Episode 100

Shion doesn’t say anything with his eyes twisted.

Harnette stares at Shion for a while, then bursts into laughter.

“Ahahahahaha! What are you thinking? Are you just going to sleep?”

“… Like when you were in the outskirts?”

“You always slept next to me there, didn’t you? Is there anything wrong with sleeping in my room now?”

Only then does Shion let go of his expression and let out a laugh.

When I wandered around the frontier and camped, I always made a bed next to Harnett.

Even if they entered the castle, they stayed in the next room, and they even shared the same room in Nakmor Castle.

Even if I tried to keep my distance now, the traces did not disappear.

“It makes sense.”

“Isn’t that all you have to do? It’s not difficult.”

“I wonder if my sister smells like alcohol so I can fall asleep.”

“Huh! Haven’t I been drinking?”

“It could be misunderstood later.”

“Tell me to misunderstand. Are we engaged? Is it so wrong to sleep together?”

“… That makes sense.”

While living with Hanette, Shion relieved a lot of psychological burden.

As the daughter and fiancé of the duke’s family, as the fiancé and deputy knight commander, as the deputy knight commander and reliable companion.

Now, no matter what he does, he can calmly accept it.

“Does your sister seem to have gotten a lot more comfortable with me?”

“How about you? Does it seem strange to ask to sleep with you?”

“Is there anything strange about it? If you’re engaged, you might try that much.”

“Then everything is fine, right?”

“… Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

“What is there to be ashamed of? If I had followed through on schedule, I would have gotten married already.”

“When we get married, we share the same room.”

“Hey, how many times have we slept together, are you afraid of this?”

From a certain moment on, Hanette stuck next to Zion like a habit.

When you go somewhere, when you fight a monster, when you sleep, when there is no meaning.

There were times when we fell apart, but we quickly got back together and moved together.

I was ashamed of many things in the meantime, but I was able to deal with the act of sleeping without hesitation.

“Shouldn’t I change my clothes anyway?”

“… I’m not ready for that yet.”

“Can we sleep together, but can’t we change into pajamas? The front and back don’t match.”

“Then it looks like you’re really married.”

“Whoa… My sister is also very picky.”

Shion got up from the chair and went towards the bed.

Harnette makes a vacant seat by pushing herself to the side.

Shion thought for a moment and then lay down in an empty seat.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Does it smell like alcohol?”

“It doesn’t smell.”

“… Aren’t you shaking?”

“Why do you shudder? I always slept like this.”

“You’ve never slept in the same bed as me.”

“Now that I’m writing it, I know. It’s nothing like you said.”

“right? I told you.”

Harnette bursts into a small laugh and cautiously turns her head.

Shion only stared into the air, showing only his profile.

“… Actually, I didn’t want to be alone, so I told her to go to sleep. You can go if you want to.”

“I told you the truth, so I’ll stay longer.”

“How long will you be there?”

“Well… You should see what your sister is doing and think about it.”

“Isn’t there anything I can do but lie down?”

“I don’t know. If that’s the case, then maybe I won’t go out.”

“You mean you’ll stay until tomorrow morning?”

“You say you can tell by looking at what sister is doing?”

“If you can’t speak… … .”

Shion responded with a light smile.

Harnette is satisfied with the reaction and turns around completely.

“Tell me something funny. Sleeping like this is a bit of a waste.”

“I am not a storyteller.”

“If you decide to stay in my room, shouldn’t I show you something?”

“Is your sister the one who asked to stay?”

“Is this my room? You have to obey the owner of the room.”

Only then did Shion turn his head and look at Hanette.

Harnette shows a relaxed look and meets that gaze.

“It’s difficult if it’s like this… … .”

“I can’t go out now. You have to keep what you promised.”

“You promise to hold me back?”

“Or just go to sleep. I can sleep too.”

“I don’t think I can sleep well because my sister is by my side.”

“How excited are you that you can’t sleep?”

“I’m so frustrated that I can’t sleep. Are you asking too much?”

“What did I ask for? what the… … .”

The two continued to talk and pass the time.

It was getting darker outside the window, and before I knew it, it was midnight.

Even so, the light in the room did not turn off.

* * *

The mansion of the Duke of Adelaira, the family head’s room.

Roberns looks at the letters on the table and then turns his back.

In some ways, it was related to the family, but I didn’t expect this kind of result to come out.

It wasn’t easy to ascertain who sent it, so it seemed like we should leave it to the butler and maids instead.

‘You did a good job… I made it too big.’

Perhaps those letters contained information about the Knights of Lihines.

Most of them will briefly introduce themselves or others, and perhaps a request to join the team is written.

Robbins had already read some of the correspondence himself, so he couldn’t help but be convinced.

‘The Marquis Regard must have received the letter too.’

Robbins and Fried donated troops and funds to the Knights of Lihines under the names of their respective families.

The Knights of Lihines were not enough to subdue the Shadow Dragon, so they even brought the spoils, and many people found out about it after dedicating it to the king.

As a result, nobles and knights began to pay attention to the Lihines Knights, and they expressed their desire to join the ranks by promoting their personal connections and skills.

‘How do I handle this… … .’

There would also be letters from people he knew well or people with a reputation.

Since he was a duke, he could immediately cut out insignificant correspondence, but other things had to be dealt with carefully.

If he made a mistake, the network he had worked so hard to build could collapse, or the power and reputation of the Duke of Adelaira could be shaken.

‘I’ll have to discuss it with the Marquis of Reggiard. I’ll have to tell them both.’

Robbins did not want to intervene with the Knights of Lihynes.

In the first place, it wasn’t that they helped establish the Knights because they wanted something from Shion and Hanette.

It was only a little step forward because he said that his daughter and son-in-law had a goal to achieve.

‘Things are going well. How can it work out so well?’

The Marquis of Regiard, who had an in-law relationship, was conducting an arranged marriage with the royal family.

The Duchy of Ternane was lost after the disappearance of the young lady, and was pushed out of the battle for power with herself.

The Knights of Lihines, supported by the two families, returned to the capital with an achievement that would go down in history.

Now the Duchy of Adelaira was at its peak, and for decades to come it would continue to prosper and be praised for its glory.

‘… I can give more of the family fortune to Hanette.’

When he dies, he will bequeath the title of duke, head of household, this mansion and most of his property to one of his children.

Of course, some of the property will be distributed to other children, and if necessary, you can give them commercial rights or private soldiers.

In order to have more wealth, you must have contributed to the family, but Hanette raised the family’s name by subjugating the Shadow Dragon.

In other words, even if you take care of more harnesses, there will be no backlash, so you can lessen your worries.

‘Hanet made a big mistake.’

Robbins has been plagued with guilt ever since Harnette started learning magic.

Harnette was recognized for her qualities by the Blue Sage and the President of the Logos Society, and quickly obtained the title of mage.

And soon after, he founded the Knights with Zion, and suddenly became known as a strong man who defeated the 4 disasters.

If he had recognized that talent a little earlier, wouldn’t Hanette’s future have shone more brightly?

‘It’s very late… Didn’t it go well though?’

Harnette was the ugliest of the four children, and her fingers were only scarred.

But now he has become the best child, and there is not even a scar left, let alone a scar.

My anxiety about Hanette had faded, so I had no choice but to feel more at ease.

‘You should delay your marriage. You must not have children.’

Shion and Hanette had just proved their skills and were making a name for themselves as knights who had slain the Shadow Dragon.

For the time being, they had to follow this trend and increase their value with the Knights of Lihines.

Marriage is fine, but if you have a child, the two of you will be forced to take a break.

As a result, the skills of the two would fall a little, and even the position of the Lihines Knights would be disturbed.

‘It’s okay to tell me right now… … .’

Yenid entered the room with a knock on the door.

Robbins hurriedly turns around and clears his mind.

“My lord! Whoa… Shion went into Harnette’s room, but she still hasn’t come out.”

“It must have been quite a while since it was night… Isn’t it time to sleep now?”

“They said they went to a bar together. It’s been a while, so maybe… … .”

“… … ?”

Roberns was puzzled, but quickly grasped the situation.

They had been close friends all this time, and as they traveled to the remote areas together, they would have grown closer.

According to the knight who escorted the two, they were often attached to each other, and they used to share the same room in the castle.

At that time, even if you are tired, you can pass quietly, but what will happen if alcohol and comfort are added.

“Yenid! Why didn’t you stop it!”

“Yes? what does that mean… … .”

“Now is not the time!”

Robbins ran quickly and climbed the stairs.

Yenid and the ladies-in-waiting barely followed him, startled.

‘This happened while I was looking at it for a while… … .’

Robbins stops in front of Harnette’s room and gestures to the ladies-in-waiting.

The ladies-in-waiting hurriedly back away and distance themselves from Robbins.

Robbins hurriedly knocks on the door, full of anxiety.

‘You shouldn’t go in first.’

I wouldn’t know if it was usual, but now I couldn’t even touch the doorknob.

If you are paying for work, the door will be locked.

Even if the door was unlocked, going in without permission would bring shame and humiliation to both of them.

‘If you’re late… … .’

The moment suspicions arose, the door opened and Shion appeared.

Shion quickly bowed her head when she found Robens and Yenid.

“female… How did you get here?”

“… … .”

Roberns delays answering and takes a quick look around the room.

A bright light spread out, and there was no sign of mess.

Harnette found herself on her feet, wearing her shirt and overcoat well.

Since Shion’s suit was also kept in a neat shape, it was possible to know that the accident he was concerned about had not occurred.

“… hehehehe, can I see you for a second? You’d better go to your room.”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

Shion returned to the room with Robbins in doubt.

Robbins is left alone with Shion and the tension belatedly eased.

“I know I shouldn’t ask this question, but I must. What were you doing with Hanette?”

“We talked. I wanted to stay with you, so I was going to stay with you until tomorrow morning.”

“Didn’t you do anything other than that?”

“Yes, we were lying together in bed, but nothing special happened.”

Robbins is relieved internally, but can’t bear to speak.

Even when the two got engaged, it was a situation they had longed for, but now they were trying to stop it somehow.

In addition, he made a fuss in the middle of the night and felt sorry for disturbing his intimate life.

“Huh… I’m sorry for you, but let me tell you first. Not now. It’s not necessarily impossible, but wouldn’t it be better to delay it a little for you and Hanette?”

“… What do you mean we have to postpone?”

“You can have children later. Shouldn’t we focus on the Knights for now?”