Chapter 20: Aristocrat's Life Plan
"Earlier, someone who mentioned wanting to meet Mr. Theodore has arrived."
"A meeting?"
As I headed to the Adventurers' Guild to cash in today's earnings, Heather, who came out to assist, said such a thing.
... I wonder what it is. I don't think it's related to the incident with the Snakebites the other day. The Adventurers' Guild told us to keep quiet about it and informed us that we don't need to get involved.
"If you wait at the guild for a while, they said they would meet you in the back room."
"... Who could it be?"
"Lady Ashley."
Huh? Ashley?
Seeing my confusion, Heather smiles.
"While you're in the meeting, I'll prepare the calculations and the reward for the Snakebites incident."
I was led from the guild counter to a room in the back, and there Ashley was indeed present.
"Lady Ashley."
"Mr. Theodore! Grace-san!"
As I called their names, Ashley stood up from the long chair and smiled.
"Lady Ashley, how are you feeling?"
"Well. I've been feeling better than before. I just arrived in Termwills a little while ago."
Grace and Ashley exchange smiles. The two have become quite friendly during our stay at Ashley's house.
Part of the reason is that Ashley didn't show much resistance when Grace mentioned being a vampire, and Grace also had her own thoughts about Ashley's situation.
"It hasn't been long enough to say 'long time no see.' Are you tired from your long journey?"
"No. I came here in the Adventurers' Guild's Dragon Cage."
The guild's Dragon Cage... A mischievous smile reminiscent of Verine's crossed my mind, but... it would be premature to conclude the reasons behind Ashley coming to Termwills without asking her.
By the way, a Dragon Cage is a means of transportation where one or two tamed flying dragons carry a cage. Together with the Earth Dragon-pulled Dragon Carriage, it allows for large-scale transportation and movement faster than horses. Perhaps the reason my method of coming here was by carriage is because they didn't want to expose a valuable riding dragon to a lowly illegitimate child leaving home.
Ashley must have chosen to use the Dragon Cage because it is less physically taxing to travel by flying dragon than by horse or Earth Dragon.
"No, I was surprised. Why did you come here?"
"I also decided to study abroad in Termwills. It was a sudden decision, so I couldn't inform you in advance, but Verine said she could deliver a message through the guild."
Ah, I see. So she'll be living here after all.
"If it's alright with Lord Theodore, I have a request for you. Would you be willing to accept a designated mission?"
It's not common for a fledgling adventurer to receive a designated mission...
"Is it about continuous treatment using Circulation Alchemy?"
"Yes."
"I understand. We'll discuss the details later."
...The burden on the body tends to increase when the environment changes. There are moments when I want to support Ashley's physical condition with Circulation Alchemy. However, accepting the situation where a nobleman and woman, even though they are children, frequently meet without having a fiancée... Kennel probably approves of it, which is likely the message. Although it was Belene who drew the picture.
Well, it's not that I've been taken advantage of... I think I've been quite won over by Belene. It's probably a plan to show that I'm somewhat biased towards Ashley. Ashley probably doesn't know anything, and it seems that Belene's interference will end here, leaving the judgment to Ashley and me. Setting up the treatment location to avoid harming Ashley's future position is also something I can do.
That delicate balance is Belene's dark side, or rather... her malicious nature.
Looking at it objectively, I am a bastard without any inheritance rights to the Earl's family. If Catherine and her sons weren't the way they are, I would probably have been taken in by the Earl's family as Byron's guardian, which would have been the norm.
I don't want to say that leaving the family was a loss, but if I don't have the right to inherit based on blood relations, the family would not have such a convenient talent. The fact that it turned into a situation where I was banished is the Earl's family's blunder.
Therefore, my future path was supposed to be decided. Even my marriage partner might have been chosen by my father, considering the Earl's family's interests.
However, Catherine abused me out of jealousy towards my mother, and my idiotic brothers followed suit. I hated that and left the Earl's family. In other words, due to the discord with my family, my future became a blank slate.
I don't like talking about my future plans when I haven't achieved anything yet, but if we're talking about how Belene sees me, she probably expects me to rise in fame towards Termwills.
10 years old. If I were a noble's heir or exceptionally talented at this age... it would be normal to have multiple potential concubines alongside the main wife, and everything would be firmly established.
From Kei Hisahisa's perspective, there is a considerable discrepancy, but according to the customs of this world... Berine and Kennel's ideas are not unreasonable. In fact, even Byron is like that.
What makes Berine skillful here is that she manages to connect Ashley and me without making any verbal promises.
Regardless of my future or the relationship with Ashley... Kennel's burden in managing the territory of Shilun, improving the relationship between the baron's family and the guild, noble education for Ashley, maintaining health, ensuring connections among nobles, the income I gain from magic healing, and the prospects for the future... In addition, there are Berine's achievements... It's a story where no one loses.
I am a bastard child of the Earl's family with weak ties to the household, and my marital relations are nonexistent. And if I were a magician... if I were honored, there would definitely be nobles who would want to incorporate me, Berine thought.
Even if Berine and Kennel don't do it, someone else will probably do so. They are getting a head start before I do anything. Really... I've been bought quite a bit. And it's based on the premise that I see through Berine's scheme.
Outstanding adventurers who achieve great feats in the labyrinth are sometimes honored by the kingdom, given titles and territories as human resources. It is not uncommon for them to have multiple wives. Berine is assuming that line of action.
In other words, who am I going to place next to me? When approached with the idea of having a concubine, how can I refuse without causing trouble? Berine is indirectly asking me if it's okay to include Ashley in that... It's that kind of conversation.
Although Ashley is a lord, she is still a baron's family, a rather delicate position. If there is room next to me, it wouldn't be strange for other high-ranking nobles to forcefully intervene.
... I see. That's why it's me. I don't know what Berine thinks about my relationship with Grace, but it might be a plan that takes that into consideration as well. Certainly, if I have multiple wives, it would be easier to come up with reasons to refuse economically or otherwise.
If I were to gain fame and be honored in the labyrinth, it's likely that having just one main wife wouldn't be enough... People around me would come with marriage proposals. When asked if I want to have an unrelated and unknown person next to me, the answer is no.
"Grace-san, could you teach me the embroidery technique again?"
"I'd be happy to, even if it's just me. It might have to be when I have some spare time."
"Of course."
Grace and Ashley were happily chatting. It was a very harmonious atmosphere, but I couldn't help but reflect on my own situation.
Who will I have by my side in the future? As a bastard child, I thought that life plans were something my father would decide... But I never expected to be confronted with this at the age of ten, right after becoming independent. Even though I had always been at the bottom of the hierarchy, well...
If I don't decide anything here, there's no guarantee that Father won't come to get me once the commotion dies down. Refusing is out of the question, of course.
Considering that... well, certainly... I can understand that it's more acceptable to be approached with a proposal after gaining a name rather than being deceived from the start.
Nothing has been decided yet, and how Ashley and I feel about each other in terms of the future... is highly fluid. Certainly... it's true that I don't have a negative impression of her at this point. But to be called a marriage partner... is it too early for such thoughts? Isn't that an argument that doesn't hold for someone born into a noble family?
As for Ashley... well, I understand.
To simplify, it's just a matter of deciding whether or not to accept a marriage proposal. Since I don't have a guardian, I have to establish my own stance.
Even the kennel would understand that. If I receive a noble education at Termwills, Ashley will eventually realize it too. Even if she doesn't, Kennel or Berine will indirectly hint at it. So Ashley and I will continue to look at each other with that assumption in mind.
At this point, we only see each other as friends, so the conversation hasn't even begun.
――Then, what about Grace? What about her future?
She said she would serve me for a lifetime... But if we're talking about lifespan, Grace's is longer. For instance, what will happen to her social position after I'm gone? In other words, who will wield the cursed tools?
I can't bring myself to say that I don't care about what happens afterward, after she has accepted me without abandoning me and followed me all the way to Termwills, a city of misfortune.
Regarding Grace's future... I do think it's important to firmly establish her social position by then. Making a name for herself in Termwills will surely solidify her foundation, but that alone is not enough. So, what should I do for that?
Come to think of it... Me, Grace, and Ashley. If we can clearly understand each other's thoughts, it would align my means and purpose of living here, as well as securing a foundation through marriage and other mutual interests.
...Supporting the future of someone you hold dear and taking responsibility, huh?
It would be nice if I could say, "Let's do it!" and have an easy time. But in the first place, it requires having a partner. If I were spinning my wheels alone, I would be a complete clown.
Considering the conflict between Mother and Catherine, there are various concerns that make it difficult to nod emotionally... However, when looking ahead to the future, it becomes a problem that will affect me directly. I must think carefully about it. I don't want to make the same mistakes as Father.
"What's the matter, Lord Theodore?"
As I look at Grace, she tilts her head.
"Well... we'll talk about it when we get home. The situation has changed, and there are plans for tomorrow and... various things."
Now that I understand... I, too, must prepare myself. Even without Ashley's involvement.
It's not just because she's my personal maid, but also because I think of her like a sister.
When we're apart, it's important to clarify whether I can take responsibility for her entire life. I can't deceive myself if I truly cherish Grace's life. Confirming the answer and deciding the course of her future is definitely necessary.