Chapter 3: Ties from a Previous Life (1)

The dining hall was vast and splendid. Chandeliers and decorations that could have passed for those of a banquet hall had been arranged throughout.

Not only that, there were more than ten butlers and maids attending to the meal. Even though only four people, Simon included, had actually sat down to eat.

But there was nothing surprising about it.

He had always dined here in his previous life as well.

Father was still hale and hearty at this age.

Marquis Deneuve had also lived out his natural lifespan before passing away. Even so, it was only natural for Simon to feel glad to see him again.

After glancing around, Simon asked,

“Where is Mother?”

He had assumed this would be a lunch where the whole family gathered, but apparently that was not the case.

Simon had two mothers.

His birth mother, Hera, and his stepmother, Mion.

He could understand Mion’s absence, but Hera, his birth mother, not being here was somewhat unexpected.

“I have something to discuss with you alone.”

“We will take our leave now.”

At those words, Kenard and Ioline gave a quick bow and left the dining hall.

Simon did not particularly like that, but he did not bother showing it.

One appetizing dish after another was brought out, gradually filling the table.

“It has been a long time, Father.”

It was the kind of thing that could only sound strange, yet the marquis accepted it calmly.

He motioned with his hand and dismissed all the servants.

And that was not all.

Vwoooom!

A powerful aura spread out, forming a soundproof barrier around them.

“It seems that, contrary to what the physician said, you have not fully recovered yet. I heard what you said. You claim you have returned to the past?”

“So that bastard Ranieri went and tattled already?”

“Whatever else may be the case, anything concerning your health ought to be reported to me. Ranieri is not one to speak lightly. There have even been times when he cleverly concealed things I myself should have heard……. And yet he told me. Does that not mean it is that serious?”

Only then did Simon think he understood why this private meeting had come about.

Even if Ranieri had not passed along the matter of Simon refusing to become the head of the family, once he had heard Simon claiming he had returned to the past, there would naturally be all sorts of things he would want to ask.

If something had gone wrong with his mind, that alone would be a grave matter for the Family.

“Yes. That is correct. I returned to the past. Many things happened. I stood at the vanguard of the Imperial Army and took the lead in unifying the continent. I raised our Family to the rank of a Ducal House. I also reached the realm of Sword Master and made the Arcturus swordsmanship even stronger.”

Marquis Deneuve pressed a hand to his forehead.

Every part of that story was far too immense for him to take in at once.

“Simon.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Returning to the past. Surely you, of all people, know better than anyone that such a thing should be impossible. You are a clever child.”

“At least, that was true before I experienced it myself. Unless it were some forbidden magic wielded by an ancient archmage, such a thing should indeed be impossible.”

“Hmm.”

Marquis Deneuve’s expression darkened further. If his son was speaking like this, then he could at least tell that he was utterly serious.

“So you truly believe you returned to the past. But that is a misunderstanding. It seems you had a long dream. Well, there is a saying that life itself is but a fleeting dream.”

“I do not wish to dismiss what I experienced so vividly as merely a dream.”

“I understand how you feel.”

Marquis Deneuve, renowned for his steadfastness, showed weakness for the first time. So much so that an audible groan escaped him.

“It seems I must replace your physician after all. There is no doubt the aftereffects of that burning fever remain.”

“There is no need. I am perfectly fine. Have I not been able to sit here and dine with you like this?”

Simon cut himself a large piece of meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed away heartily. Marquis Deneuve let out a faint chuckle.

“In any case, I would prefer that you not speak to anyone else about having returned to the past or being granted a second life.”

“I know that as well. I only intended to tell you, Father.”

“Is there a particular reason?”

“I will speak plainly. I will not inherit the Family.”

The words came out far too calmly. Marquis Deneuve doubted his own ears.

“What?”

“I said I will not inherit the Family. Kenard will do a better job than I will. He is sincere about swordsmanship as well. He suits what our Family pursues far better.”

“You…… are you serious?”

“Yes. I have no desire to do the same thing twice.”

Simon set down his fork and knife and wiped his lips with a napkin.

“In this life, I want to live quietly and pass my days in peace. Going down to the countryside and farming would not be so bad. Whether that is fortunate or unfortunate, I am not sure, but Ranieri says he will follow me. The man knows everything, so I suppose I can just ask him as things come up.”

“Good heavens!”

He had summoned his son out of concern for the aftereffects, only for something even more serious to come out.

Marquis Deneuve was a man who knew how to understand the hearts of others.

He was also a man who had reached the realm of Sword Expert.

The eldest son before him was not speaking carelessly. He meant every word.

“Do you understand what it means to say you will not inherit the Family? And from the eldest son, no less? Have you even considered how many retainers are attached to you?”

“I do not think it will pose any problem. Is it not only natural that the one with the greatest ability should inherit the Family?”

“Are you saying Kenard is superior to you?”

“He soon will be.”

Naturally, that would never happen on its own. But it would not be difficult either. Strength was something he could simply conceal if needed.

“How strange……. What in the world is all this…….”

“And Father. My collapse was not a scheme by the Aldebaran Family. Nor are they plotting war. We need to clear up this misunderstanding.”

“Do you have proof?”

“No proof. I am speaking based on the future I experienced.”

“Bring me evidence that anyone could accept. Then I will believe you.”

“There are no victors in war. Even if we win, the losses will be catastrophic.”

Marquis Deneuve’s expression twisted.

Because the proud eldest son who had once been both valiant and coldly rational was gone, and in his place remained only a fox-like son.

“It is unpleasant to hear. Leave now! I cannot swallow another bite of food.”

“My apologies, Father.”

“Ah, yes.”

Simon, who had been about to rise, stopped.

Letting out a sigh, the marquis spoke in a stern, warning voice.

“A messenger has come from the Imperial Palace. Word is that the Imperial Princess will be coming soon.”

“The Imperial Princess?”

“Why do you pretend not to know? It would seem your marvelous future, the one you claim to have experienced, did not include Her Highness.”

The marquis spoke with a mocking tone.

Simon felt a dull shock, as though he had just been struck on the back of the head. For a moment, he had forgotten. Forgotten a name he had not wanted to recall.

“Princess Mercedes?”

“Yes. Upon hearing that you had recovered, she says she is coming to pay you a visit. Receive her properly. Do not forget that this is an important matter for the Family.”

“…….”

“And as for what you said about not inheriting the Family, I will pretend I never heard it. Do you think just anyone can take up farming?”

Those words barely even registered.

Instead, Simon felt something cold on his forehead.

Cold sweat.

As he hurried out of the dining hall, he tried to gather his thoughts.

The very person I most need to avoid is coming.

Mercedes Rigel.

The Imperial Princess of the Rigel Empire, and the woman who would become his future official wife. She possessed stunning beauty, yet concealed a sharp dagger in her heart—a woman of iron blood.

In his previous life, they had remained husband and wife in name only. Her fierce obsession and jealousy had at one time become so severe that they nearly threw the Family into chaos.

That was not all. Her political ambitions had also been immense, and she had been the very person who pushed the Arcturus Family into peril on multiple occasions.

In this life, I will avoid her no matter what.

With that vow made, Simon returned to his room. As it happened, Ranieri was already inside waiting for him.

“What is with that expression?”

“It is an emergency.”

“Shall I summon the knight order?”

“Those slow-witted fools would be no help whatsoever.”

“It seems His Lordship scolded you quite severely.”

“The Imperial Princess is coming.”

Ranieri merely looked at Simon with a calm expression.

“So this is good enough news for you to call it an emergency. Well, the two of you were on very good terms, were you not?”

“The exact opposite, you bastard!”

“In what sense?”

“That woman is a devil! You must never get close to her! Marriage is even more out of the question!”

“Ahem.”

Ranieri cleared his throat, utterly oblivious to Simon’s churning frustration, and corrected him with dignified composure.

“I offer this as serious advice: that is an insult to the Imperial House. You must not say such things elsewhere, Young Master.”

“I’m telling you, I’m not joking!”

“For now, please calm yourself.”

Ranieri clapped his hands twice with elegant precision. At once, a maid waiting outside entered the room.

“Prepare the medicine for the Young Master at once. His condition seems to have worsened.”

“What? Medicine? What medicine?”

“Something to help calm the mind and body. My father prepared it specially.”

“Haa…….”

Simon flung himself onto the bed. Once the medicine was ready, Ranieri carried it over on a tray and approached the bedside.

“Drink it. It should put your mind at ease.”

“Does this look like a time when medicine will go down easily?”

“I should like to advise you to appreciate the sincerity of the one who prepared it.”

He was about to tell him to take it away, but in the end Simon forced himself to swallow the medicine.

Then he lay back down again.

“Ah, damn it. Things were starting to go well too…….”

“Is not becoming connected to the Imperial Princess precisely what you used to want, Young Master? You said it would bring you closer to power.”

“That may have been true a few days ago.”

Becoming related by marriage to the Imperial House was the desire of every noble.

The Arcturus Family was one of the houses that had rendered great service in the founding of the Empire, and its influence was enormous, so marriage talks were hardly strange.

Even so, he could hardly explain in exhaustive detail everything that had happened in the past.

More than anything, there is another decisive reason why I must avoid the Imperial Princess.

There was still one person whose name he had never forgotten.

She had been a woman as simple and beautiful as a flower blooming in a field. He had never before met someone whose gaze itself seemed to carry a beautiful fragrance.

Lua.

The tragic woman he had truly loved, yet had been forced to part from because they could not overcome the gulf in status between them.

That was one of the things Simon believed he had to set right. His father’s bombshell had merely pushed the matter forward sooner than expected.

“Use your head. Is there no way around this?”

“Did you not say you had returned to the past? Then solve the problem with your knowledge of the future.”

“Can you really sneer that openly when you are supposed to be the strategist of the heir?”

“I meant it sincerely.”

When Simon glared at him, Ranieri gave another small cough and quietly changed the subject.

“Running away is not the way of the Arcturus Family. Face her proudly. Then simply tell the Imperial Princess your honest feelings.”

“You mean I should say to her face that we ought to break off the engagement?”

“Do you have a better option?”

It was the correct answer.

After a moment of thought, Simon nodded. The more he considered it, the more he realized Ranieri was not wrong.

I can deal with her using the knowledge I already possess. If anything, that puts me in the more advantageous position.

If he knew the future, then surely he could strip away the thick mask Princess Mercedes wore.

Simon felt his somewhat chaotic state of mind gradually settle.

“More importantly, Young Master.”

“What?”

“Since you claim to have returned to the past, let me ask you something. What sort of woman do I marry in the future?”

“I thought you had no interest in marriage.”

“I have an interest in the future.”

“You do not even believe I returned to the past, and yet you ask so easily.”

Ranieri smiled calmly. Unable to withstand that smile, Simon finally answered.

“You live alone your whole life and die in loneliness.”

“Is that not a curse?”

“Think of it as the karmic retribution for tormenting the one you serve.”

“You have changed. The eldest son of the Arcturus Family whom I once served was a clean and refined man who never held grudges.”

“That too must be your karmic retribution.”

“What an honor.”

Looking at Ranieri’s smile, Simon somehow felt a vexing sense of defeat.