"Now then… I have a small favor to ask, if you wouldn't mind?"
After thoroughly enjoying the tea-and-bean cookies and, for good measure, Urla's finger, Rest got down to business.
He wiped his hands and mouth with a handkerchief, then explained in a measured tone.
"The truth is… I came here because I was hoping to obtain the meat of a certain monster. I truly hate to impose, but would it be possible for you to put in a word with the Margrave Lavender on my behalf?"
"Sure."
"Thank you— wait, you don't even want to hear what kind of monster?"
"Nope."
Rest was the one taken aback by Urla's instant reply.
"I won't turn you down. Because it's you."
"Wait… are you saying you wouldn't refuse any request of mine?"
"Yep."
Another immediate, unhesitating answer.
Sure, they had gone as far as sucking each other's fingers, but was it really okay to trust someone to that degree?
"Alright then. I'll get the Margrave to approve it."
"The Margrave himself? I heard he's quite stubborn…"
"…………Whisper, whisper."
Urla beckoned the butler over and murmured something in his ear.
"Is something the matter?"
"Wait."
"Huh?"
She told him to wait a moment.
So he waited, as told, and before long an elderly man appeared on the terrace.
He was well-dressed, with a gentle face.
"Well, well! Count Clover, thank you for coming all this way. I apologize for the trouble."
"Could it be… you are…?"
"Oh, how rude of me to forget my manners. Allow me to introduce myself properly."
The old man placed a hand over his heart and gave his name.
"I am Looser Lavender the Sixth. My granddaughter is always in your care, I hear."
"I… I had no idea— my apologies!"
Rest hurried to his feet and bowed deeply.
"I am Rest Clover. Thank you so much for the invitation today!"
"Not at all, I'm the one who should apologize for sending a sudden invitation like that. You see, I simply had to meet the young man who's been so good to my granddaughter."
"Ha… huh?"
Throughout the exchange, Margrave Lavender wore a placid expression.
And on his gentle face, his fondness for Rest was plain as day.
(What is with this overly familiar old man… is he plotting something behind the scenes?)
Rest could only feel bewildered. The Margrave's warmth was so over-the-top that it actually circled back around to feeling suspicious.
"I hope you'll continue to get along with Urla. If anything, you're welcome to take her as your wife! Ho ho ho!"
"W-well now… surely you're joking…"
"No joke."
"Ho ho ho! And it seems Urla's pleased about it too!"
The Margrave and Urla burst into laughter together.
In Urla's case, of course, her expression barely changed— she simply looked the tiniest bit flushed in the cheeks.
"Um… but Urla isn't— rather, your granddaughter is the heir, correct? I heard the Lavender Margrave house has no other children…?"
"Indeed. If she bears a child and that child is adopted, there won't be any issue. I intend to continue as head of the house for another twenty years yet, so there's no rush. Ho ho ho!"
"Ha… ahahaha…"
Was it safe to laugh that off as a joke?
There was something about his tone that made it feel like no joke at all… and Rest had the distinct sense that every exit was being sealed shut.
(Isn't this… getting rather dangerous on multiple fronts?)
"Ah, well… I'm still just a young man, so I would appreciate it if that matter could be handled through my guardian. Yes."
"Hmm… the Marquis Rosemary, then. Well, I suppose that can't be helped."
The Margrave appeared to mull it over briefly, but Rest had managed to sidestep the issue for now.
"Well then, I'll let it go for the time being. Now then— I heard you had a favor to ask of me…"
"Oh, no… that's really not necessary—"
"You want the meat of a Diamond Bear that lives in the restricted forest, is that right?"
"Huh? I haven't even explained that far yet…?"
"Mmm-hmm, permission granted. Feel free to go in and hunt as many as you like!"
Before Rest could even sense the danger and decline, the Margrave had already given his approval.
And Rest was fairly certain he hadn't yet mentioned the name "Diamond Bear"… so how had the old man known?
"I'm even now."
Urla's quiet murmur was ominously phrased.
Rest felt a chill run down his spine.
(Wait… could it be that I'm not just having my exits sealed— the inner moat is getting filled in too?)
Perhaps he was nothing more than a winged insect that had flown headfirst into a spider's web.
Rest could only shudder at the string of unexpected developments, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.