Published: September 10, 2025
※ Corrected typos on 2017/8/13.
This is Satou. Back in university days, I used to go home during Bon and New Year’s holidays, but as I became busier as a working adult, my visits became less frequent.
It’s not that I disliked being asked by meddlesome relatives whether I was married yet, or being pushed towards arranged marriages. Really.
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“Satou, sorry to bother you, but could you take me to the Duke’s Capital?”
“Sure, no problem.”
On the way back from checking on the fake Holy Relic Animated Armor at the Royal Castle, I ran into Lady Ringlande in the corridor, who asked me for this favor.
I was planning to head to the Duke’s Capital anyway, so it was perfect timing.
I had some tea parties and dinner appointments, so I couldn’t leave immediately, but the next morning I was set to depart for the Duke’s Capital on a tourist ministry airship.
“Mr. Satou, so this is your airship?”
For some reason, Lady Ringlande had an escort.
It was Lady Lirina, daughter of Prefect Grylian and a student at the Royal Academy.
“No, it’s not personally mine. It belongs to the tourist ministry.”
Of course, I personally pay for the demon cores that fuel the magic power furnace.
“Sorry for the trouble, Satou.”
After finishing the delivery of the Flying Carousel, Lady Ringlande said this as she climbed aboard.
“If you feel it’s troublesome, you could just fly there on the Flying Carousel.”
It was her half-sister Sera who sharply retorted to Lady Ringlande.
Among the Isolated Island Palace members going to the Duke’s Capital this time, only Sera was coming; the others had their own business in the Royal Capital.
By the way, Lady Karina was going to show Lady Solna around the Royal Capital.
◇
“Hehe, Mr. Satou.”
As the airship leveled out, Lady Lirina clung onto my arm.
I felt like she was fond of me somehow.
“Lirina, it’s improper for a lady to cling onto the arm of a man who’s not her fiancé.”
Sera cheerfully approached and peeled Lirina’s arms off.
“Oh? Sera, jealous of a child?”
Lady Ringlande teased her sister with a smirk.
“It’s not jealousy! I’m just instructing her on how a lady should behave.”
“Hmm, instructing huh—”
Lady Ringlande looked amused watching Sera desperately maintain her pretense.
Mid-sentence, Lady Ringlande caught my eye and her eyes sparkled like a cat spotting prey.
“—Hey!”
With a mischievous look, Lady Ringlande hugged my neck.
Her ample chest pressed against mine, sending a tempting sensation.
“Ah—!”
“Ehh—?”
Seeing this, Sera yelled out and Lady Lirina also voiced her surprise.
“Sister! That’s improper!”
Sera reprimanded her, while Lady Ringlande watched with delight.
“Oh? Grandpa said I should marry Satou, didn’t he? So we’re practically engaged already, aren’t we?”
Lady Ringlande, who adored her sister, seemed overjoyed just to get attention from Sera.
“Mr. Satou! Is it true that you’re engaged to Lady Ringlande?”
“No, that was just drunken nonsense.”
Lirina asked with a desperate look, so I told her the truth.
Since Lady Ringlande was like an idol in Duke Ouyugok’s territory, Lirina was probably a fan as well.
And then—
The small airship equipped with the new navigation device invented by Dr. Jahad cut the travel time to the Duke’s Capital to half the usual.
Though during the trip, I had to endure the endless sisterly quarrels or playful fighting between the sister-loving Lady Ringlande and Sera, which was a bit tough.
That harsh journey finally ended, and on the arrival day at the Duke’s Capital, a grand welcome dinner was held by the heir to the duke, who was the father of Sera and Lady Ringlande.
The crowd was a bit thin without the duke or the two gluttonous nobles, but I was happy to reconnect with Former Count Wolgock, who took care of me during my first visit to the Duke’s Capital.
◇
“Satou, it’s been a while.”
“Long time no see, Shrine Maiden Lily.”
At the reception room of Tenion Temple, Sera and I were meeting the former elder chief shrine maiden and current shrine maiden apprentice, the little girl Lily.