Special Story 10

“So, to give you the answer to what you asked earlier…”

 

“No, wait. The tea hasn’t arrived yet, Hayden.”

 

As soon as she had entered the office, she had demanded to know—without preamble—why he couldn’t provide twenty magicians for the banquet, but now she was telling him to put the main subject aside because the tea hadn’t been served.

 

Hayden’s brow furrowed instinctively, but Lirael immediately diverted his attention to another topic.

 

“Are you not getting married?”

 

“……Pardon?”

 

“I mean, it seems like the right time to start a family.”

 

“I’ve held the position of Tower Master for less than a month.”

 

As Hayden stared at Lirael with an incredulous expression, she gazed back at him with an ecstatic, dazed look, as if even his disbelief was enchanting.

 

“But hasn’t everything stabilized quite a bit already?”

 

“Stability and marriage are two entirely different matters.”

 

“When are you going to do it, then?”

 

“Why are you curious?”

 

“Because if you do, it has to be with me.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

Hayden’s face distorted instantly.

 

Watching his reaction, Lirael muttered in admiration about how someone could look so handsome even while scowling. Hayden’s expression shifted from disbelief to utter speechlessness.

 

“My goodness, it’s certain your face has received every blessing from God.”

 

Whether he liked it or not, Lirael seemed sincere in her worship of his features, her eyes never leaving his face.

 

“Why exactly I should marry the Princess…”

 

“Lirael. We agreed to call each other by name.”

 

“I never agreed to such a thing.”

 

“It’s just a name, why be so prickly? Just say it.”

 

“……Sigh. Regardless, with Princess Lirael, I…”

 

“Drop the ‘Princess.’ And yes, it’s only right that you marry me.”

 

Lirael cut him off, forcing her logic upon him.

 

“And why is that?”

 

“What do you mean ‘why’? Who else would you marry if not me? Do you already have someone? Who is it? A lady from which house?”

 

Startled by Lirael suddenly leaning across the table in her excitement, Hayden recoiled, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

 

“There is no one. I have no interest in marriage in the first place.”

 

Lirael let out a sigh of relief and pulled her upper body back.

 

“Good, as it should be. You shouldn’t have anyone else while I’m around.”

 

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been wondering why you keep saying such things…”

 

As Hayden frowned in annoyance, Lirael tilted her head as if the answer were obvious.

 

“Is there any partner more suitable for Hayden than me?”

 

“I don’t know what kind of ‘suitability’ you’re referring to, but I have no intention of marrying based solely on suitability.”

 

“Of course, I feel the same way. I didn’t choose Hayden just because he’s the best candidate for a consort.”

 

Lirael added that that was a separate issue; she chose him because he was the only one she wanted to marry.

 

“I don’t think Hayden has anyone else in mind for a wife either, other than me.”

 

“I have never had the Princess in mind.”

 

“You say that, but you must have thought that if you had to marry anyway, I would be the best choice, right?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

“Really? Not at all?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

At Hayden’s firm words, Lirael pouted, unable to hide her disappointment, before asking him: “Do you dislike me?”

 

“And do you, Lirael, actually like me?”

 

Hayden asked back incredulously, but his eyes widened in shock at her immediate response.

 

“Of course! Naturally. In fact, I like you like crazy.”

 

As embarrassment spread across Hayden’s face, Lirael’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Then, shall we try dating first? It won’t be a losing deal for you, Hayden.”

 

 

***

 

 

Enria, who had been worrying about Hayden’s future partner, was quite taken aback by Princess Lirael’s sudden visit to the Grand Duchy.

 

The Princess and Hayden? There hadn’t been the slightest hint of a connection between them until now, so this sudden development was naturally puzzling.

 

“So, we’ve decided to see each other with the intention of marriage, so please look after me from now on.”

 

“Ah… Yes, well, I look forward to getting to know you as well.”

 

Enria bowed her head with a bewildered face and looked at her son, who was standing beside Lirael with a stoic expression.

 

Sensing Enria’s gaze, Hayden turned to her and let the corners of his mouth lift almost imperceptibly.

 

It just turned out this way, mother.

 

The expression was so clear on his face that Enria realized Lirael had essentially steamrolled him into this.

 

‘Perhaps it’s for the best if this sparks some interest in the opposite sex.’

 

Enria thought that Lirael’s constant prodding might at least influence Hayden’s indifferent views on romance.

 

“By the way, where is the Grand Duke… no, my father-in-law-to-be?”

 

At the term “father-in-law-to-be,” Enria almost burst out laughing and had to bite her lip as she looked at Hayden. Hayden also seemed startled by the title and lowered his head toward Lirael to correct her.

 

“It’s too early for ‘father-in-law,’ Lirael.”

 

“That’s why I added ‘to-be,’ didn’t I?”

 

“Even so…”

 

“So, where is he?”

 

As Lirael looked around, Hayden let out a short sigh and spoke to Enria.

 

“I should take Lirael to see father.”

 

“Yes, he’s in his office.”

 

As Enria nodded, Hayden followed suit. He began to walk toward the office with Lirael but suddenly stopped and looked back at Enria.

 

“By the way, have you not been eating properly lately?”

 

His face was full of worry. The fussiness he had learned from his father was acting up now that he was home.

 

Enria nodded and told him not to worry. When Hayden opened his mouth to say more, she nudged him along, telling him not to keep the Princess waiting and to head up to Caldeon’s office.

 

Hayden sighed and said they would talk more when he returned. Lirael followed him, smiling brightly at Enria’s consideration.

 

 

***

 

 

“That fox-like Princess must have pestered my brother into becoming her lover.”

 

Heiji frowned in displeasure upon hearing that Hayden and the Princess had visited the Grand Duchy to announce they were dating with marriage in mind. Since she didn’t have a good impression of the Princess, the news of the union was quite unwelcome.

 

Teiro tried to soothe her.

 

“But if he becomes the Princess’s partner, the Imperial Palace will stop targeting him. Wouldn’t that be good for Brother Hayden?”

 

“Exactly. If the Palace stops their surveillance, Hayden’s life will get much easier. I think the pros outweigh the cons,” Lyven agreed, nodding.

 

Heiji scowled at them, asking what eleven-year-olds like them could possibly know. Both boys bit their tongues, resisting the urge to point out that she was also eleven.

 

“Sigh, I really hate it. Is having a partner absolutely necessary?”

 

Teiro and Lyven’s eyes widened. They immediately began explaining why humans absolutely needed partners.

 

“In the first place, humans aren’t solitary animals. I think marriage is mandatory.”

 

“That’s just your opinion, Lyven.”

 

“It is, but usually everyone gets married when they come of age…”

 

“It’s about two people sharing tasks that are hard to do alone. That’s what marriage is, Heiji.”

 

Teiro said that if he became Heiji’s partner, he would take half of her workload upon himself. He didn’t forget to mention that he was already learning many things from his mother, who had been the deputy Grand Duchess.

 

Lyven shouted that he was being unfair, and Heiji briefly imagined her own future. Since her brother had chosen to be the Tower Master, it was almost certain she would inherit the family line. She had the ambition to perform her duties perfectly as the Head.

 

She wondered if it might indeed be more stable if Teiro helped her.

 

“I can do it well, too! The work of the Master of the Grand Duchy!”

 

At that, Lyven raised his hand and shouted, refusing to lose. When Teiro looked at him as if to ask what he could possibly do, Lyven lifted his chin and said: “I’m still young, so if I start learning now, I’m confident I’ll be better than you.”

 

“I’ve already started, so it’s a given that I’ll be better.”

 

“I’ll learn even more than you!”

 

“Even if you cut back on sleep to learn, you won’t catch up to me. I’m already in the middle of it.”

 

The two began to bicker over who was more suited to be the spouse of the Grand Duchy’s Head. Heiji looked out the window with a bored expression, tired of their constant arguing.

 

She had briefly considered Teiro as a potential partner, but it was still premature. She figured there was plenty of time to choose among these two, Blizzan, or any others who might court her later.

 

Above all, marriage would be a far-off matter, as she intended to wait until she met a man who loved her as much as her father loved her mother.

 

Looking at the quarreling Teiro and Lyven, Heiji decided she should raise these two boys into better men for now. That way, her chances of finding a better partner would increase.

 

She turned her head to look outside. The snow that had fallen overnight was dazzlingly white.

 

Heiji felt that the white landscape was like her future. A blank page she had yet to walk upon, filled with the curiosity of who her partner might be. Looking at the snow, she hoped her future would be filled only with happiness and the right person.

 

“Heiji.”

 

She heard Enria’s voice from behind.

 

Turning around, she saw Enria and Caldeon entering hand-in-hand. Hayden followed behind them with a expressionless face.

 

Heiji smiled at her parents, who were as close as ever. It was an undeniable fact that her father was an unstoppable romantic when it came to her mother.

 

Just like right now.

 

“Whoops!”

 

“Careful.”

 

Caldeon instantly caught Enria by the waist as she tripped while entering, looking at her with a worried face. Enria smiled lovingly at him. Soon, a loving smile spread across Caldeon’s face as well.

 

Watching the two, Hayden and Heiji both let out a small, amused sigh.

 

Both Hayden and Heiji thought they wanted to experience a love like that—a love so tender and devoted.

 

The scenery outside, which Heiji had felt was like a blank future, became a dazzling backdrop behind the four family members looking at each other affectionately.

 

As if predicting that the future ahead would be brilliant.

 

<The End>

 

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That’s the end of Um, You’re the Father, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the story. I don’t know what I expected from the side stories but it was both unexpected and at the same time made sense to me haha. Anyway, I’ll see you in the next story!