crius.
This was a part where you could see how Lydia had been pressuring Senia all this time.
‘Is this the reason why Senia came from the Artian family?’
Even close family members like Lydia and Crius did not treat him with respect… … and he must have been treated even more inhumanely by the other elders.
“Lord Eriol, first of all……”
“Lydia.”
This time I interrupted Lydia.
Because I couldn’t tolerate Lydia’s one-sided words any longer.
“It’s true that my parents were in a difficult situation. But……”
I looked straight at Lydia and said.
“My parents will be able to overcome that on their own. There is no need for help from other families.”
“You suffered damage that could lead to the loss of your entire territory. Do you think you can overcome it on your own?”
“If my parents can’t solve it, then I have to solve it.”
“Lord Eriol?”
“yes.”
He nodded.
“If that doesn’t work out, you can just work hard to make money as a magician.”
“…….”
This was in conflict with what I said last time, ‘You could also be a librarian.’
But still… … if you really need money, then there’s nothing you can do.
“And, Lady Lydia.”
I spoke in a clear voice.
“Among my friends, there was one whose family tried to force him into marriage.”
“yes?”
“He denied it. I think that’s right.”
When Charlotte was mentioned, Senia, who was next to him, flinched.
“If I ever get married, it will be to someone of my own choosing.”
“Lord Eriol……”
“Let me be clear.”
I looked straight at Lydia and said.
“No one but me can decide my life.”
Lydia’s expression remained unchanged.
He just stared blankly at me.
But I also looked at Lydia with my mouth shut.
I had to convey to this person my attitude that I would not back down even a little.
“Lydia.”
Right then.
Kaisel, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
“I think it’s time for Lydia to step down.”
“Professor Kaisel.”
“I told you. I’m the guardian, but I have no authority to decide who Eriol will marry.”
Kaisel said in a cold voice.
“If Lady Lydia wishes to take Eriol as her son-in-law, she must obtain Eriol’s consent.”
“…….”
“But it seems difficult. If you do it any more, it will be counterproductive.”
At that moment.
Lydia frowned slightly.
It was unusual for Lydia, who usually maintained a calm expression, to react like that.
“Eriol Valencia is not a man who can be moved easily.”
“Professor Kaisel……”
“There are many people in the academy who don’t know that.”
“To the Academy too?”
“yes.”
Kaisel nodded.
“Right now, many professors are moving behind the scenes to bring Eriol into their departments.”
“…….”
“It’s exam period now, so everyone is waiting, but as soon as the midterms are over, they’ll flock to Eriol. And they’ll try to draw Eriol in by saying all sorts of things. There will definitely be professors who put pressure on him like Lydia.”
“…….”
“But that doesn’t work on Eriol. It actually makes Eriol even more cold-hearted, so it ends up having the opposite effect.”
I was a little surprised.
Because I never thought that Kaisel would know me so well.
“Lady Lydia, it would be better to let Eriol make his own decisions.”
“professor…….”
“If Eriol decides that it would be a good idea to marry Miss Senia, then even if Lady Lydia objects, the marriage will go through. Even if it means turning the entire Artian family into enemies.”
“……!”
Lydia shut her mouth, and Senia flinched in surprise.
“But if such a judgment has not been made, Eriol will not nod no matter how much Lady Lydia advises him.”
“…….”
After glancing at the silent Lydia, Kaisel opened his mouth again.
“Our long-awaited meal was interrupted. Let’s continue eating.”
As I said that, the golem approached me as if it had been waiting for our conversation to end.
“Pan-fried salmon with glazed vegetables.”
“Valves tenderloin with rosemary cream.”
The course has resumed again.
As the mouth-watering dishes continued to arrive, Lydia remained silent.
“Uncle.”
It seemed too quiet, so I spoke to Kaisel.
“Is it for the same reason as before that my uncle didn’t tell me to come to the Principle Department?”
During that time, Kaisel never invited me to come to the Principles Department.
Come if you want, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be accepted just because you come… …It’s always been like that.
“Well.”
But Kaisel did not answer properly.
He simply replied briefly, slicing the steak with elegant and neat movements.
“Think as you wish.”
This guy is really… … a man with a twisted personality.
* * *
After finishing the meal.
I stopped by the bathroom for a moment.
But while I was washing my hands, I felt a presence behind me.
“Lord Eriol.”
“……!”
Lydia was looking at me from behind.
“Lydia, what the….”
“I would like to offer my apologies, Eriol.”
Something unexpected happened.
Lydia bowed deeply before me.
“I apologize for pushing forward with the marriage proposal without considering Lady Eriol’s wishes. I was too naive.”
“Lydia, you don’t have to do this.”
“I will reflect on it. Please forgive me.”
A powerful figure in the Artian family bows down and asks for forgiveness from a child who is only in his late teens.
I could tell that Lydia was letting go of her pride and was sincerely apologizing.
‘but…….’
I had already noticed that what Lydia meant by ‘reflection’ was a bit different.
Lydia apologizes for what happened, but she doesn’t say she won’t pursue any more marriage proposals.
It’s like the last time with Roodebout.
Although he apologized for pushing ahead with the marriage proposal without permission, he still hasn’t given up on making me his son-in-law.
Here, I simply decided that backing down would be more beneficial in the long run.
‘I can’t just tell her not to even dream about it because I’ll never marry Senia.’
No matter what I say here, this person won’t listen.
Even after returning to the Artien family, they will continue to watch for opportunities to get their hands on me.
‘then…….’
What should I do here?
If Lydia comes out in such a humble manner… … .
“Then, Lady Lydia.”
“Yes, Lord Eriol.”
“Can I ask you a favor?”
When I asked that, Lydia slowly got up.
And he said, folding his hands in front of him in a polite manner.
“Whatever you wish, Eriol.”
Anything is fine.
If I say that, it really feels like I’m asking for too much… …but I wanted something else.
“then…….”
When Lydia heard my request, she looked very surprised.
