Published: September 6, 2025
“I generally agree with your opinion, but it seems there are quite a few discrepancies in various details. I would like to confirm those first.”
The principal wife pressed her forehead and gave Hannelore a sharp glance before turning her attention to Foster Father and me.
“The reports I have received regarding the ditter state that if Dunkelfelger wins, they will consult with Aub Ehrenfest, and upon cancellation of the engagement, Lady Rosemine will become Dunkelfelger’s principal wife. If Dunkelfelger loses, Hannelore will be married into Ehrenfest as the second wife.”
“That’s correct.”
I nodded, and the principal wife immediately wore a puzzled expression, glancing back. A man who appeared to be a civil official stepped forward, spread a sheet of paper on the table, and then stepped back. It appeared to be a report sent to Dunkelfelger, detailing the conditions of the ditter.
“Earlier, Lady Rosemine said that if Ehrenfest won, she intended to cancel the condition that Hannelore would be married in from the start. When was this decided? It is not mentioned in these conditions.”
“It was decided when the ditter was agreed upon. I proposed it while talking with Lady Hannelore, didn’t I?”
When I sought Hannelore’s agreement, she nodded firmly.
“When apologizing for my brother’s recklessness, Lady Rosemine made the proposal.”
While Restiraut and Wilfried were setting the detailed terms of the ditter duel, Hannelore and I had been chatting over tea using an eavesdropping prevention magic tool. As I recounted the flow from when the ditter was decided, the principal wife’s face shifted to one of realization.
“It seems the discussions took place on the same day and in the same room, but since you used the eavesdropping prevention magic tool, it is unlikely the details leaked to others. Did you report the content of your discussion?”
Suspected of having made a private conversation public without permission, I hurriedly glanced at Foster Father.
“I reported it to Brother Wilfried at dinner that evening and notified Ehrenfest as well, didn’t I, Foster Father?”
“Yes, a detailed report was received.”
Relieved to prove my innocence, I patted my chest, and Hannelore proudly said, “I told Brother at dinner as well.”
“Hannelore, wouldn’t it have been too late at dinner? Why didn’t you report it to Restiraut immediately? After the detailed arrangements are finished, saying something like that won’t change an already signed agreement.”
“Eh? Signed?”
I had reported to Wilfried that “if we win, Hannelore’s marriage will be canceled,” and he accepted it, and Hannelore had nodded happily, so I thought the message had been understood. But that was not a discussion during the setting of conditions.
Though Hannelore reported my words to Restiraut, after the detailed arrangements were completed and Restiraut and Wilfried had signed the contract, it seems it was deemed unofficial.
“In bride-getting ditters, such contracts are always drawn up to prevent the initial conditions from being overturned after the ditter.”
“Is this document a contract, not just a report to Dunkelfelger?”
Looking closely, I was surprised to see Wilfried’s signature. It seems it was necessary to allocate budget.
Foster Father peered at the contract with a serious face.
“I knew detailed conditions were set, but I have not received a report that such a contract was signed.”
“I haven’t heard from Brother Wilfried either.”
Glancing briefly toward Wilfried, Hannelore whispered, “Maybe Lord Wilfried didn’t recognize it as a contract.”
“For Dunkelfelger, it’s a given, and it’s necessary to use the noble academy’s budget, but Aub Ehrenfest and Lady Rosemine did not think of it as a contract?”
Foster Father and I exchanged looks and nodded. Without explanation from Restiraut, it is easy to see how a document needed for budget purposes might not be regarded as a contract.
“It seems our explanations were insufficient.”