May tea party.
Facing the array of tea leaves and fancy sweets prepared for Erica, I spread my arms wide.
“Erica, want a refill?”
When I tried to pour tea into the cup, Erica shook her head.
“—No, that’s enough.”
“You haven’t been eating much, have you?”
“I’m already full.”
Seeing Erica at a loss, I let my shoulders slump.
“Y-yeah, I see.”
I invited my three fiancés to the tea party, but—Angelica refused, saying she was busy.
Libya did the same.
As for Noel, after some talk with the two, she said she’d politely decline this time.
Feeling oddly lonely, I called in a substitute—
“Hey, what’s with this mountain of sweets?”
“Whoa, there’s so much candy I can’t finish it all.”
It was Finn, looking exasperated, and little Mia, shoveling sweets with her tiny body.
I ignored Finn.
“Mia-chan, you’re cute. You can eat more, you know.”
“Thank you! Um, Marquis‑sama?”
While I was chatting with cute Mia, Finn grew irritated.
“Don’t ignore me! And Mia, you can call him by his first name, that’s fine.”
Finn sipped his tea and blurted out, “Surprisingly good,” which was pretty rude.
Of course it’s good.
I had a busy master make time for me just for today, and I got a lesson.
“By the way, how’s studying abroad?”
When I asked if she was having fun, Finn pressed his right hand to his forehead.
“The girls keep pestering me to host a tea party. Even if I say I’m Mia’s guard knight, the kingdom’s girls just don’t get it.”
—What a guy.
He suddenly started bragging about his looks.
Erica smiled.
“In the kingdom we don’t really have the Imperial guard‑knight system, you know. But as a girl, I’ve always dreamed of having a knight to protect me.”
Mia, with chocolate on her cheek, tilted her head.
“Huh? But Erica‑sama already has a guard, right?”
Finn said, “Seriously, just stay still,” and wiped Mia’s cheek.
Erica watched that, laughing politely.
“A knight who volunteers to protect you is different from a knight who’s ordered to. Mia‑san, you’ve got a fine guard knight.”
Mia blushed.
“I‑I’m not worthy of such a knight! He’s amazing! He’s super strong even in the Empire and has a huge medal! I‑I don’t even know why someone like that would become my guard.”
I looked at Finn.
“Give her a proper explanation.”
“D‑don’t simplify it!”
Finn, flustered, turned to Mia.
“As I said before, I want to protect you because I want to. Nothing more, nothing less. So you don’t have to feel low.”
I wanted to protect her because she reminded me of my sister.
Just that feeling made him, who volunteered as a knight just to scoop up a cheat item and become Mia’s guard, a total idiot.
If it were me, would I have tried to get Luxion just to protect Marie?
—No, I wouldn’t go that far.
“It’s just that a lot of princesses wanted to make you their guard. Why me?”
After hearing Mia, I glared at Finn.
“Lucky you got a lot of love calls. I got more boos.”
“That’s on you for being so provocative. I was totally put off just hearing it.”
I’m not the bad guy; I just went a bit overboard.
Then Mia looked at me and smiled.
“What’s up?”
“No, uh—both of you look like you’re having a great time, which makes me feel at ease.”
◇
When the tea party ended and we were cleaning up, Erica helped.
“You didn’t have to help, you know.”
After sending the two guests home, the lingering Erica seemed to have something to say.
“I wanted to talk to you, Uncle.”
“Oh? Anything, just ask.”
My cute niece wanted to chat with me.
She then said,
“Um—Uncle, please answer honestly. What’s your goal?”
“Huh?”
I wondered what she was getting at, but she seemed genuinely curious about my purpose.
She wore a fairly serious expression.
“My goal? Just to live an ordinary life in the countryside, I guess.”
“R‑really? No matter how you look at it, you can’t possibly lead an ordinary life.”
“Why?”
There’s no final boss anymore.
The real issue now is how to keep the kingdom stable.
I thought I could just hide out in the country and watch things from afar.
—That’s what I wanted to think.
“Your current position draws attention not just from the kingdom but from foreign lands too. Mother says marrying me would be the least blood‑spilling option.”
Mother is Milène. “Mother” is how Marie calls her.
“I’m done getting involved. I’ll keep my distance. Frankly, I’d tell you not to drag me into your messes. I don’t get why you’d rely on me.”
I get the reason, but I don’t want you dumping problems on me.
No, I want you to stay out of it.
“But—if that’s the case, why did you get so involved in the first place?”
“Well, there’s a reason.”
“Uncle, are you really planning to live an ordinary life?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“If that’s so, you’d normally act more cautiously, right? Even if the duel with my brother was unavoidable, the way it went was brutal. Same with the fight against the duchy. You’ve been stoking the fire, haven’t you?”
“Hahaha! —Yes. Sorry.”
Erica scolded me.
“I’m frail, often listening from my bed. I kept wondering what kind of reckless person you were. I never imagined it’d be you, Uncle.”
She laughed at how far from ordinary I was.
“No, it’s just Luxion’s performance. I’m an ordinary guy.”
“—Ordinary people can’t shine like you even with power. I know that from experience.”
“What?”
“You’re truly a hero, Uncle.”
“No, I’m not a great man.”
Erica shook her head.
“I heard from Mother, Angelica, and even Olivia. Uncle, ordinary people who get huge power end up destroying themselves.”
“But Luxion and the others are too useful to just wipe out, right?”
“It’s not that. The fact that you can even use Luxion and the others is already amazing. If it were me, I’d be too scared to do anything.”
“Scared?”
Erica poured out her current feelings.
“I’m really happy now. I got to reunite with Mother, I can be a princess. But I chose a path of not interfering with this world. I was scared that changing the world would break something. I was terrified that my choices would ruin something. I was in a position to do something, yet I did nothing.”
“Breaking things like that—”
Erica looked at me, half‑amused, half‑envious.
“And yet both Mother and Uncle do whatever they want. It makes me feel foolish for all the things I’ve been pondering.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m the one out of line for getting angry.”
Erica always seemed to be having fun.
But sometimes she looked lonely.
“Don’t you have anything you want to do? If you want, I can have Luxion obey you and make it happen.”
Those guys have been in a good mood ever since they investigated Erica. They said something about her genetics being close to the Old Humanity.
Erica set down the washed cup.
She smiled, but a hint of sadness lingered.
“Uncle, I’m a princess now. Most of my dreams have already come true.”
“Really? You must have some regrets.”
“You know, Uncle, I’m technically your niece, but I plan to work honestly until retirement and collect a pension. I’m older than you, after all.”
A sixteen‑year‑old girl bragging about being older—how cute.
What shocked me more was another truth.
“Pension—did you actually get one?”
“Oh, um, is that what’s surprising?”
“Even if you’re an old lady inside, you’re still my cute niece. —You took care of your parents and grandparents, right? Let me return some of that favor.”
You took care of your parents, niece. I need to do something for you, or I won’t be satisfied.
Since reincarnating, I’ve been curious about my previous family. Hearing about them now, thanks to Erica, truly eased my mind.
“I heard you’re harsh‑mouthed, but you’re actually kind. Grandfather and grandmother always said they loved being spoiled by you when you were around. I also get why Mother relied on you.”
“People rely on me because I’m a jerk. Anyway, the cleanup’s done.”
After washing the dishes, I packed my things into a bag.
“Marie’s late. She said she’d pick up Erica.”
“I wonder what’s up with her.”
“Curious. Should I go meet her?”
She should have been at Julius’s tea party, I think.
◇
Meanwhile.
Noel was discussing with Angelica and Libya.
They were in Angelica’s private room.
“—You’re serious about a coup!?”
Noel couldn’t hide his shock at Angelica’s words.
“My father is serious. My brother isn’t opposing.”
There are forces trying to lift the Redgrave dukedom, and Vins and Gilbert seem ready to use it.
Libya explained to Noel.
“They say some people have already started moving in earnest.”
Angelica told Noel that Leon is at the center of it all.
“The kingdom and my father both rely on Leon. That means Leon will inevitably be thrust into the front lines of war.”
Libya was also uneasy about that.
“Leon‑san, even though he’s back from studying abroad, his medication dosage hasn’t gone down. It’s actually painful, but he hides it.”
Leon is using the sleep aid prescribed by Luxion.
“If this keeps up, Leon‑san will break down.”
Both Angelica and Libya, who know Leon’s temperament, don’t want to drag him into battle.
Noel recalled events in the Republic.
“I get not wanting to push him too hard. So, what’s the plan? Stick with the kingdom?”
“If that keeps my father quiet, great, but the situation’s worse.”
Angelica talked about the troublesome bunch.
“Rebellions are sprouting everywhere.”
“Huh? Wait, isn’t the duke the one trying to start a rebellion?”
When Noel looked confused, Libya slowly explained.
“Well, first, it’s not the duke’s faction. It’s a group of people expelled from the palace and nobility by Leon, who then got foreign backing.”
Neighboring countries were also in a panic.
A hero named Leon emerged quickly, and every nation was in a frenzy.
Angelica told Noel a fortunate fact for the Republic.
“Rejoice, the other nations are too busy dealing with your homeland to interfere. They can’t act because they don’t even know Leon.”
Leon almost destroyed the Republic, then backed off.
Nations are now stuck wondering whether to intervene.
In short, “Is it okay to step in? If we do, will they get angry? Which way is it?”
If things go badly, the guy who toppled the Republic could show up.
From each nation’s view, a lone Leon rampaging around is too dangerous to let become an attacker.
His arrival would be a nightmare.
Neighboring states are terrified, especially those at odds with Milène’s homeland.
After all, Leon is close to Milène.
Countries trying to cozy up to Leon, those watching, and those trying to wear the kingdom down—Holfart Kingdom was in a tight spot.
“—That’s nice, but what now?”
Angelica lowered her head.
“Leon seems to like Erica‑sama. So maybe we should just let them marry. If that steadies Leon’s mind, it’s the cheapest solution.”
Aligning with the kingdom and preventing rebellion is the least bloody path.
Angelica thought that.
“That means going against my own family, right?”
“What of it? I’m Leon’s wife. I won’t become a puppet of my family.”
Noel looked at Libya.
“Are you okay with that?”
“I love Leon‑san the most. Even if I can’t be his number one, I’m fine as long as he’s happy.”
Noel had nothing more to say.
(Being a true noble is tough.)
Seeing Leon’s burden and the two who try to support it made me think.
(They both cared about Leon more than I realized.)
◇
“What’s this?”
In the courtyard, Julius’s tea party—actually a barbecue—was in full swing.
Erica looked a bit surprised.
“Ah, brother, what are you doing?”
Julius, wearing an apron, was grilling meat on a skewer, looking very happy.
“Want some too?”
Erica took a skewer, still looking confused.
Marie was devouring skewers greedily.
Cara and Kyle did the same.
“Marie‑sama, today’s lunch is lavish.”
“We need to stock up on veggies and meat while we can.”
I covered my face with both hands.
“—You guys are just pitiful.”
Having lived in poverty, we’re used to eating only when we can, so this feast excites us.
Marie was drinking sake.
“Everyone, today we’ll make a ruckus!”
Jilk and Brad lifted mugs, while Greg and Chris were in loincloths holding skewers.
“Whoa!”
All the voices overlapped; it felt like a fun tea party after all.
Everyone was having a blast, but Julius was the only one still grilling.
“Don’t you have to join in?”
“Me? I can’t leave this to anyone else.”
Seeing Julius happily grilling, Erica seemed like she wanted to say something but kept quiet.
Erica rarely pushes her opinions.
It nagged me a little.
“—So this is a tea party, huh? Brother, you’ve really hit rock bottom.”
A tense line was delivered as Julius’s younger brother, Prince Jake, appeared in the courtyard.
Behind him stood Oscar, unusually large for a first‑year.
Julius turned to Prince Jake.
“—Jake”
“Long time no see, brother.”