When they went to the dining room, Socie was waiting for them to take a seat.

　The window curtains were closed.
　A candelabra-type magician was providing the room with a moderate amount of light.

''Excuse me, sorry to keep you waiting,''
No, no. No, no, no, no, no, there's no need to apologize because it's not past the appointed time.

　As I apologize, Socie-san smiles softly, "Uh-huh.

"Kurohiko has a habit of apologizing first, you know.

　Cecily sits down, pointing out my habits.
　I sit next to her.
　Again, it's Arkwright's mother and daughter on either side.
　Well, one of them is diagonally in front of me.

''Have you two been in this mansion all day?''

　'How did you find me?' asked Société.

'Yes, we were both in Kurohiko's room the whole time.
Well, well, well.
..........

　Mr. Sosier, you're definitely imagining something unrealistic, aren't you?

Now that you two are here can you bring us the food, Hannah?
Very well, ma'am.

　Hana, who was standing by, bowed her head.
　I naturally pulled up a chair.

''Oh, I'll help you, too.''
'No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's fine just the way it is, okay?　And we're just going to have them bring in the cooked food.
But I guess we might as well do it together.
If you're going to be with Cecily at some point, it would be good to get used to the manners of this kind of world, wouldn't it?

　Hmm?
　Along with a smile, I felt gently chided.

　Hmm.
　It's not a good idea to take the lead in helping out with the work of a servant when you are invited to a nobleman's home.
　I get the feeling that if you're going to be associated with Cecily in the future, you're going to have to follow that etiquette.

　That's what I understand.

　In my house, I help Mia as much as I can.
　I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
　It's not a bad thing, but it's a good thing that you're a maid of honor.
　It's not a good idea for an aristocrat to actively help out with a maidservant's work, if you look at it from the perspective of the aristocratic world.

　It's even more so when it's someone else's house.
　Probably, Socie-san is teaching me out of kindness.
　..........................
　When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

　I decided to sit quietly while Hana-san brought in the food, as I told her to.

　But.........

It's no big deal for Kurohiko-dono to help Hannah, Société.

　As he said it, an old man came into the dining room.
　He took a seat in front of Cecily.

I'm more impressive than the guy who's hunched over as if it were natural.

　The socier rolls his eyes and cracks up.

'Your father-in-law,'

　Yes.
　The person who appeared in the dining room was Cecily's grandfather.

　He was Gaiden Arkwright.

　Currently, he was the Holy King's swordsmanship instructor.
　He used to be a member of the Holy Tree Knights.
　He used to be a counselor to the Holy King because of his old relationship with them.
　I've heard that it's because he's always packed into the castle on a regular basis that he doesn't come back to the mansion.

　I have the strong impression that he's the one who dotes on his grandson, Cecily, but...
　Cecily leaned in close and whispered into my ear.

''Your grandfather is also a very two-faced person, so you'll have to be a little careful with that, won't you?
..........

　The Arkwright Clan, aren't they all double-faced people!

　Seeing Gaiden-san show up, that Socie-san was a bit frazzled.

''Well, I didn't expect you to leave today, so........well, I'll give Hannah some extra food right now--''
We're not doing anything.

　Mr. Gaiden raises his hand to control them.

I've already eaten. I just want the wine.

　Hana-san came out of the kitchen and asked smilingly, "Would you like some of that?

'If you'd like to drink after dinner, would that be okay?
Oh, yeah, sure.

　Guyden strokes his beard.

"Ho-ho-ho, this house is easy to live in because Hana knows what I like.

　Hana finishes bringing in the food and drinks.
　And once she had finished her role here, Hana-san bowed and then returned to the kitchen.

'Gokko.'

　I gulp down my spit when I see the dishes.
　It all looks like an elaborate dish.
　They look gorgeous.
　The appetizing smell of the food gets my stomach bug going.

'Then shall we eat?

　The meal began with that word from the socier.

　Okay.
　We'll start with the meat dish with the skin on which this sauce is poured--

By the way, Mister Kurohiko.

　As I popped my food into my mouth, Mr. Gaiden, who had taken a sip of grape wine, opened his mouth, smiling.

'Do you intend to take Cecily as your wife?'
Whoa!

　The contents came out of my mouth.
　I quickly held my mouth with my hand so I could avoid the worst of it.

The best thing about this is that it's not a big deal.
Are you sure you're okay?

　Cecily rubs my back.
　Cecily rubs my back and purrs as she rubs me.

'Already, Grandpa!　As soon as the meal starts, you're asking too many direct questions without any kind of preamble!
Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

　Mr. Societé offers his help.

'Your father-in-law is worried about you, Cecily?
'But it's too important to ask for your intentions out of the blue.　Kurohiko surprised you!
Oh, my, aren't you very kind to your new wife, Mr. Kurohiko?

　Speaking of which.
　I tried to play the husband in front of Mrs. Saucier.
　I sent Cecily a sign.

"Thank you for your help, Cecily. It's all right now.
Oh, yes. Okay, well........uh, you?　You're all right now, aren't you?
Uh-huh.

　Cecily gently let go of my hand.
　She guessed and went into marital acting mode.

'Huh?'

　Mr. Gaiden raises his eyebrows and puts his hand to his chin.

It looks like you two have gotten pretty close.

　Oh, I see.
　Don't you know we're being forced by Société to be in conjugal mode?

''No, no, Mr. Gaiden!　Actually--

　I hurriedly explained the arrangement with Soc.
　Then.

So that's what it is, huh?

　Somehow they understood.

Oh dear, Société is no stranger to making crazy demands.
Hmmm, isn't it good?　Cecily seems to be on board and........and your father-in-law?
Hmm?
'Your father-in-law is in a good mood today, even though Cecily is bringing his lordship to the mansion, isn't he?

　Mr. Gaiden nodded his head.

He was the man who prevented Cecily from being taken away by this thug called Hibigami. I heard that he was going to take Cecily to the apocalypse.

　As I've mentioned again, it was partly thanks to Currier-san's efforts that we were able to prevent the Hibigami at that time.

He also saved Cecily from the threat of the Four Deadly Disasters. And by the way, he also saved me. The fact that I can sit down to dinner with my beloved granddaughter is all thanks to Mr. Kurohiko. Most of all.

　Mr. Gaiden took one look at my left eye.

'You sacrificed that left eye too to protect the woman you're thinking about, didn't you?
'What?　Oh, well ... well ... could you say that, too?

　Did Miss Cecily tell you that?
　I feel like the Battle of Beshgam was all about protecting everyone anyway.
　So, if we limit ourselves to Cecily, the facts may be slightly different.

I'm sure you're not the only one who likes Cecily more than Kurohiko-dono. I have to admit that I like him more than Cecily does.

　The image is a little different from what I had heard.
　I had the impression that Gaiden-san was more like this, that he would get rid of any man who came near his grandson.

'However, I haven't heard anything about the feelings of Lord Kurohiko from his mouth. Will you tell me how you feel about Cecily here and now?
I'd love to hear about it.

　And Socie followed.
　Ms. Cecily huddled in close like she was protecting me.

Don't you two track down Kurohiko.
Well, Miss Cecily...
Kurohiko would have a hard time getting an answer right now.

　Hmm.
　Should I make sure to say what I need to say?
　After thanking Cecily-san for her concern, I straighten my posture.
　Cecily-san might have guessed something, but she silently backed away.

　I turned my body about halfway between Ms. Gaiden and Ms. Société and said.

''I'm going to come to my own conclusions about my future relationship with Cecily-san when I graduate from St. Renowthred School.

　I wondered if he could see how serious I was.
　I saw a change in Mr. Gaiden's appearance.
　His loose air disappeared.
　Mr. Gaiden crossed his arms and leaned deeper into his chair.

'Hmm.'

　He urges me with his eyes to continue.

'A man named Hibigami, whom you know as Mr. Gaiden, missed us on the condition that he engage in a death match with me when he graduated from the school.
You never told me this. And now you said you missed it, didn't you?
As it stands, Hibigami is believed to be more capable than those four deadly plagues.
A man named Hibigami not so much?
'Yes, sir. That man nearly killed one of the four scourges Siegbert Gil'es encountered at the time, almost unharmed.
You know, the four major disasters...

　When the Four Deadly Plagues attacked, Mr. Gaiden was fighting one of them, Masso Angren.
　He is also a man who knows firsthand what those monsters are capable of.

'Hibigami said he was too strong. That's why he's looking for an enemy that can be a good match for him. In fact, I don't know of anyone stronger than that man in the current situation.

　If there is a possibility, it would be Rokia or Varaga Wormood, who are from the Sixth House, who say they don't show their seriousness anyway.
　I don't know how serious they are, though.

　As for Currier, Currier himself has himself said that he would not be able to beat Hibigami in his current state.
　The beshugam that Hibigami said he expected is already dead, so he can't be an opponent to fight.
　It's just--.

　There is only one person with whom you can't imagine what will happen when they collide.


　It was Skolbanger.


　That giant beast was overwhelming.
　I couldn't see the bottom of the Skolbanger either.
　Gaiden's eyes lit up with understanding.

"So you're the one with the most potential to meet the expectations of this hibigami, aren't you, Curse Master?
He said something like he saw a special stretch in my future.
So, you have until you graduate to reach your potential.

　I nodded.

'He said that if I didn't beat Hibigami then, he'd kill everyone around me. So I--

　I said, suppressing the cold killing intent that had unexpectedly risen in me.

'I absolutely have to beat that man.

　Mr. Gaiden lifted one end of his mouth in a pout.

'So this is what you mean?　Until the day of graduation when we have that death match, you want to spend your life prioritizing getting stronger anyway, rather than the love of color?
Yes, sir.
Hmm.

　Mr. Gaiden starts rubbing the edge of his lips with his thumb, as if he were pensive.
　His fingers stop moving.

'That's nice,'
What do you mean?

　Mr. Geiden said in a good mood when Cecily asked.

'Hmm?　As far as Gaiden Arkwright is concerned, I'm willing to trust Cecily to this man.

　The socier puts his hand to his mouth.

'I'm surprised to see those words coming out of that father-in-law's mouth.
I just didn't like all the men Vadia had in mind. But this one, I like him.
What will he say?
Well, it might take a bone to persuade that hard-right Vadiace.
But, Mr. Kurohiko?

　Mr. Societé turned his body towards me.

''Being recognized by your father-in-law is quite an advance in the Cecily Arkwright attack. No, it's a feat that no one has been able to accomplish before, right?

　Gaiden-san looks at Socie-san with disapproval.

''It's not the Holy Ruins to capture--so what about that kind of associate?
'What?　Me?

　The socier gives me a chilling look.

'I find it somewhat surprising, sir.
Hmm, that's a questionable answer. I asked you if you recognized Sir Kurohiko.
Uh-huh, isn't it?

　A soft smile drew on her fresh lips, and Socie smiled at me.

''I might have to be prepared to deal with that man - my husband - too, don't you think?