TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Returning to Talian after so long, it was still peaceful.
Though the weather was chilly, Ian felt warmth.
'...Because this is a place I can call home.'
Not every wizard enjoyed wandering like Eredith.
Actually, Eredith was the unusual one - finding joy in wandering wasn't easy.
Short trips could be fun, but after a certain point, you start missing home.
In that sense, Talian held deep meaning for Ian in many ways.
This was Ian's home.
...For now, anyway.
"Welcome back! Ian!"
A young lady in a pointed hat and fur coat came running excitedly.
Ian almost burst out laughing.
Even well-dressed medieval nobles just looked like people cosplaying medieval characters.
If this were a romance fantasy world, she'd have appeared in a beautiful dress.
Lucy was still Lucy, even meeting again after so long.
"I'm back."
"Hehee."
Lucy hugged Ian tightly in front of everyone.
It might have been embarrassing in public, but nobody minded.
Anyone who needed to know was already aware of Ian and Lucy's relationship.
"Don't just stand there, come in everyone!"
"Ho ho. Pardon the intrusion, Countess."
Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.
Ian's group entered Talian Hall one by one.
Except for one person.
A red-haired wizard who hesitated until the end.
"Shall we go? Kira?"
"...Please protect me, Ian."
"I'll try."
"N-not try! I'm seriously scared to death!"
Ian glanced at Lucy.
In her fur coat for winter and pointed hat supposedly worn by 'dignified' noble ladies, Lucy...
...Just looked like a college freshman enjoying Halloween cosplay.
Was this supposed to be noble dignity?
"Huh? Are you looking at my coat?"
"Yeah. Haven't seen it before."
"Hehehe... How is it? Pretty right! I bought it right away when a passing merchant was selling it!"
Lucy had gold coins rotting away from abundance.
After defeating the black dragon Predius, gold had come in by the chest.
Lucy was using that money to buy pretty clothes...
"Sure. If it makes you happy, that's what matters."
"Hehe."
"...Just stay healthy."
Looking at Lucy, Ian really didn't think she would kill Kira or anything.
Though he might need to worry about her getting seriously upset.
But that...
As Maria said, wasn't that something Ian could soothe? somehow?
'Being manly is really hard.'
Ian couldn't help but smile.
Seriously. Since reincarnating into another world, he'd been having all sorts of strange worries.
Ian followed Lucy into Talian Hall.
Being lunchtime, rich food aromas filled the air.
Though they were sudden guests, Lucy gave them her full hospitality.
"You must be tired from traveling, please eat as much as you'd like!"
"We're grateful for your kindness, Countess."
Sir Salvador expressed thanks on behalf of the group.
As if excited to have guests for meals after a long time, Lucy chatted happily.
Most of it was trivial small talk.
Seeing a funny-looking bird in the forest, slash-and-burn farmers almost causing a forest fire...
"??? That doesn't sound funny though?"
"Oh come on, nothing serious happened!"
Well, that's what she said.
Though Ian couldn't quite understand Lucy's mental world... seeing her happy smile made him lose any desire to comment.
Lucy seemed to be really enjoying life in her own way.
Though her path overlapped with Ian's...
She had her own life to live.
"I don't see any refugees around."
"They've already returned to their hometowns."
Talian's vassal nobles had apparently left with their people to rebuild their homes.
It would probably take over a decade to properly restore their hometowns that the black dragon Predius had destroyed.
Lucy had generously shared gold and grain with her vassals.
"That was the agreement from the start."
"Were there any problems?"
"Lots of monsters. You know orcs love raiding ruins."
Thanks to that, Lucy's popularity in the Talian region had apparently reached sky-high levels.
For at least several decades, Lucy would be seen as the leader of the Talian region.
Having defeated a dragon and actively helping the barons.
"That dragon bastard brought so many monsters, the mountains have become orc dens."
"It'll take some time to drive them all out."
"That's why we're recruiting more knights."
Baron Damon said with a hearty laugh.
He had somehow become Lucy's important vassal.
Pretty impressive career advancement for a former bandit leader.
"Ian, there's nothing for you to worry about! Hahaha!"
"That's worth celebrating."
Talian was developing regardless of Lucy's intentions.
In that sense Lucy was incredibly lucky.
From being driven out by rebellion to becoming a notable noble in the region.
And all without... lifting a finger.
'Hmm. Lucky indeed.'
Though lunch had ended, Lucy fussed about preparing dinner right away.
Well, it was fussing by Ian's standards. To others, it was quite reasonable behavior.
Noble banquets took a long time to prepare.
They needed to start now to have dinner ready by evening.
"Lucy."
"Yes???"
"I need to tell you something important. Really important."
"Now? I'm busy though."
"...No. It's important."
This girl just listens through her nostrils-
Ian quickly shook his head.
No. Think nice thoughts... nice thoughts...!
Lucy is sweet and cute!
Isn't that enough?(It's not)
"Well. Should we go to my room then?"
Lucy led Ian to her room with a bright smile.
Seeing that 100% happy pure smile...
Ian felt a slight pain in his chest.
Even if it was for Kira's sake, causing pain to another person wasn't pleasant.
Ian and Lucy. Just the two of them in the room.
Ian got straight to the point.
"Lucy. I... found someone I like."
"..."
Lucy's eyes went wide, and she collapsed onto the bed.
"...I see."
Surprisingly, Lucy wasn't shocked.
She'd been somewhat prepared for this.
Ian was an exceptional wizard. Even if Lucy was willful, she understood that much.
Would no women really approach a wizard of Ian's caliber during his travels?
That was impossible.
After all, Lucy herself had been one of those women.
So Lucy had instinctively expected it.
If one day... Ian brought another woman.
Just think of it as inevitable.
"What... kind of person?"
"A wizard. She grew up in an even poorer commoner family than me."
Lucy's mood improved slightly.
If it had been some duke's daughter or small kingdom's princess, Lucy would have felt outmatched...!
A commoner? At least Lucy won in bloodline!
"A commoner wizard... what do you like about her?"
"She's a fellow wizard. I felt we had a lot in common. Enough to want to face the future together."
"...Yeah. I understand."
Lucy wasn't an exceptional woman.
Even if Ian didn't outright call her thick-headed, Lucy was self-aware enough to know that.
She wasn't smart like Ian, nor did she have good bloodline like high nobles.
Her domain was just a common rural town.
Just going to big cities, there were women far more elegant and refined than Lucy everywhere.
"..."
Lucy slowly took off her pointed hat.
It was a fashion item she wore trying to look like a refined modern woman(?)...
If Ian wouldn't look at her.
What was the point of dressing up prettily?
Making a fuss wouldn't solve anything.
She had known this day would come.
...She'd just been living each day hoping it wouldn't be today.
'Right... for a wizard like Ian. A rural noble like me wouldn't be enough.'
Lucy clenched her fists.
Though she was just lucky, she had achieved being Ian's girlfriend.
She was clearly aware of the possibility of Ian finding another woman.
But.
That didn't mean she wanted to give up Ian quietly...!
"So. What do you want from me?"
"Lucy. I..."
"Want to break up because you found a new woman?"
"..."
"I don't really like that?"
Lucy roughly gathered and swept back her dark blue hair.
Ian couldn't take his eyes off her.
Lucy's plan to appeal to Ian through fashion items was fundamentally flawed...
'She looks much better without the hat.'
Ian felt his heart flutter seeing Lucy's long straight hair.
Men naturally love women's long hair!
"Why should I? Am I supposed to just go 'Oh, I see~' and step aside because you found a new woman?"
"No, that's not what I..."
"Right. I'm not anyone special. Just a common rural noble of the empire."
Lucy grabbed Ian's collar with both hands.
...But there was no strength in her fingers.
Lucy's large eyes were already glistening with sadness.
"But... I'm still a noble. Ian Eredith Raven."
"..."
"I'm not... someone you can just... throw away whenever you want...!"
Ian removed Lucy's hands as he spoke.
"Lucy. That's not what..."
"I-I don't want to break up with you! So go tell that woman! No matter what she does, I'll stick with you as long as I can...!"
"No, I'm not throwing you away! I won't throw you away!"
"Then! Prove it!"
In that moment, Lucy reached out and grabbed Ian's cheeks.
Lucy's soft lips covered Ian's.
A warm silence flowed for a moment.
"...Well done, Ian."
"Is that something to praise?"
Ian was dumbfounded, but Lucy's expression had improved.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ian quickly spoke.
"I thought about it a lot too. I sincerely want to marry you, Lucy."
"...!"
"But I found someone else I want to live with too. That's... I have no excuse. I'm sorry."
Lucy thought with her arms crossed.
"So, marrying me is confirmed?"
"Yeah."
"Then... well. Fine."
Lucy kissed Ian again.
"Honestly. I had that thought. A man like you would be hard to keep to myself."
"...Really?"
"I'm not stupid. I know at least that royalty keeps multiple women."
"???"
She seems pretty stupid though?
Ian almost said.
He didn't understand why she was comparing him to royalty.
But... if that's how Lucy thought about it. Well.
"Great kings in history had multiple wives. So you're fine too. Even the Sultan in the distant Sand Empire has something called a harem, right?"
"..."
"Though if you bring in 100 women like the Sultan... that would make me angry."
"Lucy..."
"As long as it's not too many. I'm okay with it."
Ian smiled as he asked.
"Even though I'm not royalty?"
Lucy hugged Ian tight and murmured.
"...You're already my prince, Ian."
All that stuff about her being stupid - completely retracted.
Ian hugged Lucy back.
She was Ian's cutest bride in the world.
"I love you, Lucy."
"I-I... love you too, Ian."
God damn.
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