Published: September 6, 2025
“Although there was interference from the Central Knights Order and smaller territories during the recent ditter, since there was no call for judgment, the ditter remained ongoing. The outcome was decided when Hannelore herself left the formation,”
the principal wife said calmly. Though her expression was gentle, there was an undertone of reproach for Hannelore’s actions, and I instinctively glanced at Hannelore. She was shrinking into herself as if with nowhere to place her body, head bowed. Seeing this, I explained the situation when Hannelore took refuge.
“Lady Hannelore left the formation herself because it was dangerous—she had no Guard Knight with her.”
Without any Guard Knights, Hannelore alone was frightened and enduring attacks from above. I pleaded that it was far too pitiful, but the principal wife’s smile did not falter.
“Yes. The knights went aloft to protect the treasure from the enemy’s attack magic. Despite that, Hannelore left the formation herself. Wouldn’t you say that is an act of betrayal against the knights who were fighting to protect her?”
I thought it was awful to expect her to endure alone amid a shower of attack magic. I couldn’t sympathize with the claim that leaving the formation to seek safety was betrayal and worthy of reproach.
“…I was taught growing up that being guarded by the Guard Knights was the job of a lord candidate, so the absence of Guard Knights around seems like abandonment of duty to me.”
“Oh? So you say Hannelore’s action was justified in Ehrenfest?”
If we consider it as behavior within the ditter, and as a lord candidate of Dunkelfelger, it might be an action to criticize. But Ehrenfest and Dunkelfelger are different.
I was about to argue, but my foster father spoke first.
“The Guard Knights exist to protect the lord family. And the most important thing in the ditter is to protect the treasure. If they failed to do so, that is the knights’ fault.”
…That’s right, that’s right! It’s the Guard Knights’ fault for not being there.
I nodded vigorously at my foster father’s words. The principal wife lowered her gaze as if to ponder.
“…So that’s Ehrenfest’s view. That Hannelore bears no fault for leaving the formation herself.”
“Yes.”
Unlike Aub Dunkelfelger, the principal wife did not insist on deciding everything by the ditter here, and she spoke as if convinced. It seemed we could understand each other in words. As I breathed a sigh of relief at being able to talk properly with Dunkelfelger, the principal wife twisted her lips into a smile.
“Well then, perhaps this is like how Talc, born and raised by Flutlene’s power, is guided to Fairfuremeer by Dreffangua.”
She said this with a breath that was neither relief nor disappointment.
…Huh? What does that mean?
I couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning. First, I didn’t understand what Talc was. Was it some creature unique to Dunkelfelger, or a minor story in the myths?
…Whatever Talc is, it’s born and raised in freshwater and eventually heads to the sea when the time comes, so the implied meaning might be… that one grows and moves toward the place best suited to them?
While I struggled with a vague smile to understand the meaning, the principal wife stared alternately at me and my foster father. Caught by those red eyes, I swallowed hard.
“Since it was decided in the ditter, Hannelore will marry into Ehrenfest. Since Hannelore’s Fairfuremeer is like Ehrenfest’s, that should be acceptable.”
…Wait a minute. Before I could say there’s no need for Lady Hannelore to marry into Ehrenfest, it was already decided!?
Before we could voice any hope or opinion, it seemed like we were completely swept into Hannelore’s arranged marriage. My foster father and I exchanged glances, and I hurried to speak.
“Um, you said she wants this, but does Lady Hannelore truly wish to marry into Ehrenfest? As the second wife?”
For the second-ranked lord candidate of Dunkelfelger, becoming Ehrenfest’s second wife is unthinkable. Unlike Aub, who seems to care only about the ditter, I think we can reason with her. Please think carefully about what is best for our daughter.