The dinner party, which was delicious but not thoroughly savory, was still going on, where you could not tell whether you were happy or unhappy.
　Given that we're still eating our appetizers, we should say that we've finally started eating.

"Ray, I'd like to ask you a few questions, but how was Elena while she was at Gilm?"

　The Duke of Kelebel suddenly asks Ray, who was tasting a potato-like but distinctly different vegetable pottage.
　Ray, who was enjoying the soup without making any noise as a table manner, was at a loss how to answer the sudden question.
　I didn't know how to answer it.
　Looking at Elena hesitantly, Ray opens his mouth when he sees her nod.

"They cooperated quite positively. Thanks to you, there were less... strange interruptions."

　The strange interference in this case is, of course, what the aristocrats did.
　The Duke of Kelebel, of course, knows it, but he nods without making any representation.

"Well, that's the best of all. I've had a lot of acquaintances with Larkus lately, so I was worried that there would be someone to stop him from growing up."
"It's a great thing that Elena has relieved me of that anxiety."
"... Elena?"

　At Ray's words, the Duke of Kelebel muttered slowly.
　It was only natural that the gaze was directed at Ray, but there was a great deal of force in his eyes.
　When Ray sees such a Duke of Kelevel, he finally realizes his failure.
　Ray, who usually calls Elena for naught, is not the usual place to go.
　Yes, it's a place where Elena's parents are all present.
　The abandonment of Elena in such a place has profound implications.
　At the very least, no one has ever done such a thing like that.
　No one, not even those who wished to marry because of Elena's beauty and strength, or the wealth and power of the Duke of Quelevel, could do so.
　The Duke of Kelebel is so feared that if he is not good at it, he may feel even physical pressure.
　Ray also thought he had lost it, but there's no way he could manage the words he once said.
　What's more, I didn't think of doing anything about it.
　That is why he nods back, feeling the pressure from the Duke of Kelebel again.

"Yes, Elena has saved me a lot of things. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　with a pinch
　The moment I hear the word Levulina coming out of Ray's mouth, Arcadia, next to the Duke of Kelebel, gives me a hint of murder.
　It's akin to what the Duke of Kelebel is issuing.
　Feeling this, Ray opens his mouth nervously.

"What is it, Arcadia?"
"...no. I've heard about the Lavrellina, specifically what they did and how they did it."

　Arcadia had a smile around her mouth, but her eyes didn't smile at all.
　Arcadia, who has a mysterious identity, is chilling to see the current situation.
　If I say something bad here, I feel like it's going to end badly.

"Is there any victim from where my mother was, by any chance?"
"I don't know. I've heard that some people are missing, but not all of them have been implicated in the affair involving Elena and others."

　Arcadia told me so, but her eyes told me what she really thought.

"You said you would send a negotiating team to Lavrellina, but what is going on?"

　He seemed to ask me lightly, but the pressure on his gaze was strong.
　Still, as Arcadia's husband, the Duke of Kelebel spoke unconcernedly.

"It takes a lot of groundwork to do this. You know it's Arcadia, right? Maybe the formal negotiating team will start in the spring."
"... I hear that the neutrals started quite a long time ago?"
"That can't be helped, for this case has been revealed in Gilm. If you do something badly here, you won't be able to see them. But they retaliated before they did it, and Elena's presence with them has given them credit as aristocrats."

　In that sense, it was the royalists who lagged behind in the case of the State of Levreina.
　That said, the royalists were not directly involved in the affair of the State of Lavrellina.
　Still, he must have been disgraced because he is the largest faction.
　It also took a long time to select personnel, such as who would travel to Levreina, and as a result, missions will be sent after next spring.
　But he is a royalist, and it is the king of the kingdom of Milliana who leads it.
　That is to say, those who leave after next spring are the official delegations from the Kingdom of Milliana.

"But you can't dispel the sorrows of those who have been taken away?"
"Mother, the one who was taken away and survived is Guilm..."
"I know,"

　Arcadia readily responds to Elena's words.
　But when Ray heard it, he was chilled down again.
　The case of the Soulas has become quite famous in Gilm.
　But it's only a recent story, so why does Arcadia know it?
　Of course, aristocratic aristocrats have their residences in Gilm to gather various information.
　That's why it's not surprising to know about the Soura... but the speed at which the information travels is clearly too fast.
　Regardless of Ray's behavior, Arcadia continues.

"But being there means you're not willing to go back to your hometown... or you can't go back. No one came back in the village or town that I know. Then... of course, I don't think the missing person was always taken away."

　Country, city, frontier... people live in many places, but it's not unusual in this world to disappear for some reason.
　To thieves, to illegal slave traders, to monsters.
　Young and beautiful women in particular are vulnerable to such damage.
　Arcadia may know that, but if she thinks her acquaintance is still going through it, she's got something to think about it.

"Arcadia, I know what you're thinking and I understand what you're thinking, but there are things I can't do and now it's Ray's ... welcome party for the first boy Elena brought. Don't go too far."

　The moment Arcadia is told, she apologizes and goes back to her meal.
　...however, Elena, who heard it, blushed at what the Duke of Kelebel had said.
　The love of Ray was nothing to hide in front of Marina and Vihela, but only because she was in front of her peers.
　Or a close friend like Arra, or a party companion like Bune.
　It was natural, if not direct, to be embarrassed when told so by my father.

「……」

　Elena's face and ears are red as you can see.
　Their parents smiled when they saw Elena looking down silent.
　a smile that is not teasing but delightful at the growth of one's daughter
　...it was a matter of concern to both parents that Elena was not manly.
　Elena is undoubtedly beautiful in appearance.
　It's no wonder that you're called the goddess of beauty.
　But the Elena was not interested in men at all, she was just training herself.
　From her position as the Duchess of Kelebel, she was in society, but she was only in it.
　It was undoubtedly gratifying for the Duke and Duchess of Kelebel that Elena was interested in men.

(However...)The Duke of Kelebel was smiling at her, but the next moment he turned a sharp glance at her.

"Ray, what position is Elena in? Do you know that?"

　a sudden question
　However, Ray can understand, of course, what the question means.

"The only daughter of the Duke of Kelebel,"
"Yes. In the future, will Elena take over this house, or will her husband take over this house, or will he adopt her?"
"I think there is a better way than that?"

　The Duke of Kelebel smiles amusingly at Ray's words.

"Well, a surer way? Don't worry about that. I'd love to know."
"It's easy. Make Elena's brother or sister, and everything will be solved."
'What!'

　Understanding whether Rey's words were completely unexpected, and not only the Duke of Kelebel but also Arcadia was momentarily breathtaking... but what he was advised to do, Arcadia's cheeks turn as red as Elena's.
　The Duke of Kelebel is not as blatantly responsive as Arcadia, and instead casts a strong gaze at Ray for saying such things.

"Isn't it rude of you to interfere in my wife's relationship?"
"Maybe so. But isn't that the best way to think of Elena? Already, Elena inherited the Mystery of the Gent Dragon at the altar of succession, and as a result, her life span is equal to that of the Gent Dragon, not the human."

　The unfamiliar language, though a little clumsy, tells the Duke of Kelebel in the eye.
　He speaks politely with Dusker, but for better or for worse, Ray has known him quite a long time.
　That's why I'm a little used to talking to Dusker now."This is the first time I've spoken to the Duke of Kelebel.
　It's only natural that there should be tension there.
　...or perhaps Elena's father is a strong influence.

"Succession of the Mystery of the Ensent Dragon, or even though it is a long-cherished wish that has been passed down in the Duke and Duchess of Quevel... well, that's too late. Anyway, I understand what Ray means."

　Now that he has succeeded to the Mystery of the Ensent Dragon, there is no doubt that Elena will live longer than humans... and Elf.
　If such Elena were to be the head of the Duke of Quelevel, not a few would have been dissatisfied with it.
　That could be the worst-case scenario for a family disturbance.
　The position of head of the Duke of Kelebel is so important... but it must still be very attractive.

"And?"

　It probably won't work.
　I thought so, but I asked him if it might be... but he returned as if it were natural to shake his head in denial: shaking his head.

"It shouldn't be so easy. Elena is special in the aristocracy in the first place. That's what Ray understands best, right?"
"That's..."

　Ray is at a loss for words.
　In fact, Elena, who has the nickname and beauty of a princess general in the aristocracy, is worthy of being called a symbol.
　...that's why there are so many people who never learn to talk to me.
　Such an Elena, therefore, renounces her position as successor to the Duke of Quelevel... much less to run for Ray, which is unspeakable here, is unacceptable to the nobility.

"No matter what you do, you can't decide right now."
"Yes, sir,"

　I knew it, but that still doesn't stop me from being disappointed.

"Just..."

　I don't know if he felt sorry for Ray or if he had ever intended to tell him so, but the Duke of Kelebel opens his mouth with a faint smile.

"At the very least, unless there is much time left until the extension of the guillem is finished, I will ask Elena to watch over the rebounds of the nobility in guillem, so please rest assured. Of course, if anything happens, she will come back."

　Ray and Elena were relieved by the words of the Duke of Kelebel.